Primordial Era: Cultivation level equals the sum of the Jie Sect's total; the Three Pure Ones a

Xuan Du clenched his teeth, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

A mortal body standing between sacred might is destined to die.

But in the darkness, the two holy powers counterbalanced each other, forming a delicate balance around him, allowing him to barely survive.

However, this balance is as fragile as paper.

He must make a choice.

No, he had already made his choice!

Xuandu suddenly looked up, his gaze passing over Laozi's figure in front of him and looking straight at the Tongtian Sect Leader in green robes and carrying a sword.

He bowed deeply again, his voice hoarse, yet carrying an unwavering force:

"My mind is made up!"

"Please, sage, take me in!"

The room fell silent upon hearing this.

For the first time, a subtle fluctuation appeared in the aura of indifference and non-action emanating from Lao Tzu.

He slowly turned his head, and for the first time, his eyes, which had seen through eternity, truly fell upon Xuan Du.

There was no anger, no oppressive force.

There is only one kind of scrutiny that is almost like the way of heaven.

Xuandu felt as if all his secrets, inside and out, were exposed to this gaze.

Fortunately, they didn't realize their system was unaware of it.

Lao Tzu's gaze lingered on Xuan Du for a moment.

This child has ordinary physical attributes, but his destiny is clear. He should enter the humanistic teachings and inherit the pure path.

Now, however, fate is in complete chaos.

interesting.

Lao Tzu's eyes returned to their usual calm state.

He did not get angry; at his level, emotions had long since become detached.

He just felt that things had changed a little.

Upon seeing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader laughed loudly.

"Very well! A firm decision indeed!"

His gaze toward Xuandu held even greater admiration.

Unafraid of divine might and steadfast in his principles, this child's temperament suits his taste perfectly.

What his Jie Sect pursued was to seize that sliver of hope amidst all kinds of predicaments!

This young man's words and actions are exactly the way!

"Brother."

Tongtian looked at Laozi, his sword intent soaring to the heavens, severing the Heavenly Dao rules that the other had invoked.

"You saw it too."

"Forcing things will only lead to a loss of peace and tranquility."

"This child is destined for our sect; today, I will accept him as my disciple."

Before he finished speaking, and without Tongtian making any move, a hazy celestial light enveloped Xuandu.

In an instant, Xuandu felt a lightness all over his body.

The surrounding oppressive aura was completely isolated.

Lao Tzu stood still and did not stop him.

Non-action is not incompetence, much less fear.

However, at this juncture, it would be unwise to completely oppose Tongtian over this matter.

Although the bond between the three Qings has weakened, it is not yet time to completely tear off the mask of friendship.

Moreover, the variables surrounding this child are unclear, and whether forcibly taking him under one's wing would be a blessing or a curse remains to be seen.

Since he is inclined towards the Jie Sect, let him be.

The workings of fate are ever-changing; the future remains uncertain.

Lao Tzu gave Xuan Du a deep look, his gaze seemingly piercing through time and space, glimpsing some vague fragment of the future.

He then withdrew his gaze, nodded slightly to Tongtian, and spoke in a calm tone:

"If that's the case, then you'd better take care of yourself."

Having said that, Lao Tzu took a step forward, and his figure vanished into the world like a dream or a bubble.

There were no spatial fluctuations, no ripples of magical power, as if he had never arrived.

The vast and sacred power that enveloped heaven and earth also dissipated.

The sky cleared, and the waves continued to surge.

Only the disordered rules of heaven and earth, and the lingering fear in the hearts of the myriad immortals on Jin'ao Island, proved that the confrontation between the two saints just now was not an illusion.

Xuan Du's body went limp, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

My back was completely soaked with cold sweat.

Even a brief contest with a sage exhausted all his energy.

But a tremendous surge of joy welled up within him!

It worked!

He succeeded!

He broke free from his original destiny and successfully stood at the gate of the Jie Sect!

Although he had not yet formally entered the sect, the words of the Tongtian Sect Leader were almost a foregone conclusion!

"call!"

Xuan Du exhaled a long breath and looked up at the Tongtian Sect Leader.

Tongtian was looking at him at that moment, a smile of great interest on his face.

"Little guy, you've got guts."

Tongtian spoke casually, yet with an inherent air of authority.

"How dare you openly declare your intention to join my Jie Sect in front of my elder brother."

Xuandu quickly bowed again:

"This junior only cares about the path in my heart, and has no other thoughts."

Tongtian smiled, neither confirming nor denying:

"Come with me."

Having said that, he rolled up his sleeves.

Xuandu felt a blur before his eyes, and the scenery around him changed rapidly.

Once he regained his footing, he found himself in an incredibly magnificent hall.

The main hall seemed to be cast entirely from jade, with a high dome engraved with the stars of the heavens, exuding a natural Taoist charm.

The surrounding area was filled with faint sword energy, yet it also contained a vibrant vitality.

The interior of the hall is not overly decorated, but simple and grand.

This is Biyou Palace!

The core of the Jie Sect!

At this moment, several figures were already waiting in the main hall.

Their auras were either as deep as the sea, as sharp as a sword, or as ethereal as clouds.

Without exception, they were all so powerful that Xuan Du felt suffocated.

His gaze swept across.

The leader, dressed in a golden Taoist robe, had a kind face but deep, scrutinizing eyes as he looked at him.

It was none other than Duobao Daoren, the chief of the Jie Sect.

Beside him stood a graceful and noble female immortal, radiating spiritual light; she was none other than the Golden Spirit Mother.

On the other side, the Holy Mother of Wudang has an ethereal quality, while the Holy Mother of Guiling has lively eyes.

There was also a dragon-headed immortal, a golden-light immortal... all of whom were attendants of the Seven Immortals.

Further away, Xuandu also saw a burly man with a golden whip hanging at his waist, who must be Zhao Gongming.

And the three stunningly beautiful women beside him must be the Three Immortal Maidens of Sanxiao.

These figures, who would later stir up storms in the Investiture of the Gods, all had their eyes on him, a mortal who had just entered Biyou Palace.

Curiosity, doubt, scrutiny, indifference...

Various opinions were drawn.

Being watched by so many powerful figures, Xuan Du felt immense pressure.

But he knew this was the final hurdle.

He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and met the gazes of the crowd with composure.

The Master of Heaven was already seated high on his cloud bed, looking down below.

"This child is named Xuandu, and he originally had a karmic connection with the Sage Taiqing."

Tongtian spoke, his voice calm, yet it resonated throughout the hall.

"However, his heart is set on the path of my Jie Sect, and today he is willing to become my disciple."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the people in the hall varied.

Daoist Duobao frowned slightly and said in a deep voice:

"Master, since this child is destined to be with Senior Uncle Taiqing, should we accept him...?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear: he was worried that this would offend the Supreme Saint.

Tongtian waved his hand and said calmly:

"It's alright."

"The arising and ceasing of conditions are predetermined."

"Since my elder brother has left, it means he acquiesces."

"This child is resolute and unwavering in his will, remaining steadfast even under the majesty of the Holy One, and is destined to be with our sect."

With the leader's word set, no one dared to say anything more.

However, the look in his eyes as he gazed at Xuandu held a newfound inquisitiveness.

What is so special about this child that he can compete with the Sage Taiqing for a disciple, and that his master is willing to slightly offend Taiqing to accept him?

Judging from his appearance, he is just an ordinary human.

Tongtian's gaze fell upon Xuandu:

"Xuan Du, since you wish to join my Jie Sect, do you know the doctrines of my Jie Sect?"

Xuan Du's heart skipped a beat, knowing that the crucial moment had arrived.

He took a deep breath and said loudly:

"The essence of the Intercepting Sect lies in the word 'intercept'!"

"To seize a glimmer of hope for all living beings!"

"Education should be provided to all without discrimination; anyone with a heart that yearns for the Way can hear of it!"

He paused here, then, drawing on his own insights, continued:

"Heaven's way is not perfect; how can everything in the world be as predetermined as Heaven's will?"

"Our human race is weak. If we simply submit to the will of Heaven and remain inactive, we will only become food for the demon race, ultimately leading to our extinction!"

"Only by seizing that sliver of opportunity and fighting fiercely can one survive amidst imminent death!"

"This ambition aligns perfectly with the principles of the Jie Sect!"

The sound echoed in the main hall.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

A hint of surprise flashed across the eyes of Duobao, Jinling, and other direct disciples.

This child is just an ordinary person, yet he has come to understand the teachings of the Jie Sect to such an extent?

Furthermore, it connects it to the fate of humanity, making its arguments substantial and not mere empty talk.

The admiration in the eyes of the Tongtian Sect Leader grew even stronger.

"good."

He nodded slowly.

"From this day forward, you will be a disciple of my Jie Sect."

The moment the words fell.

In Xuan Du's mind, the system's notification sounded like celestial music!

[Host has successfully joined the sect: Jie Sect!]

[Starting real-time calculation of the total cultivation level of the sect's disciples...]