The Spirit Realm, atop some sea of clouds.
Ling Tianzi played chess with an old woman. The game was locked in stalemate, black and white pieces battling fiercely, neither willing to yield.
Behind him stood his first senior brother, the Slovenly Daoist; his second senior sister, Leng Nuan; and his third senior brother, Li Shanqing, all respectfully waiting.
Suddenly, just as Ling Tianzi was pinching a chess piece and pondering his move, his eyes sharpened. He looked into the clouds. That one glance seemed to pierce the Myriad Realms, see through the Three Realms and Six Paths, and behold, within the Demon Realm, the Supreme Avatar revealed amid the ninety million li of tribulation lightning.
"Hahahaha!" Ling Tianzi suddenly threw back his head and laughed aloud, overcome with excitement and joy. "Hahaha! Hahaha! Good! Good, good!"
The old woman playing against Ling Tianzi looked baffled, while the three disciples behind him all frowned in unison.
Leng Nuan asked, "Master, why are you laughing?"
Ling Tianzi laughed. "Your junior brother just underwent his tribulation in the Demon Realm. Not only did he survive the ordinary tribulation and Heaven's Wrath Tribulation, he also gained the recognition of the Supreme Tribulation and condensed the Supreme Avatar!"
"The Supreme of Heaven and Earth—immortals and Buddhas bow their heads, and all living beings prostrate themselves!"
"Hahaha! Tell me, how could I not be happy?"
"My disciple, Ling Tianzi's disciple, is the Supreme of Heaven and Earth!"
"How could I not be happy? How could I not laugh?"
Ling Tianzi laughed uproariously in excitement. Looking toward the Demon Realm, he said, "One day, I, Ling Tianzi, will announce before every powerhouse in the Myriad Realms that Lin Bai is my disciple!"
Upon hearing this, Li Shanqing asked excitedly, "Really, Master? Is it true? Junior Brother really