Hongjun Becomes a Saint

The once utterly ordinary Azure Dust Palace was quietly undergoing changes.

Chi Yu had yet to notice any of this.

Since the War-ending Sect had been founded on Floating Pagoda Island, Azure Dust Palace had been steeped in laws every day and listened to Chi Yu expound the Dao, continuously improving its own quality.

It had advanced from mundane to postnatal, then to innate, and then into Chaos.

Yes, the current Azure Dust Palace had transformed into an Innate Supreme Treasure. After absorbing the overflowing Great Dao laws from Chi Yu, it was gradually advancing toward the grade of a Chaos Lingbao!

A faint spiritual intelligence was also condensing within it, awaiting the proper opportunity to be born upon the floating pagoda.

The Primordial World did not count the years!

Suddenly, the clouds dispersed and the mist cleared from the sky, revealing ten thousand rays of light!

A deep, resounding voice spread throughout every corner of the Primordial World.

"High above the Nine Heavens I recline,

Upon a prayer mat, I attain the true Dao,

Beyond Heaven and Earth's mystery and yellow,

I shall hold the honored seat of teacher,

Pangu gave rise to Taiji,

Yin and Yang and the Four Symbols followed,

One teaching passed to three friends,

Two teachings divided into Exposition and Interception,

Leader of all within the Mystic School,

One breath transformed into Hongjun.

"This Seat, Hongjun, hereby announces to all living beings of the Primordial World that I have entered sainthood. I shall establish the Purple Firmament Dao in the Chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, broadly expound the Dao, and teach all beings. In one thousand years, I shall give a sermon. All those fated may come and listen."

The Primordial World trembled, and all beings erupted into an uproar!

Everyone began preparing to hear the teachings of a Saint.

For a time, the entire Primordial World became lively.

The innate sacred beings in secluded cultivation all emerged one after another, setting out in a vast procession toward the Purple Firmament Palace in the Chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Yet they did not know that those below the Daluo Golden Immortal realm could not even leave the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Chaos Gang Wind could instantly shred anyone below the Daluo realm to pieces as easily as chopping melons.

Even Daluo Golden Immortal experts needed Lingbao to withstand it. One moment of carelessness could result in death and the dissipation of one's Dao.

Why else would Hongjun say that only those with fate could come listen? He had already made it perfectly clear.

The Dao could not be transmitted lightly. That was the reason.

Just as the gods and spirits of the Primordial World surged toward the Purple Firmament Palace, the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun Mountain also ended their secluded cultivation.

Taiqing was inwardly thrilled as he looked expectantly toward the sky.

"It has finally come! The opportunity that belongs to me has finally arrived."

Seeing Taiqing muttering to himself, Yuqing asked,

"Eldest Brother, are you thinking of Hongjun's sermon at the Purple Firmament Palace?"

Taiqing nodded.

"Then are we going?"

"This is our opportunity. We must go."

Taiqing answered calmly.

"Then when shall we depart?"

"It will take time to reach Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, and even more time to enter Chaos. We must leave in advance."

Yuqing nodded.

"What about Third Brother?"

Taiqing thought for a moment, then brought Yuqing along to ask Shangqing.

"Eldest Brother! Second Brother!"

The rather courteous Shangqing bowed to his two elder brothers.

Taiqing and Yuqing nodded.

"Third Brother, will you attend the sermon at the Purple Firmament Palace?"

Shangqing hesitated. Before he had gone to Floating Pagoda Island, he would have yearned for it beyond measure.

Now that he was a Gore Sect Disciple, his horizons had broadened, and he was no longer as inexperienced as before.

Moreover, he himself possessed a teaching lineage. How could he bow to another and listen to another's teachings?

Qing Wei, standing nearby, said disdainfully,

"Tch... Hongjun? What profound Dao could that earthworm possibly teach?"

"Our Gore Sect's teaching lineage is ten thousand, nay, hundreds of millions of times stronger than his."

Taiqing and Yuqing were stunned, then frowned slightly.

This was the first time they had heard that Hongjun was an earthworm.

Seeing Taiqing and Yuqing staring blankly, Qing Wei offered no further explanation.

With a sigh, Taiqing and Yuqing bade Shangqing farewell, left Kunlun Mountain, and headed for the Purple Firmament Palace in Chaos.

Watching his two elder brothers depart, Shangqing shook his head and returned to his cave abode to continue meditating and cultivating.

Floating Pagoda Island.

Nüwa and Fu Xi, who had been comprehending the Dao in Creation Hall, also opened their eyes.

The brother and sister had both been in secluded cultivation, gaining much insight, and had not left the island to gain experience.

This time, they opened their eyes not only because of Hongjun's announcement of his sermon, but because a voice in the depths of fate was guiding them to go to the Purple Firmament Palace in the Chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to hear the Dao.

"Elder Brother, should we go?"

Fu Xi pondered for a moment, then shook his head.

"As Gore Sect Disciples, how can we stay elsewhere and listen to another's teachings?"

"But what about this guidance from the depths of fate?"

"Why not ask Master what we should do?"

Nüwa nodded in agreement.

At this moment, Chi Yu, who was meditating in Azure Dust Palace, had long since sensed the thoughts of his three disciples.

He was also considering whether to let the three disciples go.

Before long, Nüwa and Fu Xi arrived at Azure Dust Palace.

"Greetings, Master!"

"Mm, no need for formalities. This Seat already knows what you are thinking."

"Whether you go or not, there is no need to dwell on it. Simply follow your hearts! Moreover, Hongjun possesses half of the Creation Jade Plate. It may be of some use in your comprehension of laws."

Chi Yu was not particularly concerned with matters of teaching lineages. His disciples were not switching to another sect; what was wrong with merely listening to a sermon? He would let things take their course.

Unexpectedly, Nüwa and Fu Xi hesitated again.

In the end, the brother and sister firmed their resolve and bowed to Chi Yu once more.

"Thank you for Master's teachings! We understand now!"

Chi Yu nodded in satisfaction.

"You have remained at the Daluo Golden Immortal Peak for quite some time. This time, break through to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm!"

Then Chi Yu pointed a finger, and two streams of holy light shot separately into Nüwa's and Fu Xi's minds.

They contained a newly created holy method, capable of cultivation all the way to the Hunyuan Taiji Golden Immortal Peak.

After sensing it, the brother and sister immediately looked at their Master in shock.

"Hehe, it is nothing!"

Chi Yu shook his head with a smile.

He pointed again, sending two insights into laws into their minds.

"These insights into laws can help you break through the Hunyuan shackles. Comprehend them well! Go back!"

"We thank Master for bestowing the method. Your disciples take their leave!"

The brother and sister bowed, then left Azure Dust Palace and returned to Creation Hall to comprehend the Dao.

Chi Yu watched the siblings leave, shook his head, and looked toward Kunlun Mountain. With a flash, he vanished from Azure Dust Palace.

In the blink of an eye, he appeared at Shangqing's place of secluded cultivation on Kunlun Mountain.

"Greetings, Master!"

Chi Yu glanced around the place of secluded cultivation and shook his head.

Then he looked at Shangqing and asked,

"Where is your Martial Uncle?"

"Reporting to Master, Martial Uncle is outside drinking!"

Chi Yu shook his head helplessly.

"Sigh... Qing Wei is becoming more and more reckless."

He then inspected Shangqing's place of secluded cultivation.

"Disciple, this cave abode of yours will not do. It is of little help to your cultivation. Come back to Floating Pagoda Island with This Seat!"

Shangqing thought for a moment, then nodded.

"Go call your Martial Uncle."

"Yes!"

Shangqing quickly left the cave abode and went to find Qing Wei.

At this moment, Qing Wei was lying completely drunk atop a stone platform.

Shangqing shook his head helplessly, then nudged Qing Wei's arm.

"Martial Uncle, wake up quickly! Master is here!"

After calling out many times without any response, Shangqing frowned.

"How much did he drink?"

He then used a spell to transmit his voice directly into Qing Wei's ear.

"Martial Uncle! My Master is here!"

Qing Wei froze, sprang up like lightning, and stared around with his eyes wide open.

"Where? Where?"

When he found no one, he began complaining to Shangqing!

"You little nephew, how dare you deceive This Venerable? Take this!"

"Impudent!"

A voice of the Great Dao rang within Qing Wei's mind.

Thud!

Qing Wei trembled and dropped to his knees!

As a Chaos Godfiend, he understood the Great Dao better than anyone.

When he had been in Chaos, he had feared the Great Dao immensely. It was an existence even more terrifying than Pangu, one that could not be slighted.

"Great Dao Master! Spare my life!"

"Great Dao Master! Spare my life!"

He continued kneeling and kowtowing.

Shangqing, standing nearby, was completely bewildered.

"This..."

"What is happening?"

Chi Yu shook his head with a smile and appeared before Qing Wei.

"Enough nonsense! From now on, you are forbidden to drink. Do you understand?"

"Yes, yes, yes! This little demon understands! This little demon will remember..."

Suddenly, Qing Wei came to his senses and froze. Then he raised his head.

"Hey, why is it you, Brother?"

"Why can it not be This Seat?"

"Brother, you do not know! Just now, the Great Dao transmitted its voice to me and scared me half to death! That is a supremely terrifying existence, not to be provoked lightly. It is thousands, even tens of thousands of times more terrifying than Pangu!"

"Oh?"

"Then will you still drink?"

Qing Wei froze, looked around, then patted his chest with lingering fear and said softly,

"Brother, you know me. Without wine, there is no joy!"

Chi Yu suddenly turned solemn. Great Dao laws overflowed from him, and a Great Dao Divine Wheel appeared behind his back.

"Bold Qing Wei! You dare disobey This Seat's decree?"

Qing Wei was horrified, cold sweat immediately pouring down his face.

"Brother, you are?"

"You are the Great Dao?"

Chi Yu nodded.

"Well? Will you obey or not? If you refuse, This Seat will suppress you for ten million Yuanhuis and have Great Dao Divine Lightning strike you every day until you awaken!"

Qing Wei instantly collapsed, his face full of despair.

"Brother! Please spare me!"

"Hmm?"

Seeing Chi Yu standing solemnly and upright, he no longer dared act rashly and let out a sigh.

He bowed deeply.

"I obey High Lord's decree!"

"Mm, very good! Remember, you must not break the precepts from now on, or you may suffer the bombardment of the Great Dao Divine Lightning."

"Ah?"

"What do you mean, 'ah'? Didn't you say you obeyed the Great Dao's decree? This Seat is the Great Dao. Respecting This Seat is respecting the Great Dao."

"This Seat told you to properly guide Shangqing along the path of merit. Is this how you guided him? If this isn't nonsense, then what is? Reflect on yourself properly."

Qing Wei lowered his head, his face full of grievance.

"Yes! I obey High Lord's decree."

"Enough! Get up! Just quit drinking. Return to Floating Pagoda Island with This Seat!"

"Ah? Didn't you say I was to gain experience?"

"Hmm?"

Chi Yu glared at Qing Wei.

"Yes, yes, yes! Arrange it however you wish!"

"Hmph!"

"Once we return to the island, you will enter seclusion for This Seat. Do not emerge until you reach the Hunyuan Taiji Golden Immortal realm! Do you understand?"

"Ah?"

"You are not allowed to refuse this! Let's go!"

With a wave of his hand, Chi Yu took Qing Wei and Shangqing from Kunlun, vanishing and returning to Floating Pagoda Island.

Immediately afterward, he pointed a finger, and new sacred methods shot into Qing Wei and Shangqing's minds.

Both were stunned, then burst into hearty laughter.

Chi Yu glared sternly and majestically at the two of them.

"Why aren't you hurrying off to comprehend them?"

With a whoosh, Qing Wei was the first to vanish from before Chi Yu. Upon returning to Azure Dust Hall, he immediately closed his eyes and sat down to meditate.

Shangqing had just been about to say, "Martial Uncle, wait for me!"

Just as Shangqing was about to hurry to Azure Dust Hall as well—

"Shangqing! Don't learn from your Martial Uncle! Come, come, these two insights are for you."

With a point of his finger, an insight into the Dao of formations and an insight into the Dao of the sword shot into Shangqing's mind.

"This disciple will heed Master's teachings! Thank you, Master, for bestowing these methods!"

"Mm, return and comprehend them well! Strive to break through to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm soon. This Seat's disciple cannot be weaker than Hongjun's disciples."

"Yes! This disciple takes his leave!"

"Go!"

Shangqing was likewise filled with anticipation as he excitedly returned to Azure Dust Hall to sit in meditation and comprehend them.

Meanwhile,

After several hundred years of travel, Taiqing and Yuqing finally arrived Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Looking at the roaring Chaos Gang Wind ahead, Yuqing was greatly startled.

Taiqing calmly nodded, then summoned the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Pagoda to protect himself and Yuqing before formally stepping into the Chaos Gang Wind.

"Second Brother, do not fear! This Chaos Gang Wind cannot harm my Companion Supreme Treasure."

Yuqing nodded.

"Let's go!"

"Mm."

The two brothers continued onward toward Purple Firmament Palace.