(Opening note: Please cherish this momentarily normal portrayal of the Three Schools of the Dao.)
…
This… they weren’t here to fight?
Li Changshou looked up at the vast expanse of dark clouds suspended in the southeastern sky and the white clouds in the northwest, briefly sensing the auras above…
Truly, he was just one step away from fleeing directly!
Li Changshou had even thought up a nonexistent headline for some mythical realm tabloid:
[TRAGIC: Three Schools’ Origin Conference Erupts in Battle Between Creation and Termination Schools, Mighty Ones Engage in Combat, Countless Lives Lost!]
The reason Li Changshou temporarily stayed was because the Creation School first sent forth an immortal…
This person wore a pearl-adorned crown and phoenix-dance boots, dressed in light white robes embroidered with auspicious clouds and cranes, wide sleeves flowing gracefully, seeming to contain their own universe within.
The immortals and disciples below couldn’t see this Daoist’s face, only vaguely sensing that he appeared to be middle-aged.
He flew out from the direction of the sixty-plus Jade Void Palace immortals, advancing several steps to reach the center position. Smiling at the Termination School immortals, his clear voice spread across the clouds and ground:
“Fellow junior brothers and sisters of the Termination School, why do you arrive with such an imposing presence?”
So they were going to fight after all? Li Changshou secretly sighed, stealthily taking out two special talismans…
Then from the vast dark clouds of the Termination School immortals came a light laugh:
“Naturally, we’ve come to join in the festivities;
Elder Brother Guangcheng, have you been well lately?”
A woman wearing a colorful immortal dress flew out from the clouds, bowing slightly to Guangcheng Zi from afar.
This woman didn’t use any mystical arts to conceal her appearance or aura. Her figure was tall and graceful, with her long hair bound in a slanting phoenix tail. Her face was naturally beautiful enough to shame the moon and sink fish, but more than her appearance and figure, what amazed the Qi practitioners was her cultivation, bearing, and Dao rhythm.
Guangcheng Zi immediately smiled and said: “Thank you for your concern, Junior Sister Jinling. We disciples of the Jade Void Palace pay our respects to Third Senior Uncle.”
After speaking, Guangcheng Zi bowed distantly toward the southeast, and the dozens of Creation School immortals behind him all followed this ‘First of the Twelve Golden Immortals’ in paying their respects.
The ‘Junior Sister Jinling’ here was the Golden Spirit Sacred Mother, one of the four main disciples of the Termination School’s inner sect. She also followed suit, saying:
“The many disciples of the Termination School pay respects to Second Senior Uncle.”
At that moment, these thousand… probably two thousand Termination School immortals all bowed together toward Mount Kunlun.
Many Termination School immortals secretly sighed:
When it came to ceremony, their Termination School just went through the motions. For true ceremony, one had to look to their Creation School brothers.
[Paying distant respects to a Sage when seeing the Sage’s disciples]—this was something they wouldn’t have thought of.
Below, Li Changshou also nodded secretly. Today’s trip wasn’t wasted; the Creation School’s internal culture indeed greatly benefited his own Dao…
Seeing such exchanges of bows in the sky, Li Changshou’s heart settled somewhat.
This Three Schools Origin Conference should be a turning point for the continued prosperity of the Dao Schools, and at this time the contradictions between the Creation and Termination sides weren’t too great, just some conflicts in doctrinal principles.
Of course, the current situation between both sides wasn’t entirely guaranteed;
Only if both sides could exchange mountain songs and dance social dances together would it truly prove there was no hostility between them.
In the clouds above, Guangcheng Zi spoke again:
“Today is a source-tracing conference held by the Three Schools’ immortal sects of the Central Divine Continent. Have all fellow junior brothers and sisters rushed here?”
The Golden Spirit Sacred Mother laughed lightly, and it seemed as if hundreds of flowers bloomed throughout heaven and earth. That trace of Dao rhythm seemed able to affect people’s emotions, causing many disciples of lower cultivation below to all reveal… slightly foolish smiles.
The Golden Spirit Sacred Mother smiled and said: “This is just less than thirty percent who have come. Zhao Senior Brother has gone to invite our Big Senior Brother.”
“Oh?” Guangcheng Zi smiled upon hearing this. “I didn’t expect Third Senior Uncle to take this matter so seriously.”
Immediately, the Golden Spirit Sacred Mother gave a slightly awkward smile and didn’t explain further, her mind involuntarily recalling the scene of being forcibly dragged from her cave dwelling by Zhao Gongming…
Zhao Gongming had sworn earnestly about something…
‘The Human School Sage’s disciples have a hundred percent attendance rate, even if our Termination School can’t achieve fifty percent, we must ensure twenty or thirty percent come!’
And so, today’s situation came to be.
Guangcheng Zi slowly nodded without asking further, his gaze sweeping below as he said calmly: “Would those organizing today’s conference please step forward.”
As his words fell, three men and two women, five elderly figures flew into the air—they were the sect leaders of the five host sects including the Golden Palace Sect and Xiaoyao Immortal Sect.
Behind the five, hundreds of figures immediately flew up, all the sect leaders of the various Three Schools’ immortal sects present today.
These people repeatedly bowed in the air, and since they hadn’t rehearsed beforehand, it appeared somewhat chaotic.
Shortly after, immortal maidens flew in from all directions, with flowing rainbow clothes and delicate fingers waving, sprinkling some sparkling powder and moist flower petals in the air;
Drum beats and music arose in heaven and earth;
All the disciples and sect members by the lake stood up and cupped their hands toward the sky, creating a magnificent scene.
Seeing the small lake below was too narrow, the Golden Spirit Sacred Mother said: “Elder Brother Guangcheng, why don’t we just stay in the clouds, to avoid frightening these little disciples?”
Guangcheng Zi nodded in approval.
Thus, the immortals of both schools sat cross-legged on their clouds, while the various Dao lineages below hurriedly moved two floating immortal islands to create viewing platforms in the sky, so the immortals on both sides wouldn’t have to suspend themselves in mid-air.
But immediately after, they encountered some troublesome matters…
The Jade Void Palace, Golden Turtle Island, Penglai Island, and others were all considered Sage domains, and the immortals who came from these domains, regardless of cultivation level, were all “source immortals” of today’s gathering.
According to the conference’s original protocol, the five host sect leaders were each supposed to announce their respective school’s experts, to complete the ceremony.
At this time, with zero attendees from the Human School, the Xiaoyao Immortal Sect leader had nothing to announce, making his job the easiest.
The Creation School’s Jade Void Palace didn’t have many disciples to begin with, and now with over sixty people here, most were long-famous experts.
Like Guangcheng Zi, Chi Jingzi, Yunzhong Zi, Yuding Zhenren, Xiaoyao Sanren, and others—these names rolled off the tongue like a menu, and the two Creation School sect leaders had long memorized them and wouldn’t make mistakes.
But for the Termination School’s side…
This group of Termination School immortals didn’t even fully know each other!
At this moment, the two Creation School sect leaders were sweating from their foreheads…
Fortunately, after both sides discussed, they decided to only announce the Sage Lords’ formal disciples, finally resolving this awkwardness.
Of those present now, six of the Jade Void Palace’s Twelve Golden Immortals had come, along with three Sage disciples not among the Twelve Golden Immortals, while the rest were all registered disciples.
On the Termination School’s side, only three direct Sage disciples had arrived so far, with three more on the way.
When the five sect leaders announced the various leaders’ titles, all the Three Schools’ immortal sect disciples in the basin had to follow the announcements with continuous bows and salutes toward the sky.
Xiong Lingli asked softly: “Cousin Brother, who are all these immortals?”
“These distinguished seniors are all disciples of the Sage Lords, with boundless magical powers and vast abilities, they are among the greatest experts in this world.”
Li Changshou answered with a smile but transmitted a warning telling her not to speak carelessly.
Xiong Lingli obediently agreed; having been beaten down by life, she dared not cause trouble for her great Sea God cousin.
Half a day later, three immortals flew in from beyond the sky. The central figure had a round face and protruding belly, with a warm smile that inspired kindness in those who saw him—this was the Termination School’s inner sect senior disciple, Duobao Daoren.
The figure on the left had a dignified appearance and imposing build, with an upright face and beard—this was the Termination School’s outer sect senior disciple and newly appointed ancestral master of realm scamming, Zhao Gongming.
On the right was a young woman, her form and face hidden in clouds. Only when her name was announced did they learn she was the famous Qiongjiao Immortal, one of the Three Xiao Sisters.
The immortals from both sides came forward to greet each other, the disciples below rose again to bow, and immortal light immediately filled heaven and earth, creating quite a lively scene.
Having so many major figures from both Creation and Termination schools gathered in one place was truly a rare occurrence;
The conference’s atmosphere had reached several climaxes before it even began.
This wasn’t the end.
Just as the immortals from both schools had settled on their respective island “viewing platforms,” another light laugh came from the sky.
A cloud of mist flew in from the horizon, arriving before the crowd in an instant. Within seemed to be a figure, and a trace of a mysterious and peaceful Dao rhythm slowly spread through heaven and earth.
Li Changshou raised an eyebrow—he was very familiar with this Dao rhythm!
Looking up, he saw a blurry figure leap out from the mist. Rather than saying the figure was shrouded in mist, it would be more accurate to say the mist had condensed into a form.
‘How many layers of pixelation did the Grand Scripture Master apply to himself…’
In the sky, Guangcheng Zi was the first to step forward, calling out:
“Even Elder Brother Xuandu has come, truly rare indeed!
The Creation School’s disciples pay respects to Great Senior Uncle!”
The Termination School side wasn’t to be outdone, with Duobao Daoren calling out: “Greetings to Elder Brother Xuandu, we Termination School disciples pay respects to Great Senior Uncle.”
At that moment, immortals of the Three Schools in the sky and sect members on the ground all bowed in salute.
And the pixela… ahem, Grand Scripture Master Xuandu, who had become the center of attention upon his entrance, laughed heartily at this time, continuously returning bows alone in the sky.
At this moment, the Grand Scripture Master became even more convinced of a certain belief.
—Get a little junior brother early to handle such occasions, being alone was truly too awkward.
By the lake, the originally “weak” six Human School sects, from leaders to disciples, were all incredibly excited.
And Li Changshou’s originally tense spirit finally relaxed by ten percent.
The Grand Scripture Master had also come; he would just watch the Grand Scripture Master’s eyes later and act accordingly, content to be an ordinary little disciple hiding in the crowd.
This truly was:
The Three Schools’ fortune at its peak,
Creation and Termination meet with a hidden edge.
Dao source from Kunlun’s Three Friends Court,
Law rises from Purple Void Palace beyond.
…
With three immortal islands floating in the sky and hundreds of Three Schools’ immortal sects gathered below, the Three Schools Origin Conference officially opened.
However, because there were so many heavyweight experts from the Three Schools, the originally planned process was disrupted.
—The five major sects hosting this event were now just running errands
Guangcheng Zi, First of the Creation School’s Twelve Golden Immortals, stepped forward first, naturally sitting on a cloud and beginning to narrate the origins of the Three Schools.
This time, he truly started from the opening of heaven and earth…
First speaking of how after Pangu opened heaven and earth, his primordial spirit transformed into three friends;
Then narrating how the three friends traveled together through the primordial realm, communicating with various primordial beings and intimately connecting with the Great Dao.
Then he spoke of when he, Guangcheng Zi, entered under the Primordial Heavenly Lord Sage’s tutelage, and the happy times spent in a small courtyard at the Dao’s holy land—Mount Kunlun.
After Guangcheng Zi finished speaking, Duobao Daoren also stepped forward, telling of the scoldings he had received from the Sage over those years, which was quite amusing.
Still remembering how they had once run innocently under the sunset…
This became the first spontaneously developed segment of the Three Schools Origin Conference—various Sage disciples “remembering bitterness and thinking of sweetness.”
The conference’s second segment was the previously prepared part where various sect leaders narrated their sects’ origins and explained their lineages.
For how Du Xian Sect Leader Wuyou Daoren spoke of how his master was Duyao Zhenren, how long he had followed his master in cultivation, and why he later established his sect.
With only six Dao lineages total, the Human School finished quickly.
But when the Creation and Termination schools’ sects spoke of their lineages and claimed their ancestral masters…
Some Three Schools’ old immortals on the islands secretly calculated with their fingers, quickly showing slight realization;
It turned out that in the distant past, they had once guided such Qi practitioners…
Li Changshou sat in an inconspicuous corner, looking up at the magnificent scene in the clouds, his heart also stirring with emotion.
How wonderful it would be if there were no great tribulations in the future.
Of course, this was just “peach talk,” as many things were predestined and beyond human power to change.
All things reach their peak and decline, all matters and methods follow this principle;
Heaven and earth do not allow beings to become too powerful, those who seek longevity must follow…
‘Wait!’
Li Changshou shouted internally, forcefully cutting off his insights, quietly absorbing the insights he already had and pressing them down in his heart.
He had come very close to losing control and having enlightenment, and this enlightenment would definitely have broken through a minor realm boundary!
Truly too dangerous…
With Ling’e’s precedent, Li Changshou naturally had to guard against this.
‘Don’t think randomly, don’t think too much…’
Li Changshou let out a breath and continued listening to the Three Schools’ sects speak of past events.
If the conference was just like this, Li Changshou also felt this gathering was quite meaningful, as the Three Schools’ sects would be very stable for a long time to come.
However, as Li Changshou expected, the ‘competition’ segment soon arrived, though in a way he hadn’t anticipated.
With so many Three Schools’ leaders present, and too many unascended disciples below, they couldn’t hold match after match…
Thus, Yunzhong Zi—the Creation School’s Fortune Golden Immortal, grand master of realm artifact refinement, and dubbed by later generations as the number one ‘fake goods’ producer of the primordial realm—stepped forward carrying a flower basket.
This old immortal took out a post-celestial spirit treasure [Small Realm Landscape Scroll], which contained a minor world filled with hundreds of ‘small treasures’ that Yunzhong Zi had casually refined.
Hundreds of Termination School immortals flew out and caught a group of fierce beasts and monster beasts to release into the scroll;
The five major host sects also set the rules: all young disciples present under two hundred years old could enter, and those who performed excellently today would receive rich rewards…
Shortly after, just standing up would cause one to be drawn into the [Small Realm Landscape Scroll].
Thus, the various immortal sect leaders and elders transmitted instructions to their disciples, and half of the disciples all stood up, being taken away by beams of light from the treasure scroll.
Li Changshou remained motionless, sitting there as steady as a mountain.
He just… didn’t want to embarrass the Du Xian Sect.
However, at this moment, a certain pixelated immortal in the clouds smiled slightly, inconspicuously flicking his finger.
Li Changshou’s heart generated another trace of understanding, condensing into a single word.
[Go]
Li Changshou immediately frowned, a hint of suspicion flashing through his mind, but he didn’t hesitate much, following the ‘Sage’s instruction’ and calling out to the little bear beside him. The two stood up together.
The Grand Scripture Master Xuandu on the clouds blinked, only now noticing the iron tower beside Li Changshou, and his expression became slightly strange.
A golden light flew over, drawing Li Changshou and Xiong Lingli into the treasure scroll;
Yunzhong Zi, the Creation School’s Fortune Golden Immortal controlling the Small Realm Landscape Scroll, also slightly furrowed his brow.
These two Human School little disciples, why were they… so heavy?