Chapter 18, Great Hall Q&A

After The Three Pure Ones left, the disciples immediately started discussing.

"Senior Brother Bai Jin, as legendary as they say! He just swept away those western disciples in one move."

"Taking pride in the treasures gifted by Master, I've already shown filial piety with gifts, and the faces of those from Mahasthamaprapta were truly unsightly! Haha~"

"Have you guys noticed, even though he's an Outer Disciple, Master and the two Masters' attitude towards Senior Brother Bai Jin is obviously different."

"Being an Outer Disciple but reaching the level of a Senior Brother, isn't that almost like being a Direct Disciple?"

"He's already not any less, Senior Brother is actually the Outer Disciple Leader, his status is equivalent to a Direct Disciple."

...

Duobao Taoist frowned and displeased said: "Stop the noise and babbling, everyone go back!"

The noisy Outer Disciples instantly quieted down, leaving one by one silently.

Golden Spirit Saint Mother said with a smile: "Sister, I'm not very familiar with Kun Mountain, can you show me around?"

"Sure!" Wudang Saint responded with a smile, linking arms with Golden Spirit Saint Mother as they left.

Duobao turned his head towards the direction of the Upper Pure Palace, hesitated for a moment, then floated off.

...

Inside the Upper Pure Palace, Tongtian was sitting high on the main seat, while Bai Jin was lying unceremoniously on the steps below.

Tongtian grunted and said, "Feeling quite pleased with yourself just now, weren't you?"

Bai Jin, with a cheeky smile, said, "All thanks to Master's excellent teaching!"

"How come I don't recall teaching you what Zen means?!"

"The Three Thousand Great Dao ultimately lead to the same endpoint, it's actually all the same," Bai Jin looked up at Tongtian and said with a smile, "Master, since I made you so proud today, is there a reward?"

"Didn't you say that disciples who ask for gifts from their Master are barely disciples?" Tongtian looked down at Bai Jin.

Bai Jin hastily said, "Master, I was just saying it casually, please don't take it seriously!"

Tongtian could not help but show a hint of a smile, then his expression turned serious again, and said, "Do you know why in the end, Mahasthamaprapta and Ksitigarbha showed you the half-master courtesy?"

Bai Jin puzzledly said, "Isn't it because I enlightened them?"

"In the discussion of the Dao, everyone has their gains, it's hardly considered enlightenment. That half-master courtesy was instigated by Zhunti secretly."

"Why?" Bai Jin's eyes widened, his heart thumping furiously, Zhunti, saying you have a bond with the west, scared the divine beings.

"Your previous performance matched their paths too well, so Zhunti had Mahasthamaprapta and Ksitigarbha show you the half-master courtesy, making you form a master-disciple karmic bond, aiming to pull you towards the west."

"What?" Bai Jin suddenly exclaimed in shock.

Tongtian looked at Bai Jin skeptically, wondering why such a big reaction?

Bai Jin, eyes shifting, quickly said regretfully: "It's all my fault, my performance was too stellar, affecting the relationship between Master and the Uncles.

Master, I'm guilty, it's all my fault. Please punish me by removing my status as the Outer Disciple Leader."

Tongtian glanced at Bai Jin, disdainfully said, "Stop pretending, no lazing around, you'll keep being the Outer Disciple Leader."

Bai Jin appeared utterly disheartened.

Tongtian said impatiently, "Go on out! Visit your two Masters, it'll be good for you."

Bai Jin listlessly nodded and responded, "Yes!" and turned to leave.

Just before leaving the great hall, Bai Jin turned to look at Tongtian and said, "Master, your disciple is so outstanding, when others are envious and can only resort to schemes, aren't you proud?"

"Scram~"

"Alright!" Bai Jin instantly turned and scurried out of the great hall.

Inside the Upper Pure Palace, Tongtian Sect Master chuckled twice lightly, then commanded in a subdued voice, "Come in!"

Duobao Taoist entered from outside, approached a cushion in front, knelt down, and bowed three times respectfully, saying, "Greeting Master!"

Tongtian nodded and said, "Get up!"

"Yes," Duobao Taoist stood up and stood aside.

Tongtian said expressionlessly, "Today, I am very dissatisfied with you."

Duobao Taoist respectfully said, "Disciple has disappointed Master."

"Why did you do nothing today?"

Duobao Taoist respectfully said, "Firstly, the visitor is a guest, and the disciple was afraid of creating a situation where the host overwhelms the guest, affecting the relationship between Master and Second Master, and also afraid of provoking Second Master's dissatisfaction.

Secondly, the Western disciples' ways are unprecedented to me, and I could not comprehend them in a short time.

Thirdly, the disciple wanted to understand more about the Western ways and verify them against my own."

"So, you just let those Western disciples overpower your fellow brothers?"

Duobao respectfully said, "In the disciple's heart, there is only the Great Dao, nothing else.

A momentary flourish means nothing, as there is much time ahead for the pursuit of the Great Dao to discuss victory and defeat."

Tongtian said, "Duobao, I am pleased that you have this heart for seeking the Tao, but what you need for the Dao is not comprehension, but practice."

Duobao mused softly, "Practice!"

"Go! Examine the ancient and understand the present, and you will comprehend."

Duobao Taoist came back to reality, stood in place, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I have something else to say."

"Speak."

"Why did you make Bai Jin the leader of the Outer Disciples? You know his talents are mediocre, how can he command respect in the future?"

Tongtian said with a smile, "If talent is not enough, I as a Master can provide resources. If I am willing, I could even train a pig to become a Daluo Golden Immortal."

Duobao Taoist twitched the corners of his mouth, thinking, 'Master, your own senior disciple hasn't even reached the realm of Daluo Golden Immortal.'

Tongtian continued, "The qualities of Outer Disciples are uneven, easily leading to disorder. A versatile person is needed to manage them, and Bai Jin is very suitable."

Duobao Taoist respectfully said, "Master, I understand now."

"Then go!"

"Yes!" Duobao Taoist turned and walked outside.

On the other side, atop Yuqing Peak, Bai Jin straightened his robe and walked into Yuqing Palace, knelt down on a mat, holding the Pangu Banner in both hands and respectfully said, "Disciple Bai Jin greets Master! Thank you for gracing me with this treasure."

Primordial opened his eyes, waved his hand and the Pangu Banner immediately flew up and hung on the neighboring wall, and laughed, "Although it was a bit rash just now, you performed very well."

Bai Jin said earnestly, "It's all thanks to the teachings of Masters."

Primordial laughed loudly, "I didn't teach you to hit people, but I must say, those two slaps were indeed splendid."

Bai Jin looked up, somewhat surprised at Primordial, thinking if it were from Master, it wouldn't be surprising, but coming from Master, who values etiquette so strictly?

PPrimordial then turned serious and said displeasingly, "But the other disciples that your Master took in are rather incompetent, all being suppressed by the West, disgracing the face of The Three Pure Ones."

Bai Jin quickly said, "Master, don't be angry, they have only recently become disciples, and the West came prepared, so it's not their fault."

"Recently? Duobao became a disciple even before you.

Came prepared? Didn't you defeat their Dao with your Dao?"

Bai Jin looked up, smiled, and said, "Master, I think that in the Primordial World, there aren't many as outstanding as me."

Primordial was startled, then laughed loudly, "I just realized that you really are shameless."

Bai Jin smiled sheepishly.

Primordial's facial expression turned serious, "Come to me to hear about the Dao in three days."

Bai Jin quickly bowed, gratefully saying, "Thank you, Master!"

Primordial nodded with a smile and said, "Go!"

Bai Jin stood up and headed outside.

After leaving Yuqing Palace, he immediately ran non-stop towards Taiqing Hall. Being an excellent disciple is indeed very hard.