Chapter 37

The terrifying strength Lu Tian displayed—defeating Zhao Gongming and Duobao in succession, then enduring the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation until Duobao was exhausted and claiming victory—had made the battle's twists and turns utterly astonishing!

Many great powers had already declared:

The Western Teachings were about to produce a peak powerhouse!

If he broke through to Quasi-Saint and cultivated diligently for a million years, he would surely stand alongside Styx, Zhenyuanzi, and the like!

The disciples of the Interception Sect had likewise shaken the primordial world.

Duobao, Wu Dang, Jin Ling, Gui Ling, Zhao Gongming, the Three Xiao Sisters—

These eight disciples had all displayed top-tier combat power!

Even setting Lu Tian aside, the Interception Sect remained the undisputed number one sect in the primordial world.

As for the Interpretation Sect...

Its situation was bleak.

After clashing with the Western Teachings, the Interception Sect turned and challenged the Interpretation Sect.

The result exceeded everyone's expectations—

The Interception Sect's disciples nearly crushed the Interpretation Sect!

Apart from True Person Huang Long, the Eleven Golden Immortals took turns fighting the Interception Sect's remaining forces—Wu Dang, Jin Ling, Gui Ling, Yunxiao, and Qiongxiao—and won only twice:

Guangchengzi preserved some dignity as the Saint's first disciple, while Taiyi Zhenren narrowly won one battle after years of bitter cultivation.

All the other Golden Immortals were defeated!

The Interception Sect's title as the number one sect was no longer in dispute.

Tongtian's brows relaxed, and the anger that had built up for so long finally dissipated.

Yuanshi, however, wore an unsightly expression.

The three-month bitter battle came to an end.

The Interception Sect shone brilliantly, winning battle after battle.

Yet the great powers found it rather dull—

After witnessing Lu Tian's earth-shaking performance, the Interception Sect disciples' victories somehow seemed to lack that final touch of brilliance.

The great powers remained at Kunlun Mountain for the time being and agreed to discuss the Great Dao together a hundred years later.

The grand gathering that had lasted many days finally dispersed, and the various great powers opened temporary cave abodes.

Kunlun Mountain thus became the most flourishing sacred land in the primordial world.

The great powers either discussed the Dao and exchanged insights or spoke freely of heaven and earth, making the place extraordinarily lively.

Only the Three Pure Ones... left much unspoken.

Inside Eight Sceneries Palace, the chill grew increasingly intense.

That day, Tongtian and Yuanshi argued endlessly in the hall.

"Look at the fine disciple you taught! Causing trouble outside again! He actually dared to injure fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi's boy attendant and make him come here to demand an explanation **. He's truly brought great honor to us Three Pure Ones!" Yuanshi's face was frosty as he rebuked him sternly.

Though Tongtian was the younger brother, he refused to yield. "Who told that Daoist boy to gather herbs on Kunlun Mountain without permission? He merely suffered a slight injury; healing him will suffice. Rather than worrying about my disciples, elder brother should think more about how to improve the cultivation of your own **!"

Yuanshi slammed his palm against the table and abruptly rose to his feet.

The Interpretation Sect disciples' performance at the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony had indeed been disappointing.

The Western Teachings had produced a Lu Tian, earning the admiration of all immortals.

The Interception Sect disciples were likewise outstanding, every one of them.

Only the Interpretation Sect disciples he had carefully selected seemed inferior by comparison—an utter humiliation for someone like him, who placed such importance on disciples' aptitude.

"How my disciples cultivate is for me to manage; I need not trouble you with it! It is your unruly disciples who ought to be properly disciplined! I warned you long ago to restrain them strictly. Wasn't losing all face at the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony enough?"

Tongtian also slammed the table and rose upon hearing this.

He knew exactly what Yuanshi meant—it was the matter of Lu Tian publicly taking revenge during the gathering and making him lose face. The Three Pure Ones were one body, so Dao De Tianzun and Yuanshi had been equally embarrassed by the incident. The three had always avoided discussing it. Yet in his fury, Yuanshi had actually brought up the old matter again.

With swords drawn and bows bent, their auras clashed.

They had held the Mystic Gate Grand Ceremony to settle their ideological differences, yet the Western Teachings had emerged halfway through. Now that victory and defeat had been decided, neither of them was pleased.

"Since words are useless, why not have a match with elder brother?" Sword qi surged around Tongtian. "It'll save us from wasting breath here!"

"Outrageous!"

Before Yuanshi could respond, Dao De Tianzun slammed the table and shouted to stop them.

"If you want to fight, get out and fight! Let all the immortals of the primordial world see just how brotherly and respectful the Three Pure Ones are!"

Under their eldest brother's authority, the two finally restrained themselves.

Yet when they looked at one another, their eyes were still full of indignation.

"Farewell." Tongtian turned coldly away.

With a flick of his sleeve, Tongtian returned directly to Biyou Palace.

He first went to a side hall to visit Duobao. With the aid of ten-thousandfold time acceleration, Duobao had recuperated for a thousand years, and ninety percent of his injuries had healed.

"Master has arrived. This disciple was unable to welcome you from afar..."

Sensing Tongtian's aura, Duobao immediately ceased cultivating and rose. Tongtian waved to indicate that formalities were unnecessary, and with Immortal Power circulating, he had already examined his disciple's condition.

"You've recovered well."

Duobao looked ashamed. "This disciple failed Master's entrusted expectations and was defeated by Lu Tian. I am willing to accept punishment."

Tongtian sighed softly and patted his beloved disciple's shoulder.

"There is still plenty of time."

"Even if you lose again, it does not matter. Your master will stand up for you."

"If you were both in the Grand Unity Realm, you would certainly defeat him with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation. Using the Taiyi Realm to wield that formation truly was asking too much of you."

Duobao's heart warmed, and he lowered his head even further. "The next time we meet, this disciple will surely wash away this humiliation!"

After comforting his disciple, Tongtian returned to the main hall **. His gaze stretched toward Jade Void Palace, and he fell into thought.

At the same time.

Lu Tian awoke from a thousand years of recuperation. With the Power of Creation and Three Lights Divine Water, he had recovered completely in only five hundred years, using all his remaining time to refine the mysterious placenta.

This time, he had refined another forty percent. His total progress had reached half, bringing him another step closer to the foundation of a Chaos Demon God.

The improvement to his foundation brought a complete transformation: Sky-Piercing Heart's cultivation efficiency doubled to one hundred times, the total amount of Power of Creation doubled, and the maximum enhancement of the Severance Divine Ability rose to fifteen times his battle strength.

After sorting everything out, he stepped out of the time-space barrier.

There, Daoist Zhunti ** was waiting.

"Recovered?"

"Your foundation has improved again. This must be the opportunity you mentioned."

The instant Lu Tian appeared, Zhunti sensed it. He turned his head and gave him a gentle smile.

Joy immediately appeared in Lu Tian's eyes.

"Exactly. Only by burning one's life force to exhaustion can one break free of the shackles of one's origin and rise to a higher level upon recovery."

Zhunti nodded thoughtfully.

"The primordial world is vast and boundless. Karma has its own ordained cycle."

"Your destruction and rebirth this time can be considered a blessing in disguise."

As the two spoke, Jieyin's Divine Sense descended quietly.

"Your foundation has been reshaped quite well."

He first offered praise, then said solemnly, "But do not use this as an excuse to deliberately seek out fights and exhaust your life force."

"If such a thought truly arises, come find your master. I can manifest an incarnation to spar with you and help you make a breakthrough."

So this was why Jieyin had come to advise him.

Jieyin was ultimately worried that after tasting the benefits, his disciple would take dangerous risks in the future.

Lu Tian quickly replied, "This disciple will keep Master's teachings firmly in mind."

"If not for the protection of my two masters this time, this disciple would never have dared act so recklessly."

He understood it clearly—precisely because Jieyin and Zhunti were there, he had dared to go all out!

Whether it was burning his life force to the end or devouring the placenta to replenish the loss to his origin, everything had been under the watchful care of his two masters. It could be said that nothing could go wrong.

If he had been alone in danger, Lu Tian would never have rashly employed such a desperate move.

He would certainly have formed hand seals, chanted an invocation, and respectfully invited his masters to descend.

Thus, in another situation, he would instead be unlikely to encounter a desperate circumstance requiring him to stake everything on one throw, and naturally would have had no way to discover such an opportunity.

At the end of the day, Lu Tian had always placed his own safety first.

Having powerful backers yet not knowing how to use their strength was simply foolish!

As for the so-called breakthrough between life and death?

That was nothing but the fantasy of fools!

If one slacked off in ordinary cultivation yet hoped for a breakthrough in battle, how was that any different from wishful thinking?

It was not entirely impossible, but the odds were infinitesimal.

What wise person would place their hopes on such a slim opportunity?

Cultivating diligently every day and comprehending the profound principles of the Heavenly Dao until success came naturally—that was the proper path!

Look at the great powers of the primordial world. Which one did not enter seclusion for tens of thousands of years and rarely take action?

Fighting and competing were merely ways to verify the fruits of ordinary cultivation.

When Lu Tian had cultivated in the Blood Sea, he had likewise first performed countless simulations in dreams. Only after fully grasping everything did he spar with the Asura Race to verify it.

"This disciple has troubled both masters this time. I am truly ashamed."

Lu Tian apologized again, his voice full of guilt.

His actions this time had indeed been somewhat rash.

He had nearly fallen out completely with the Interception Sect, relying on his overwhelming strength and giving them no face whatsoever.

Relations between the two sects had originally been distant. Only because they considered the dignity of both sides' Saints, and because one was in the east while the other was in the west, had they barely maintained surface-level peace.

Now, however, their relationship had directly plunged to freezing point!

A war between the two sects was naturally impossible, but if their disciples met, there would inevitably be sharp confrontations and "friendly sparring."

If Lu Tian had softened his words slightly, matters would not have worsened to this extent.

Yet he had been unwilling to yield even half a step in such a matter!

Had Jieyin and Zhunti not supported him, the consequences would have been unimaginable!

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged smiles.

"Do not say such angry words."

"Your master knows of the resentment in your heart. It is good that you released it this time."

"Since you chose this path, your master will naturally support you with all his strength."

Jieyin smiled gently, but his words carried a sharp edge.

"Let there be no next time. You need only remember that we will always stand behind you."

"The competition among your generation has only just begun."

"It differs from our era—our forms were innately born, and we relied entirely on ourselves to explore cultivation. Before the Dao Ancestor preached the Dao, we all followed wild paths."

"You have masters and backers. You are destined to be hundreds and thousands of times stronger than other living beings!"

"The likelihood of producing powerhouses is also far greater than before."

"But because of this, the Interpretation Sect has become too comfortable, and its disciples are instead lacking in strength."

"Though the Interception Sect has many flaws, its internal competition is fierce, and its overall strength is superior."

At this point, Jieyin let out a soft sigh.

"Our Western Teachings were innately deficient. Had you not appeared, we would have been suppressed by those two sects for many years."

"Because of your sudden rise, both the comfortable faction of the Interpretation Sect and the competitive faction of the Interception Sect will cultivate desperately to surpass you."

"Lu Tian, I want you to remain above them forever!"

"If you possess the will of a diamond, then you should decide the universe alone and crush all who refuse to submit!"

"Become the strongest of this generation with an invincible bearing, and remain forever at the peak—do you have the confidence?"

"Decide the universe alone and crush all who refuse to submit!"

Jieyin's words were calm, yet they made Lu Tian's blood surge!

Having already astonished the great powers of the primordial world atop Kunlun Mountain and enjoyed all that glory, how could he be willing to return to mediocrity?

"This disciple understands. Please rest assured, Master."

"No matter how the Interception Sect and Interpretation Sect pursue me, this disciple will always prevail."

Jieyin nodded with a smile, then changed the subject.

"The Demon Race has sent envoys requesting an audience. Would you like to meet them?"

"The Demon Race?"

"Why are they looking for me?"

"With my current cultivation, I am merely somewhat stronger among Taiyi Golden Immortals. How could I have caught the Demon Race's attention?"

Lu Tian pondered inwardly, but he still agreed to the meeting.

Following Jieyin and Zhunti into the main hall, he saw two elegant female cultivators seated across from Jieyin and drinking tea—Changxi and Xihe, the two empresses of the Demon Race.

Lu Tian cupped his hands in greeting. "This junior greets the two seniors."

Changxi examined him with a smile, then suddenly showed surprise. "Eh? Compared to our last meeting, your cultivation has improved again?"

With a light turn of her delicate hand, she took out an Ink Painting Scroll and handed it to him. "In the past, this Empress and your master listened to the Dao together at Purple Cloud Palace. Consider this a meeting gift."

The sudden gift left Lu Tian stunned.