"Among the human race, there was actually someone with such great perseverance and talent."
"Was this child truly an ordinary human?"
Gu Changsheng paid no heed to all this attention.
Like most of the cultivators, he looked toward the Saint's Dao Field.
Suddenly, Immortal Music rang out above Jade Void Palace, and Misty Qi of Heaven and Earth spread forth.
An Azure Crane spiraled out from the misty qi.
He was as ethereal as drifting smoke, swiftly transforming into a handsome young attendant who descended before Jade Void Palace.
Behind the attendant, Yellow Turban Warriors as towering as mountains emerged in a cluster.
At that moment, an immense and boundless figure suddenly appeared at the peak of the Sky Dome before Jade Void Palace.
In an instant, the Sky Dome darkened, and countless lands were covered beneath him.
The entire Kunlun seemed enveloped within his shadow.
He obscured Heaven and Earth, and countless living beings prostrated themselves in worship.
Golden Lanterns and golden lotuses continually descended.
A vast saintly might made every living being tremble inwardly.
Heaven and Earth lost their color.
That phantom seemed to have crossed the River of Time from the end of eternity.
Righteous Qi gathered in the sky, accompanied by ever-forming auspicious signs.
Outside Jade Void Palace, Gu Changsheng, Guang Chengzi, and several hundred other cultivators all bowed respectfully.
"Welcome, Saint Yuanshi!"
"Greetings, Saint Yuanshi!"
Mighty Saintly Might shook ancient times, the present, and the future, piercing through countless starry seas!
Thirty-Six Transformations, Five Thunders Divine Ability!
Before Jade Void Palace stood a vast and boundless phantom.
Whenever his Saint's Eyes opened and closed, countless starry seas seemed to flicker within them, emanating endless majesty.
An immeasurable halo rested upon his head. Draped in seventy-two colors, his dazzling Saintly Light shone upon countless living beings.
As Chaos Dao Rhyme flowed around him, he pinched the air with his left hand and held the void with his right.
In an instant, Gu Changsheng and the several hundred cultivators seemed to stand in the era before Heaven and Earth took form, before Chaos was separated, before all things were born. Strange phenomena erupted around them.
Gu Changsheng looked toward the saintly figure in the Sky Dome.
Saint Yuanshi had descended. The final test was about to begin.
For no reason, waves rose in his heart.
Gu Changsheng took a deep breath and steadied his mind.
"All disciples accepted by me, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, must possess great perseverance, great courage, and great wisdom. As for their foundations and talents, none may be lacking."
Saint Yuanshi's Saint's Eyes fell upon the several hundred cultivators.
It was as though he had seen through every one of them in an instant.
"You have crossed one hundred and twenty-nine thousand six hundred steps, matching the count of one Yuan. Today, having entered the Heavenly Gate and arrived at this Dao Field, your aptitude and talent need no further mention."
His Saint's Voice was vast and resonant, like a great bell of Huang Lu, deafening and enlightening.
The cultivators were incomparably respectful, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.
Saint Yuanshi smiled in satisfaction.
All who could enter this gate were the finest beings in the Primordial world.
Yet when the lofty Saint's Eyes fell upon one particular figure—
The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Randeng, what is the meaning of this?"
Vast saintly might descended, and Gu Changsheng and the others all turned toward that cultivator.
His features were strange and his appearance peculiar. Though he bore a sorrowful look, a thousand-foot spiritual radiance shot forth from above his head.
His expression was filled with resentment, and a trace of a smile was forced onto his withered cheeks.
Gu Changsheng was startled. He had not expected Daoist Randeng to have come as well.
He was one of the earliest batches of innate gods and devils born since the Primordial world was opened, naturally possessing abundant fortune.
Moreover, he and Yuanshi had both been among the Three Thousand Guests of the Purple Cloud Palace.
Now that Ran Deng had come here, not only was Yuanshi puzzled, but Gu Changsheng was also greatly surprised.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, I have come here for no other reason than to enter the Chan Sect."
Daoist Randeng wore a mournful expression, his face gloomy.
The moment Gu Changsheng saw this, he understood.
For innate gods and devils like Daoist Randeng, once they took human form, they were at least at the Golden Immortal realm.
However, beneath Saints, whether one was a Grand Unity Golden Immortal or a Quasi-Saint, all were ants.
Especially since the War of the Witches and Demons, Primordial Gods such as Daoist Randeng had felt increasingly endangered.
Thus, he wished to join the Chan Sect and find himself a patron.
After all, he cultivated the Great Dao of Nirvana.
"Very well, I understand!"
Saint Yuanshi's expression hardened. If an innate god and devil such as Daoist Randeng joined the Chan Sect—
It would also strengthen the Chan Sect's prestige.
Thus, he asked Ran Deng no further questions.
Daoist Randeng then turned his gaze toward Gu Changsheng.
He thought highly of this human cultivator.
Above Jade Void Palace, Saint Yuanshi's voice rang out once more.
"However, great perseverance and great wisdom alone are far from enough. Those who wish to enter my sect must also possess peerless foundations and comprehension!"
As his words fell, a profound mystery radiating immeasurable light appeared in the Saint's hand.
Gu Changsheng and the several hundred cultivators all raised their eyes to look.
What exactly was this profoundly mysterious radiance?
Very soon, Saint Yuanshi revealed the answer.
"This is one of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Arts, Mastery of Five Thunders, an art of the Orthodox Xuanmen."
"This divine ability does not depend on cultivation, only on one's comprehension."
"If you can comprehend this divine ability within a hundred years, you may enter my Chan Sect and receive my personal teachings!"
The several hundred cultivators were all shocked.
Personal disciples were unlike ordinary disciples.
Their foundations and comprehension had to be among the very finest.
Furthermore, personal disciples received teachings directly from a Saint. That was far more remarkable than merely joining his sect.
But how could becoming a personal disciple be so easy?
Even talent alone required one to be exceptionally gifted.
Not to mention comprehending Mastery of Five Thunders within a hundred years.
As the cultivators discussed fervently, the profound mystery in Saint Yuanshi's palm suddenly transformed into countless streams of light.
Like meteors, the lights fell into the foreheads of everyone present and merged into their Spiritual Seas.
In an instant, Gu Changsheng felt a profound mystery merge into his mind.
He also gained some understanding of the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Arts.
The Thirty-Six Transformations of the Heavenly Gang followed the principles of the land and the principle of spreading Heaven's will. They were the Heavenly Gang, allowing all things in the heavens to transform as one wished. This was the transformative Dao of Heaven and Earth.
The Seventy-Two Transformations of the Earthly Fiends, meanwhile, were transformations of techniques.
Thus came the Thirty-Six Transformations and the Seventy-Two Transformations.
Among the Thirty-Six Transformations of Heavenly Gang were Soaring Earth Golden Light, revival from death, Moving Mountains and Filling Seas, Wandering Spirit Controlling Qi... and thirty-six transformations in all.
Mastery of Five Thunders was one of them.
Mastery of Five Thunders was further divided into Heavenly Thunder, Earthly Thunder, Water Thunder, Divine Thunder, and Community Thunder!
Heavenly Thunder governed tribulations and fortune, subduing heavenly demons!
Earthly Thunder governed prayers for rain and clear skies, restraining Earthly Deities!
Water Thunder governed the command of thunder to bring rain, relieving drought disasters!
Divine Thunder was the Five Elements Divine Thunder, and thus governed slaughter and battle!
Community Thunder summoned and commanded the gods, slaying spirits and eliminating monsters!
Mastery of Five Thunders meant controlling these five kinds of divine thunder, which could subdue demons and exorcise evil, summon deities, and more!
As Gu Changsheng concentrated, he summoned the Primordial System.
"Analyze this profound mystery!"
Since Saint Yuanshi had said that comprehending this divine ability within a hundred years would make one a personal disciple of the Chan Sect.
Before you continue