The Primordial Era: Starting from Being Forced to Become an Apprentice of the Three Pure Ones

"He actually... he actually managed to refine it? That piece of junk stone..."

"It's possible to refine a world-class spiritual treasure? Father, am I hallucinating?"

Gui Ke stared in disbelief at the longsword that Tai Bai had forged.

The ghost carriage beside him remained silent, then with a flick of its sleeve, it vanished into the depths of the clouds, leaving behind a look of astonishment.

Below, the creatures of Wuyi Mountain who had gathered around were already dazzled and amazed, marveling at the sight.

Most of them were still in the early stages of transformation, and had never even seen ordinary immortal artifacts, let alone acquired spiritual treasures.

Seeing Taibai create a post-natal spiritual treasure out of thin air, he was naturally amazed.

Looking at the group of excited creatures, Taibai couldn't help but find it amusing:

"A mere post-heavenly grade item is worthy of such astonishment... If he saw the innate treasures in Master's palace, wouldn't he be speechless?"

Taibai rose, sword in hand, and slowly walked toward all living beings.

When Xiao Hei saw him approaching, his heart warmed. He thought to himself that this treasure should rightfully belong to him, and he straightened his back, his face showing anticipation.

However, Taibai seemed not to see him at all, and walked straight past, stopping in front of Qingmu.

"Aoki, this sword is the Sword of Destruction, a top-grade spiritual treasure of the later world."

"I bestow this upon you today; the peace of this mountain from now on is entirely entrusted to you."

Aoki froze, astonishment welling up in his eyes, but it quickly turned into a heavy tremor.

He bowed deeply, raised his hands high, and solemnly accepted the longsword, his voice slightly hoarse:

"Aoki obeys... He will not fail in his duty, Master, and will live and die with Wuyi Mountain!"

Taibai nodded and said to Qingmu and Xiaohei:

"You two should come with me eastward to seek a stroke of good fortune, and then return home."

The rest of you shall remain and diligently cultivate your spiritual practice, refraining from any killing. Those who disobey will be cast into the netherworld, their souls consumed by karmic fire!

After saying this last sentence, Taibai, without waiting for anyone's response, flew away from Wuyi Mountain with Xiaohei and Qingmu.

However, Xiao Hei kept its head down and remained silent the whole way.

Several hours later, Xiao Hei finally couldn't help but come to Tai Bai's side, his voice filled with an indescribable grievance:

"Master, look at me, I've been following you for so long, and I don't even have a decent magic weapon, let alone a magical treasure. What do you say...?"

"Oh? Where did that aloof, taciturn guy who vowed never to be a mount go when we first met? How come he's so talkative now?"

Xiao Hei felt his ears burning from what he said and was about to argue when he saw Tai Bai's expression suddenly change.

"Master, what's wrong?"

However, Taibai seemed not to hear Xiaohei's question, his gaze fixed on the mountains shrouded in clouds below.

"There's something there, let's go."

Below, in a dense forest of ancient trees, a strange, reflective light flickers erratically in the shadows.

Taibai's divine sense swept over it, and his heart stirred slightly. In his view, the thing faintly exuded spiritual energy and was definitely not an ordinary object.

He immediately activated his escape technique and landed directly under an ancient tree in the forest below.

Taibai bent down and picked something up from among the fallen leaves and soil.

The object was covered in thick dust, its shape resembling the bottom of a broken bottle, dull and lifeless, and didn't look like any kind of magical treasure at all.

Only at the very center, buried in dust, a faint, soft light shines through.

Little Black huddled close to Tai Bai, craning its neck to examine the dusty object, still muttering to itself:

"Master, what's so special about a shabby foundation? Your prowess when you were refining treasures is still fresh in my mind. Why don't you go again..."

Aoki listened to Kuro's incessant chatter, speechless, and rubbed his forehead, unable to bear listening any longer.

Taibai, however, remained focused and ignored Xiaohei's words.

He then channeled his magical power, and the power of the five elements appeared from his palm, transforming into five-colored clear streams that surrounded the object, washing away the dust layer by layer.

"The speed is a bit slow, let's try using the Five Elements Law!"

Thinking of this, Taibai suddenly activated his own Five Elements Laws and gently released them onto the object.

In an instant, a faint light appeared, and a pure and immortal innate spiritual light shone from within.

Before Xiao Hei could even speak, his words were cut short. He stared wide-eyed at the broken thing in his mouth, unable to utter the words "broken bottom" any longer.

Taibai also sensed the extraordinary nature of this object, and immediately ordered Xiaohei and Qingmu to go and keep watch.

"Aoki, Kokoro, go and keep watch around the area. Don't let any living creatures get close. If anything happens, report back immediately."

"Receive the imperial decree."

"Yes."

The two responded and went to investigate their surroundings, releasing their divine senses.

Taibai continued to concentrate, increasing the output of the Five Elements magic power to continuously cleanse the ancient artifact.

This whole process is a slow and meticulous process.

Using the Five Elements Daoist principles as a guide, it took Taibai ten years to awaken about one-tenth of its innate, indestructible spiritual light.

The base gradually revealed its true form, and the pale purple patterns on the vessel gradually appeared.

The patterns were strange, winding and flowing, exuding an aura that could devour one's mind, making one feel awe upon looking at them.

"By stimulating only 30% of the undying spiritual light, one can glimpse 10% of the Devouring Law."

If all of them were activated, the laws contained within might reach half of them…

Thinking of this, Taibai stopped what he was doing.

He wasn't exhausted, but rather because the grade of this treasure was a mystery. If he were to activate it with all his might and cause an uncontrollable disturbance, its aura soaring to the heavens, attracting a powerful being far beyond his ability to cope, then he would be courting death.

Moreover, he concluded that this object was not the main opportunity he had sensed earlier.

With a slight thought, Taibai summoned a twelve-petaled Pure White Lotus that slowly rose from the top of his head, its petals unfurling and its clear light flowing.

He then placed the fragment of the spiritual treasure on the lotus pod, using the aura of the Pure White Lotus to conceal it.

However, just as Taibai had settled the object and felt somewhat at ease, preparing to call back Qingmu and Xiaohei to continue their journey eastward in search of opportunities.

The trees in the distance suddenly shook violently, and a slightly staggering figure rushed over—it was Aoki.

But at this moment, he was no longer as calm as before, and he was also injured.

He staggered to Taibai's side, and before he could even catch his breath, he cried out:

"Master, Little Black has been captured by the Witch Clan!"

Upon hearing Qingmu's words, Taibai tilted his head, a sense of absurd doubt rising in his mind.

Xiao Hei is a Golden Immortal, and even if he is no match for the enemy, it is impossible for him to be kidnapped silently unless the one who did it is a Great Witch.

However, if it was truly the Great Shaman who took action, how could Aoki have had the chance to escape and send a message?

"What happened? Tell me in detail, how could someone with the cultivation of a Golden Immortal be captured so easily without me noticing at all?"

"Master! Xiao Hei and I split up to patrol, and when we reached a secluded valley, we were trapped by a witch clan's trap."

If it weren't for Xiao Hei's desperate protection, I would never have been able to escape and deliver the message!

Master, hurry and save Xiao Hei, or he might...!"

As Taibai listened to Qingmu's narration, he began to ponder:

The formation capable of trapping a Golden Immortal is no ordinary method of the witch clan; it must be a witch formation set up by a great witch.

The other party didn't kill him on the spot, but instead deliberately let Aoki return to report. Either they let him return intentionally, or...