Six Disciples Accepted Within Purple Cloud Palace, Primordial Violet Qi Determines the Sage Positions

Tongtian was the most forthright and fierce by nature. He was the first to rise, his Daoist robe stirring without wind. Bowing deeply to Dao Ancestor Hongjun, he asked the question that troubled every great mighty one:

"Disciple Tongtian dares to ask Dao Ancestor! Of the three methods of attaining the Dao, since there is an order among them, can their superiority be judged? Is there any difference in their combat power?"

His voice rang like a sword's cry, echoing through Purple Cloud Palace.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's gaze remained indifferent, without the slightest concealment. His vast Dao Sound rang out clearly:

"Attaining the Dao through strength, comprehending laws and relying upon oneself, is the strongest; severing the Three Corpses, illuminating one's heart and seeing one's nature, comes next; attaining the Dao through merit, borrowing external power to perfect oneself, is the weakest."

Hongjun paused slightly, sweeping his gaze across the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests below, who held their breaths. Then he spoke the maxim that would establish the future order of the Primordial World Heaven and Earth:

"Yet beneath Sages, all are ants. Though there may be distinctions of strength and weakness in attaining the Dao, all remain within the Heavenly Dao."

The instant these words fell, every great mighty one felt a chill in their hearts. This meant that once one became a Sage, one had transcended the mundane. Even the weakest Sage could easily suppress the strongest person who had yet to become a Sage.

At this moment, Taiqing Laozi at the forefront slowly rose. Respectful in bearing and steady in manner, he asked an even deeper question:

"Dao Ancestor, in your compassion, may this old one ask: both Sages and Primordial Daluo Golden Immortals are realms that endure through ten thousand calamities without perishing. What is