Hongjun's Warning

"Though these twelve Sea-Calming Pearls rival a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, they still fall short of gathering all thirty-six Sea-Calming Pearls."

"Tongtian probably has not yet taken Zhao Gongming as his disciple, so the other twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls should still be in his possession. It seems I must find an opportunity to meet him."

After putting away the twelve Sea-Calming Pearls, Lu Xuan returned directly to the Three-Light Divine Water Altar. He then took out the tea garden he had brought from Wuyi Mountain.

Next, Lu Xuan built three thatched cottages beside the Innate Enlightenment Tea Mother Tree, to serve as his future residence on Abbot Island.

It was not that Lu Xuan lacked the ability to build a grand hall; he simply felt there was no need. Three thatched cottages were more than enough for him.

Though they looked like nothing more than humble thatched cottages from the outside, their interiors were decorated with a distinctly modern feel.

Lu Xuan had no intention of copying Tongtian and the others by using cloud beds and meditation cushions. With a wave of his hand, sofas, coffee tables, and other furnishings that only existed in later ages appeared one after another within the cottages.

He even made himself a soft bed. As the saying went, nothing beat dumplings for eating, and nothing beat lying down for sitting. If he could cultivate sprawled out, why bother sitting cross-legged?

Once everything was arranged, Lu Xuan casually sprawled across the sofa and began sensing the Innate spiritual energy around him.

With the aid of Primordial Enlightenment Tea, Lu Xuan's cultivation speed could truly be called advancing a thousand miles in a day. Still, his cultivation posture was indeed somewhat unsightly.

Lu Xuan did not obsess over cultivation. After cultivating for less than a hundred years, he emerged from the thatched cottage.

With another wave of his hand, two more thatched cottages appeared on either side. Lu Xuan directly turned one of them into a kitchen.

Although Lu Xuan no longer needed to eat the food of mortals, he was unwilling to give up the chance to savor the delicacies of the human world.

As for the other thatched cottage, it was purely for symmetry. Lu Xuan had yet to consider what he would use it for.

While Lu Xuan enjoyed a leisurely life on Abbot Island, the Primordial Land had already erupted into an uproar. Countless living beings gathered beneath Kunlun Mountain, hoping to enter Tongtian's sect.

Unfortunately, the trial Laozi had set was far too harsh. Ten thousand years had already passed, yet only a mere handful had managed to climb Kunlun Mountain.

Thus, Tongtian currently had only three disciples: his eldest disciple Daoist Duobao, his second disciple Golden Spirit Holy Mother, and his third disciple Holy Mother Wudang.

The origins and foundations of these three all fell within the category of Innate Spirits. However, they had not directly transformed into Innate Dao Bodies and had instead taken a few detours.

Daoist Duobao had transformed from Primordial Treasure Aura. Unfortunately, he had first transformed into a Duobao Rat, then used that Duobao Rat as his foundation to cultivate an Dao Body.

Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Holy Mother Wudang were much the same. Though they had not transformed into demonic beasts like Daoist Duobao, they had evolved into Innate objects before transforming once more and attaining the Dao.

Similar to them was Jade Cauldron True Person of the Chan School. He too had evolved from Innate qi into a jade cauldron before transforming and attaining the Dao.

Judging by the origins and foundations of these three, they would have had a chance even if they had sought to enter Primordial Heavenly Venerable's sect. After all, True Person Huanglong under Primordial Heavenly Venerable was in the same situation as Daoist Duobao.

Yet even if the three had barely managed to enter the Chan School, they might not have earned Primordial Heavenly Venerable's regard in the end. In the original trajectory of the Primordial World, neither Jade Cauldron True Person nor True Person Huanglong possessed any respectable magic treasures.

Still, compared to True Person Huanglong, Jade Cauldron True Person had accepted an excellent disciple. He had risen in status through his disciple and gained a measure of renown among the Twelve Golden Immortals of Elucidation.

But by taking Tongtian as their master, these three had become Tongtian's personal disciples. That was certainly better than becoming fringe disciples in the Chan School.

Thus, aside from the Three Pure Ones, Kunlun Mountain currently had only sixteen disciples. Laozi had one disciple, while Tongtian had three.

Primordial Heavenly Venerable, on the other hand, had the most disciples, having accepted twelve in all. He called them the Twelve Golden Immortals of Elucidation.

The result was that the relationship among the Three Pure Ones remained exceptionally harmonious. Even if another's disciple came seeking guidance, they would patiently resolve that disciple's doubts.

Therefore, the Three Pure Ones often preached the Dao together on Kunlun Mountain, allowing all sixteen disciples to benefit immensely.

If things continued like this, perhaps the Three Pure Ones truly would never split apart. Even the Investiture of the Gods Calamity might not reach these three.

Alas, the tree wished for stillness, but the wind would not cease. After Hongjun learned of all this in Zixiao Palace, he could not help but sigh.

He immediately summoned Burning Lamp Daoist, who was also a Purple Cloud Palace Guest, to Zixiao Palace. No one knew what he instructed Burning Lamp Daoist to do, but after leaving Zixiao Palace, Burning Lamp Daoist headed for Kunlun Mountain.

No matter what, Burning Lamp Daoist was of the same generation as the Three Pure Ones. Since he had come to Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones naturally could not refuse to see him.

Yet after meeting them, Burning Lamp Daoist actually asked to take Primordial Heavenly Venerable as his master. The shock this gave the Three Pure Ones was beyond words.

Primordial Heavenly Venerable tried every possible way to refuse, but Hongjun's voice descended from the heavens. "Three Pure Ones, you brothers are Heavenly Dao Sages, destined to bear the responsibility of enlightening the myriad races of the Primordial World."

"You may select only the finest as personal disciples. Beyond your personal disciples, you may also accept registered disciples, so that the orthodox teachings of our Mysterious Sect may be passed down throughout the Primordial World."

As Hongjun's voice faded, the Three Pure Ones simultaneously bowed toward Zixiao Palace. Then Primordial Heavenly Venerable had no choice but to accept Burning Lamp Daoist into his sect.

However, he would not allow Burning Lamp Daoist to address him as Master, only as Teacher. He even ordered the Twelve Golden Immortals to address Burning Lamp Daoist as Teacher as well.

But accepting Burning Lamp Daoist alone was clearly not enough. With Hongjun's decree before them, the three had no choice but to accept more registered disciples.

This greatly troubled the Three Pure Ones. In the end, Laozi sighed and said, "The Interception Sect founded by our third brother advocates Teaching Without Discrimination. Anyone with the heart to seek the Dao may enter its gates."

"Because our trial is too harsh, only three disciples have ultimately entered our third brother's sect. This already goes against the purpose of his founding the sect."

"It has been three hundred years since Master warned us, yet no living being has passed the trial. If this continues, Master may hold us accountable again."

Primordial Heavenly Venerable naturally understood that Laozi was right. Yet when he looked at those Primordial World beings gathered beneath Kunlun Mountain, his brows could not help furrowing.

"Eldest Brother, some of these beings beneath Kunlun Mountain have attempted the trial hundreds of times and still failed to pass it. If we allow them to enter our third brother's sect, would that not ruin the karmic fortune of his great sect?"

Tongtian, by contrast, looked utterly unconcerned. To him, accepting a few disciples made little difference.

At that moment, he was only wondering when he could go out for a walk and search for traces of Lu Xuan. By his reckoning, he had not seen his Brother Lu Xuan for more than twenty thousand years.

Just then, Xuandu the Grand Magus hurriedly came to report that Daoist Duobao and Guangchengzi had started fighting at Qilin Cliff.