Chapter 1: Taishang Xuanwei!

“Waaah!” 

“Charge, charge, charge! Charge ahead!” 

From the mountain came youthful and delighted shouts. The little medicinal spirit sat atop the back of the little peacock Qi Yuntun, whose tail feathers had already turned golden, allowing the peacock to run all over the mountain. The young Daoist, his temples streaked with white, sat upon a bluestone and casually flipped through records borrowed from the Mingzhen Dao Alliance, his expression calm. 

The little peacock’s feathers shimmered as it happily played with the little medicinal spirit. With a flap of its wings, strands of flame unexpectedly appeared. The flowing flames caused the surrounding air to rise. Spreading its wings wide, it actually glided through the air for a distance of three or four zhang. 

Then the two little fellows were both stunned. 

“It, it flew!” 

“Yay!” 

“It really flew!” 

The little peacock and the little medicinal spirit hugged each other, their eyes shining brightly. 

To them, this was an extraordinarily joyous and remarkable achievement! 

Although in truth it merely used the lifting force of the flames to maneuver, leaping from a higher place and gliding for a short distance. Even martial artists of the mortal world who tempered their bodies and cultivated Primordial Qi through breathing exercises could accomplish such a feat. For a bird, it was even less than satisfactory. Yet this did not prevent the two little fellows from being delighted. 

The young Daoist ceased refining Qi. 

His progress remained difficult. 

At the stage of Refining Qi, there were actually two objectives. 

The first was to prepare for the next major realm, [Merging Two into One]. Upon reaching great completion in Refining Qi and breaking through this pass, one could be called a True Person. 

Cultivating further, seeking the gathering of the Three Flowers at the Crown, one would reach the realm of the Human Immortal. 

In even more ancient traditions, such as the standards used by the Fierce Tiger Mountain Lord, it was only at the Human Immortal stage that one was called a True Person. 

For only when those three became one could the word true truly be applied. 

The second objective was to prepare for the realm of [Five Qi Converging to the Origin]. 

Once the Dao was accomplished, there would be no regrets. The opportunity to temper the Innate One Qi existed only during this stage. If one could not refine the Qi within one’s chest into Pure Yang and completely eliminate its yin qualities, then in the future it would be impossible to achieve Five Qi Converging to the Origin. 

Many who sought quick success and immediate gains would consume pills and medicinal substances during this stage, rapidly cultivating by using external means to strengthen the Primordial Qi within themselves. They would then forcibly break through the barrier and enter the next level of Daoist cultivation—the stage of [Transforming Spirit]. 

It turned out that the realm of Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown, the realm of the Human Immortal, was the utmost limit he could reach on his own. 

It granted three thousand years of carefree freedom, yet there would ultimately still come a day of decline and old age. 

When Qi Wuhuo struck that sword, his foundation had been severely damaged. The Five Viscera corresponded to the Five Qi, and now they could not even operate smoothly, let alone the four great crucial stages of [Gathering], [Refining], [Sealing], and [Stilling]. Advancing from Three Talents Complete into the realm of the Innate One Qi was already exceedingly difficult, and the Innate One Qi stage itself was an extremely complex realm. This was precisely what trapped countless Daoist geniuses, leaving them confined to the level of a Daozhang for their entire lives. 

Never fated to earn the title of True Person. 

“I can only wait until the remaining matters of the Exorcism Institute are settled and the merit rewards are distributed, then look for that volume, the [Primordial Ancestral Qi], and see whether it can restore my foundation…” The young Daoist closed the scroll. There was no regret in him. His eyes remained calm. Of course, although his state of mind was peaceful, that did not mean he was free of all desires. 

Toward the Primordial Ancestral Qi, which legend said had been passed down directly from the Dao Ancestor, the Great Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi, he possessed the natural curiosity of a Daoist disciple. 

What Daoist disciple could possibly not be interested in such a thing? 

That was the true transmission of the Great Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi! 

He lifted his head and glanced at the time. 

“It is time to go…” 

The little peacock gradually slowed its movements, while the joyful expression on the little medicinal spirit’s face slowly turned into confusion. It patted the little peacock and babbled, “Yiya, yiya,” but the peacock no longer moved. Filled with curiosity, it looked toward Qi Wuhuo. 

From the hidden pocket within the sleeve of his Daoist robe, the young Daoist took out a sesame cake and handed it to the medicinal spirit, saying gently: 

“We are leaving.” 

The medicinal spirit happily hugged the sesame cake. Hearing this, it tilted its head in confusion. “Yi yi?” 

“It means I won’t be able to play with you anymore.” 

“Yiii!!!” 

The little medicinal spirit immediately became anxious. Thinking it had been disliked because it was too greedy, it hurriedly stuffed the sesame cake back into Qi Wuhuo’s hand and repeatedly shook its head, signaling for him to take it away. It did not want it anymore. 

When it saw that the young Daoist still had not changed his mind about leaving, it suddenly burrowed into the ground. A moment later, it emerged again in great haste carrying many things. 

Sitting on the ground with a somewhat worn pouch in its arms, it reached inside and rummaged around, pulling out a round stone. Raising it with both hands, it excitedly gestured toward Qi Wuhuo with a stream of “yiya yiya,” as though offering it to him. 

Seeming to feel that this was still not enough, it took out several more items: flowers that had already withered and dried, some fruits, an exceptionally well-preserved feather, and a piece of amber. 

They were all the little medicinal spirit’s most treasured possessions. 

After thinking for a moment, it dragged all those things over and placed them beside the young Daoist. Tears welled up in its eyes as it tugged at his Daoist robe. 

The little peacock turned its head and looked at Qi Wuhuo. 

The young Daoist crouched down and extended a hand, allowing the tearful little medicinal spirit to climb onto it. 

After a moment’s thought, he said: “How about coming with us?” 

The little medicinal spirit hesitated. It turned its head to look at the place where it had lived for several hundred years, then glanced at the little peacock. 

Finally, gritting its teeth, it burrowed into the ground. 

A long time passed, and it still did not return. 

The young Daoist rose to his feet and looked at the little peacock. “It is time to leave.” 

The little peacock looked deeply regretful. Through their Innate Spirit connection, it asked: “Ah Qi, Ah Qi, where are we going?” 

“To find someone first, and then return to Helian Mountain.” 

“Helian Mountain—is that where you were born, Ah Qi?” 

“No…” 

“The place where I was born is much farther away.” 

The young Daoist answered as he stood up. Lifting the sword case onto his back, he set off. 

The little peacock fluttered up and landed upon his shoulder. It had already grown somewhat. Yet the feathers covering its body were no longer the blue-violet plumage of a peacock, but entirely brilliant golden-red feathers, radiant as gold and blazing like fire, without appearing bulky in the slightest. 

Perhaps because it had gestated for more than three hundred years, although Qi Yuntun had been born for little more than a month, it already possessed a measure of elegant and handsome bearing. At least outwardly, it looked refined enough to fool most people. 

After they had walked only a few steps, the young Daoist’s Innate Spirit suddenly caught the sound of babbling cries coming from behind. 

He paused slightly. 

The little peacock’s face immediately filled with delight. It abruptly sprang into the air. 

Qi Wuhuo turned around and saw the little medicinal spirit running toward them with a medicinal basket strapped to its back. Within the basket floated a mass of clear jade-green qi. 

Any Heaven-and-Earth spiritual root was not truly bound to a single location. The little medicinal spirit had directly transformed its true body into a mass of pure qi and packed it into the basket before carrying it over. 

The little peacock was overjoyed. 

It leapt directly from Qi Wuhuo’s shoulder, spreading its wings wide. 

Its blazing, fire-like feathers left a trail of brilliant light across the air, and then, with a beat of its wings, it actually flew. 

The little peacock circled around the little medicinal spirit, dancing through the air. Its tail feathers blazed brilliantly, as though molten gold from the great sun itself, graceful beyond compare, yet carrying an indescribable nobility and majesty. 

Of course, Qi Yuntun’s cry was still just as unpleasant as ever. 

After all, it had not yet refined the transverse bone in its throat and was completely incapable of speaking human language. 

The little medicinal spirit was delighted beyond measure. Spreading its arms, it hopped about excitedly. 

Then it hugged one of the little peacock’s legs. 

With a flap of its wings, the little peacock carried the medicinal spirit up into the air and landed together on Qi Wuhuo’s shoulder. 

The little medicinal spirit sat on one side of the young Daoist’s shoulder and set down the little medicinal basket on its back. Then it stretched out a hand and wiped the sweat from its forehead, its bright eyes sparkling as it gazed into the distance. 

The Daoist’s temples were already white. 

A sword case rested upon his back. 

A spiritual bird danced beside him, leaving behind faint trails of blazing golden radiance. 

“Ah Qi, Ah Qi, who are we going to find?!” 

The young Daoist replied: “We are going to find… a senior sister.” 

“Senior Sister Yumiao.” 

---

Meanwhile, in the Heavenly Realm, beyond the Thirty-Six Heavens of the Celestial Court— 

Stood the Purple Mansion Xuandu Temple. 

The Grandmaster Xuandu was refining pills. 

This time, it was no longer like the first occasion, when a Dharma Treasure had refined pills on its own. 

Nor was it a case of him merely watching from the side while two young attendants tended the furnace fire. 

This time, he was personally seated before the pill furnace. 

Personally lighting the fire. 

Personally controlling the incantation seals. 

Personally refining the pills! 

Two furnaces! 

Two consecutive furnaces of pills had exploded! 

The dignified first disciple of the Taishang Great Heavenly Venerable! The Daoist Sect’s Miaole Heavenly Venerable, the Great Emperor of Spiritual Insight! 

He had blown up two furnaces of pills in a row. And these were the very pills that the current Laojun had specifically designated as being required by the Jade Emperor! 

If word of this got out, it would be utterly humiliating. 

There was an old saying in the mortal world: things do not happen more than three times. 

This third furnace absolutely, absolutely could not explode again. 

Otherwise, this poor Daoist would have to rename himself the Supreme True Lord of Exploding Furnaces, the Great Emperor Miaole, Destroyer of Pills. 

Grandmaster Xuandu ground his teeth. Focusing with complete concentration. 

Even a lazy fellow like him had become serious for once. 

Even when a major incident had erupted in the Heavenly Court a few days earlier, he had not budged. 

What? The Eastern Radiance Emperor had run into trouble? 

Ha? What did that have to do with him? 

This poor Daoist was not even in the Heavenly Court. He had no need for an immortal registry in the first place, and he had never gotten along with Eastern Radiance. 

Eastern Radiance claimed that among all the countless flames under heaven, only the Great Sun True Fire deserved to be called number one. 

The Grandmaster Xuandu had nearly laughed himself silly. 

The Great Sun True Fire was merely exceptionally violent and fierce. It obscured true spirits and destroyed one’s Three Flowers. 

Could it possibly surpass the Samadhi True Fire? 

And though it was blazing and domineering, yet how could it compare to the Six Ding Divine Fire of my Taishang lineage, which could be controlled as easily as one’s own limbs? 

Sooner or later, he would march into that Great Sun Forest of theirs and capture a few Golden Crows to refine! 

Then there was another matter. 

Among the immortals of Heaven, among those various Marshals and immortal officials, the hottest topic being discussed in private was that the organization known as the Central Heaven Northern Pole, a group feared by mortals, dreaded by gods, and so terrifying that even ghosts felt as though they had seen a ghost when encountering them, had produced yet another monstrously outstanding freak. 

His name was Dangmo, and in his very first public battle, he had gone and “suppressed” Eastern Radiance. 

Then came yet another sensational report: 

One of the Eleven Luminaries, the Fire Luminary, which had slumbered for several thousand years, had awakened. 

And the very first thing it did upon awakening was charge straight into the Solar Palace. 

The Eleven Luminaries had already lost the Four Hidden Luminaries, and now the Great Sun had fallen. Yet this Fire Luminary had immediately started causing trouble as well. 

The Dipper Department had been thrown into complete chaos, and even the Fire Department, one of the Four Upper Departments, was feeling a headache coming on. 

The Fire Department already had someone in charge. 

Yet judging by the current situation, could it be that the Fire Virtue True Lord was about to return? 

Within the Fire Department, the Fire Virtue Star Lord possessed an almost innate authority and rank that naturally suppressed all others. 

As for these matters and the enthusiastic discussions among the immortals, the Grandmaster Xuandu merely sneered. 

“What does it have to do with you?” 

“And what does it have to do with me?” 

The only thing that truly mattered today was this furnace of pills. If it exploded again, he would have no face left with which to meet his teacher. 

He had handed every other matter over to the attendant boys. 

One of them was stationed outside to receive visitors, telling everyone that the Grandmaster was busy and had no free time. 

The other was patrolling throughout the entire Purple Mansion Xuandu Temple, making rounds everywhere to ensure that nothing went wrong. 

At this moment, the Grandmaster Xuandu had already reached the final and most critical stage of pill refinement. 

Then suddenly, a miserable scream rang out: 

“Grandmaster!” 

“Grandmaster!!!” 

The attendant boy, dressed in blue robes and wearing a golden rope at his waist, ran out in panic from the direction of the jade wall. 

“Disaster!!!” 

The Grandmaster opened his eyes, the corner of his mouth twitching. “Speak.” 

The attendant froze for a moment before realizing what his Grandmaster meant and hurriedly replied: “It’s the name on the jade wall. S-something happened again…” 

Grandmaster Xuandu took a deep breath. “Xuanwei again?” 

How could this little fellow have so many damned incidents surrounding him! 

At this rate, he might as well learn from Martial Uncle Yuqing. 

Tie the brat up and throw him into Xuandu Temple, lecture him day and night, and make him cultivate for a thousand years first. If he didn’t reach the Earth Immortal realm, he wouldn’t be allowed to leave the mountain! 

The attendant hesitated. He first nodded, then shook his head. 

Grandmaster Xuandu frowned. “You’re nodding and shaking your head. So is it or isn’t it?” 

The attendant opened his mouth. With a reverent expression, he answered: “It is Martial Uncle, but… it isn’t Xuanwei anymore.” 

“Not Xuanwei?” 

Grandmaster Xuandu’s expression changed abruptly. He rose to his feet and vanished instantly. 

In the blink of an eye, he had arrived before the jade wall. 

There, before the two characters “Xuanwei”, the two characters “Taishang” had already appeared, clear and unmistakable. Behind Xuandu, the attendant hurried over, and Xuandu turned around and demanded: “What happened?!” 

The attendant immediately answered: “This disciple… this disciple comes here once every ten days to inspect the place.” 

“The first time was, was before the Eastern Radiance Emperor’s accident, when it was said that the grand formation in the mortal world had changed. A vast sword qi seemed to soar into the heavens from the Central Plains, even impacting the Ox and the Dipper Constellations. On that day, this disciple thought Martial Uncle’s Dao title seemed to be changing slightly, although it wasn’t yet clear.” 

“Then the second time, after the Eastern Radiance Emperor was slain, the changes in the Dao title became somewhat clearer.” 

“Yesterday, the Fire Luminary charged into the Great Sun. This disciple secretly went to take a look, so I didn’t come to inspect the jade wall.” 

“When this disciple came to look again today, it… it had already become like this.” 

Grandmaster Xuandu stared fixedly at the jade wall. Looking at the Dao title [Taishang Xuanwei], a guess had already formed in his heart. 

After making a brief divination, he immediately understood the cause. 

The expression on his face became incomparably complicated. With a long sigh, he said: “These three events were all connected to Xuanwei…” 

“Because, while still at the stage of Innate One Qi, he completed three great tribulations, and his conduct also accords with the ways of the Taishang lineage.” 

“He has not lost his original heart, nor fallen from the path of the Dao.” 

“Thus, he has been granted the name Taishang ahead of time.” 

“From the very first kalpa until now, across five immeasurable kalpas, he is the first.” 

The attendant said: “Master, y-your pill…” 

Grandmaster Xuandu replied indifferently: “It is of no consequence.” 

In an instant, he was already seated once more before the pill furnace, while his control over the divine fire remained calm and steady; although the pill being refined was intended for the Jade Emperor’s use, he was still neither hurried nor impatient. The mortal world spoke of pill refinement requiring long years, but in truth, that was merely because the flames were insufficient. The Six Ding Divine Fire was the direct transmission of the Taishang lineage, capable of melting all things and reconstructing them anew, a peerless wonder beneath Heaven. 

Yet because of this, if one was not careful, exploding a furnace was hardly an uncommon occurrence. 

Just as he was calmly completing the final stages of pill refinement, another voice suddenly rang out, and the other attendant came running over at top speed, shouting: “Grandmaster! Grandmaster!” 

“Disaster!” 

The corner of Grandmaster Xuandu’s eye twitched. “Speak.” 

The attendant immediately bowed and said: “Grandmaster, t-there is a guest…” 

“Tell him I’m not here!” 

The attendant opened his mouth, not knowing how to answer. Xuandu raised his eyes and said: “What—” 

The restriction on the main gate had already been opened, and a chilling aura of killing intent and bloodshed naturally flowed inward. Xuandu raised his gaze and saw the visitor. It was a man who appeared broad-minded and gentle, dressed in battle robes, with divine radiance filling his brow. 

“Yuzhen…” 

“Xuandu, it has been a long time.” 

The newcomer was none other than Yuqing’s first disciple, Yuzhen Shouyuan True Lord, the foremost among the sages of the Northern Pole Exorcism Institute, the Great True Lord Tianpeng. 

“Yuzhen, what have you come to see me for?” 

Grandmaster Xuandu controlled the pill furnace and dismissed the attendant. The first disciple of Taishang and the first disciple of Yuqing sat facing one another, both with calm expressions. 

Tianpeng, or rather Yuzhen Shouyuan True Lord, took a sip of tea and said lightly: “I’ve come to ask Senior Brother for someone.” 

Grandmaster Xuandu remained as unruffled as drifting clouds and gentle wind, saying calmly: “Who?”

Yuzhen Shouyuan True Lord smiled slightly. Upon that broad and honest face was nevertheless a bearing as refined as jade. His expression remained gentle as he casually replied: 

“Xuanwei.” 

“???” 

Silence. 

Outside, the attendant heard Grandmaster Xuandu’s voice suddenly rise by eight whole levels. 

“WHO?!!!” 

Then came a thunderous boom. 

Grandmaster Xuandu’s third furnace of pills— 

exploded.