At last, the mist of the formation ahead churned, and the first person to pass the trial appeared.
"I am Randeng. Greetings, Little Friend Li!"
Looking at the elderly man before him—with a thin, gaunt face, large ears hanging to his shoulders, twin topknots, a Daoist robe of black and yellow, and an otherworldly bearing—Li Yunjing felt disdain in his heart, but he still hurriedly stood and said warmly, "So it is Senior Randeng who has arrived! Li Yunjing of the Interception Sect pays his respects to Senior!"
"Hehe! Little Friend Li, there's no need for such formalities. You and this old Daoist are already acquainted. From now on, we'll both be disciples of the Daoist school, so wouldn't that make us fellow disciples?"
"You're too kind, Senior. You're a Quasi-Saint expert, one of the three thousand Zixiao Guests. You're my senior in every respect. Besides, when my two Uncle-Masters and Teacher attained the Dao, you came to Mount Kunlun to listen to the Dao and even bestowed some Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures upon me. I naturally remember that kindness." Li Yunjing smiled.
"Haha! Little Friend Li, you're simply too courteous!" Randeng shook his head and chuckled before asking, "Little Friend Li, you're a disciple of the Interception Sect. How did you end up here?"
"Uncle-Master Primordial saw that I had nothing to do, so he asked me to receive the disciples who passed the trial here." Li Yunjing gave a brief explanation before continuing, "Senior Randeng, why don't you wait here for a while? Once everyone has arrived, I'll lead you all into the Three Pure Ones Palace to pay your respects to the Saint?"
"Good! Since Little Friend Li is in full charge of matters here, this old Daoist will naturally follow your arrangements." Randeng continued smiling, entirely lacking the imposing manner of a major figure among the Zixiao Guests. He seemed almost to have truly become a third-generation disciple of the Daoist school, just like Li Yunjing.
As for this man, Li Yunjing did not draw too close to him. Randeng would become the future Vice Sect Master of the Exposition Sect, and Uncle-Master Primordial had elevated his seniority by one generation. If Li Yunjing treated Randeng as an equal now, he would be the one left embarrassed in the future. Why bother?
Over the next dozen years, two more people emerged from the formation set up by the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. Old Immortal Nanji and Yunzhongzi, both Grand Unity Golden Immortal experts, joined the Exposition Sect. They were both veteran experts of the Primordial World, their status no lower than the Great Witches of the Witch Race or the demon gods of the Demon Race. Li Yunjing was much more enthusiastic upon meeting them.
After chatting for a while, both sides became acquainted. Like Randeng, the two men were curious how a disciple of the Interception Sect had become their guide into the Exposition Sect.
However, being newcomers and facing a "veteran" like Li Yunjing, they obediently followed his arrangements. They stood outside the formation and waited for the others to arrive.
Several more decades passed. Guangchengzi, Chijingzi, True Person Jade Cauldron, Taiyi Zhenren, True Person Yellow Dragon, Manjusri Dharma Heavenly Lord, True Person Samantabhadra, Daoist Cihang, Grand Master Lingbao, Juliusun, Heavenly Lord Daoxing, and True Lord Qingxu Morality appeared.
At this time, these people had no titles, and Li Yunjing only knew that they were the Exposition Sect's twelve direct disciples—the twelve Golden Immortals of the Exposition Sect, who would become famous throughout the Three Realms in the future.
Compared with Randeng, Old Immortal Nanji, and Yunzhongzi, these people had far less cultivation. They were merely minor figures in the Celestial Immortal realm. Upon learning that Li Yunjing was their guide and also a powerful Grand Unity Golden Immortal, they all stepped forward to pay their respects, calling him "Senior Brother" one after another. Li Yunjing felt secretly delighted. Once these fellows rose to prominence in the future, they would not be nearly so easy to deal with.
In the future, if Li Yunjing wanted to discuss anything with them, he feared he would have to fight them first. Otherwise, they would certainly refuse to submit.
After the twelve appeared, the formation arranged by the Primordial Heavenly Venerate suddenly dispersed. The entire mountain range was revealed, yet not a single living creature remained. Clearly, the people beside Li Yunjing were the Exposition Sect's entire second-generation force.
"Very well! Follow me to the Three Pure Ones Palace to pay your respects to the Saint."
When Li Yunjing mentioned the Saint, his expression turned solemn, no longer bearing any trace of his earlier amiable Senior Brother manner. Seeing the group's expressions grow solemn, he nodded in satisfaction. With a dignified air, he turned and led the fifteen Exposition Sect disciples toward the Three Pure Ones Palace atop the mountain.
Li Yunjing had imitated Uncle-Master Primordial's manner almost perfectly.
The journey passed in silence. Thanks to Li Yunjing's mischievous streak, everyone wore solemn expressions as they respectfully made their way toward the summit of Mount Kunlun.
Mount Kunlun was the Primordial World's second greatest immortal mountain, towering and majestic. Under Li Yunjing's guidance, Randeng, Yunzhongzi, and Old Immortal Nanji fared somewhat better, but the other Celestial Immortal-level youngsters suffered terribly. Every icy wind that swept through the mountains let out a mournful "whoo, whoo," as though a sharp blade were slicing through their flesh.
However, they were all people of firm will. They gritted their teeth and climbed step by step without uttering a single complaint. After secretly observing them for a while, Li Yunjing was full of praise. The twelve Golden Immortals truly deserved to be the prized disciples of the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. No wonder every one of them would achieve great things in the future.
At last, after enduring countless hardships, the group reached the mountaintop under Li Yunjing's guidance. Before their eyes stood an incomparably magnificent Daoist palace. Its surroundings gleamed with gold and jade, while several enormous coiling-dragon pillars supported the dome like pillars of heaven.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth transformed into multicolored auspicious clouds drifting around the main hall. The radiance of the sun, moon, and stars shone down through the dome, transformed into majestic yet gentle innate stellar force that flowed throughout the hall.
"This is the Three Pure Ones Palace, the Saint's Daoist sanctuary. Wait here for now. I'll be back shortly."
After turning back to give them a brief instruction, Li Yunjing stepped into the Jade Pure Palace and paid his respects to the Primordial Heavenly Venerate. He reported every detail of the trial. Even though the Saint could perceive the Heavenly Secrets and see everything clearly, Li Yunjing still gave the Primordial Heavenly Venerate a thorough account of the situation.
"Mm. Very good. Yunjing, you may go back." The Primordial Heavenly Venerate nodded, highly satisfied with Li Yunjing's meticulous attitude toward his duties.
"Yes! This disciple takes his leave!"
After bowing, Li Yunjing retreated backward out of the Primordial Heavenly Venerate's palace. He planned to visit the Upper Pure Palace as well, since he had no idea how many disciples his own teacher had accepted.
He estimated that Myriad Immortals Come to Court would probably be impossible, but judging from the quality of this round of disciples, accepting several hundred of them should be entirely possible given Sect Master Tongtian's temperament.
Before he even left the Three Pure Ones Palace, Uncle-Master Primordial had naturally made arrangements for the Exposition Sect disciples. There was no need for Li Yunjing to personally lead them inside. He turned right and soon returned to the Upper Pure Palace.
Sure enough, because Li Yunjing had deliberately put the Exposition Sect disciples through such an ordeal, the trial at Sect Master Tongtian's side had also concluded. A full three hundred newcomers had entered the sect.
Wuyunxian, Jingu Xian, Piluxian, Qiushouxian, Lingyaxian, Jinguangxian, Long-Eared Dingguang Xian, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, Bixiao, Fairy Caiyun, Zhao Gongming, and many other Interception Sect immortals who would become famous in later generations had all appeared in the main hall.
When Li Yunjing arrived at the Upper Pure Palace, he first paid his respects to Sect Master Tongtian and explained what Uncle-Master Primordial had instructed him to do. Sect Master Tongtian merely waved his hand, completely unconcerned. Now that the Three Pure Ones were one family, his second brother's matters were no different from his own. His disciple helping his second brother was just like helping him.
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