Tongtian's Dao Heart, First Meeting with the Primordial World's Immortals

Kunlun Mountain stretched tens of millions of li from east to west. It was the dragon head of all the veins of the eastern land, its spiritual energy surpassed only by Buzhou Mountain. Divided into East Kunlun and West Kunlun, East Kunlun was where the Three Pure Ones' dojo lay.

The Three Pure Ones had not yet split apart, so naturally they shared the same dojo. Taishang and Yuanshi emerged from their long seclusion at the same time.

Sensing Taishang's increasingly profound and restrained aura, Yuanshi smiled and raised a hand in congratulations. "Eldest Brother has gained greatly from this seclusion. At this Ginseng Fruit gathering, I imagine you will once again take the top spot."

Taishang, however, remained exceedingly calm. If Third Brother had not complained that he could not taste anything from just one Ginseng Fruit, I would never bother showing off before so many Innate Divine Saints.

"Second Brother, Great Luo is merely the beginning of the long road of seeking the Dao. You must not grow complacent over a little cultivation. After this Ginseng Fruit gathering, you and Third Brother should be able to break through to Great Luo as well."

Yuanshi nodded in agreement, though inwardly he thought that his eldest brother's habit of being steady and inactive had flared up again. Among the Primordial World, the Three Pure Ones possessed the finest foundations and noblest births. Their cultivation was likewise among the very best. Pangu's true orthodoxy was theirs by right.

"Eldest Brother, we can prepare to depart. We have not seen Tongtian in tens of thousands of years. Who knows whether Third Brother has fallen behind in cultivation? When we return, Eldest Brother, you must give him a proper lecture."

Taishang slightly lifted his eyelids. "Very well. But Tongtian has his own Dao as well. You need not interfere with him too much."

The relationship between the Three Pure Ones was still very harmonious. Yuanshi's concern for Tongtian outweighed anything else.

The two raised their escape lights, left Kunlun Mountain, and set out for Longevity Mountain.

At this time, Tongtian had no idea that he would be lectured by his two elder brothers upon returning. He and Randeng flew onward together.

Along the way, the two continued discussing divine abilities and Dao methods. With the aid of the Gengjin Apple, Tongtian's comprehension of Gengjin Law reached forty-nine percent, while his cultivation stabilized at the peak of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm. He was only a step away from breaking through to Great Luo.

Randeng, meanwhile, continuously absorbed the formation knowledge Tongtian explained. Combined with his own encounters with several Innate Great Formations, he soon crossed the threshold and entered the hall on the path of formations. Even Tongtian praised his talent for formations.

Of course, Randeng himself knew that it was simply because he had cracked too many great formations in order to obtain spiritual treasures and spiritual roots. Practice made perfect, nothing more.

During their journey, whenever Tongtian encountered weak groups of Innate Beings, he casually passed down some simple Dao methods. Whenever he saw injustice, he would draw his sword and lend aid.

Randeng had once asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you not afraid that doing this will entangle you in too much Karma and Karmic Power?"

Tongtian answered, "The Great Dao has fifty; Heaven derives forty-nine, while one escapes. All living beings should have a thread of life, and I am that one which escapes for these beings."

"As for Karma?" Tongtian shook his head with a soft laugh.

"Once I attain Hunyuan Grand Unity, would that not settle it? No matter how much Karma and Karmic Power there is, I will pick it apart with a single sword."

Those words deeply moved Randeng. Tongtian had gradually found the Dao that belonged to him. But what about himself? What was the Dao he sought?

At first, Randeng had merely wished to survive the great calamities of the future. If he could attain the status of a Heavenly Dao Sage, that would be even better. But now, he possessed top-tier spiritual treasures and had the Dao Ancestor as his backing. Perhaps he could bring some changes to this Primordial World.

Later, he too joined Tongtian in such deeds. Tongtian did not care about Karma, while Randeng possessed the Primordial Chaos Heaven Measuring Ruler and remained untouched by Karma.

Thus, the two traveled together as companions, finally arriving at Longevity Mountain a thousand years later.

This mountain was majestic and rugged, its entire body glowing with a warm, lustrous Wutu spiritual radiance. Within it drifted ten thousand streaks of purple cloud and waves of dark yellow qi. Reflected against the brilliance of the sun, they layered into a thousand crimson mists, while immortal qi lingered without dispersing.

For the first time, Randeng truly understood that a blessed grotto-heaven should look like this. Compared to it, his barren Spirit Vulture Mountain was nothing at all, let alone Mount Sumeru, which had been blasted until only half remained.

"I really should bring Jieyin and Zhunti out to broaden their horizons, so they do not drool whenever they see a treasure in the future."

Seeing his expression, Tongtian found it rather amusing. Fellow Daoist Randeng lacked neither spiritual treasures nor cultivation, yet he seemed to harbor an obsession with blessed grotto-heavens.

"After this Ginseng Fruit gathering, Fellow Daoist may come to Kunlun for a small gathering. Though Longevity Mountain is splendid, Kunlun's dragon vein yields not in the slightest."

Tongtian invited Randeng, mainly because he had not returned to Kunlun for tens of thousands of years. His second brother would certainly nag him, and bringing Randeng along might help draw some of the fire.

"Once I restore the core of the western earth veins, I will certainly visit Kunlun and trouble you."

Having seen the magnificent sight of Longevity Mountain, Randeng was now wholly focused on returning to restore the earth veins.

"Hahaha! Fellow Daoist Shangqing, it has been tens of thousands of years since we last met, yet the intent of your sword Dao has grown ever sharper and harder to withstand. And who might this Fellow Daoist beside you be?"

Longevity Mountain's great formation opened, accompanied by a burst of hearty laughter. The newcomer had the face of a youth and features as fair as jade. Three wisps of neat beard hung beneath his chin, while his black hair was bound beneath a purple-gold Eight Trigrams crown. His temples were raven-dark, and he wore an earth-yellow mountains-and-rivers Daoist robe. Treasure qi radiated from his entire person. It was none other than Zhenyuanzi.

Tongtian casually patted Zhenyuanzi on the shoulder. "I cannot compare to you, Fellow Daoist. With the Earth Book in hand and as the ancestor of ten thousand mountains, you have grown ever more prosperous-looking. This is Fellow Daoist Randeng, also my kindred spirit. He has long cultivated quietly in the west."

Randeng took over and cupped his hands toward Zhenyuanzi. "Randeng of the west greets Fellow Daoist."

This Zhenyuanzi was quite close to the image Randeng had held in mind: a middle-aged Daoist immortal with an ethereal, transcendent bearing.

"Zhenyuanzi of Longevity Mountain greets Fellow Daoist."

Upon hearing the word "west," Zhenyuanzi's thoughts surged. Could the restoration of the western earth veins that he had sensed through the Earth Book be connected to this man?

"May I ask whether Fellow Daoist Randeng knows why the western earth veins suddenly accelerated their recovery during this recent yuanhui?"

Zhenyuanzi possessed the Earth Book, the membrane of Heaven and Earth itself, which was bound to the earth veins of the Primordial World. Should the Earth Book be damaged, the Primordial World's earth veins would likewise be affected. Conversely, if the earth veins recovered, the Earth Book's power could rise to an even higher level.

"You have come to the right person. Randeng personally oversaw the restoration of the western earth veins."

Tongtian draped an arm around Randeng's shoulders as he introduced him to Zhenyuanzi, as though he himself shared in the honor.

"So that is how it is. Fellow Daoist Randeng possesses great compassion. I deeply admire you."

Randeng's restoration of the earth veins had enhanced the Earth Book's power. Because of this, Zhenyuanzi instead owed Randeng a debt of Karma.

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist." Randeng did not know why Zhenyuanzi was treating him so warmly, and merely assumed it was because of Tongtian.

"Enough, let us go inside and continue our conversation. Fellow Daoist Tongtian, your two elder brothers have already arrived."

Zhenyuanzi led the two of them into the great formation.

"Eldest Brother, has Second Brother arrived yet? In a moment, I'll introduce you to them."

Tongtian took Randeng by the hand and strode inside, like a wanderer returning from afar, impatient to introduce his new friend to his family.

Upon entering Zhenyuanzi's cave dwelling, Randeng saw that spirit fruits had already been laid out on the tables, and several Daoists were already seated within.

At the foremost seat on the left sat two Daoists, one old and one middle-aged. The elder wore a yin-yang Daoist robe, his face lean and clear, a Coiling Dragon Crutch in hand. The middle-aged Daoist wore a purple-ribboned immortal robe, sacred and imposing, and held a Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.

These must be Taishang Taiqing and Yuanshi Yuqing.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I didn't expect you to arrive so early. Let me introduce you—this is Fellow Daoist Randeng, a close friend I met while traveling."

Taishang and Yuanshi were naturally studying Randeng as well. Yuanshi only felt that Randeng's bearing was as still as an abyss and as towering as a mountain peak; his cultivation was no trifling matter.

Taishang, however, was startled. Randeng was actually in the Great Luo realm as well. Even he could not discern the depth of Randeng's cultivation, while the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda within his Spiritual Platform trembled faintly, as though drawn by something.