Primordial Era: Starting with the Immortals of the Jie Sect to Prove the Dao of Hunyuan

Upon hearing about Li Qing, Daoist Duobao's thoughts drifted back to the time when the Tongtian Sect Leader accepted disciples.

At that time, he had already vaguely sensed the Dao of the Great Luo. He was eager to go back and listen to the Dao, and also eager to go back and refine a batch of treasures to verify his ideas. As a result, Li Qing arrived late, which made him secretly unhappy.

Later, Chang Er Ding Guangxian came closer again, and his words were full of slander against Li Qing, so he became more and more distant from him.

Over the years, some disciples of the Jie Sect who had entangled with Chang Er Ding Guang Xian spent their days appraising rare and precious materials, and in their spare time, they would refine one or two treasures in their furnaces. Duo Bao Dao Ren himself did not feel there was anything wrong with them flattering him.

But upon hearing that Li Qing had already developed a Dao heart, his heart skipped a beat, and he looked blankly at the Tongtian Sect Leader.

The Tongtian Sect Leader sighed. He had long believed that Duobao Daoist should have realized the Dao Heart and broken through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. However, since he had been entangled with Chang'er Dingguang Immortal for thousands of years, there was still no sign of a breakthrough. The Tongtian Sect Leader had no choice but to call Duobao over and give him a thorough lecture.

"Please sit down. Today, I will not treat you with the dignity of a sage, but only as a teacher, to discuss the Way with you."

Duobao sat down as instructed, feeling bewildered.

The Tongtian Sect Leader didn't say much. He pointed his finger, and a bell rang, echoing an ancient and desolate sound in the hall.

咤！

The first sound of creation resounded directly into the depths of Daoist Duobao's primordial spirit, causing the five elements within his body to tremble.

"What is the Way, and where is it located?"

Duobao initially frowned, as if struggling, but gradually his brows relaxed and a look of realization appeared on his face.

"The Dao is within all things, and also beyond all things. The Dao is within crafting, and also beyond crafting."

The Tongtian Sect Leader slowly said, "Weapon crafting is a technique, and techniques can be used for the Dao, but not the essence of the Dao. If you can transcend the technique of weapon crafting and control weapons with the Dao, the Great Luo Realm will be within reach."

Duobao was startled, and a flash of inspiration appeared in his eyes.

As the auspicious clouds unfolded, five white waves rolled, and the divine patterns within them began to rearrange and recombine, as if they were alive.

Upon seeing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader nodded slightly, knowing that Duobao had begun to comprehend.

He did not stop, but continued to use the voice of the Great Dao to strike the head and wipe away the dust that had settled in Duobao Daoren's heart.

After an unknown amount of time, Daoist Duobao suddenly looked up to the sky and let out a long roar. The endless spiritual energy on Kunlun Mountain gathered in Daoist Duobao's auspicious cloud. In an instant, the five elements condensed, rose up along the lotus stem, and rushed into the blue lotus bud, whereupon the flower bloomed into nine grades.

Great Golden Immortal!

After years of being stuck on a bottleneck, Duobao suddenly broke through it all. Tears streaming down his face, he knelt on the ground and said, "Disciple thanks Master for your guidance!"

The Master of Heaven helped him up and laughed, "Get up. You already had a deep foundation, but you went astray for a time. That's why I gave you a push. This is my responsibility as a teacher to impart knowledge, teach skills, and resolve doubts. However, once you reach the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, you must comprehend the profound Dao. From now on, your cultivation will depend on your own efforts."

"Your disciple will remember this!"

Duobao kowtowed respectfully, his gratitude towards the Tongtian Sect Leader beyond words.

"Alright, go. Since Chang'er and the others are following you, you must keep them in check and not forget the teachings of my Jie Sect! I have been in seclusion for many years, and as the eldest disciple, you must manage your disciples well for me."

"If Chang'er has made a mistake and can realize it in time, he can still return to the right path; but if he remains obstinate, he will be far from the true path!"

The Master of Heaven nodded, and after guiding his eldest disciple onto the right path, he did not forget to give him some instructions.

The Master of Heaven spoke cryptically about the Long-Eared Immortal.

If they remain obstinate and continue to sow discord within the Jie Sect, stirring up trouble between Duobao and Li Qing, then the Tongtian Sect Leader is prepared to punish them severely!

Having served Tongtian Jiaozhu for countless years, Daoist Duobao naturally understood Tongtian Jiaozhu's character well. Upon hearing this, he broke out in a cold sweat and kowtowed again: "Disciple understands, and will certainly guide him well, living up to the teachings of our Jie Sect!"

The Master of Heaven nodded, waved his sleeve to dismiss Duobao, and turned his gaze eastward once more.

There, Li Qing's Dao heart was still in its nascent stage, and he was still some distance away from truly condensing the undying spiritual light.

"The path to becoming a Great Luo is arduous, and attaining enlightenment later on is even more difficult. All I can do is protect you when you are weak and lend you a helping hand at crucial moments. Whether you can succeed depends on yourself. Li Qing, do not disappoint your master!"

Tongtian Jiaozhu muttered to himself, as a descendant of Pangu, the youngest of the Three Pure Ones, and the one who most liked to open the door to enlightenment for all living beings, he had an idea in his heart that even Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun did not know.

That would mean teaching someone to become a saint or a Primordial Golden Immortal!

Hongjun Daozu was able to teach six sages, and Tongtian Jiaozhu was confident that his teachings were no less effective than Hongjun Daozu's.

Could it be that even with all his efforts, he couldn't produce a saint?

The four direct disciples were essentially four candidates.

It now appears that Li Qing is far ahead.

He gave Duobao Daoren a push at a crucial moment, but the price was that he was removed from the list of candidates.

"Difficult, difficult, difficult! The Tao is most profound!"

The Master of the Heavenly Sect sighed softly, closed his eyes, and probed the Heavenly Dao with his divine sense to continue his cultivation.

On the nameless, desolate mountain, Li Qing's condition was very strange.

He was standing there, his mind clear, but he seemed to be in some mysterious state, his perception of the outside world becoming blurred.

"The Dao Heart sprouts, marking the beginning of the Great Luo Realm. To be able to sprout the Dao Heart at this time, Senior Brother's comprehension is truly..."

Yunxiao thought of this and didn't know how to describe it, so he just shook his head and sighed.

Qiongxiao blinked and asked curiously, "Sister, what happens after the Dao Heart sprouts?"

"After the Dao Heart sprouts, the next step is to search for one's own Dao. Once found, one can condense an indestructible spiritual light, transcend the river of fate, and attain the Great Luo Golden Immortal status."

This is mentioned in the section on Taiyi Golden Immortals in the Shangqing Great Law. Yunxiao patiently explained: "However, this step is extremely difficult. Countless Taiyi Golden Immortals in the prehistoric world are stuck at this hurdle and cannot break through it in their entire lives."

Upon hearing this, Bixiao looked at Li Qing with even greater concern: "Then what should we do now, Senior Brother? Are we just going to wait like this?"

"Wait."

Yunxiao nodded, "We will protect our senior brother so that no one will disturb him."

Time flies like an arrow, and even the most unruly Bixiao waited quietly on the mountaintop, without the slightest impatience.

Li Qing was completely unaware of the changes in the outside world; he was completely absorbed in contemplating the Dao.

"Where should my path lie?"

This question echoed in his mind, but he could never find the answer.

After an unknown amount of time, a cold wind blew in from the east.

Li Qing's heart stirred, and he looked in the direction of the yin wind. He saw countless souls drifting from the direction of the East Sea, densely packed and covering the sky.

"They are the souls of the creatures in the East China Sea."

Li Qing felt a chill run down his spine. In the battle of the East Sea, Penglai Purple Mansion was destroyed, and countless lives were lost. Now, they are gathering in large numbers, and he wonders where they are going.