Primordial Era: The Witch Clan's Dog-Headed Strategist

The clear light of the Heart-Questioning Array gradually receded, and the three array eyes fell silent one by one.

The apprentice-acceptance ceremony lasted for countless days from beginning to end.

The seekers in the valley were either overjoyed, or left in despair, or, though defeated, felt honored and found the shortcomings in their own path within the battle.

Kong Xuan and Jin Peng, disciples of the Taiqing School, stood side by side, while twelve direct disciples of the Yuqing School lined up neatly behind the Primordial Celestial Venerable.

The five direct disciples of the Shangqing Sect, the six attendant immortals, and dozens of outer disciples lined up behind the Tongtian Sect Master, and the atmosphere of the Sanqing Daoist Temple was beginning to take shape.

Zhao Gongming and the Three Immortals have also successfully passed the test of the Shangqing Formation Eye.

Zhao Gongming is a manifestation of the pure breeze, with a pure and spiritual origin. In the eyes of the Shangqing Formation, the inner demon he faces is the fear he felt when he was almost devoured by an evil dragon on the East Sea coast.

With his own understanding of swordsmanship, he unleashed a wisp of sword intent within the formation.

The sword intent did not win by sharpness, but rather by penetrating every flaw in the inner demon with the force of an all-pervasive breeze, ultimately disintegrating the inner demon completely.

The Tongtian Sect Leader looked at the gentle breeze sword intent, his eyes flashing with sword intent, quite admiring.

The sword light of the three sisters, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, and Bixiao, was like three clouds reflecting each other, with layers of cloud-like sword intent overlapping, using softness to overcome hardness.

The four successfully passed the test and were accepted into the outer sect by the Tongtian Sect Leader.

Zhao Gongming stood behind Tongtian with his three sisters. His gaze swept across the crowd, and when he saw Pan Xuan, he bowed deeply to him from afar, his eyes full of gratitude.

Pan Xuan smiled and nodded at him in response.

Under the leadership of the three leaders, Sun, Moon, and Ziwei, the 365 main star witches of the Star Witch Clan began to guide the seekers from all directions to disperse in an orderly manner.

Those disciples who passed the test of the array were guided to various locations on Mount Buzhou, while those who failed the test were guided through spatial passages by the Taiyin Commander and returned to the prehistoric world.

Many of the disciples from various races brought by the Ten Demon Generals passed the tests of the Yuqing and Shangqing array cores.

The ten demon generals were quite satisfied with being accepted into the outer sect. After paying their respects to the Three Pure Ones, they each led their troops back to the Heavenly Court to report back.

Ao Qing of the Dragon Clan joined the outer sect of Shangqing, Feng Ming of the Phoenix Clan joined the Taiqing sect, and Mo Yu of the Qilin Clan joined the Yuqing sect. The disciples of the three clans each found their place.

The hundreds of seekers in the valley dispersed in an orderly manner under the guidance of the Starry Sky Witch Clan, leaving only a few dozen disciples of the Three Pure Ones Sect.

Pan Xuan stood on the high platform, taking in all of this.

After the idlers in the valley had dispersed, he turned around, looked at the Tongtian Sect Leader beside him, and then at the Six-Eared Macaque standing behind Tongtian, whose eyes were still red-rimmed, and said slowly:

"Brother Tongtian, now that Liu Er has joined the Jie Sect, he is one of our own."

However, it's not good to keep calling him by that name forever.

Having joined the Jie Sect, one should have a new name, as a farewell to the past and a fresh start.

Upon hearing this, the Tongtian Sect Leader nodded slightly.

The name "Six-Eared Macaque" certainly carries too many shadows of the past.

That was the shame branded deep within his true spirit when he overheard the Taoist patriarch preaching, and the bitterness of constantly hitting walls throughout the long years.

It was the heavy shackles that weighed on him by the divine decree that "the law should not be passed on to six ears".

Now that he has joined the Jie Sect, he should have a new name, a name that belongs to a disciple of the Jie Sect.

The Tongtian Sect Leader stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the Six-Eared Macaque, and pondered for a long time.

The Six-Eared Macaque was one of the Four Mischievous Monkeys. He was born with a talent for listening, which was neither right nor wrong in itself, but was forbidden by a decree of Hongjun.

The Jie Sect's method of "seizing life" was originally intended to provide all living beings with a glimmer of hope under the suppression of the Heavenly Dao. The Six-Eared Macaque was sealed away by the Heavenly Dao after eavesdropping on sermons.

Now, having openly and legitimately entered the Jie Sect, this experience itself is the best interpretation of the Way of Life-Saving. He began:

"Now that you have joined the Jie Sect, I will bestow upon you a new name—Wuzhen."

The name "Six-Eared Macaque" should no longer be used from now on.

Enlightenment means understanding;

The true one is the true self.

The fundamental way to live is to discard the past and understand one's true self.

Although your ability to hear is sealed, the way of the sword does not rely on the ears, but on the clarity of the sword heart.

The name Wuzhen echoed across the valley.

The Six-Eared Macaque stood there, his six ears trembling slightly, each word etched deep into his Dao heart like a brand.

Over the years, he has encountered setbacks everywhere, suffered countless rejections and cold looks. No temple was willing to take him in, and no great master was willing to give him a chance.

Now, the Tongtian Sect Leader not only accepted him as his personal disciple, but also personally bestowed upon him the name Wuzhen, meaning to discard the past and understand one's true self.

He knelt down and kowtowed to the Tongtian Sect Leader: "Disciple Wuzhen thanks Master for bestowing this name upon me! From this day forward, disciple is no longer Six Ears, but simply Wuzhen of the Jie Sect."

Pan Xuan stepped forward, reached out a hand to help Wu Zhen up from the ground.

He looked at the young man in dark gold attire, with his agile physique, and said slowly:

"Wuzhen, your master gave you this name in the hope that you can let go of the shackles of the past and move forward with a light heart."

But deep within your true spirit lies the mark of "the secret must not be passed on to six ears."

It was a restriction personally set up by Hongjun with the power of the Heavenly Dao. It sealed your path to comprehend the Great Dao through listening, preventing your cultivation from advancing even an inch.

As long as this mark is not removed, your spiritual practice will be hindered.

Now that you have joined the Jie Sect and become a member of the divine system, there is no need for you to keep this mark any longer.

The Tongtian brothers, the Taiqing brothers, the Yuanshi brothers, and Wuzhen are disciples of the Jie Sect and also juniors in the divine system.

The mark on his body is a shackle set up by Hongjun in the name of the Heavenly Dao.

These shackles not only bind him alone, but are also a microcosm of the suppression of all living beings by the Heavenly Dao.

"How about the three brothers working together to break this mark?"

Taiqing Laozi slowly nodded: "Good."

Hongjun's act of sealing off the Listening Divine Power in the name of the Heavenly Dao was an overstepping of his authority.

Now that Wuzhen has joined the Jie Sect, this shackle should no longer remain.

Yuanshi nodded:

"Wuzhen was able to pass through the Shangqing Formation Eye, indicating that his Dao heart has been recognized. The restrictions set by Hongjun can be broken by the combined efforts of the Three Pure Ones."

The three Pure Ones each stood still, forming a triangular shape around Wuzhen in the center.

Taiqing Laozi raised his hand, and the Taiji diagram unfolded at his fingertips. The Yin and Yang energies transformed into a black and white interwoven pillar of light, enveloping Wuzhen within it.

The power of Yin and Yang, like two invisible keys, began to explore the specific structure of the mark deep within Wuzhen's spirit.

Yuanshi then made his move; the Pangu Banner trembled slightly, and the light of chaos was like a sharp carving knife.

Following the path explored by the Yin and Yang energies, the light precisely penetrated the depths of Wuzhen's true spirit. Wherever the chaotic light passed, the golden restrictive patterns wrapped around the surface of Wuzhen's true spirit began to disintegrate one by one.

Tongtian made his final move, and the four swords of Zhuxian split into four threads of sword intent, each protecting Wuzhen's true spirit in one of the four directions.

The sword intent threads absorbed and dissolved the law-related impacts generated when the mark was broken, ensuring that Wuzhen's true spirit was not damaged in any way.

Wu Zhen's body trembled violently. He could clearly feel the shackles that had been pressing down on his true spirit for countless years being peeled away layer by layer by three vast and boundless forces of law.

The brand was more tenacious than he had imagined; it had long since become one with his soul, and each peeling brought excruciating pain.

But he gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and remained silent.

He knew this was the price he had to pay to break free from his shackles.

When the last trace of the restriction pattern was peeled away from the depths of Wuzhen's true spirit.

The Heavenly Dao imprint of "the law must not be passed on to six ears" transformed into countless golden specks of light, which flew out from Wuzhen's body and were completely annihilated in the chaotic light.

The Three Pure Ones simultaneously withdrew, and the Yin and Yang energies, the light of chaos, and the intent of the Immortal Slaying Sword each returned to their proper places.

Wuzhen was covered in blood, but his eyes were brighter than ever before.

He could feel his six ears becoming incredibly sharp again, and countless sounds from the world flooding into his senses once more.

But this time, these voices were no longer taboo, but rather an aid on his path of cultivation.

Pan Xuan stepped forward, extended his right hand, and a point of golden light condensed at his fingertip.

The divine light transformed into a soft golden pillar, enveloping Wuzhen within it.

The power of divine wisdom gently seeped into the depths of Wuzhen's true spirit, beginning to repair the subtle damage left when the brand was peeled off.

The cracks in the true spirit healed rapidly under the nourishment of the wisdom light, and the remaining fragments of the law were cleaned up one by one by the wisdom light.

At this moment, Wuzhen's true spirit finally returned to its most complete and clearest state.

As the last ray of wisdom dissipated from Wuzhen's body, Pan Xuan withdrew his fingers, stood with his hands behind his back, and his eyes were full of satisfaction.

Wuzhen knelt on the ground and kowtowed deeply to the Three Pure Ones and Pan Xuan, his voice filled with barely suppressed excitement and gratitude:

"Disciple Wuzhen kowtows to express gratitude to Master, to my two senior uncles, and to Senior Panxuan!"

May I be freed from my shackles and have my true spirit restored; this kindness will never be forgotten!

Tongtian reached out and helped him up: "Get up."

The shackles have been removed, the true spirit has been restored, and from this day forward you are free.

After your hearing ability is restored, you will be able to openly and honestly listen to all the sounds in the world.

No more eavesdropping, no more hiding.

Disciples of the Jie Sect, if you walk upright and sit honestly, you can hear whatever you want. Anyone who dares to say "the Dharma is not to be passed on to six ears" will be the first to object!

Wuzhen nodded vigorously and stood up straight.

Pan Xuan added:

"Your ability to hear is not only your own gift, but can also be used by the divine system."

The divine network covers the primordial world, and the secrets of heaven flow within it. Your supernatural ability to hear is just enough to capture many subtle fluctuations that others cannot perceive.

In the future, when you are not practicing in the Jie Sect, you can communicate more with fellow Daoist Fuxi.

He is the Eight Trigrams Heavenly Secrets Deity of the divine system, wielding the authority to deduce heavenly secrets. Your way of listening and his way of deduction can complement each other.

Wuzhen listened attentively and memorized every word Panxuan said.

He bowed deeply to Pan Xuan and his three senior uncles once more, then retreated behind Tongtian Jiaozhu, standing shoulder to shoulder with his four senior brothers and sisters, Duobao, Jinling, Guiling, and Wudang.

At this moment, the bewilderment and excitement he had felt when he first stepped out of the formation were gone from his brow.

Instead, it has become a composure and determination that comes from trials and tribulations.

The opening ceremony and acceptance of disciples at the Sanqing Taoist Temple have now come to a successful conclusion.

From this day forward, Wuzhen, the fifth direct disciple of the Jie Sect, will be one of the most legendary figures among the new generation of disciples in the divine path system.