Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

Kong Xuan said, "Xuan Du was taken in halfway through the journey, so he's considered a half-disciple."

Xuandu quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior Tongtian."

Tongtian waved his hand: "Don't call me senior, just call me fellow Daoist."

Xuandu was taken aback: "Fellow Daoist?"

Tongtian nodded and smiled, "Since you are a senior's disciple, you are of the same generation as me."

Xuandu was stunned and glanced at Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan did not deny it.

Xuan Du's heart was churning, but he still performed the junior's greeting.

"Greetings... Uncle Tongtian."

Tongtian laughed heartily: "Alright, alright, let's go, let's go, let's go up the mountain and talk."

The three landed on the mountaintop.

The cultivators all turned their heads when they saw Kong Xuan.

Seeing Kong Xuan's extraordinary demeanor and Tongtian's personal welcome, they couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

Kong Xuan ignored him and walked to the stone table to sit down.

Lao Tzu put down his cup and nodded slightly.

"You came back at just the right time."

Kong Xuandao: "Hmm."

He glanced at the cultivators on the mountaintop: "What's going on here?"

Yuan Shi spoke, his voice flat: "Tell me about becoming his disciple."

Kong Xuandao: "Whom do you worship?"

Yuanshi glanced at Tongtian: "Worship him."

Tongtian shrugged: "How could I possibly teach someone? I haven't even mastered it myself yet."

Kong Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "In that case, let them all stay."

Tongtian was stunned: "What?"

Kong Xuan stood up, put his hands behind his back, and looked at the cultivators.

"You want to cultivate the Tao?"

The cultivators were taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

Kong Xuan said, "I will take care of you on behalf of Tongtian."

"From this day forward, you will begin your spiritual practice in Kunlun."

Those who are willing to stay, those who are unwilling to leave.

The cultivators looked at each other in bewilderment, and after a moment, they all knelt down.

"Thank you so much, senior!"

Tongtian opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But seeing Kong Xuan's gaze, he swallowed his words back.

There was a deeper meaning in that gaze that he couldn't understand.

It's as if it's saying, "Some things should begin."

Kong Xuan settled down in Kunlun.

He no longer taught the Three Pure Ones, but only occasionally gave Tongtian a few pointers on sword techniques.

More often than not, he sits in meditation on the mountaintop.

Inhale and exhale spiritual energy, temper your Dao power, and nurture your supernatural abilities.

The threshold to becoming a Primordial Golden Immortal is getting closer and closer.

Late that night, the moon was bright and the stars were few.

Kong Xuan stood with his hands behind his back on the edge of the cliff, gazing up at the sky.

The sky is filled with stars, and the Milky Way stretches across the heavens.

But he always felt that there was something else in the starry sky.

It cannot be penetrated by sight, nor can it be detected by divine sense.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the ball of light floated silently, with golden patterns slowly flowing around its edges.

Kong Xuan clenched his fist.

almost.

Give him some more time.

He was determined to go up to that high place.

Let's see what else is out there in the sky.

Let's see who it is that said, "Before chaos was divided, I already existed."

The mountain wind howled, and his dark robe fluttered in the wind.

Kong Xuan stood atop Kunlun Mountain, like a solitary pine tree.

Facing the wind, it remains unshaken and still.

He knew that the road ahead was still long.

But he was already on his way.

Kong Xuan stood atop Mount Kunlun, motionless all night.

The stars shift and the Milky Way stretches across the sky.

As the first hint of dawn appeared on the horizon, he slowly withdrew his gaze.

Halfway up the mountain, the newly recruited cultivators had already awakened.

Some people lit a fire, some brewed tea, and some held bamboo slips and recited Taoist scriptures.

It was noisy and chaotic, like a nest of fledglings just leaving the nest.

Kong Xuan watched for a while, but didn't say anything more.

Tongtian walked out of the thatched hut, yawning.

Upon looking up and seeing Kong Xuan standing on the edge of the cliff, he quickly shook off his drowsiness, straightened his robes, and walked over.

"Didn't you sleep all night, senior?"

Kong Xuan nodded: "I'm thinking about some things."

Tongtian leaned closer: "What is it?"

Kong Xuan was silent for a moment, then said, "Your disciples have varying levels of foundation."

"Some have excellent spiritual roots, while others have mediocre aptitude."

"How do you plan to teach?"

Tongtian scratched his head: "I haven't decided yet."

"I haven't even figured out how to improve myself, how dare I mislead others?"

Kong Xuan looked at him: "But you've already agreed."

Tongtian said with a bitter face, "Didn't you promise that for me, senior?"

Kong Xuan didn't reply, but simply said, "Since you've agreed, you have to take responsibility."

"Those who cultivate the Tao must avoid giving up halfway."

"If you do a perfunctory job, you will only harm them."

Tongtian put away his playful expression and straightened his face: "Senior is right."

"I will teach you well."

Kong Xuan didn't say anything more and turned to walk down the mountain.

Tongtian called out from behind, "Where are you going, senior?"

Kong Xuan didn't even turn his head: "Just taking a walk."

At the foot of the mountain, there is a bamboo forest, with bamboo as thick as an arm and lush and green.

Kong Xuan walked into the forest, where the bamboo leaves rustled.

He didn't go far; he simply found a clearing in the woods and sat down cross-legged.

Morning light filters through the bamboo leaves, scattering golden fragments across the ground.

Kong Xuan closed his eyes and sank his mind into his sea of ​​consciousness.

The ball of light hovered in the center, the golden patterns on its edges were firmly engraved, and a faint radiance flowed around it.

The third level of supernatural power has been achieved, but how to use it still needs to be explored.

Kong Xuan's mind touched the ball of light.

Supernatural powers activated.

Three options appeared, just like before.

Elevate yourself, elevate external things, elevate the Great Way.

However, there are subtle differences.

He chose to elevate himself.

Sub-options appear: cultivation level, background, comprehension, and innate talent.

Kong Xuan looked at these options, a slight thought stirring in his mind.

He chose cultivation level.

The ball of light shone brightly, and golden light cascaded down like a waterfall.

Golden light enveloped his entire body, warm as spring.

The power of Tao within his body began to surge, like a river rising with the tide.

His cultivation at the peak of Quasi-Saint level was already as solid as a rock.

But at this moment, new patterns appeared on the rock.

The power of the Dao has become more condensed and purer.

Every wisp of spiritual energy in the meridians is re-tempered.

Impurities are removed, and the essence is retained.

The golden light lasted for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before slowly dissipating.

Kong Xuan opened his eyes, a flash of golden light in them.

Although his cultivation level did not break through, his foundation became much stronger.

Both being at the peak of Quasi-Saint level, he was now 20% stronger than he had been just now.

Kong Xuan clenched his fist, sensing the changes in the Dao energy within his body.

That recent spiritual transformation had consumed a lot of his spiritual energy.

In the past, it might have taken several days to recover from a cultivation advancement.

But now, he only felt a warm current surging in his dantian, and new spiritual energy was gathering towards him from all directions.

The bamboo leaves moved swiftly without wind, and spiritual energy surged into the body like a tide.

The replenishment speed is more than twice as fast as before.

This is the change in the third level of supernatural power.

It consumes less and recovers faster.

Kong Xuan was satisfied and stood up.

When we emerged from the bamboo forest, it was already broad daylight.

A powerful voice came from the mountainside, instructing the disciples on breathing techniques.

His voice was loud and clear, full of energy.

Kong Xuan listened for a while and thought Tongtian's teaching was quite good.

Although it was a little rough around the edges, it was well-organized and the attitude was serious.

The disciples listened attentively, each sitting upright and solemnly.

Xuan Du was also among them, sitting cross-legged in the front row, eyes closed, breathing steadily.

Kong Xuan did not disturb them and went around to the back of the mountain.

There is a mountain stream behind the mountain, where the water falls from a height and forms a clear pool.

A clump of wildflowers grew by the pool, their petals pale purple, swaying gently in the wind.

Kong Xuan squatted down by the pool and scooped up a handful of water.

The water is cool and has a refreshing sweetness.

He looked up at the waterfall.

Water falls from a height and shatters into millions of droplets.

Sunlight shines on water droplets, refracting them into a rainbow of colors.

Kong Xuan watched for a while, then suddenly said, "Come out."

There was a rustling sound from the bushes behind me.

A boy, about fourteen or fifteen years old, peeked out and wore a patched blue cloth robe.

Upon seeing Kong Xuan, the young man seemed somewhat flustered, his head bowed, his hands fidgeting with the hem of his clothes.

Kong Xuan sized him up: "What's your name?"

The boy whispered, "My name is A-Qing."

"I went up the mountain with everyone yesterday."

Kong Xuan nodded: "Why don't you listen to the sermon with them?"

Aqing lowered her head and said, "I...I'm not good at it."

"Yesterday, that senior from Tongtian examined my bones and said that I have no spiritual roots and cannot cultivate the Dao."

"Let me go down the mountain."

Kong Xuan did not speak immediately.

Aqing looked up at Kong Xuan, then quickly lowered her gaze again.

"I don't want to go down the mountain."

"There's no one left at home, and I don't know where to go if I go down the mountain."

"I just want to... I want to stay in the mountains."

"Even just doing odd jobs and cooking is fine."

Kong Xuan looked at the boy and remained silent for a moment.

"Stretch out your hand."

Aqing was taken aback and timidly reached out her hand.

The palms are rough, and there are calluses on the knuckles.

The hands are those of someone who has done manual labor.

Kong Xuan placed her fingertips on his palm.

A wisp of Dao power probed in, circulating through the meridians.

Indeed, there is no spiritual root.

Ordinary cultivators, without spiritual roots, are like water without a source, unable to even cross the threshold.

Kong Xuan withdrew his hand and said calmly, "Who says you can't cultivate the Dao without spiritual roots?"

Aqing was stunned: "Senior..."

Kong Xuan stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said, "Spiritual roots are bestowed by heaven and earth, but the Dao resides in the heart."

"Without spiritual roots, one cannot attain enlightenment?"

"When Pangu separated heaven and earth, were there any spiritual roots?"

Aqing opened her mouth, unable to speak.

Kong Xuan raised his hand, and a wisp of Dao power gathered at his fingertips.

The power of the Dao floats suspended, like the faint glow of a firefly.

"If you want to cultivate the Tao, I will teach you."

"If you don't have enough spiritual roots, you can make up for it with hard work."

"Studying two extra hours each day compared to others, over time, may lead to success."

Ah Qing's eyes reddened, and she knelt down with a thud: "Thank you so much, senior!"

Kong Xuan raised his hand and lifted him up.

"Don't kneel."

"Those who cultivate the Tao will have virtuous children among their children."

"Kneel to heaven, earth, and your teacher, but not to anyone else."

Aqing nodded vigorously, her eyes red-rimmed.

Kong Xuan turned around and walked towards a blue stone beside the mountain stream.

Sit on the rock, facing the waterfall.

"Come here and sit down."

Aqing jogged over and sat down next to Kong Xuan.

Kong Xuan looked at the waterfall and spoke:

"To cultivate the Tao, one must first cultivate the mind."

"If the mind is unsettled, the breath will not be concentrated."

"Without the condensation of Qi, the Dao cannot be achieved."

"Listen carefully, I'm going to teach you a method for cultivating your inner energy."

"This method does not require spiritual roots, only a calm mind."

"Sit facing east every morning and breathe in and out 81 times."

"With each breath, imagine that there is a breath between heaven and earth."

"Enter from the soles of your feet, exit from the top of your head."

"The cycle repeats endlessly."

Aqing listened attentively, not daring to miss a single word.

After Kong Xuan finished speaking, he demonstrated it again.

Aqing did as instructed, and after three breaths, her face turned red.

But he didn't stop; he gritted his teeth and continued.

Kong Xuan did not urge him, but simply watched quietly.

Half an hour later, Aqing finally completed a cycle smoothly.

He opened his eyes, his gaze filled with surprise: "Senior, I did it!"

Kong Xuan nodded slightly: "I do it every day, rain or shine."

"I'll teach you the next step in three months."

Aqing nodded vigorously, stood up, and bowed deeply to Kong Xuan.

Then he turned and ran back to the woods halfway up the mountain, found a clearing, sat down, and began to practice breathing exercises.

Kong Xuan stared at his retreating figure in silence for a long time.

As the sun rises higher, the mist on the waterfall is illuminated by the sunlight, creating a rainbow.

Kong Xuan got up and walked up the mountain stream.

The stream was shallow and clear, and the stones were slippery.

He walked at a steady pace, each step landing firmly.

After walking half a mile, a person was sitting at a bend in the stream ahead.

Lao Tzu.

He sat cross-legged on a rock by the stream, a scroll of bamboo slips lying across his lap, and was looking down at it.

Kong Xuan approached, and Laozi looked up at him.

"Did you just take on a disciple over by the mountain stream?"

Kong Xuan sat down next to him and said, "I guess so."

Lao Tzu put down the bamboo slips: "Even without spiritual roots, you still teach?"

Kong Xuan said, "Spiritual roots are merely a shortcut, not the only path."

Lao Tzu did not refute, but remained silent for a while before saying, "What you said makes sense."

"In the beginning of time, there was no such thing as spiritual roots."

"These are all rules set by later generations."

Kong Xuan didn't reply, and the two sat quietly by the stream.

The water murmurs gently, and birdsong rises intermittently.

After a moment, Lao Tzu spoke: "You've been looking at the sky a lot lately."

"What are you looking at?"

Kong Xuan looked up at the sky, where layers of clouds stretched out like fish scales.

"I'm wondering, what else is there besides that day?"

Lao Tzu pondered for a moment and said, "I once read a sentence in an ancient bamboo slip."

"Chaos is like an egg, conceived in nothingness."

"When the egg breaks, heaven and earth are born."

"What about outside the egg?"

"It's not written in the ancient bamboo slips."

"But I suspect that outside the egg, there is still nothingness."

Kong Xuan turned to Laozi and asked, "What is there in the void?"

Lao Tzu shook his head: "I don't know."

"But it's precisely because we don't know that it's interesting."

Kong Xuan remained silent for a long time before saying, "I have seen a token."

There is a line of text above.

"Before chaos was divided, I already existed."

Lao Tzu's eyes flickered slightly: "Oh?"

"That token is not from this era."

Kong Xuandao: "I know."

"The handwriting has an unbelievable ancient feel to it."

"It's as if it existed before the creation of the world."

Lao Tzu didn't rush to speak. His gaze fell on the stream, watching the water flow around the rocks and then into the deep pool below.

After a long pause, he slowly said, "If there really is something that existed before chaos."

"Where is it now?"

Kong Xuan did not answer.

Both of them fell silent.

The stream still flows, and the sound of the water remains unchanged.

After a long while, Kong Xuan stood up and patted the fallen leaves off his robe.

"I have to go now."

Lao Tzu looked up: "Leaving again?"

Kong Xuan said, "Let's go to the East China Sea."

"There are some things I want to see with my own eyes."

Lao Tzu did not try to stop him, but simply said, "Be careful on your journey."

Kong Xuan nodded, turned around and returned along the same route.

Back at the mountaintop, Xuandu was still in meditation.

Breathing is steady and long.

Kong Xuan didn't bother him and sat down on the edge of the cliff.

He took the fragments of the token from his sleeve.

The residue had turned to powder, but the aroma it contained had not completely dissipated.

A faint ripple still lingered within the powder.

Kong Xuan closed his eyes and enveloped the wisp of fluctuation with his divine sense.

He tried his best to perceive and trace the source of the fluctuations.

Within the sea of ​​consciousness, the ball of light glowed faintly.

That ripple spread through my sea of ​​consciousness, like an extremely fine thread.

The silk threads stretch into the distance, piercing through clouds and mist, crossing mountains and seas.

Pointing eastward.

East China Sea.

Kong Xuan opened his eyes and put away the powder.

He stood up and took one last look at Kunlun Mountain.

Halfway up the mountain, Tongtian was leading his disciples in sword practice.

Xuandu watched intently from the sidelines.

Aqing sat under the shade of a tree, closing her eyes and breathing deeply, beads of sweat sliding down her forehead.