Loan Becomes Saint

The Saint Laozi looked down at the few eager little ones begging for Magic Treasures, and at Dao Xuan, who looked embarrassed and desperately waved his hands to indicate his innocence.

On his majestic Saintly face, the hint of a smile deepened.

"Enough."

The Saint's voice was peaceful, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"Since you have all entered my sect, how can you be without treasures to protect yourselves?"

As the words fell.

The Auspicious Cloud above Saint Laozi's head churned, and his Three Flowers swayed.

He flicked his finger.

Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!

Six streams of light, carrying different Innate Dao Rhymes, shot towards the six kneeling figures.

Before the Gourd Baby.

What floated there was not a gourd, but a palm-sized, dark yellow circular shield, neither gold nor jade.

The surface of the shield was smooth as a mirror, containing the constant flow of Yin and Yang energies, forming a miniature Taiji Diagram, exuding a profound, stable, and all-invading protective Dao Rhyme.

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Taiji Profound Yellow Shield."

"It contains the true meaning of Innate Yin Yang Protection. It can change size at will, possesses unparalleled defense, is difficult for a Golden Immortal to break, and can even reflect some spells and divine abilities."

"Although your origin is a gourd, your heart of protection is sincere. This shield suits your nature perfectly, helping you comprehend Yin Yang Protection and the Path of Invincibility."

The Gourd Baby's eyes lit up, and he grabbed the small shield, caressing it with great fondness.

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for the treasure! This is much sturdier than a gourd!"

Before the Golden Peng.

A long halberd, twelve feet in length, floated.

The body of the halberd was neither gold nor jade, interwoven with dark gold and silver-white, like solidified Yin and Yang energies.

The blade was long and sharp, emitting a cold light, as if it could tear through the void.

An unparalleled sharpness, capable of destroying all methods, permeated the air!

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Yin Yang Void-Piercing Halberd."

"It contains the true meaning of Innate Yin Yang Destruction. It is incomparably sharp and possesses peerless speed. When wielded, it can draw upon Yin and Yang energies to tear space."

"You were formed from the origin of Innate Yin and Yang energies. This halberd perfectly matches your origin, helping you comprehend Yin Yang Extreme Speed and the Path of Destruction."

The Golden Peng's golden eyes blazed, and he reached out to grasp the halberd's shaft.

Hum!

The halberd hummed softly, Yin and Yang energies flowed, and it instantly resonated with the origin within him!

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for the treasure!" the Golden Peng exclaimed with excitement.

Before the Six-Eared Macaque.

A small and exquisite bell, neither gold nor jade, floated.

The bell was pale gold, its surface covered with fine and profound natural Dao patterns.

When gently shaken, it was silent, yet it seemed to stir ripples in the void, penetrating directly into the depths of the Divine Soul.

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Myriad Laws Listening Bell."

"A silent bell, it can hear the heart sounds of all things, break through illusions and false sounds, and can also stir the ripples of the Great Dao, shaking the Divine Soul. It specializes in countering sound waves and illusionary divine abilities."

"With your Six-Eared talent, you are adept at listening. This bell can help you block out noise, hear the true sounds of the Great Dao, and also protect your Divine Soul and enhance your divine abilities."

The Six-Eared Macaque was so excited that all six of his ears trembled slightly.

He respectfully held the bell and tied it to his waist.

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for the treasure!"

Before Suiren Shi.

An ancient bronze lamp floated.

The lamp had a simple design, with no oil inside. Instead, a cluster of eternally burning, warm, and bright golden flames quietly blazed.

Within the flames, the phantom image of the Hearthfire Legacy could be vaguely seen flowing.

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Hearthfire Legacy Lamp."

"Within the lamp is the Humanity's Civilizational Hearthfire, which shares the same origin as your Suiren Wood Drill. It can help you comprehend the Civilization of Fire and the Path of Legacy. It can also burn Malevolent Spirits and protect your mind."

Suiren Shi respectfully accepted the lamp, feeling the warm and familiar flame, and was deeply moved.

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for the treasure!"

Before Youchao Shi.

A small, earth-yellow seal floated.

The seal was square, with a miniature dwelling as its knob, exuding an aura of profundity, stability, and the bearing of all things.

It felt as if lifting this seal meant lifting an entire land.

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Thick Earth Home-Securing Seal."

"It contains the essence of Innate Wutu, carries the power of the earth, can suppress earth veins, stabilize dwellings, and can also transform into stone barriers for unparalleled defense."

"It complements your Gourd Dwelling technique, helping you comprehend the Path of Earth's Bearing and Protection."

Youchao Shi cupped the seal in his hands, instantly feeling a force of profound stability surge into his body.

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for bestowing this treasure!"

Before Zhisheng Shi.

A plain white silk floated, neither silk nor hemp, shimmering with a moonlight-like luster.

The silk was blank, yet it seemed capable of reflecting the human heart, evolving into countless forms of clothing, emitting a mysterious aura of comfort, dignity, and the concealment of heavenly opportunities.

"This is a Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Heavenly Garment Formless Silk."

"It can evolve into countless forms of clothing at will, is impervious to water and fire, remains unstained by dust, and can even conceal one's presence and confuse heavenly opportunities."

"It resonates with the origin of your Zhisheng Garment, helping you comprehend Creation Weaving and the Path of Concealment."

Zhisheng Shi joyfully accepted the silk, gently stroking it, feeling its smooth and comfortable texture.

"Thank you, Ancestor Master, for bestowing this treasure!"

The distribution of treasures was complete.

Saint Laozi's gaze turned to Dao Xuan, a hint of obvious teasing in his eyes.

"Dao Xuan, my disciple."

"Disciple is here!" Dao Xuan quickly bowed.

"You are my first disciple, the foremost immortal of the third generation of Xuanmen, with a rich background and numerous magic treasures..." Laozi's tone was leisurely, pausing deliberately.

A bad premonition arose in Dao Xuan's heart.

As expected, Laozi continued, "There are no treasures for you this time."

Pfft!

Gourd Baby was the first to fail to hold back his laughter, quickly covering his mouth.

Golden Peng's mouth twitched, suppressing his laughter.

Six-Eared lowered his head, his shoulders shaking slightly.

The three ancestors of Suiren Shi also wore strange expressions, wanting to laugh but not daring to.

Dao Xuan's old face stiffened; he felt he had lost face.

"Teacher... Disciple... Disciple is actually quite poor too..." he tried to struggle.

Saint Laozi looked at him with a half-smile, "Oh? Is that so? As your teacher recalls, back in the Purple Heaven Palace, someone was quite fortunate."

Dao Xuan: "..."

Well, his "glorious deed" of "robbing" the Dao Ancestor back then had been brought up again!

He could only offer a sheepish smile and cup his hands, "Teacher, please see clearly, disciple is content, content..."

In his heart, however, he wailed: Teacher, you're taking personal revenge! It was just taking the blame, wasn't it! Do you have to withhold disciple's benefits?

Seeing Dao Xuan's frustrated yet defiant expression, Saint Laozi's smile deepened.

He stopped teasing his "wealthy" chief disciple and swept his gaze over the billions of tribesmen prostrating under the saint's pressure, proclaiming in a loud voice:

"Now that the Human Religion is established, it shall enlighten the Human Race and impart the Dao."

"Dao Xuan!"

"Disciple is here!" Dao Xuan collected himself and responded solemnly.

"As the first disciple of the Human Religion and the Martial Ancestor of the Human Race, you shall bear the responsibility of enlightenment and guide the Human Race to strive for self-improvement!"

"Disciple respectfully obeys Teacher's Imperial Decree!"

"Good."

Saint Laozi nodded slightly and did not leave immediately.

He calculated with his fingers, Dao Rhyme flowing at his fingertips, and heavenly opportunities manifesting.

A moment later, his gaze fell upon a certain location on the Great Desolation Continent.

"My dojo shall be on Shouyang Mountain."

With that, the saint's form transformed into a streak of clear light, not soaring straight into the heavens, but heading towards a majestic divine mountain on the Great Desolation Continent.

There lay the renowned Taiqing dojo of later generations—Shouyang Mountain!

The saint would personally establish his dojo and preach the Dao in the Great Desolation.

The Great Desolation trembled!

Grand Pure One Laozi established the Human Religion and achieved the Dao of Primordial Chaos!

The vast saintly might that swept across the Great Desolation and the magnificent phenomenon of purple qi arriving from the east for thirty thousand miles!

Had already spread to every corner of the Great Desolation in an instant!

Kunlun Mountain, Jade Void Palace.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate sat cross-legged on a cloud bed. Sensing Laozi's grand aura upon becoming a Saint, a hint of understanding and a smile appeared on his majestic face.

"Great Brother has attained the Dao, and my Dao is also within sight!"

He stood up, took a step out of the Jade Void Palace, and stood atop Kunlun!

Wearing the Jade Pure Lotus Crown, clad in the Golden Radiance Myriad Longevity Robe, and holding the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.

Though his saintly might was not yet manifest, his Dao Rhyme already soared to the heavens!

His gaze swept across the Great Desolation, and his grand Dao voice echoed through the universe:

"Heavenly Dao above!"

"I am the orthodox descendant of Pangu, Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerate!"

"Now, sensing the Heavenly Dao and following the general trend, I establish a sect, named: 'Chan'! Chan means to elucidate! To follow Heaven and respond to humanity, elucidating the supreme principles of the Heavenly Dao!"

"Using the Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Pangu Banner to suppress the fortune of the Chan Sect!"

Buzz!

An ancient, chaotic banner, whose aura seemed capable of tearing apart the Primordial Chaos, flew out from above Primordial Heavenly Venerate's head. It fluttered noisily, stabilizing the universe!

"Chan Sect, established!"

Rumble!

From the nine heavens above, Profound Yellow Merit poured down again!

Seven-tenths of the merit descended upon him, activating one-tenth of the Heaven-Opening Merit within his Primordial Spirit!

Immeasurable saintly light erupted!

Purple qi surged, and golden lotuses appeared!

Primordial Heavenly Venerate achieved the Dao of Primordial Chaos!

The Jade Pure Saint!

Saintly might swept through the land, and the Great Desolation trembled once more!

All beings prostrated themselves again!

Deep within the East Sea.

Sect Master Tongtian stood on a celestial island shaped like a giant turtle, enveloped in immortal energy, with auspicious beasts roaming.

This island was the top-tier blessed land he had discovered during his travels – Golden Ao Island!

Sensing his two elder brothers consecutively achieving sainthood, Sect Master Tongtian's sword-like eyebrows rose, and his heroic spirit soared!

"Great Brother and Second Brother have both become Saints, and my Dao is also here!"

He stood before the Biyou Palace on Golden Ao Island and let out a long roar:

"Heavenly Dao above!"

"I am the orthodox descendant of Pangu, Upper Pure Sect Master Tongtian!"

"Now, on Golden Ao Island in the East Sea, I establish a sect, named: 'Jie'! Jie means to intercept! The Great Dao has fifty principles, Heaven evolves into forty-nine, intercepting a sliver of life!"

"Using the Four Swords of Execution and their formation diagram to suppress the fortune of the Jie Sect!"

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Four ancient long swords, whose fiend qi soared to the heavens and seemed capable of exterminating gods and immortals, along with their formation diagram, flew out from behind Sect Master Tongtian. Sword qi traversed hundreds of millions of miles!

"Jie Sect, established!"

Boom!

Profound Yellow Merit descended again!

Seven-tenths of the merit activated the Heaven-Opening Merit!

Sword qi soared around Sect Master Tongtian, and his Primordial Chaos saintly might erupted!

Purple qi surged, and the Golden Ao let out a long cry!

Sect Master Tongtian achieved the Dao of Primordial Chaos!

The Upper Pure Saint!

In the West, a barren land.

Beside the Eight Treasures Merit Pool.

Daoist Jieyin was sallow and thin, his expression of suffering deepening.

Daoist Zhunti's face was etched with hardship, but his eyes flickered with anxiety and longing.

"Senior Brother! All three of the Pure Ones have become Saints! What opportunities remain for us?!" Zhunti's voice was filled with urgency, like an ant on a hot pan.

Jieyin sighed, his voice so filled with sorrow it could wring out water, "Our West is barren, lacking in fortune, and our foundations are shallow... Difficult, difficult, difficult! Is this the will of Heaven?"

A resolute desperation flashed in Zhunti's eyes, "The will of Heaven? Even Heaven's will must be fought for! We shall take a loan from the Heavenly Dao!"

"A... loan?" Jieyin was stunned, his sorrowful face a mask of confusion.

"Precisely!" Zhunti gritted his teeth, as if making a monumental decision. "Establish a great sect, make grand vows! Pre-emptively claim merit from the Heavenly Dao! Pay in installments! Get on the bus first, then buy the ticket!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of interest appeared on Jieyin's withered face, which then dissolved into even deeper sorrow. "This is a great karmic debt... I fear the interest will compound, and it will be impossible to repay for eternity..."

"We can't afford to worry about that now!" Zhunti interrupted him, his tone decisive. "Only by becoming Saints will we have a voice! Once we are Saints, we can slowly repay it! It's better than just watching now!"

The two looked at each other, seeing the desperation in each other's eyes.

And so.

Jieyin and Zhunti soared into the sky and stood atop the spiritual mountain of the West.

Three dimly glowing sarira appeared above Jieyin's head.

Zhunti held the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, its precious light also appearing weak and listless.

The two took a deep breath, like warriors about to face execution, and spoke in unison, their voices filled with tragic solemnity and a hint of a "bluffing" tremor, echoing throughout the Great Desolation:

"Heavenly Dao above!"

"We, Jieyin (Zhunti)!"

"Now, feeling the barrenness of the West and the suffering of all beings, we establish a sect with great compassion, named: 'The West'!"

"We shall use the Twelve-petal Merit Golden Lotus (Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree) to suppress the fortune of the Western Sect!"

A wilted golden lotus and the phantom image of a treasure tree with faint precious light appeared shakily.

However...

High above the nine heavens, the Profound Yellow Merit Qi only fluctuated symbolically, with a sparse amount falling, not even creating a ripple.

It was clearly not enough to become a Saint!

The scene was incredibly awkward.

All beings in the Great Desolation: "..."

The Three Pure Ones: "..."

Dao Xuan, at the edge of the East Sea, nearly burst out laughing, "Pfft! Good heavens, they rejected the 'loan' application directly? Not enough credit score!"

Zhunti's old face turned beet red, he was getting desperate!

He stomped his foot fiercely and, raising his voice, began to make wild promises at a speed like a Gatling gun:

"If I attain supreme Bodhi, I shall not achieve true enlightenment!"

"When I become Buddha, there shall be no hells, hungry ghosts, or beasts in my land... I shall not achieve true enlightenment!"

"When I become Buddha, all beings in the ten directions who hear my name and sincerely believe... I shall not achieve true enlightenment!"

One grand (and incredibly absurd-sounding) vow after another poured out of Zhunti's mouth as if they were free.

Jieyin cooperated beside him, his face so full of sorrow it could drip oil, and also made "heartfelt" vows, his voice mournful:

"If I attain Buddhahood, and my country has hells, hungry ghosts, or beasts, I shall not achieve true enlightenment..."

"If I attain Buddhahood, and the heavenly beings in my country, after their lifespan ends, are reborn into the three evil paths, I shall not achieve true enlightenment..."

The two spoke back and forth, like street vendors selling miracle elixirs, or passionate MLM instructors.

In one go, they made forty-eight earth-shattering grand vows!

The content was all-encompassing, from eliminating the three evil paths to everyone becoming a Buddha, from a land as magnificent as a five-star hotel to divine abilities comparable to Saints... It was as if they were treating the Heavenly Dao as a pushover, launching a super PPT project for the "Western Pure Land"!

All beings in the Great Desolation listened with their jaws on the floor.

The Three Pure Ones, in their respective dojos, had their mouths twitching uncontrollably.

Dao Xuan, below, had already covered his eyes, unable to bear watching, "My heavens! Forty-eight bounced checks! This pie is bigger than chaos itself! They're definitely 'Loan Saints'! They'll be repaying this for immeasurable kalpas, won't they? The Heavenly Dao Bank is going to lose big time!"

Perhaps the Heavenly Dao was also stunned by the thick skin and pie-drawing abilities of these two "Great Desolation deadbeats."

Perhaps those forty-eight grand vows truly touched upon some "getting something for nothing" rule.

Finally!

BOOM!

High above the nine heavens, the Profound Yellow Merit Qi, now much more substantial than before, descended with a strong sense of "unwillingness" and "consider it a failed investment," crashing down!

Although the quantity was far less than that of the Three Pure Ones, it was barely enough.

Seventy percent of the merit was infused!

Jieyin and Zhunti had no merit from the creation of the world within them; they relied entirely on this "usurious merit" to push through!

Hum! Hum!

Two strands of Saintly Might, slightly "hollow" and with foundations clearly less condensed and profound than the Three Pure Ones, erupted from the West.

Purple Qi... well, it barely reached a few thousand miles east, and it was intermittent.

Golden Lotuses... only a few sparse ones bloomed, wilting and listless.

Daoist Jieyin, achieved the Primordial Chaos!

Daoist Zhunti, achieved the Primordial Chaos!

The Two Sages of the West!

"We did it! Brother! We did it!" Zhunti was so excited he was almost in tears, nearly jumping for joy.

Jieyin still had a worried frown, but a hint of relieved joy flashed in his eyes: "Alas... we did it, but these debts... when will they ever be paid off..."

His voice was mournful, as if he could already see the tragic years of working 996 for countless eons to pay off debts.

All beings in the Great Desolation: "..."

Thus.

Grand Pure One Laozi! Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerate! Upper Pure Tongtian! Jieyin! Zhunti!

Five Saints stand together!

All holders of the Primordial Violet Qi, except for the Old Ancestor Hongyun, who had vanished and was shallow in fortune, had all become Saints!

Across the Great Desolation.

Several hidden and greedy gazes instantly locked onto the last possible direction where Old Ancestor Hongyun might appear.

Heavenly Court, Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Dijun's face was ashen, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest of his throne.

Taiyi's eyes flickered with Solar True Fire, killing intent surfacing.

"Big Brother, the six Saints have appeared... that last strand of Primordial Violet Qi..."

"We can't wait any longer!" Dijun's voice was icy cold. "Issue an order! Strictly monitor Wuzhuang Temple and all areas where Hongyun might appear! Report immediately upon receiving any news!"

Northern Darkness, Demon Master Palace.

Old Ancestor Kunpeng's face was grim, demonic energy surging around him.

"Saint... Hmph! Hongyun! If you hadn't given up your seat back then, causing me to lose my chance at Sainthood... your Violet Qi rightfully belongs to me!"

His form flickered, turning into a dark light as he vanished into the void, stealthily heading towards where Hongyun might be hiding.

Netherworld Sea of Blood, Asura Hall.

Old Ancestor Minghe sat on the Karmic Fire Red Lotus, his four hundred and eighty million Blood God Son avatars simultaneously opening their blood-red eyes.

"Hehehehe... With the six Saints appearing, the structure of heaven and earth has changed drastically! Hongyun, that good-natured old man's Violet Qi, is the opportunity for my Sea of Blood lineage to advance further! Old Ancestor is going to 'invite' fellow Daoist Hongyun for a visit!"

The Sea of Blood churned, and Old Ancestor Minghe surged out of it.

Longevity Mountain, Wuzhuang Temple.

Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi's brows were tightly furrowed, gazing worriedly at the area outside the temple.

"Old friend Hongyun... disaster is imminent..."

He waved his hand, casting spell seals. The Earth Book's phantom appeared, mobilizing the power of the Earth Veins of the entire Longevity Mountain to its extreme, forming a powerful protective barrier.

A sense of invisible urgency, like dark clouds, instantly enveloped Old Ancestor Hongyun's head!

With the six Saints appearing, it was like immense pressure, making those who coveted the Primordial Violet Qi unable to hold back any longer!

A bloody storm targeting Hongyun had already begun!

The era of Saints had officially commenced!

The structure of the Great Desolation, with the five Saints (Nuwa had already become one) standing together, would usher in an unprecedented upheaval!

Undercurrents surged, and killing intent lurked everywhere!

On the shores of the East Sea.

Dao Xuan retracted his gaze from the West and the killing intent he sensed rushing to the heavens, a playful smile curving his lips.

"Loan Saint... truly a marvel of the Great Desolation!"