Ever since receiving the Ten Thousand Flowers Precious Lotus from Perfected Sanqing that day, Zhou Qing had spent his days and nights studying the Nine-Layer Chaos Restriction at the Daoist Sect's residence in the Heavenly Court.
With the help of the Nine-Layer Chaos Restriction, he went from knowing nothing to fully comprehending an ordinary Dao of Earth in just three months.
With all five elements complete, Zhou Qing did not hesitate and chose to break through at once.
In an instant, the five Qi in his chest took shape, then began drawing on a trace of the five elements' primordial essence to slowly transform his Celestial Immortal golden core.
During the process, the abundant primordial Qi of heaven and earth in the Heavenly Court poured in without end, and he rapidly consumed it.
As for why he did not use immortal pills to speed up his breakthrough?
Zhou Qing could only say that, unlike Ji Ning, he had not encountered the outbreak of war with the Seamless Gate and did not need to break through both quickly and discreetly.
Right now, he could break through openly.
Outside, many beings were stirred by the tremendous commotion of Zhou Qing's breakthrough.
Since it was taking place at the Daoist Sect's residence, the first to be drawn over were members of the sect.
Following close behind were the local overlords-the Heavenly Court.
In particular, when nine white dragons arrived pulling the Heavenly Emperor's carriage, everyone present immediately broke into discussion.
"Even the Great Celestial Worthy came in person?!" A Heavenly Court Celestial Immortal spoke in shock.
"Now that's rare. His Majesty hasn't set foot outside the Hall of Divine Firmament in four or five thousand years," said another Heavenly Court Void Return Divine Demon.
Unlike the Heavenly Court's people, who marveled at the Heavenly Emperor's departure from his palace, the Daoist Sect disciples were discussing the identity of the person breaking through at their residence.
"I haven't heard of any senior or junior brother preparing to break through lately."
"Senior Brother Daoxuan, do you know which martial uncle this senior breaking through to Pure Yang today belongs to?"
"Could it be Junior Brother Linyuan? But I heard his Sword Dao hasn't reached major mastery yet."
While the immortals speculated about the identity of the person breaking through, the Heavenly Emperor stepped out of his carriage.
The Heavenly Emperor wore white dragon robes, and his presence was as deep as an abyss. He carried an authority that needed no anger.
After all, he was a Pure Yang True Immortal and the nominal leader of the Three Realms, so the immortals present all bowed to him.
"My ministers, there is no need for ceremony."
With that, the Heavenly Emperor swept his gaze over the immortals welcoming him and unexpectedly spotted someone.
"Xuanshu, why are you here?"
Facing the Heavenly Emperor's question, Zhang Xuanshu replied quietly, "Father, I just finished listening to Fairy Jinyun expound the Dao, and I came here on my way."
"Mm." The Heavenly Emperor nodded. "Fairy Jinyun is a fairly capable expert among Celestial Immortals."
After offering Zhang Xuanshu a few words of encouragement, he turned his gaze back to the cave abode above, where a vortex of primordial Qi was forming.
As far as he was concerned, children who had not become Celestial Immortals were not worth his attention.
Besides, Zhang Xuanshu had been born relatively late among his many children, so he had even less of an impression of her.
Nor did the immortals nearby react excessively to the fact that Zhang Xuanshu was the Heavenly Emperor's daughter.
Which of the immortals did not know that the Heavenly Emperor was keen on siring children in order to comprehend the Yang Heavenly Dao?
Even excluding the children the Heavenly Emperor had fathered while undergoing tribulations in the mortal world, he had tens of thousands born in the Heaven Realm alone, greatly diminishing their distinction.
Only those who had survived the Heavenly Tribulation and become Celestial Immortals were worthy of their regard.
Several days later, the primordial Qi vortex in the sky gradually vanished.
Then Zhou Qing, now a Pure Yang True Immortal, walked out of seclusion.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist."
The moment he saw Zhou Qing, the Heavenly Emperor warmly congratulated him.
"Having attained Pure Yang, you can be counted among the great powers of the Three Realms."
The other immortals then offered their congratulations one after another.
"Fellow Daoist Wu...?"
Just then, Zhang Xuanshu suddenly spoke at an inopportune moment.
"Oh..." Seeing his daughter's unusual reaction, the Heavenly Emperor asked without betraying his thoughts, "Xuanshu, do you know this fellow Daoist?"
"We... we have only met once." Facing her father's question, Zhang Xuanshu looked a little uneasy.
Hmm?
As an old fox who had undergone countless tribulations, the Heavenly Emperor immediately noticed that something was amiss with his daughter.
Perhaps I can win this True Immortal over?
He began secretly weighing the possibilities.
"Your Majesty is too kind." Zhou Qing first returned the Heavenly Emperor's courtesy, then greeted Xuanshu with an unchanged expression. "Fellow Daoist Xuanshu, it has been a long time."
"Yes, four hundred years." Zhang Xuanshu lowered her head, not daring to look at Zhou Qing.
"I never expected you to attain Pure Yang in just a few hundred years, Fellow Daoist Wu. I spoke such grand words when I left you that Communication Talisman, but now it seems I overestimated myself."
"Not at all. I have always remembered the kindness you showed me in giving me that talisman," Zhou Qing said comfortingly.
Having said that, he could not help letting out a long sigh in his heart.
Back in the simulation, he had indeed developed a trace of affection for the woman before him.
But after the simulation ended, his few hundred years of memories from it had mingled with his true self's tens of trillions of years of experience, like a drop of ink falling into the sea.
The innocent feelings and flutterings of his heart in the simulation could not stir a single ripple in the ocean of his mind now.
"I hope Your Majesty will forgive the sight," Zhou Qing explained to the Heavenly Emperor. "Several hundred years ago, before undergoing my tribulation, I traveled through the Three Realms and happened to make Fellow Daoist Xuanshu's acquaintance."
Undergoing his tribulation? Four hundred years ago?
Drawing on the information in Zhou Qing and Zhang Xuanshu's words, the Heavenly Emperor immediately understood just how heaven-defying Zhou Qing was.
Then... this Pure Yang great power before me had not even become an immortal four hundred years ago?!
For a moment, the Heavenly Emperor was too shocked to speak.
"It's certainly lively today!"
Just then, Lü Dongbin's voice suddenly rang out from afar.
"Junior Brother, you're really something. You caused such a commotion as soon as you arrived at the Heavenly Court."
"Patriarch Lu!"
"Martial Uncle Donghua!"
"Grand Martial Uncle Donghua!"
As Lü Dongbin arrived, the immortals all made way for him.
"Fellow Daoist Donghua, you came too."
Seeing Lü Dongbin arrive, the Heavenly Emperor immediately went to greet him.
Even among Pure Yang True Immortals, status differed. The Heavenly Emperor's cultivation was formidable, and with his status as leader of the Three Realms, he ranked among the very best of them.
But compared with Lü Dongbin, he fell far short.
Lü Dongbin had reached the fourth level in both Swordforce and Taiji Power, two kinds of Primordial Power, making him one of the strongest among Empyrean Gods and True Immortals.
Most importantly, he was a disciple of both Daoist Sanqing and Dao Father Carefree, something the Heavenly Emperor could not begin to compare with.
"Fellow Daoist Donghua, from what you just said, is this fellow Daoist a favored disciple of either the Dao Father or Celestial Worthy Carefree?" The Heavenly Emperor had keenly caught the information in Lü Dongbin's words.
"Your Majesty, I am Wu Xian. My Daoist name is Taixu. I was fortunate enough to earn the Dao Father's regard and be accepted as his disciple." Seeing that the Heavenly Emperor had more or less guessed his identity, Zhou Qing took the opportunity to introduce himself.
That explains it, that explains it...
The Heavenly Emperor felt enlightened.
No wonder he had gone from a mortal to a Pure Yang True Immortal in just four hundred years. He was a disciple of the Daoist Sect's leader.
His desire to win Zhou Qing over grew even stronger.