Chapter 4

Even after creating a Daoist Classic like the Classic of Morality, it would be difficult to achieve a major improvement in the short term.

Yet Li Er still made a breakthrough.

This was thanks to the aid of destiny.

Yuanshi and Tongtian understood that Li Er's creation of the Classic of Morality had gained the Heavenly Dao's recognition. Though no merit had manifested and there was no sign of becoming a saint on the spot, it had increased their elder brother's Daoist Sect Destiny.

Destiny was mysterious. Every living being in the prehistoric world possessed destiny from the moment of birth, varying in strength.

Those with strong destiny enjoyed deep fortune and the favor of the Heavenly Dao; those with weak destiny suffered countless calamities; when destiny vanished, so did one's life and Dao.

They congratulated Li Er on the growth of his destiny and his command of the Daoist Sect's great destiny.

Yuanshi and Tongtian felt both admiration and complicated emotions toward Li Er.

They admired their elder brother's achievements, yet felt their own destiny being compressed by the growth of his Daoist Sect Destiny.

What they did not yet understand was that the influence of destiny was especially crucial at the Saint realm.

For the sake of competing for destiny, Saints would fight without end.

Li Er had long understood this principle.

Whoever grasped the grand momentum could grasp supreme power.

In the prehistoric novels Li Er had read in his previous life, there was a deeply rooted belief: beneath Saints, all were insignificant.

This was because Saints controlled the grand momentum of destiny, and every word and action of theirs carried the supreme power of heaven and earth.

This was the most essential difference between Saints and Quasi-Saints.

Why had the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao, aside from Nuwa, all chosen to Establish Sect to Become Saint? It was because establishing a sect could form the destiny of a lineage, thereby creating the grand momentum of that lineage.

This also explained why the struggle among the three sects was so fierce.

Though Nuwa had not established a sect, she commanded the grand momentum of the Human Race, making her unique among the Six Saints of the Heavenly Dao.

Without the Human Race's grand momentum to support her, she would likely have fallen behind the other Saints long ago.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun was the same. After Slaying Three Corpses to Attain Dao, he established the Daoist Sect lineage and gained control of the Daoist Sect Grand Momentum.

The grand momentum of destiny was the true key to becoming a Saint.

That was why Saints stood so high above all else, their words becoming law.

At this moment, with the power of the Classic of Morality, Li Er had already claimed sixty percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny.

Back when Hongjun preached the Dao throughout the prehistoric world, gathering three thousand Grand Unity Golden Immortals for lectures at Purple Cloud Palace, his purpose had been to establish the Daoist Sect lineage and gather the destiny of all living beings in the prehistoric world unto himself.

After Hongjun merged with the Dao, the Daoist Sect Destiny was divided between the Saint positions and the Daoist Sect in a seventy-thirty split.

Thus, every being he conferred sainthood upon was taken into his fold.

Of the Daoist Sect Destiny, excluding the Primordial Violet Qi belonging to Hong Yun, the Three Pure Ones held sixty percent, while Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti held thirty percent.

As for the remaining ten percent of Daoist Sect Destiny, it vanished without trace along with the Primordial Violet Qi.

In the future, the child of destiny who attained the Dao and became a Saint could command ten percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny.

Hongjun had laid the groundwork for the Daoist Sect's future attainment of the Dao. By normal reasoning, the Three Pure Ones would hold twenty percent, while Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti would each hold ten percent.

However, Li Er's Classic of Morality had appeared out of nowhere and changed the situation.

At present, Li Er alone occupied sixty percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny. Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti shared thirty percent, while the hidden ten percent awaited the future.

Facing Yuanshi and Tongtian's congratulations, Li Er merely smiled. He knew the brotherly bond ran deep, but there was no need to say too much.

His sole possession of sixty percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny was an achievement unprecedented and unlikely to be surpassed.

His Classic of Morality had nearly cut off the destiny of all the other Saints.

At this moment, he no longer needed to compete for Daoist Sect Destiny. It was enough to form his own unique Way of Taishang.

Without relying on the Human Race's grand momentum, he could attain the Saint position and surpass Nuwa and all the other Saints.

Others had followed Laozi and opened a brand-new era of Establish Sect to Become Saint.

Attaining the Dao through Merit required not only immeasurable merit, but also the grand momentum of destiny.

To break through to the Saint level, one had to gather the grand momentum of destiny, so that every action and word could become law.

Hongjun had gathered the destiny of all beings in the prehistoric world unto himself, making it impossible for the other Saints to match him.

Thus, their plans generally began with establishing sects.

However, Li Er already possessed the grand momentum of destiny and had severed his third corpse through the three methods of attaining the Dao. For him, attaining the Dao was as easy as pie.

This achievement of his left Yuanshi and Tongtian shocked.

Upon hearing Li Er's insights, enormous waves surged within their hearts.

Yuanshi and Tongtian began to feel anxious. The three of them had originally possessed comparable cultivation, yet Li Er was now on the verge of attaining the Dao. How were they supposed to respond?

They knew they could not replicate Li Er's method of attaining the Dao.

They would likely become Saints through merit, just as Nuwa had.

Faced with Li Er's path of Slaying Three Corpses to Attain Dao, they could only accept the reality of Attaining the Dao through Merit.

The contrast left them somewhat dazed.

At this time, Yuanshi and Tongtian had yet to accept this reality when Li Er announced that he was about to successfully attain the Dao.

This undoubtedly made their emotions even more complicated.

Just as Li Er was about to complete Slaying Three Corpses to Attain Dao, Hongjun's voice descended upon the prehistoric world from beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, summoning everyone to Purple Cloud Palace at once.

Though Yuanshi and Tongtian did not understand his intent, they could sense that something unusual was happening.

Only Li Er seemed to foresee that this summons was related to him.

He realized that although Hongjun had merged with the Dao, he was still watching the movements of the Saints.

Faced with his imminent moment of attaining the Dao, Li Er had already made his calculations. He knew that if he attained the Dao by Slaying Three Corpses this time, it would mean abandoning the act of establishing the Human Sect.

However, he had long prepared a countermeasure and was determined not to be easily swayed by outside forces.

When Dao Ancestor Hongjun issued an order, no one dared defy it.

In an instant, powerful auras erupted from Eight Sceneries Palace, Wa Huang Palace, and Mount Sumeru, crossing beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens to Purple Cloud Palace.

Purple Cloud Palace manifested once more, and Li Er, Yuanshi, and Tongtian appeared.

Tongtian looked at the gates of Purple Cloud Palace before him and was filled with emotion.

He turned to Li Er and smiled. "Elder Brother, when we first came beyond the heavens into the chaos, you used the Mysterious Yellow Pagoda to protect the two of us. Now that we have come again, it feels entirely different."

Yuanshi also revealed a nostalgic expression. "We have returned to Purple Cloud Palace, and Elder Brother is about to attain the Dao."

But then he said regretfully, "Unfortunately, our opportunity to attain the Dao has yet to arrive. We have somewhat failed our master."

At this moment, Jieyin and Zhunti also arrived. They had clearly heard Yuanshi's words, and their gazes toward Li Er carried a few more traces of bitterness and helplessness.

Once Li Er became a Saint, the karma they owed him would become even heavier.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Laozi. Your Great Dao has been accomplished, and you are about to attain Primordial Unity."

Though Jieyin and Zhunti were filled with countless thoughts, they still cupped their hands and congratulated Li Er.

Li Er smiled in reply. "I'm afraid you do not wish for me to attain the Dao so quickly, do you?"

Only Zhunti could understand the deeper meaning behind those words.

Zhunti replied, "Senior Brother Laozi, you jest..."

Li Er smiled and did not respond further. Instead, he said to everyone, "Let us go in."

All five of them knew that Nuwa had already become a Saint first and opened a Saint's Daoist field beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Since Nuwa had not yet appeared, it was highly likely that she had already entered Purple Cloud Palace.

After Li Er and the others entered the palace, they found that Nuwa had indeed arrived.

After reuniting, they naturally exchanged a few pleasantries.

However, Li Er felt that Nuwa's gaze kept drifting toward him as if by chance. Her exquisite eyes seemed to contain more unease than usual.

Li Er understood that Nuwa must have sensed something.

As a Saint, Nuwa naturally understood why Li Er had rejected her last time. Clearly, it was because he had already severed the Three Corpses and was preparing to attain the Dao.

Compared to that, the Human Race's meager destiny made the deal seem not worth the price.

Moreover, Nuwa had only been willing to offer ten percent of the Human Race Destiny in exchange for Saint Karma.

But Li Er had not only severed the Three Corpses; through the Classic of Morality, he had also firmly claimed the exalted position of Daoist Sect Leader. Sixty percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny was enough for him to gather his own Daoist Sect Grand Momentum.

Faced with such a situation, even Nuwa had to admit that she had made a mistake in her decision regarding the Human Race. Regret was now useless.

After the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti had all gathered within Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun's figure quietly appeared.

He still sat calmly upon the Dao platform, but he was no longer the former Dao Ancestor Hongjun. He was the incarnation of Heavenly Dao Hongjun. Though he did not deliberately reveal his aura, everyone still felt an indescribable majesty.

Before Hongjun, they seemed to sense the changes of the Heavenly Dao and the eternity of time and space.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor!"

Hongjun said indifferently, "The current Hongjun is no longer the Dao Ancestor, but the incarnation of the Heavenly Dao."

Though his words were simple, all the Saints, including Li Er, instantly understood his intention.

Hongjun's purpose in gathering them at Purple Cloud Palace had become perfectly clear.

Hongjun's gaze fell upon Li Er as he praised, "The Classic of Morality is exceptional, worthy of being a sacred Daoist Classic."

The moment those words were spoken, everyone in Purple Cloud Palace turned their eyes toward Li Er.

Receiving praise from the Heavenly Dao, pride naturally rose within Li Er.

Yet Li Er did not reveal much emotion. When it came to his understanding of the Classic of Morality, he was confident there was no need for false modesty.

Hongjun continued, "When I conferred sainthood and bestowed Primordial Violet Qi, only Nuwa has now become a Saint. Your performance has left me somewhat disappointed."

Hearing this, thoughts raced through Li Er's mind as he realized there was more to Hongjun's words.

Zhunti immediately replied, "Please let the Heavenly Dao show us the path and give us an opportunity to make amends."

This was precisely the response Hongjun had been waiting for.

After glancing at Zhunti, Hongjun said, "You once listened to the Dao alongside Nuwa. Now that she has attained the Dao, you cannot fall too far behind.

Today, I shall give you guidance and help you attain the Dao sooner."

Li Er finally understood Hongjun's true purpose in summoning them to Purple Cloud Palace.

Hongjun had seen that he intended to abandon establishing the Human Sect and instead attain the Dao by Slaying Three Corpses. Thus, he had deliberately gathered the Saints to guide them on their path to attaining the Dao.

Li Er sensed that after this guidance, Hongjun would pressure him into establishing the Human Sect.

Why was that? Because without the Human Sect, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti lacked sufficient understanding of the Dao and their own insights were inadequate.

Though they knew they needed the merit of establishing sects to become Saints, they did not know how to actively begin the process.

Therefore, they needed Li Er to serve as an example and establish the Human Sect first, allowing them to follow the Human Sect's model and imitate him in establishing their own sects.

If the Human Sect did not emerge, they too would be unable to become Saints and could only remain blocked upon the road to attaining the Dao.

Jieyin, Zhunti, Yuanshi, and Tongtian could not remain uninvolved in such a matter.

Being pressured into it was inevitable...

Yuanshi, Sect Master Tongtian, Jieyin, and Zhunti instantly understood.

They finally realized where they fell short.

Thinking back to the past, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had controlled the entire calamity, attained the Dao by Slaying Three Corpses, gathered the destiny of all living beings in the prehistoric world, established the Daoist Sect, and enjoyed its supreme destiny.

Though the Daoist Sect Destiny was not limited to supporting a single Saint, its total amount was finite.

Hongjun's breakthrough had made it extraordinarily difficult for them to attain the Dao through the Daoist Sect Destiny.

Empress Nuwa created the human race and gained the Human Race Destiny, thereby attaining the Dao.

Now, Laozi's Classic of Morality had also gathered sixty percent of the Daoist Sect Destiny, paving the way for Slaying Three Corpses to Attain Dao.

The four of them, however, lacked such merit, destiny, and grand momentum, and thus could not obtain the opportunity granted by Primordial Violet Qi.

At this moment, Heavenly Dao Hongjun posed his third question to them: "What will you do?"

Li Er understood that this was asking them to make a choice regarding the establishment of the Human Sect.

At this time, the rewards for the god-tier choice mission were extremely generous. Choosing to establish the Human Sect and attain the Dao through merit would grant the Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler.

If he chose not to establish the Human Sect and instead attained the Dao by Slaying Three Corpses, he would receive the ultimate divine ability, the Pangu Imprint. This reward could help him comprehend the peerless divine ability, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones.

The Hongmeng Liangtian Ruler was a merit treasure born alongside the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda during the Heaven-Opening. It combined offense and defense, possessed the power of twenty percent of the Heaven-Opening merit, and could rival or even surpass an Innate Supreme Treasure.