Hongjun was somewhat puzzled by this.
A True Immortal?
He was a dignified Quasi-Sage. Even in terms of realm titles, Primordial Golden Immortal would be the accurate designation.
Even as a Good Corpse, he still possessed early Quasi-Sage cultivation.
How could he possibly be a True Immortal?
Hearing this, Hongjun checked his cultivation and confirmed that his realm had not fallen.
Then he stood up and looked up, only to see Cheng Yue before him.
The other man seemed utterly ordinary, but the Golden Wheel of Merit behind his head intrigued him.
After examining him closely, Hongjun found that he could not see through the other man's cultivation at all.
Hongjun frowned deeply, growing even more confused.
If the other man had no cultivation, he could not possibly have saved him just now.
Moreover, the other man was already in Dao Body form. Though Hongjun did not know his origins, having taken Dao Body form meant he had already transformed and certainly possessed cultivation.
That explained it. The other man had cultivation; Hongjun simply could not see through it.
Not being able to see through him threw Hongjun's heart into turmoil.
Could this man have already become a Sage, or attained the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm?
Curious, he asked,
"This Daoist friend, I am Hongjun. May I ask what realm you are currently at?"
Cheng Yue watched the Old Daoist stare at him for ages after getting up, only to turn around and claim that he was Hongjun.
How could Cheng Yue not know Hongjun's cultivation?
He had not yet become a Sage, but at the very least he was at the peak of the Quasi-Sage realm, an existence who only needed to attain the Dao to become a Sage.
And this guy's cultivation?
Heh. A trash True Immortal.
Cheng Yue could crush him to death with a casual flick.
This fool was putting on airs in front of him. If that scheming old bastard Hongjun became a Sage later and learned about this, then blamed Cheng Yue, what was he supposed to do?
This guy was clearly here to set him up.
Seeing the old Daoist's expression, Cheng Yue's face darkened, anger flashing in his eyes.
"You say you're Hongjun?"
"If you're Hongjun, then I'm the Heavenly Dao. A mere True Immortal dares claim to be Hongjun? Get out. Don't spout nonsense here."
With that, Cheng Yue flicked his sleeve. A breeze swept past, and Hongjun blinked. When he turned his head, he found himself outside the Island.
He was somewhat curious and wanted to go back in to explain things to Cheng Yue.
But after glancing at the small Island and recalling the chaotic Earth Fire Water Wind, he felt lingering fear.
Yet only moments later, something even more terrifying occurred to him.
He realized there was something more frightening than that great formation: Cheng Yue's cultivation.
He was a Quasi-Sage, yet the other man had sent him off the Island so effortlessly.
He had not even had time to resist.
That cultivation clearly surpassed the Quasi-Sage realm. It was likely already at the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
The more Hongjun thought about it, the more likely it seemed, and a trace of fear rose in his heart.
He simply did not understand why the other man refused to believe him.
But on second thought, it seemed impossible.
"Impossible. I should be the first Sage of this era. There cannot be another Sage in the Primordial World. Before I attain the Dao, there should be no Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal in this Primordial World!"
After saying that, he looked at the small Island before him and remembered what had just happened, yet he had no choice but to believe it.
Thinking of this, Hongjun's Evil Corpse felt a lingering chill.
If that truly was a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal, then he was far from safe.
It might even interfere with his grand plan.
After countless thoughts raced through his mind, he decided to return first and discuss it.
"I must return and discuss this with the Original Body. If a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal truly exists..."
He did not dare think any further.
After driving Hongjun away, Cheng Yue remained furious.
When he returned to the great hall, he saw Nuwa standing there, looking somewhat curious.
"Master, you were in such a hurry just now. Did something happen?"
Cheng Yue glanced at Nuwa. His disciple had been the same back then.
The first thing she said was that she was Nuwa.
"An old Daoist with merely True Immortal cultivation claimed to be Hongjun, so I drove him away."
"Xiao Wa, remember this well. When you go out in the future, do not speak carelessly. Take that old Daoist today, for example. He impersonated Hongjun. When Hongjun becomes a Sage, that karma will not be something a mere True Immortal can bear."
Hongjun?
Become a Sage?
Nuwa knew of Hongjun. After all, she naturally knew about an event as significant as the Dao-Demon Conflict and the explosion of the western ley lines.
Moreover, Hongjun was a Great Power who had surpassed the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
She had not expected her master to know even this, so she curiously continued asking the question that had gone unanswered earlier.
"Master, what realms are Quasi-Sages and attaining the Dao to become a Sage? Can Hongjun become a Sage?"
Cheng Yue sat there, still angry, but he nodded anyway.
"Quasi-Sage is merely a title. The actual realm should be called Primordial Golden Immortal. As for a Sage, that is a Heavenly Dao fruition, with cultivation equivalent to a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal."
"Hongjun is the first Sage of the Heavenly Dao by destiny. The day he attains the Dao should not be far off."
Nuwa remained curious, especially about those realms.
"Master, how do you know these things? These are secrets of Heaven concerning becoming a Sage."
Cheng Yue froze. He had said too much without thinking and forgotten that these were not things he could reveal at present.
Seeing Nuwa's puzzled expression, he finally cleared his throat, his face slightly red as he said,
"Ahem, what do you know? This is called divining the secrets of Heaven. Once you reach the Golden Immortal realm like your master, you will be able to do it as well."
Seeing Cheng Yue's expression, Nuwa could not help but smile faintly.
She understood now. So the Golden Immortal realm could divine the secrets of Heaven concerning Sages.
That meant the Golden Immortal realm her master spoke of was above Sages. Then what was the point of becoming a Sage?
Only by surpassing another's cultivation could one accurately divine their secrets of Heaven.
In other words, her master's current realm...
Gasp...
If she became a Golden Immortal, she would be at the same level as her master.
Wouldn't that mean she had surpassed Sages?
Then if she passed the Grand Unity Immortal realm and reached the Grand Unity Immortal realm recorded in the Daoist Canon, wouldn't she become invincible outright?
Thinking of this, Nuwa's heart surged with excitement.
But after thinking it over again, her master had just said that the old Daoist was at the True Immortal realm.
That was one realm higher than her. In that case, the other man really did seem to be Hongjun.
But considering her master's situation, it was normal for him to mistake someone else for Hongjun.
"Master, then do you think I have a chance to become a Sage?"
Cheng Yue glanced at Nuwa, and the corner of his mouth twitched.
Not a chance. Heavenly Dao Saints were fixed in number, and the path of the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal was destined to be difficult.
Later, Hongjun even came up with the method of severing the Three Corpses, directly cutting off that path.
After the lecture at the Purple Sky Palace, once he taught the method of severing the Three Corpses, everyone in the Primordial World believed that severing the Three Corpses was the only path to becoming a Quasi-Sage.
From then on, that incomplete path directly severed everyone's road to Hunyuan.
They could only stop at the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.
Thinking of this, Cheng Yue could not help sighing.
Perhaps that was why his Daoist Canon only went as far as the Grand Unity Immortal realm.
Though helpless, Cheng Yue could only keep it to himself and could not say it aloud.
If he revealed it now, who knew whether the Heavenly Dao would strike him with divine lightning?
Back when he was a Mystic Immortal, he had been struck by lightning. It felt awful, and he had nearly been roasted alive.
He had no desire to go through that a second time.
"You? No. Don't aim too high. Hurry up and cultivate instead. If you can survive the Mystic Immortal tribulation and reach the Golden Immortal realm, I can at least worry a little less."
Before you continue