Chapter 32

Fortunately, Jieyin and Zhunti swept their sleeves, shielding **.

The Two Sages of the West rose into the air and faced off against the four Sages.

The Six Sages had gathered!

Just then.

Three spatial rifts opened.

Three groups formed ranks upon the Cloud Platform behind the Three Pure Ones.

Thank you all, fellow Daoists, for gracing us with your presence.

Taiqing performed a ceremonial salute, his voice ringing like a great bell:

This Mystic Gate Grand Gathering serves two purposes: first, to witness Yuqing and Shangqing Discussing the Dao.

The outstanding disciples of fellow Daoists Jieyin and Zhunti are also present.

Second, ever since we parted at Purple Sky Palace, we had not discussed the Dao for a long time. I hoped we could explore its mysteries together.

His words were concise and clear.

Suddenly, fine wine appeared before every immortal.

Lu Tian's Divine Sense stirred slightly—

A three-thousand-year vintage!

Just inhaling its fragrance increased one's cultivation!

Taiqing raised his cup.

A streak of light flew from Yuqing's sleeve,

and a complete set of Houtian Spiritual Treasure wine vessels glittered like stars.

Maitreya, standing beside Lu Tian, stared in stunned disbelief.

Using Spiritual Treasures as cups?

What extravagance...

His throat bobbed as he silently clicked his tongue.

Lu Tian immediately understood—

The Three Pure Ones were displaying their foundations!

Taiqing used the Pill Dao to make wine,

Yuqing used the Artifact Dao to make cups,

so what about Shangqing...

Before the thought could finish,

streams of sword light transformed into an inscrutable formation diagram,

causing the Jade goblets to circulate on their own and form an array!

Lu Tian could not immediately discern the mysteries of this formation, but he understood that Tongtian was showing off his methods.

After the Three Pure Ones displayed their divine abilities, their gazes simultaneously turned toward Jieyin and Zhunti.

Their intention was obvious—

It was their turn.

It had to be said that even though Yuanshi and Tongtian now had a rift between them, they still stood united against the West.

Lu Tian keenly noticed countless experts focusing their attention here, as though they were waiting to see Jieyin and Zhunti make fools of themselves.

After all, who did not know these two were famously impoverished?

Yet Jieyin merely smiled calmly and waved his sleeve, scattering streams of spiritual light toward everyone.

"Considering that some may not enjoy drinking, this poor Daoist has gifted Spiritual Tea instead, to quench your thirst."

His tone was calm, yet the Quasi-Saints present all lit up!

The Three Pure Ones likewise showed surprise—

A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root?!

Since when had Jieyin and Zhunti become so generous?

One had to know that even Zhenyuanzi, who possessed a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, would only reluctantly give others a little after a long interval.

Yet now, Jieyin was giving everyone ten leaves!

Compared to that, the Three Pure Ones' gifts suddenly seemed rather shabby.

"Hehe, this poor Daoist has long been poor and truly has nothing presentable to offer."

"So, I shall use plain water to brew tea for everyone."

Zhunti spoke modestly with a smile. With a light tap of his finger, ripples of Three Lights Divine Water appeared in the cups—

The greatest healing sacred water of the Primordial World!

In an instant, the way everyone looked at Jieyin and Zhunti completely changed.

Since when had the Western Teachings become so lavish?

They were actually using Three Lights Divine Water to brew a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root?!

Facing everyone's burning gazes, Jieyin and Zhunti smiled on the surface, but inwardly they felt incomparably delighted—

So this was what it felt like to flaunt one's wealth?

Heavenly Dao bore witness.

Jieyin and Zhunti had cultivated for tens of thousands of years, yet they had never experienced such exhilaration.

In terms of cultivation, they stood at the pinnacle of the Primordial World;

in terms of fortune, they were also among the best.

Yet when it came to "wealth," they had always been stretched thin.

Naturally, at their level, ordinary wealth no longer mattered.

What was truly scarce were heavenly treasures such as Dao De Tianzun's golden pills and Zhenyuanzi's Ginseng Fruit.

That was precisely why the label of "poor and shabby" had followed them like a shadow.

But today, they had finally tasted the feeling of holding their heads high—

What were spiritual wine and magical treasures?

What was a formation?

How could any of that compare to a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root and Three Lights Divine Water!

It had to be said...

Even the two of them could not help developing a bit of a nouveau riche mentality.

After living for hundreds of millions of years, this was their first time experiencing such a wonderful feeling.

Of course.

With their Dao hearts, they would be happy when they should be happy and would never deliberately suppress it.

However, that excitement lasted only a moment before they soon returned to normal.

Getting carried away was impossible.

A trace of embarrassment flashed through the Three Pure Ones' eyes.

They had organized the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony, yet Jieyin and Zhunti had ended up outshining them!

The problem was—

Where had these two gotten so many good things?

A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root and Three Lights Divine Water—either one was an unparalleled treasure, yet they had casually produced both?

Not to mention that they had also taken in a disciple as enviable as Lu Tian.

Could the Western Teachings truly be rising?

The Three Pure Ones secretly sized up Jieyin and Zhunti, filled with doubt.

Yet their expressions remained calm.

Please.

Dao De Tianzun spoke indifferently. After watching this hidden contest, the Quasi-Saints entered their seats with smiling faces.

All Six Sages had descended together.

Jieyin and Zhunti stood before everyone, their Divine Senses sweeping over Lu Tian from time to time.

They truly had this kid to thank this time.

Neither treasure was something they could have produced themselves.

If not for Lu Tian's Three Lights Divine Water and Enlightenment Tea Tree, they would have embarrassed themselves this time.

Beside Lu Tian, Maitreya's eyes shone brightly.

He could not stop wondering, Since when had our sect become so extravagant?

Lu Tian stood silently behind his masters.

He had indeed been fleeced.

But it did not matter.

This expenditure was a mere drop in the bucket.

He had an entire sea of Three Lights Divine Water.

Though he did not have many Enlightenment Tea Leaves, how many great experts had even attended?

In total, they had used only around a hundred leaves.

Compared with the prestige it brought to the Western Teachings, it was not worth mentioning.

Once the Sages had taken their seats, the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony officially began.

There was no need for the Sages to make arrangements.

Xuandu ** Master stepped out from behind Dao De Tianzun, cupped his hands toward the Quasi-Saints, then saluted the Sages with **.

Fellow Daoists, the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony now begins.

Which fellow Daoist would be willing to offer guidance first?

The moment his words fell,

a booming voice rang out from behind Tongtian Jiaozhu:

I'll do it!

A streak of light flashed past and descended directly into the valley.

Tongtian casually threw out formation flags, instantly setting up a grand formation.

This Mystic Gate Grand Gathering centered on Discussing the Dao. The formation within the arena both imposed restrictions and provided protection for the cultivators.

This poor Daoist is Zhao Gongming, an outer disciple of the Jie Sect. Which fellow Daoist is willing to spar with me?

Zhao Gongming!

Lu Tian instantly recognized him.

It was not because he had any connection with Zhao Gongming. Back when he had been an outer disciple of the Jie Sect, he had merely been one of countless insignificant low-level cultivators. Naturally, he had had no contact with outstanding outer disciples like Zhao Gongming and the Three Xiao Sisters.

He had only glimpsed him from afar a few times when Tongtian Jiaozhu taught the Dao.

At the time, the other man's cultivation had indeed left a deep impression on him.

Back then...

He had still been a minor cultivator struggling bitterly among the outer disciples, seeking only to break through to the Golden Immortal realm and gain immortality.

Zhao Gongming had remained someone he needed to look up to!

But times had changed.

Starting from this moment, he would settle his Karma with the Jie Sect.

Lu Tian was just about to accept the challenge.

When a streak of light suddenly fell into the valley from behind Yuanshi Tianzun.

The figure who appeared was a lean man clad in an Apricot-yellow Daoist robe. He was taller than Zhao Gongming, though he lacked some of Zhao Gongming's heroic bearing.

True Person Huang Long of the Chan Sect. Please offer me your guidance, fellow Daoist.

True Person Huang Long...

Watching the scene in the arena, Lu Tian's lips curled into a meaningful smile.

According to Investiture of the Gods, Huang Long had been beaten by Zhao Gongming until he could not fight back at all. Even when Chi Jingzi came to rescue him, he had been unable to reverse the defeat!

He wondered how great the difference between them was now.

Still, Huang Long appeared quite confident at the moment.

The Chan and Jie Sects now both resided at Kunlun, and their disciples frequently interacted.

Sparring and Discussing the Dao were commonplace.

Such contests emphasized stopping at the proper point and preserving their masters' dignity, so it was naturally difficult to probe one another's true strength.

Zhao Gongming's strength was firmly among the top three of the Jie Sect's disciples!

However, his status as an outer disciple was rather misleading, making it difficult for the Chan Sect to accurately judge him.

Because of this status, the Chan Sect had not sent out one of its strongest disciples.

Though True Person Huang Long was one of the Twelve Golden Immortals, he was likely the weakest among them.

He possessed neither famous magical treasures nor any signature divine abilities.

This time, he would likely suffer under Zhao Gongming's hands.

Sure enough.

The moment this thought arose in Lu Tian's mind,

Zhao Gongming and Huang Long exchanged formal greetings, then immediately began fighting!

Zhao Gongming swung his divine whip, sealing off the surrounding space in an instant and cutting off Huang Long's chance of escaping into the void.

His figure moved as fast as lightning. In the blink of an eye, he had closed in on Huang Long, and the divine whip was only three inches from the crown of his head.

Huang Long was greatly alarmed and immediately transformed into a streak of golden light.

Earth-Soaring Golden Light!

Huang Long had likewise mastered this divine ability, which had once left Lu Tian helpless, to a superb degree. In an instant, he vanished from before Zhao Gongming.

Zhao Gongming's figure flickered, and he had already appeared behind True Person Huang Long. With a sweep of his fly whisk, he was about to capture him!

The Dao arts of ** under Yuanshi Tianzun truly had their unique merits.

But Zhao Gongming was even stronger.

So strong that he caught everyone completely off guard!

Knowing that his speed could not match the Earth-Soaring Golden Light, he planted his feet and took the technique head-on!

The golden rope in his sleeve shot forth like a dragon leaving its lair, aiming straight for True Person Huang Long's throat!

True Person Huang Long was just about to use an evasion technique—

Zhao Gongming's voice boomed like thunder!

His violent Spiritual Sense shook True Person Huang Long's soul, freezing his body in place!

The Dragon-Binding Rope seized the opportunity to coil around him, binding him tightly!

Before Huang Long could struggle, the Primordial Golden Whip came crashing down with the force of wind and thunder, instantly robbing him of his ability to fight!

In the blink of an eye, the victor had been decided!

Everyone watching changed expression. The senior brothers at Lu Tian's side had their pupils contract sharply.

An outer disciple of the Jie Sect ** possessed such power? Daoist Moonlight cried out in shock.

Medicine Master Glazed Light's expression turned solemn.

Even after improving his cultivation over the years with Enlightenment Tea Leaves, he had no confidence in securing victory. His gaze involuntarily shifted to Lu Tian—

Just how far had this junior brother, who had broken through to the Taiyi Realm, grown?

The defeated True Person Huang Long had already been recalled.

The Chan Sect camp was deathly silent.

Huang Long stood with his head lowered behind Yuanshi, the dragon claws beneath his Daoist robe trembling slightly.

He had never been valued to begin with—merely one covered in scales and bearing horns.

Yuanshi Tianzun had often sighed in the past: if he had accepted Lu Tian of the Western Teachings back then, how could the Twelve Golden Immortals have been incomplete!

Now that he had been defeated by an outer disciple of the Jie Sect, his future treatment was easy to imagine.

No matter Zhao Gongming's true cultivation, the disgrace of an outer disciple defeating a direct disciple had already been branded upon them.

Yuanshi Tianzun's face darkened like still water.

He could naturally see that Zhao Gongming was among the foremost of the Taiyi Realm. Whom to send into battle now had become a difficult problem.

The Quasi-Saints attending the ceremony murmured among themselves, while all eyes on the battlefield gathered upon the figure standing proudly amid the clouds.

Just as Yuanshi was deep in thought—

Within the territory of the Western Teachings, a streak of light tore through the sky and descended into the arena.

The instant that figure appeared, Styx, who had been chatting and laughing with others, brightened slightly and transmitted his voice to those around him. "This ** of the Western Teachings has some courage. I admire him."