This Fight Was Far Too Strange

This made the Three Pure Ones frown at once. They had been taking disciples for several thousand years. Though they had different masters, they had always gotten along extremely well.

They often gathered to discuss merits and the Dao, exchanging their own insights into it. They were no different from disciples of the same master.

Why had they suddenly come to blows for no reason? The Three Pure Ones could not help but feel puzzled. They immediately headed for Qilin Cliff together.

At that moment, Daoist Duobao stood atop Qilin Cliff, Immortal Sword in hand, fighting Guangchengzi with incomparable ferocity. Fortunately, neither of them had used any magical treasures.

Even so, their sword qi had severed countless trees and plants around Qilin Cliff.

Only when they saw the Three Pure Ones arrive did the two stop, though fury still lingered on their faces.

Primordial Heavenly Venerable snorted coldly. "Why are you privately fighting when nothing has happened?"

Guangchengzi hesitated to speak, then finally lowered his head and chose silence. Even Daoist Duobao said nothing, likewise bowing his head in silence.

Seeing that neither party was willing to speak, Primordial Heavenly Venerable's rage soared. The pressure of a Sage came crashing down, forcing both of them to kneel upon Qilin Cliff.

"If you two cannot give me an explanation today, I will suppress you beneath Qilin Cliff for ten thousand years and let you properly reflect on your sins."

No sooner had Primordial Heavenly Venerable finished speaking than Golden Spirit Holy Mother stepped forward. "Second Uncle-Master, Senior Brother Guangchengzi insulted Eldest Senior Brother first. That is why Eldest Senior Brother fought him."

Primordial Heavenly Venerable swept his gaze over his disciples and found them all lowering their heads. Knowing that Golden Spirit Holy Mother had spoken the truth, he turned to Guangchengzi and questioned him.

"Guangchengzi, why did you insult Duobao? Hurry and tell your master the whole story. Do you truly wish for me to suppress you beneath Qilin Cliff?"

Only then did Guangchengzi raise his head. "Master, this disciple was not insulting Duobao. What this disciple said was simply the truth."

"He was originally a Duobao Rat who took form, so he should belong to the Demon Race. Our Three Teachings of Ren, Chan, and Jie are the orthodox lineage of the Mysterious Sect. He should not have a place among us."

Guangchengzi wanted to continue, but Primordial Heavenly Venerable's expression had already darkened completely. He immediately said to Guangchengzi in a cold voice,

"Your Junior Brother Huanglong also took form from the Dragon Race. Do you believe I should not have accepted him as a disciple either? Does being your fellow disciple insult you?"

Guangchengzi immediately shook his head. "Junior Brother Huanglong is naturally different. Before the Dragon-Han Primordial Tribulation, the Dragon Race ruled the Primordial World. Junior Brother Huanglong was born of the Dragon Race, so he naturally has the qualifications to enter our Mysterious Sect."

Seeing Guangchengzi dare to argue with him, Primordial Heavenly Venerable's anger flared even more fiercely. He raised his hand and pressed it down toward Guangchengzi.

Just as Guangchengzi was about to be punished, Master Tongtian intervened and stopped Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

"Second Brother, it is merely a dispute among juniors. So long as they are not fighting to the death, let them be."

Though Master Tongtian spoke lightly, a trace of anger also hung on his face. After all, Daoist Duobao was his disciple. Since when had it become Guangchengzi's place to pass judgment on him?

Laozi, on the other hand, had his brows tightly furrowed. It was as though he had seen something through this incident, yet in the end, he said nothing.

By stopping Primordial Heavenly Venerable, Tongtian had given him sufficient face. Primordial Heavenly Venerable accordingly withdrew his hand, but still punished Guangchengzi with a thousand years of facing the wall.

Tongtian could not help sighing at this, but ultimately said nothing. He led his three disciples back to Shangqing Peak.

After returning to Shangqing Peak, Tongtian said to his three disciples, "For cultivators like us, neither our origin nor our lineage is what matters most."

"What truly matters is comprehension and temperament. Only heaven-defying comprehension qualifies one to seek the Great Dao. Only steadfast temperament prevents one from being tempted by external things."

"Your master has a close friend named Lu Xuan. He attained the Dao as a Six-Eared Macaque, yet his understanding of the Dao surpasses even mine."

"Furthermore, when your grandmaster preached the Dao in Zixiao Palace, among the three thousand Purple Cloud Palace Guests, how many belonged to the Demon Race? At the very least, Demon Emperor Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were among them."

"So there is no need for you to take others' opinions to heart, for all of that is merely an external path. It can only affect those whose temperaments are not firm."

Tongtian was worried that his disciples' Dao hearts would be damaged, which was why he spoke those words. Though he did not elevate his disciples' origins, he made an important principle clear.

The gloom in Duobao's heart instantly vanished. He immediately bowed to Tongtian. "Thank you, Master, for resolving this disciple's confusion."

Tongtian smiled and nodded. "You have been on the mountain for several thousand years now. I intend to take you on a journey through the Primordial World. Go back and make your preparations."

With that, Tongtian vanished directly from his Daoist grounds. When he appeared again, he had arrived at Laozi's Taiqing Peak.

Seeing Tongtian suddenly arrive, Laozi said, "Third Brother, have you come to see me because of what happened today?"

Tongtian shook his head at Laozi. "Eldest Brother, this time I have not come over that trivial matter today. I am preparing to travel through the Primordial World and came to bid Eldest Brother farewell."

Laozi nodded. "That is for the best. The bond between us Three Pure Ones must not be affected by friction among the juniors."

Tongtian nodded solemnly. "Rest assured, Eldest Brother. Third Brother knows the proper measure. I will now go bid Second Brother farewell."

With that, he left Shangqing Peak for Jade Clarity Peak. Before Tongtian could speak, Primordial Heavenly Venerable spoke first.

"Third Brother, did you sense that today's matter was somewhat strange? Guangchengzi and the others have been together for several thousand years. Why had he never said such things before?"

Tongtian had originally intended to leave after bidding Yuanshi farewell, but Yuanshi's words piqued his interest.

He immediately asked, "Could it be that Second Brother discovered something?"

Primordial Heavenly Venerable shook his head. "I divined the secrets of Heaven, but gained nothing. Yet I am certain that this matter was no coincidence."

Tongtian had thought Primordial Heavenly Venerable knew something. Learning that he too knew nothing, Tongtian lost interest and said directly,

"It is only a trivial matter. Why should Second Brother make so much of it? I came to bid Second Brother farewell. I intend to take Duobao and the others on a tour of the Primordial World so they may gain some experience."

Primordial Heavenly Venerable nodded after hearing this, but the suspicion in his heart did not fade because of Tongtian's words.

After bidding farewell to Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable in turn, Tongtian led his three disciples away from Kunlun Mountain and headed toward the valley where he had met Lu Xuan.

However, when Tongtian and his three disciples arrived at that valley, they found that Lu Xuan had long since disappeared. Even the cave dwelling had been occupied by a group of demons.

Tongtian did not believe that the Demon Race had seized Lu Xuan's Daoist grounds. He knew that Lu Xuan must have left first, and only then had the demons occupied the place.