The Devil Ancestor Transmits the Dharma, The Dao Ancestor Accepts a Disciple

This was Randeng's first time meeting Hongjun. This future Dao Ancestor lacked the majesty Randeng had imagined—none of the rigid solemnity, no saintly Dao aura circulating around him, no immortal poise or appearance of an enlightened patriarch.

Randeng guessed that Hongjun had not yet begun merging with the Heavenly Dao, so his humanity still far outweighed his divinity.

"Little friend Randeng, did Luohu pass on his so-called method of luck to you?"

Hongjun first waved away Luohu's control over Jieyin and teleported him to the summit of Mount Sumeru. He then set down a restriction and transmitted his voice to Randeng.

"Yes, Senior, but Luohu forced it upon me."

It was true that he had learned the method of luck, but he had been compelled to do so. Hongjun's wording made it sound as though he were Luohu's disciple.

"It matters not. It is all the same. What does little friend think of this method of luck?"

"This method is far too tyrannical. None but those fated to be emperors should attempt it, and even then, they can easily suffer backlash. It is, however, naturally suited to the path of a race."

Naturally, Randeng knew the dangers of this method. The one most deeply harmed by it in later ages was East Prince Gong, who sought to establish an Immortal Court, only to become cannon fodder beneath the great tribulation.

"Little friend's answer cuts straight to the bone. It is good that you understand this method's dangers."

Hongjun was greatly pleased by Randeng's response. He had noticed this somewhat unusual Innate Divine Saint long ago, yet still harbored some unease in his heart.

"Little friend, may I inspect your Spiritual Platform and Primordial Spirit?"

Randeng did not understand why these patriarchs were always so interested in his Spiritual Platform, but he obediently complied. After all, Hongjun was different from Luohu. If a peak Saint wished to do something, Randeng had no means of resisting.

Randeng opened his Spiritual Platform, and with a mere sweep of Hongjun's Spiritual Sense, Hongjun knew that Randeng had never used merit to raise his cultivation.

"Why does little friend not use merit to improve your cultivation?"

Hongjun became even more satisfied with Randeng.

"Merit has countless wondrous uses. Wouldn't using it to raise cultivation be a waste? Perhaps when this junior can advance no further in cultivation, I will use merit as well."

Randeng followed his heart and answered truthfully. Hunyuan Grand Unity was certainly desirable, but in the Primordial World, one first needed the strength to survive the great tribulations before speaking of Proving the Dao.

"Your Dao Heart is clear and pure. Not bad. But the method of merit is not without its merits. After countless yuanhui, this poor Daoist combined it with his own Dao and organized a complementary method, called the Method of Slaying Three Corpses to Attain Sainthood. Do you wish to learn it?"

Hongjun spoke in a torrent, explaining the method of slaying the three corpses to Randeng.

Randeng froze at once.

"Do all patriarchs enjoy teaching others the Dao?"

He had truly experienced the benefits of being born early. One secret of the Primordial World after another came rolling in.

They might now speak of the flaws in the method of luck and the traps within the method of merit, but before the Witch-Demon Tribulation, only the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud Palace could comprehend the path to sainthood.

According to the original course of events, Randeng, as the Chan Sect's vice sect master, would not become a Quasi-Saint until after the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. This showed just how important the method of attaining sainthood was.

As Hongjun expounded the Dao, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, sweet dew descended from the heavens, and all manner of Dao phenomena emerged in profusion. Dao aura unique to a Saint enveloped Randeng.

"No wonder, after the three lectures at Purple Cloud Palace, all the Innate Divine Saints of the Primordial World flocked there like ducks to a pond."

Without realizing it, the Annihilation Law cultivated by Randeng had reached fifty percent mastery.

The spiritual qi of the entire Mount Sumeru surged toward the underground space. With the Dao Ancestor present, there was naturally no need to worry about the spiritual qi being impure.

After an unknown length of time, Randeng opened his eyes. Behind him, the Annihilation Law drove the Five Elements Light Wheel in endless circulation, flawless and complete.

Within the half-mu cloud of celebration above his head, the three flowers of essence, qi, and spirit took tangible form. Of them, the flower on the far left, representing the Annihilation Dao Fruit, had bloomed five petals, its roots planted upon a tributary of the River of Fate.

A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, once attained, was attained forever. By leaving the imprint of one's true spirit within the River of Fate through the Grand Unity Dao Fruit, even if the great tribulations turned and one died with Dao and body extinguished, one would one day return from the River of Fate.

"Congratulations, little friend, on attaining the Grand Unity Dao Fruit. Hunyuan lies in sight."

Hongjun flicked his whisk and looked at Randeng with a smile.

Not long after Randeng Proved the Dao, Hongjun sensed through the Heavenly Dao that another Innate Divine Saint upon Kunlun Mountain had attained Grand Unity. It was likely Taishang, foremost among the Kunlun Three Pure Ones. Originally, Hongjun had thought most highly of him as the leading figure of this era.

"Thank you, Master, for imparting the Dao. This disciple is willing to serve at Master's side."

Going with the flow, Randeng addressed Hongjun as Master and performed a disciple's bow.

Hongjun accepted it calmly. He was exceedingly pleased with this disciple: outstanding foundations, luck, steadfastness of heart, and, most rare of all, an understanding of when to advance and when to retreat, an ability to assess the situation.

There was another reason as well—taking him as a disciple naturally meant there was no need to worry about him becoming the next Luohu.

"In my Purple Cloud Palace, I currently have only two tea-serving boys. Thus, you shall be my eldest disciple. Yet the time is not ripe, so for now you can only be a registered disciple. Before I merge with the Dao, during the three lectures at Purple Cloud Palace, I will formally accept you into my lineage."

Randeng had gained enormously from this lecture, while Hongjun had also taken the opportunity to sort through the fruits of his own cultivation. It counted as practice in advance for the three lectures at Purple Cloud Palace.

"This disciple thanks Master."

Randeng had never expected that merely having Jieyin repair the earth-vein core would lead him around in circles until Hongjun took him as a disciple.

By the terms of later generations, he would be the foremost disciple of the Mystic Gate, first among the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud Palace. He had also seized Taishang's position as foremost disciple, thus forming Karma.

A spiritual lamp appeared in Hongjun's hand. It stood about four feet tall, its entire body forged from ancient bronze and shaped like a three-tiered pagoda. Golden flames burned within it, called the "Myriad Spirit Ancient Flame." This fire would never be extinguished through the ages, shining like the stars. Beneath its base, a dark azure Taiji array could faintly be seen supporting it.

The instant the Jade Void Glazed Lamp appeared, the Spirit Vulture Palace Lamp within Randeng's Spiritual Platform gave off an intense resonance. It was the aura of a shared origin.

"This is the Heaven Lamp among the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man—the Jade Void Glazed Lamp. It shares the same root and origin as your accompanying spiritual treasure. Nothing could be more fitting as the spiritual treasure with which you slay the three corpses."

Hongjun gently pushed with his palm, and the Jade Void Glazed Lamp floated into Randeng's hands.

"Luohu gave you the Nine-Rank World-Ending Black Lotus, so let this lamp serve as your gift for becoming my disciple. Cultivate diligently from now on, and do not disappoint your master's expectations."

Randeng bowed in thanks once more, thinking, Is this the benefit of having a Saint to rely on? I have only just reached the Grand Unity realm, yet the cultivation treasure for Golden Immortal of the Origin has already been prepared for me.

Hongjun was in an excellent mood. The instant he took Randeng as his disciple, he sensed that more than half of his Karma with the West had been transferred onto this disciple of his.

"The World-Destroying Black Lotus within your Spiritual Platform has already had its seal reinforced by me. It will not affect your Primordial Spirit. If you wish to continue nurturing it, simply let it devour energies such as Killing Intent and Karmic Power. Now that matters here are settled, I shall return to comprehend the Heavenly Dao."

With a sweep of his sleeve, Hongjun vanished.

"Your disciple respectfully sees Master off!"

After seeing Hongjun away, Randeng looked at the utterly ruined ley-line core and found himself at a loss.

Naturally, he had also sensed that his Karma with the West had become even more deeply entangled. If he could not revive the West, then attaining Hunyuan Grand Unity would likely remain forever beyond his reach.

In the present prehistoric world, perhaps only the Earth Book in Zhenyuanzi's possession could restore the ley-line core. It seemed he would still have to make a trip east.