Three Paths to Proving the Dao

Three hundred years quietly slipped away in seated meditation.

Before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace, seven people sat as still as at the start.

The surrounding Chaos remained gray and hazy, but as time passed, more and more figures arrived from all directions.

The first to arrive were the Three Pure Ones.

Laozi's face was calm, Yuanshi remained solemn as ever, and Tongtian still carried a hint of carefree ease.

The three nodded slightly in greeting to Xuande and the others, then found a place to sit on the other side of the palace gates.

Next came Dijun and Taiyi.

The two brothers still radiated a faint solar power, especially striking in this gray, murky Chaos.

Taiyi's aura was much better than last time—clearly, these three thousand years in seclusion had brought him considerable gains.

Minghe came alone as always, a faint blood light flickering around him, and silently sat down in a distant corner.

Kunpeng followed close behind, still wearing that sinister expression, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as if pondering something.

East King Duke and West Queen Mother arrived side by side, nodding in greeting to Dijun and Taiyi from afar.

Randeng came last, his steps slow, and sat down a little way from the others.

Yet some did not come.

Of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, only one arrived.

Houtu.

She appeared alone in the Chaos, her aura gentle and serene, utterly out of place in this gray, hazy expanse.

Unlike the other Ancestral Witches, who were wild and flamboyant, she exuded a calm and compassion like the earth itself.

Hongyun saw her and couldn't help muttering under his breath, "Why is only Houtu here? What about the other eleven?"

Zhunti also said in a low voice, "I heard the Ancestral Witches have no Primordial Spirit and only cultivate their physical bodies. The Ancestor lectures on the Great Dao—what use is it to them?"

Zhenyuanzi gently shook his head, signaling them not to say more.

Houtu seemed to hear their discussion but paid it no mind, simply smiling faintly and finding a seat not far from Nuwa.

Nuwa gave her a slight nod, and Houtu nodded back, a subtle understanding passing between them.

Xuande looked at Houtu and sighed inwardly.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches had no Primordial Spirit; they only cultivated their physical bodies and bloodline power.

The Great Dao the Ancestor spoke of was indeed like a Heavenly Book to them.

The other eleven Ancestral Witches thought it useless to listen and simply didn't come. Only Houtu still showed up.

She didn't come for herself.

She came for those who wanted to find a way to solve the Witch Clan's lack of a Primordial Spirit.

Xuande didn't dwell on it and withdrew his gaze.

After who knows how much more time, the open space before Purple Cloud Palace was filled with people.

Three thousand cultivators—all had come except the eleven Witches.

On this day, the gates that had been sealed for three thousand years slowly opened.

"Creak—"

The familiar sound rang out, and everyone opened their eyes at once, gazing toward the doors.

Inside, the purple light still shimmered, unfathomably deep.

The crowd rose and filed in.

Xuande's seven walked at the front.

Stepping through the gates, they saw the same spacious hall before them, and on the high platform ahead, that simple cushion lay quietly.

Below the platform, six cushions were still arranged, exactly as they had been three thousand years ago.

Everyone took their seats.

On those six cushions, Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa sat in order.

The remaining cultivators either sat cross-legged in the back or settled on the floor on both sides, each finding their own spot.

Xuande sat not far behind Jieyin and Zhunti as before.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun sat beside him, Fuxi sat behind Nuwa, and Houtu sat a little farther away.

Once everyone was seated, the great hall fell into utter silence.

On the high platform, a figure slowly materialized.

Ancestor Hongjun still wore that plain appearance—a gray Daoist robe, a gaunt face, no fluctuation of aura at all.

But the moment he appeared, the entire hall fell still.

"We pay respects to the Ancestor."

Three thousand cultivators rose simultaneously and bowed in salute.

Hongjun nodded slightly, gesturing for them to sit.

Once everyone was seated, he spoke slowly.

"This sermon will last three thousand years, expounding the methods to Prove Dao."

Prove Dao!

Those four words struck like a thunderclap, exploding through the great hall.

Every gaze converged on the plain figure atop the platform, eyes brimming with shock and longing.

Prove Dao.

That was the ultimate goal of all cultivators.

To leap beyond the Three Realms, to exist outside the Five Elements, to transcend life and death, to share the lifespan of heaven and earth, to shine alongside the sun and moon.

It was the realm above Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, the realm of... sainthood.

Today, the Dao Ancestor was going to speak on the very methods of Proving Dao!

The great hall fell into dead silence.

Hongjun's gaze swept slowly across the crowd, calm as still water, devoid of any emotion.

But his voice rang clearly into every ear.

"There are three methods to Prove Dao."

Three.

The three thousand cultivators held their breath, afraid to miss a single word.

"First is Proving Dao with Strength."

Hongjun's voice was steady and clear. "Also known as Proving Dao with Law.

Comprehend a single law to its fullest, master it to the extreme, and use one's own power to forcibly break through the shackles of the Heavenly Dao, attaining Hunyuan.

This path is the most difficult, requiring great perseverance, great wisdom, and a Great Opportunity.

The Three Thousand Demon Gods and the great god Pangu proved Dao by this method, but Pangu fell on the path to further advancement."

Proving Dao with Strength.

In the great hall, some cultivators appeared deep in thought, others showed troubled expressions.

Mastering a single law to its extreme—how could that be easy?

What endless years would it demand, what profound comprehension, what unyielding Dao heart?

A glimmer of light flashed in Tongtian's eyes, as if this path intrigued him.

But soon, that light dimmed.

He understood—this path was too difficult. Even Father God had not fully succeeded.

Hongjun continued. "Second is Proving Dao with Merit.

Accumulate boundless merit, use the power of merit to resonate with the Heavenly Dao, borrow the Heavenly Dao's strength to break through the shackles and attain Hunyuan.

This path is relatively easier, but requires great compassion, great vows, and great merit.

Moreover, merit cannot be accumulated in a single day. Countless good deeds must be performed, benefiting all living beings, to earn the Heavenly Dao's recognition."

Proving Dao with Merit.

The cultivators' eyes flickered. This path sounded easier than Proving Dao with Strength, but those words "boundless merit"—how easily said?

How many good deeds must be done, how many lives saved, to accumulate that "boundlessness"?

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both showing a hint of contemplation.

The path of the West had always carried the meaning of compassion and salvation. This path... perhaps it was fated for them.

Xuande listened quietly, his expression unchanged, but inwardly he nodded.

He knew of these two. But what Hongjun would say next was the real point.

Hongjun paused, then continued. "Third is the path of Slaying Three Corpses."

Slaying Three Corpses.

At these three words, another stir rippled through the great hall.

What kind of path was this? Never heard of it.

Hongjun ignored the crowd's reaction and pressed on.

"To Slay Three Corpses is to cut away the corpses of Goodness, Evil, and Obsession.

Use an Innate Spiritual Treasure as a vessel, sever the three corpses, and transform them into independent selves.

When all three corpses are slain and united as one, one can attain Hunyuan."

"This path is the one I shall expound today."

Slay Three Corpses.

Using Innate Spiritual Treasures as vessels.

A brilliant light blazed in everyone's eyes.

Hongjun continued, "The method of Slaying Three Corpses proceeds step by step.

First slay the Good Corpse, then the Evil Corpse, and finally the Obsession.

When all three corpses are slain, the mind becomes clear and pure, uniting with the Dao. When the three corpses merge into one, one transcends life and death and attains Hunyuan."

His voice was calm, yet every word seemed to contain infinite Dao resonance.

He began to explain in detail the techniques of slaying the three corpses—how to slay, how to use vessels, how to cultivate, and how to merge.

The three thousand cultivators were entranced, immersed in that supreme Great Dao.

However, when Hongjun spoke of "using Innate Spiritual Treasures as vessels," ripples stirred once again within the great hall.