In Front of the Jade Void Palace, Why Was I Shut Out?

After bidding farewell to Cloud Dream Marsh, Lin Xuan continued eastward. The further he traveled from Buzhou Mountain, the less violent and dense the spiritual energy became, settling into a more balanced and peaceful state. The landscapes grew more beautiful and refined, with occasional streaks of light flashing across the sky, indicating the presence of living beings.

A profound Dao rhythm he had felt in Cloud Dream Marsh lingered in his heart. "Kunlun Mountain..." The words themselves seemed to hold a magical allure, drawing him in. Since he was passing through the area, why not try his luck? Even if he couldn't join a sage's sect, just catching a glimpse from afar and experiencing the supreme immortal aura of the Primordial Era would be worthwhile.

With his mind made up, he adjusted his direction and headed towards the general location of Kunlun Mountain as marked on his map. The closer he got, the clearer the Dao rhythm in the air became. While it no longer surged like a tide, it transformed into a pervasive majesty, as if the entire world adhered to some strict and ancient order.

After several days of travel, he passed through a barrier of perpetual spiritual mist, and the scene before him opened up dramatically.

Endless mountain ranges stretched out, rising tens of thousands of feet high and piercing the clouds. The mountains were bathed in multicolored light, with spiritual herbs and immortal grasses growing on the cliffs, and wondrous flowers and exotic fruits adorning the branches. Waterfalls cascaded down like a silver river, with immortal cranes and spiritual apes frolicking among them. Countless palaces and pavilions were built into the mountainside, appearing and disappearing within the mist, resplendent and radiating an ancient, majestic aura. The spiritual energy here was so dense that he felt his cultivation subtly increasing with every breath.

"This is Kunlun Mountain..." Lin Xuan was awestruck. Compared to the vast and imposing Buzhou Mountain, Kunlun Mountain exuded a more refined and orderly immortal grandeur.

He concealed his aura and began ascending along a clearly man-made stone staircase paved with white jade at the foot of the mountain. Along the way, he encountered several cultivators riding clouds or immortal cranes. They all possessed extraordinary auras. Most of them merely cast indifferent glances at Lin Xuan, who was walking, and continued on their way without obstruction, though no one paid him any mind.

Based on his map and scattered information heard along the way, he knew that Kunlun Mountain was the Daoist sanctuary of the Three Pure Ones, but each of the three sages had their own palace. The Heavenly Lord of Morality, Laozi, who practiced quietude and non-action, resided in a place of profound mystery. The Heavenly Lord of the Spiritual Treasure, Sovereign of the Heavens, was known for his bold personality, and his Daoist sanctuary, Biyou Palace, was said to be on Jin'ao Island in the East Sea, meaning he did not reside permanently on Kunlun. As for the Primal Heavenly Lord, he presided over the Chan Sect, and his Daoist sanctuary, Jade Void Palace, was located on the main peak of Kunlun, serving as its "face" to the outside world.

Lin Xuan's objective was Jade Void Palace. He thought to himself, "As a sage, even if Primal Heavenly Lord doesn't accept disciples, perhaps if I, as a junior, request an audience and express my admiration, I might receive some guidance, or at least become familiar to him?"

Halfway up the mountain, a magnificent palace complex appeared before him. The palaces were built on a foundation of white jade with glazed tiles, surrounded by auspicious clouds and radiant streams of light. The palace gate, a hundred feet high, bore three ancient and powerful divine characters: "Jade Void Palace"! In front of the gate was a vast plaza paved with smooth white jade, filled with swirling spiritual energy. Two cultivators resembling Daoist boys guarded the sides of the palace gate. Though they appeared young, their auras were profound, possessing cultivation levels of Refining Spirit to Void!

Lin Xuan straightened his clothes, took a deep breath, and walked forward. He bowed respectfully to the gate-keeping Daoist boys: "This junior, a rogue cultivator named Xuanyuanzi, has traveled here and admires the virtue of Sage Primal Heavenly Lord. I have come to pay my respects. Please inform him, honored attendants."

One of the Daoist boys, with a fair complexion and clear eyes tinged with a hint of arrogance, scrutinized Lin Xuan from head to toe. He frowned almost imperceptibly and said in a flat, distant tone, "The Ancestor is in seclusion and does not receive outside guests. What is your background? Where is your sect?"

Lin Xuan's heart tightened, knowing this was the crucial moment. He maintained his humility and replied truthfully, "This junior originates from the Human Race. I chanced upon an opportunity to embark on the Daoist path and have no fixed master." He deliberately omitted the parts about transmigration and his system.

Upon hearing this, the Daoist boy's eyes flashed with understanding, and his arrogance became more pronounced. He shook his head, "With no background and no master, a mere rogue cultivator, you dare to come to Jade Void Palace to seek an audience with the Ancestor? Leave quickly, lest you disturb the tranquility of Kunlun."

Lin Xuan was taken aback, surprised by the abrupt refusal, not even willing to announce his arrival. He couldn't help but say, "Honored attendant, although this junior's origins are humble, my heart's desire for the Dao is sincere. I only wish to glimpse the sage from afar, or perhaps receive a word of guidance..."

The other Daoist boy, slightly older and with a more stern expression, also spoke, his tone even colder, "Jade Void Palace is a sage's sanctuary, not a place where ordinary rogue cultivators can casually tread! The Ancestor has decreed that the profound gates of the Great Dao first value one's roots, character, and blessings. Only those with pure origins and profound destiny are worthy of inheritance. You... should seek your fortune elsewhere."

"Roots, character... pure origins..." Lin Xuan pondered these words, observing the undisguised disdain in the Daoist boys' eyes for his identity as a "rogue cultivator" and "Human Race" member. He understood immediately.

Primal Heavenly Lord's Chan Sect emphasized "following heaven and responding to people," valuing origin, foundation, and destiny. His "innate Human Race" background, in their eyes, was likely inferior to beings born from heaven and earth, let alone compared to cultivators with renowned masters or from great clans. Lacking a distinguished background and a powerful master, he was, in their view, not even qualified to knock on the door.

A surge of frustration welled up in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it. Arguing with a sage's attendant would be meaningless and would only lower his own status.

He said no more, merely cupped his hands again and said calmly, "Since that is the case, this junior shall take his leave."

With that, he turned and walked down the white jade steps without hesitation. Faint voices of the Daoist boys could be heard behind him, "...a mere Human Race rogue cultivator, daring to be so presumptuous..."

Lin Xuan ignored them, walking step by step away from the magnificent Jade Void Palace plaza. The initial disappointment and frustration were quickly replaced by a clear realization.

"Is this one of the rules of the Primordial Era? Roots, origin, master..." A faint smile touched his lips, not one of bitterness, but of calm clarity after understanding. "Very well, this at least allows me to see the threshold of the Chan Sect."

He looked up towards the depths of Kunlun Mountain's endless mist. The path to Jade Void Palace was blocked, but this divine mountain of the Primordial Era was not without other routes.

The system's prompt sounded quietly: "[Detected that the host has encountered faction-based selective exclusion. Suggestion: Change target. Perhaps the gates of Biyou Palace on the shores of the East Sea will open for the host?]"

Lin Xuan's eyes flickered; he had made his decision.

Since Primal Heavenly Lord's "orthodox path" did not welcome someone of his "shallow roots," he would go seek the "Jie Sect," which "teaches all beings without distinction" and intercepts a sliver of life for all sentient beings!