Lu Xuan's Gift

On this day, Tongtian and his three disciples arrived at the shores of the Eastern Sea. Gazing at the vast expanse of sea, Tongtian could not help but sense a faint, intangible guidance.

"Your master senses that a fateful opportunity lies upon this Eastern Sea. It will become the foundation upon which our Interception Sect establishes itself. Follow me into the Eastern Sea."

Having spoken, Tongtian mounted a cloud and headed deep into the Eastern Sea. Duobao and the other two followed closely behind, continuously surveying the empty sea surface, wondering what sort of opportunity their master had spoken of.

In the blink of an eye, Tongtian and his three disciples had wandered across the Eastern Sea for a hundred years. Then they suddenly saw a mass of mist rising from the sea ahead.

Tongtian immediately laughed aloud. "The opportunity has arrived. This place is a supreme blessed land and grotto-heaven. It can serve as the ancestral court of our Interception Sect."

As he spoke, Tongtian waved his hand. A vast force instantly dispersed the mist, revealing an island shaped like a gigantic turtle before the four master and disciples.

Although the island was protected by a grand formation, it was no more than decoration before Tongtian. With a mere gesture, he had broken the hidden formation.

The four arrived atop a cliff and saw a stone stele standing there, inscribed with the three words: Purple Zhi Cliff.

Looking at the inscription, Tongtian nodded in satisfaction. Then he said, "Go look around the island and each find a suitable cave dwelling to serve as your cultivation grounds."

"I will head to the core of this immortal island and refine its Innate spiritual vein, turning it completely into my cultivation ground."

With that, Tongtian headed directly toward the center of the island. Before long, he found another stone stele inscribed with the three words: Golden Ao Island.

Another hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Tongtian finally refined the entire Golden Ao Island, making it his cultivation ground upon the Eastern Sea.

As Golden Ao Island became Tongtian's cultivation ground, a golden light of Karmic Fortune shot into the sky. At the same time, Tongtian stood upon that golden light and spoke.

"I was transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, Shangqing Tongtian, leader of the Three Pure Ones. Today, I have found the blessed land and grotto-heaven of Golden Ao Island in the Eastern Sea. From this day onward, Golden Ao Island shall be the main court of my Interception Sect."

Tongtian's voice resounded through the heavens. Even Laozi on Kunlun Mountain heard it clearly and could not help looking toward the Eastern Sea.

Laozi muttered to himself, "Third Brother's Interception Sect has gained thirty percent more Karmic Fortune. He must have found a great opportunity in the Eastern Sea."

At this time, Primordial Heavenly Venerable had also arrived. He said to Laozi, "Eldest Brother, Third Brother has found a cultivation ground in the Eastern Sea. We ought to go offer our congratulations."

Laozi nodded and departed for the Eastern Sea together with Primordial Heavenly Venerable.

It was not only Laozi and Primordial Heavenly Venerable who rushed to the Eastern Sea. The Western Two Sages and Nuwa also set out for the Eastern Sea at the same time.

Even the two Demon Race emperors and the Twelve Ancestral Witches headed for the Eastern Sea without prior arrangement. After all, Tongtian had established the main court of the Interception Sect in the Eastern Sea, so they had no choice but to offer congratulations.

For a time, escape lights flashed across the Eastern Sea as countless great powers went to congratulate Tongtian. This frightened the Eastern Sea Dragon King badly.

Ao Guang, the Eastern Sea Dragon King, paced back and forth within the Crystal Palace, occasionally raising his head to look toward the sea surface. At last, he received a report from the patrolling sea yaksha.

"Dragon King, the Shangqing Sage, one of the Three Pure Ones, has established a cultivation ground on Golden Ao Island in the Eastern Sea. Great powers from all sides have now come to the Eastern Sea to congratulate the Shangqing Sage."

Upon hearing this, Ao Guang frowned. He immediately ordered the great drum of the Eastern Sea to be sounded, summoning the Dragon Kings of the other three seas.

Before long, Ao Qin, Dragon King of the Southern Sea; Ao Run, Dragon King of the Western Sea; and Ao Shun, Dragon King of the Northern Sea, hurried to the Eastern Sea Crystal Palace.

After learning the full story, the Four Sea Dragon Kings began discussing what gifts they should prepare before going to Golden Ao Island to offer their congratulations.

After all, a Sage establishing a cultivation ground within his territory was hardly a good thing for Ao Guang, the Eastern Sea Dragon King.

If one of his dragon descendants carelessly offended the Sage someday, the Eastern Sea Dragon Clan would truly be reduced to ashes.

Tongtian's tremendous commotion naturally alerted Lu Xuan on Abbot Island as well. After all, the two islands were both located in the Eastern Sea.

Lu Xuan said with a smile, "It seems Tongtian still came to the Eastern Sea. But the timing seems a little off."

"The second great war between the Witch-Demon Clans has yet to begin. The Three Pure Ones should not have reached the point of splitting apart yet. Why has he come to the Eastern Sea to establish a cultivation ground?"

"Forget it. Since my little brother has come to the Eastern Sea, I cannot fail to congratulate him as his elder brother. Otherwise, Tongtian may think his elder brother is stingy."

Lu Xuan casually took out two jars of Primordial Enlightenment Tea, along with a jade bottle of Three Lights Divine Water, intending to use them as congratulatory gifts.

Finally, he plucked nine white lotuses from the Pool of Three Lights Divine Water and wore them on his person. Only then did he leave Abbot Island and head directly for Golden Ao Island.

When Lu Xuan arrived at Golden Ao Island, the entire island was bustling with activity. Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Holy Mother Wudang were receiving guests before Purple Zhi Cliff.

Seeing Lu Xuan arrive, Golden Spirit Holy Mother stepped forward and gave a Daoist salute. "How should I address you, Fellow Daoist?"

Golden Spirit Holy Mother could sense that his cultivation was higher than hers. Naturally, he could not be here to seek apprenticeship, so he must have come to congratulate her master.

Lu Xuan smiled and said, "I am Lu Xuan. Having learned that your master established a cultivation ground in the Eastern Sea, I came specifically to offer my congratulations."

Lu Xuan was utterly unknown in the Primordial World. Apart from the Twelve Ancestral Witches and Tongtian, perhaps only Red Cloud Ancestor knew of him.

Yet what Lu Xuan had not expected was for respectful expressions to instantly appear on the faces of Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Holy Mother Wudang. They even gave Lu Xuan another solemn bow.

"So it is Senior Lu Xuan. Jinling and Wudang have often heard our master mention you. If Master learns that you have come, he will certainly be overjoyed."

Seeing Golden Spirit Holy Mother preparing to notify Tongtian, Lu Xuan hurriedly reached out to stop her. "Your master is busy receiving distinguished guests right now, so do not disturb him."

"We are all family. There is no need for such formalities. It will not be too late to meet once he has finished."

As he spoke, he took out two white lotuses. "These are wild white lotus flowers from my cultivation ground. Consider them a gift upon our first meeting."

Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Holy Mother Wudang did not suspect anything and immediately accepted them. At the same time, they prepared to bow and thank Lu Xuan.

But before they could complete their bow, they sensed that the white lotuses in their hands were extraordinary. Golden Spirit Holy Mother directly asked Lu Xuan.

"Senior, may I ask what is special about these white lotuses? Why can this junior sense an incomparably pure power from them?"

Lu Xuan replied with a smile, "These are Purifying World White Lotuses. Unfortunately, once they reached the sixth grade, they could no longer continue growing."

Lu Xuan spoke of Sixth-Grade Purifying World White Lotuses as though they were so unremarkable that Golden Spirit Holy Mother and Holy Mother Wudang could not help clicking their tongues in astonishment.

Lotuses were spiritual roots by nature in the Primordial World. Ordinary lotuses could reach only the second to fourth grade at most. Once they reached the sixth grade, they were already considered high-grade spiritual roots.

With the words "Purifying World" added to their name, they were no longer ordinary lotuses but Innate Spiritual Roots. With only slight refinement, they would become genuine Innate Spirit Treasures.