A Saint's lecture was exceedingly profound, containing the Heaven-Earth Ultimate Truth and the Great Dao Essence.
Very few could understand it.
Most living beings were muddled and confused, as though listening to a Heavenly Book.
They understood neither this nor that, and could not figure anything out no matter how they guessed.
It was utterly agonizing.
It was like showing mathematics at Gauss's level to an elementary school student who had just learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
Those beings who could not even understand a Saint's lecture naturally had no affinity with the Jie Sect.
After this, they would not be admitted into the Jie Sect.
Only beings who comprehended some part of the Saint's lecture were qualified to join the Jie Sect.
This was affinity and fate.
In the Prehistoric World, although Sect Master Tongtian was said to carve out a sliver of life for all beings of Heaven and Earth, that did not mean he would blindly and endlessly accept disciples.
Everything depended on affinity and fate.
Today, his public lecture was already a blessing for those beings who had managed to reach Jin'ao Island to hear it.
Only if they gained something and comprehended some of the Shangqing Original Intent could they be said to possess Master-Disciple Affinity.
They could then enter the Jie Sect.
If they could not comprehend it...
Cangyuan was wholly immersed in the Great Dao expounded by the Saint.
The Great Dao explained by the Saint was an immense Creation to them!
Ordinary beings, after undergoing Form Transformation and attaining the Dao, possessed no profound methods beyond instinctively absorbing Innate Spiritual Energy. Their cultivation speed was hardly any faster than a crawling turtle.
Races with ancient inheritances, such as the Dragon, Phoenix, Qilin Clans, were better off. Great powers presided over their clans, and complete cultivation methods had been passed down through generations.
Beings like Cangyuan, the Three Xiao, and Zhao Gongming, who had only recently undergone Form Transformation, belonged to the category without inheritances.
Innate Beings did not possess the innate knowledge of Innate Divine Beings.
Within the Cangyuan Realm.
The dazzling white radiance emitted by the World Purifying White Lotus illuminated the entire Cangyuan Realm.
Legend had it that the World Purifying White Lotus could also improve one's comprehension.
Cangyuan now experienced it firsthand.
A boost to his comprehension!
Cangyuan said, "So I can be this smart too?"
This lecture lasted a full ten thousand years.
When the ten-thousand-year period came to an end, Sect Master Tongtian stopped lecturing and called out, "Awaken!"
Some beings who had fallen into deep cultivation instantly awoke.
A very small number of beings were comprehending the Saint's lecture.
Most beings could not understand it at all, so they cultivated by absorbing the Innate Spiritual Energy on Jin'ao Island using their own methods.
Cangyuan had gained immensely over these ten thousand years.
Not only had he comprehended the Shangqing Marvelous Method, his cultivation had also broken through from Mid Golden Immortal to Late Golden Immortal!
Moreover, he had reached Late Golden Immortal Perfection, just one step away from Peak Golden Immortal.
Countless beings bowed again. "Thank you, Saint, for lecturing to us."
"Mm."
Sect Master Tongtian gave a faint hum and said, "Those who failed to comprehend my Shangqing True Intent may leave now."
The beings who had failed to comprehend the Shangqing Mystery revealed regretful expressions. Some despaired, while others were unwilling to accept it, but in the end, they all cupped their hands in salute and departed one after another.
Throwing a tantrum before a Saint and begging to be accepted?
Did they think that made any sense, brothers?
It was unreasonable, but it could get them killed.
There had originally been tens of millions of beings gathered both inside and outside Jin'ao Island!
Yet only around ten thousand remained now.
After those beings departed, Sect Master Tongtian looked at the remaining ten thousand or so disciples with satisfaction. "Not bad. You have comprehended some of the Shangqing Mystery and share affinity with me. You may enter my Jie Sect as Registered Disciples!"
"Greetings, Master!"
The ten thousand or so beings performed the disciple-acceptance ceremony together and shouted in unison, their voices shaking the Nine Heavens. The Jie Sect had already begun to display the grand scene of Myriad Immortals Come to Court.
"Mm."
Sect Master Tongtian's Saintly gaze swept over the Ten Thousand Immortals below, intending to choose several gifted disciples to enter the outer sect.
"Mm? An Innate Wisp of Clear Wind that underwent Form Transformation? Your foundation is quite good. You are untainted by karmic slaughter, possess deep fortune, and share profound Master-Disciple Affinity with me..."
"What is your name?"
Zhao Gongming froze. He had not expected the Saint to ask the name of a mere Registered Disciple like himself.
Daring not to delay, Zhao Gongming hurriedly saluted. "In reply to Master, this disciple is named Zhao Gongming."
"From this day forth, you are my Outer Disciple. You shall be the Senior Outer Disciple Brother and assist your Senior Brother Duobao in managing the Ten Thousand Immortals of the Jie Sect."
Sect Master Tongtian said.
Outer Disciples and Registered Disciples were worlds apart in status.
Their treatment was likewise vastly different.
The ten thousand or so Jie Sect disciples looked at Zhao Gongming with deep envy.
Zhao Gongming hurriedly bowed in thanks. "This disciple shall obey Master's decree!"
"Mm."
Sect Master Tongtian noticed the Three Xiao beside Zhao Gongming.
"Three Innate Colorful Clouds that underwent Form Transformation... You also share profound Master-Disciple Affinity with me. The three of you may enter my outer sect."
"Yunxiao..."
"Qiongxiao..."
"Bixiao..."
"Thank you, Master!"
The Three Xiao, having been named, were overwhelmed with excitement and hurriedly thanked Sect Master Tongtian.
They had not expected that the four siblings would earn Sect Master Tongtian's favor. Not only had they entered the Jie Sect, they had immediately become Outer Disciples.
How could they not be excited?
There was no need to mention Bixiao; she was practically about to start jumping.
Even Yunxiao, who was usually composed, became delighted.
However, when she thought of Cangyuan, Yunxiao suppressed her excitement and bowed. "Reporting to Master, Senior Brother Cangyuan's foundation is no worse than ours. He is kind and generous, possesses deep fortune, and is an outstanding Innate Being..."
Though Yunxiao did not say it outright, at this point, it was no different from saying it directly.
The Ten Thousand Immortals were shocked.
They had not expected Yunxiao, having only just become an Outer Disciple, to dare recommend someone to a Saint as a disciple candidate.
That was incredibly bold.
If she displeased the Saint, forget whether Cangyuan could become an Outer Disciple. Even the outer disciple status of the three sisters might be revoked, and they could be demoted back to Registered Disciples.
"Damn!" Cangyuan was also stunned, inwardly shouting, Damn, they said Qiongxiao was the reckless one who hated using her brain, and Bixiao was the silly fool with no brains. But now it looks like you, Yunxiao, are the boldest of them all!
That made sense. Bixiao would at most insult a Saint, but Yunxiao was a fierce character who dared attack a Saint directly.
Still, Cangyuan could not help but feel touched.
Saving them had not been in vain.
Sister Yunxiao was too righteous.
When it came to righteousness, no one could compare to Yunxiao.
In truth, Cangyuan was nervous too.
He feared he would be unable to join the outer sect.
After all, there had been no one like him in the predetermined trajectory of Destiny.
"Oh?"
Sect Master Tongtian did not grow angry. Instead, he became interested, and his Saintly gaze fell upon Cangyuan.
A Saint's Dharma Eye was omniscient and omnipotent.
Sect Master Tongtian saw through Cangyuan's background at a glance.
"So he was transformed from an Innate Spiritual Treasure, and his true body is even a Sea Calming Pearl."
Sect Master Tongtian wore a strange, amused expression. "A Sea Calming Pearl? I happen to possess twenty-four of them.
"If this child merges with the origins of these Twenty-Four Sea Calming Pearls, he may perhaps achieve the foundation of an Innate Divine Being."
There were only so many Innate Divine Beings in the Prehistoric World who were born with innate knowledge.
Their number was fixed.
The Human, Chan, and Jie Sects had many disciples, but those with outstanding foundations were at most top-tier Innate Beings.
None possessed the foundation of an Innate Divine Being.
Oh, right.
Second Brother's Chan Sect did have a Vice Sect Master who was an Innate Divine Being.
Sect Master Tongtian became interested.
He wondered whether he could artificially cultivate an Innate Divine Being.
"Mm? This Little Pearl actually used his own true body to open up a Lesser Thousand World."
With his Saint's Dharma Eye, which saw through the past, present, and future, Sect Master Tongtian saw at a glance that Cangyuan's Inner World possessed the potential to become one of the Great Worlds of the Heavens.
Once a Great World of the Heavens empowered his body, that combat strength...
Tongtian found the thought amusing just imagining it.
And that was only one Great World of the Heavens.
What if twenty-five Great Worlds of the Heavens empowered his body?
He might become the foremost of the Second Generation of the Three Sects.
Before a Saint, the restrictions within the Cangyuan Realm were as nonexistent as air.
Yet Sect Master Tongtian did not inspect the interior of the Cangyuan Realm.
He had no habit of prying into his disciples' secrets.
Sect Master Tongtian chuckled. "You may enter the outer sect. From this day forth, you shall be my Fifth Outer Disciple."
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