Chapter 1

Chaos First Opened.

The heavens shattered, and the waters of the vast Heavenly River surged from the rifts, sweeping across the western wasteland.

The Earth Veins collapsed, ravines crisscrossed the land, and the remnants of the earth were scorched yellow and withered. All life had been extinguished, leaving no possibility of nurturing living things again.

This was not some dangerous region, but the entire West—desolate, broken, and blanketed in deathly silence.

Compared to the East, it was as though they belonged to entirely different worlds.

Yet deep within the West stood a sacred mountain, towering majestically. Mountain ranges stretched for thousands of miles, dotted with exotic flowers and spiritual trees. Green pines and emerald bamboo shaded the slopes, while auspicious clouds curled through the air, brimming with vitality.

Amid this wasteland, only this sacred mountain remained untouched by the world.

Lu Tian turned sideways to avoid the cascading waters of the Heavenly River, skirted around the baleful energy erupting from underground, and after a long journey finally reached the foot of the mountain.

He raised his head toward the summit, a trace of gloom flashing through his eyes.

"In the end... I still can't escape the fate of joining the Western Teachings."

He had originally been a soul from another world. After transmigrating to the primordial world, he had unexpectedly become a stalk of Purple Bamboo in the West.

Unfortunately, his timing had been terribly unlucky.

By the time he arrived in this world, the western lands had already been devastated by the battle between Hongjun and Luohu. He had barely managed to take human form, only to damage his foundation, leaving his cultivation stalled at the True Immortal realm.

It was also the time when the Six Sages attained enlightenment one after another and ascended to the supreme Saint positions.

He had entertained the thought of joining a Saint's sect and gaining the title of a disciple. Yet after traveling for ten thousand years to seek out the Three Pure Ones, he had been sorely disappointed—

Laozi spoke only of affinity and did not even spare Lu Tian a glance;

Yuanshi found his foundation too shallow and rejected him outright;

Tongtian Jiaozhu had accepted him into the outer sect of the Jie Sect, but infighting there never ceased, and magical duels and slaughter were as commonplace as daily meals.

Lu Tian had come from the West and possessed weak cultivation, so he suffered endless exclusion and humiliation.

Though he devoted himself wholeheartedly to cultivation, he ultimately could no longer remain in the Jie Sect.

The Jie Sect...

Once my Dao reaches fruition, I will make your blood flow like rivers!

Even after several thousand years, recalling what he had suffered still left his hatred unresolved.

Now, as he gazed at the towering sacred mountain, he could not help but feel uneasy—

Traveling between East and West took ten thousand years. Would the Two Sages of the West find him undesirable?

The primordial world might be filled with countless opportunities, but every step was fraught with deadly danger.

During his escape from the Jie Sect alone, he had nearly died at the hands of its disciples.

Lu Tian, a living being of the West, humbly begs the Saints to take me in!

At the foot of the mountain, he solemnly bowed three times.

Before transmigrating, he might have admired the Three Pure Ones as mortals did and looked down on the Western Teachings.

But after ten thousand years of tempering, he had long understood—

What were insults worth? Only the living had the right to speak of the Great Dao.

Jieyin and Zhunti were truly people of extraordinary perseverance. They had restored the barren and declining West to glory, and the hardships involved were beyond imagination, far beyond what ordinary people could compare to!

Indeed...

When reading novels, it was normal to judge characters from the perspective of an observer.

But when one truly stood within the primordial world and faced the supreme Saints of this heaven and earth, being accepted under their tutelage was already an immense opportunity. How could one still afford to be picky?

Since you possess the heart to seek the Dao, ascend the sacred mountain. Once you reach the summit, you shall become a disciple of my Western Teachings.

An ethereal, mysterious voice suddenly echoed through the air.

In an instant, all the magical power around Lu Tian's body was sealed, leaving him like an ordinary mortal. He knew this was a trial for becoming a disciple.

Every Saint had different standards for accepting disciples: Laozi valued affinity, while Yuanshi emphasized foundations. Both were tests of their respective Dao.

Though Tongtian had no explicit rules, it was still no easy matter to stand out in the Jie Sect, become a direct disciple, or gain importance as an outer disciple like Zhao Gongming and the Three Maidens of Sanxiao.

Compared with that, the test of the Western Teachings was remarkably simple—

He merely had to climb the sacred mountain.

Without hesitation, he began climbing upward with both hands and feet.

The sacred mountain rose high into the clouds, perhaps even reaching beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven. Yet Lu Tian remained calm and steadily climbed upward.

He had seen this sort of plot hundreds, even thousands of times in novels. If he had encountered it again before transmigrating, he would surely have mocked the author for being so clichéd.

Who would have thought that he would personally undergo such a trial today?

Fortunately, he had cultivated for ten thousand years and carried deep resolve in his heart, so he naturally would not complain endlessly like a newborn creature.

Gradually, he discovered something extraordinary—

This mountain had been imbued with Saintly power and concealed profound mysteries!

After climbing a hundred miles, the Immortal Power within his body had already become noticeably purer.

After a thousand miles, it was as if he had shed his mortal form and remade his bones. The purity of his Immortal Power doubled, and his combat strength soared along with it.

As he continued upward, his Immortal Power began to undergo a strange transformation, while his cultivation steadily rose.

At three thousand miles, he advanced to the middle stage of the True Immortal realm.

At six thousand miles, he reached the late stage of the True Immortal realm.

At the peak of nine thousand zhang, he attained the peak of the True Immortal realm.

Finally, at the summit of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine zhang, he saw two white-robed Daoists sitting opposite each other, playing chess.

When they saw him reach the summit, both turned around at once and smiled at him.

When my sect accepts disciples, we do not ask about foundation or cultivation. We value only perseverance.

I see burdens hidden in your heart. You have endured tribulations without falling, making you one of courageous resolve, tempered by hatred.

"Once you enter my Western Teachings, you may act as you please. No matter what backing or background your opponent possesses, the two of us will bear all Karma. When necessary, we will naturally lend you a hand."

Lu Tian was slightly stunned.

As expected of Saints—they had instantly seen through his thoughts.

Those words truly warmed his heart!

No matter who his enemies were or how powerful their factions might be, the Western Teachings were willing to bear all Karma. He only needed to act without restraint!

It was rather amusing. Later generations always mocked the Saints Jieyin and Zhunti for being shameless.

But to Lu Tian, that was actually a good thing!

From this day onward, who would dare touch him?

"Why have you not yet paid your respects?"

Lu Tian came back to himself and immediately kowtowed respectfully to the two Saints.

"Disciple Lu Tian pays respects to my two masters!"

Boom—

The aura around his body surged wildly. In an instant, auspicious clouds filled the sky, golden lotuses bloomed from the earth, and clouds beneath his feet rolled like dragons.

He had directly broken through to the Golden Immortal realm!

At the same time, a cold mechanical voice rang out in Lu Tian's mind...

[ Ding! The host has become a Saint's disciple. System activation successful!]

[Detected that the host's masters are Jieyin and Zhunti]

[The host has obtained an exclusive system: Mountain Patrol System]

[Mountain Patrol System: Each time you explore a sacred mountain or blessed land, you may obtain an opportunity reward]

[The host has ascended the Western sacred mountain for the first time. Reward: Saint-grade Comprehension]

A series of notifications echoed continuously through Lu Tian's mind.

Wild joy immediately surged in his heart.

So it was not that he lacked a golden finger. He merely needed to fulfill a specific condition—becoming a Saint's direct disciple?

If he had joined the Jie Sect back then...

After thinking it over, Lu Tian suddenly understood.

Although he had previously entered the Jie Sect, its structure had been loose, and he had merely been an insignificant figure among countless outer disciples.

Perhaps only by becoming a Saint's true disciple could he activate the system.

This activation condition was truly harsh!

Fortunately, he was now under Jieyin and Zhunti, having become a Saint's direct disciple. Not only had he activated the system, but he had also broken through in cultivation.

It could be called three joys arriving at once.

Even better, the Two Sages of the West were no less protective of their disciples than the Three Pure Ones!

Recalling the legends of later generations, Lu Tian suddenly understood—

All Saints protected their own.

Yuanshi and Tongtian still cared somewhat about appearances, but these two of the West were completely willing to throw such concerns aside!

If their disciples were bullied, they would truly step in personally to demand justice!

Thinking about it that way...

It actually felt rather satisfying?

The corners of Lu Tian's lips rose slightly. He had completely accepted his new identity as a disciple of the Western Teachings.

"You are a native living being of the West, so you should understand the current state of the Western Teachings."

Now that you have entered my sect, I will give you this item as a gift for joining. Cultivation values understanding one's heart and seeing one's nature. Do not become overly attached to external objects. Once your Dao advances, you will naturally understand that all magical treasures are ultimately illusory.

Before Daoist Jieyin had finished speaking, an object flew through the air toward him.

Lu Tian hurriedly caught it with both hands and respectfully said, "Thank you, Master, for this gift."

When he looked closely, he found a delicate, translucent Buddhist bead resting in his palm. It seemed to contain countless worlds within, while immeasurable Buddha Light swirled through it. Though it was not an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it was still a rare Postnatal Supreme Treasure.

The Western Teachings had always been impoverished, unlike the extravagant Chan Sect and Jie Sect of the East. Over there, any disciple with even a little seniority possessed several Innate Spiritual Treasures. The Universe Silk Ribbon, Nine-Dragon Fire-Capping Pot, Sea-Calming Pearls, Primordial Golden Dou, even the Qingping Sword and Immortal-Slaying Sword that Tongtian Jiaozhu temporarily lent to disciples—every one of them was a peerless treasure.

This was because the Earth Veins of the West had been damaged long ago. Spiritual energy was thin there, making it difficult to nurture innate spiritual objects. Yet in the primordial world, Houtian Spiritual Treasures were not necessarily inferior to innate ones. Guangchengzi's Sky-Turning Seal and the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors of the Three Maidens of Sanxiao were both refined after the fact, yet their power rivaled Innate Supreme Treasures.

The strength of a magical treasure depended entirely on the number of restrictions within it. Innate Spiritual Treasures contained the true meaning of the Great Dao, while Houtian Spiritual Treasures carried the Dao insights of their refiners. If personally refined by a Saint, the power of their restrictions could rival the innate.

Lu Tian focused his senses on the Buddhist bead, and the corners of his lips lifted. This bead contained Twenty-four Layer Restriction, placing it among the finest Houtian Spiritual Treasures. It must have been limited by its materials, preventing any further improvement.

As he pondered this, he suddenly felt his mind become clear, as though enlightenment had struck him. He could not help letting out a soft sound of surprise.

The Saints Jieyin and Zhunti both turned their gazes toward him. Lu Tian had already sat cross-legged in meditation, entering a mysterious state of enlightenment.

This newly accepted disciple was rather different. Jieyin stroked his beard and smiled. Before they had even taught him any Dao techniques, he had already comprehended mysteries from the restrictions of a magical treasure.

Zhunti's smile deepened. This bead contains a Greater Thousand World, and its restrictions secretly align with the true meaning of Buddha Kingdom in Palm. Since he has gained insight, he must have understood this divine ability.

Who would have thought that my Western Teachings would possess such a deeply gifted disciple!

The two Saints exchanged glances, their faces full of delight. The Western Teachings had several disciples, but their aptitude and comprehension were all mediocre. Even with personal guidance from Saints, their cultivation progress still lagged behind the disciples of the eastern sects. Now that they had encountered a talent like Lu Tian, they were naturally overjoyed.

This meditation lasted a full forty-nine days and nights.

Buddha Light flowed around Lu Tian, as though the universe revolved around him. Countless living beings devoutly chanted sutras and worshiped the Buddha.

It was indeed Buddha Kingdom in Palm. Wonderful!

Approval shone in Zhunti's eyes as he considered how to guide this exceptionally gifted disciple.

Suddenly!

The Buddha Light surrounding Lu Tian explosively scattered!

Then that vast world collapsed as well!

Countless living beings wore solemn expressions as they perished together with heaven and earth!

All things were annihilated, returning at last to nothingness.

Heh—

Lu Tian slowly exhaled a breath of clear qi.

This technique shall be called...

Great Nirvana Art!

Unfortunately, his cultivation was still too shallow to display the full power of this technique.

If he attained the Grand Unity Dao Fruit, he could annihilate a Greater Thousand World with the flick of a finger. Who could stand against him?

He opened his eyes and raised his brows, his expression radiant.

Saint-grade Comprehension truly was extraordinary!

In only forty-nine days, he had comprehended this technique from the restrictions of Buddha Kingdom in Palm!

Its mysteries were profound enough to serve as a killing secret art for a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

With a wave of his hand, heaven and earth would overturn!

Back when he had been in the Jie Sect, he had merely possessed ordinary aptitude.

If not for that, how could he have remained obscure for so long?

The smile on Zhunti's face gradually faded.

Yet that smile appeared on Jieyin's lips.

Dao Brother, you misjudged him this time.

Our disciple is no compassionate Buddha. He is clearly an Asura who commands annihilation!

Zhunti did not take offense. Smiling as he pinched his fingers together, he said:

Since that is the case, listen well, disciple—

I shall teach you the Wrathful Vajra Method!

The resentment in your heart is perfect for tempering the Vajra Body and cutting down all injustice in the world!

A streak of golden light burst from his fingertip and entered Lu Tian's brow.