As Chen Xuan's sea of consciousness took shape, the Profound Origin Water Control Banner successfully transformed into Chen Xuan's physical body.
The triangular banner unfurled in the wind and, in the blink of an eye, became a black Daoist robe that draped itself over Chen Xuan.
Chen Xuan reached out and touched his body, unable to keep a smile from appearing on his face.
At the same time, Tongtian shattered another Heavenly Punishment tribulation bolt. At this point, only the final nine Heavenly Punishment tribulation bolts remained.
"Immortal elder, please rest for the moment. Let me face these remaining nine tribulation bolts myself."
At the same time, the tribulation clouds overhead changed, turning from pitch-black to dazzling gold.
Tongtian could not help but laugh loudly. "I never expected you to possess such fortune. My saving you was not in vain after all."
After speaking, Tongtian flashed away and instantly appeared a thousand miles away.
Seeing Tongtian beaming, Laozi helplessly shook his head. Yuanshi Tianzun directly pulled Tongtian to his side and began lecturing him.
As they looked at the golden tribulation clouds in the sky, Daoist Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin were consumed with regret.
Had they known that the Profound Origin Water Control Banner possessed such an opportunity, they never would have chosen to stand by and watch.
Once golden tribulation clouds appeared, it meant that the Heavenly Dao had acknowledged Chen Xuan's existence.
As for the final nine tribulation bolts, they were not meant to blast Chen Xuan into scattered soul and spirit.
They were meant to help him forge a new body.
Daoist Zhunti immediately stepped forward.
He shouted toward Chen Xuan, "Senior Brother Yuanshi just said that you have an affinity with the West. Today, I shall make an exception and accept you as my disciple."
"Junior Brother Zhunti, aren't you being rather shameless?
When my little brother was suffering just now, why did I not see you step forward?" Goddess Nvwa asked with a smile.
Faced with Goddess Nvwa's question, Daoist Zhunti was momentarily speechless.
Just as he was thinking of how to force out some unreasonable excuse, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke as well.
"Did you not just say that treasures of the East would have no affinity with the West?
"So in the future, I ask that you two junior brothers refrain from coming to the East. Otherwise, do not blame me for disregarding our fellowship."
As he spoke, Yuanshi Tianzun had already taken out the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi. Tongtian even held the Qingping Sword directly in his hand.
At this point, they had no chance of gaining any advantage.
Daoist Jieyin could only step forward, pull Daoist Zhunti away, and transform into two streaks of golden light that flew westward.
Meanwhile, Chen Xuan sat cross-legged in midair. His Daoist robe fluttered without wind, while countless waters surged and churned around him.
The first golden tribulation bolt finally condensed into form. It transformed into a golden dragon in the sky and lunged straight for Chen Xuan's head.
Chen Xuan hurriedly gathered all his magical power, intending to resist the golden dragon. Yet to his surprise, his resistance did not slow the golden tribulation bolt in the slightest.
It still struck the center of his head without deviation. What shocked Chen Xuan even more was that the golden tribulation bolt caused him no harm whatsoever. Instead, it sent a piece of information into his mind.
This immediately sent Chen Xuan into a state of enlightenment, and he began comprehending the information that had entered his mind.
"The Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique—it is actually the first level of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique." As Chen Xuan grasped the contents of that information, he could not help blurting it out.
But in the next moment, Chen Xuan suddenly felt a needle-like pain pierce through his body.
Then the tendons and meridians throughout his body snapped apart. At the same time, he felt his body rapidly swell like a balloon.
Finally, with a deafening boom, Chen Xuan's body exploded. Yet there was no bloody, mangled scene.
A flash of golden light swept past, and Chen Xuan's body began to reassemble. In the blink of an eye, a complete physical body appeared once more.
At the same time, the second golden tribulation bolt descended from the sky. Just like the first, Chen Xuan once again experienced the feeling of his body exploding to death.
In the end, Chen Xuan's body exploded and reassembled four times in total. At the same time, he comprehended the first four levels of the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Technique, and his cultivation reached the Golden Immortal realm.
After the fifth golden divine lightning bolt descended, it likewise entered Chen Xuan's body.
However, it did not cause Chen Xuan's body to explode.
Tongtian, watching from afar, could not help shaking his head. "It seems this child's fortune only extends to the Golden Immortal realm. What a waste of those golden tribulation bolts."
"What the hell do you know? Although he did not continue breaking through, the technique's information remains in his mind. As long as he carefully comprehends it in the future, why would he need to worry about being unable to break through?" Yuanshi Tianzun said after glaring at Tongtian.
Tongtian chuckled and continued watching Chen Xuan in the distance.
Sure enough, Chen Xuan smoothly absorbed the remaining golden tribulation bolts into his body, and the tribulation clouds in the sky dissipated along with them.
Seeing that the Heavenly Punishment tribulation clouds had dispersed, everyone flashed over to Chen Xuan's side.
Yuanshi Tianzun directly said, "I am Yuqing Yuanshi Tianzun of the Authentic Pangu Sect. Are you willing to take me as your master?"
Tongtian never expected Yuanshi Tianzun to step in at this moment and steal his disciple.
He was about to tell Yuanshi Tianzun that Chen Xuan had already said he would take him as his master as long as he survived the Heavenly Punishment.
But before Tongtian could speak, Taishang Laozi beside him spoke first. "I am Taiqing Taishang Laozi of the Authentic Pangu Sect..."
Before Taishang Laozi could finish, Tongtian already understood that Taishang Laozi also intended to accept Chen Xuan as his disciple.
But at that moment, a voice sounded from the sky. "In one thousand years, the Purple Cloud Palace shall open once more. I shall preach the Dao to all living beings for a second time. Those with affinity may come to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao."
The Three Pure Ones, Goddess Nvwa, and Great God Fuxi all knelt at once and kowtowed toward the Purple Cloud Palace.
"Your name is Chen Xuan? I am Hongjun, ancestor of the Mystic Sect. Are you willing to enter my Mystic Sect and cultivate?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice once again descended from the sky.
This left not only Tongtian frozen, but even Taishang Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun stood dumbstruck.
If Tongtian alone wanted to take a disciple, they could still contend with him by relying on their status as his senior brothers. But now that Dao Ancestor Hongjun had spoken, they did not dare say another word.
At the same time, Chen Xuan opened his eyes and bowed toward the Purple Cloud Palace.
Then he stood and said, "For this junior to enter the Mystic Sect is a blessing accumulated over three lifetimes. How could I possibly refuse?"
Once Chen Xuan spoke those words, Tongtian's heart felt as though it had been pierced by needles. It was as if something precious to him had been snatched away.
But upon further thought, he accepted it. After all, who would choose him over a Saint?
Yet Chen Xuan's next action left everyone present completely stunned.
Chen Xuan descended from midair and dropped to his knees before Tongtian with a thud.
Without another word, he performed the grand ceremony of nine kowtows before Tongtian, then said, "Master, this disciple has entered the Mystic Sect by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's command. You must not bully me in the future."
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