After cultivating for a thousand years beside Primordial Tongtian, Taishang found it strange that Primordial Tongtian had not yet taken form. It was reasonable to assume that the three of them, all born from Pangu's primordial spirit, should have similar times for manifestation. Yet, a millennium had passed with no sign.
He then calculated, realizing that Pangu's merit from splitting the heavens had been ten parts in total. Four parts were obtained by Pangu's vital blood, and six parts were obtained by the three brothers.
However, the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda alone accounted for three parts, with each of the Sanqing receiving one part.
Since its birth, the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda had recognized him as its master and stayed by his side. He had also been nourished by the pagoda's Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Qi, which allowed him to manifest early.
Without the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda, the three of them should have manifested at the same time. Now that the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda recognized him as its master, it meant he had taken possession of forty percent of the merit from splitting the heavens.
A wave of guilt washed over Li Yi. As the eldest brother, not only had he failed to look after his two younger brothers, but he had also taken two-tenths of their merit from splitting the heavens.
Thus, Li Yi summoned the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda and said, "Little Pagoda, my two younger brothers' merit from splitting the heavens is insufficient, causing their delayed manifestation. Without treasures of the same origin to replenish their essence, it will likely take a while longer for them to take form. I will go find treasures for them, but I worry for their safety. Please guard them by their side and prevent them from being harmed."
The little pagoda emitted a humming sound.
Li Yi understood it had agreed. He then left the Primordial Ancestral Court on Mount Kunlun, embarking on his first journey through the Primordial World.
After leaving Mount Kunlun, Li Yi knew that to replenish Primordial Tongtian's essence, he had to obtain the essence of their father, Pangu.
Although the Primordial World was created by Pangu, such treasures were not abundant. The most likely place to find them was Buzhou Mountain, formed from Pangu's spine.
Thus, Li Yi headed towards Buzhou Mountain, the pillar of heaven and earth. He had intended to admire the scenery along the way, but for Primordial Tongtian's sake, he had to rush.
The Primordial World was vast and boundless. Mount Kunlun and Buzhou Mountain were separated by an unknown distance, thousands of miles apart. With his cultivation at the middle stage of Da Luo and traveling at full speed, Li Yi took nine hundred and ninety-nine years to reach the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
As soon as Li Yi reached the foot of Buzhou Mountain, he was stunned by its grandeur.
Buzhou Mountain occupied an immeasurable area, soaring straight into the clouds, seemingly without end. Its very body exuded a terrifying pressure.
As Li Yi stepped onto Buzhou Mountain, he felt his steps become heavy. This was just the beginning, yet his cultivation at the middle stage of Da Luo was already affected, albeit slightly.
Li Yi ascended the mountain, and by the time he reached the mountainside, his steps felt incredibly heavy, as if a mountain was pressing down on his shoulders.
With each step forward, the pressure on his shoulders intensified. Despite the arduous climb, Li Yi did not give up.
After walking for thousands of miles upwards, Li Yi suddenly felt something drawing him forward.
Li Yi rejoiced. Though he didn't know what was mysteriously attracting him, he knew it would be useful for Tongtian and Primordial.
So, he followed the unseen guidance and saw a cave ahead. The object that attracted him was within this cave.
The cave was only a few hundred meters in front of Li Yi, but by now, Li Yi was nearing his limit.
With every step forward, the pressure increased. It felt as if another mountain was placed upon him with each stride. Li Yi's spine was already slightly bent.
Was he to give up?
He had struggled so hard to reach this point, to find a glimmer of hope. If he gave up now, where would he find treasures to replenish his second and third brothers' essence?
Li Yi recalled the warmth and dependence he felt from Primordial Tongtian's vortex. He took another step.
At this moment, Li Yi's waist bent further, and beads of sweat appeared on his face.
Li Yi remembered his promise to take good care of his two younger brothers. He then took another step forward.
Suddenly, a tremendous force struck him, nearly forcing him to the ground. He swayed precariously, only stabilizing himself after a long while. His teeth were clenched, and his back was visibly damp.
At this point, Li Yi had forgotten what he was doing. All he could do was silently chant, "Closer, closer. Just one more step, and it will be close. Closer, closer, just one more step, and it will be close."
With this near-obsessive belief, Li Yi took step after step. Finally, as he neared the cave entrance, Li Yi had no strength left to move his legs. Though he kept chanting that one more step would be enough, his body seemed no longer under his command. Despite using all his might, it felt as if he couldn't even move his toes.
Li Yi couldn't help but pray in his heart, "Great Pangu! I don't know why I became Taishang, and though my soul is no longer Taishang, I am the true Taishang, your child! Please be merciful!"
Whether it was Li Yi's illusion or if the pressure seemed to have heard his plea, Li Yi felt the weight on his shoulders lessen.
Li Yi took another step. With a thunderous sound, Li Yi fell to the ground. This step had exceeded Li Yi's capacity. He was forcefully pressed to the ground by the pressure, and tiny beads of blood emerged from the pores all over his body. Just as Li Yi was about to be crushed, a golden light suddenly erupted in his mind. A circle of merit golden light emanated from Li Yi's body.
It turned out that although Li Yi had incorporated Pangu's merit from splitting the heavens during his manifestation, he had not fully absorbed it. Now, under the oppression of Pangu's pressure, this merit was fully absorbed by Li Yi, causing his cultivation to break through from the middle stage of Da Luo to the late stage of Da Luo.
With Li Yi's cultivation advancing, the pressure on him greatly reduced. He climbed up from the ground and continued forward.
As Li Yi stepped into the cave, the pressure on him vanished. Inside the cave, directly above the center, was a stone cone. Below it was a small pool of water, about a foot square, enveloped in mist and covered by boundless purple qi. Within it was a milky white liquid, flowing with the laws of the Great Dao.
Pangu Jade Marrow?
This Pangu Jade Marrow was the divine essence of Pangu's body, possessing the ability to cleanse the marrow and strengthen the foundation. His second and third brothers' essence was now safe. Li Yi quickly collected this Pangu Jade Marrow, placing it in a jade bottle. There were five drops. The marrow exuded an almost fatal allure.
Even with Li Yi's temperament, he couldn't resist the urge to refine it on the spot.
However, for Primordial Tongtian, Li Yi had to suppress this thought.
After obtaining the Pangu Jade Marrow, Li Yi immediately stored it in his Purple Mansion, fearing he might not be able to resist refining it.
With the Pangu Jade Marrow in hand, Li Yi, thinking of Primordial Tongtian, rushed back to Mount Kunlun without delay. Although the little pagoda was guarding them, he was still uneasy.
Upon returning to Mount Kunlun and seeing that Primordial Tongtian was unharmed, he finally relaxed. He then took out the Pangu Jade Marrow and first sent a drop into Primordial Tongtian's vortex. The vortex then surged with purple qi, and even its form seemed to condense slightly.
Seeing the good effect, Li Yi quickly sent another drop of Pangu Jade Marrow. This time, both their bodies had completed their evolution. However, having been nourished by the Pangu Jade Marrow, their bodies evolved too quickly, and their primordial spirits had not yet completely evolved, hence they had not yet taken form. But it wouldn't be long.
Seeing that his brothers were in good condition, Li Yi asked the little pagoda to guard them while he went to refine the Pangu Jade Marrow.