This pleasant tea fragrance filled not only the entire Yuqing Palace. Even Taishang Laozi in Taiqing Palace and Tongtian in Shangqing Palace could smell it clearly.
Yuanshi Tianzun had just lifted his teacup and had yet to bring the tea to his lips when Taishang Laozi and Tongtian appeared in Yuqing Palace.
"Second Senior Brother, if you have something good, you cannot keep it all to yourself. You need to learn how to share."
After speaking, Tongtian did not stand on ceremony. He directly picked up a teacup and drained it in one gulp.
As Tongtian drank the tea, an incomprehensibly profound and wondrous sensation instantly appeared in his mind.
"What is this? Why does it contain Dao Rhythm?" Tongtian asked with a shocked expression.
"Master, this is a Dao Questioning Tea Tree that this disciple obtained while traveling through the primordial world."
After speaking, Chen Xuan picked up the teapot again and filled Tongtian's cup to eighty percent.
Chen Xuan understood the principle of never filling a teacup to the brim, but Tongtian was somewhat displeased.
"Why did you not fill it for your master? Could it be that you think giving this Dao Questioning Tea to your master is a waste?"
Seeing Tongtian's eyes widen, Taishang Laozi sighed helplessly. "The tea lives up to its name—it is called Dao Questioning Tea. Since it seeks the Dao, how can it possibly be filled to the brim?"
This caused Tongtian to awaken as if from a dream, and the way he looked at Chen Xuan gained a hint of approval.
Next, the Three Pure Ones sat together and savored the tea. From time to time, they expounded upon the Dao, gradually entering into a discussion of the Dao without even realizing it.
At first, Chen Xuan was completely lost in what he heard, but later, he slowly entered a meditative state.
The voices of the Three Pure Ones discussing the Dao echoed throughout Kunlun Mountain, benefiting countless primordial creatures.
Daoist Duobao, along with Qiu Shou Xian and the others, also sat outside Yuqing Palace and listened to the Three Pure Ones discuss the Dao.
This discussion of the Dao lasted for a full hundred years, and Chen Xuan likewise spent those hundred years in enlightenment.
Although his cultivation had not improved significantly, his state of mind had already reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal Realm.
Even Daoist Duobao and Qiu Shou Xian's group of four saw their cultivation improve to varying degrees.
Daoist Duobao's cultivation had reached the peak Golden Immortal Realm, while Qiu Shou Xian and the other four had reached the Mysterious Immortal Realm.
Among the creatures of Kunlun Mountain, some even awakened their spiritual intelligence, took human form, and attained the Dao because of this.
At last, the tea was finished, and the voices discussing the Dao ceased. Everything returned to calm, and Daoist Duobao and the others opened their eyes.
Daoist Duobao stood and bowed toward Yuqing Palace before speaking to Qiu Shou Xian and the other four.
"You must remember that without Master's and the two Martial Uncles' teachings, we would not have our current cultivation.
"But without Eldest Senior Brother, you would not even have been qualified to hear the Dao. Thus, when you see Eldest Senior Brother in the future, you must offer him a Half-Teacher's Salute."
Qiu Shou Xian and the other four naturally had no objection. They immediately cupped their hands and bowed to Daoist Duobao, saying that they would remember this.
Over the next three hundred years, Chen Xuan finally returned to his own master's side and received Tongtian's instruction.
What Tongtian taught Chen Xuan was the Shangqing Array Dao. The Dao of formations emphasized both offense and defense, decisive slaughter, and contained endless killing intent.
This happened to align perfectly with Chen Xuan's Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique; both were born for battle.
Over these three hundred years, Chen Xuan gained immensely. His cultivation had even reached the peak of the Grand Golden Immortal Realm.
Once the right opportunity arrived, he could attain the Great Luo Dao at any time and become a mighty figure in his own right.
Tongtian's voice stopped, and Chen Xuan opened his eyes.
"Chen Xuan, what have you learned over these three hundred years?"
"Master, over these three hundred years, this disciple has come to understand one principle: mercy toward one's enemies is cruelty toward oneself."
Chen Xuan's words caused Tongtian to frown. After all, they had little to do with the Dao of formations.
"What do you mean?"
"Reporting to Master, the Dao of formations contains the Five Elements and yin and yang, profound beyond measure and wondrous beyond words.
"There are trapping formations, sealing formations, killing formations, and isolating formations, but no formation departs from its fundamental purpose: slaughter.
"If one wishes to raise a formation's killing power to its utmost limit, the formation must be made into a death formation, leaving those who enter it not the slightest chance to catch their breath.
"The moment they enter the formation, they must be utterly put to death. If they can be killed, no one must be left alive."
Chen Xuan's words gave Tongtian much to ponder, but in the end, he still could not grasp the crucial point.
Naturally, Tongtian could not understand the reason behind it now, but when the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation arrived, he would surely understand.
Whether it was the Ten Ultimates Formation or the Nine Bends Yellow River Formation during the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation, even Master Tongtian's Ten Thousand Immortals Formation contained a slim chance of survival.
Even the Heavenly Stars Formation and the Immortal Slaughtering Formation, two of the three great ancient killing formations, were not true death formations in the strictest sense.
As for a true death formation, only the Witch Race's Twelve Capital Gods and Fiends Formation could be called a genuine enemy-killing death formation.
Since Chen Xuan wished to protect the Jie Sect, he naturally had to erase those chances of survival. That was why he had spoken those words.
Since Tongtian could not figure it out, he simply stopped thinking about it. He asked Chen Xuan again, "Then have you comprehended any formations?"
"Master, this disciple has indeed comprehended a formation, one closely connected to this disciple's true body.
"Unfortunately, this disciple does not possess the Eastern Azure Lotus Precious Color Banner, the Southern Off-Earth Flame Light Banner, the Western Plain Color Cloud Realm Banner, or the Central Wu Ji Apricot Yellow Banner.
"If this disciple could gather the Innate Five Direction Banners, I could establish the Innate Five Elements Reversal Grand Array..."
Chen Xuan then gave Tongtian a detailed explanation of the Innate Five Elements Reversal Grand Array he had comprehended.
Tongtian could not help clicking his tongue repeatedly as he listened, and he could not help worrying for Chen Xuan.
Once this Innate Five Elements Reversal Grand Array emerged, it would surely bring Chen Xuan boundless Karma.
Tongtian had wanted to urge him to abandon it, but he feared damaging Chen Xuan's opportunity. In the end, he could only sigh and shake his head.
"This formation is profoundly mysterious and worthy of the word innate. Unfortunately, its killing aura is far too strong; it is an innate death formation.
"Since you have already comprehended its essence, your master will certainly help you obtain the other four Five Directions Banners.
"However, your master has one warning: unless you face a life-and-death crisis, you must never use this formation."
Chen Xuan nodded to Tongtian. Before he could thank him, the sound of a bell rang out from the heavens.
Immediately afterward, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice echoed across the primordial world. "Three thousand years have passed. I will give a second sermon in Purple Cloud Palace. All those with affinity may come to Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao."
Tongtian hurriedly led Chen Xuan out of Shangqing Palace and bowed in the direction of Purple Cloud Palace.
At the same time, Taishang Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun each emerged from their own palaces.
At that moment, a golden light descended from the sky. It fell directly upon Chen Xuan.
The next instant, Chen Xuan was lifted by the golden light and carried straight into the air.
At the same time, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice rang out once more. "I will first bring Chen Xuan into Purple Cloud Palace. The rest of you may follow afterward; do not delay."
Before you continue