Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect

Before Xuanqing became a disciple, the Tongtian Sect Master had already taken in two disciples, namely Daoist Duobao and Jin Ling Saint Mother, both of whom were Innate beings with profound nuances.

If one were to grade Innate beings, existences like The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Fu Xi could undoubtedly be considered Top Grade Innate beings.

While Duobao and Jin Ling are slightly inferior in aptitude compared to The Three Pure Ones, they can be seen as High Grade Innate beings.

As for Xuanqing, being from the Primordial Human Race, although the materials Nuwa used to create humans were extraordinary, including Three Lights Divine Water and Nine Heavens Breath Soil, he could only barely be considered a Middle-Grade Innate being.

In the Primordial World, one's innate being is primary, and bloodline comes secondary. A good origin undoubtedly allows a cultivator to avoid many detours in the cultivation journey.

Like Daoist Duobao and Jin Ling Saint Mother, who attained the Golden Immortal Realm upon their transformation, inherently two realms higher than Xuanqing, they undeniably have a significant advantage in cultivation.

Of course, as a member of the Primordial Human Race, Xuanqing also possesses merits and predestined luck, and his cultivation speed is not much less than Duobao's, but his starting point was significantly lower than Duobao's.

He has joined the Jie Sect for ten thousand years, and his cultivation has already broken through the middle phase of the Golden Immortal. During these ten thousand years, the Tongtian Sect Master has also taken in quite a few new disciples.

However, the direct disciples are still only Daoist Duobao, Jin Ling Saint Mother, Xuanqing, and Wudang Saint Mother. As for the Gui Ling Saint Mother from Xuanqing's memory, it is unknown whether she has not yet been born or has not yet joined the Jie Sect.

Among these Jie Sect disciples, the one closest to Xuanqing is not Daoist Duobao, not Jin Ling Saint Mother, but Wudang Saint Mother, who was the last to join.

Speaking of which, like him, Wudang Saint Mother also joined through connections.

The only difference is that he came through Taiching's connections, while Wudang Saint Mother came through Nuwa's.

The true form of Wudang Saint Mother is that of a great white ape, considered the "furred kind" by Yuanshi Tianzun, once eager to become Nuwa's disciple. But since Nuwa neither establishes teachings nor wishes to take disciples, she naturally didn't want to take Wudang Saint Mother and instead introduced her to the Tongtian Sect Master.

"This, in a way, is a commiseration!"

Upon learning of Wudang Saint Mother's experiences, Xuanqing immediately felt a kindred spirit, as he joined the Jie Sect after being rejected by Nuwa as well.

Therefore, he felt a close kinship!

In this world, there is no true empathy unless two people have both been rejected by Nuwa.

Daoist Duobao, Jin Ling, and Wudang, all are now at the Taiyi Realm, a cultivation level higher than him. Xuanqing, being fortunate from both sides, has quite a good relationship with the three.

Daoist Duobao enjoys Artifact Refining, so Xuanqing caters to his interests and exchanges Artifact Refining techniques with him.

Jin Ling Saint Mother has a special love for the Sword Dao, and he also takes some time to discuss and exchange views on the Sword Dao with her. After all, Jin Ling Saint Mother's realm and insights are higher than his, and discussing the Dao with her would not be a loss.

As for Wudang Saint Mother, due to being a transfigured being of a different kind and not favored by Yuanshi Tianzun, Xuanqing often transforms himself to provide caring and concern as an older apprentice brother.

Although...

He, as an elder apprentice brother, has a lower cultivation level than Wudang Saint Mother, the younger sister who joined the Sect later!

But to get to the main point.

After testing the Fire Avoidance Shield with Daoist Duobao, Xuanqing expressed his purpose: "Elder apprentice brother, I've recently sensed an opportunity and plan to leave the mountain. I wish to borrow a Magic Treasure from you!"

Daoist Duobao did not give a clear answer but instead asked, "May I know, younger apprentice brother, which Magic Treasure you wish to borrow?"

It is not uncommon for cultivators to act on a whim. Xuanqing's sense of opportunity concerning himself is not surprising, and as his elder apprentice brother, he would not refuse the request.

"The Golden Radiance Crown!"

Xuanqing laughed and said, "This Spiritual Treasure is capable of concealing one's form, most suitable for searching for opportunities in secret! Moreover, even if elder brother lends me a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, I wouldn't be able to unleash its might!"

"Indeed!"

Daoist Duobao nodded in agreement.

Xuanqing was merely at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm, and had not even fully refined the Sudden Thunder Zither bestowed by the Tongtian Sect Master, so how could he possibly wield a Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure?

As a Direct Disciple, it was only natural for Xuanqing to possess Magic Treasures. Just after joining the Jie Sect, the Tongtian Sect Master had bestowed upon him the Sudden Thunder Zither, a High Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, along with a High Grade Acquired Spirit Sword, showing great favor indeed.

In fact, the favoritism shown toward the disciples could be glimpsed from the Taoist names bestowed by the Tongtian Sect Master, which revealed his expectations for their future.

As is well known, the Tongtian Sect Master is also known as the Heavenly Venerate of the Supreme Pure Spiritual Treasure. The three names of Daoist Duobao, Jin Ling and Xuanqing each included one character of "treasure", "spirit", and "pure", respectively, clearly indicating the Tongtian Sect Master's hope that they would become the inheritors of the Taoist legacy in the future.

Indeed, the reason Xuanqing chose to descend from the mountain was also in search of opportunities to increase his cultivation realm and help himself refine the Sudden Thunder Zither faster.

The Sudden Thunder Zither is a High Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure with thirty-six Innate Restrictions, capable of manipulating thunder and tearing apart space with sound waves. Although called a zither, it more closely resembles a pipa, entirely purple in color, with four strings and its head shaped like a purple Thunder Dragon, acquired by the Tongtian Sect Master from the Treasure Dividing Rock.

However, with Xuanqing's cultivation only at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm, even with continuous refinement day and night, to date, he has only refined twenty-four of its restrictions.

To increase the speed of refinement, one must either comprehend the Thunder Law corresponding to the Sudden Thunder Zither or improve one's cultivation by forcibly refining the restrictions with Mana.

And Xuanqing wanted both. His destination this time descending the mountain was Zhongnan Mountain. If he remembered correctly, that place would in the future become the domain of Yun Zhongzi and harbored a Top Grade Innate Spirit Root infused with the essence of the Wind and Thunder Dao.

The Wind and Thunder Immortal Peach!

This Spirit Root flowers once in an eon, bears fruit once in an eon, and ripens once in an eon, and each time only produces two fruits. Eating them enables one to achieve the Wind and Thunder Dao Body and nurture the nascent forms of both the Wind Law and Thunder Law. The later Lei Zhenzi, after consuming the fruits of this Spirit Root, certainly made a great splash during the Divine Enthronement.

Of course, if a person below the Golden Immortal Realm consumes the fruits of such a Top Grade Innate Spirit Root formed by the heavens and earth, the body may very likely undergo some bizarre changes.

Lei Zhenzi is the cautionary tale!

An originally graceful young man, born with a destiny to endure the great catastrophe along with thunder, transformed into a monster with a human face and bird body after consuming the Immortal Peach.

However, Xuanqing had no such worries; he had already harvested the Golden Immortal Dao Fruit, his Primordial Spirit had condensed the Immortal Seal, and his body was enveloped by the Immortal Aura.

Gold signifies immortality!

At this level, external forces could hardly change a creature's Physical Body and Primordial Spirit.

Not even the Wind and Thunder Immortal Peach, one of the ten Top Grade Innate Spirit Roots, could do that, this is a realm that allows the body and spirit to ascend to a higher plane.

Daoist Duobao quickly took out the Golden Radiance Crown and handed it to Xuanqing, advising, "Junior brother, be careful on your journey. If it really comes down to it, invoke the name of our master!"

As disciples of a Saint and future inheritors of the Taoist legacy, representing the dignity of the Saint, naturally few beings would dare to kill them.

"Rest assured, elder brother!"

Xuanqing took the Golden Radiance Crown and bowed to Daoist Duobao, "When junior brother returns, I will discuss the Dao with elder brother again! I shall not bring shame to our master!"

The Golden Radiance Crown, a Magic Treasure that Daoist Duobao had already refined, contains his Mana. With Daoist Duobao's consent, even without refining it, Xuanqing could simply activate it to wield the might of this Spiritual Treasure.

This Spiritual Treasure, which in the future would be passed on to Daoist Duobao's disciple, the Fire Spirit Holy Mother, serves two functions: one is to release a sky full of golden radiance that affects the perception of others, and the other is to conceal one's form, hiding both physique and aura, making it difficult for even a Daluo Golden Immortal Cultivator to detect.

All was ready, and Xuanqing bid farewell to Duobao, using the Sword Escape Skill to leave Kunlun Mountain.