The Golden-Winged Roc's divine ability had evolved instinctively. As a "wild monster" without any inheritance, it was extremely envious of Li Yunjing's astonishing divine abilities.
"Rumble!"
Outside the valley, the heavens collapsed and the earth split apart. Flying sand and rolling stones filled the air, leaving devastation everywhere, as if the place had just suffered a massive earthquake.
The two Profound Immortal experts urged their magical power and bombarded the area for a full half an hour. Yet the restriction outside the valley remained completely unmoved. Thoroughly frustrated, they stopped and began regulating their breaths.
"Stop wasting your effort! Even if there's an Innate Spiritual Treasure in the valley, it has nothing to do with us!" Li Yunjing sighed. During the Lich-Demon War era, mere Profound Immortals were no more than ants. Although they knew the valley surely contained an unparalleled inheritance, the two of them simply could not enter.
"Alas! What terrible luck! Looks like we'll have to wait until we cultivate to the Golden Immortal realm before coming back to try our luck!" The Golden-Winged Roc transformed into human form again and came to Li Yunjing's side, sighing repeatedly.
Just as Li Yunjing and the Golden-Winged Roc were helpless against the restriction outside the valley, three clouds of auspicious radiance drifted over from the sky. Three Daoists exuded pressure that shook the six directions and eight wastes. Before they even approached the valley, Li Yunjing and the Golden-Winged Roc already felt as if they could barely breathe.
"Grand Unity Golden Immortals! True Grand Unity Golden Immortals!"
Li Yunjing shouted inwardly. With the inheritance of the Demon God of Destruction, he was naturally knowledgeable. Three flowers bloomed above the heads of these three Daoists, while Heavenly Flowers Scattering descended all around them. They were clearly supreme experts of the Daoist school.
A nine-colored lotus flower canopy covered their heads, while seven-colored auspicious clouds bore up their feet.
They possessed the Immortality of Ten Thousand Calamities and boundless longevity.
Their divine abilities were vast and their magical power inexhaustible. They could subdue demons and exorcise devils, Summon Wind and Rain, and Move Mountains and Overturn Seas. The Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm was the ultimate goal of ordinary Immortal Gods. As for proving the Dao, that was something for the Innate Great Divine Ability Users to consider.
Now that three Grand Unity Golden Immortals who advanced and retreated together had appeared, they had to be the Three Pure Ones of the Daoist school: Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Jiaozhu.
The old Daoist in the center of the auspicious clouds had a tall, imposing figure, a long white beard, and white hair. He wore a kindly smile and looked benevolent and approachable. Dressed in a Daoist robe and wearing a Daoist crown, he held a staff in his hand. His eyes were wise and profound, as if he understood the Heavenly Dao and held the secrets of life and death for all things in his grasp.
The middle-aged Daoist to the old Daoist's left had thick brows and a naturally imposing air. He wore a white Daoist robe and a purple might crown, and held a jade wishful scepter. His expression was dignified, as if he were the lord of all things and the leader of the gods.
The young man in the azure Daoist robe on the far right had sword-shaped brows that swept into his temples and a heroic air covering his face. His long hair hung loose over his shoulders. His expression was solemn, and he held a treasured sword, radiating a sharp, intimidating aura.
The moment he saw the three supreme leaders of the Daoist school descend from the clouds, Li Yunjing grabbed the Golden-Winged Roc, bowed to the ground, and called out, "This loose cultivator from Mount Wuyi, Li Yunjing, pays his respects to the three Immortal Elders! This is the Enlightenment Spirit Tea treasured by this humble cultivator. Having the honor of seeing your Immortal countenances today, I specially offer it to the three Immortal Elders!"
As he spoke, Li Yunjing took out three exquisite wooden boxes and raised them high above his head, his expression filled with utmost respect.
These three boxes were no ordinary boxes. They had been personally refined by Li Yunjing from branches of the Five Elements Fruit Tree, an Innate Spiritual Root. If they were brought to later generations, they would be treasures over which countless cultivators would fight until their heads bled.
Even in this era, the three boxes were far from useless. From this, one could see how long Li Yunjing had planned for today and how much effort he had put in, all to win the faintest smile from the three leaders of the Daoist school.
"Oh? Little cultivator, you recognize us?" Tongtian revealed an amused expression. The Three Pure Ones currently lived on Mount Kunlun, countless billions of miles from Mount Buzhou. Who would have thought that a mere Profound Immortal would appear to recognize their origins?
"Replying to the Immortal Elder! This humble cultivator naturally recognizes the three Immortal Elders. Although I have never met you before, I have long heard of your great reputations. I know that the three of you are disciples of Dao Ancestor Hongjun and that you will surely prove the Dao and become the future supreme figures of the Daoist school—the Primordial Chaos Grand Unity Golden Immortals!" Li Yunjing continued speaking loudly, still holding the boxes high in his hands.
"You have some knowledge after all!" The usually stern and unsmiling Yuanshi Tianzun rarely nodded, a faint, nearly imperceptible smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
"Li Yunjing, you're offering the spirit tea. Do you have something to ask of us?" Seeing Li Yunjing's respectful attitude, Taishang Laojun actually asked him a question.
"This disciple merely admires the three Immortal Venerables and hopes to serve at your sides. Other than that, I have nothing to ask for!" Li Yunjing replied.
"Hahahaha! You little fellow, you're quite clever!" Yuanshi Tianzun laughed heartily before turning to Tongtian Jiaozhu. "Third Brother, you've already taken four disciples anyway. This person underwent Shapeshifting from Chaos Qi, so he can be considered an innate spirit. His aptitude is decent. Why don't you take him in?"
Before Tongtian Jiaozhu could reply, Li Yunjing fell to his knees with a thud and shouted, "Many thanks to Eldest Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother for taking me in! This disciple pays respects to his Master! May Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, and Master prove the Dao soon, become imperishable through ten thousand calamities, and enjoy boundless sacred longevity!"
At that moment, Li Yunjing did not forget to tug at the Golden-Winged Roc. The Golden-Winged Roc still had no idea what was happening, but he followed Li Yunjing and began banging his head against the ground repeatedly.
To join the disciples of the Three Pure Ones, Li Yunjing did not put on the slightest false act. He dispersed all his magical power and slammed his head hard against the ground again and again. Before long, the area before him had already been stained red.
"Good! From now on, you will enter my sect and become my fifth true disciple. Since you underwent Shapeshifting from Chaos Qi, you will be called Chaos Child!" Tongtian Jiaozhu looked pleased. This disciple understood propriety, possessed a sincere attitude, and knew what an incredible opportunity it was to become a disciple of the Three Pure Ones in the Primordial World.
"I beg the Immortal to take in this little demon! This little demon is likewise willing to serve at the Immortal's side." The Golden-Winged Roc, who had been dazed this whole time, finally reacted. Li Yunjing is quite the loyal fellow!
"All right! Since you possess this opportunity, I'll accept you into my sect as well. From now on, you will be called Winged Immortal!" Tongtian Jiaozhu did not pay much attention to this little demon, but neither did he refuse. He agreed casually. However, Li Yunjing still noticed the difference: he was Tongtian's fifth true disciple, while Winged Immortal's status was not mentioned at all. Clearly, he was not a direct disciple of the Daoist school.
But Winged Immortal?
Could this Golden-Winged Roc fellow really have an impressive background? Did he truly possess the bloodline of the Golden-Winged Great Peng?
That unlucky fellow would not meet a good end during the Investiture of the Gods. If it was within his power, he still had to save his life.
Now that he had entered the sect, Li Wutian stepped forward and respectfully presented the apprenticeship gifts he had prepared to the Three Pure Ones.
This time, the three leaders of the Daoist school accepted the Enlightenment Spirit Tea. When they opened the boxes and took a look, surprise appeared in their eyes. Li Yunjing was quite capable—he had actually obtained an Innate Spiritual Root.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Master, this Enlightenment Spirit Tea bears fruit once every three thousand years. Every three thousand years, this disciple will honor the three elders and offer you the newest Enlightenment Spirit Tea." Seeing their surprise, Li Yunjing hurriedly explained.
Before you continue