Primordial Era: Starting with the repair of Penglai Immortal Island

On the high platform, three figures had quietly appeared at some unknown time.

Without a word, all living beings in the square felt a sense of awe and bowed in unison.

"Greetings to the Supreme Saint (Grand Master)!"

"Greetings to the Sage of Jade Purity (Master)!"

"Greetings to the Sage of Shangqing (Uncle-Master)!"

The Three Pure Ones nodded slightly in response.

The Jade Purity Sage's gaze swept coldly across the area below, lingering for a moment longer on Di Jun, Tai Yi, Kun Peng, and others.

Di Jun and Tai Yi suddenly felt the pressure on their bodies increase, and instantly felt a great terror enveloping them. Their expressions changed drastically again, and cold sweat even seeped out of their cheeks. They quickly lowered their heads even further, and a sense of humiliation surged into their hearts, but they dared not show it in the slightest and buried it deep in their hearts.

Yuanshi didn't say much, and gently waved the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his hand.

In an instant, the world changed, and the universe turned upside down!

All the innate deities present felt a blur before their eyes, and the surrounding scenery had changed drastically!

Huanglong looked around and saw a hazy grayness all around, but the sun, moon and stars were beneath his feet. Laws of the Great Dao collided in the void, and countless Dao runes were born and destroyed.

The three masters sat high on cloud beds, and the laws manifested various phenomena around them.

Behind the eldest grandmaster, a Yin-Yang Taiji diagram rotates endlessly; behind the master, a banner breaks through the chaos; behind the Tongtian grandmaster, four Immortal-Slaying Swords cleave through countless worlds!

A futon formed from wisps of Daoist energy slowly appeared beneath the feet of the group of innate deities.

Without a word, everyone understood and took their seats.

Once everyone was seated, the entire space fell silent.

The Taiji pattern behind the Sage of Taiqing emitted and evolved into a strange phenomenon of the Great Dao. Although the Sage of Taiqing did not speak, his voice resounded in everyone's hearts.

"The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao... profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders."

The assembled innate deities below the stage listened with rapt attention, some with furrowed brows, some with smiling faces, and some with sudden realizations, their expressions varied, all immersed in the Dao.

As soon as the voice of the Supreme Saint faded and the strange phenomenon dissipated, the voice of the Jade Saint followed, majestic and grand, directly stating the origin of heaven and earth and all things!

After the Jade Purity Sage finished speaking, the Supreme Purity Sage laughed loudly, and the long sword behind him hissed as it seized the oneness of all things.

"The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, and humanity escapes one! All things have the potential for life, and even the Heavenly Dao is incomplete. Therefore, we must seize the sliver of opportunity to cross to the other shore..."

The way of "intercepting" is to seize the creation of heaven and earth and fight for the slightest chance for all living beings.

The paths to sainthood for the Three Pure Ones are vastly different, yet all are the same path to sainthood for the Three Pure Ones.

Huanglong sat upright on the futon, holding his breath and concentrating, stuffing tea leaves into his mouth one by one. However, the Three Pure Ones' explanation of the Great Dao was completely incomprehensible to him, a mere Golden Immortal, and he couldn't even remember it. In the end, he could only drink the tea and try to comprehend a little bit of the scattered Daoist charm.

On this day, the sage's preaching gradually ceased, and the various strange phenomena that had occurred returned to calm.

"Little one, it's time to wake up!"

Huanglong, who had fallen into a deep sleep, was jolted awake by the thunderous sound. The Azure Dragon Ancestor was standing in front of him, smiling at him.

Huang Long suddenly noticed the unusual quiet around him. He looked around and found that he had returned to the square of Sanqing Peak, where all the innate saints were nowhere to be seen.

The three teachers on the stage are closing their eyes and wandering in the void.

Only Antarctic and Azure Dragon Ancestor, along with Yellow Dragon who was awakened by Azure Dragon, remained awake in the square; the rest of the Three Pure Ones disciples and the dragon clan were still asleep.

Azure Dragon took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and slowly led Yellow Dragon to the Three Pure Ones.

All three Pure Ones opened their eyes and looked at the Azure Dragon. Yuanshi said, "Fellow Daoist Azure Dragon, you have not left. Is there anything you wish to say?"

Azure Dragon first bowed to the Three Pure Ones and said, "The three sages established the Three Teachings and opened their gates wide. Azure Dragon has dared to linger, wishing to ask for an opportunity for a Dragon Clan disciple to become an apprentice."

At this moment, the Shangqing Sage spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Qinglong, if your dragon clan has a descendant like Huanglong, who is free from all karma and possesses merit, you may directly become my disciple."

Azure Dragon shook his head helplessly and said, "Now the dragon race is burdened with karmic obstacles. As for merit, the entire dragon race has no merit at all."

Yuqing looked at the bitter expression on Qinglong's face and said, "Fellow Daoist Qinglong, we have known each other for countless eons, and I know of the predicament of your dragon clan. By accepting Huanglong, the karma between us will be settled."

The Yellow Dragon behind the Azure Dragon suddenly stepped forward, knelt before the Jade Purity Saint, and pleaded with the Jade Purity Saint: "Master, I know it is impossible to ask you and Uncle to directly accept a descendant of the Dragon Clan into your fold, but I was born into the Dragon Clan, and I still wish to ask you and Uncle to give a descendant of the Dragon Clan the same opportunity as other innate beings."

After listening to his disciple's pleas, the Jade Purity Saint pondered for a moment, then sighed, "Foolish child!"

Yuanshi paused slightly, then addressed the Azure Dragon and the kneeling Yellow Dragon: "I am not unwilling to give the younger generation of the Dragon Clan a chance. However, the gates of the Sage's abode are not easily entered."

"All descendants of the Dragon Clan may participate in the trials we have set. Those who can pass two trials may become our disciples."

Whether you can become my disciple depends entirely on your own destiny.

Huanglong then looked at the Shangqing Sage.

Seeing the pleading look in Huanglong's eyes, Shangqing nodded and said to Qinglong, "I cut off a glimmer of hope for all living beings, and the dragon race is an exception. My request is simple: pass one test and you can join my sect and cultivate my Great Dao."

The Azure Dragon knew that this was already a great favor from the Sage to the Dragon Clan, and said to the Jade Purity Sage and the Upper Purity Sage, "Thank you both, Sages!" Then it gave the Yellow Dragon a few more instructions, and then, with the still-sleeping Dragon Clan, it transformed into an azure dragon shadow and broke through the clouds.

Taiqing, who had been lost in thought, slowly opened his eyes and looked at Yuqing and Shangqing beside him: "My two junior brothers, now that the agreement has been made, let us set three trials. Those who pass the trials will be able to inherit our Great Dao and enlighten all living beings!"

The three sages then rose, awakened their sleeping disciples, and vanished from their spot in a flash of light, leading everyone to the towering stone pillar inscribed with endless mysterious runes.

In Huanglong's eyes, he saw the Shangqing Sage pointing his fingers like swords, weaving back and forth in the void.

In a short while, Dao patterns spread and laws intertwined, and a great array enveloped the mountain gate, giving rise to a world in which countless illusions arose. Within it were countless spiritual treasures and roots, as well as bewildering inner demons and temptations, yet it also contained a trace of pure Dao essence. Anyone who passed the test could obtain a wisp of Dao essence left by a sage to temper their mind and spirit.

"This first test examines one's 'heart for the Way'! Those whose heart for the Way is not firm and whose thoughts are not pure will find it difficult to pass this test!"

Yuqing then flicked his jade ruyi, and Yuqing's radiance shone down, condensing into a long jade staircase that led directly to the mountain gate after a spell.

"This second hurdle is to 'examine one's roots and observe one's fortune'! Those with shallow roots and meager fortune will find it difficult to make any progress."

Finally, Taiqing swept his whisk, and a Tai Chi pattern flew into the jade steps, evolving into countless forms.

"This third test is to 'examine one's character'! Those without an extraordinary character, who cannot connect with the Great Dao, will not be able to comprehend this diagram."