Chapter 5

Tài Yī Tiānzūn, also known as Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, Xúnshēng Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, and Shífāng Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, holds the position of the Eastern Supreme Green Emperor in the Heavenly Court. In both the past and present lives, one must form an inseparable bond with this great deity of the Heavenly Palace.

In the world of *Pìyàn* (The Other Shore), there are two main paths to choose from: the worldly path and the transcendent path. The transcendent path is for immortal swordsmen, while the worldly path is for martial practitioners.

Just like in the past, during the beta test of *Pìyàn*, only the path of immortal swordsmen was available. The worldly path was only added during the official launch. Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn is the public course for the worldly path, serving as the guide for all those who choose this path!

Born in adversity, die in comfort!

Dedicate your life to the nation's troubles, and regard death as if returning home!

Since ancient times, who can escape death? Leave a loyal heart to illuminate history!

Countless poems filled with the spirit of scholars have been passed down, carrying the nation's passion for saving the world. The core of the worldly path is to save the world.

Zhōuyì remembers that, whether on the transcendent path or the worldly path, one can obtain the first cultivation technique or demon-subduing skill from Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, and these techniques are suitable for the player's basic attributes. The only condition is to offer 30,000 merits each month.

Of course, the transcendent and worldly paths are very different. If a transcendent practitioner is lucky and finds a good master in a famous mountain, obtaining superior cultivation techniques, they may not need the techniques from Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn. However, for those on the worldly path to become strong, they must travel to various temples and complete tasks to exchange for superior cultivation techniques.

In summary, the transcendent path centers around cultivation sects, with players mainly focusing on the development of their sect. The worldly path, on the other hand, centers around the incense offerings of various deities, focusing on the development of the deities' incense offerings in the mortal world.

Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn is an exception. Whether you choose the transcendent or worldly path, he accepts all. Other great deities of the Heavenly Court would not bother with the disciples of transcendent cultivation sects. According to Zhōuyì, this great BOSS who accepts all, including those on the transcendent path, is only available during the official launch. This is likely a design to support new players, and if one explores the world carefully, it is not difficult to discover.

Cultivators belong to the transcendent path, and the only one who can provide benefits is this Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn. This is an important part of Zhōuyì's initial plan.

Without the teachings of Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, Zhōuyì's 8 points of enlightenment would be worthless, and the difficulty brought by low enlightenment is immense. However, as long as the right path is taken, one can still rise.

Passing through the temple gate, Zhōuyì stood in the temple courtyard. Many players were standing around the courtyard walls. In the center of the courtyard was an incense burner, and an old Taoist priest, holding a broom, easily defeated the six players who were attacking him, causing them to respawn with a white light. The old Taoist looked displeased and scolded, "Why is there not a single capable one among you? Are you all here just to receive the teachings of the Tiānzūn? Come over here."

The six players, looking disheveled, walked forward. The old Taoist's gaze was sharp, and he quickly assessed their basic attributes. He then imparted teachings to each of them, and a white light appeared as they left, overjoyed.

Zhōuyì stared at the old Taoist for a long time, noticing the green mark the size of a coin on his face, and couldn't help but smile. In his past life, he had met this old Taoist, but not at the foot of Xiáo Mountain, but in Yān.

According to the background of *Pìyàn*, this old Taoist was originally a servant of the Tiānzūn, but was demoted to guard a temple due to a mistake. He remains mischievous and enjoys fighting. Whenever someone with some skill comes to visit the temple, he can't help but engage in a fight, just to stretch his limbs.

However, as the one who imparts teachings, he acts on behalf of the Tiānzūn in the mortal world. If he finds that your cultivation is too weak after a fight, he will impart some basic cultivation techniques on behalf of the Tiānzūn.

The old Taoist scanned the players in the courtyard, all of whom were below level 10, and grumbled, "Why do you all come here with such weak skills? The cultivation world has become so poor. Come at me all at once!"

"Will you accept the challenge from the temple guard?"

At the same moment, all players in the temple received a system prompt. They looked at each other and all chose to accept, then rushed forward.

Dozens of players rushed in, and the old Taoist, with a kick and a sweep of his broom, sent them flying with a white light. As low-level players, none of them could stand up to the old Taoist, and there was no shame in it. The sooner they died, the sooner they could obtain the techniques. In a blink, half of them were dead.

Zhōuyì followed and walked to the center of the courtyard. As soon as he stepped in, the broom came at his face. He instinctively dodged, and a system prompt appeared:

The temple guard of the Tiānzūn, level 50, is the protector of the temple where the incense offerings of Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn are made.

The old Taoist exclaimed, "Hmm," and kicked Zhōuyì in the stomach, causing a white light to appear, and Zhōuyì was instantly killed.

In the next second, he respawned and saw the old Taoist checking the basic attributes of the players. The old Taoist then said with disdain, "Your cultivation is too weak. You haven't even entered the threshold of cultivation. I didn't even use my magic to defeat you. Go back and practice hard, and defend the world from demons."

Zhōuyì couldn't see the techniques the other players received, but he could see the changes in their expressions, indicating they had received good techniques.

Those who received benefits greeted each other and left happily, while those who didn't were full of hope, watching the old Taoist impart teachings to each player. Finally, it was Zhōuyì's turn. The old Taoist casually checked Zhōuyì's basic attributes, and his expression changed. He loudly scolded:

"In the past half month, I've seen hundreds of people, and I've never seen someone with such poor enlightenment. Your enlightenment is of the lowest quality. I don't know what courage you have to dare to venture out! Leave quickly and go home to farm. Don't have any more delusions!"

After saying this, the old temple guard skipped over Zhōuyì and checked the next player's attributes.

The other players looked at Zhōuyì with strange expressions, knowing that one could obtain techniques from the Tiānzūn. Seeing this, they remembered that those with low enlightenment could not receive the Tiānzūn's teachings.

That's not right, Zhōuyì thought, watching the old Taoist impart teachings to other players. "The temple of Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, it can't be wrong! Could the guy in Zhōngnán Mountain have lied to me? No, that guy, though temperamental and full of resentment, is not untrustworthy. Could it be..."

Zhōuyì suddenly remembered the poster he saw earlier. The title of the first chapter had changed from *The Nine Provinces Divine Demon Legend* to *The Nine Provinces Strange Records*. He realized that his casual browsing of the forum to confirm that *Pìyàn* was still the *Pìyàn* he remembered was a bit rash. After all, everyone keeps secrets, and unknown changes are the first risk.

"Brother, don't just stand there. Quickly find another way! We can't afford to waste time."

Zhōuyì was lost in thought when a player walked by and kindly reminded him, then left.

"Thank you for the reminder."

Zhōuyì, with a troubled mind, replied. According to his initial plan, the only uncertain factor was finding a master. Therefore, after buying a land spirit charm to定向函谷关 (定向 means "targeted" or "directed," and 函谷关 is a place name, so this phrase means "a land spirit charm to go to Hangu Pass"), he also spent a lot of money to buy a land spirit charm to go to Qingyang Palace in Shu. He did this to avoid any unexpected changes, but he didn't expect the most secure part to go wrong.

"Since that's the case, I'll have to find another way. But before I leave, I should offer some incense to this deity who was my support in my past life."

After calming down, Zhōuyì walked to the old Taoist and said respectfully, "I am willing to offer incense to the Tiānzūn."

"Ten coins."

The old temple guard sat lazily in a redwood chair, swinging his legs. Zhōuyì didn't hesitate, took out ten coins, and placed them on the red cloth table. The old Taoist didn't even reach out, and Zhōuyì took a stick of incense from the table, straightened his clothes, and solemnly walked up the steps, crossed the threshold, and entered the hall.

On both sides of the hall were nine guardian deities, and in the center was the statue of Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn, sitting majestically. The statue's gaze was directed downward, with his right hand resting on his knee and his left hand holding a finger in front of his chest, depicting the compassionate and saving nature of Tài Yī Jiùkǔ Tiānzūn. Zhōuyì lit the incense, walked to the mat, and bowed three times, then inserted the incense into the incense burner.

In his past life, he relied heavily on this great deity for his martial cultivation, eventually achieving physical sanctity with the deity's guidance. Coming to offer incense in this life was a way to resolve a karmic debt. Zhōuyì sighed, bowed again to the statue, and respectfully stepped back out of the hall.

"The way of heaven, diminishes what is excessive and supplements what is insufficient; the way of man, diminishes what is insufficient to serve what is excessive. The great way is impartial and without emotion, but the grace of heaven is merciful..."

As he stepped out of the threshold, Zhōuyì heard a divine sound, and before he could react, a system prompt appeared:

"The great way is impartial and without emotion. You have received the grace of the Eastern Supreme Green Emperor, and learned the *Two Instruments Demon-Subduing Chart of the Tiānzūn of Suffering*."

Zhōuyì's pupils dilated, and he quickly opened his attribute panel to check the *Two Instruments Demon-Subduing Chart of the Tiānzūn of Suffering*.

*Two Instruments Demon-Subduing Chart of the Tiānzūn of Suffering*: A divine skill bestowed by the Tiānzūn of Suffering to those of the lowest enlightenment. Those who receive this skill must offer 100,000 merits to the Tiānzūn of Suffering each month until they reach the position of Earth Immortal. Failure to comply will result in the revocation of all skills granted by the Tiānzūn.

Rank: 0, no levels, does not occupy a skill slot;

Requirements: Enlightenment below 9, of the lowest quality, level below 50;

Skill Effect: When activated, all resource consumption doubles, and all attack power doubles.

"100,000 merits!"

Even someone as experienced as Zhōuyì took a deep breath. Offering 100,000 merits each month is no small feat, as regular techniques only require 30,000 merits. However, after seeing the skill effect, Zhōuyì was overjoyed.

"The *Two Instruments Demon-Subduing Chart of the Tiānzūn of Suffering*? Isn't this the *Two Instruments Demon-Subduing Technique of the Tiānzūn of Suffering* that the guy mentioned? A necessary skill for the low enlightenment path. My good fortune is not bad! I still got what I deserved!"

Finally, he bowed deeply to the statue of the Tiānzūn, then retreated to the courtyard. Ignoring the shocked look of the old temple guard, he used the land spirit charm to go to Hangu Pass, and his figure disappeared in a burst of light.

"This kid, though with superior bone structure, has such poor enlightenment and mediocre constitution, yet received the grace of the Tiānzūn! Truly..."

Good fortune has a significant impact on a player's experiences, and luck is inherently invisible. The old temple guard cannot see a player's good fortune, so it's not surprising.

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