Third Brother Reached the Peak of Great Firmament Golden Immortal? Yuanshi's Pride Shattered!

Immortal mist curled through the Kunlun Mountain Range. Auspicious beasts and spirit birds appeared now and then, making it look every bit a paradise for immortals.

Within the Three Pure Ones' Daoist Grounds, Yuanshi sat cross-legged in a secluded chamber. Immortal light blazed across his body as Primordial Spiritual Qi from the Kunlun Mountain Range surged toward him.

A rosy glow filled the chamber. Yuanshi slowly opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his face.

He had been stuck at Middle Great Firmament Golden Immortal for quite some time. Now, after hearing the Dao Ancestor's Dao Discussion in person, he had finally broken through to Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal!

He had also gained considerable insight into the path ahead. Given another Yuanhui, he stood a good chance of reaching Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal!

As he emerged from seclusion after his breakthrough, Yuanshi suddenly recalled how confidently his Third Brother had declared that he would go hear the Heaven-Earth Daoist's Dao Discussion at his Daoist Abode.

A smug smile crept across Yuanshi's face.

He had said it before: they should go to Purple Cloud Palace. Only Dao Ancestor Hongjun was qualified to teach members of the Pangu Orthodox like them!

But Tongtian had insisted on choosing that Heaven-Earth Daoist, a man of unknown origins!

Yuanshi had been ahead of Tongtian before, though not by much. Now he had reached Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal, while Tongtian was surely still stuck at Middle Great Firmament Golden Immortal!

He had spent quite some time in seclusion, so his Third Brother should be back by now. Yuanshi wanted to see whether Tongtian would regret ignoring his Second Brother's advice once he saw his current cultivation!

With that thought, Yuanshi could sit still no longer. He rose, opened the chamber's stone door, removed its formations and restrictions, and walked out.

Outside, two young attendants transformed from immortal herbs were waiting. When they saw their master emerge, they hurried forward.

"Second Master!"

Yuanshi's expression remained cool.

"Has your Third Master returned?"

The two attendants bowed their heads respectfully.

"Second Master, the Third Master returned some time ago."

"He should be in his Cave Abode now."

Yuanshi gave no reply. He took a step, turned into a streak of light, and departed.

He arrived at Tongtian's Cave Abode and walked straight in.

Inside, Tongtian and Laozi sat together. When Tongtian saw Yuanshi enter, an excited smile appeared on his face.

"Second Brother!"

Laozi looked at Yuanshi and opened his mouth, but then sighed and held back his words.

Hearing Tongtian's warm greeting, Yuanshi assumed his brother had realized his mistake and was trying to smooth things over.

That only made Yuanshi more determined to bring it up. He would make his Third Brother understand just how foolish his choice had been!

"You gained a great deal from hearing the Dao Discussion on the Heaven-Earth Daoist's Yingzhou Island, I take it?"

Tongtian might have kept his composure if Yuanshi had not brought it up. Instead, he broke into a grin.

"Quite a bit! Teacher Qiankun explained everything in detail, though I'm a little slow and still don't understand some of it."

Yuanshi relaxed. His brother evidently had little to show for the trip—he had even admitted he was slow! Disdain surfaced on Yuanshi's face.

"We are of the Pangu Orthodox. If even we are slow, there isn't a single gifted person in the entire Primordial World!"

As he spoke, he seemed to recall all those who had gained nothing at Purple Cloud Palace, and his expression grew still more arrogant.

"That Heaven-Earth Daoist leads his students astray. He has no real ability. Do you still think you chose the right teacher?"

His Third Brother was hopelessly foolish. Even after gaining so little, he refused to blame the Heaven-Earth Daoist and insisted the fault lay with his own aptitude.

Was admitting a mistake really so hard?

Tongtian had not reacted much to Yuanshi's earlier words, but his smile slowly faded at that last remark.

"Say what you will about me, Second Brother. But Teacher Qiankun is a Great Supernatural Being who generously shared his teachings with me. I owe him a debt for teaching me the Dao. I won't let you speak of him that way!"

Yuanshi sneered.

"Are you saying I'm wrong?"

My Third Brother really is beyond reason. I'll have to make him acknowledge the truth with a show of strength!

Yuanshi stopped concealing his aura. The full might of a Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal swept over Tongtian!

Seeing Tongtian stare at him in apparent shock, Yuanshi felt a surge of pride, though he kept his face composed.

"Our cultivation was once on par. Now I've reached Late Great Firmament Golden Immortal!"

"If you had recognized your mistake and gone to Purple Cloud Palace with Eldest Brother and me, you would likely have broken through as well!"

"Do you understand your mistake now?"

Tongtian regarded Yuanshi with a strange expression, a tangle of emotions crossing his face.

"So, Second Brother, you would judge our teachers by which of us has the higher cultivation?"

Yuanshi gave a slight nod, pride showing in his face.

"We cultivators judge by cultivation. What else should we use?"

"Hmph. I told you that Heaven-Earth Daoist was a fraud..."

Yuanshi could not finish.

He watched Tongtian's aura climb before his eyes. It swiftly surpassed his own, then rose beyond even Laozi's, who had already reached Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal.

Yuanshi stared blankly at Tongtian as the aura of a Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal radiated from him.

What happened to being slow? To not understanding everything!?

How had his Third Brother already reached Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal!?

Had everything he had just done turned into a joke!?

Yuanshi cared deeply about saving face. He had only just boasted, and now Tongtian, who had always trailed behind him, stood above him. His face went green, then white.

Tongtian looked at Yuanshi, his own expression cold.

"What do you have to say now, Second Brother?"

Tongtian could have let the matter go. His Second Brother could criticize him all he liked, but not Teacher Qiankun, who had taught him the Dao. If he treated that debt lightly, his heart for the Dao would be tainted.

Yuanshi's face shifted between green and white. His lips moved, but with so many emotions churning within him, all he could manage was a cold snort before he swept his sleeves and left.

Meanwhile, across the distant Primordial Continent, two beings nearing Sagehood had held Dao Discussions at the same time. Those returning from them could hardly help comparing the two.

Many Great Firmament Golden Immortals who had returned from Purple Cloud Palace looked at fellow cultivators who had once ranked below them but now stood above them. They began to question everything.

They had gone to Purple Cloud Palace believing they had found an extraordinary opportunity. Yet after three thousand years of listening, they had gained nothing!

It might have been bearable if no one had gained anything. But most of those who had attended the Heaven-Earth Daoist's Dao Discussion had made clear breakthroughs!

Countless people had broken through on the spot at his Daoist Abode. The most famous was Taoist Tongtian, who had reached Peak Great Firmament Golden Immortal as soon as the Dao Discussion ended.

Many had witnessed it, and word had already spread throughout the Primordial World.

Those who had gone to Purple Cloud Palace could no longer sit still. Was it really their aptitude that was lacking, or had the Dao Ancestor's teachings been too vague?