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

Having settled the matter of the ghost carving, Taibai paused briefly to adjust his breathing, determined his direction, and continued his journey westward towards Mount Sumeru.

Having experienced this, he realized even more how dangerous the prehistoric world was, and that even a Taiyi Golden Immortal should not be underestimated.

To avoid further complications, he activated his profound power, changed his appearance, and transformed into an ordinary wandering Taoist. He concealed his aura to the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal realm, remaining inconspicuous and unassuming.

They deliberately went far out of Wanshou Mountain, preferring to travel a longer distance for the sake of safety.

This journey has spanned a thousand years.

The vast wilderness, especially the area where the east and west meet, presents a stark contrast in its atmosphere. As spiritual energy gradually diminishes, strange and wondrous sights occasionally emerge from the desolation.

On this day, Venus finally crossed countless mountains and rivers and arrived at the vast land where East and West meet.

The land ahead was gradually turning yellow and barren, its spiritual energy thinning, quite different from the pristine beauty of the East, and hinting at the impoverished and cold conditions of the West.

Just as he was about to hurry on his way, he suddenly heard a voice calling from behind: "Fellow Daoist, please wait!"

Taibai paused slightly, his divine sense silently sweeping backward.

Then he saw a plump and well-fed monk with a ruddy face riding on auspicious clouds, smiling broadly as he approached him.

He was dressed in simple robes, yet a soft golden light subtly emanated from his body, and his aura was balanced and peaceful.

It carries a subtle Zen-like quality, without a trace of malice, but rather exudes a strange sense of affinity.

With just one glance, Taibai already knew the other party's identity.

With such a unique appearance and aura, and a connection to the West, he must be Maitreya, a disciple accepted by the two saints, Amitabha and Cundi, in the future Western religion.

In terms of seniority, Jieyin, Zhunti, and the Three Pure Ones are of the same generation, all being disciples of the Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

So it's not unreasonable for Maitreya to call him "senior brother".

"So it's Junior Brother Maitreya. May I ask what brings you here, Junior Brother?"

Upon hearing this, Maitreya, who was approaching on a cloud with a beaming smile, immediately appeared.

The compassionate smile on his face froze for a moment, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist. But you just addressed me as your junior brother? Forgive my poor eyesight."

"May I ask, are you perhaps a disciple of my master, Master Zhunti, whom he accepted as a nominal disciple during his early travels in the East?"

"No, Uncle-Master Zhunti and Uncle-Master Jieyin were personally taught by the Dao Ancestor, and my master, the Three Pure Ones, was also a disciple of the Dao Ancestor."

Regarding our lineage, we both originate from the same Dao Ancestor. Since Uncle-Master Zhunti is my Uncle-Master, it is perfectly acceptable for you to address me as Senior Brother.

Upon hearing this, Maitreya's initial attempt to win him over vanished instantly.

Maitreya understood that for someone of Taibai's status, let alone betraying his sect, he would probably find the western lands too desolate to even glance at.

However, to his surprise, when he stopped trying to win over Taibai, Taibai began to try to win him over instead.

"Fellow Daoist Maitreya, you are blessed with great fortune and extraordinary talent. What's even more remarkable is that you possess a compassionate heart to help the world. You are truly an excellent candidate for cultivation."

But why insist on this desolate and arduous western land, where spiritual energy is scarce and the path is difficult? Isn't it a pity to let a pearl be covered in dust?

Maitreya's smile remained unchanged, but his chubby hands, clasped together, paused almost imperceptibly.

Before he could respond, Taibai continued calmly, his words painting a captivating picture:

"If you are interested, I am willing to introduce you to my master, Yuqing, so that you may become a disciple of him."

My master is a true descendant of Pangu, possessing profound Taoist magic, and has always been generous and magnanimous towards his disciples.

He paused deliberately, observing Maitreya's eyes, then flipped his hand, and several innate spiritual fruits appeared in his palm.

"Master often bestows such innate spiritual fruits, spiritual roots, and even suitable innate spiritual treasures to help his disciples cultivate and temper their foundation."

These words, coupled with the real innate spiritual fruit in his palm, were both reasonable and persuasive, employing both soft and hard tactics.

Even with Maitreya's unwavering resolve, a sudden, intense tremor ran through the depths of his perpetually squinting, smiling eyes.

His allegiance to Yuqing is a world apart from his current situation in the West.

An unprecedented flutter of excitement quietly spread through his heart, and even unconsciously, his throat bobbed almost imperceptibly.

However, just as he was about to nod in agreement, another image suddenly appeared in Maitreya's mind.

In the barren wilderness of the West, Master Zhunti taught patiently and devoted every little bit of his limited resources to himself.

Although life was hard and difficult, it was also a blessing of recognition and guidance.

"Fellow Daoist, such an opportunity is rare and fleeting."

Li Bai then added a sentence at the opportune moment.

The smile on Maitreya's face finally twisted with struggle.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then exhaled heavily.

When I opened my eyes again, the turmoil in them had been forcibly suppressed, replaced by a deep calm.

But that smile seemed to be tinged with a barely perceptible bitterness.

"Ah, I appreciate your kind intentions, senior brother. However, my master showed me great kindness by recognizing my talent and imparting his teachings when I was still a nobody."

My teacher's kindness is profound, and the lineage of our teachings is bound to him. How could I possibly abandon him?

"My senior brother's words come from a place of concern, and I am grateful. However, please do not mention them again."

"With unwavering faith in the Dao and a deep respect for one's teacher, this fellow Daoist's character is truly admirable."

"In that case, I will say no more. The gates of Kunlun Mountain are forever open to fellow Daoists."

However, the smile on Maitreya's face gradually faded, and his expression turned solemn.

"I hereby swear an oath to Heaven that I will never betray my teacher, nor will I tell anyone what you have said today."

Seeing that his mind was made up, Taibai sighed inwardly:

Although the two Western figures are often said to be thick-skinned, their sincerity towards their disciples and their desire to revive the West is undeniable.

"Very well, since you are unwilling, I will say no more. Farewell."

After saying this, Taibai turned around and prepared to continue flying towards Mount Sumeru.

"Senior brother, wait a moment. Are you heading to Mount Sumeru?"

"It is precisely to pay my respects to my two senior uncles. Would you perhaps be so kind as to show me the way, junior brother?"

"I was born and raised in the West, so I am familiar with this terrain. I would like to guide you, senior brother."

Taibai nodded in agreement and then flew forward with Maitreya.

Although he was not familiar with the path Maitreya led him to, this was, after all, the western region, so he did not have any doubts.

Moreover, Maitreya is a pragmatic person, and Taibai believes that he has no intention of harming him.

The two then continued flying towards Mount Sumeru, one after the other.

After flying for a while, Taibai gradually felt that the surrounding mountains and terrain seemed familiar.

"Could this be the area around Longevity Hill?"

He suddenly stopped and muttered to himself.

"Senior brother, what's wrong? Longevity Mountain and Mount Sumeru are not far apart. This is the shortest route."

"It's alright, let's continue on our way."

Taibai remained outwardly calm, only offering a slight smile, but a sense of unease crept into his heart, hoping that no unexpected complications would arise.

However, what you fear most is exactly what happened. When passing through the Wanshou Mountain area, everything was normal and there was nothing unusual.

But just after they had flown a thousand miles away, a figure quietly followed behind them.

"Senior brother, someone is following us. I can't see through that person's abilities."

Taibai had already noticed this, and immediately said to Maitreya:

"Try to contact your martial uncle. You should have a way to communicate, right?"

After saying that, he paused, turned around in mid-air, and faced the figure directly.

The figure was shrouded in a wide black robe, making it impossible to discern its features or shape; only an unfathomable aura emanated from it.

"Who are you, senior? Why are you following us two juniors?"

The man in the black robe offered no explanation, only slowly releasing his overwhelming aura, a chilling voice emanating from within his robe:

"Hand over the Five Banners, the God-Slaying Spear, and the Pure White Lotus, and I'll spare your life."

Maitreya had already tried to communicate, his face slightly pale, and he leaned close to Taibai and whispered:

"Senior brother, we can't contact him at all. This area seems to be completely isolated; there's no communication. Should we do as he says and hand over the spiritual treasure for now?"

Taibai knew in his heart that even if they handed over the spiritual treasure, the other party would never let them go.

He understood the principle of eliminating problems at their root, and the powerful being before him with unfathomable cultivation would understand it even better.

"Foolish! You think you can live by handing it over? If we can't contact our martial uncle now, this place will be our final resting place!"

Before he could finish speaking, the black-robed Taoist seemed to have completely lost his patience.

The shadowy figure moved, and in the next instant, he stood silently in front of Taibai.