Hongjun: "Preposterous! How Could a Celestial Immortal Defeat a Great Unity Golden Immortal?"

"The monk may escape, but his temple cannot. Since East King Duke dared to establish the Immortal Court, he'll have to return sooner or later."

As for wiping out the entire Immortal Court right now?

Ao Chen shook his head. There was no need for that at all.

Apart from East King Duke and West Queen Mother, the rest of the Immortal Court were nothing but useless rabble—a bunch of minor figures at the Great Luo and Primordial Unity levels. He had no interest in crushing them one by one.

Besides, to capture the bandits, you had to capture their leader first.

The Immortal Court's roots lay in East King Duke's ambition and the Dao Ancestor's appointment. Unless East King Duke was dealt with once and for all, wiping out his followers would only cause trouble when he returned.

"In that case, I'll let you live a little longer."

A cold glint flashed in Ao Chen's eyes.

"When that so-called Immortal Court Establishment Ceremony comes, I'll attend in person. Then I'll settle the whole score with you—with interest!"

Once he had thought it through, the Killing Intent that had risen in his heart over the Dragon Race's mistreatment gradually subsided, and his mind grew calm again.

He turned to look at Ao Guang, who was still stunned and worried.

Ao Guang clearly had no idea that Ao Chen's divine sense had already crossed countless miles, investigated East King Duke's lair, and made plans to settle the score in the future.

He was still terribly worried that Ao Chen had just brazenly killed the Immortal Court Envoy.

"Brother Ao Chen, you killed the Immortal Court Envoy. What are we going to do now?"

"East King Duke is already a Quasi-Sage. If he takes offense... I say you should leave at once."

Ao Guang's voice trembled, his face full of worry.

Seeing Ao Guang like that, Ao Chen couldn't help laughing.

The East Sea Dragon King really did still care about their old friendship. It was just a pity he was a little too timid.

Ao Chen didn't explain much about his own strength. He merely patted Ao Guang's shoulder and smiled faintly.

"Rest assured, brother. I have this under control. I don't take the likes of East King Duke seriously."

Before Ao Guang could ask anything else, Ao Chen swept his sleeve, and a gentle yet irresistible force of space instantly enveloped Ao Guang.

The next moment, the two of them vanished from the main hall of the Dragon Palace.

"Come, brother. I'll take you somewhere."

Ao Chen's voice sounded beside Ao Guang's ear.

Ao Guang saw the scene before him shift, stars and constellations whirl around, and found himself powerless against that vast force of space.

While East King Duke was away, Ao Chen planned to visit the Dragon Abyss and personally investigate the Dragon Clan Elders' condition.

Only by knowing yourself and your enemy could you win every battle.

He needed to understand the Dragon Race's true situation so he could better handle the turmoil the Immortal Court might bring, as well as any unexpected turns when he settled the score with them.

Meanwhile, deep in Chaos, far beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, inside Zixiao Palace.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun sat high on his cloud platform as the Sound of the Great Dao flowed gently through the air. Below him, the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests listened, utterly enraptured.

Seated on a cushion in the front row, East King Duke was immersed in the profound Dao preached by the Saint. He hoped to use it to stabilize his newly achieved Quasi-Sage realm and was already planning the Immortal Court's grand ambitions.

Suddenly, an intense feeling of dread surged through him!

It was as though some tremendous danger aimed at him was brewing in the unseen, or as though he had lost something important!

"Hm?"

East King Duke abruptly snapped out of his meditation, his expression changing as he instinctively began calculating the cause.

But this was a Saint's domain, where the heavenly secrets were shrouded in Chaos. No matter how he calculated, everything remained a blur, and he couldn't discover where the dread had come from.

"Strange... Was it an illusion, or has something really happened?"

East King Duke furrowed his brows. The uneasy feeling in his heart wouldn't go away.

West Queen Mother sat not far from him, her bearing elegant and noble. Sensing the brief change in East King Duke's emotions, she sent him a message. "Brother, why are you so troubled?"

At her words, East King Duke quickly composed himself and gave West Queen Mother a slight shake of his head. He replied telepathically, "It's nothing. Perhaps something in the lecture stirred my thoughts. Thank you for your concern."

He didn't mention the inexplicable feeling of dread, assuming he was simply overthinking things.

Seeing that, West Queen Mother asked no more and continued listening intently.

Three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

On that day, the boundless, ethereal Sound of the Great Dao in Zixiao Palace gradually faded. The visions of flowers raining from the sky and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth also slowly vanished.

On the high platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun slowly opened his placid eyes and gazed indifferently at the beings below.

"That concludes this lecture. Zixiao Palace will not open again after today. Do any of you have questions?"

The Three Thousand Red Dust Guests all emerged from their meditative states, their faces showing varying degrees of satisfaction and lingering regret.

At that moment, Supreme Clarity Laozi, who had been sitting silently on the cushion at the very front with his eyes closed, as if he had no desire for worldly affairs, suddenly opened his eyes.

He rose slowly and bowed respectfully to Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the high platform. His voice was calm, yet it carried the boundless rhythm of the Dao and rang clearly in every being's heart.

"Teacher, the Great Dao has three thousand paths, and every one can lead to enlightenment. But is there a specific method for becoming a Saint? I beg you to enlighten us!"

As soon as he spoke, Zixiao Palace fell utterly silent!

Everyone's gaze—including those of the top experts Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Dijun, Jieyin, and Zhunti—converged on Supreme Clarity Laozi and Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the high platform!

The method of becoming a Saint!

That was the ultimate reason they had traveled countless miles, braved every danger, and come to Zixiao Palace to hear the Dao!

At last, Eldest Senior Brother Supreme Clarity Laozi had asked the question!

For a moment, everyone held their breath, filled with boundless longing and anticipation as they waited for Dao Ancestor Hongjun's answer.

Hongjun: Absurd! How could a Heavenly Immortal defeat a Great Luo?

With Supreme Clarity Laozi's calm yet incisive question, the entire hall fell into unprecedented silence.

The Three Thousand Red Dust Guests, regardless of their cultivation or their thoughts, held their breath and stared intently at the figure on the high platform, who seemed one with the Great Dao—Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

The method of becoming a Saint—that was the ultimate thing they had come here hoping to learn!

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's indifferent gaze slowly swept over the beings below. It seemed to pierce through endless space and time, seeing the deepest thoughts in every heart.

After a long while, he finally spoke. His voice held neither sorrow nor joy, yet rang through every being's heart like the words of the Great Dao.

"The Great Dao has three thousand paths, and every one can lead to enlightenment. But to become a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, transcend time and space, endure countless calamities unscathed, and attain the Saint Position, there are three methods."

"The first is Prove Dao by Force." A trace of recollection entered Hongjun's voice.

"This was the path taken by Great God Pangu. With supreme power, he shattered every constraint, transcended the Heavenly Dao, and attained the supreme Great Dao."

"This method yields the greatest achievement, but it is also the most difficult. Only those with immense fortune, perseverance, and wisdom can attempt it. Since Great God Pangu, no one in the Primordial Wilderness has been able to follow this path."

Hearing this, many powerful beings who prided themselves on their formidable bodies or unmatched strength, such as Dijun and Tai Yi, couldn't help but feel a jolt of alarm and abandon the impractical notion.

Even Great God Pangu had perished and vanished. Clearly, this path was impossible.

"The second is Prove Dao by Slaying Three Corpses." Hongjun continued.

"This is the path I took. There are three corpse worms in a person's body: benevolence, malice, and attachment to the self. Slay the Three Corpses, and one can understand one's true nature, purify the primordial spirit, and merge with the Dao."

"However, this method requires Innate Spiritual Treasures to house the Three Corpses. It is also difficult, but it is the proper path to Sainthood."

At this, a glint flashed in the eyes of the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Dijun, and the other mighty beings who possessed high-grade or Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. This was clearly the path Hongjun had laid out for them.

"The third is Prove Dao by Merit." Hongjun's tone remained calm.

"Perform immeasurable merit for Heaven and Earth, earn the Heavenly Dao's recognition, and receive its merit. With that power of merit, one can also attain the Saint Position."

"Of the three methods, this is the easiest. However, after achieving Sainthood, one becomes entangled in the deepest karma with the Heavenly Dao and is bound by it the most. One may find it difficult to make further progress."

After the three methods of becoming a Saint had been explained, everyone in the hall had different thoughts.

Some longed for the supreme transcendence of Prove Dao by Force, yet knew their chances were slim.

Some considered whether Prove Dao by Slaying Three Corpses was feasible, calculating what Innate Spiritual Treasures they possessed.

Others quietly pondered how they might perform great merit for Heaven and Earth.

Just then, Demon Emperor Dijun, who had been sitting in the front row with a dignified expression, rose to his feet. He bowed respectfully to Hongjun and asked, "Teacher, the Primordial Wilderness is vast, and the Great Dao is wondrous. Your disciple has a question, though I don't know whether I should ask it."

"Is there some extraordinary method that could allow a Heavenly Immortal to wield power far beyond his realm—even enough to suppress a Great Luo Golden Immortal?"

Dijun's question caused an uproar in the hall!

A Heavenly Immortal suppressing a Great Luo? What an absurd thing to say!

Many powerful beings who didn't know the story looked puzzled, unsure why the Demon Emperor had asked such a question.

But the powerful beings who had witnessed the incident with the Gourd Vine at Buzhou Mountain—such as the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Fuxi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Eastern Emperor Taiyi, and Kunpeng, whose expression instantly turned utterly grim—were deeply shaken!

In an instant, they thought of that mysterious young man from the Dragon Race who had severely wounded Kunpeng with a single strike and even faced Eastern Emperor Taiyi head-on without losing—the one named Ao Chen!

Ao Chen had indeed revealed an aura that was only at the Heavenly Immortal level!