Master and Disciple's Ultimate Understanding

Su Miao's little head was completely occupied by the glittering golden concept of a "lifetime VIP Master who provides food, lodging, teaching, mastery, and unconditional protection"!

The more she thought about it, the more sense it made. The more she thought about it, the more she felt this was the best shortcut for putting down roots in the Primordial World and reaching the pinnacle of lotus life!

"Find a Master! I absolutely have to find a good Master!"

She clenched her tiny fists, and blazing flames of "thirst for knowledge" and thigh-hugging ambition burned in her big eyes.

She began searching even more diligently through the sea of inherited information, trying to find something like a "Directory of Renowned Teachers," a "Great Experts Ranking," or a "Primordial Gold-Medal Mentor Recommendation List."

However, the inherited information was as vast as the sea. As for which Great Experts took disciples, what their character was like, or how strong they were, the records were mostly vague and unclear, or else no more than blurred legends and honorific titles.

Things like "Daoist Hongjun," "Great Immortal Yang Mei," "Old Ancestor Qiankun," "Old Ancestor Yin Yang"...

They all sounded formidable, but where exactly were they?

What did they look like?

What were their standards for accepting disciples?

She knew none of it!

This left Su Miao somewhat discouraged.

She was like a fresh job seeker holding a top headhunting firm's list but without any phone numbers or addresses—full of passion, yet with no way to submit her résumé.

"What should I do..."

Her little lips drooped as she looked at the empty Immortal Island, where there was nothing but Treasures and flowers and grass. A sense of loneliness and helplessness quietly surfaced again.

She was so small, unfamiliar with the world, and even an otherworldly soul. Where was she supposed to find the perfect Master who was powerful, reliable, and willing to "cover her for life"?

What if she ran into a scammer?

Did the Primordial World have shell companies?

Could a Master trick a disciple into mining?

The more she thought about it, the more bleak her future seemed.

Suddenly, a Spiritual Light flashed through her little head!

That's right!

When there were difficulties, find... the Heavenly Dao!

Wasn't that Heavenly Dao AI administrator responsible for maintaining the world's balance?

It definitely knew which "Great Experts" were trustworthy and which were pitfalls!

And it seemed like... it was actually pretty easy to talk to?

Primordial Heavenly Dao: ???

It was so powerful and governed the entire Primordial World. It surely knew which Great Expert had good character, great strength, and liked taking disciples, right?

Maybe it could even give her an internal recommendation?

It was like being unable to find a job and directly calling the director of the Human Resources and Social Security Bureau for help!

It felt a little exaggerated, but she might as well treat a dead horse like a living one!

Trying didn't cost money!

No sooner said than done!

Su Miao immediately lifted her head and gazed up at the Lapis Purple sky, where Stars were gradually emerging. She pressed her hands together, arranged the most pitiful, innocent, and hopeful expression on her little face, and began her Prayer with the most sincere intent she could muster:

"Hello? Big-shot Heavenly Dao administrator? Rules system Eldest Brother? Are you there? Are you there? Can you hear me?"

"Look, I'm just a weak, pitiful, helpless two-year-old baby. I even accidentally crippled myself through cultivation. I don't know anyone or anything here, and in this Primordial World, I have no family to look to and no one to rely on..."

"I listened to you and studied properly, though I didn't really understand much. I've also worked hard to survive here... But! The outside world looks so dangerous! I'm so weak—what if I go out and get bullied? What if my Treasures get stolen? What if I get turned into lotus stew?"

"So! Could I trouble you to be kind and, seeing as I'm a 'legal immigrant' personally stamped and certified by the Primordial Great Dao, introduce me to a reliable 'old Master'?"

She began counting her requirements on her chubby fingers:

"My standards aren't high! Really! First, they have to be powerful! Very powerful! The especially powerful kind! Otherwise, they won't be able to hold the fort, and they won't be able to teach me much either, right?"

"Second, they need to have a better temper and be patient. They can't go around hitting and scolding students at the drop of a hat. It'd be best if they were protective too! The kind where, 'Only I can bully my disciple. If anyone else touches even a finger of hers, you're dead!'"

"And lastly... lastly, it'd be best if they provided food and lodging... The environment can't be too bad either, since I'm used to the Three Lights Divine Water here... If they could give me some spending money to buy pretty little dresses, that would be even better..."

The more she spoke, the more she felt that her demands were perfectly reasonable. This was simply the perfect solution tailored just for her!

"Please! Big-shot Heavenly Dao! Help me out! Pull some strings, build a bridge, and introduce someone to me! This 'Master-disciple Fate' is also an important part of Primordial World 'local customs,' isn't it? You definitely have a list! Pick the best one for me, okay?"

As she spoke, she even bent over and gave a proper little bow. Her tiny appearance was both pitiful and comical.

Just as Su Miao chattered at the sky and made her outrageous wish.

In the immeasurable heights, within an unseen realm.

The will of the Primordial Heavenly Dao was engaged in a profound exchange with Hongjun.

The two were deducing the secrets of heaven and discussing the great matter of Purple Cloud Palace's future teachings—enlightening the Primordial World in order to perfect the Heavenly Dao.

All of a sudden, the Heavenly Dao Will paused slightly, receiving a crystal-clear "prayer" from Mount Fangzhang—one that even carried a hint of coquettishness.

The Heavenly Dao Will fell silent for a moment, and even the Rules fluctuated in brief disarray.

A faint trace of doubt came through in Hongjun's thoughts.

[Nothing.]

The Heavenly Dao swiftly regained its composure and replied, [A few stray thoughts from a tiny patch of land cannot disrupt the greater scheme.]

Yet inwardly, it was anything but calm.

Find a Master?

And specifically one who would "provide food and lodging" and be "especially protective of their own"?

Was she choosing a Master, or picking out a long-term meal ticket and Gold Medal Enforcer?

And that tone...

Why did it sound just like mortals of later generations praying to gods and Buddhas for marriage and wealth?

What did she take it for?

A Prehistoric World version of the Matchmaker and Minister of Human Resources?

It simply had no strength left to complain.

The entire "Dao" was speechless.

But... wait!

The Heavenly Dao Will abruptly froze.

This idea... seemed... rather reasonable!

Before this, it had only thought of keeping this "troublemaker" confined to Mount Fangzhang and raising her there, as long as she did not die.

Yet it had forgotten that the Prehistoric World was fraught with danger. It could not keep watch over her every moment forever.

What if one day it slipped up, or some great calamity arose in the Prehistoric World that even it could not fully control? Would this little one not be the first to perish?

Finding her a Master... a powerful, reliable Guardian, preferably one with some connection to itself—would that not solve everything once and for all?!

Still, complaints aside, Su Miao's wildly fanciful plea was like a bolt of lightning, instantly splitting apart the knot that had long bound its worries!

That was right!

A Master!

How had it not thought of that!

If it found a Master for this little troublemaker, could it not toss away the enormous burden of "watching over a child + guiding her cultivation + stopping her from courting death"?!

And toss it away reasonably and legitimately, in accordance with the rules of the Prehistoric World!

Once she had a Master, much of a disciple's karmic debt, cultivation, safety, and wellbeing would be transferred onto the Master!

Then, as the Heavenly Dao, it could free itself from the miserable job of being a round-the-clock personal nanny for all twelve two-hour periods of the day, needing only to keep things under macro control!

It could focus more wholeheartedly on handling the great affairs of the Prehistoric World!

Brilliant!

It was simply a genius idea!

As for whom to choose...

The Heavenly Dao Will whirred at top speed, instantly sifting through every Great Expert in the Prehistoric World, both those in plain sight and those concealed in the shadows.

Devil Ancestor Luohu? Already dead.

Yang Mei, Qiankun, and the others?

Their whereabouts were elusive, and they might not be willing to entangle themselves in such karma.

Those Two from the West?

Tch. Their own territory was still a complete mess. They probably could not afford to raise this picky Little Ancestor.

Nuwa? She had not yet become a Saint, and her temperament... might not be suitable.

In the end, its "gaze" settled upon three figures.

—They were none other than the Three Pure Ones, transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, bearing Heaven-Opening Merit, blessed with Deep Fortune, extraordinary in origin, and soon to become the first disciples under its fellow Daoist Hongjun!

Laozi governed through Non-Action, was skilled in Alchemy, and could nurture all things.

Primordial Heavenly Lord valued Rules and origins above all else, and his nature was the most protective of his own. There was naturally no need to say more about the origins of this Little Ancestor, the Pure World White Lotus.

Sect Master Tongtian was forthright and generous by nature; surely he could tolerate her lively, unrestrained temperament.

Most importantly, the Three Pure Ones were one body, their Fortune intertwined. Their background was solid, their backing powerful—enough to deal with any storms this little troublemaker might stir up!

And they were about to enter under Hongjun's tutelage, which made them one of its own, making "communication" and "entrustment" all the more convenient!

Perfect!

This was the way!

The Heavenly Dao Will made its decision in an instant.

It hesitated no longer. While continuing to deduce the workings of heaven with Hongjun, it silently separated out an exceedingly minute strand of Rule Power. Like weaving the most exquisite Causal Silk Threads, it began to cautiously stretch across endless space toward Kunlun Mountain.

It intended to quietly bury the seeds of Karma within the Three Pure Ones' fate trajectories, which had not yet become entangled in too much causality, and gently tie a knot between them and the future of the Pure World White Lotus on Mount Fangzhang.

Though the Three Pure Ones knew nothing of this at present, ripples of fate had already begun to spread in silence.

Having done all this, the Heavenly Dao Will seemed to let out a breath, as though a heavy burden had been lifted.

It once again "looked" toward Mount Fangzhang and sent over a vague thought containing no specific information, as a response to Su Miao's plea:

[...Karma...will guide you...]

At the same time, it silently elevated the task of "finding Su Miao a reliable Master who protected his own" to the highest priority below only "maintaining the operation of the Prehistoric World," engraving it into its own operating logic.

On Mount Fangzhang, Su Miao received that vague response.

"Karma will guide me?"

She tilted her little head and pondered the phrase.

"Does that mean... I should wait? An HR person will contact me on their own?"

Though she had not immediately received a "Master list," the big shot Heavenly Dao had responded after all!

Not refusing meant there was hope!

"Wonderful!"

Her face immediately blossomed into a smile. She felt that she had taken another step closer to her grand goal of "room and board included"!

In high spirits, she scrambled up from the ground and patted the dust off her little butt.

"Just waiting won't do! I need to prepare in advance! What if Master suddenly comes and tests me? I need to seem clever and quick-witted!"

She decided to properly practice the Spells and Divine Abilities from her Inherited Memories, striving to use them proficiently and leave a good impression on her future Master!

Thus, rubbing her hands together eagerly, Su Miao began trying to put her half-baked, frequently misunderstood Spells and Divine Abilities into practice.

Her gaze first fell upon the Thick Earth Lingzhi Grass that had saved her twice.

"Spiritual Sense... Spiritual Sense is radar! Mm! I'll use radar to scan this grass first!"

She tried her hardest to concentrate, imagining a radar dish spinning inside her head, then sent her thoughts out with a "buzz."

But because her control was so poor, that faint sweep of Spiritual Sense not only failed to discern the Lingzhi Grass's structure, it instead lightly poked the grass like a tiny needle!

The Lingzhi Grass, which had been growing peacefully, suddenly shuddered. All its leaves curled up at once, as though it had been startled, and even the faint green glow it emitted dimmed somewhat.

Su Miao: "??? Radar... can poke people too?"