Luoyang.

Fire trees and silver flowers, dazzling lights.

Song Lin transformed into a white-clad scholar, his sword taking the form of a child. The two strolled under the lanterns, admiring the sights, their eyes darting everywhere.

Suddenly, a breathtaking beauty appeared on the bridge, her presence refined, her posture graceful. Just sixteen years old, her brows arched like a new moon, drawing the attention of passersby who couldn't help but admire her radiance.

In that moment, Song Lin couldn't help but lose focus, as if his soul had been captivated.

Carrying a fragrant breeze, the woman noticed Song Lin's gaze. Her stunning eyes glanced towards him frequently, her crimson lips lifting into a smile.

"Why does the gentleman stare? Has something fallen onto my face?"

"Your beauty is overwhelming, and I found myself momentarily distracted."

Song Lin replied honestly, yet inwardly he began to grow wary.

At his level of cultivation, he would never lose focus over mere physical appearance. Outer beauty alone would never shake his spiritual fortitude or divine soul.

Other than magic, ordinary sensory illusions had no effect on him.

For someone to so skillfully conceal their true identity, just who could this be?

"Where is the gentleman headed?"

The woman smiled, her gaze filled with charm and latent desire.

"I am simply wandering aimlessly. Might I ask, where is the lady bound for?"

"I am White Peony, a renowned courtesan known for singing and dancing. Since the gentleman is without a destination, why not visit my pleasure boat?"

Within her heart, White Peony was also slightly surprised.

This man is indeed unusual. Just now, even her temptations couldn't bewilder him. Clearly, his origins must be extraordinary.

Thinking this, White Peony harbored intentions to probe deeper, wanting to discern whether this individual could be the fabled Pure Yang Venerate.

Even if he were merely a reincarnation, she must guide him towards enlightenment.

Thus began the interaction between two millennium-old fox spirits, each testing the other with every word exchanged.

Arriving at a pleasure boat, Song Lin instructed his companion to wait outside.

With fine wine served in luminous goblets and beauty urging him to drink while singing melodically in an alluring voice, he found himself drawn in.

This wine seemed enchanted; after just two or three cups, Song Lin felt lightheaded, his mind muddled, nearly slipping into slumber.

The woman danced on her palm, smiling with genuine affection, exuding countless charms that could lead one to forget distinctions between mortal and immortal, losing all sense of time.

In a critical moment, Song Lin steadied his spirit, merging his thoughts into unity as he began to comprehend the Golden Flower.

His thoughts coalesced into radiant rays, which Song Lin materialized into luminescent orbs—this was the return of light.

Comprehending the return of light constitutes the first step of the Taiyi Golden Flower Scripture. Observing his mental ocean brimming with these luminous orbs confirmed the turmoil of his consciousness.

After a long while, the glowing orbs faded, leaving behind a state resembling being suspended in void—devoid of intention, detached from the self.

White Peony, observing how even clean bottle water could not fully captivate this man, felt a sense of frustration and resentment.

As a manifestation of Guanyin, she possessed an extra thread of mortal impulse, differentiating her from the true Guanyin.

It seemed she would need to resort to certain methods.

Garments fell to the ground, and flesh met flesh.

Song Lin stayed for several days, from dusk till dawn, engaging in mutual cultivation. Despite his Pure Yang essence, he refrained from releasing his energy freely, leaving White Peony at a substantial deficit instead.

At dawn, Song Lin departed gracefully, leaving White Peony with nothing gained. However, from the several days of cultivation, she discerned that Song Lin was likely not the Pure Yang Venerate himself but instead a cultivator who had grasped the Pure Yang Dao.

Upon reporting her findings to the Heavenly Court, the Jade Emperor was overjoyed.

"Excellent! If that's the case, why not have Lü Dongbin replace Song Lin's position?"

The Jade Emperor, forever scheming, recognized the organized influence of the Acquired Immortals, vast in number. Left disunited, they would eventually become unwieldy, better to find a single individual to govern them.

In the past, the Pure Yang Venerate established the Pure Yang Sect, leaving many disciples in high positions.

For instance, the Four Great Celestial Masters: Master Sa became the Venerate of the Thunder Department, Master Xuu took the Fire Department,

Heavenly Master Tian Yunzhi oversaw the Four Marshals, while Jin Keji presided over the national Taoist altar.

Furthermore, the Ghost Mother and Princess Iron Fan assumed roles in the Wind Department, Wang Lingguan was the Spirit Official Emperor, and Erlang God served as the Manifestation Saint True Monarch.

With Zhengyang as the sect leader of Pure Yang, this formidable faction heavily suppressed the Jade Emperor and the Innate Star Lords during ancient times.

Later, the Jade Emperor rose to prominence through the support of the Buddhist Sect, conquering Kunlun and Lishan.

Defeating Zhengyang and Zhang Guolao, scattering their divine soul, stripping the positions of the Four Great Celestial Masters, and employing conversion techniques from the Buddhist Sect to control Erlang God and Wang Lingguan.

Through coercion and enticement, the remaining figures ultimately submitted, enabling the Jade Emperor to fully control the Heavenly Court.

"This Lü Dongbin is quite promising—he is loyal to the Heavenly Court and inherently kind-hearted. Someday, he could lead the Acquired Immortals."

Gold Star Taibai concurred.

He was the new Taibai Gold Star; the previous one had been killed by followers of Pure Yang.

"By the way, have you investigated the recent Independent Immortals thoroughly?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Zhongli Quan was an Eastern Han general who appears to have transformed from Zhengyang's Divine Nature after death. By chance, he received the inheritance of the Eastern King. Our numerous tests confirm his loyalty to the Heavenly Court and show no ties to Zhengyang."

"The bat spirit Zhang Guolao originated from Ann Qi's physical body, devoid of soul."

"Good, good, good. These figures can serve as agents of Pure Yang Dao."

The Jade Emperor clapped his hands and laughed heartily.

Some immortals are utterly indestructible, their essence and Dao passed down forever.

The Jade Emperor was unwilling to entirely abandon the Acquired Immortals—nor would he annihilate them completely. Over years of propagation, the Heavenly Court was now largely composed of Acquired Immortals, with Innate Star Lords forming only a rare minority.

If one could emerge to lead the Acquired Immortals while remaining unconnected to the original Pure Yang Venerate Song Lin, yet inheriting the Pure Yang Dao lineage, wouldn't that be an unparalleled solution?

Moreover, as a Half-step Heavenly Immortal himself, the Jade Emperor's ambitions extended beyond this small thousand world. An additional force could significantly aid his aspirations.

Even if the new leader of the Acquired Immortals proved disloyal, it wouldn't matter much, as long as he didn't pose a threat like Song Lin once did.

Song Lin of old commanded reverence from heavens, mortals, demons, and spirits—his authority transcending realms, uniting all under his stature.

At that time, the Jade Emperor was virtually isolated. If Song Lin had truly sought to seize his throne, he might have succeeded.

Mortal world.

After departing from White Peony, Song Lin journeyed, eventually arriving in Yuee State.

Zengcheng County harbored Hel Sunv, whose brilliance shined forth from her crown, a natural phenomenon recognized since birth. At fourteen, residing beside Mica Creek, she dreamt of meeting an immortal, thus igniting her desire for the Dao.

By the seaside.

One day, heavy winds and torrential rain broke out.

Hidden within the clouds, a malicious dragon conjured storms and rainfall, leading to countless mortal sufferings.

This had become a regular atrocity committed by demons of the East Sea.

Since the Four Sea Dragon Kings took control of the aquatic territories, their dragon offspring swiftly dominated various water domains. Restless in their nature, they frequently wreaked havoc—demanding tributes or preying upon mortals.

Those living by shorelines came to call this phenomenon "Dragon Calamity," underscoring its severity.

"Vile dragon, how dare you!!!"

Suddenly, an old man wielding a crutch dashed from the shore.

The elder ascended into the skies, his iron crutch enlarging a hundredfold before smashing down upon the evil dragon's head.

Boom!

The dragon's head exploded.

This act stirred a hornet's nest.

"Who dares injure the East Sea Dragon Clan?!"

Several assorted dragons soared through the skies, engaging the old man in battle.

Hel Sunv watched with admiration, longing to venture out to sea and slay dragons like this Taoist.

Just as she entertained these thoughts, the Iron Crutch Taoist faltered against the dragons and was struck down.

The dragons pursued fiercely, but suddenly, a golden beam shot from beyond the heavens, beheading the dragons and enveloping both the Iron Crutch Taoist and Hel Sunv, whisking them away from the East Sea.

The group arrived at a secluded place, and standing before them was Song Lin.

Seeing that the two did not recognize him, Song Lin's gaze brightened, and he sternly shouted.

"Ann Qi! Zixu! Awaken at once!"

The voice struck deeply into their souls, leaving the pair momentarily dazed before regaining clarity.

Their memories returned, and past deeds resurfaced in mind.

"Salutations, Grandmaster!"

The Taoist before them bore unfamiliar features, yet from his enlightening methods and authoritative tone, who else could it be but Song Lin, the Grandmaster?

Song Lin observed Iron Crutch Li; this was undoubtedly Ann Qi's soul, while Zhang Guolao remained the essence of his physical body. At last, his soul had successfully morphed into human form—though admittedly, this vessel was subpar.

"Very well. I have a matter…" Song Lin elaborated on his plans in full detail.

Having enlightened the duo, he realized that the Eight Immortals would still require the likes of Imperial Uncle Cao and Hann Xiangzi.

Iron Crutch Li and Hel Xiangu received teachings of the Daoist Skill and departed to travel the world, cultivating their powers.

News of Song Lin slaying dragons reached the Heavenly Court. Although suppressed by the Jade Emperor, the agreement was exchanged for Blue Gathering Harmony, Zhang Guolao, Iron Crutch Li, and Hel Xiangu serving the Heavenly Court.

In the years that followed, Song Lin returned to Kunlun in secret to transmit the Taiyi Golden Flower Chapter.

He then re-entered the mortal realm to spread the Dao.

He revered the Jade Emperor, while establishing the Pure Yang Daoist lineage.

The Taiyi Golden Flower Chapter and the Donghua Absolute Skill became widely circulated. Within a matter of years, Song Lin achieved the Primordial Spirit Dao, earning the title of unparalleled intelligence among the Taoist School.

The new Pure Yang Dao lineage gradually supplanted the old orthodoxy.

The world came to know Pure Yang Lü Dongbin while forgetting the Pure Yang Venerate.

Moreover, the lineage honoring the Jade Emperor replaced the former tradition of solely venerating Heaven.

This phenomenon reached its zenith with the establishment of the Song Dynasty.

The Jade Emperor, observing this from above, was exceedingly pleased by the surge in divine power, grateful for his increased control over the mortal realm, and grew ever fonder of this Pure Yang Taoist.

Frequent imperial decrees conferred titles upon Song Lin, with excuses like Lü Dongbin's oath preventing him from fulfilling duties in the Heavenly Court. Although stripped of official power, Song Lin's reputation soared, affording him immense freedom in his pursuits.

One day, confronted by accusations from the East Sea Dragon King, the Jade Emperor summoned both parties to Heaven for mediation.

This marked Song Lin's first ascent to the Heavenly Court.

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