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

"I intend to return to Phoenix Perch Mountain to cultivate in seclusion and comprehend the Dao. This seal contains a wisp of my magical power, which I can show to the cultivators of the Demon Court. I believe none will dare to violate it lightly."

Nuwa left behind a mark of her magical power, gave her instructions, and then transformed into a beam of light, heading straight for Phoenix Perch Mountain without lingering.

Taibai knew that her seclusion this time was no small matter, and must be because the Dao of "Creation" had touched upon the secrets of heaven.

"It seems... that word about 'creation' just now touched my master's heart. This time, he is probably going into seclusion to comprehend that supreme opportunity."

Nuwa created humans, which will happen 300,000 years from now... Hmm, there's still time, so there's no rush.

Taibai incorporated the mark bestowed upon him by Nuwa into his primordial spirit for nourishment, and without further delay, he rode his escape light toward Penglai.

Although Penglai had already been ravaged, its spiritual veins damaged, and all its celestial treasures lost.

But Taibai still harbored a sliver of hope: such a blessed land of immortals might be hiding some undiscovered secret realm.

Penglai is located deep in the East Sea. With Taibai's current cultivation level of a Golden Immortal and the tempering of the Five Elements Origin, his escape speed is extremely fast.

However, after several hours, the outline of the fairy island slowly emerged from the sea and sky mist.

However, the once boundless spiritual energy and radiant glow have long since dissipated, and the innate cloud and mist array that once enveloped the immortal island is now in ruins, leaving only a few wisps of thin spiritual mist that weakly entwine the island's mountains.

The celestial palace and jade towers have collapsed and crumbled, leaving only broken walls and ruins.

Despite the passage of time, the island's vegetation has recovered, attracting many naive creatures.

But this vitality is ultimately just the vitality of ordinary plants and trees, and common spirits.

Without external intervention, it would be difficult for this island to regain its former glory even in a million years.

Upon arriving in Penglai, Taibai immediately spread his divine senses, meticulously examining every inch of the land.

Three hours later, he withdrew his divine sense, his expression calm. There was nothing of value left in the place.

"Back then, the Demon Court really did a thorough search."

He muttered to himself and continued toward the center of the island.

The ruins along the way became increasingly devastating.

After confirming that there were no more opportunities to be found on Penglai Island, Taibai sighed inwardly and was about to ride his escape light to try his luck on two other islands.

From the depths of the celestial ruins below, which had been silent for countless millennia, a surge of immense energy suddenly emanated.

Immediately, the mountain of broken walls, charred wood, and shattered jade was violently lifted up and exploded in all directions.

Amidst the swirling dust, a figure dressed in worn blue robes slowly emerged from the darkest depths of the ruins, from a gloomy underground cavern.

His face was covered in dust and he looked emaciated, making him quite "ugly." However, his deep-set eyes seemed to hold the glint of cold stars that pierced straight to the heart.

"There are still people here?! Oh no!"

Taibai scanned the other party's body with his divine sense and felt that his aura was deep and obscure, and difficult to fathom.

Without even thinking, the Nine Revolutions Profound Technique and the Five Elements Magic Power within his body surged into operation, and in an instant, he had retreated a hundred feet.

When the blue-robed cultivator's gaze fell upon Taibai, the oppressive aura around him suddenly subsided, and not a trace of malice was revealed between his brows.

However, Taibai's vigilance did not subside; on the contrary, he became even more wary because of the other party's ability to control his power.

"Young friend, there is no need to be alarmed or on guard. In truth, I still owe you a debt of karma."

"Do you owe me karma?"

Li Bai asked himself, and there was absolutely no recollection of this person in his memory.

Judging from his demeanor and the place where he appeared, he was definitely not an ordinary rogue cultivator. He was most likely to have a very deep connection with this destroyed Immortal Court.

"This junior dares not presume to presume. But forgive my poor eyesight, for I do not know which old friend of yours in the Celestial Court?"

The monk in blue robes remained silent for a moment, then uttered a number:

"My name is Donghua. I am the wisp of benevolent corpse that my fellow Daoist Dongwanggong severed in the past."

Taibai instantly understood the cause and effect. It turned out that the Eastern King Duke had actually taken some of his warning to heart.

He probably began preparations after returning to the Celestial Court.

This also explains why Dongwanggong did not explode his own three corpses when he later self-destructed.

Because he had already removed and hidden the benevolent corpse beforehand.

Penglai was the longest-established stronghold of the Eastern King Duke, possessing the deepest foundation of earth veins and restrictions.

He hid the benevolent corpse Donghua deep within this place, supplementing it with multiple layers of concealment and protection arrays. In that earth-shattering explosion and chaotic battle, who could have imagined that such a being was sleeping deep within that desolate ruin?

By a twist of fate, Taibai's visit to Penglai Island coincided with the crucial moment when Donghua was reviving from his long slumber.

"Now that you have been given a new lease on life, what are your plans for the future?"

"Before his main body self-destructed, he made a clear indication that he had glimpsed a glimmer of hope for reincarnation."

Therefore, my mission is to follow this inspiration and protect my reincarnated body as it returns to the path of cultivation.

As for Donghua, Taibai had no intention of winning him over whatsoever.

He knew that the future reincarnation of the Eastern King Duke would be Lü Dongbin.

Lü Dongbin was destined to become a disciple of the Humanist sect and a nominal disciple of the Supreme Sage.

This is the predetermined course of Heaven, an inevitable trend.

As he deduced, Donghua sought the reincarnation of the Eastern King Duke, and no matter how many twists and turns he took, he would eventually return to the Human Sect by chance.

Therefore, there is really no need to put in too much effort to win them over at the moment. Observing the situation and letting nature take its course is the best strategy.

"Thank you for your kind words, young friend. Consider this item as repayment for your wise words from years ago, and as a way to settle a karmic debt."

Donghua spoke calmly, and with a flick of his finger, a small apricot-yellow flag transformed into a stream of light, flying slowly and steadily toward Taibai.

Taibai instinctively reached out and took it.

The small flag felt slightly heavy in his hand, its texture neither silk nor cloth, yet warm and smooth like jade. The essence of the Earth element and the innate, indestructible spiritual light contained within it allowed him to instantly recognize its identity: the Wuji Apricot Yellow Flag.

Taibai suddenly realized that it was no wonder even sages could not deduce the remaining traces; such concealment methods were indeed beyond the detection of even sages.

He carefully put away the apricot-yellow flag, suppressed his thoughts about the "butterfly effect" and the whereabouts of the other two flags, and bowed to Donghua to express his gratitude.

"If you still wish to seek opportunities, you may go to Fangzhang Island ahead. However, there are already traces of demons there, so please be careful."

When Taibai regained his footing and looked up again, Donghua had already vanished without a trace.

Taibai composed himself, then, without lingering, his body shimmering with clear light, he sped off toward Fangzhang Island, the direction Donghua had indicated.

This time he deliberately sped up, and in no time he had flown between the islands of Penglai and Fangzhang.

He did not rush in rashly, but instead used his divine sense to scan the seemingly calm outline of the islands ahead.

He then activated his concealment technique, completely suppressing the fluctuations of his magical power, before quietly drifting towards the inner region of Fangzhang Island.

As soon as he stepped into the airspace above the island, he felt that the atmosphere was completely different from the desolation of Penglai.

Just as Donghua said, he did not fly for long before he encountered many demon cultivators.

Looking down from Taibai, one could see the demons mining and transporting stones, the campfires blazing, and several true immortal demon cultivators refining spiritual treasures.

Although several Golden Immortal demon generals were stationed here, their auras were relaxed, posing no threat to the hidden Taibai.

As a key area for the demon race to refine weapons, the surrounding resources must have been completely plundered, leaving no opportunity to find anything.

Taibai didn't linger. With a swift movement, it silently bypassed the hustle and bustle below and flew straight towards the unknown, cloud-shrouded region in the center of the island.