Chapter Six: Unlocking the Secondary Path-Primordial Era: Qingxu(Sun and Moon in the Azure Void)

Every spiritual treasure, whether innate or acquired, possesses its own restrictions and seals. The three supreme treasures of Chaos—the Pangu Axe, the Creation Jade Tablet, and the Chaos Green Lotus—contain fifty layers of innate restrictions within. Treasures modeled after these, such as the Pangu Banner, Taiji Diagram, Chaos Bell, Universe Cauldron, and fragments of the Creation Tablet, are endowed with forty-nine layers of innate restrictions, in harmony with the cosmic numbers.

With his mind probing deeply, Qingxu discovered that the Central Xu-Yi Apricot Yellow Banner held forty-five layers of innate restrictions. The Jade Void Palace Lamp and the Yin-Yang Dao Robe, both innate spiritual treasures, were extraordinary, each bearing forty-two layers. These far surpassed the treasures owned by his fellow disciples, whose innate spiritual treasures held at most thirty layers.

Given his current cultivation at the early stage of the Earth Immortal realm, refining these three innate spiritual treasures would likely take over a hundred years just to comprehend a single layer of restriction. With the Three Pure Ones’ discourse imminent, and from the words of Primordial Heavenly Lord, it was clear that competition among peers would be unavoidable. As the chief disciple of the Jade Void, the senior brother of the Chan Sect, Qingxu could not afford to lose prestige. Otherwise, Primordial would be displeased, and his own standing would diminish.

Several acquired spiritual treasures were also remarkable, each containing more than thirty layers of acquired restrictions.

Unlike innate spiritual treasures, whose restrictions could only be understood through intuition and could not be taught, acquired restrictions had proper methods for refining them, making the process much more efficient. Primordial Heavenly Lord bestowed these acquired treasures along with their refining techniques.

Following the method for refining the Five Fires Seven Birds Fan, Qingxu plunged his mind within, contemplating its mysteries and attuning himself to its creative essence, thus beginning the refinement.

As he refined the treasure, each layer of acquired restriction and the fundamental talismanic essence entered his heart, causing his understanding of the Dao to leap forward, and his cultivation advanced swiftly toward the mid-stage of the Earth Immortal realm.

...

More than ten days had passed since Primordial Heavenly Lord bestowed the spiritual treasures.

On this day, the heavens were suffused with sacred purple energy, auspicious clouds billowed across three thousand miles, a rare fragrance filled the air, celestial light shone, and golden flowers cascaded down.

Primordial Heavenly Lord, accompanied by his fourteen disciples, departed the Jade Void Palace to greet the guests.

Qingxu stood behind Primordial, and saw in the distant sky an elder sage seated side-saddle upon a green ox, led by a middle-aged Daoist holding the reins. It was the Supreme Lord of Virtue of Taiqing and his sole disciple, Xuandu Grandmaster.

The Supreme Lord and Xuandu arrived in the blink of an eye. As they descended from the auspicious clouds, Qingxu observed closely: Supreme Lord’s hair was white as a crane’s, yet his face was youthful, appearing seventy or eighty years old, his white beard flowing, his bearing immortal and dignified, radiating the aura of virtue, with kindly brows and gentle eyes, holding a whisk and clad in the Taiji Dao robe. Xuandu was plain in appearance, yet robust in stature.

As the two descended, Primordial and his disciples stepped forward to pay their respects.

“I came in haste and did not prepare much, but fortunately I have just refined some Nine-Turn Golden Pills,” said Supreme Lord, producing a purple-gold red gourd and pouring out fourteen pills, distributing them among Qingxu and the others as gifts, for such a meeting could not lack a proper greeting, or else his prestige would suffer.

Primordial reciprocated by presenting an innate spiritual treasure to Xuandu.

Both sides expressed their gratitude.

[Nine-Turn Golden Pill: Enhances magical power below the Golden Immortal realm for one cosmic cycle; also has miraculous effects on body refinement.]

The Investiture of the Gods system revealed the properties of the Nine-Turn Golden Pill at a glance.

“To enhance magical power for a cosmic cycle? How formidable!” Qingxu marveled inwardly, then his thoughts turned, prompting him to examine Supreme Lord and Xuandu.

[Supreme Lord of Virtue of Taiqing]

Grade: 100 (Perfected)

Immortal Dao Realm: Peak Middle Stage of Sage

Abilities: Unknown

Merit: Unknown

Karma: Unknown

[Xuandu Grandmaster]

Grade: 31

Immortal Dao Realm: Early Stage Earth Immortal

Abilities: Taiqing Thunderfire Technique, Five Elements Dao Method, Two Forms Microdust Array

Merit: 200 points of acquired merit

Karma: 0

“It seems Xuandu has not taken the Nine-Turn Golden Pill, or else even the Celestial Immortal realm would not be beyond reach!” Among peers, Xuandu’s information was already exceptional, but compared to Qingxu, he still fell short.

[Qingxu Daoist]

Grade: 32

Immortal Dao Realm: Early Stage Earth Immortal

Abilities: Stealth (not limited to earth, can traverse between heaven and earth), Jade Pure Immortal Light (minor attainment), Protective divine abilities (Auspicious clouds, Golden lotus, Golden lamp), Jade Pure Thunder Technique, Five Elements Dao Method, Qingxu Sword Dao

Merit: 20 points of acquired merit

Karma: 0

As Qingxu examined the information on Supreme Lord and Xuandu, Master Tongtian arrived, seated steadily atop the Kui ox, accompanied by dozens of disciples: Duobao Daoist, Wudang Holy Mother, Jinling Holy Mother, Guiling Holy Mother, Zhao Gongming, Qiu Shou Immortal... all great powers of the Jie Sect during the Investiture of the Gods era, whose abilities rivaled those of the Chan Sect immortals, and whose unconventional arts were often even stronger.

“Senior brother, second brother!” Tongtian saluted, then presented spiritual treasures to Qingxu and the others, all innate, displaying his immense wealth.

Seeing this, Supreme Lord and Primordial felt somewhat frustrated. Tongtian’s disciples were numerous, with more than fifty present this time. Both had to make considerable gifts of Nine-Turn Golden Pills and innate spiritual treasures, unable to favor one over another, though inwardly they resented Tongtian’s wide acceptance of disciples.

The Three Pure Ones and their second-generation disciples entered Jade Void Palace, taking their seats according to seniority.

Not long after, the Three Pure Ones began their discourse, starting with Supreme Lord of Virtue.

“The Dao gives birth to One; One gives birth to Two; Two gives birth to Three; Three gives birth to all things...”

“There is a thing formed from chaos, born before heaven and earth...”

It was precisely the Dao De Jing, so familiar to Qingxu from his previous life, but Supreme Lord’s exposition pierced straight to the essence, the profound truths of the Dao far beyond what words could convey.

As Supreme Lord spoke, mysterious principles arose, captivating Qingxu completely, granting him immense benefit.

[Taiqing Immortal Dao 1%...]

“What! How is this possible? The Investiture of the Gods system is astonishing!” Qingxu could hardly believe it—the system directly copied the Taiqing Immortal Dao, a first. Primordial Heavenly Lord had lectured often, but never had such a situation occurred.

With the system’s direct copying ability, Qingxu began to study it, but found no immediate effect.

Taiqing Immortal Dao 11%!

When Supreme Lord finished his discourse, the system stopped, revealing 11% copied. Qingxu understood: even sages are people, and would never impart all their Dao without reservation. Only among the Three Pure Ones, bound by brotherhood, would one share so much—otherwise, even 1 or 2% would be remarkable.

[Investiture of the Gods system: Secondary Immortal Dao unlocked]

Secondary Immortal Dao?

Qingxu was startled and quickly checked the system.

[Qingxu Daoist]

Grade: 32

Immortal Dao Realm: Early Stage Earth Immortal (Jade Pure)

Secondary Immortal Dao: Taiqing 11% (auxiliary effect)

Merit: 20 points of acquired merit

Karma: 0

“So that’s it! Truly formidable—unlocking the secondary Immortal Dao. With the Investiture of the Gods system’s help, if I could hear the Immortal Dao of several sages...?” Even with only 11% of the Taiqing Immortal Dao, Qingxu noticed his cultivation speed had greatly increased. Where he once estimated a century to reach mid-stage Earth Immortal, now seventy or eighty years would suffice.