The Drawbacks of the Three Corpses Path

Innate Spiritual Treasures!

Everyone looked at one another, their eyes filled with shock and bitterness.

What kind of precious objects were Innate Spiritual Treasures?

At the beginning of the Creation of Heaven and Earth, the Chaos Green Lotus shattered, Pangu fell, and all manner of Innate Spiritual Treasures scattered across the Primordial Wilderness.

Yet very few could obtain them.

Of the Three Thousand Cultivators present, more than half did not possess even a single Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Some had one or two, but they were not necessarily suitable for Severing the Corpse.

To Slay Three Corpses, one needed at least three Innate Spiritual Treasures—one each for good, evil, and obsession.

Th-this... where were they supposed to find them?

Someone could not help whispering in discussion.

"Innate Spiritual Treasures? I do not even have one. How am I supposed to Sever the Corpse?"

"I have two, but they are both offensive treasures. Can they be used to Sever the Corpse?"

"The Dao Ancestor said, 'use an Innate Spiritual Treasure as a vessel.' Does that mean any spiritual treasure will do?"

Though the discussions were quiet, they could still faintly be heard in the silent hall.

Hongjun paid them no heed and continued his lecture. He seemed to have anticipated such a reaction, yet he did not care.

Xuande listened quietly, his gaze lowered.

He was not surprised in the slightest.

He had long known of the method of Slaying Three Corpses.

Not only did he know it, but he also knew a secret Hongjun had not revealed at this moment.

The three Innate Spiritual Treasures used to Slay Three Corpses had to share the same origin.

In other words, if the three treasures did not come from the same Origin Essence and could not resonate with one another, then even if all Three Corpses were slain, they could not merge into one.

And without merging into one, one would remain forever stuck at the stage of Severing the Corpse, unable to attain the Dao.

Hongjun had not mentioned this secret.

Was he waiting for everyone to realize it themselves, or...

A thought flashed through Xuande's mind.

Did the future six Sages—the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Nuwa—truly attain the Dao through Slaying Three Corpses?

No.

They relied on Primordial Violet Qi and merit.

The Three Pure Ones established teachings and became Sages through merit.

Jieyin and Zhunti made great vows and became Sages through merit.

Nuwa created humanity and became a Sage through merit.

They had never completed the path of Slaying Three Corpses.

Was it because the Innate Spiritual Treasures they used for Severing the Corpse did not share the same origin?

Or was it because... this path had never been viable to begin with?

All sorts of thoughts churned through Xuande's heart, but his expression remained calm.

He raised his eyes and looked toward the figures seated on the six prayer mats ahead.

Laozi's expression was tranquil, revealing neither joy nor anger.

Yuanshi's brow was slightly furrowed, as though he were pondering something.

Tongtian's eyes gleamed. He was clearly extremely interested in this path.

Jieyin and Zhunti wore grave expressions, seemingly deep in thought. Nuwa listened quietly, her gaze clear.

Perhaps they were also wondering whether they themselves could successfully walk the path of Slaying Three Corpses.

Xuande withdrew his gaze and continued listening to the lecture.

Hongjun explained in great detail, beginning with how to sever the Good Corpse, then how to nurture the Three Corpses, and finally how to merge them into one.

Every step and every crucial point was explained with perfect clarity.

The Three Thousand Cultivators were utterly captivated. At times they nodded, at times they frowned, and at times enlightenment dawned upon them.

Time quietly passed amid the lecture.

No one knew how long had passed before Hongjun's voice gradually fell silent.

The great hall was completely quiet. Everyone remained immersed in that supreme Great Dao, unable to return to their senses for a long while.

Hongjun's gaze slowly swept across the crowd before finally settling on the six prayer mats.

He said nothing more.

Only after a long time did someone awaken from their enlightenment.

Then came the second, the third...

Once nearly everyone had awakened, Hongjun spoke again.

"This lecture ends here."

Everyone's hearts tightened. They knew the Dao Ancestor was about to announce something else.

Within Zixiao Palace, the Three Thousand Cultivators had only just recovered from the shock of the method of Slaying Three Corpses. Now, they held their breath and waited for the Dao Ancestor's next words.

Hongjun's gaze slowly swept through the hall before finally landing on two figures within the crowd.

One wore white robes and carried himself with elegant grace. He was East King Duke.

The other was poised and refined, with extraordinary bearing. She was West Queen Mother.

"East King Duke, West Queen Mother." Hongjun spoke, his voice calm yet clear.

The two were slightly startled. They hurriedly rose, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Your disciples are here."

Hongjun said, "You two were born from the pure yang and pure yin qi of heaven and earth, and possess the aptitude to lead the immortals.

"Today, I appoint East King Duke as the Chief of Male Immortals of the Primordial Wilderness, and West Queen Mother as the chief of female immortals of the Primordial Wilderness.

"From this day onward, all male and female immortals of the Primordial Wilderness shall be under your command."

The moment those words were spoken, the hall erupted in commotion.

Chief of Male Immortals! Chief of Female Immortals!

What did that mean? It meant that all male and female immortals in the Primordial Wilderness would fall under their jurisdiction from now on!

What immense authority, what unparalleled honor!

East King Duke and West Queen Mother were stunned as well. Then uncontrollable excitement flooded their faces. They hurriedly knelt and said respectfully, "Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for your grace!"

Hongjun nodded slightly and made a casual sweeping gesture. Two streams of light flew from his sleeve and landed before East King Duke and West Queen Mother.

Before East King Duke was a Dragon Head Cane, golden from end to end.

The staff was carved with a lifelike five-clawed golden dragon. Its dragon head raised toward the heavens, radiating an imposing and weighty aura.

That aura was vast as the sea. It was unmistakably a Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure!

Before West Queen Mother was an entirely purple bowl.

Its body was crystal-clear, as though endless ripples of water flowed within it. Faint lotus phantoms could be seen blooming inside.

Its aura was pure and profound. It too was a Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasure!

"I bestow these two treasures upon you."

Hongjun said, "The Dragon Head Cane can suppress fortune and command all laws.

"The Purple Sandalwood Pure Water Bowl can gather spiritual springs and purify all things. I hope you use these treasures well and do not disappoint my expectations."

East King Duke and West Queen Mother accepted the treasures with both hands and kowtowed once more.

"Your disciples will certainly give their all and not fail the Dao Ancestor's trust!"

The Three Thousand Cultivators watched this scene, their eyes filled with envy.

Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasures!

Those were Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasures!

Most of those present did not even possess an ordinary Innate Spiritual Treasure, while East King Duke and West Queen Mother had not only received the authority to command the immortals, but also two Supreme Innate Spiritual Treasures!

What tremendous fortune was this!

Yet envy was one thing. Most did not take the eight words "Chief of Male Immortals" and "Chief of Female Immortals" too seriously.

The Primordial Wilderness had always respected strength above all else. With strength, even a lone cultivator would not be bullied; without strength, even a nominal leader was nothing more than an empty shell.

Though East King Duke and West Queen Mother had been personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor, if their own strength proved insufficient, which great power would truly take them seriously?

Among the crowd, the Three Pure Ones wore calm expressions, showing neither joy nor anger.

Laozi merely gave them an indifferent glance before withdrawing his gaze. Yuanshi nodded slightly in acknowledgment, but said nothing further. Tongtian grinned, though none knew what he was thinking.

Minghe's expression darkened. He snorted coldly and ignored them.

A complicated look flashed through Kunpeng's eyes, as though he were calculating something.

Of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, only Houtu was present. She looked at East King Duke and West Queen Mother with calm eyes, showing no other emotion.

However, two people reacted differently from the rest.

Dijun. Taiyi.

The two brothers exchanged a glance, and both saw solemnity in the other's eyes.

Chief of Male Immortals, Chief of Female Immortals.

Personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor, their authority was immense.

What did this signify? It signified that the immortal path of the Primordial Wilderness now had nominal supreme rulers.

If anyone dared defy the orders of East King Duke and West Queen Mother in the future, it would be the same as defying the Dao Ancestor's decree.

Thoughts raced through Dijun's mind.

He and Taiyi had long harbored ambitions of contending for supremacy over the Primordial Wilderness.

But if East King Duke and West Queen Mother truly managed to gather the immortals of the Primordial Wilderness beneath their banner as the Chief of Male Immortals and Chief of Female Immortals...

Then many variables would arise in their path to supremacy.

"Big Brother." Taiyi lowered his voice. "We need to prepare in advance."

Dijun nodded slightly, his gaze deep.

"No rush." He spoke just as quietly. "Let us first see how far they can go. The Dao Ancestor's appointment is one matter; whether they can win the people's respect is another."

Taiyi nodded and said no more.

Hongjun seemed not to notice the undercurrents below the platform. He merely continued, "This lecture ends here."

After a pause, he added, "The next lecture will be in three thousand years. At that time, I will expound the Sage's Path."