Now That You Are an Upper-Grade Innate God or Devil and Have Reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm, I Will Teach You for a Thousand Years to Help You Understand the Dao of Grand Unity

Legend had it that, because Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots were feared by the Heavenly Dao, only three were permitted to reach the Transformation Stage in this world.

The first was the Hollow Willow. Because it carried the power of a Chaos Demon God, it successfully transformed before the Heavenly Dao was established and became Ancestor Yangmei.

The second and third were the Innate Gengjin Bodhi Tree and the Twelfth-Grade White Lotus. They carried the Western Qi and eventually transformed into Zhunti and Jieyin.

If he raised his foundation to the Top-Grade, he would very likely suffer punishment from the Heavenly Dao and perish body and soul.

Thus, Zhu Yin had long made his plans. He would only raise his foundation to the limit of an Upper-grade Innate Spiritual Root. That would strengthen him without provoking Heavenly Punishment.

Moreover, the remaining Bitter Bamboo body could still serve as material for artifact refinement and was quite useful.

Having thought it through, Zhu Yin immediately began. He circulated his mana and started extracting Bitter Bamboo's origin.

A hundred years later, a massive Origin Spiritual Bead slowly condensed in his hand.

At the same time, Bitter Bamboo's branches and leaves withered, their luster dimming as it fell from "Top-Grade" to "High-Grade."

Though the difference was only one grade, the actual gap was like that between heaven and earth. Even the origin of a half-ruined Top-grade Spiritual Root was enough to create two High-Grade Spiritual Roots.

Zhu Yin looked at the Origin Spiritual Bead in his hand and, without hesitation, revealed his true form... the Heaven-Piercing Jade Bamboo that soared into the clouds.

The treasure bead was swallowed by the Lingzhu. Its branches and leaves continuously contracted and changed as they fused with the origin. At the same time, that Bitter Bamboo was enveloped in divine light and slowly refined.

Zhu Yin was not worried about offending Jieyin over this.

If he had forcibly seized Bitter Bamboo from Jieyin, that would naturally have forged karma.

But now, Bitter Bamboo had acknowledged him as its master of its own accord, so it had nothing to do with Jieyin.

He could use it with a clear conscience.

Within the Lotus Pond on Mount Sumeru.

Jieyin, who had been repairing the Western Spiritual Vein in his dreams, suddenly opened his eyes. His gaze pierced through layers of void and fell upon the Immaculate Hall.

When he saw Zhu Yin absorbing Bitter Bamboo's origin, a faint smile unexpectedly appeared on his usually stern face.

"This boy's luck is truly not bad."

"If Zhunti learns of this, he will surely be happy as well."

If Zhu Yin could advance successfully, it would be an enormous boon to him, to Mount Sumeru, and to the entire Western Lands.

After only a brief glance, Jieyin closed his eyes and entered meditation once more, returning to his dream cultivation.

He already knew that Zhu Yin would need some time to refine the origin. It would not be too late for him to emerge from seclusion and protect him then.

Meanwhile, earth-shaking changes were taking place across the Primordial World.

After Dijun established the Heavenly Court, he joined forces with the Taiyin Star Lord and reached an agreement with Zhulong... so long as the Dragon Clan was not interfered with, they would hand over authority over the movements of the sun and moon to the Heavenly Court.

Under the Heavenly Court's coordination, the sun and moon moved in greater accordance with the Heaven and Earth Laws, containing boundless mysteries.

As the sun rose and the moon set, six thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, dark clouds filled the sky above Mount Sumeru. Lightning flashed, thunder roared, and heaven and earth changed color.

The black clouds bore down overhead, blotting out the sky and sun. Lightning dragons raced through the heavens, while the powerful aura of thunder struck fear into the hearts of all living things.

The dark clouds brewed for a full fifty-four days, signifying the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. Thunderclouds blanketed the sky, covering a million li.

At last, a streak of azure light shot out from the Immaculate Hall.

It broke through the mountain-protecting formation and revealed itself between heaven and earth... it was a Heaven-Piercing Jade Bamboo.

Its branches and leaves were luxuriant, its entire body verdant and jade-green. It stood straight and tall, radiating Purity Divine Light that illuminated the pitch-black sky of thunderclouds.

This was Zhu Yin's true form.

He stood quietly, raising his head to face the tribulation.

Boom!

The thunder that had brewed for so long finally descended!

Tens of thousands of lightning bolts tore through the sky and struck the jade bamboo.

Divine light protected his body, bolstered by the phantom of Mount Sumeru, and he remained utterly unmoved.

Lightning continued to strike, but he stood like a mountain, unwavering. Instead, he used the power of the lightning to temper his foundation.

The Tribulation Cloud was enraged, and the lightning grew increasingly violent.

Purity Divine Light merged with the power of Life Force, becoming a mysterious radiance. The phantom of Mount Sumeru gradually solidified and finally transformed into a heavy great seal.

Once the Lightning Tribulation had passed its halfway point, the great seal and divine light gradually vanished, replaced by a White Lotus and a stalk of Pure Bamboo.

The White Lotus radiated sacred light, shielding the jade bamboo from the lightning. The stalk of Pure Bamboo even took the initiative to meet the heavenly lightning, actually beginning to devour its power!

Rumble!

Thunder shook the heavens as countless bolts of lightning fell as though they intended to destroy everything.

That Heaven-Piercing Jade Bamboo still stood firm as a mountain, never shifting a single step as it endured the lightning's devastation.

After fifty bolts of lightning struck, the Ninth-Grade White Lotus had vanished, and the jade bamboo's branches and leaves had disappeared as well.

The final four, the most powerful bolts of lightning, were endured by the jade bamboo alone.

The violent lightning ravaged it freely. Its branches and leaves were scorched, its trunk charred black, and the entire bamboo died completely. It looked utterly devoid of Life Force, leaving behind only a patch of scorched earth.

Yet unexpectedly, neither Jieyin nor Zhunti, who had already returned to the mountain, made any move to save him. Instead, they smiled as though they had long known this would happen.

Just as the thunderclouds were about to disperse, a soft sound suddenly rang out between heaven and earth, like heavenly music carrying a sacred aura.

A tender shoot broke through the scorched earth.

The shoot was bright green, brimming with vigorous Life Force and full of hope.

As a gentle breeze brushed past it, it swayed lightly. Then, inch by inch, it actually rose into the air, rapidly growing and sprouting branches and leaves.

In the blink of an eye, a new jade bamboo emerged from the earth. Its trunk was taller and straighter, its leaves greener and denser, and the entire bamboo exuded an intense aura of purity and life.

It had completed its rebirth through nirvana!

The thunderclouds rumbled unwillingly a few times, but with the Heavenly Dao already established and their mission complete, they could only disperse resentfully.

The Light of Creation descended, while Divine Rain nourished the earth.

The jade bamboo absorbed it continuously, growing ever more luxuriant as its aura became increasingly powerful.

When the radiance faded, a figure appeared where the bamboo had stood.

He was a Daoist in azure robes, with an otherworldly bearing and handsome features untouched by mortal dust.

It was Zhu Yin!

He said softly:

"Let all that has passed be as yesterday's death. From this day onward, everything begins anew."

"I was once the Netherworld Bamboo, a Lower-grade Innate Spiritual Root. Now I am Zhu Yin of the Pure Bamboo, no longer the person I once was."

Boom!

The Heavenly Dao responded. Thunder rolled in acknowledgment of Zhu Yin's vow.

The fortune of an Upper-Grade Innate God or Devil descended upon him, making his entire person appear even more sacred.

Without lingering in the sky, Zhu Yin promptly returned to Mount Sumeru.

Back at Mount Sumeru.

Zhu Yin entered the Bodhi Hall and bowed to Zhunti and Jieyin, who sat high above.

The two great powers exchanged smiles. Zhunti said:

"That you obtained this Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, Bitter Bamboo, survived the great tribulation, and ultimately remade yourself is a tremendous opportunity for you."

"I hope you can guard your Dao Heart. Do not become arrogant and complacent, nor let pride blind your eyes and delay the road ahead."

Zhu Yin bowed solemnly.

"This disciple will remember Master's teachings. I will not forget my original heart and will press forward with resolve."

Zhunti nodded and continued:

"Now that you are an Upper-Grade Innate God or Devil and have reached the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, I will teach you for a thousand years and help you understand the Dao of Grand Unity."

After saying this, mysterious Dao sounds flowed from his mouth.

The entire Bodhi Hall was instantly filled with spiritual energy. Phantoms of dragons, phoenixes, and qilin roamed about, while an enormous Bodhi Tree manifested, radiating endless wisdom and divine light.

Zhu Yin focused completely, immersing himself in the Dao sounds.

A Bodhi Seed above his head cast down the light of wisdom, enhancing his comprehension. He soon sank into the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.