After the disciples had all announced their names, Chen Xuan stood before them and spoke.
"My name is Chen Xuan. As for my identity, you all know it without my saying so.
"But it will not be easy for me, your Eldest Senior Brother, to acknowledge you as my junior brothers.
"And I can assure you that if I do not acknowledge you as my junior brothers, Master will not acknowledge you as his disciples either.
"Our Three Pure Ones Sect has rules and precepts. Those who violate them will receive punishment if the offense is minor, or have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect if it is severe.
"Anyone who does not violate the sect rules within a thousand years will be acknowledged by me, Chen Xuan, as a junior brother."
After Chen Xuan finished speaking, he waved his hand toward the air. Lines of sect rules and precepts appeared before the Three Pure Ones Palace.
Then Chen Xuan read aloud, "Rule One: The Three Pure Ones Sect has one sect and three masters. Those who disrespect their masters or elders shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect.
"Rule Two: Members of the Three Pure Ones Sect shall respect and aid one another. Those who harm fellow disciples shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect.
"Rule Three: Members of the Three Pure Ones Sect are bound together as one. When one is in trouble, aid shall come from all directions. Those who stand by and refuse to save another shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect.
"Rule Four: Members of the Three Pure Ones Sect must cultivate virtue. Those who fail to cultivate virtue shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect.
"Rule Five: When members of the Three Pure Ones Sect travel the primordial world, they must place the sect's honor above all else. Those who bring disgrace upon the sect shall have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect.
"Rule Eighty-One: Members of the Three Pure Ones Sect must not betray the sect. Traitors shall be slain by all, hunted across a thousand miles, their bones ground to ash and their souls destroyed."
Each of the first five Three Pure Ones Sect Rules prescribed crippling one's cultivation and expulsion from the sect. The rest carried punishments of varying severity.
Yet this final rule alone struck fear into everyone's hearts, leaving an indelible mark none dared forget.
After Chen Xuan finished proclaiming the Three Pure Ones' sect rules and precepts, he bowed toward the Three Pure Ones Palace.
"Disciple Chen Xuan requests that Master and the two Martial Uncles review the Three Pure Ones Sect Rules."
Seeing Chen Xuan bow, Daoist Duobao led all the disciples in bowing toward the Three Pure Ones Palace as well.
Tongtian was the first to speak, and he gave only one simple word. "Approved."
Yuanshi Tianzun said nothing. Instead, a Yuqing Immortal Art flew out from Yuqing Palace, gathering the rules and precepts suspended in the air. Then, a stone stele appeared outside the Three Pure Ones Palace.
The stele stood nine zhang and nine chi tall, with every sect rule and precept inscribed upon it in meticulous detail.
Then Taishang Laozi's voice rang out from Taiqing Palace. "From this day forth, Chen Xuan, the Three Pure Ones' first disciple, shall be responsible for overseeing the sect rules and precepts."
Having received the Three Pure Ones' approval, Chen Xuan could not help feeling secretly delighted. He immediately bowed once more toward the Three Pure Ones Palace in thanks.
Naturally, the other disciples did not dare be negligent and all bowed toward the Three Pure Ones Palace.
Unbeknownst to them, another tremor arose in Chen Xuan's sea of consciousness.
This time, however, it was nowhere near as severe as when he had plotted against Taishang Laozi, and Chen Xuan did not feel as though he were about to faint.
To put it plainly, Chen Xuan had used the establishment of the Three Pure Ones Sect Rules to express an important point.
That was: red flower, white lotus root, green lotus leaf—the three teachings were originally one family.
That was why every line referred to the Three Pure Ones Sect, rather than Tongtian's sect alone.
Though Chen Xuan also understood that when the Three Pure Ones Split came one day, the rules established today might no longer hold any binding power.
Before the Three Pure Ones Split, however, Chen Xuan could use these rules and precepts to restrain the disciples of all three teachings.
At the very least, it would prevent the disciples of the three teachings from becoming bitter enemies locked in a struggle to the death.
Chen Xuan had achieved his purpose and was just about to announce that everyone should return to their caves and cultivate diligently.
But before Chen Xuan could speak, a beam of golden light descended from the sky.
The golden light shone directly upon Chen Xuan, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice echoed through the air.
"The thousand years have passed. I shall give my third discourse in Purple Cloud Palace. All those fated to do so may come to Purple Cloud Palace and listen to the Dao."
The Three Pure Ones instantly appeared atop Kunlun Mountain and bowed in the direction of Purple Cloud Palace.
At the same time, Chen Xuan's figure vanished from Kunlun Mountain.
This time, Dao Ancestor Hongjun did not need to explain. The Three Pure Ones knew that Chen Xuan had been taken away by Dao Ancestor Hongjun ahead of them.
Taishang Laozi instructed Golden Horn Silver Horn to guard Taiqing Palace, while Yuanshi Tianzun instructed White Crane Disciple to guard Yuqing Palace.
Tongtian spoke to the disciples before him. "You must cultivate diligently and take your Eldest Senior Brother as the one you strive to surpass.
"Your master will travel with your two Martial Uncles to Purple Cloud Palace to hear our master expound the Dao. Until I return, obey Daoist Duobao in all matters.
"Remember well: do not violate the Three Pure Ones Sect Rules, or your Eldest Senior Brother will show you no mercy."
With that, he joined Taishang Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun, riding auspicious clouds toward Purple Cloud Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Once the Three Pure Ones had left, Qiu Shou Xian looked miserably at Daoist Duobao. "Senior Brother Duobao, if we are supposed to take Eldest Senior Brother as the one we strive to surpass, I fear we will never have a chance of catching up in this lifetime."
Qiu Shou Xian was not the only one without confidence. Not a single person present had any confidence at all.
Even Daoist Duobao shook his head and sighed, only able to tell everyone to return to their caves and cultivate diligently.
Inside Purple Cloud Palace, Chen Xuan appeared once more. This time, he felt no discomfort at all and immediately knelt to bow before Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
"This granddisciple, Chen Xuan, wishes Grandmaster boundless longevity."
"Rise. How do you intend to listen to my exposition of the Saint's Path this time?"
Chen Xuan scratched his head. "I will probably still be lost in the clouds, unable to grasp its mysteries."
"You mean you intend to keep slacking off and sleeping? If that is the case, why not find somewhere else to sleep?"
Chen Xuan grinned. "How could I do that? When Grandmaster opens his altar to expound the Dao, how could this granddisciple fail to show support?
"They have probably arrived as well. This granddisciple will go open the doors for them and let them hurry in to hear Grandmaster expound the Dao."
After Chen Xuan spoke, he turned and headed toward the gates. Unfortunately, before he had taken more than a few steps, the gates of Purple Cloud Palace opened.
It was Haotian and Yaochi who had pushed open the gates from outside, ushering the guests of Purple Cloud Palace inside.
Chen Xuan helplessly looked back at Dao Ancestor Hongjun, but Dao Ancestor Hongjun did not even glance at him.
With only a casual look, he sent Chen Xuan straight back to his Prayer Mat.
Before long, everyone had taken their seats, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun began expounding the Saint's Path.
The discourse lasted a full two thousand years. Aside from the Three Pure Ones and the others seated upon Prayer Mats, everyone else listened until they were drowsy.
Yes, drowsy. They simply could not understand its mysteries at all.
Chen Xuan, on the other hand, remained full of energy throughout those two thousand years and listened with extreme attentiveness. Whether he truly understood it or not, only he himself knew.
At that moment, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice abruptly stopped. "I have finished explaining the Saint's Path. How much you comprehend depends entirely on your own fortune.
"Over the next thousand years, I will answer your questions and resolve your doubts. Whoever has a question may ask it freely. I will answer each of you in turn."
Before you continue