Primordial Era: A member of the Jie Sect, apprenticed to Tongtian

"Purple Heaven Divine Thunder?"

The three looked at each other, puzzled by the name.

One of the five great divine thunders of the primordial era—how could a mere rogue cultivator like them from Beiju Luzhou possibly come into contact with such a being?

"Who exactly are you?!"

Long Yunzi gave a low shout, and the three of them simultaneously gripped their magical weapons tightly, becoming extremely vigilant.

But Shi Yuan had no interest in even glancing at them.

He slowly descended from the clouds and walked straight to the little girl who was covering her forehead and still sobbing, his gaze softening.

"Are you a celestial being nurtured by this mountain?"

The little girl looked up and nodded, her eyes brimming with tears.

"My Taoist name is Shiyuan, and I am the master of Yuanquan Mountain."

Looking at her, Shi Yuan vaguely understood why those accomplished seniors always liked to say, "We are destined to be together."

The little fairy spirit before us was born because he transformed Yuanquan Mountain with his primordial Qi.

In the darkness of fate, a karmic connection was formed between him and the unseen world.

"You were born of me; would you be willing to become my disciple and serve as my attendant?"

His tone was casual, but it wasn't a joke.

The little girl tilted her head and thought for a moment, then secretly glanced at Qing's father and the others not far away, and asked softly, "Then... can you help me beat them up?"

"certainly."

Shi Yuan smiled faintly and casually glanced at the group of people.

"Beat me up as you please."

He still has the confidence to do this.

"whee."

The little girl immediately stopped crying and started laughing, nodding rapidly.

"Then I'm willing!"

"it is good."

Shi Yuan nodded with a smile.

"Since you were born in Yuanquan Mountain, I shall call you Yuanling."

The position of "Childhood Disciple" is, in some ways, even closer than that of an ordinary disciple. Historically, those who have been personally bestowed a name by a cultivator are of high status.

For example, the Jade Emperor who now rules the Heavenly Court was once a pageboy under the Dao Ancestor, and his name "Haotian" was personally bestowed upon him by the Dao Ancestor.

"Yuanling greets Master!"

The little girl bowed crisply, her expression earnest.

This scene, however, thoroughly enraged those around them.

"presumptuous!"

Qingfu could no longer hold back and shouted angrily.

What is his status? He is the Grand Minister of the State of Lu, a prominent figure in charge of state affairs, a legitimate member of the Ji clan, and a descendant of immortals and gods for generations!

How dare a Taoist priest of unknown origin ignore him to his face and even take away his immortal spirit on the spot?

"Where did this eccentric Taoist priest come from? He knows no manners and shows no respect for nobles!"

"How dare you kill the mountain god appointed by the court? Are you plotting a rebellion?!"

His voice was harsh and his anger was almost overflowing.

However, Shi Yuan simply raised his hand slightly.

hum...

This time, he did not use the Purple Thunder Hammer.

This was his first real confrontation with someone, so naturally he wasn't in a hurry to reveal all his cards.

With a flick of his sleeve, starlight suddenly shone on his blue Taoist robe.

The next moment, countless stardust gathered and transformed into a giant hand that blotted out the sky, crashing down from the sky!

This is one of the most basic divine abilities of the Heaven-Slaying Robe: mobilizing the power of the stars to suppress the enemy.

"Oh no! He's a celestial being!"

Long Yunzi's expression changed drastically, and he immediately shouted a warning.

"Junior brothers, go all out!"

The three of them took to the air almost simultaneously, each taking out a magical artifact: a sword, a fan, and a banner—all mid-grade acquired spiritual treasures.

The magical artifacts were thrown into the air, interlocking with each other and instantly forming a combined attack formation.

This is a deadly move that the brothers and disciples have been working on for many years... Three Weapons Controlling Spirits.

Back in Beiju Luzhou, they used this technique to fight a powerful demon at the Celestial Immortal level head-on without being at a disadvantage.

At this moment, the three of them breathed a sigh of relief.

But the next moment...

boom!

The giant hand of stars slammed down.

Their combined attack formation, which they had exerted all their strength to unleash, couldn't even last a moment. The three spiritual treasures shattered on the spot, turning into countless fragments of light.

The giant hand continued its relentless downward pressure.

Three piercing screams rang out almost simultaneously, then abruptly ceased.

Long Yunzi and his two fellow disciples, along with their primordial spirits, were all completely crushed.

"Master is amazing!"

Yuanling couldn't help but clap his hands and exclaim in amazement, his eyes filled with admiration.

Shi Yuan, however, remained calm and didn't even lift his eyelids.

He is a true disciple of the Jie Sect, personally taught by a sage. He cultivates the Shangqing Secret Method and uses the power of stars from a top-grade innate spiritual treasure.

It's unrealistic for a mere few rogue cultivators to think they can contend with him using the methods they've cobbled together.

Moreover, he had heard their conversation clearly from the moment they stepped into Yuanquan Mountain.

These people came specifically to kill and seize the mountain.

In that case, there's no need to hold back.

But then, his gaze suddenly stopped.

"Um?"

Shi Yuan looked at the spot where the giant star-shaped hand had landed.

That's where the frame of Qingfu's car is located.

The carriage frame had already been completely annihilated by that palm strike, and even the horses pulling the carriage turned to ashes.

But Qingfu, who should have been just an ordinary person, was still standing there.

"Protecting you with good fortune?"

A knowing glint flashed in Shi Yuan's eyes.

The rich humanistic energy emanating from Qingfu actually formed an invisible barrier, forcefully blocking the attack from before.

"You...you madman!"

Qing's father was both shocked and furious; his face turned ashen, and his voice trembled.

"I am a legitimate descendant of the Ji clan, and a high-ranking minister of the State of Lu!"

"How dare you, a mere mortal cultivator, lay a hand on me?!"

As he spoke, he suddenly took out a seal made of gold and bronze.

The front of the seal is engraved with the character "鲁" (Lu), and below it are the four ancient seal characters "敕鬼封神" (Chi Gui Feng Shen).

This is the official seal of the State of Lu.

Qingfu placed the seal upright in front of him, straightened his hat and robes, and then bowed solemnly.

"The royal family of Lu beseeches the Heavenly Court!"

"May the might of Heaven descend and slay this scoundrel!"

As the incantation resounded, Shi Yuan clearly felt that streams of human destiny rose from the seal and soared straight into the sky.

That aura actually broke through the barrier between the mortal realm and the celestial realm, reaching directly to the Heavenly Court.

Above the heavens, immense pressure rapidly condensed, and the phantom of a magnificent celestial palace slowly appeared.

Above the palace gate, eight large characters are faintly visible...

The Divine Firmament and Jade Purity bestow divine decrees.

That's where the Heavenly Court's Thunder Department is located.

The wrath of heaven descended, and dark clouds instantly enveloped the entire sky.

Thick clouds rolled endlessly, and dark blue lightning continuously gathered deep within the sea of ​​clouds. That was the heavenly lightning controlled by the Thunder Department of the Heavenly Court, which was in charge of judging demons and ghosts and suppressing all rebellious acts in the human world.

But Shi Yuan stood firmly in place, his robes unmoved, his expression calm, as if the overwhelming divine might had nothing to do with him.

He looked up at the faintly visible phantom of the celestial palace in the sky and gently shook his head.

At this moment, he saw the human order established by the Chan Sect after the Investiture of the Gods even more clearly.

Under the rites and laws, the feudal lords and royal nobles of the Zhou dynasty were portrayed as "divine offspring of immortals." They held the imperial seal and could bestow titles upon incense-burning deities such as the River God, Mountain God, and City God, as well as share in the fortune of the nation.

With such good fortune bestowed upon him, even ordinary celestial beings could hardly harm him in the slightest.

If someone is found to be "disrespectful," one can even directly communicate with the Heavenly Court and have them punished by divine authority.

In this way, cultivators in the human realm would naturally have to submit, and earth immortals would only be able to serve them. Even celestial immortals would have to be mindful of their boundaries in front of these nobles.

The Chan Sect, through this set of rules, firmly grasped the fate of humankind.