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

Seeing that Yuanshi Tianzun was leaving with his disciples of the Chan Sect.

"In that case, this old Taoist priest will take his leave!"

The sage Laozi of Taiqing naturally took his leave at this moment.

However, after speaking, he first glanced at Shi Yuan: "Think carefully about the remaining two rewards that the old Taoist promised."

"Thank you so much, Master Uncle!"

Shi Yuan also spoke respectfully to this Sage Taiqing.

"It's alright."

Laozi waved his hand and mounted the Green Rhinoceros again.

But in the end, he said, "I am very fond of the words 'seeking the Way'."

"And your childlike innocence is also quite good."

Having said that, he rode the rhinoceros and rode away on the clouds.

In just a moment, they disappeared without a trace.

Shi Yuan was left standing there, his expression somewhat inscrutable.

He could naturally tell.

Lao Tzu's last two sentences don't really sound like those of the Great Sage Taiqing.

He seemed more like the sage Li Dan whom he had met not long ago.

The fact that the other party mentioned the Seeking Dao Pavilion and Yuanling in their words further confirmed his suspicions.

This is also what puzzled Shi Yuan.

He never really understood what the relationship between Laozi and Li Dan was.

Li Dan was the incarnation of Laozi; this is inevitable.

However, Li Dan was clearly different from Laozi.

Laozi is one of the three incarnations of the Supreme Sage.

However, the three corpses of the Taiqing Saint had already been completely eradicated before he became a saint.

There was naturally no place for Li Dan.

Therefore, Shi Yuan initially believed that Li Dan might have been conceived from a fragment of Laozi's spirit.

Once one has fulfilled one's destiny, one will naturally disappear.

But now it seems that Li Dan's relationship with Laozi was not so simple.

Especially this deal.

The Jie Sect received divinely bestowed merit and fortune from Li Dan.

Lao Tzu then even had to give two more things as compensation.

What Lao Tzu obtained was the transmission of other people's teachings and traditions among the people.

It seems reasonable.

But in reality, Shi Yuan always had a feeling.

That is to say, Lao Tzu was not actually concerned about whether the teachings of humanity were flourishing in the world.

What he cared about more was the fact that he had transformed into Li Dan.

He didn't know if it was just his imagination.

"Teacher, what exactly happened between our eldest master and that Lao Dan...?"

However, Shi Yuan knew one thing.

That means asking questions when you don't understand.

He naturally cannot comprehend the supernatural powers of a sage at this moment.

But doesn't he also have a saintly teacher?

Moreover, with the Tongtian Sect Leader around, he wasn't afraid of being overheard at all.

Who can eavesdrop on the conversation between the sage and his disciples?

But

"Even I, your teacher, do not know!"

To Shi Yuan's surprise, the Tongtian Sect Leader seemed to know what he was going to ask.

But then he actually shook his head.

Seeing Shi Yuan's puzzled look, the Tongtian Sect Leader explained, "I can see that Lao Dan should be a part of my senior brother Laozi's sage spirit..."

His words were also full of sighs.

After saints attain sainthood, their true spirits are entrusted to the Way of Heaven.

The Way of Heaven is indestructible, and the true spirit of the sage is indestructible; therefore, the sage is immortal.

After the true spirit is entrusted to it, the most important thing for the saints is the primordial spirit of the saint that is formed accordingly.

This item is unique to sages, superior to the true spirit, and is used to comprehend the Way of Heaven.

The Holy Heart is like the Heart of Heaven, and part of it is precisely where the power of this thing lies.

But the Tongtian Sect Leader could see it.

That Li Dan was none other than a fragment of Lao Tzu's sage spirit.

Its importance is probably even greater than that of the Three Corpses!

"Since ancient times, my senior brother Laozi has always been the one among us who has attained the deepest enlightenment."

At this moment, the Tongtian Sect Leader also spoke directly.

"Me, Yuanshi, Zhunti and Jieyin, and even Fellow Daoist Nuwa..."

The "Guiding One" he was referring to was the Daoist Guiding One.

It is the Buddhist name of Amitabha Buddha, the saint of Buddhism, before he abandoned Taoism to become a Buddha.

During the great calamity of the Investiture of the Gods, Amitabha Buddha also transformed into the Guide Daoist to assist the Chan Sect in the battle.

"Although we all have our own path to sainthood, we are all entangled in the affairs of the great religion."

"The current Amitabha Buddha may be slightly better off, but he is still somewhat involved in matters of the great religion."

He sighed.

"Only my senior brother Laozi is truly detached from worldly affairs and single-mindedly devoted to the Dao."

"Although I believe myself to possess supernatural powers and magical treasures, I may be able to surpass any saint."

"But if we only consider one's spiritual attainment, he should be number one."

The intention of the Tongtian Sect Leader was naturally quite simple.

All the saints are saints of the Three Realms, and naturally each has their own strengths.

Although the Tongtian Sect Leader possessed unparalleled magical powers and the Zhuxian Sword Formation, he was considered the number one among all the saints.

However, his involvement with the Jie Sect naturally delayed his cultivation.

Most other sages were similar—Yuanshi was associated with the Chan sect, Zhunti Buddha Mother and Amitabha Buddha with the Buddhist sect, and Nuwa was concerned with the affairs of the demon race.

But Lao Tzu was different.

Although he founded the Church of Humanity, he hardly ever preached.

His disciple was a single, unborn son.

What they did was to devote themselves to the Way.

Therefore, even the Tongtian Sect Leader had no idea what level the other party's Dao had reached.

I don't understand why Lao Tzu separated the sage's primordial spirit into Li Dan.

but...

I don't understand why Lao Tzu separated the sage's primordial spirit into Li Dan.

but...

"If I'm guessing, my senior brother Laozi's wish... is probably like that of the Dao Ancestor."

Shi Yuan understood what the Tongtian Sect Leader had said.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun taught all beings in the Three Realms and opened up the path of cultivation.

Therefore, he is called "Taoist Ancestor".

Especially after the Lich War, the Dao Ancestor became even more aligned with the Heavenly Dao.

It is no longer just Hongjun, but has become, to some extent, a part of the Heavenly Dao in the dark.

Difficult to fathom, difficult to understand.

One thought leads to error, one consideration leads to fallacy.

Lao Tzu's pursuit of the Tao was most likely aimed at reaching this level.

So, Shi Yuan could only shrug.

Fine.

Even the Heavenly Master couldn't see through Laozi's motives, so naturally he didn't bother to guess further.

But it was precisely at this moment...

"Disciple pays respects to the Sage Teacher!"

"It has been many years since I last visited my teacher. May you be well!"

The three who had remained silent until now were Jinling Shengmu, Zhao Gongming, and Yunxiao.

At this moment, they had already walked up to the Tongtian Sect Leader and bowed to him with the grand ceremony of three kneelings and nine kowtows!

Three quasi-saints who roam the heavens and earth.

At this moment, his face showed an overwhelming mix of excitement and guilt!

Since the Investiture of the Gods, they have never dared to go to Biyou Palace.

This is the first time I've seen the Tongtian Sect Leader again!

The Master of Heaven looked at the three of them...

"You've all suffered these years."

He sighed, his expression revealing a fatherly kindness.

It's hard to imagine that a saint would show such an expression.

In fact, among all the saints, perhaps only the Tongtian Sect Leader would do such a thing.

And then he heard this simple sentence from the Tongtian Sect Leader.

Even Zhao Gongming, a man of unyielding integrity, had tears welling in his eyes at this moment.

Yunxiao and Jinling Shengmu wept uncontrollably.

"In the past, we fell from grace and were ashamed before our teachers!"

"Even a thousand deaths could not atone for it, how dare I complain of suffering?"

The three of them spoke at the same time.

"...Alas, foolish child, foolish child!"

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader shook his head and sighed, "You all entered the tribulation in the past, but it was all for the sake of my Jie Sect."

"How could I blame you?"

As he spoke, he also raised his hand and sprinkled streams of luminous spiritual liquid.

Upon closer inspection, Shi Yuan realized that the spiritual liquid was none other than the Emperor's Essence that he had previously offered to the Tongtian Sect Leader.

However, the Tongtian Sect Leader used some unknown means.

At this moment, the effect of the Emperor's Dew seemed to be even better.

However, Shi Yuan's doubts were quickly dispelled.

"These imperial nectars were obtained by your master through a thousand days of refining with the power of a sage."

"Its effects are far superior to those of ordinary imperial fluids—you shall refine a portion yourselves, and take the rest back to Heaven for my disciples to consume."

"In this way, I should be able to fully recover my former cultivation level!"

"That's what the Tongtian Sect Leader said."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yuan naturally understood.

These special imperial nectars were actually refined by the Tongtian Sect Master himself through seclusion using his saintly magical power.

And let a sage spend a thousand days and nights refining the imperial elixir.

There are very few people in this world who have such influence.

Its rarity goes without saying!

"This disciple is ashamed!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming and the other two felt both pleased and ashamed.

The good news is that the sage teacher has indeed not forgotten them.

The shame lies in the fact that they actually caused trouble for their saintly teacher.

As a disciple, I am truly unfilial!

"Alright! Stop acting like a child!"

The Tongtian Sect Leader then solemnly declared, "If you truly wish to repay me, then revert to your former ways."

····0··

"My fellow disciples and I are currently working to revive the Jie Sect. How can you possibly help us like this?"

These words were indeed very effective.

"In accordance with the teachings of our sage teacher!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Gongming and the other two immediately perked up.

For them, escaping the Investiture of the Gods was something they wouldn't even dare to dream of.

Reviving the Jie Sect was practically their greatest obsession!

Each person steadied their Dao heart, and their eyes became firm!

"Excellent—that's more like my disciple, Tongtian!"

Seeing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader finally nodded in satisfaction.

"The matter is settled for today; you may all return to the Heavenly Court."

"And remember, never be as decadent as you were in the past—and remember, you, my junior brother, are traveling the Three Realms alone."

"You all have duties in the Heavenly Court, so please keep an eye on things!"

But he didn't forget to give the group a word of advice.

Incidentally, he also glanced at Shi Yuan.

"That's only natural!"

"Teacher, please rest assured—our junior brother's matter is our matter!"