After bidding farewell to Cloud Dream Marsh, Lin Xuan continued east. The farther he got from Buzhou Mountain, the less violent and dense the spiritual energy became compared to its foothills, yet it also grew more balanced and serene. The mountains and rivers grew increasingly beautiful and graceful, and he occasionally spotted Evasion Lights streaking across the sky, signs of other living beings.
The vast Dao Charm he had sensed at Cloud Dream Marsh lingered in his mind. "Kunlun Mountain..." Those three words seemed to possess a kind of magic, drawing him in. Since he was passing through, why not give it a try? Even if he couldn't become a disciple of a Sage, it would still be worthwhile to catch a distant glimpse and experience the grandeur of the prehistoric world's foremost immortal realm.
Having made up his mind, he adjusted his course and headed toward the approximate location of Kunlun Mountain marked on his map. The closer he got, the clearer the Dao Charm in the air became. It was no longer surging like a tide, but had instead become an omnipresent majesty, as if the entire world obeyed some strict and ancient order.
After traveling for several days, he passed through a barrier of spiritual mist that never dissipated. The view before him suddenly opened up.
An endless range of mountains rose and fell, reaching tens of thousands of feet into the clouds. Seven-colored rays of light shrouded the slopes; immortal herbs grew from the cliffs, and exotic flowers and fruits adorned the branches. Waterfalls and springs cascaded like rivers of stars hanging upside down, while Immortal Cranes and spiritual apes roamed among them. Countless palaces and pavilions had been built along the mountainsides, appearing and disappearing in the clouds and mist. They gleamed with gold and jade, radiating an aura of eternal majesty. The spiritual energy here was so dense that he could feel his cultivation subtly improving with every breath.
"So this is Kunlun Mountain..." Lin Xuan was stunned. Compared to Buzhou Mountain's boundless grandeur, Kunlun Mountain had a more distinctly immortal air about it, with everything in perfect order.
He concealed his aura and made his way up a flight of white-jade steps at the foot of the mountain, clearly carved by human hands. Along the way, he encountered several cultivators riding clouds or Immortal Cranes. All had extraordinary auras. Most merely gave Lin Xuan, who was walking on foot, a cool glance before moving on. None stopped him, but no one spoke to him either.
From his map and the bits of information he had heard along the way, he knew that Kunlun Mountain was the cultivation ground of the Three Pure Ones, but each of the three Sages had his own palace. Heavenly Lord of Morality Laozi was tranquil and inactive, and his residence was hidden away in a place difficult to find. Heavenly Lord of the Spiritual Treasure, Sovereign of the Heavens, was a bold and forthright sort; his cultivation ground, Biyou Palace, was said to be on Jin'ao Island in the East Sea, and he did not often stay in Kunlun. As for Primal Heavenly Lord, he presided over the Chan Sect, and his cultivation ground, the Jade Void Palace, stood atop Kunlun's main peak. It was the mountain's public face.
The Jade Void Palace was Lin Xuan's destination. He thought that even if Primal Heavenly Lord, a Sage, wouldn't take him as a disciple, he could still pay his respects as a junior and express his admiration. Perhaps he might receive some guidance, or at least make himself known?
Halfway up the mountain, a vast complex of palaces appeared before him. White jade formed their foundations, glazed tiles their roofs, and auspicious clouds swirled around them as countless rays of radiance shone forth. The palace gates towered a hundred feet high, bearing three ancient characters of the Great Dao: "Jade Void Palace!" Before them lay an immense plaza paved with warm white jade, its air thick with spiritual energy. Two cultivators who looked like young Daoist attendants stood on either side of the gates. Though they appeared to be quite young, their auras were steady, and both had reached the Refining Spirit to Void stage!
Lin Xuan straightened his clothes, drew a deep breath, and stepped forward. He bowed respectfully to the gate attendants. "This junior is the unaffiliated cultivator Xuanyuanzi. I've traveled here out of admiration for the virtue and might of Primal Heavenly Lord. I respectfully request an audience. Please inform him of my arrival, Immortal attendants."
One of the attendants, with fair skin, clear eyes, and a trace of arrogance in his gaze, looked Lin Xuan up and down. His brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and his tone was flat but distant. "Our patriarch is in secluded cultivation and does not receive guests. What is your background? Who was your master?"
Lin Xuan's heart tightened. He knew this was the crucial moment. He remained humble and answered truthfully. "This junior was born among the Human Race and entered the path of cultivation by chance. I have no fixed master." He deliberately left out the matter of his transmigration and the system.
At this, a knowing look flashed through the attendant's eyes, and his arrogance became more apparent. He shook his head. "You have neither a distinguished background nor a master, yet you're just an unaffiliated cultivator. And you dare come to the Jade Void Palace to seek an audience with our patriarch? Leave at once. Don't disturb Kunlun's peace."
Lin Xuan was taken aback. He hadn't expected such an outright refusal—not even a willingness to pass along his request. Unable to help himself, he said, "Immortal attendant, though I come from humble beginnings, my heart is sincerely devoted to the Dao. I only wish to catch a distant glimpse of the Sage, or perhaps receive a few words of guidance..."
The other attendant, who seemed slightly older and had a rather stern face, spoke up as well, his tone even colder. "The Jade Void Palace is a Sage's cultivation ground. It's no place for an ordinary unaffiliated cultivator to wander into at will. Our patriarch has said that those who would inherit the profound teachings of the Great Dao must first possess good character and spiritual aptitude. They must also have abundant fortune and a pure lineage. You... would be better off seeking your opportunities elsewhere."
"Spiritual aptitude and character... a pure lineage..." Lin Xuan mulled over the words. Seeing the attendants' undisguised disdain for his status as an "unaffiliated cultivator" and a member of the "Human Race," he immediately understood.
The Chan Sect of Primal Heavenly Lord emphasized "following Heaven's will and responding to the people," and valued one's origins, foundations, and fortune. In their eyes, his "innate Human Race" background was probably inferior even to that of beings nurtured by Heaven and Earth, let alone cultivators with renowned masters or prominent family backgrounds. He had neither distinguished origins nor a powerful master. To them, he truly didn't even qualify to knock on the door.
A stifling resentment rose in his chest, but he quickly suppressed it. Arguing with a Sage's attendants would be pointless and only lower his standing.
He said no more. He simply clasped his hands again, his tone calm. "In that case, this junior will take his leave."
With that, he turned and walked down the white-jade steps without hesitation. Behind him, he heard the attendant mutter, "...A mere Human Race nobody, and he dares to dream of..."
Lin Xuan ignored the remark and continued down the steps, leaving the magnificent plaza of the Jade Void Palace behind. The disappointment and frustration he had felt at first were soon replaced by a clear understanding.
"So this is one of the rules of the prehistoric world? Background, origins, and masters..." A faint smile curved his lips. It wasn't bitter, but carried the composure of someone who had seen through the matter. "Fine. At least now I know what it takes to pass the Chan Sect's gates."
He looked up toward the endless clouds and mist in the depths of Kunlun Mountain. The path to the Jade Void Palace was closed to him, but this sacred mountain of the prehistoric world had more than one path.
The system's prompt sounded quietly:
[Host detected experiencing selective rejection based on sect affiliation. Suggestion: Change your target. Perhaps the gates of Biyou Palace on the shores of the East Sea will open to you?]
Lin Xuan's gaze flickered. He had already made up his mind.
If Primal Heavenly Lord's "orthodox path" had no welcome for someone of "shallow origins" like him, then he would seek out the Interception Sect—the sect that taught without discrimination and sought a thread of hope for all living beings!
Before you continue