Chapter Thirty-One: Jade Purity’s Heart Stirred

When the Celestial Primordial Sovereign heard the words of the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin, an involuntary look of astonishment crossed his face. “That’s impossible!” he blurted out.

The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin paid him no heed and repeated herself: “I was born within chaos, the great egg that provided vital energy to the Great God Pangu. At that time, I had no consciousness, but my body already existed. You are the result of Pangu’s primordial spirit merging with different degrees of pure energy within the World of Primordial Chaos, whereas I am formed from a large portion of the ‘eggshell’ of that cosmic egg, imbued with pure energy.”

Tongtian was secretly shocked in his heart. Luckily, he had been without consciousness then—if he’d been aware, his origins from a later age and the fact that he wasn’t the “true” Tongtian would have been completely exposed!

Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones quickly began to channel their powers to probe the River of Time and Space. By pooling their own pure energies, the Three Pure Ones could search for clues within the flow of time. There, they glimpsed the connection between themselves and the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin, and promptly withdrew from the River of Time and Space.

The Three Pure Ones felt somewhat embarrassed, and the atmosphere became awkward.

Seeing their expressions, the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin said with a gentle smile, “I am myself, no longer that great cosmic egg. Since little Lingbao calls me Sister, then I shall take the liberty of being his elder sister.” She smiled and fell silent.

The Three Pure Ones responded with smiles. The Grand Supreme Elder Lord then stepped forward and said, “Greetings, Sister.” The thought of her becoming the elder sister of the Three Pure Ones was almost unthinkable—that was the thought in the Grand Supreme Elder Lord’s mind.

The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin immediately understood his meaning, so she bowed slightly and replied, “Greetings, Brother.” Everyone was delighted.

Tongtian, standing nearby, also said, “Greetings, Sister.”

Again, the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin responded with a gentle smile. But the Celestial Primordial Sovereign was troubled; he hadn’t clarified whether his position was above or below hers. He quickly stepped forward and exclaimed, “What about me?!”

The Grand Supreme Elder Lord and Tongtian burst into hearty laughter, while the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin covered her mouth and laughed, “However you wish it to be, let it be so.” Hearing this, Tongtian understood that his second brother—the Celestial Primordial Sovereign—had a chance, and pulled the Grand Supreme Elder Lord away, calling back to the Celestial Primordial Sovereign and the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin, “Enjoy your conversation, little brother will take his leave.”

The Grand Supreme Elder Lord glanced at the two of them, his eyes full of kindly intent. “Have a good talk, do have a good talk,” he said. The two of them then used their powers to leave the Purple Cloud Palace, leaving only the Celestial Primordial Sovereign and the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin in the vast, empty hall.

Faced with this celestial lady, the Celestial Primordial Sovereign found himself flustered. The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin asked, “Why were you Three Pure Ones separated?” In order to break the awkward silence, she took the initiative to ask the question.

“Well, to tell the truth, it all began when I was moved by greed—” The Celestial Primordial Sovereign proceeded to recount, in detail, the hardships suffered by the Three Pure Ones, how Patriarch Hongjun saved himself and his elder brother, and how, for the sake of reuniting with little Lingbao, they braved the ‘Grand Array of Two Principles and Minute Particles.’

At first, the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin looked down on the Celestial Primordial Sovereign a little. After all, quarreling with oneself over Lingbao is rather contemptible. Yet she also admired his courage, for not everyone has the fortitude to confess their own weaknesses to others; this, at least, was worthy of recognition.

As the story unfolded, embellished with a touch of suspense by the Celestial Primordial Sovereign, the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin grew alternately anxious and concerned for them. When she heard him mention Tongtian, she inquired, “Do you know the truth of that female immortal?”

The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin recalled how that female immortal had saved Tongtian. The Celestial Primordial Sovereign, knowing the real story, gritted his teeth and confessed, “Actually, little Lingbao deceived you about that.”

Hearing this, the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin strode forward, intent on confronting Lingbao. After all, she had shed a few tears for him; it was out of being moved by Lingbao that she acknowledged him as her younger brother—otherwise, why would she have done so?

Seeing things about to go awry, the Celestial Primordial Sovereign hurried forward, seizing the Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin’s robe. “I know the reason little Lingbao lied to you,” he said, feeling aggrieved. After all, he was the legitimate heir of the Great God Pangu, and yet today he was forced to lose face.

The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin halted and turned solemnly to face him. “What is the reason?” Her expression was grave—if there was no good reason, who knew what the consequences would be.

“In truth, I have feelings for you. From the moment I first laid eyes on you, I was captivated by your bearing, and, inexplicably, I felt a fondness for you. My younger brother, little Lingbao, sensed this at once and came up with an idea.

But before the Dao Patriarch’s sermon, I was unaware this would happen. It was only as you had just departed that little Lingbao came to question me, and then he privately informed me and elder brother of the plan. That was when I learned the truth.” The more the Celestial Primordial Sovereign spoke, the lower he bowed his head, not daring to meet her gaze.

“You villain, truly—!” The Supreme Mother of Primordial Origin’s face flushed with anger. Stamping her foot in vexation, she threw off his grasp and darted away.

At that moment, a handkerchief slipped from her sleeve. The Celestial Primordial Sovereign quickly snatched it up, and, racing after her, called out, “Fair lady, please wait, your handkerchief—!”

Meanwhile, at the palace gates, two small heads peered in—none other than Haotian and Jade Pool.

“What do you suppose they’re doing in there?” Jade Pool inquired, curiosity twinkling in her eyes.

Haotian grinned mischievously. “Close your eyes and I’ll tell you.”

“Why should I close my eyes?!” Jade Pool already sensed Haotian’s ill intent and refused flatly.

“Don’t you want to know? If you just close your eyes, I’ll tell you the answer right away!” Haotian coaxed her.

“All right, then,” Jade Pool relented and shut her eyes.

Haotian darted forward and planted a kiss on her cheek, then dashed into the Purple Cloud Palace. Feeling herself taken advantage of, Jade Pool was furious and shouted, “You scoundrel, Haotian, stop right there!!”

Moments later, a shrill cry echoed through the palace. Patriarch Hongjun merely shook his head and thought to himself, These two mischievous children. He then returned to his meditations on the principles of the Dao.

Meanwhile, the Grand Supreme Elder Lord and Tongtian had left the outer heavens and arrived above Kunlun Mountain. Gazing at the profusion of plants and living beings below, their hearts were filled with brightness. Tongtian bellowed, “The Three Pure Ones have returned!” His voice reverberated through the mountains, and the birds and beasts chorus in joyful response.

Before the Three Pure Ones had emerged from seclusion, Tongtian often played and frolicked with the local monsters and spirits. Many of those who had listened to the great teaching had become the leaders of Kunlun’s denizens; upon seeing their old friends return, they burst with delight.

The Grand Supreme Elder Lord and Tongtian entered the cultivation chamber, the fabled Qilin Cliff. Gazing upon the boundless mountains, they sat in meditation to steady their realms.

By the standards of the Great Desolation, both the Grand Supreme Elder Lord and Tongtian had now reached the peak and late stages of the Golden Immortal of Taiyi. Yet Tongtian cultivated the “Grand Perfection Sutra of Spiritual Treasures,” while the Grand Supreme Elder Lord practiced the “Mysterious Record of the Origin Dao.” Tongtian had only just comprehended the Spiritual Deity level, but the Grand Supreme Elder Lord had already advanced to the latter stages of the Spiritual Deity, so Tongtian felt a mounting pressure.

Even Tongtian, who was usually lax in cultivation, now sat down to meditate. The freed Daobao Master and Black Ox dared not leave the cave either, fearing the master’s reproach, so they too sat in contemplation of the Dao.