However, at this moment, the three stood rooted to the spot, completely ignoring Fang Yang's courtesy.
Their eyes were filled with incredulous shock.
Especially Lord Tongtian, whose gaze was as sharp as a torch as he stared at Fang Yang. The corners of his lips trembled, and he was extraordinarily excited.
“Early golden immortal!”
After a long while!
The three exclaimed in unison. Their voices reverberated, spreading for thousands of miles and lingering for a long time.
Three pairs of profound eyes pierced through Fang Yang, as though they wished to see straight into his soul!
“Whoosh!”
After a long while, Lord Tongtian took a deep breath, finally calming the shock in his heart.
Immediately afterward, he burst into wild laughter, his expression exhilarated. “In merely a thousand years, Fang Yang has leaped from the early heavenly immortal stage to the early golden immortal, crossing four major stages! Such talent is unprecedented!”
“As expected of my prized disciple. This master is immensely gratified!”
Faced with Fang Yang's astonishing progress, Lord Tongtian was naturally incomparably excited.
“Not only that, Nephew-disciple Fang Yang's bloodline rank has actually improved as well. He has clearly encountered an extraordinary opportunity and possesses immense fortune!”
Laozi could not help exclaiming as well. “Given enough time, he may even surpass us!”
“Third Younger Brother actually obtained such an excellent disciple. How enviable!”
Although Primordial Heavenly Venerable had a solemn expression and rarely smiled, his satisfaction with Fang Yang was plainly evident.
“Second elder brother, why be so modest? Although Fang Yang is my disciple, you may regard him as one of your disciples as well!” Lord Tongtian roared with laughter.
The three were all delighted for a time. They were both shocked and tremendously excited by Fang Yang's soaring cultivation and advancing bloodline rank.
In a thousand years, his cultivation had leaped from the beginning of the celestial immortal level to the beginning of the golden immortal level. Even after Pangu's Primordial Spirit transformed into human form, this would have been an unbelievable feat.
After all, although the three possessed the initial cultivation of great firmament golden immortals upon Transforming into Human Form, this was a blessing bestowed by Pangu's merit from the creation of heaven and earth, placing them in an entirely different category from ordinary living beings like Fang Yang.
Witnessing the astonishment of the three and the others, Fang Yang felt nothing but helplessness.
Damn it, I refused this!
Who understands my suffering?
However, seeing the three sharing in such joy, Fang Yang could not help feeling regretful.
The three would later fall apart. Laozi would move to Longevity Mountain's Eight Scenic Palace, Primordial Heavenly Venerable would change the Three Pure Ones Hall into the Jade Void Palace, and Lord Tongtian would even move his daoist sanctuary overseas to Golden Ao Island.
During the Investiture of the Gods, Primordial Heavenly Venerable's Chan Sect and Lord Tongtian's Jie Sect fought fiercely time and again, neither yielding to the other.
Precisely because of this, the two western sages ultimately reaped the benefits as bystanders!
“The three Teachings share the same origin. Why distinguish between them?” Fang Yang's heart trembled.
“Disciple, tell me at once—what opportunity did you encounter over these thousand years that brought about such a tremendous change?” Lord Tongtian restrained his shock, raised the corners of his mouth, and asked eagerly.
“An opportunity?”
“Uh... I don't think so!”
“Huh? How did I spend these thousand years?” Lord Tongtian furrowed his brows tightly.
“Actually, I slept on this stone for a thousand years!” Fang Yang pointed at the enormous stone beside him, his expression solemn.
Supreme Lord Lao: “...”
Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi: “...”
Lord Tongtian: “...”
A thousand years of sleep?
Simply absurd!
How could a leap from celestial immortal to golden immortal possibly be achieved in a dream?
However, Fang Yang's tone was firm, so the three could not help shifting their gazes and pondering secretly.
“What a strange matter!” Supreme Lord Lao sighed softly.
“Regardless, Nephew-disciple Fang Yang's cultivation has advanced. This is a joyous occasion, and we should be proud of him!”
Primordial Heavenly Venerable said with a smile.
“Indeed! The world is vast, and nothing is too strange to exist!”
Lord Tongtian nodded, then warned Fang Yang. “Disciple, from now on, you must cultivate diligently without pause. Do not become lax!”
“Cultivate? What a joke. I absolutely refuse!” Fang Yang roared inwardly.
But the most outrageous part was...
Even without cultivating, his cultivation still kept rising by leaps and bounds!
If he deliberately cultivated hard as well, wouldn't he take off directly?
That was precisely what Fang Yang did not want to see!
Only by taking suitable breaks and enjoying a carefree life could he maintain his cultivation.
Facing Lord Tongtian's eyes filled with expectation, Fang Yang said solemnly, “This disciple will do his utmost!”
Of course, if Lord Tongtian could see through Fang Yang's true thoughts, he would probably be furious beyond measure.
Unfortunately, he knew nothing of Fang Yang's true thoughts. Thus, upon hearing his answer, Lord Tongtian smiled in satisfaction.
In his heart, having such a disciple with extraordinary talent was an immense source of pride and glory.
Taking Fang Yang as his disciple was undoubtedly the wisest decision he had ever made.
Seeing this, Primordial Heavenly Venerable and Laozi could not help feeling envious, intense longing showing in their eyes.
“Disciple, accompany me and eldest martial uncle to Zixiao Palace to listen to Saint Hongjun's explication of the Great Dao!” Lord Tongtian suddenly thought of something and said.
His expression clearly showed that he could hardly wait.
“Hum!” As soon as his voice fell, before Fang Yang could respond, the sect master waved his hand and carried Fang Yang swiftly toward chaos.
Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens lay the Primordial Chaos Vortex!
There was no path to follow and no light to seek. Only the wild earth, wind, water, and fire raged there, concealing endless killing intent.
Primordial chaos storms flashed into existence from time to time, and even great firmament golden immortals had to regard them with caution.
However, within the Void, a majestic palace stood proudly erect.
It seemed to have existed since primordial antiquity!
It was suffused with a primordial, savage aura, while profound mysteries of dao resonance swirled around it, as though it were the destined will of heaven.
Even the primordial chaos storms could not approach the palace by the slightest degree.
This was the famed Zixiao Palace!
“Hum!”
After a long while, the three arrived through the air with Fang Yang and descended before Zixiao Palace.
At this moment, the faces of the three were slightly pale, and their auras were somewhat unstable.
By comparison, Fang Yang looked relaxed and completely composed.
Within primordial chaos, the three had protected Fang Yang with all their strength while searching for Zixiao Palace for several decades amid the boundless chaos, consuming enormous amounts of dharma power.
“We have finally reached Zixiao Palace!” Primordial Heavenly Venerable exhaled a heavy breath and gazed at the majestic Zixiao Palace, unable to contain his emotions.
“Indeed. Without golden light's guidance, we would probably have had difficulty finding Zixiao Palace.” Lord Tongtian still felt lingering fear.
Clearly, they had endured great hardships in the vast chaos.
“The gates of Zixiao Palace are currently closed, and there are no other living beings here. We should meditate at once and recover our dharma power.” Laozi examined the dao resonance around Zixiao Palace, then proposed.
“Good!”
Primordial Heavenly Venerable and Lord Tongtian exchanged glances and nodded in tacit understanding.
They then selected a place before the gates of Zixiao Palace, sat down, closed their eyes, and cultivated to recover their dharma power.
It was worth noting that the area before Zixiao Palace was not actually as desolate as Laozi had described. After all, a Boy Attendant and a Girl Attendant were keeping watch before the gates.
The two possessed only the cultivation of the late profound immortal stage, far inferior to Fang Yang.
As gatekeeping attendants of low status, they had almost no presence, so Laozi naturally paid them no attention.
However, Fang Yang knew very well that these two attendants were actually chaos stones enlightened by Saint Hongjun. In the future, they would become Haotian great emperor and Goddess-Empress Wangmu, renowned throughout the four directions.
Fang Yang's gaze swept over them with a hint of interest. He discovered that Yaochi was still a little girl who had not shed her childishness, her delicate face revealing a fairy-tale, porcelain-like beauty.
Her eyes were like deep, ink-colored gemstones.
At the same time, Yaochi was also secretly sizing him up.
The instant their eyes met, a faint blush spread across her little face. She hurriedly turned her head away, like a thief caught in the act, displaying a uniquely charming air.