The Saint's Dao, Severing Others' Paths

After their discussion of the Dao among the stars and their analysis of the various methods, Tongtian, Nuwa, and Red Cloud each returned to their own cultivation grounds for secluded cultivation, digesting what they had gained. They now had a clearer understanding of their future paths and had strengthened their resolve not to follow the method of severing the Three Corpses. Xuan Wazi, meanwhile, continued wandering the Primordial World, sometimes concealing himself and sometimes appearing openly. With his "stubborn" tricks, his increasingly profound cultivation, and his ever more skillful divine abilities of "Myriad Transformations" and "Great Dao Admonition," he left behind many more legends throughout the Primordial World that were both laughable and helplessly infuriating. His reputation for "Not Being a Person" grew ever louder within certain circles.

Several thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's familiar yet majestic Dao voice rang out across the Primordial World for the third time:

"The three-thousand-year period has arrived. The Purple Cloud Palace's third lecture shall begin. This lecture shall expound the Saint's Dao. Those fated may come and listen."

The Saint's Dao!

Those four simple words were even more alluring than the previous two lectures! Great Luo and Quasi-Saints were ultimately still within the realm of cultivation, but Saints were transcendent—supreme! In an instant, the Primordial World erupted once more, as countless streams of escaping light rushed headlong toward the chaos.

Xuan Wazi still relied on his speed, unmatched throughout the Primordial World, to be the first to enter the Purple Cloud Palace, firmly taking the first cushion. Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, and Red Cloud took their seats in turn after him, their order as clear as ever. Jieyin and Zhunti still wore those sorrowful, suffering expressions as they stood at the back, though blazing longing lay hidden deep within their eyes.

Hongjun manifested, his gaze sweeping over the three thousand guests of the mortal world below. His eyes lingered on Xuan Wazi for an exceedingly brief moment. He remained as detached as ever, yet seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

"This time, I shall speak of the Saint's Dao." Hongjun spoke, his Dao voice cutting directly to the heart of the matter.

He first briefly mentioned the Dao of Strength, saying that it involved using supreme mana to forcibly shatter the restraints of the Heavenly Dao and become a Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. Its difficulty was greatest, nearly impossible. Even Father God Pangu had fallen short upon this path, failing to attain the Hunyuan Wuji Golden Immortal realm. Yet he did not mention that this was the strongest method among those of the same level.

Next, he briefly mentioned the Dao of Merit, saying that one could perform great merit for Heaven and Earth, gain the Heavenly Dao's recognition, and become a Saint through merit. Yet he likewise did not mention that this path was the weakest and most deeply constrained by the Heavenly Dao.

The main portion of his lecture, however, focused upon attaining the Dao by severing the Three Corpses! Hongjun explained in detail the methods and crucial points of merging the severed Three Corpses with oneself, ultimately entrusting one's Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao and becoming a Heavenly Dao Sage. His words brought Flowers Falling from Heaven and golden lotuses surging from the earth. The Dao aura was far richer than before, as though this were the grandest and most reliable broad road leading to sainthood!

Yet Xuan Wazi keenly noticed that when Hongjun spoke of the method of severing the Three Corpses, he had deliberately avoided several critical issues! He had not clearly emphasized the importance of using Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin to house the Three Corpses, and he had glossed over the extreme difficulty of merging the Three Corpses into one. He merely vaguely stated that it required great perseverance and great fortune, without mentioning that he himself had only managed to merge the Three Corpses with the Heavenly Dao's assistance! As for the Dao of Worlds and the path of Incense and Vow Power, he had not uttered a single word about them!

This was plainly deliberate guidance—offering only the enticing fruit while concealing the potentially fatal trap beneath it!

Many great experts in the hall, especially those Quasi-Saints who had already severed one or even two corpses, such as Laozi, Yuanshi, and Di Jun, listened with their hearts racing, as though sainthood were already before their eyes. Even Tongtian and Nuwa could not help being somewhat moved by the profundity of the Saint's Dao. Yet recalling Xuan Wazi's previous analysis, they retained a measure of vigilance in their hearts.

Just as the lecture neared its end, with everyone immersed in their longing and insight regarding the Saint's Dao, the system notification in Xuan Wazi's mind rang out forcefully:

[ Ding! Ultimate Nitpicking Mission issued: Dao Ancestor's 'Oversight'! Mission: After the lecture ends, before all eyes, directly expose the critical drawbacks Hongjun deliberately concealed in the method of severing the Three Corpses—Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin are required, merging the Three Corpses is exceedingly difficult, and he himself succeeded only with the Heavenly Dao's assistance! Make Hongjun's expression as ugly as possible! Mission reward: Innate Spiritual Treasure ×1, Six Paths Reincarnation Disk ×1, cultivation raised to the early Primordial Golden Immortal realm! Note: Host is a Great Dao Anomaly. Hongjun is constrained by the Heavenly Dao and cannot directly develop killing intent toward the host. Go wild without worry, young man!]

Xuan Wazi's heart settled, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. The time had come! It was time to present that Old Earthworm's "perfect" lecture with one final "grand gift"!

The three-thousand-year lecture ended amid Hongjun's detached Dao voice. Those in the hall were still savoring the mysteries of the Saint's Dao, especially that "smooth path" of becoming a Saint by severing the Three Corpses.

Just as Hongjun was about to accept disciples and distribute treasures—

"Dao Ancestor, wait!" A clear voice carrying a trace of unquestionable authority rang out. It was Xuan Wazi from the foremost seat once again!

In an instant, the entire Purple Cloud Palace became silent enough to hear a pin drop! Every gaze—including those of the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, Di Jun, Taiyi, and all three thousand guests of the mortal world—focused upon Xuan Wazi! What was he going to do now?!

Hongjun temporarily set aside the matter of taking disciples. He was colder than he had been at any previous time! Slowly turning his head, those indifferent eyes that seemed to contain the Heavenly Dao fell upon Xuan Wazi's face for the first time in the truest sense. There was no anger and no ripple, yet they carried an icy pressure capable of freezing time and space!

"Xuan Wazi... what question do you have?" Hongjun's voice remained calm, but anyone could sense the undercurrent surging beneath that calmness.

As though completely unaware, Xuan Wazi rose to his feet and cupped his hands toward Hongjun. There was even a faint, knowledge-seeking smile on his face, but the words he spoke were like thunder, exploding in the heart of every listener:

"Reporting to Dao Ancestor, this disciple indeed has something he does not understand, and humbly asks Dao Ancestor to resolve his doubts." His tone was "respectful," but his words were sharp as blades. "The method of attaining the Dao by severing the Three Corpses that Dao Ancestor has just explained is infinitely profound and makes us all yearn for it. However, this disciple has heard that there seems to be an enormous hurdle to attaining the Dao by this method. First, once the Three Corpses have been severed, they must be housed within Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin for completion. Otherwise, the Three Corpses will find it difficult to coexist. Their conflicting treasure attributes may even prevent the Three Corpses from merging, damaging one's Dao foundation. Is this true?"

Boom!

The moment these words fell, an uproar immediately broke out below! The expressions of those Quasi-Saints who had already severed two corpses, particularly Laozi, Yuanshi, Di Jun, and the others, changed at once! When they had severed their corpses, they had forcibly done so by relying on the mysteries of their own spiritual treasures and their cultivation, without giving much thought to whether they were "of the same origin." Now that this had been exposed, a sense of foreboding immediately rose within them!

Hongjun's gaze turned icy as he watched Xuan Wazi, but he did not answer at once.

Yet Xuan Wazi did not wait for his response and continued his "request for instruction," his tone growing ever more "earnest." "Second, even if one is fortunate enough to find spiritual treasures of the same origin and sever the Three Corpses, merging the Three Corpses into one to attain Hunyuan seems to be even more unimaginably difficult. It cannot be achieved without immense fortune and great opportunity. Indeed, it is perhaps a hundred times more perilous and difficult than severing the corpses in the first place! Is what this disciple has heard mistaken?"

Another heavy hammer fell! The color drained visibly from the faces of those Quasi-Saints who had successfully severed their corpses! They had believed the road ahead to be bright, only to discover that the greatest obstacle still lay before them!

"Third," Xuan Wazi finally revealed the dagger hidden in the map, his voice carrying clearly throughout the great hall, "this disciple has also heard that Dao Ancestor, back then, only managed to merge the Three Corpses in the end and attain the Saint's position with the aid of the Heavenly Dao in the unseen depths. Is this... true?"

"If all three points above are true," Xuan Wazi concluded at last, openly meeting Hongjun's icy gaze, "then this method of severing the Three Corpses may appear to be a grand, righteous road, but in truth it is riddled with restrictions and carries profound hidden dangers! Not only is there the limitation of gathering Innate Spiritual Treasures of the same origin, something that is nearly impossible, there is also the difficulty of merging the Three Corpses, as hard as ascending to Heaven. It may even require the unfathomable favor of the Heavenly Dao! Would such a method of attaining the Dao not be... severing others' paths?!"

The four words "severing others' paths" fell like a final judgment!

The entire Purple Cloud Palace was deathly silent!

The Quasi-Saints who had severed their corpses, such as Laozi, Yuanshi, Di Jun, and the others, had faces ashen with rage. Their gazes toward Hongjun were filled with shock, suspicion, fury, and disbelief! They felt as though they had fallen into a meticulously woven trap! Those who had yet to sever their corpses, such as Tongtian, Nuwa, Zhen Yuanzi, Red Cloud, and the others, were filled with relief and lingering fear!

At last, Hongjun's expression was no longer eternally indifferent! The muscles in his cheeks twitched almost imperceptibly. Deep within his eyes, Heavenly Dao Laws seemed to collide and evolve violently! An indescribable aura, suppressed to the utmost limit, spread outward with him at its center, making the entire Purple Cloud Palace seem to tremble! He stared fixedly at Xuan Wazi, his gaze nearly enough to see through him completely and grind him to dust!

Yet just as the system had said, constrained by the rules of the Heavenly Dao, he could not directly give rise to killing intent toward Xuan Wazi, this "Great Dao Anomaly," and act upon it!

This boundless fury and frustration could only be forcibly suppressed. For once someone discovered that the Three Corpses could not merge—or that they even conflicted with one another—after Xuan Wazi had stirred up such a storm, the truth would naturally be revealed!

After a silence that seemed as long as an entire epoch, Hongjun finally spoke in a voice that seemed squeezed from between his teeth, cold to the extreme:

"What you say... is true. The method of severing the Three Corpses indeed requires spiritual treasures of the same origin to house them, and merging the Three Corpses is not easily accomplished... I, too... received the Heavenly Dao's aid before I could succeed. However, even without spiritual treasures of the same origin, one may still attain the Saint's position through the method of severing the Three Corpses, so long as one has Primordial Violet Qi to assist them. And I happen to possess some Primordial Violet Qi."

He admitted it himself! But he had also said that he possessed Primordial Violet Qi.

Though his tone was icy and he tried to maintain his dignity, that admission alone had utterly shattered the "perfect" halo surrounding the method of severing the Three Corpses!

Bzzzz—!

The hall instantly exploded into chaos! Voices of doubt, outrage, relief, and debate intertwined! The Immortal Path's fortune fluctuated violently before plummeting at a visible rate! Those Quasi-Saints who had severed their corpses felt their Dao hearts quake, as though the road ahead had already been cut off!

Then the Quasi-Saint great experts all looked toward Hongjun with hopeful gazes, wishing for him to grant them Primordial Violet Qi.

Watching Hongjun's incomparably ugly expression and feeling the chaotic atmosphere within the Purple Cloud Palace as well as the plunging fortune of the Immortal Path, Xuan Wazi felt utterly delighted. He cupped his hands toward Hongjun once more, then sat back down as though nothing had happened.

"So that is how it is. Many thanks to Dao Ancestor for resolving this disciple's doubts. This disciple understands now."

[ Ding! Ultimate Nitpicking Mission completed! Successfully exposed Hongjun's concealment, provoking his utmost fury and frustration, causing the Immortal Path's fortune to plummet! Rewards issued: Innate Spiritual Treasure 'Soul Suppressing Pagoda' ×1, Six Paths Reincarnation Disk ×1, cultivation raised to the early Primordial Golden Immortal realm!]

A surge of Hunyuan Power far vaster than the Great Luo realm and far closer to the Great Dao Origin poured into Xuan Wazi's body! His mana, Spirit Soul, and Dao body instantly underwent a qualitative transformation! He broke free from the scope of Great Luo and formally entered the realm of the Primordial Golden Immortal! From this day onward, he truly possessed the qualifications to place his own pieces upon the Primordial World's highest chessboard!

Hongjun stared fixedly at Xuan Wazi, the aura around him fluctuating unstably. In the end, he abruptly swept his sleeve, as though he wanted to brush away this "anomaly" that displeased him so intensely along with the chaotic situation itself. Thus, the third lecture ended hastily in a manner no one had anticipated.

As Xuan Wazi felt the power of the Primordial Golden Immortal within himself and looked at the gazes around him—some furious, some frightened, some grateful, some admiring—he knew that from this moment onward, he, Xuan Wazi the "Not Being a Person," had truly left an indelible... shadow in the hearts of the Primordial World's great figures.

At this moment, however, Xuan Wazi knew that Hongjun had not left after ending his lecture; he intended to accept disciples and distribute treasures.

He had no interest in becoming a disciple, but as for treasure distribution... Xuan Wazi had come thoroughly prepared.