Laozi Enters the Primordial Desolation, Yunjing Becomes a Daoist Child (Seeking Monthly and Recommendation Votes)

This time, Li Yunjing remained in seclusion for a full thousand years after returning to the mountain. Then one day, Laozi suddenly issued a decree, summoning Li Yunjing to serve as his personal young attendant and accompany him through the Primordial Desolation in search of an opportunity to attain the Dao.

Over the past thousand years, Laozi had vaguely gained some insight. It seemed that his opportunity to attain the Dao was somehow connected to the newly born human race. That was why he decided to descend the mountain and take a look at what was so extraordinary about humanity.

"Yes! Please lead the way, Great Master!"

After descending Mount Kunlun, Laozi lowered his cloud and transformed into an old man dressed in white. With a thought, Li Yunjing's figure flashed, and he took on the appearance of a young attendant, waiting upon Laozi's side.

"A child worth teaching!"

Laozi nodded with a smiling squint. Over the years, the Three Pure Ones Palace had gained a number of young attendants and disciples, but Li Yunjing remained the cleverest and most quick-witted of them all—the one who was most satisfying to employ.

Without needing to say much, Li Yunjing could handle every matter properly and flawlessly. All Three Pure Ones were deeply pleased with him. That was also why, despite already having two Daoist children at his side, Laozi still chose to bring Li Yunjing down the mountain.

Being able to accompany Laozi was such a splendid opportunity that Li Yunjing was beside himself with joy. If he could witness Laozi attain the Dao, that would be a heaven-sent fortune. Besides, accompanying Laozi on this journey was by no means a task that could be completed in a short time. First, he could build a closer relationship with Laozi; second, Laozi possessed abundant wealth, and even a few scraps that slipped through his fingers would be rare opportunities for Li Yunjing.

To accompany Laozi in roaming the Primordial Desolation—among the entire Mystic Gate, only Li Yunjing possessed such qualifications. This was an opportunity he had earned through hundreds of thousands of years of tirelessly currying favor with the Three Pure Ones!

At this moment, Laozi wore a white Daoist robe and plain cloud-patterned boots. He leaned on a walking stick in his right hand, his hair gathered in a Daoist knot. A gentle breeze stirred around him, and a faint, benevolent smile rested on his face. He truly looked like a realized cultivator of the Dao.

Li Yunjing, meanwhile, had red lips and white teeth, appearing as a youthful Daoist child. Supporting Laozi's left arm, he walked neither hurriedly nor slowly across the lands of the Primordial Desolation.

Along the way, they encountered the Witch Race and Demon Race on many occasions. Li Yunjing was already a peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal, so whenever they ran into minor trouble, he could resolve it himself without Laozi needing to act personally.

They also encountered great demons at the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal level who tried to ambush them. Laozi was generous indeed: not only did he give the Taiji Diagram to Li Yunjing for protection, but he also handed over his accompanying Merit Supreme Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, for Li Yunjing to use. With these two supreme treasures, every danger they encountered along the way was neutralized by Li Yunjing.

Within the Primordial Desolation, the great cultivators at the quasi-saint level naturally recognized Laozi. No one would dare come looking for trouble along the way. As for ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, once they encountered Li Yunjing clad from head to toe in treasures, they truly came but never returned. After several rounds of slaughter, Li Yunjing even gained two Innate Spiritual Treasures for free.

Though their quality was not particularly high, they were still rare and valuable items. In the future, he could leave them for his disciples and followers to use. As a third-generation disciple of the Mystic Gate, that would give him considerable face.

There were plenty of other good items as well. The Primordial Desolation was vast and chaotic. As Laozi's young attendant, Li Yunjing slew no fewer than several thousand members of the Demon Race, Witch Race, other factions, Rogue Cultivators, and wild cultivators along the way. The weakest of those unlucky fellows had been Golden Immortals. This journey truly allowed Li Yunjing to make a vast fortune.

When he went out on his own, he was always cautious, fearful of encountering calamity. But following at Laozi's side, with such a backer behind him, his courage became greater than the heavens. Laozi would cover for him anyway. Across the lands of the Primordial Desolation, aside from the Saints, his own Eldest Senior Brother was the most formidable—he feared no one!

They traveled the Primordial Desolation for a full ten thousand years. Laozi often guided Li Yunjing in cultivation, and if not for remaining at Laozi's side, Li Yunjing would already have been able to advance to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

For a powerhouse on the verge of attaining the Dao to quietly devote ten thousand years to instructing him—what kind of fortune was that?

Even his own son could never receive such treatment!

And over those ten thousand years of travel, Li Yunjing also witnessed the human race's desperate circumstances. By now, the Witch Race and Demon Race naturally understood the reason their races' fortunes had declined.

It was precisely for this reason that humanity was rejected by both races, and the Demon Race even hunted humans wantonly.

At first, Di Jun, Tai Yi, and the others still gave Niangniang Nuwa some face. But when they saw Niangniang Nuwa return beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens and retreat into seclusion in Empress Wa's Palace, seemingly having forgotten humanity's existence—

After probing again and again and confirming that Nuwa truly did not care whether humanity lived or died, the Demon Race immediately grew bolder. Though no formal decree had been issued throughout the Demon Race, the demons beneath them had already begun unconsciously targeting humanity.

Hunting and killing humans, treating the newly born human race as blood food, had become a commonplace practice for the Demon Race.

Over these ten thousand years, humanity had long since split into several great tribes, scattered throughout the Primordial Desolation. Everywhere, one could see people teetering on the brink of death.

"Junior Sister Nuwa has indeed gained the Great Dao, yet she has also lost the Great Dao."

Along the way, Laozi saw far too many tragedies. Looking at the scattered, vacant gazes of the humans, they resembled walking corpses. They had no stable source of food, no systematic medicine, no systematic path of cultivation. The entire human race had no hope, no tomorrow.

"Eldest Senior Brother, humanity is suffering too terribly. The human race was created by Niangniang Nuwa and born uniquely favored by Heaven, enjoying one-third of the Primordial Desolation's fortune alone. Yet now, not only does no one care for them and they receive no inheritance, they are also squeezed out by the Witch Race and slaughtered by the Demon Race. If someone could establish a teaching among humanity and enlighten them, that would be wonderful."

As a human himself, Li Yunjing could not bear it either. But his strength was insufficient. Did he dare charge into the Heavenly Court and reason with Di Jun? Or seek out Niangniang Nuwa and complain to a Saint?

In this cold world of the Primordial Desolation, everything followed the law of the jungle. Without strength, one had no right to speak. He could only do his small part. Having traveled throughout the Primordial Desolation and seen far too many tragedies, it was time to offer his Eldest Senior Brother a reminder.

"Establish a teaching? Establish a teaching? Enlighten humanity? Yes! Establish a teaching! Enlighten humanity!"

Laozi had initially paid little attention, but as he carefully savored Li Yunjing's words, two brilliant rays suddenly burst from his eyes, piercing through endless void. The aura of this peak quasi-saint powerhouse actually grew somewhat chaotic.

It radiated unnaturally in all directions. Fortunately, the Heaven and Earth Yellow Exquisite Pagoda hung above Li Yunjing's head, and he held the Taiji Diagram. These two supreme treasures resisted the pressure of the greatest figure beneath the Saints. Otherwise, Li Yunjing's body would already have been crushed by that aura.

"Good! Good! Good! Li Yunjing, you little fellow have rendered great merit! My Dao is accomplished!"

Realizing that he had lost his composure, Laozi withdrew his aura. After saying "good" three times in succession, he finally began praising Li Yunjing.

"Senior Uncle? What happened? What merit have I rendered?" Li Yunjing wore a baffled expression, pretending to know nothing.

"Hahaha! You truly are your Senior Uncle's fine nephew! Come, let us go to humanity's largest gathering place." Laozi patted Li Yunjing's little head and laughed aloud, his delight beyond words.