Tongtian Preaches, First Signs of Ten Thousand Immortals Paying Homage

Li Yu only knew that Tongtian's dojo was the Azure Roaming Palace on Golden Ao Island. He did not know its exact location, and since it was Tongtian's dojo, it would be improper for him to calculate it. Otherwise, Tongtian would surely notice, which would be somewhat discourteous.

However, finding it was not actually difficult.

Few cultivators ordinarily came to this boundless Eastern Sea. Now, because of Tongtian's grand preaching event, many cultivators had specially rushed over. He only needed to stop one and ask a few questions.

From afar, Li Yu saw a cluster of auspicious clouds flying in from the west and stepped forward to stop its occupant.

The man riding the clouds wore a black Daoist robe. He was broad and powerfully built, with the back of a tiger and the waist of a bear, carrying an extraordinary presence.

"Fellow Daoist, please stay. I am Li Yu, a Rogue Cultivator of the Eastern Sea, and I have something to ask you," Li Yu said, raising his hand in salute atop the cloud.

"What matter does Fellow Daoist need to ask me about? I am Zhao Gongming, and I am hurrying to hear Senior Tongtian preach," Zhao Gongming said as he stopped.

So it was Zhao Gongming!

Li Yu had not expected that the person he casually stopped would be the elder brother of the Three Xiao Sisters, a figure who would later become entangled in calamity clouds during the Investiture of the Gods Calamity.

"What a coincidence!"

Li Yu smiled. "I am also heading to Golden Ao Island, but I do not know its precise direction, so I rashly stopped you to ask."

"Haha!"

Zhao Gongming laughed aloud. "It is no matter. I have never cared about such trifles. Since Fellow Daoist Li is also going to Golden Ao Island, let us travel together."

Thus, Li Yu followed Zhao Gongming toward Golden Ao Island.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, you appear to have come from the west rather than cultivating in seclusion in the Eastern Sea. Yet you also know of this grand preaching event. Could it be that news of this has already spread throughout the entire Primordial World?" Li Yu asked curiously.

"Not quite. I was able to come hear the preaching this time because my younger sisters cultivate on an immortal island in the Eastern Sea. They learned of it and specially informed me," Zhao Gongming explained with a smile.

Li Yu had no intention of further ingratiating himself with Zhao Gongming, so he did not mention that he knew the Three Xiao Sisters.

The two flew upon the clouds for quite some time before finally finding Golden Ao Island.

From afar, Golden Ao Island presented a thousand magnificent sights, immortal mist curling around it.

Just in time for Tongtian's preaching, streak after streak of rosy light could be seen flying into the island.

"This truly is a rare grand occasion in the Primordial World. Cultivators come and go in an endless stream!" Zhao Gongming exclaimed as he stood atop the clouds and beheld Golden Ao Island's prosperity.

This was only Tongtian's preaching before he became a Saint. Presumably, he still held something back. Once he became a Saint, established the Truncated Teaching, and taught all living beings of the Primordial World without distinction, Golden Ao Island's splendor then would be truly vast and majestic, worthy of being called ten thousand immortals paying homage.

As they spoke, the two had already drawn close to the edge of Golden Ao Island.

Just then, a golden rainbow flew out from the island, shooting straight toward Li Yu and Zhao Gongming.

The rainbow halted before them, revealing a Daoist. He saluted Li Yu and said, "This junior is Duobao, my honored master's eldest disciple. By my master's command, I have come to welcome Senior into the island."

Zhao Gongming stared at Li Yu in astonishment. He had never imagined that the person beside him had such an extraordinary background. From the looks of it, Li Yu seemed to be of Tongtian's generation.

Looking at the somewhat plump Duobao before him, Li Yu said, "Thank you for your trouble."

Then he turned to Zhao Gongming. "Fellow Daoist Zhao, thank you for showing me the way. I shall take my leave first."

"Please, please go!" Zhao Gongming hurriedly said with a beaming smile.

Afterward, Duobao and Zhao Gongming exchanged polite nods. After all, Zhao Gongming had not yet entered Tongtian's sect, and the two were unfamiliar with each other.

Li Yu followed Duobao all the way into the Azure Roaming Palace. This was where Cult Master Tongtian cultivated in quiet seclusion, while Golden Ao Island was more the headquarters of the Truncated Teaching and would later be used primarily as a place for its disciples to cultivate.

Tongtian sat upright within the Azure Roaming Palace, watching as Duobao led Li Yu in from outside.

"Master, your disciple has carried out your command and led Senior here!"

Tongtian nodded. "You may withdraw. There are still many matters concerning the preaching that require your preparations."

After Duobao accepted the order and withdrew from the Azure Roaming Palace, Tongtian finally swept his sleeve. A meditation cushion appeared to his right, and he gestured for Li Yu to sit and speak.

"Fellow Daoist Li, why are you not enjoying your peaceful fortune at Five Villages Temple? Why have you come to Golden Ao Island at this time? Could it be that you also wish to hear me preach?" Tongtian teased with a smile after Li Yu sat upon the cushion.

Naturally, Li Yu did not take Tongtian's words to heart. Tongtian had not yet become a Saint, and the Dao he preached held little meaning for Li Yu. After all, both of them were at Quasi-Saint Perfection; their only disparity lay in their magical treasures.

"I was merely passing through the Eastern Sea and had originally intended to visit friends. Unexpectedly, my friends had all come here to hear Fellow Daoist preach, so I came over to pay you a visit," Li Yu said with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist wishes for me to look after those few friends of yours?" Tongtian asked.

Li Yu shook his head. "That depends on Fellow Daoist's own intentions. My three friends are the rather renowned Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao of the Eastern Sea."

Upon hearing this, Tongtian calculated on his fingers, then smiled. "I have a bond of master and disciples with those three. They should enter my sect. It seems Fellow Daoist truly was only passing by Golden Ao Island and had no other intentions."

"Of course. I also have my own dojo for quiet cultivation in the Eastern Sea. By that account, we may be considered neighbors."

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Li Yu finally asked, "Does Fellow Daoist intend to use this preaching opportunity to accept some disciples?"

"At present, I have only Duobao as my disciple. Unlike Eldest Brother and Second Brother, I indeed wish to take in a few more. Of course, it would also be good if I could enlighten the living beings of the Primordial World. After all, when our teacher became a Saint, he made a vow to spread the Dao throughout the Primordial World. As his disciple, I should follow his example," Tongtian said.

Li Yu replied, "Fellow Daoist speaks reasonably. Perhaps another opportunity may arise from this in the future."

After speaking for a while longer, Li Yu rose to bid farewell. Once Li Yu had departed, Tongtian calculated for quite some time, yet could never grasp the key. Li Yu's earlier words had vaguely given him some insight, but when he examined it closely, he found nothing at all.

"No wonder Eldest Brother regards this man so highly. He truly is somewhat different. I wonder why Teacher did not accept him into the sect."

After thinking for a while, Tongtian closed his eyes and began cultivating. There were still some days before the preaching began, and many cultivators were still rushing toward Golden Ao Island.

After leaving the Azure Roaming Palace, Li Yu did not depart immediately. Instead, he wandered through various parts of Golden Ao Island.

As he walked, he saw many cultivators, though most were transformed creatures of other kinds. They could not be called bizarrely shaped, but compared to the appearance of the Human Race, they seemed somewhat strange.

The Human Race, as the future protagonists of the Primordial World, possessed the standard appearance for all living beings of the Primordial World.

Even the appearances of Saints resembled that of the Human Race. Not to mention the Three Pure Ones, who were almost no different from humans—even Nüwa, with her human body and serpent tail, had shown herself in the form of the Human Race ever since attaining the Dao.

Perhaps this was the operation of the Heavenly Dao. At this time, the Human Race had not yet ruled the Primordial World, but at least in form and appearance, they had already established the standard for the living beings of the Primordial World.