Chapter 20

"I will respectfully obey Master's command." Laozi bowed with joined hands, a light of hope rising in his eyes. With the Dao Ancestor holding the field, this endeavor was certain to succeed.

"My name is Grand Pure One Laozi. Today, I establish a sect called Xun Sect, following the Supreme Principles of the Great Dao. I appoint myself its founder, to educate the mortals of the world and pass down the Golden Core Method."

The moment his words fell.

Purple qi surged in from the east across the sky, and above the clouds, myriad phenomena unfolded in profusion.

Yet this spectacle was no different from before.

After waiting for a long while, Heavenly Virtue still did not appear, without even the slightest sign.

The scene instantly turned awkward.

Lin Fan pressed his lips together, suppressing a smile, not surprised in the least.

Now, as the master of Human Teachings, he held the Kongtong Divine Seal and wielded supreme authority.

If he did not allow it, Laozi could forget about taking even the slightest share of destiny from the human race.

Even if Laozi had labored hard to preach the Dao before and gained a little merit, that tiny bit of meager accumulation

was nothing more than an ant trying to shake a tree when it came to proving the Dao and becoming a saint.

Across the Primordial World, countless trillions of humans revered Nuwa and Lin Fan as the parents of Heaven and Earth, and innumerable people worshiped them as supreme beings.

But amid that vast sea of people, how many even knew The Grand Pure One?

In such circumstances, where could faith come from? How could merit be spoken of?

This so-called education of the human race seemed even more like a joke.

Laozi's founding of a sect this time was like duckweed with no support, an empty tower suspended in the air.

It had no foundation to speak of.

Naturally, the Heavenly Dao remained indifferent and gave no response.

Hongjun lowered his eyes and swept a glance over Lin Fan.

Lin Fan lifted his tender young face, his clear eyes neither dodging nor flinching as he met the Dao Ancestor's gaze head-on.

Hongjun withdrew his gaze, his expression Calm as an ancient well.

So be it.

At present, the Human Race Destiny was hard to seize.

For now, he would borrow the great power of the Heavenly Dao to draw destiny and bless Laozi, stir the Merit of World Creation within his body, and help him become a saint.

Once the saint position was fixed, it would not be too late to scheme for the Human Race Destiny.

The purple qi and strange phenomena in the sky were rapidly dispersing.

Seeing that success was about to collapse at the final step once again, Laozi's expression changed drastically.

At that critical moment, Hongjun suddenly made his move.

The Heavenly Dao Divine Wheel turned, and the River of Destiny surged.

In an instant, profound ripples swept through Heaven and Earth, and vast Dao tones resounded through the eight wildernesses—

This was the Heavenly Dao Edict.

The purple qi that had been about to disperse immediately churned and rolled back, and countless phenomena reappeared above the clouds.

Golden stamens fell in profusion, and lotus blossoms broke through the earth.

Break Tribulation and Become Saint

The opportunity has arrived. Why not prove the Dao!

Hongjun's Dao shout shook the void.

Nine-foot Rosy Cloud suddenly burst from Laozi's brow, and the Hongmeng Purple Qi leaped like a Flood Dragon.

Mysterious Yellow Merit filling the sky turned into a torrent and descended, like the heavenly river overturning as it poured into his purple palace. This Heavenly Dao merit was like a spark, igniting the Merit of World Creation that had lain dormant for so long. Chaos Radiance bloomed in full, as if hundreds of millions of stars were shining at the same time, and Laozi's Dao rhythm climbed higher and higher.

Nine Heavens Thunderclap suddenly erupted outside Zixiao Palace, and the entire Primordial World was trembling. The Hongmeng Purple Qi wrapped around the Three Flowers, finally becoming the Hunyuan Dao Fruit. When that pressure, carrying the power of laws, swept across the eight wildernesses, even the seas of clouds in the thirty-three heavens boiled.

Clear light shot into the sky from Kunlun Mountain, startling all the mighty figures into turning their eyes. Gazes of envy or jealousy pierced through the void, only to see that although ten thousand zhang of auspicious cloud hovered above Laozi's head, gloom was condensed between his brows.

He looked inward at his purple palace and discovered that the Merit Golden Lotus had only seven grades. To have barely set foot in the saint realm like this was more than a thousand li worse than expected. Thinking of the destiny that had been carved up, anger shot up from his Niwang Palace: If not for Lin Fan and Nuwa obstructing me...

As his Dao heart churned, he suddenly heard Hongjun's guidance: "The merit from founding a sect is shallow. You must diligently cultivate Human Ethics and Education." These words were like sweet dew poured over his head—now that the destiny of Human Teachings was linked to all living beings, if he wanted to advance, the only way was...

Laozi's eyes flickered faintly. He bowed solemnly toward Zixiao Palace: I will remember. As his sleeves fluttered, he had already glimpsed a future of monstrous waves in the Sea of Blood.

Laozi nodded slightly.

Hongjun's figure gradually dispersed between Heaven and Earth.

"Now there is a Golden Core Great Dao. I shall bestow it upon you all."

After Hongjun departed, Laozi's gaze turned toward the human race below.

With a light sweep of his sleeve, a Dao Stele rose from the ground.

Engraved upon the stele were the essentials of the Golden Core Great Dao.

As for whether they could comprehend it, that had nothing to do with them.

Afterward, Laozi glanced at Lin Fan and Nuwa.

Taking Xuandu with him, he drifted away.

Although Lin Fan had once left the Three Thousand Marvelous Methods to the human race, the human race had multiplied greatly, and their aptitudes and foundations were a mixed bag.

In the end, those who could even enter the threshold were limited.

After the Dao Stele appeared, quite a few people stepped forward out of curiosity to observe it.

Yet with just one look, their heads spun and their vision swam, and they nearly collapsed.

There were tens of thousands of Acquired Humans present, yet not a single one could comprehend it.

Lin Fan almost laughed out loud.

This Laozi was truly ruthless enough.

Though the Golden Core Great Dao could not be counted among the very top, its threshold was absurdly high.

Preaching the Dao like this—he had never intended for people to actually cultivate it successfully.

Perhaps only a small number of Innate Humans would be able to glimpse the doorway.

This Laozi was truly contemptible!

Disdain showed on Nuwa's face. Too lazy to even look at it, she took Lin Fan and left straight away.

On Shouyang Mountain.

Lin Fan stood outside the palace.

Looking at several spiritual plants, he lightly raised his small hand.

In an instant, Creation Spiritual Breath surged out.

Spirit qi continuously nourished the spiritual roots.

Their branches and leaves grew wildly, their radiance swelling magnificently.

The Skyfire Divine Tree and the other Acquired Spiritual Roots broke through their bottlenecks one after another, leaping up to become supreme-grade Acquired Spiritual Roots.

As their origins strengthened, vast immortal spirit qi surged and spilled out in all directions, blooming with resplendent divine splendor.

The leaves of the Skyfire Divine Tree were crimson like flames, as if morning glow had dyed the sky red.

They emitted a rich fire origin.

Standing beneath the tree, waves of heat rushed into his face.

Lin Fan's lips curved up in satisfaction.

He lightly stroked the crimson leaves of the Skyfire Divine Tree. Sensing its master's aura, the tree's body responded, its branches and leaves trembling softly as they brushed against Lin Fan's shoulder, showing an intimate, ingratiating air.

After advancing to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, the Creation Spirit Qi within Lin Fan's body became increasingly pure, its quality completing a qualitative leap. Reviving the dead and clothing white bones in flesh was only its most superficial effect; its nourishing effect on all kinds of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures had reached an entirely new level.

After returning to the palace, he brought out the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror and began refining its restrictions. The sublimation of his origin brought by stepping into the Grand Unity Realm raised his already extraordinary comprehension to an even higher level. Within his vast divine sense, the Spiritual Platform bloomed with immeasurable wisdom-light. Many profound laws no longer required deliberate comprehension; they spontaneously transformed into origin forms and surged into his sea of consciousness, where they were absorbed as easily as drinking water.

Ding! Successfully refined all restrictions of the Yin Yang Treasure Mirror. Analyzed the true meaning of the Solar and Lunar Laws. Comprehension of the Yin Yang Great Dao has greatly increased. Comprehended the Hunyuan-level divine ability [Great Yin Yang Sacred Seal]. Obtained the supreme-grade Acquired Spiritual Root Purple Gold Divine Bamboo.

Lin Fan paused his comprehension for a moment and carefully savored this newly gained divine ability. This art shared the same marvel by different means as the Great Star Arts he had comprehended before: wherever the Yin Yang Law manifested, external power could be drawn in for use. More wondrous still was its ability to transform yin and yang into each other—hardness and softness working together, emptiness and reality giving rise to one another. It could truly be called an exquisite method that united offense and defense as one. After a knowing smile, he once again immersed himself in the Dao realm.

At that moment, inside Wuzhuang Temple, Hongyun, who had returned heavily injured, staggered to the ground. Seeing this, Zhenyuanzi hurried forward to meet him. "Dao brother, how were you injured to such a state? Who did this?"

"It was the Demon Race," Hongyun said with a bitter smile. "Ever since I recovered from my wounds and left Huoyun Cave, intending to roam the Primordial World again, I was ambushed by the Demon Race. I'm afraid it was still for that strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi... But I already gifted that item to Saint Nuwa. Why are they still hounding me without end?"

Zhenyuanzi said in a deep voice:

"These fiends are truly hateful!"

His words were filled with anger.

Hongyun sighed softly.

"Kunpeng and I have always had old grudges, so it does make sense for the Demon Race to attack me."

"It's just that I still can't understand it. I clearly did my utmost to hide my tracks, so why can the Demon Race always grasp my movements?"

Zhenyuanzi frowned in thought.

"Could it be..."

Though Zhenyuanzi did not finish speaking, Hongyun immediately thought of the Two Sages of the West.

Back when he fled to the Netherworld, Jieyin and Zhunti had not only seized the Hongmeng Purple Qi by force, but had even wanted to put him to death. The two sides had long since become as incompatible as fire and water.

Those two were clearly trying to kill with a borrowed knife and evade karma.

At the thought, Hongyun felt a chill creep over his entire body.

Once Jieyin and Zhunti had their eyes on him, unless he stayed trapped in Wuzhuang Temple forever, he would never escape a fatal disaster.

And that was precisely what he absolutely could not accept.

On Shouyang Mountain.

Lin Fan planted the Purple Gold Divine Bamboo and watered it with Three Lights Divine Water. The divine bamboo instantly brimmed with vitality, blooming with a golden halo.

Looking at the flourishing plants throughout the garden, Lin Fan felt quite gratified.

"Little Friend Lin Fan!"

A call suddenly reached him.

He turned and looked over, only to see Hongyun appear out of thin air.

"Senior Hongyun, what rare leisure brings you to Shouyang Mountain today?"

Lin Fan greeted him with a smile.

"To be frank, I have come specially to pay a visit."

Hongyun answered with a smile.

"To visit me?"

Lin Fan froze for a moment, then immediately understood.

"Senior, you jest. You must have come for my sister."

Surprise flashed in Hongyun's eyes. He had not expected this youth to be so sharp.

"Exactly. I must trouble you to introduce me."

Hongyun admitted it frankly.

At that moment, Nuwa had already arrived with graceful steps.

"Greetings, Saint."

Hongyun hurried forward to pay his respects.

Nuwa's gaze was tranquil. With a light flick of her cloud sleeves, she said, "Daoist Friend Hongyun, there is no need for ceremony. For what matter have you come this time?"

Hongyun straightened and spoke frankly. "Ever since Empress saved me in the Netherworld, I have been in seclusion recovering from my injuries until now. I thought that by abandoning the Hongmeng Purple Qi, I could avoid the calamity. Who would have thought the killing intent would follow me like a shadow? Just days ago, I was actually surrounded and hunted down by the entire Demon Race, and nearly perished on the Dao."

"Such killing schemes, step after step, must have Saints pushing them from behind the curtain." Hongyun bowed again, tassels descending from his black jade crown. "I beseech Empress to grant me a place of refuge."

Nuwa lightly tapped the throne with her fingertips, galaxies wheeling in her glassy eyes. She thought of Hongyun's fate, one even the Heavenly Dao dreaded, and then glanced at the Chaos Jade Pendant at Lin Fan's waist, which was glowing faintly beside her.

"Sister." Lin Fan suddenly smiled and tugged at the corner of Nuwa's sleeve. "Daoist Friend Hongyun bears Merit of World Creation. Now that calamity qi pervades the Primordial World, this is precisely when our Human Religion needs people."

Outside the hall, clear music suddenly echoed through the nine heavens. It turned out that the Three Flowers above Hongyun's head had bloomed beyond his control, drawing a sheet of Mysterious Yellow Auspicious Cloud flying in from beyond the Thirty-three Heavens.

Seeing the Heavenly Dao reveal such an omen, Nuwa finally nodded. "From this day on, Hongyun shall be the Vice Leader of Human Religion." Before her words had even faded, Grotto-Heavens and blessed lands across the Primordial World trembled at the same time, and on the peak of Kunlun Mountain, Laojun's Alchemy Furnace burst forth with ten thousand beams of golden light.

Hongyun removed the Treasure Dropping Golden Coin he wore at his side and solemnly placed it upon the Human Religion's incense altar. That ancient coin, which had followed him since the age of chaos, now turned into a streak of light and sank into Nuwa's palm, symbolizing the completion of cause and effect.

This announcement was both a warning to the Demon Race and protection for Hongyun.

Hongyun was deeply grateful and bowed to Nuwa in thanks. "Thank you for your grace, Empress. From now on, Hongyun will surely devote all his strength to protecting the human race."

Nuwa gave a slight nod, and her figure drifted away.

"Today, it was all thanks to Daoist Friend Lin Fan's help."

Hongyun then respectfully bowed to Lin Fan as well, his heart filled with gratitude. He had already seen that Nuwa valued Lin Fan exceptionally highly. This young man's words could even sway Empress's decisions, so he did not dare slight him in the least. In his speech, he already regarded Lin Fan as a lofty cultivator of his own generation.

Lin Fan smiled calmly. "Daoist Friend, there is no need for so much ceremony. Now that you are the Vice Leader of Human Religion, those of the Demon Race will be wary of my sister's majesty. I doubt they will dare act recklessly again."

Hongyun nodded in agreement. Now that he had joined Human Religion, let alone ordinary members of the Demon Race, even if the two Saints of the West wanted to scheme against him, they would have to think twice.

Within Kunlun Mountain, Laozi suddenly sensed something and said coldly, "Utterly absurd! Hongyun bears enormous karma, yet Nuwa dares take him into Human Religion. She will surely bring disaster upon herself."

Inside the Demon Race's Heavenly Court, Kunpeng's face was as heavy as water when he heard the Heavenly Dao's transmission. Now that Hongyun had become the Vice Leader of Human Religion and had Nuwa's Protection as well, if they wanted to... from now on, it would likely be hard to get their wish.

Donghuang Taiyi asked in confusion, "How did that old fellow Hongyun suddenly throw himself into Human Religion?"

Kunpeng answered with deep implication, "I heard that the Hongmeng Purple Qi Hongyun held later fell into Empress Wa's hands. I imagine it was because of that opportunity that he entered Human Religion."

Hearing this, Donghuang Taiyi and Di Jun both turned gloomy. Back then, in order to seize that strand of Purple Qi, they had mobilized every Demon God and Demon Saint in Heavenly Court to surround and hunt down Hongyun, only to be ambushed by the Twelve Ancestral Witches and suffer disastrous losses. They had never expected the Purple Qi to end up in Nuwa's hands in the end, and after obtaining the treasure, she had actually kept it secret and made no announcement. Clearly, she had never put the Demon Race in her eyes.

Donghuang Taiyi said in a deep voice, "Empress Wa obtained the Hongmeng Purple Qi, yet it seems she did not give it to Demon Master." As far as he knew, Fuxi had not obtained this item.

Mockery flickered through Kunpeng's eyes as he said coldly:

"Naturally, it was not planned for our race. This Hongmeng Purple Qi was originally sought for Lin Fan."

"Lin Fan?"