A contest for Sainthood, schemes at every turn

The gates of the Hall of Reincarnation slowly opened, marking the end of the first lecture by the Empress Houtu.

The three thousand Dao Listener emerged from their meditative state, bowed in gratitude to Houtu on the platform, and gradually began to walk out of the hall.

After leaving the hall, everyone had calmed down from the Daoist chants. Having experienced the baptism of the Myriad Worlds Reincarnation Array and listened to the true interpretation of the Earthly Dao Three Thousand Years, the great beings no longer had the restlessness or confusion they had when they first entered the Youming. Instead, they had a calm and dignified demeanor like the earth, and their eyes shone with an undisguised excitement.

Throughout her Three Thousand Years preaching journey, Empress Houtu) expounded on the Origin of Earth, from the formation of the Primordial Desolation Earth to the mysteries of the Earth Vein Spiritual Energy circulation and the principles of the birth, death, and interdependence of all things, all with exquisite detail.

More importantly, it cleared away some of the fog surrounding the Earthly Dao Hunyuan Saint Realm.

A white-haired, wandering Daoist cultivator from the primordial era, his body enveloped in Primordial World Wutu Spiritual Light, stepped out of the hall and, sensing the unique chill of the Nine Netherworlds, yet imbued with the profound virtue of the earth, couldn't help but exclaim:

With Bearing Things with Vast Virtue, it sustains all things and provides endless life; every word spoken by the Empress is a gem.

It was no accident that Great Immortal Zhen Yuan was able to attain the status of Earth Dao Saint!

It inherited the Earth Scroll, sorted out the Earth Veins, conferred titles upon the Mountain Gods and Earth Gods to stabilize the earth 'Earth Qi, nurtured the Earth Spirit, and solidified the earth's Origin of the Way of Earth. It also obtained an Earth Spirit Origin Qi as a guide.

There are four reasons for his attainment of the Dao: first, his own fundamental source is strong; second, Fortune accumulated Merit are profound; third, he has made great contributions to the growth and development of the Earthly Dao; and fourth, his own Dao Fruit is in harmony with the Laws of the Earthly Dao.

Only when these four qualities are possessed can Heavenly Dao respond and bestow upon one Sainthood!

His words immediately resonated with many, and many people began to discuss his words in hushed tones.

"I wonder what your name is, fellow Daoist? You are truly a clever and insightful person, and your thoughts and words are very reasonable!"

An unstable foundation makes one like a rootless duckweed; shallow Fortune makes it difficult to bear the weight of Sainthood; and without the merit of pioneering the Earthly Dao, without the deeds of stabilizing the Primordial Desolation Earth, how can one speak of harmony with the 'Way'?

The most practical Earthly Dao; therefore, it seems there is a reason why the Sainthood remains vacant.

A dignified and elegant Daoist priest, dressed in a light blue robe, nodded in agreement.

"Since the Empress Houtu has opened up the Great Dao and pointed out the way forward, how can we return empty-handed?"

The path of Great Immortal Zhen Yuan is proof of this!

By untangling the Earth Veins and restoring its spiritual energy, one can achieve great merit in the Primordial World and attain Great Virtue in the Earthly Dao —this is the path of the Earth Dao Saint!

The three thousand Dao Listener came from all corners of the Primordial World, of different races and with varying levels of cultivation, but at this moment, they all unanimously agreed with this statement.

Zhenyuanzi's example is too vivid!

He sifted through the Earth Veins of the Western Primordial Desolation and Southern Region wilderness, bestowed titles upon countless Mountain Gods and Earth Gods, enlightened the Earth Spirit, and established Earth Immortal System.

Each of these steps is not achieved overnight; it is the result of millions of years of continuous work in sorting out, strengthening, and perfecting the Earth Origin.

It was this immense contribution, spanning countless years, combined with his own profound origins and Fortune Ancestor of Earth Immortals, that ultimately garnered the recognition of the Earthly Dao, leading him to sainthood in one fell swoop.

"It seems that Western Teachings are the same!" someone in the crowd shouted.

In the past, when the Western Teachings was revived, the two Saints, Jieyin and Zhunti, followed Jiang Yun's strategy and led their disciples to draw Spirit Spring, activate the Earth Veins, plant Spirit Root, and build a Buddhist kingdom in the barren and desolate land of the Western Region. They transformed the Western Region into a place full of spiritual vitality. That Great Vow and great Merit laid the foundation for their Sainthood!

"Back then, when the two Saints of the Western Teachings, Zhunti and Jieyin, Great Vow, Dao Venerable Jiang Yun spared no effort in doing so, leading the followers of the Western Teachings to restore the Spirit Vein in the bitter and cold land of the Western Region and supervise the construction of Spirit Land."

The Western Teachings is now so prosperous that three Hunyuan Saint Realm have emerged from its ranks, and even Great Immortal Zhen Yuan, who has good relations with the Western Region, has successfully attained enlightenment.

Why don't we follow the old Western Region example?

Upon hearing this, everyone pondered for a moment, their gazes involuntarily turning to the Northern Primordial Desolation, a place shattered during the Great Tribulation of Fierce Beasts and subsequently declining.

"Back then Western Region was impoverished but could still be revitalized; today, although the North is dilapidated, its foundation remains. Is this not precisely where our opportunity lies?"

Driven by profit, everyone's enthusiasm is at an all-time high.

Absolutely right!

The Western Region Earth Veins fractured back then, Baleful Qi permeated the air, making it no less devastating than the northern lands today.

"Restoring the Northern Lands and strengthening the Origin of the Way of Earth is a monumental undertaking for the Primordial World, and also the noble and righteous path for us to become Earth Dao Saint!"

In an instant, the idea of "following the example of the Western Region and managing the North" grew wildly in the minds of the thousands of powerful figures in the hall.

Zhenyuanzi's work in purifying the earth and the Western Teachings's Great Vow vision of revival have clearly pointed out a Great Dao leading to the Earthly Dao Sainthood for them!

The profound and inclusive nature of the Origin of the Way of Earth as expounded by the Empress Houtu sermons further convinced them that this path was feasible.

When the three thousand Dao Listener, with clear objectives, returned from the Youming to the Primordial Desolation Earth, an unexpected storm instantly swept across the entire Northern Primordial Desolation.

In just a few years, the once desolate and sparsely populated Northern Primordial Desolation region suddenly became more lively than ever before.

Above the sky, Shimmering with light and Evasion Light.

Demon God and Demon Saint from the Demon Clan Heavenly Court led their Demon Soldiers to set up altars and activate magical artifacts, attempting to connect the disordered Earth Vein Node, move mountains and stones, divert filth and impurities, and clear the Earth Veins.

The Great Witch of the Witch Clan stood on the earth, their feet treading on the turbid air, attempting to forcibly unblock the blocked Earth Qi energy through their innate affinity with the land.

The North Sea Dragon Clan harnessed the power of water, summoning clouds and rain to wash away the filth that had accumulated over countless eras; the Phoenix Remnants spread their wings and circled, burning away the stubborn malevolent energy with their innate divine fire.

Countless independent cultivators, immortal sects, and reclusive Human Clan also sprang into action upon hearing the news, some using their Divine Ability to overturn the earth, others setting up Spirit Formation to channel spiritual energy, and still others simply digging canals to divert water and moving stubborn rocks.

The entire Northern Primordial Desolation seemed to become a highly sought-after place in an instant, revealing a primal and wild vitality within.

In a vast wasteland in the north called "Black Rock Plains," the Western Teachings's Ziwei Star Lord, Kong Xuan, Randeng, and others stood atop a solitary peak, gazing at the scene before them.

The Ziwei Star Lord, dressed in a star-studded robe, frowned slightly:

It's a mess... so messy.

Repairing the Earth Veins and stabilizing spiritual energy cannot be accomplished by brute force and enthusiasm alone.

Making baseless accusations could exacerbate the chaos and damage the very foundation of the problem.

That's true.

In the past, when we revived the Western Region, after careful deduction, we found that it required the right timing, favorable location, and Popular Support relations, supplemented by Spiritual Treasure, Spirit Plants, and Spirit Formation to suppress and guide the flow of energy.

The scene here, though seemingly grand, is actually one of individual battles fought separately, with an imbalance of power, resulting in enormous consumption and minimal gains.

In the long run, not only will it not bring any benefit, but it may even diminish the participants' own Fortune.

Kong Xuan stood with his hands behind his back. As someone who had participated in the Spirit Land Construction in the south, he felt this deeply, and his eyes held a hint of emotion:

In the past, several leaders led us through the thorns and brambles of the Western Region, using various Earth Veins Spirit Formation and Lesser Heavenly Cycle Star Formation to evolve Spirit Land Node.

Although there were few people at that time, everyone proceeded in an orderly manner and took it one step at a time.

The many exquisite methods and Formations left behind regarding the manipulation of Earth Veins, the guidance of spiritual energy, and the construction of nodes are truly invaluable treasures.

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Daoist Randeng, and he nodded, saying, "Good!"

Back then, as the Witch-Demon Great Tribulation escalated, the cult withdrew its forces and abandoned its operations in the Northern Region. Unexpectedly, such a change has occurred, which provides an opportunity to continue what was left unfinished.

We should establish Spirit Land Node in the northern region near the Western Region area, gradually expanding the sphere of influence of our religion, where we can also fully utilize our strengths!

There's no time to lose, let's get started right away!

"That's exactly right!" Kong Xuan responded immediately, and the Five-Colored Divine Light behind him suddenly surged.

In an instant, the core force of the Western Teachings revealed its formidable strength. They had already enjoyed the benefits of building Spirit Land Node; otherwise, how could their cultivation progress so rapidly!

After reaching a consensus, they first returned to the Jieyin to report to the Two Religious Leaders, Zhunti, and received their approval.

They then divided up the areas they were responsible for, Ziwei Star Lord dispatched many of his Star Lord and Stellar God to the North to build Spirit Land.

It turns out that he was in charge of the Western Teachings's power in the cycle of Reincarnation. This time, for the sake of the Earth Spirit Origin Qi, he put aside all the affairs of the Nine Netherworlds World and entrusted them to Ksitigarbha.

Kong Xuan summoned the members of the Guardian Hall faction. He had originally entrusted the affairs to Winged Immortal, who had matured over the years and was no longer as unreliable as before.

The Daoist Randeng Deng joined the sect the latest, but his methods were indeed remarkable. Many powerful figures and wandering immortals who had joined the Western Teachings Sect due to the outbreak of the Witch-Demon conflict, like him, were mostly recruited by him and secured a place for themselves within the Western Teachings.

Originally, they had kept a low profile because of their short time in the sect and the complexity of their members. However, this time, because the matter of the Earth Spirit Origin Qi was related to the attainment of Dao, this force has come into the open.

Finally, there's the Yaoshi faction. They were the first to join the sect, and were basically composed of the disciples of the three sect leaders. Later, they also absorbed some Star Lord, members of the Dragon and Phoenix Clans, and some wandering immortals who had joined the Western Teachings. They are considered the most upright and righteous group.

Moreover, they were the main force in the Spirit Land Construction. Many disciples have experience in presiding over the Spirit Land Construction. After so much time, their cultivation level is now close to that of the first tier.

Direct disciples such as Yaoshi, Ksitigarbha, Maitreya, the Three Xiao of Sanxiao, and Zhao Gongming generally have cultivation levels above the Great Luo, with some of the top-ranking disciples even approaching the Quasi-Saint realm.

Several groups, led by their respective leaders, marched into the Northern World, starting their expansion from the side closer to the Western World.

Compared to those we had seen before, their teamwork was seamless and efficient, their goals were clear, and although their actions were not as large-scale and noisy as those of other forces, they were precise, efficient, and Order in every aspect!

Those cultivators from various races who were originally fighting independently and encountering setbacks everywhere were shocked by the methods and rapid results achieved by the Western Teachings. They subconsciously adjusted their target areas or methods of action, and some even took the initiative to try to cooperate with the nodes set up by the Western Teachings, which invisibly improved the overall efficiency.

The legacy of Western Teachings and the rich experience and exquisite methods accumulated in building Spirit Land are now shining brightly anew on the northern land.

While the massive "Great Northern Development" project was in full swing in the Northern Primordial Desolation, some insightful people were also exploring alternative paths and making efforts in their own way.

The Netherworld Blood Sea.

The Ancestor Minghe did not go to the Northern Primordial Desolation to join in the fun.

After the first lecture, he began to ponder feasible methods to repair the Northern World. In his view, it was time-consuming and laborious, and there were too many people involved, making it a conventional Merit and Fortune.

After returning to the Blood Sea, he pondered for a long time and decided that he should focus on his fundamental foundation.

"Hmph!" A low, ambiguous snort escaped from Minghe's nostrils.

"When ten thousand people walk the same path, how many can truly stand out, or do they all end up as ordinary people?"

Restoring the Earth Veins is indeed a great achievement, but times have changed.

What was once a barren land in the Western Region was fertile ground waiting to be cultivated; now, the fragmented north is a battleground for numerous Zhuolu.

Even with tens of thousands of people contributing, the effort, when divided equally, is merely a drop in the ocean. How can they possibly accumulate enough merit to attain Sainthood?

Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!

His gaze fell upon this vast Blood Sea, formed from the filth and defilement of Pangu and numerous demons, containing endless filth.

This boundless, blood-red ocean is truly Filthy and Corrupt Place in the Primordial World.

The malevolent energy of heaven and earth, fragments of Remnant Soul, the filthy resentment of fallen beings, and the remnants of blood from battles...

Anything or matter tainted by the aura of decay, corruption, sin, or ferocity will ultimately be drawn by some unseen force and flow into this Blood Sea.

It is an indispensable yet often avoided "self-cleaning center" in the Primordial World ecosystem.

Thinking of this, a smile appeared on Minghe's lips.

"You only know that the Earth Veins are nourishing, but you forget that the Earthly Dao also have the responsibility of 'concealing'!"

Yin-Yang give rise to each other, Clear and Turbid Qi and the impure complement each other.

Just as the Earth Veins nourish all things, a vast and boundless Blood Sea is also needed to collect impurities, thus maintaining the overall balance of heaven and earth and ensuring the smooth and unimpeded operation of the Earthly Dao's energy channels. This is the very foundation of the Earthly Dao's energy channels!

A plan that aligned with his identity as the Lord of the Blood Sea clearly emerged in his Sea of Consciousness!

"My path lies not in contending with ten thousand men for a single stone, but in creating a vast ocean of my own!"

The primordial world Primordial World vast, and filth flowed from place to place. It was only through the gravity of heaven and earth that it spontaneously flowed into the Blood Sea. This process was slow and inefficient, and it was very easy for filth to accumulate along the way, causing pollution at key points. The Miasma Jungle of the Northern World are a perfect example of this!

If I were to use my supreme Divine Ability to actively Jieyin and extend the tentacles of the Netherworld Blood Sea, connecting the ley Earth Vein Node, sources of Baleful Qi, and filth-gathering places of the Primordial World... transforming it into a 'Filth Source Network' that spans the Primordial World and guides the Blood Sea!

Minghe's eyes blazed with crimson light, as if he saw an invisible giant net covering the entire Primordial World.

If this idea can be realized, then from now on, all the filth of the Primordial Desolation World can reach the Blood Sea through this network!

The Blood Sea is the final destination of this filth, and also the greatest furnace for cleansing and transformation.

He, Minghe, will be the controller of this entire Primordial World "cycle of filth"!

The boundless Blood Sea absorbed, transformed, and even eradicated all impurities from the Primordial World; such a feat is far greater than simply restoring a single place.

More importantly, the core and end point of this entire vast network of corrupt practices is his Blood Sea. The rightful owner of this Merit is crystal clear, and no one can compete with him for it!

"Heavenly Dao bestows Sainthood, which are determined by opportunity and Fortune."

The Earthly Dao of Sainthood is based on merit, but even more so on actual achievements and contributions!

Zhenyuanzi has the power to regulate the Earth Veins and nurture its Earth Spirit.

I, Minghe, will be the 'Guardian of Pollution' who purifies the Primordial World and balances the Clear and Turbid Qi!

If this feat is accomplished, who else but me will attain the Earthly Dao Sainthood?

Hahaha~~~

Minghe's laughter was unrestrained, as if the Earth Spirit Origin Qi and the Sainthood were already within his grasp.

Once again casting a cold glance at the bustling Northern Region direction, Minghe's face showed no more hesitation or envy.

He believes that the path he has chosen, though not mainstream, has immense potential and is perfectly aligned with his own nature.

He didn't linger. His figure swayed slightly, like a reflection merging into a sea of the Blood Sea, silently sinking into the depths of that churning, boundless crimson ocean, beginning the first step in laying out his grand plan.

The surging waves of blood completely engulfed the crimson figure, leaving only a faint, low vow carried on the sea breeze:

"Only after the filth of the Primordial World has been gathered can the depths of the Blood Sea!"

The Sainthood will surely be mine!