The Interception Sect Is Shaken, the Sage's Teachings

"Whew! I've finally broken through to the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal."

Xuan Liu drew his true spirit inward, overwhelmed with delight.

The Highest Pure Great Dao his master had expounded was indeed unfathomably profound, every word like the heavenly music of the Great Dao.

That was why, within this mere ten thousand years,

he had directly triggered his Heaven-Defying Comprehension, comprehended the Heaven-Cutting True Intent, and broken through the bottleneck of the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal in one stroke.

Sensing the mana within him, now several times more vast and powerful than before,

Xuan Liu felt that listening to the Dao before a Sage this time had truly benefited him immensely.

Had he cultivated on his own, even with Heaven-Defying Comprehension,

breaking through the bottleneck and reaching the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal would still have required no small amount of effort.

It was absolutely not something he could have accomplished in just ten thousand years.

Sure enough, joining the Interception Sect back then had been an exceptionally correct decision. He had truly been wise beyond measure.

"Haha, congratulations, Fifth Junior Brother! You've entered the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal in one leap!"

Just as Xuan Liu slowly drew the emerald divine radiance surrounding his body back inside,

Duobao Daoist, seated in the foremost position,

turned his head.

Duobao Daoist's plump face was brimming with smiles as he cupped his hands toward Xuan Liu in congratulations.

He had originally thought that, having transformed from the Many-Treasure Rat, a strange beast of the Primordial World,

his innate foundation and heritage would rank among the very best in the Interception Sect.

Yet he had never expected a Fifth Junior Brother to appear out of nowhere.

Still, his own junior brother being stronger than him was also an immensely good thing.

He truly wanted to see how the disciples of the Expounding Sect would react when they saw his Fifth Junior Brother.

Their expressions would surely be wonderfully entertaining, wouldn't they?

Who said all disciples of the Interception Sect were furred and horned creatures, born from dampness and eggs?

His Fifth Junior Brother had transformed from the World-Purifying Divine Willow, a top-grade innate spiritual root.

He was a genuine innate lifeform.

"Congratulations, Fifth Junior Brother!"

Golden Spirit Holy Mother, seated to the left, also smiled with her phoenix eyes and chimed in, "After listening to the Dao for ten thousand years, Junior Brother has broken through from the early-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal to the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal."

"Such comprehension is difficult to find even across the Primordial World. In this grand tournament, the name of our Interception Sect's fifth direct disciple will surely shake the Three Sects."

"Second Senior Sister speaks truly. Fifth Junior Brother has received the creation of Heaven and Earth and broken through so effortlessly. It truly makes us envious." Unyielding Holy Mother and Turtle-Spirit Sage turned around together, their beautiful eyes gleaming.

At the moment the five direct disciples were conversing,

beneath the white jade Dharma platform, the many outer disciples and registered disciples of the Interception Sect

could no longer suppress their shock after seeing all five direct disciples offer their congratulations, and began whispering among themselves.

"We congratulate Senior Brother Xuan Liu on attaining the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal. May your immortal lifespan know no bounds!"

"Congratulations to Senior Brother Xuan Liu for comprehending the Heaven-Cutting True Intent and shining brilliantly!"

Zhao Gongming, the Three Cloud Fairies, and the other outstanding outer disciples were the first to perform a Daoist salute beneath the platform and loudly offer their congratulations.

After them came Black Cloud Immortal, Golden Light Immortal, Long-Eared Fixed-Light Immortal, and the other Seven Attendant Immortals,

along with countless other immortals of the Interception Sect, who all joined in.

The voices of hundreds of millions of immortals echoed through the great hall in an endless stream.

Yet faced with these overwhelming congratulations,

Xuan Liu, seated upon the fifth meditation cushion, remained calm throughout, showing not the slightest trace of arrogance from the praise of the myriad immortals.

He knew that, in this era, the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal was merely enough to grant him some ability to protect himself.

In the future Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, even mighty Daluo Golden Immortals and Quasi-Sage experts might fail to preserve their lives and perish in that immortal-slaying tribulation.

His cultivation at the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal was, more or less, still far from enough.

With that thought, Xuan Liu performed a Daoist salute toward Duobao Daoist and his three senior sisters before him, then slowly said, "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother. Thank you, three Senior Sisters."

"Xuan Liu merely benefited from the profundity of Master's teachings, allowing me this fortunate breakthrough. I do not deserve such praise."

Then he turned around again and nodded slightly toward the myriad immortal disciples below, including Black Cloud Immortal and Zhao Gongming, returning their courtesy.

Just as the clamor filling the heavens continued to grow louder and louder,

"Silence!"

Suddenly, a casual yet incomparably vast Sage's decree rang out.

The voice was exceedingly calm, yet it contained the absolute sovereign might of a Heavenly Dao Sage.

With merely that one word, the tide of myriad immortals that had shaken the nine heavens

was forcibly flattened by an invisible force in an instant.

The vast Jade Tour Palace hall returned, in the blink of an eye, to an utter stillness so profound that a falling leaf could be heard.

Upon the white jade Dharma platform, the endless scene of heavenly flowers raining down and golden lotuses springing from the earth gradually faded away.

Tongtian Cult Master slowly opened his deep Sage eyes, his gaze falling upon Xuan Liu on the fifth meditation cushion.

"Disciple Xuan Liu!"

Tongtian Cult Master steadied his mind and earnestly instructed, "You were able to comprehend the Heaven-Cutting True Intent through your own understanding during ten thousand years of listening to the Dao, breaking through your restraints."

"Breaking through to the mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal in one stroke is enough to show that you possess immense karmic affinity with my Highest Pure lineage, and that your innate foundation and blessings are immeasurable."

"However, you must remember this well: the path of cultivation is like rowing against the current. The laws of the Heavenly Dao are ever-enduring and ever-changing."

"You must not become overly impatient or prideful. On the path of cultivation, only strengthening one's foundation and tempering one's Dao heart are most important. Do you understand?"

Faced with his master's Sage instruction, Xuan Liu's expression trembled.

The pride that had arisen in his heart from suddenly breaking through and comprehending the Heaven-Cutting True Intent

completely vanished in that instant, replaced by endless calm and steadiness.

"This disciple, Xuan Liu, shall obey Master's Sage decree!"

Without the slightest hesitation, Xuan Liu straightened his robe and bowed deeply with the utmost reverence.

"Master's every word is a pearl of wisdom and has thoroughly awakened this disciple."

"After returning, this disciple will certainly restrain my mind and diligently strengthen my foundation and temper my Dao heart day and night. I will never blindly seek swift achievements or rashly advance, and I will not disappoint Master's grace in nurturing me!"

Seeing that Xuan Liu, even before such an immense breakthrough,

could gather his mind in an instant,

and was so receptive to instruction, with such a steady Dao heart,

Tongtian Cult Master's usually stern and handsome face upon the white jade Dharma platform

revealed heartfelt gratification at that moment.

Taking Xuan Liu as the fifth direct disciple of the Interception Sect had indeed been the right decision.

This child not only possessed extraordinary talent and comprehension enough to surpass the entirety of the Three Sects,

but also exceeded ordinary disciples of the Three Sects in Dao heart and foundation.

If properly nurtured, his future would surely be boundless.

Even becoming a Quasi-Sage expert would merely be a matter of time.

Tongtian Cult Master truly wanted to see how his Second Brother would react upon seeing Xuan Liu.

"Good."

Tongtian Cult Master gave a faint word of praise, his voice vast as he said, "Today's lecture ends here. All of you, withdraw at once and return to your respective abodes."

"Strengthen your Dao foundations well, and seek your respective opportunities for breakthroughs amid the myriad forms of the mortal world!"

"Do not disgrace my Interception Sect during the Xuanmen Grand Tournament."