Mo Wenjie and his companions stood at a distance, gazing up at the towering and majestic Taohe Palace, which seemed to pierce the clouds. Their hearts could not help but overflow with a strong sense of awe and reflection.
The palace stood as a lofty mountain, proud and resolute amidst the universe, its grand and imposing figure commanding respect. Its vastness surpassed the imagination, as if it was built by countless master craftsmen who devoted their entire lives to its creation.
The palace's outer walls were painted in a vibrant vermilion red, under the bright sunshine, the color shone like blazing flames, emitting dazzling brilliance that was hard to bear. The roof was entirely covered with glistening tiles that exuded a resplendent glow. These tiles displayed a kaleidoscope of colors—some were emerald green like jade, others cerulean blue like gems, and still others golden like the sun at its zenith—creating an even more luxurious and imposing appearance through their interplay.
Mo Wenjie, along with Ding Qingyao, Huang Linger, Jiang Yurou, Xiao Yawn, Ding Yan, Tuo Yingying, Qin Xiaodie, Cao Chunling, and Jin Chao Xianzi standing together with Ling Xue and others stood in front of the majestic and imposing Taohe Palace. They couldn't help but feel an uncontrollable excitement in their hearts. This palace was vast and magnificent, gilded with gold and decorated with jade; it exuded a mysterious and solemn aura.
Everyone's eyes widened, captivated by the grandiose palace gates. Intricate carvings adorned the gates, bringing to life tales and legends of old. Two immense stone columns stood guard on either side of the entrance, etched with bizarre symbols and Daoist patterns that glowed faintly.
"This must be the residence of Tai Shang Laojun, one of the Three Pure Ones?" Mo Wenjie murmured, his voice filled with awe. Ding Qingyao beside him nodded lightly, her beautiful eyes sparkling with excitement, "That's right, this is a sacred place of Taoism, the abode of immortals in legends. To have the opportunity to come here is truly an honor for us."
Huang Linger couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Such magnificent architecture must certainly contain infinite secrets and treasures inside!" Her words echoed among the others, who began to speculate on the wonderful sights that might exist within the Taohe Palace.
Jiang Yurou smiled and said, "Perhaps we can also obtain guidance from Tai Shang Laojun here, propelling our cultivation path further." Xiao Yawn also spoke with expectation, "Indeed, if we have the good fortune to meet this Daoist sage, that would truly be a worthwhile journey."
Ding Yan, on the other hand, appeared more composed. She spoke softly, "However, we must maintain modesty and reverence, and not offend the sacred domain of the immortals." Tuo Ba Ying nodded repeatedly in agreement.
Qin Xiaodie blinked her big, bright eyes curiously and asked, "I wonder if there are any adorable immortal beasts or miraculous treasure charms in this Taohe Palace?" Cao Chunling smiled and patted her head: "It's possible, but we won't know until we're inside."
At this moment, the Golden Silk Fairy and Ling Xue quietly gazed at the Taohe Palace, their expressions solemn and reverent, as if sensing the profound Taoist essence within the palace. With feelings of both excitement and trepidation, everyone began to walk towards the Taohe Palace step by step...
The Golden Silk Fairy wore a flowing gold silk garment, her figure graceful and elegant. Ling Xue was clad in a simple white long dress, transcending worldly desires. The two stood side by side, their gaze penetrating the surrounding mist as they silently gazed at the Taohe Palace.
Shrouded in mist, the Taohe Palace appeared and disappeared, its walls emitting a mysterious glow. The glazed tiles reflected beams of auspiciousness, and the halls with flying eaves and soaring corners seemed to pierce through the clouds. The Golden Silk Fairy narrowed her eyes slightly and pursed her lips lightly. Her seriousness was becoming more pronounced. She could feel the ancient and powerful Daoist essence flowing within the palace, as if countless sages' wisdom were coursing through it.
Ling Xue's expression was solemn, her cold and serene face showing no emotion, save for a spark of intensity in her eyes. Her hair gently swayed in the breeze, as if resonating with the Taoist essence of the heavens and earth. In her perception, the Taoist essence within the Taohe Palace was like a boundless galaxy, deep and endless, each thread drawing her spirit in, allowing her to immerse herself in it.
The surrounding space was silent and still, with only the gentle swirling of mist. The two seemed to be integrated into this world, standing there like two statues that were alive yet full of vitality. Time seemed to have come to a halt, and they were fully immersed in the Daoist essence of the Taohe Palace, yearning for the secrets within it, hoping that through its purification, their cultivation level could be elevated and they could touch upon higher levels of immortal paths.
As the group approached the gates of the Taohe Palace, they gently swung open on their own. A warm golden light spilled out. Treading cautiously, they entered and found themselves in awe of the magnificent interior. Within the vast palace, spirit-laden jade scrolls floated everywhere, and walls were adorned with animated diagrams depicting various cultivation techniques.
Just as Mo Wenjie was about to touch a diagram on the wall, he was pushed away by a force. The Golden Silk Fairy and Ling Xue closed their eyes, and a faint glow enveloped them. They began to absorb the rich Taoist essence here. However, as they inhaled more and more essence, their bodies gradually became transparent. The crowd was terrified; at that moment, an ethereal voice spoke up: "This is a test. If you cannot withstand this pure Taoist essence and cannot be purified, you will be assimilated and dissipated."
The Golden Silk Fairy and Ling Xue gritted their teeth and endured, as if their souls were being refined by blazing fire. Finally, with a burst of intense light, their forms solidified once again, and their aura grew even more transcendent. It was clear that they had successfully broken through a realm. The others saw this and summoned the courage to accept the unusual test in hopes of gaining their own karmic destiny within the Taohe Palace.
Mo Wenjie took a deep breath and stepped forward, the first of the group. The Taoist essence surged towards him instantly, like a raging tide that almost submerged him. Mo Wenjie felt as if his soul was being pierced by thousands of needles, but he clenched his teeth and silently recited the mantras of his cultivation. Seeing Mo Wenjie's determination, Ding Qingyao did not want to be outdone and stepped into the essence as well.
As the group of people continued to participate in the test, the palace shone with intermittent bursts of light. Some bodies tottered and leaned, while others spat blood but continued to struggle.
Suddenly, the law texts on the walls began to move, gradually merging into a massive whirlpool. The ethereal voice rang out again: "Whoever enters this vortex will obtain a legendary cultivation technique." Without hesitation, the Golden Silk Fairy and Ling Xue exchanged glances and dashed toward the whirlpool.
Mo Wenjie shouted, "Wait for me," and followed them. Seeing this, everyone else didn't want to miss such a great opportunity and exerted their utmost effort to run toward the whirlpool. Once they plunged into the vortex, everything around them turned chaotic. Golden characters whizzed around them; catching and understanding these characters would be an unprecedented great blessing.
Mo Wenjie tried to grab those golden characters with his hand, but they were like agile fish that were hard to catch. Suddenly, he noticed that a particularly special character was slowly floating towards him. He concentrated, eliminating all distractions in his mind, and just as his fingers were about to touch the character, a powerful suction force came from under his feet. It turned out that the vortex had changed, and it was pulling them into a deeper layer of space to obtain more blessings. Mo Wenjie tightly grasped the character he had just grabbed and was dragged into the depths.
The group was also transported to a mysterious space where various sacred weapons and treasures were displayed. However, each treasure had its own restrictions. Mo Wenjie, utilizing the power of the character he had just mastered, easily broke the seal of one of the treasures. The others were inspired and began to search for ways to unlock them. Just as everyone was busy exploring, the environment suddenly changed. Shadows of demons and evil spirits appeared from the darkness. It turned out that this was also part of the test; only by defeating these demon shadows could they truly take away these treasures from this place. Mo Wenjie took the lead, followed closely by everyone else, engaging in fierce battles with the demon shadows. With their strength elevated by the Taoist essence they had absorbed earlier, they gradually took control and destroyed all the demon shadows one by one before joyfully selecting their treasures with great satisfaction.
Just then, a thunderous roar burst forth, like a rolling thunder: "You scoundrels who know not your place, daring to intrude upon the Taohe Palace without permission! Do you not know that this will anger the master of the Taohe Palace?" The voice seemed to carry an endless aura of authority, shaking everyone in the room so fiercely that their eardrums hurt.
Then, another cold and stern reprimand echoed: "Humph! This is a sacred place for immortals, and every item within is a precious treasure. How dare you, common mortals, covet it? If you have any sense, leave at once and don't linger for a moment more. Otherwise, if you dare to defy me, I'll make sure you never return!" The speaker's tone was icy cold, leaving everyone feeling chilled.
At this moment, Mo Wenjie, along with Ding Qingyao, Huang Ling'er, Jiang Yuruo, Xiao Yawen, Ding Yan, Tuoba Yingying, Qin Xiaodie, Cao Chunling, and the Golden Silk Fairy and Ling Xue among them, turned their gazes towards the direction from which the voice came. The group had different expressions. Some showed curiosity and wanted to explore the source of the mysterious voice; others furrowed their brows and speculated what might happen; some appeared calm and composed as if they were used to such situations. Standing at the forefront of Mo Wenjie tightened his eyes slightly and shot a piercing gaze like lightning straight at that direction trying to see through the thick mist to identify the true form of the speaker.
Looking at the speaker, Mo Wenjie realized it was Tie Guai Li, one of the five disciples of Tai Shang Laojun.
It may be hard to believe that Tai Shang Laojun has five disciples. Tai Shang Laojun is recognized as the founding patriarch of Taoism, and the Supreme Ultimate Taoist Ancestor who is responsible for creating the heavens and saving humanity. Under his tutelage, there are a total of five disciples, including direct disciples, outer disciples, and named disciples. Among them, one has become a sainthood. Let's learn more about them together.
·Direct disciple Xuan Duo Da Faoshi, also known as Miaole Tianzun, possesses extremely high talent and comprehension. His cultivation of Dao and morality is not inferior to the twelve golden immortals of the Xuanjiao School. He practices Daoism and countless techniques perfectly, and has treasures such as Bao Bagua and Zi Jin Luo. His attainment of Daoism is even directly transmitted by Laojun, his mastery of Dao is immeasurable. It is said that he has already reached the realm of sainthood. The outer disciple Dùò Zénren cultivates in Jiè Dǐng Tiechà Mountain and Bā Bǎo Yún Guāng Cave.
·He has profound Daoist knowledge and is indifferent to fame and fortune. He possesses the immortal treasure Ding Feng Zhen (Stabilizing Wind Pearl). His disciples include Chen Tangguan, General Li Jing, and General Zheng Long of Ji Province. His named disciple is Zhang Daoling, also known as Zhang Tianshi, who is considered the first among the Four Great Masters of Taoism.
·The founder of Daoism is also the founder of the Zhengyi sect and the Five Pecks of Mung Bean Dao. During his conquest of the Six Great Demons, Tai Shang Laojun decreed to impart him Zhi Yi Meng Wei Fu Lu San Wu Zhua Xie, Cuo Xiong Jian, Yang Ping Zhi Du Gong Yi. His disciple is Tie Guai Li, also known as Li Tie Guai, the first among the Eight Immortals of Tian Court. He was already a prodigy at a young age. By chance, he encountered Tai Shang Laojun and received enlightenment from him. He bowed to him as his master and was gifted with a staff made from a peach tree as an immortal treasure.
·Named disciple Yin Xi, also known as the Long eyebrows Immortal. When Laojun was leaving Hangu Pass to the west, Yin Xi pleaded with him to leave behind his teachings. Unable to refuse, Laojun passed on a copy of the Tao Te Ching to him, along with some methods of cultivation and a nine-turn gold elixir, which enabled Yin Xi to quickly attain enlightenment and become an immortal.
