Three Pure Ones

Biodata

Power Progression

Background

The Three Pure Ones originate from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, with profoundly mysterious origin pure qi. Their shared origin allows them to jointly enlighten Zhou Qingqing and establish an additional connection between her and heaven and earth. 9

Although they share Pangu's origin, the brothers regard themselves as independent beings from the moment their own consciousnesses emerge. They seek Great Daos suited to themselves rather than returning to Pangu's path. During an early lecture, they state that they possess no method to reunite into Pangu's Primordial Spirit and would not use such a method even if it existed. 19 128

After hearing the inner thoughts of the Creation Azure Lotus, they learn of a possible future in which the three brothers divide their fortune, contend against one another, and slaughter each other. Rather than dismissing the warning, they bring the lotus—Zhou Qingqing—back to Mount Kunlun and conceal their ability to hear her thoughts. 2 6

They jointly accept Zhou Qingqing as their first disciple. Their early kindness toward her is initially also a deliberate effort to gain her trust and learn more about their fate, but their relationship becomes exceptionally close. 6 9 483

Tongtian proposes the shared discipleship after Qingqing privately finds reasons to reject each brother individually and considers leaving for the Queen Mother of the West. Taking her as the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones demonstrates their unity and ensures that she can rely on another master whenever one cannot help her. 8

Hongjun formally accepts them into the Mystic Gate after his second Purple Cloud lecture. Laozi becomes its eldest disciple, and the brothers receive the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation respectively. 53

The Three Pure Ones establish Daoism as a unified sect while retaining distinct lineages and doctrines. Laozi later recognizes that his original path of founding the Human Sect could contribute to the brothers' future conflict, prompting them to seek a different course. 151 178

At Daoism's founding, Laozi becomes its leader, while Yuanshi and Tongtian become deputy leaders. Yuanshi's doctrine elucidates the laws of heaven and earth, while Tongtian's seeks a chance at life for all living beings. The brothers adopt the Heavenly Venerate titles revealed in Qingqing's thoughts rather than receiving them through the original separate sect-foundings. 178

During the conflict with Heavenly Dao Hongjun, they formally declare their intention for Daoism to leave the Mystic Gate. After their victory, Hongjun acknowledges their separation, ending their status as Mystic Gate disciples. 734 751

Following their victory, they establish Three Teachings Grotto on Kongtong Mountain as a gathering place for their three lineages. Houtu and Nuwa suspect that its name also recalls the separate teachings of other Primordial World reincarnations. 751

Personality

Despite their differing temperaments, the brothers habitually make major decisions through divine-sense discussion and act with strong mutual trust. They are particularly united when Qingqing's safety, cultivation, or future is involved. 2 59 745

• Laozi is the most strategic and composed brother. He is known for deduction, careful planning, and alchemy. 2 22 637
• Yuanshi is solemn, proud, and competitive, but highly attentive to his disciples' prospects and the practical benefits of Daoism. 22 122 190
• Tongtian is direct, sword-focused, and more impulsive than his brothers; he readily acts to protect Qingqing and openly confronts opponents. 47 844 1021

Their composure does not prevent sibling rivalry. Yuanshi and Tongtian compete over recruiting disciples, and all three occasionally bicker before returning to cooperation. 122 190 497

The brothers reject the idea that the Primordial World's prevailing trend is immutable. Their experience overturning predetermined plots through Qingqing's thoughts leads them to oppose Hongjun's attempted correction of the era and assert that they, too, are part of its prevailing trend. 741

Their concern for their dignity frequently becomes entangled with affection for Qingqing. They retain their youthful appearances after restoring sainthood partly to comfort her, although they privately deny that they are trying to please their disciple. 786

Abilities & Skills

Shared Primordial Spirit and Three Pure Union

The Three Pure Ones can link their Primordial Spirits and combine their qi, magical power, and Dao arts into united techniques. This cooperation is distinct from abandoning their independent identities to recreate Pangu's Primordial Spirit, a course they explicitly reject. 128 213 312

• Their linked fortunes and unified hearts accelerate their joint cultivation. 59
• Their combined power can form the Twenty-Four-Petal Creation Green Lotus through the principles of the red flower, white lotus root, and green lotus leaf. 237
• Their union once manifested as Heavenly King Yuanshi in a prior Divine Path-era Primordial World, though that path ultimately ended in failure. 496 497
• Their combined origins can support Qingqing in activating high-level techniques, including Creation of the Three Pure Ones. 312
• With Qingqing wielding one sword, they operate the Four Pure Ones Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, integrating the Dao of all three brothers through their shared disciple. 133
• Their combined Dao power breaks Hongjun's Great Dao Spiral, which twists the prevailing trend rather than restoring an inherently unchanging order. 741

Three Pure Three Realms

A secret cultivation method created by merging the corpse-severing method with the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal law path.

• The realms are named Upper Clarity, Jade Purity, and Supreme Purity after the Three Pure Ones' divine names. 59
• It provides their own framework for advancing beyond the Daluo Golden Immortal realm. 59
• The interconnected Upper Three Heavens inspire the unity missing from their initial deduction of the method. 59

Hearing Qingqing's Thoughts

The brothers can hear Zhou Qingqing's inner thoughts without her deliberately communicating through divine sense. They first discover this ability while examining the consciousness within the Creation Azure Lotus and recognize that ordinary Daluo Golden Immortal perception does not explain it. 1

• They conceal the ability and use divine-sense discussions to coordinate without revealing their knowledge. 2
• Her thoughts provide information about future conflicts, treasures, calamities, and past Primordial World cycles. 6 63 494 496
• Qingqing remains unaware of their eavesdropping during later developments, even when she mentally addresses them directly. 762 1098

Divine Path Methods

After Qingqing discovers the Scripture of Salvation, the Three Pure Ones comprehend and adapt its Divine Path methods.

• They transform into the Three Pure Divine Gods after entering meditation upon hearing the scripture. 498
• Their knowledge of the Divine Path is used to evolve Yang Jian's golden huadian into Daoism's Heavenly God's Eye. 526
• They later incorporate the Scripture of Salvation into the Boundless Heavenly Venerate divine ability. 794
• They treat gods and immortals as compatible within Daoism rather than mutually exclusive paths. 794

Supreme Great Dao of Creation

The Three Pure Ones deduce and wield a supreme Great Dao law capable of opposing Heavenly Dao Hongjun.

• Their Great Dao of Supreme Creation is compared to a confrontation between Pangu's Heaven-Opening Axe and the Creation Jade Disc. 743
• They remain unaffected by the Boundless Heavenly Venerate's initial attacks and prepare their countermeasure through prior deduction. 742
• Qingqing's circular linkage of primordial spirit, body, and mind inspires Laozi to have Tongtian connect the Heaven-Opening Axe's three pieces through formations, accelerating their deduction with Taiyi's treasures. 660
• Tongtian can later invoke the Great Daos created by his two brothers alongside his own End Great Dao. 1021

Dao Star

A combined divine ability activated through Qingqing's lotus dais.

• It fuses the Three Pure Ones' Great Daos with the Great Dao of Fate. 750
• It overcomes Hongjun's Celestial Immortal Dao and helps absorb the Boundless Heavenly Venerate into Daoism. 750
• Its constituent Dao principles include Laozi's Boundless Great Dao, Yuanshi's Primordial Elucidation of Heaven, and Tongtian's Heaven-Severing Sword Dao. Their fusion produces the Dao of Daoism rather than Heavenly King Yuanshi. 750
• They later rebuild their Dao Stars beneath the tangible Fate Star inside the Chaos Pearl, perfecting them and developing Fate divine abilities of their own. 787 797

Joint Deduction and Protective Techniques

The brothers possess three Great Dao scriptures left by Pangu, associated with their expertise in alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations. Their coordinated deductions allow them to devise methods beyond their individual specialties. 10 213

• They jointly enlighten Qingqing with Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing origin qi, opening her Sea of Spiritual Consciousness. 9
• They deduce the Purple Lotus Reincarnation Method in a single breath, using Qingqing's Reincarnation Purple Lotus form as a basis for a method suited to Houtu. 213
• Their respective divine lightning and immortal-light arts are passed to Qingqing. They further develop their lightning techniques before confronting Purple Cloud's Divine Lightning. 124 308
• They obscure heavenly secrets surrounding Qingqing, making her circumstances particularly difficult for other Saints to deduce. 195
• They support Qingqing's Dao Transformation with their combined origin qi, helping her advance directly to Primordial Chaos Stage Three. 634
• They cultivate the Demon Path as well, allowing them to turn the demonic sounds within Hongjun's Infinite True Words into nourishment. 742

In the confrontation with Amitabha Buddha's illusory dreamscape, the brothers expend their Dao Creation Realm mana to create a countermeasure in almost a single breath and transmit it directly to Qingqing. Based on insights from the Primordial Chaos Golden Hoop, it links Supreme Purity Root Stabilization, Primordial Beginning World-Opening, and Tongtian Order Stabilization to break emptiness, aspiration power, and the illusory dreamscape. Qingqing notes that they can locate her despite the concealment associated with the Chaos Azure Lotus and Chaos Pearl. 1175

Individual Arts

• Laozi
  • Creates the Mystic Origin Great Dao and enters the Dao Creation Realm. 850
  • Uses One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones as a signature divine ability. 850
  • Employs One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones in earlier battles, including against Jieyin and fused Chaos Demon Gods. 274 294
  • Refines Saint-Falling Pills and the One Origin Pill. 641 957
• Yuanshi
  • Manifests the Yuanshi Auspicious Cloud, covering Qilin Cliff with divine light. 4
  • Wields the Pangu Banner, including the Open Heaven Qi Blade. 283 293
  • Begins demonizing the Karma Great Dao in his Primordial Heavenly Demon state to create a new Dao. 925
  • Understands seal techniques and explains the potential combination of Zhunti's Wish-Granting Seal with Buddhism's Fearlessness Mudra. 941
• Tongtian
  • Wields the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and manifests the End Great Dao. 762 1021
  • Enters the Dao Creation Realm through the End Great Dao before his subsequent sword demonstration. 1013
  • Creates a new sword Dao and develops the technique Circles Round and Round, which shreds Amitabha Buddha's Twelve Lights. 1022
  • His sword demonstration inspires widespread sword cultivation, later recorded as the Year One of Sword Dao. 1026

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Pangu Banner — Yuanshi's innate supreme treasure, used against Di Jun's Cosmic Stellar Formation. 283 284
• Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud — Yuanshi's defensive treasure, displayed alongside the Pangu Banner. 213
• Four Immortal-Slaying Swords — Tongtian's swords, used to manifest the End Great Dao and support Qingqing's Sword Dao. 213 762
• Qingping Sword — Tongtian's Saint-level sword, used to block Taiyi's Taiyi Divine Sword. 237
• Saint-Falling Pills — Three pills refined by Laozi from the power within the Eye of the North Sea; they can threaten the lives of the Three Pure Ones. 637 641
• One Origin Pill — A pill refined by Laozi while testing the Evil Phoenix at Undying Fire Mountain. 957 959
• Taiji Diagram — Laozi's innate supreme treasure, bestowed by Hongjun when he establishes the Mystic Gate; also used for deduction and combat. 53 439 739
• Heaven-and-Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda — An acquired merit supreme defensive treasure that protects all three brothers during their rush for the Purple Cloud Palace meditation cushions. It later helps anchor Daoism's fortune. 13 178
• Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler — Laozi's treasure, used together with the Mystic Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda to anchor Daoism's fortune and wielded in battle through One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones. 178 739
• Purple-Gold Gourd, Yin-Yang Gourd, and Ten Thousand Swords Gourd — Identified by Sun Wukong as the brothers' Dao-attainment treasures when he distinguishes their known path from the treasures represented in the manipulated temple statues. 1332
• Willow Pure Dew Vase — Yuanshi's top-grade spiritual treasure, filled with Three Lights Divine Water supplied from Three Pure Ones Heaven. 136

Relationships

• Zhou Qingqing — Their shared first disciple and Daoism's chief disciple. They guide her cultivation, hear her inner thoughts, and repeatedly act together to protect her. 9 118 745
• Heavenly Dao Hongjun — Their former teacher as Mystic Gate disciples; they later oppose him and lead Daoism out of the Mystic Gate. 734 751
• Yang Mei — A fellow Daoist who helps them deduce a method to mend their incomplete foundations through games of mahjong and cards. 776 785
• Houtu — An ally with whom they exchange cultivation methods; Yuanshi also guides her work in reviving the Earthly Dao. 22 216 Their intervention during her establishment of Reincarnation produces the Purple Lotus Reincarnation Method, and she later shares insights into the Primordial World's reincarnation cycle with them. 213 669
• Eastern Emperor Taiyi — Initially an opponent and later a situational collaborator; the Three Pure Ones test him in battle and later coordinate with him on Blue Planet matters. 237 675 Both sides acknowledge gains from their discussion of the Dao, and the brothers later help open a route for his return from Outer Heaven. 238 403 405
• Nuwa — A major ally whose karmic connection with Laozi is tied to the path of attaining the Dao. 151
• Empress Xuanming — An Earth Dao Saint whose divine name is placed under Daoism after Qingqing and Laozi assist her North Sea undertaking. 643 644
• Haotian and Yaochi — Friendly Heavenly Court rulers entrusted to Qingqing's care. Qingqing gives them pills, spiritual treasures, and formation diagrams from her masters to strengthen these ties. 329
• Two Sages of the West — Former junior brothers within the Mystic Gate, later associated with the opposing Buddhist path. Jieyin and Zhunti address the Three Pure Ones as senior brothers at the Immortal Peach Festival; Amitabha Buddha later challenges Tongtian's newly created Dao and manipulates their sacred statues into a preaching ordeal. 412 1013 1020 1331
• Eastern Duke — An early adversary who attempts to use the Immortal Court's founding ceremony and its seventy-two divine generals to compel an apology and suppress the brothers. Yuanshi refuses and challenges him to defeat them. 42 43

Story Role / Major Arcs

Taking Qingqing to Mount Kunlun

The Three Pure Ones discover that they can hear the thoughts of the Creation Azure Lotus. Concerned by her knowledge of their potential future fratricide, they bring her to Mount Kunlun rather than destroy or abandon her. 2

Their initial discovery occurs while they are considering dividing the lotus into a red flower, white lotus root, and azure lotus leaf. Her thoughts name the treasures those parts would become and criticize the proposed division, prompting them to investigate her consciousness. 1 2

Acceptance of the First Disciple

They enlighten Zhou Qingqing's true spirit, grant her speech, and jointly name her the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones. 9

Tongtian devises the shared discipleship to address her reservations about each individual master and prevent her departure from Eastern Kunlun. 8

Purple Cloud Palace and Three Pure Ones Heaven

Following Qingqing's information about opportunities for sainthood, the brothers combine their pure qi and the protection of the Mystic Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda to secure their meditation cushions in Purple Cloud Palace. Hongjun subsequently accepts them into the Mystic Gate and bestows their principal innate supreme treasures. 13 53

They reach the Thirty-Sixth Heaven and recognize the interconnected Upper Three Heavens as the inspiration for their Three Pure Three Realms method. Their united cultivation produces a simultaneous breakthrough beyond Daluo Golden Immortal. Di Jun visits afterward to apologize and discuss the Heavenly Court's establishment; Tongtian declines compensation for the brothers but demands it for the disturbance to Qingqing's abode. 59 60

Founding Daoism

The brothers develop separate doctrines while seeking to avoid the original future in which their paths divide them. They establish Daoism as one sect with three sages. 151 178

They use the Mystic Yellow Exquisite Treasure Pagoda and Primordial Heaven-Measuring Ruler to anchor the unified sect's fortune, becoming Saints together rather than through three successive sect-foundings. 178

Supporting Houtu's Reincarnation

The brothers witness Houtu's establishment of Reincarnation and prepare to intervene in the greater trend. When Qingqing considers surrendering her Reincarnation Purple Lotus to prevent Houtu's bodily sacrifice, they stop her, judging that the transfer would not guarantee a different outcome. 210 213

Linking their Primordial Spirits, they deduce the Purple Lotus Reincarnation Method in a single breath and provide it to Houtu as a means of establishing the Six Paths without requiring Qingqing to relinquish the lotus. 213

Divine Path Revelation

Through the Investiture of the Gods List and the Scripture of Salvation, they learn of the former Divine Path Primordial World and their connection to Heavenly King Yuanshi. They use this knowledge to prepare against the consequences of that past. 494 496 498

They come to suspect that their longstanding rejection of Primordial Spirit fusion reflects the failed path of Heavenly King Yuanshi in previous reincarnations. Their later Dao Star embodies a united Daoism without recreating that singular Divine Path identity. 496 750

Separation from the Mystic Gate

They openly state their intent to remove Daoism from the Mystic Gate, oppose Hongjun, and secure formal recognition of their independence after his defeat. 734 750 751

During the confrontation, their combined Great Dao defeats Hongjun's Great Dao Spiral, and their Dao Star unites their own Dao principles with Fate. After returning to the Primordial World, they establish Three Teachings Grotto on Kongtong Mountain. 741 750 751

Restoring Their Foundations

Yang Mei recognizes their potential and assists their deductions. By combining alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations, the brothers repair their foundations and rise together to the Primordial Chaos Saint realm. 776 785

They then enter Qingqing's restored Chaos Pearl and cultivate beneath its tangible Fate Star. Rebuilding their Dao Stars allows them to restore their cultivation and perfect their command of Fate. They subsequently return to Three Pure Ones Heaven while retaining their youthful forms and send clones, incarnations, and avatars into the myriad worlds. 787 797 799

Dao Creation

Laozi creates the Mystic Origin Great Dao and enters the Dao Creation Realm. Tongtian subsequently creates the End Great Dao through the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and later develops his own sword Dao, while Yuanshi pursues a new Dao through the demonization of Karma. All three are confirmed to have successfully created their Daos by the time they advise Qingqing on perfecting the Chaos Pearl for a counter-invasion of Amitabha Buddha's Dream World. 850 925 1013 1022 1028

Supporting the Preaching Squad

The brothers follow Qingqing's interventions in the Preaching Squad's journey from Three Pure Ones Hall, listening to her thoughts and assessing the Buddhist trials. When her own means prove insufficient against an illusory dreamscape, they jointly devise and transmit a Dao Creation Realm countermeasure. 1109 1175

They recognize Qingqing's influence in the squad's Dao Scriptures and welcome Zhen Yuanzi's progress as his Universe in the Sleeve evolves into Heaven and Earth in the Sleeve. They also call Qingqing back to share benefits associated with their earlier Four Pure Ones cooperation and discuss the distinction between imitating the outward form of Chaos and reaching its Primordial Chaos essence. 1208 1281

The Three Pure Ones Temple Ordeal

In Chechi Kingdom, the Preaching Squad enters the Three Pure Ones Temple intending to observe Daoist rules and pay respects. Amitabha Buddha has arranged the statues, hand seals, and sacred seats according to Heavenly King Yuanshi from a previous Primordial World reincarnation, making ordinary worship of the current Three Pure Ones a trigger for the ordeal. 1330 1331

The squad questions the statues' apparent Dao-attainment treasures, contrasting the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, Green Duckweed Sword, and Coiled-Dragon Flat Staff with the three gourds associated with the brothers' known attainment. Their Fusion Great Dao perception exposes the convergence of the treasures' origin auras within the statues. 1332

Sun Wukong and Tang Sanzang identify the proper restoration as matching the Three Pure Ones' origin projections, using Dao Resonance as incense and origin as fire rather than activating the statues with magical power. The repaired statues regain their anchor points and contained Dao resonance. 1340 1341

Tiger Strength Immortal, Deer Strength Immortal, and Goat Strength Immortal subsequently attempt to restore the statues' previous positions. The Preaching Squad stops them, accusing them of using the Three Pure Ones rather than truly worshipping them, and the confrontation escalates into combat. 1342

Trivia

• The Three Pure Ones originally seek Qingqing's favor partly because her thoughts may reveal how to prevent their predicted conflict. 6
• Their shared disciple can wield the Great Daos of all three masters simultaneously, a capability that astonishes other Saints. 762
• They are sometimes mistaken for young boys after recovering their cultivation, an appearance associated with Qingqing's influence. 799
• The three later become subjects of formal worship on Blue Planet, where their temple statues depict Primordial Beginning Heavenly Venerate, Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate, and Dao Virtue Heavenly Venerate. 1330
• While helping Yang Mei repair their foundations, they use the identities Emotionless Daoist, Mystic Heaven Daoist, and Wine Sword Immortal. Yang Mei later recognizes that these titles had already hinted at their true identities. 792
• Their consumption of all seventy-two Yellow Center Plums at the Immortal Court's founding ceremony becomes the pretext for Eastern Duke's attempted suppression of them. 42
• The brothers are appalled when Qingqing recalls the original temple incident's supposed “Three Pure Ones Sacred Water,” which was actually urine passed off as holy water, and hope it will not occur in the altered course of events. 1330 1341
• Qingqing considers recording the Preaching Squad impersonating her masters as a parody to send them, but the brothers recognize her intention through her thoughts and are unwilling to become the targets of that joke. 1342

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