Getting Along with Everyone, Borrowing a Treasure to Leave the Mountain

Before Xuan Qing became Sect Master Tongtian's disciple, he had already taken in two disciples: Daoist Duobao and Golden Spirit Holy Mother, both Innate Beings with profound origins.

If Innate Beings were ranked by tiers, existences such as the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Fuxi would undoubtedly be considered to have top-grade origins.

Duobao and Jin Ling, meanwhile, had slightly inferior aptitudes to the Three Pure Ones and could be regarded as having high-grade origins.

As for Xuan Qing, though he was part of the Innate Human Race and Nuwa had used extraordinary materials—Three Lights Divine Water and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil—to create humans, he could only barely be considered to have medium-grade origins.

In the Primordial World, origins came first and bloodlines second. A good birth would undoubtedly allow cultivators to take many fewer detours on their path of cultivation.

Take Daoist Duobao and Golden Spirit Holy Mother, for instance. Upon taking form, they were already Golden Immortals, two whole realms above Xuan Qing from the outset. Naturally, they held an enormous advantage in cultivation.

Of course, as a member of the Innate Human Race, Xuan Qing was also blessed with Merit and Fortune. His cultivation speed was not much slower than Duobao's; his only disadvantage was that his starting point had been far lower.

He had joined the Jie Sect ten thousand years ago and had already broken through to the middle stage of the Golden Immortal realm. During those ten thousand years, Sect Master Tongtian had accepted many new disciples.

Yet there were still only four Personal disciples: Daoist Duobao, Golden Spirit Holy Mother, Xuan Qing, and Saint Mother Wudang. As for Saint Mother Guiling, whom Xuan Qing remembered, he did not know whether she had yet to be born or simply had not yet joined the Jie Sect.

Among all these Jie Sect disciples, the one Xuan Qing was closest to was neither Daoist Duobao nor Golden Spirit Holy Mother, but Saint Mother Wudang, who had entered the sect last.

Come to think of it, Saint Mother Wudang had gotten in through connections just like him.

The only difference was that he had relied on Taiqing's connection, while Saint Mother Wudang had relied on Nuwa's.

Saint Mother Wudang's true form was a Great White Ape, one of the "fur-covered creatures" Primordial Lord of Heaven so disdained. She had once wished to become Nuwa's disciple, but Nuwa neither established a sect nor wished to take disciples. Naturally, she had been unwilling to accept Saint Mother Wudang and had instead referred her to Sect Master Tongtian.

We really are kindred spirits in misfortune!

After learning of Saint Mother Wudang's experience, Xuan Qing immediately felt as though he had met her too late. He, too, had only joined the Jie Sect after being rejected by Nuwa.

This made him feel especially close to her.

No one could truly understand another's feelings unless both had been rejected by Nuwa.

Duobao, Jin Ling, and Wu Dang were all now in the Taiyi Realm, one level above him in cultivation. Xuan Qing got along well with all three of them.

Daoist Duobao enjoyed Artifact Refining, so Xuan Qing catered to his interests and discussed Artifact Refining methods with him.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother was particularly devoted to the sword Dao, so he would also set aside time to discuss the sword Dao with her. In any case, Golden Spirit Holy Mother's realm and knowledge surpassed his own, so discussing the Dao with her could only benefit him.

As for Saint Mother Wudang, because she had taken form from a nonhuman creature, she was disliked by Primordial Lord of Heaven. Xuan Qing often took on the role of a considerate senior brother and showed her concern.

Although...

This senior brother's cultivation was still inferior to that junior sister who had entered the sect after him!

Back to the matter at hand.

After helping Daoist Duobao test the Fire Repelling Cover for a while, Xuan Qing revealed his purpose. "Senior Brother, I recently sensed a fated opportunity and plan to descend the mountain. I'd like to borrow a magic treasure from you!"

Daoist Duobao neither agreed nor refused, instead asking, "Which magic treasure does Junior Brother wish to borrow?"

Cultivators often received sudden intuitions. It was hardly strange for Xuan Qing to sense an opportunity connected to himself, and as his senior brother, Duobao would not refuse his request.

"The Golden Cloud Crown!"

Xuan Qing smiled. "This Spiritual Treasure can conceal one's form, making it perfect for secretly seeking opportunities! Besides, even if Senior Brother lent me a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, I wouldn't be able to bring out its power!"

"That is true!"

Daoist Duobao nodded.

Xuan Qing was only at the middle stage of the Golden Immortal realm and had not even fully refined the Sudden Thunder Zither Sect Master Tongtian had bestowed upon him. How could he possibly wield a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure?

As a Personal disciple, Xuan Qing naturally did not lack magic treasures for self-defense. Just after joining the Jie Sect, Sect Master Tongtian had bestowed upon him the High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Sudden Thunder Zither, along with a high-grade acquired spirit sword. This was already a sign of great favor.

In fact, Sect Master Tongtian's regard for his disciples could also be glimpsed from the Dao names he bestowed, which revealed his expectations for their futures.

As everyone knew, Sect Master Tongtian was also called the Venerable Lord of the Grand Pure Spiritual Treasure. The Dao names of Duobao, Jin Ling, and Xuan Qing each contained one of the characters "treasure," "spiritual," and "pure." This showed Sect Master Tongtian's hopes for them. He clearly regarded them as future inheritors of his lineage.

In truth, Xuan Qing had chosen to descend the mountain precisely to seek opportunities and raise his cultivation realm, allowing him to refine the Sudden Thunder Zither more quickly.

The Sudden Thunder Zither was a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure with thirty-six Innate Restrictions. It could command lightning and tear space apart with sound waves. Though called a zither, it was actually more like a pipa. Its entire body was purple, with four strings and a zither head shaped like a purple thunder dragon. Sect Master Tongtian had obtained it from Treasure Distribution Rock.

However, Xuan Qing was only at the middle stage of the Golden Immortal realm. Even after refining it day and night, he had only refined twenty-four of its restrictions so far.

To accelerate the refinement process, he could either comprehend the Law of Thunder corresponding to the Sudden Thunder Zither, or raise his cultivation and use his mana to forcibly refine its restrictions.

Xuan Qing wanted both. His destination on this journey down the mountain was Zhongnan Mountain. If he remembered correctly, it would become Yun Zhongzi's Dojo in the future, and it nurtured a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root containing the Way of Wind and Thunder.

The Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot!

This Spiritual Root bloomed once every eon, bore fruit once every eon, and ripened once every eon. Each time, it produced only two fruits. Consuming one would allow a person to attain a Wind Thunder Dao Body and condense the embryonic forms of the Law of Wind and the Law of Thunder. In the future, Lei Zhenzi would consume one of this Spiritual Root's fruits and shine brilliantly during the Investiture of the Gods.

Of course, if one consumed the fruit of a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root created by heaven and earth before reaching the Golden Immortal realm, one's body would likely undergo certain mutations.

Lei Zhenzi was the negative example!

A fine, handsome youth, a child of the great tribulation born alongside thunder and endowed with Fortune, had turned into a monster with a human face and bird's body after consuming the immortal apricot.

However, Xuan Qing had no such concern. He had already attained the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, his primordial spirit had condensed an indestructible imprint, and his physical body was enveloped in an indestructible aura.

Gold meant indestructibility!

At this level, external forces could no longer easily alter a living being's body or primordial spirit.

Even the Wind Thunder Immortal Apricot, one of the ten Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots, could not do so. This was a realm that connected the past to the future, elevating both body and primordial spirit.

Daoist Duobao swiftly took out the Golden Cloud Crown and handed it to Xuan Qing, reminding him, "Junior Brother, be careful on the road. If all else fails, announce our master's name!"

As a Sage's disciple—and a Personal disciple destined to inherit the lineage and pass on the mantle—he represented the Sage's dignity. Naturally, few living beings would dare kill him.

"Rest assured, Senior Brother!"

Xuan Qing accepted the Golden Cloud Crown and bowed to Daoist Duobao. "When this junior brother returns, we can discuss the Dao again! I will certainly not bring shame upon our master!"

Daoist Duobao had already refined the Golden Cloud Crown, and it contained his mana. So long as Duobao consented, Xuan Qing could activate it simply and unleash the Spiritual Treasure's power even without refining it himself.

In the future, this Spiritual Treasure would be passed down to Saint Mother Huoling, Daoist Duobao's disciple. It had two functions: one was to release golden clouds of light across the sky, interfering with an opponent's senses; the other was to conceal one's form and aura. Even ordinary Great Golden Immortals would find it difficult to detect.

With everything prepared, Xuan Qing immediately bid farewell to Duobao and left Kunlun Mountain using the Sword Evasion Technique.

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