The Three Pure Ones followed brothers Li Qingming and Li Qingquan to the small island, heading straight for the ancient bamboo palace next to the bamboo forest.
Along the way, various small animals scurried about playfully, flowers smelled fragrant, and vegetation clustered, making it a serene place suitable for cultivation.
At this time, Li Yanran was watering a carefully cultivated apricot tree. Seeing the three strangers, her beautiful eyes swept towards Li Qingming with a puzzled look.
Before Li Qingming had time to reply, Li Qingquan, who was naturally honest and straightforward, couldn't hold back and eagerly shared the story of their acquaintance with Li Yanran.
Hearing this, Li Yanran covered her mouth and giggled, then bowed to the Three Pure Ones, saying, "This one, Li Yanran of the panda clan, greets all fellow Daoists!"
Laozi chuckled and said, "Fellow Daoist, no need for such formalities, it is but us three who are imposing upon you!"
Once everyone was seated, Li Yanran fetched a pot of Clear Spring water and took out a few tea leaves from a piece of purple-red bamboo. She said, "You three Daoist masters have come at just the right time. This is a special product of the island called 'Purple Bamboo Tea'! Although the tea plant is a Postnatal Spirit Root, its taste is mellow and sweet, and it has the effect of stabilizing the mind. I plucked these leaves this morning and roasted them until they took shape. Please taste and enjoy!"
"Oh? Is there such a thing in the world?" Laozi picked up his tea cup first, lifting the lid to find the tea bright red and clear. He took a light sip and after a while, he said, "The taste is slightly bitter, but after swallowing, it leaves a sweet aftertaste that is quite aromatic indeed!" He then took a second sip, an expression of surprise appearing on his face, and continued, "This second sip is indeed sweet and delightful!" With a nod, he signaled to the Primordial Venerable Ones to taste the tea, and then he drained the remaining tea in the cup.
Laozi suddenly shook all over, the surrounding Spiritual Energy swarming towards him like swallows returning to their nest. This continued for half an hour. Then Laozi opened his eyes, rose to his full height, and bowed deeply, saying, "This tea, after three sips, leaves a lingering fragrance in the mouth and mind. It also has the effect of stabilizing the heart. The Old Tao has been a Daluo Golden Immortal for a thousand years without making the slightest progress. Today, after drinking your tea, my heart is steady, and I have taken another step forward. Old Tao is here to thank you, fellow Daoist!"
Primordial and Tongtian stared blankly for a long time.
Then Tongtian cut in, "Elder brother, although this 'tea' indeed has its effects, to me, it tastes bland like chewing wax. What about this sweet aroma and lingering fragrance you speak of?"
Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Tongtian with an exasperated expression and said, "What elder brother said is that one has to savor it carefully. If you gulp it down like a cow, how can you taste its essence?"
Tongtian scratched his head embarrassedly and muttered, "Nothing tastes better than spring water, that was unnecessarily bitter…"
Yuanshi Tianzun rolled his eyes and pretended not to see, continuing to taste the tea.
Li Yanran stepped aside, letting Laozi finish the bow, and said, "Daoist Master, you are too kind! The advancement in the Daoist Master's cultivation is your own doing, it has nothing to do with me. I dare not take credit."
"Hehe, with that said, I will mention it no more!" Laozi sat down again, smiling lightly.
Li Yanran then poured another cup for Laozi and took her seat cross-legged at the side.
"Daoist Master, since there's a fateful connection between us, may I ask how you will treat me?" Li Qingming asked as everyone settled down, his expression quite calm.
"How do you think I should treat you?" Yuan Shi put down the tea cup and said.
"Are you kidding me, of course, I wish to become your disciple and cling to your might!" Li Qingming cursed inwardly, then after pondering for a moment, he said, "Daoist Master, I wonder what your views are on 'Demons'?"
A glint flickered in Laozi's eyes, as though he had understood something.
Yuanshi Tianzun was momentarily taken aback. After thinking it over, he said, "I am a part of the Primordial Spirit transformed by the Pangu God; you could say I am also a Demon. I myself am a Demon, so how do you think I would view Demons?"
Li Qingming saw that Yuan Shi's eyes were clear, and he pondered to himself whether future generations' views of Yuan Shi were unjust.
Yuanshi Tianzun's gaze was gentle, and the corner of his mouth curled slightly as he watched Li Qingming without saying a word.
After a while, Li Qingming knelt down and exclaimed, "Disciple Li Qingming of the panda clan wishes to become your disciple, earnestly begging Daoist Master to accept me!"
"Hahaha!" Yuanshi Tianzun laughed heartily, reached out to lift Li Qingming to his feet, and said, "Good! From now on, you are my Yuqing Sect's chief disciple, as well as the chief disciple under the guidance of the Three Pure Ones. Qingming means to have a clear heart and see one's true nature, distinguishing the clear from the turbid. Today, I bestow upon you the Daoist name, Qingmingzi."
Thump, thump, thump
Li Qingming kowtowed nine times, not using his True Yuan or Magic Treasures for protection, his head touching the ground with each bow. Then he presented tea with both claws and said, "Disciple Qingmingzi, toasts to the Master!"
Laozi and Tongtian also nodded frequently, obviously very pleased with the first person under the Three Pure Ones Sect, oh! No, the first Demon under the Three Pure Ones Sect!
Li Qingming looked at his mother and Li Qingquan and said, "Master, now only we three of the panda clan remain. My mother and younger brother are the closest people to me. Please, Master, have mercy and accept both of them!" He said, bowing ceaselessly.
No one could understand Li Qingming's feelings at that moment; he intended to find a path to survival for the two in the great calamities to come.
Yuanshi Tianzun frowned, silently calculating the past and future of Li Qingming's lives, which remained hazy, not revealing the slightest detail. The life of Li Yanran could only be glimpsed at a fraction. What surprised Yuanshi Tianzun most was Li Qingquan. In the vision of the calculations, Li Qingquan was wearing a yellow robe, his Qi Fortune reaching the skies, his demeanor awe-inspiringly majestic, which was hard to associate with his currently foolish appearance.
Yuanshi Tianzun said, "Li Qingquan may become my Registered Disciple, and I grant you the Daoist name Qinglingzi. Li Yanran may address us three as fellow Daoist brothers and sisters!" After saying so, he glanced at Laozi and Tongtian. Laozi and Tongtian also nodded their heads in agreement.