Peak Quasi-Saint Reveals the Sub-Saint Realm

"Senior Brother was mistaken."

"Rulai's reincarnation had already washed away the Karma of his previous life. He was now a member of the Human Race, inheriting the Luck of heaven and earth's protagonist. This was precisely the moment to link the past to the future and carry things forward."

"Master possesses Great Fortune."

"Moreover, he had completely inherited the Dao Fruit of his past life. Having attained enlightenment and true awakening in this life, he broke and rebuilt himself, casting aside the old and creating the new. He had truly reached the peak of the Quasi-Saint Realm."

The more Zhunti spoke, the more excited he became.

"What Three Great Peak Quasi-Saints of the Primordial Era? No, from the moment Rulai became the World Honored One, he became the sole unrivaled Quasi-Saint in the Primordial Era."

"Zhen Yuanzi and Kunpeng must both rank beneath him."

"With the World Honored One governing Buddhism, there is no need for us to worry. He will certainly bring about the rise of Buddhism."

Zhunti spoke sincerely. He was not merely praising his disciple.

In his Dharma Eye, Rulai had already pulled half a step ahead of Zhen Yuanzi and Minghe.

That half-step was an insurmountable chasm.

The Quasi-Saint Realm was already the final realm before Hunyuan.

The peak of the Quasi-Saint Realm was even more so.

For Rulai to advance another step after reaching the very top, taking half a step further within the Peak Quasi-Saint Realm, had truly exceeded Zhunti's expectations.

The current Rulai had already reached a critical threshold.

He could enter the Hunyuan Realm at any moment.

Such a realm could be called the Sub-Saint Realm.

Previously, only three great powers in the Primordial Era had reached this realm.

They were the Three Sage Emperors of Huoyun Cave, who suppressed the Luck of the Human Race.

Though the Three Sage Emperors bore the word "Sage" in their title, they possessed only the name of Saints, not the substance. They were false Saints.

Even so, their realms were beyond comparison to those of ordinary cultivators.

They were the legendary Sub-Saints!

Only by gathering the Luck of a generation's protagonist of heaven and earth, establishing the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and being blessed with boundless Merit had they reached such a level.

The Saints had originally believed that no cultivator could ever become like the Three Sage Emperors again.

Who could have expected Rulai to reach such a realm as well?

Zhunti was immensely delighted!

This was entirely an unexpected windfall.

Zhunti suddenly noticed that Jieyin did not seem particularly pleased. He asked curiously, "Senior Brother, what are you worried about?"

Jieyin's expression was grave.

"The World Honored One's cultivation growing stronger by the day is naturally a good thing for our Buddhism."

"Junior Brother, but the World Honored One is not invincible among Quasi-Saints!"

Zhunti was unconcerned. "Who could possibly contend with the World Honored One?"

Jieyin looked troubled. "The Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace!"

Zhunti said bitterly, "Aren't those Eight Immortals merely relying on having a little more Merit and stronger treasures? In terms of actual cultivation... Master is still somewhat stronger..."

He could not continue. Jieyin was staring fixedly at him.

Zhunti let out a dejected sigh. He could not deceive himself!

Merit and magical treasures were inherently part of a cultivator's strength!

And an exceedingly important part at that.

Take Tongtian, for instance.

On the Investiture of the Gods Battlefield, when faced with Great Immortal Yang Mei's provocation, he had directly chosen to break through in the midst of battle.

Over one hundred million years within the Time Array, he frantically burned Merit, directly raising his cultivation from the peak of the Twelfth Layer of the Heavenly Dao Realm to the Eleventh Heaven of the Dao Integration Realm in one stroke!

Burning Merit for one hundred million years was simply horrifying.

But there was no helping it. Tongtian possessed that much Merit. With Merit, he could do whatever he pleased.

He had forced Yang Mei to swallow the bitterest fruit—after Tongtian completed his breakthrough, a single axe strike sent him into Nirvana!

Zhunti recalled Duobao's performance within the Immortal Slaying Sword Array.

With a single Earth Splitting Chisel, he had forcibly reduced Great Immortal Yang Mei's Willow Tree incarnation, a mighty expert at the Peak Dao Integration Realm, to ashes.

That Willow Tree Daoist was a super expert universally acknowledged to be beyond the reach of even the Saints' incarnations.

Yet Duobao had turned him to ashes with a single strike of the chisel.

And Duobao's Immortal Slaying Sword Array was an unrivaled Chaos Spirit Treasure!

For Rulai to defeat Duobao... would also be extremely difficult!

Zhunti was filled with envy, jealousy, and resentment!

A Heavenly Dao Saint like him was actually envying Biyou Palace's eldest disciple. If word got out... most of the Saints would agree with him!

Before the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, no one would have believed that a Saint like Jiang Ran would envy a Quasi-Saint!

But after the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, which Saint did not envy Duobao?

There was no need even to mention that Earth Splitting Chisel, likely an imitation of a Chaos Supreme Treasure.

The Immortal Slaying Sword Array alone—

Was a genuine Chaos Spirit Treasure!

The two Saints of the West did not even possess a single Innate Supreme Treasure between them.

How could Zhunti not be envious?

Envy was inevitable!

Just as Jieyin had said, Duobao possessed boundless Merit and sufficient cultivation. If he truly followed Tongtian's example and burned Merit—

Rulai might not necessarily be able to surpass him.

And with those two great treasures added in...

Zhunti suddenly realized that Rulai truly had no guaranteed chance of victory.

But after another thought, he smiled again.

"Senior Brother is overthinking it!"

Hmm?

Jieyin looked at Zhunti in confusion.

Zhunti smiled. "Senior Brother, do not forget the rise of the West!"

"The Heavenly Dao is with us, not him. Even if Duobao has more Merit and stronger treasures, so what?"

"Would he dare defy Heaven?"

Jieyin silently nodded!

Indeed, any cultivator in the Primordial Era with even a little cultivation could sense Heaven's will.

They would absolutely not act against Heaven.

This was the bitter lesson that the cultivators of the Primordial Era had purchased with blood since the Desolate Beast Heaven-Opening Calamity, the Dragon-Han Calamity, and the Witch-Demon Calamity.

Before those three great calamities, Quasi-Saints had been everywhere in the Primordial Era, while Grand Unity Golden Immortals were as common as dogs.

But these Quasi-Saint great powers cultivated only Supernatural Powers and failed to recognize the times. Thus, they ultimately turned to ashes within the calamities.

Especially after Hongjun attained the Dao, the majesty of the Heavenly Dao became even more firmly established.

Whenever cultivators in the Primordial Era possessed even a little cultivation, their pursuit of the Dao involved not only cultivating Supernatural Powers, but also advancing their cultivation and comprehending the Heavenly Dao.

Without understanding the Heavenly Dao, sailing upon the sea was like having no helmsman. Not only would one take detours, but one could easily head in the wrong direction!

That was the greatest loss!

Duobao was Biyou Palace's eldest disciple, a Peak Quasi-Saint with a body full of Merit.

How could he not know the current grand trend of the Heavenly Dao?

Duobao would not become an obstacle to the rise of the West.

Upon thinking it over, Jieyin agreed.

The Saints had jointly discussed it in Zixiao Palace. The rise of the West had already become the consensus of the Saints and the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao.

As Biyou Palace's eldest disciple, how could Duobao not know that?

Jieyin slowly nodded. "I was overthinking it!"

He brought up the matter from earlier again.

"Still, Junior Brother, although we are plotting against Sun Wukong, we are doing so on Jin'ao Island."

"That is Tongtian's sacred ground. Are you certain there will be no problem?"

Zhunti sneered.

"We are plotting against Sun Wukong, and we are not even handling it ourselves."

"So what if Tongtian is enraged? Could he possibly come charging up Mount Sumeru to attack us?"

"Remember, Dao Ancestor Hongjun explicitly forbade the Saints from acting."

Zhunti smiled smugly.

"So what if the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate outnumber us?"

"If Saints are forbidden from acting, their advantage has already been offset."

Zhunti said arrogantly.

"In terms of wisdom, what do the Saints of the Mystic Gate amount to?"

Jieyin nodded, only then feeling somewhat reassured.

The world said the two Saints of the West were shameless and without character.

But among those who could attain the Dao and become Saints, who was not a person of great wisdom?

Shamelessness was merely an outward appearance!

Zhunti simply believed that acting shamelessly allowed him to achieve his goals more conveniently.

It did not mean that shamelessness was all he knew.

Anyone who thought so could wait to be punished!

Zhunti was exceedingly proud of his own wisdom.

He did not believe his wisdom was inferior to Yuanshi's.

That claim that Yuanshi possessed the greatest wisdom among all Saints...

Was merely because Zhunti could not be bothered to show it.

If Zhunti truly competed, Yuanshi might not necessarily be able to prevail!

This was the shared belief of the Two Sages of the West.

Zhunti smiled.

"Senior Brother, think about it. So what if Tongtian is enraged?"

"That Angel was not sent by us. He was Haotian's envoy... If Tongtian goes to settle accounts with Haotian, would that not simply give us a spectacle to enjoy?"

Zhunti said coldly.

"As Buddhism spreads eastward, the West must rise. Correspondingly, the Mystic Gate of the East must decline!"

Only then was Jieyin reassured.

He agreed.

"In the Primordial Era, only Karma matters, not right or wrong!"

Zhunti laughed loudly. "Excellent!"

He gazed leisurely toward the Heavenly Court. "It is better if the Mystic Gate descends into chaos!"

Jieyin smiled. "Excellent!"

Haotian sat high upon the throne in the Hall of Lingxiao, slightly angered.

He had been plotted against by the West again!

Earlier, Zhunti, one of Buddhism's Two Sages, had personally sent him a voice transmission, asking Haotian to cooperate in plotting against a monkey.

Haotian had agreed without giving it much thought.

The rise of the West was the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao. Any cultivator with even a little cultivation could sense it.

Haotian governed the Three Realms under the Saints' decree. How could he not know the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao?

He had merely considered it a favor to Buddhism.

With the rise of the West, Buddhism would become heaven and earth's protagonist.

Although Haotian was the Heavenly Emperor, he could not defy Heaven.

Though he disliked the West and Buddhism from the bottom of his heart, the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao could not be defied!

What else could Haotian do?

However, after the plot against Monkey was truly set in motion—

Haotian remembered something: where was that monkey?

One look nearly frightened Haotian out of his wits!

That monkey was actually visiting Biyou Palace on Jin'ao Island in the East Sea!

Plotting against Monkey within Biyou Palace was a grave offense against Tongtian!

Yet the bad news did not end there.

At that time, Tongtian was not the only Saint within Biyou Palace.

Besides Tongtian, Taishang, Yuanshi, and Nuwa were there as well!

Haotian's heart turned cold.

This meant that he had plotted against Monkey before the eyes of four Saints.

He had viciously slapped all four Saints in the face!

A mere Peak Quasi-Saint like him had actually rushed forward to slap four Saints in the face!!

This was madness!

He was indeed the ruler of the Three Realms and the great emperor of the Heavenly Court,

But he was still subject to the jurisdiction of the Saint's decree.

Where had Haotian found the nerve to challenge the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate, even provoke them?!

"The saints of the Western Teachings are indeed plotting against me again!"

The helpless thing was that their scheme had actually succeeded!

This was going to be extremely troublesome!

Haotian's heart turned cold.

With his Dharma Eye, he saw Monkey riding a cloud directly from Biyou Palace, carrying Angel, who was half a head taller than him.

Seven of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace were actually following behind him!

Haotian himself was a Peak Quasi-Saint, but which one of the Eight Immortals of Biyou Palace was not a Peak Quasi-Saint?

Panic rose in Haotian's heart. "Could it be that the saint of Biyou Palace has issued a decree to strip me of my position?"

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

His heart grew ever more frantic.

Just as he was at a loss, the Four Heavenly Masters reported, "Great Heavenly Venerate, Taishang Laojun of Doushuai Palace seeks an audience!"

Hmm?!

Haotian became even more alarmed!

Taishang Laojun was the Good Corpse incarnation of the saint of the Human Sect.

He only refined pills and comprehended the Dao in Doushuai Palace, almost never interfering in the affairs of the Heavenly Court.

He had never imagined that he had merely served as a knife for Buddhism and plotted against Monkey—

Yet Taishang Laojun had actually come forth!

Could it be that some Saint's decree was about to descend?

Were they going to strip him of his position?

Haotian hurriedly said, "Bring him in at once!"

Taishang Laojun slowly entered the Hall of Lingxiao. His first words made Haotian's heart sink. "Great Heavenly Venerate, please dismiss your attendants."

Haotian grew even more flustered.

The Saints surely had a secret decree, or why else would he say such a thing?

Haotian quickly ordered all the immortal officials to withdraw.

Taishang Laojun looked calmly at Haotian.

"Great Heavenly Venerate, you are the ruler of the Three Realms. Your status is exalted. Within the Mystic Gate, you stand beneath the Saints and above all others."

"Yet I wonder why you forgot the Karma between you and the Western Teachings, and instead became a knife for the Two Sages of Buddhism, needlessly lowering your own standing?"

Boom!

Haotian's face turned deathly pale!

His heart pounded furiously.

"It's been exposed!"

Not only had his plot against Sun Wukong been exposed—

Even the matter of how, after being plotted against by Zhunti, he had painstakingly devised a scheme to plot against Chan Jiao, ultimately triggering the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, had been exposed as well!

This had originally been an absolute secret.

Not even the Western Teachings, whom he had plotted against, knew of it.

Yet the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate knew every detail perfectly.

How could Haotian not be terrified?!

He stammered, "Laojun... I... I..."

Taishang Laojun ignored him and continued on his own.

"Your younger sister, Princess Yunhua, was plotted against by Zhunti and sent down to the mortal world. She fell in love with Yang Tianyou and bore three demigod children."

"Zhunti then turned around and accused her, ordering you to execute Yunhua in order to uphold the severity of the heavenly rules."

"It was the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate who rejected Zhunti's absurd proposal and preserved Great Heavenly Venerate's dignity."

"But it seems that, with time having passed, Great Heavenly Venerate has forgotten this Karma."

"You have forgotten this Karma, yet were still willing to become a knife for the Western Teachings."

"Does the position of Heavenly Emperor sit comfortably with you?"

Haotian had no answer!

The Saints even knew this matter so clearly. Any lingering hope in his heart instantly vanished!

In other words, his every action was laid bare before the Saints. Not the slightest secret could be hidden from them.

Haotian dropped to his knees before Taishang Laojun with a thump.

"Laojun, please be merciful. I know I was wrong!"

Taishang Laojun remained expressionless and spoke word by word.

"Originally, your own younger sister was plotted against by the Two Sages of the West. You, a mere Peak Quasi-Saint, actually dared to plot against the Two Sages of the West and provoke the Investiture of the Gods Calamity..."

"Though the Saints knew, they said nothing."

"After all, it was the Western Teachings that had erred first."

"You had such courage. The Saints were quite pleased—you are the Great Heavenly Venerate of our Mystic Gate. With such resolve, we could only be happy for you!"

"But you should not have become a knife for Buddhism and actually dared to plot against the Four Saints of the Mystic Gate."

"Are you trying to sever yourself from the Mystic Gate?"

Haotian shook his head wildly. He had been frightened out of his wits!

Taishang Laojun's words had already been exceptionally severe.

If he still could not tell good from bad, what use was there in being the Heavenly Emperor?

Haotian carefully tried to defend himself.

"Laojun, aren't you thinking too highly of that Monkey?"

"It is merely a wild monkey that was just born!"

Taishang Laojun shot Haotian a fierce glare.

The rest of Haotian's words were frightened back down his throat!

Taishang Laojun sneered.

"A wild monkey?"

"A wild monkey that reached the Quasi-Saint realm the moment it was born?"

"Find me a second one from the Primordial Era!"

Hmm?!

Haotian thought it over slightly and was instantly shaken!

A Quasi-Saint from the moment of birth?!

Not only had he never seen such a thing, he had never even heard of it!

Haotian had once been Hongjun's gatekeeping attendant.

He had seen countless great powers.

Among them were no shortage of present-day Saints and departed Quasi-Saints.

Those great powers had all been supreme figures who dominated an era.

Yet even those innate great deities and invincible cultivators, at the moment they first took form and were born—

Had not been able to reach the Quasi-Saint realm!

If one became a Quasi-Saint upon taking form, it meant that one's Dao had already taken shape. So long as one possessed sufficient opportunity, Merit, and cultivation—

One could smoothly attain Hunyuan.

Such a great power had no need for a master. Heaven and earth themselves were its Dao!

Haotian cursed the Western Teachings in his heart.

So the being they had asked him to plot against was such a terrifying great power?

To say nothing else—

If Haotian had known that Sun Wukong's cultivation was at the Quasi-Saint realm, he would certainly have treated him with the utmost respect!

He would never have tried to find a way to plot against Monkey.

Plot against a Quasi-Saint with whom he had absolutely no Karma—

Was he insane?!

Taishang Laojun said blandly.

"This Fellow Daoist was highly cultivated at birth, but that does not mean he lacks a master."

"He has a lineage!"

Ah?!

Haotian was even more shocked!

This Monkey had a master behind him as well?

The disciple's cultivation was already like this—

Then his master's cultivation must be...

Haotian asked tremblingly, "Which Saint of the Primordial Era is Fellow Daoist Monkey's master?"

He knew the Buddhists had not come to him for anything good.

But he had previously plotted against the Western Teachings and stirred up the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, so he was already feeling guilty as a thief.

When the Two Sages of Buddhism came looking for him this time—

In order to avoid arousing the suspicions of the two Buddhist Saints, Haotian had readily agreed.

Looking back now, every step had been a trap!

Haotian abruptly realized that, aside from the Saints of the West—

He had offended nearly everyone in the entire Primordial Era!

How could Haotian still dare to put on airs now?

He hurriedly dropped to his knees before Taishang Laojun and cried out, "Laojun, save me! Laojun, save me!"

In his panic, Haotian did not even refer to himself as "I."

Taishang Laojun hurriedly waved his hand.

"This old Daoist does not possess such ability."

"That great power is far too powerful. Even my true body is no match for him."

"You should seek your own fortune!"

Haotian sucked in a sharp breath.

What kind of statement was that?

Venerable Lord Yuanshi, the saint of Jade Void Palace, was a Heavenly Dao Saint!

What could possibly make even a Heavenly Dao Saint fear it?

Taishang Laojun added, "Originally, the Saints had discussed having Yang Jian relay these words to you."

"But... heh!"

Haotian's face filled with shame.

How could he fail to understand Taishang Laojun's unspoken meaning?

Although Yang Jian's relationship with Haotian was strained, they were still uncle and nephew—

They were family, after all, so such matters could be spoken of more tactfully.

But with Taishang Laojun personally stepping forward, it meant something major had happened.

Taishang Laojun glanced at Haotian.

"Your Fate is not something the Saints can control. Let us see how Fellow Daoist Wukong chooses to deal with you!"

Huh?!