What Is a Quasi-Saint?

Before long, Zixiao Palace came into view once more.

Its gates stood open, and quite a few great powers had already arrived.

Xuanqing spotted Ancestor Minghe at once, sitting on the steps by the entrance. The fellow clutched two swords and looked like someone owed him money.

Ancestor Hong Yun was there too, animatedly telling Zhenyuanzi something.

Xuanqing paid them no mind and went straight into the main hall.

The hall was not yet full.

Of the six Prayer Mats at the front, the Three Pure Ones had already claimed three.

Yuanshi Tianzun had his eyes closed. When he sensed Xuanqing enter, he did not even lift an eyelid, only giving a slight nod.

Xuanqing understood and obediently went to stand behind Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Master, your disciple has arrived," he transmitted with his divine sense.

"Mm. Your cultivation has improved, and your foundation is fairly solid. You haven't been slacking off." Yuanshi Tianzun's voice sounded in Xuanqing's mind.

Xuanqing grinned but said nothing.

Soon after, the two from the Western Lands arrived as well.

Jieyin still wore a mournful expression, as if the whole world owed him something.

Zunti's eyes darted around. The moment he entered, he began sizing everyone up, looking for anyone carrying a fine treasure.

When Zunti's gaze settled on Xuanqing, Xuanqing distinctly felt like a hungry wolf had fixed its eyes on him.

He hurriedly hunched his shoulders and ducked behind Yuanshi Tianzun.

"Fellow Daoist Zunti?" Yuanshi Tianzun suddenly opened his eyes, his voice cool.

Zunti gave an awkward laugh and pressed his palms together. "Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you misunderstand. I merely feel this young man is destined for the Western Lands."

"Get lost." Yuanshi Tianzun replied with a single word.

The atmosphere in the hall turned awkward in an instant, though more than a few people were secretly laughing.

Xuanqing gave his master a thousand thumbs-up in his heart.

This was the advantage of having a powerful backer. Whether you were a future Sage or a Quasi-Saint right now, if you dared set your sights on him, his master would curse you out without hesitation.

As time passed, the three thousand great powers arrived one after another.

When Dijun and Taiyi entered with the gods of the Yao Clan, Baize was among them.

Baize glanced at Xuanqing, his expression complicated, but soon looked away.

Xuanqing cheerfully returned his gaze with a smile, making Baize's eye twitch.

Just then, Houtu entered with several burly members of the Witch Clan.

When she saw Xuanqing, her eyes lit up. She was just about to greet him when Qiangliang beside her grabbed her.

Qiangliang glared at Xuanqing, as if warning him: Keep away from my little sister!

Xuanqing rubbed his nose and grumbled inwardly: The Witch Clan's overprotective-big-brother trait really does run in the family.

Once everyone had taken their seats, the hall suddenly fell silent.

An immense pressure descended without warning.

On the raised dais, Hongjun Dao Ancestor's figure appeared as if in a dream.

He looked just as he always had, his eyes as deep as a still pool, revealing no emotion.

"The lecture begins."

Hongjun Dao Ancestor wasted no words and began at once.

As soon as he spoke, flowers rained from the heavens and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth appeared.

Xuanqing hurriedly cleared his mind and listened with complete focus.

The magical power within him began to circulate of its own accord in response to the Dao Ancestor's voice. At that moment, the Myriad Qi Returning to Yuan Purification Technique seemed to undergo a kind of elevation.

Xuanqing felt that the threshold to Golden Immortal was now no more than a thin sheet of paper away.

Outside the hall, Chaos churned.

Inside the hall, the Dao's music lingered.

Seated on the dais, Hongjun Dao Ancestor's voice filled Zixiao Palace.

The lecture this time was a hundred times more profound than the last.

The three thousand great powers in the hall still showed every kind of expression. Some scratched their heads in confusion, some looked anguished, and others burst into laughter.

Hiding behind Yuanshi Tianzun, Xuanqing was also left with a pounding head.

He possessed Double Merit Fortune and had exceptional comprehension, yet he still found the material abstruse and difficult to understand.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor was lecturing on the Dao of the Quasi-Saint.

"Above the Da Luo Golden Immortal is the Quasi-Saint."

"To become a Quasi-Saint, one must sever the Three Corpses."

"The Three Corpses are the good corpse, the evil corpse, and the corpse of obsession."

At the front of the hall, Taishang Laojun opened his eyes and asked softly,

"Teacher, what is the foundation of a Quasi-Saint?"

Hongjun Dao Ancestor paused his lecture, his gaze calm.

"A Quasi-Saint has touched the realm of the Sage, but has not attained a Sage's position."

"Severing one corpse makes one an early-stage Quasi-Saint."

"Severing two makes one a mid-stage Quasi-Saint."

"Severing all Three Corpses makes one a peak Quasi-Saint, able to glimpse the opportunity to become a Sage."

Yuanshi Tianzun also spoke, his voice authoritative.

"Teacher, what is needed to sever a corpse?"

Hongjun Dao Ancestor replied, "One must use an Innate Supreme Treasure or an Innate Spiritual Treasure as a vessel."

"The higher the grade of the object entrusted with it, the stronger the severed corpse will be."

At this, the hall filled with the sound of people swallowing.

The three thousand great powers looked at one another, their eyes burning with excitement.

Innate Spiritual Treasures were already scarce in Honghuang. Now, they had become essential commodities.

Without a spiritual treasure, one could only spend their whole life muddling along as a Da Luo Golden Immortal.

Tongtian Cult Leader was forthright and asked directly, "Teacher, is there another way besides the Method of Severing the Three Corpses?"

Hongjun fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

"There is also Prove Dao by Force: create the heavens and the earth, and break the laws through sheer might."

"There is also becoming a Sage through merit: benefit all living beings, and Heaven's will will respond."

"However, the Method of Severing the Three Corpses is the most stable."

Xuanqing nodded along. He was already following the path of merit.

Once he had accumulated enough of this Double Merit Fortune, perhaps one day he would soar straight to the top.

Next, Nüwa, Jieyin, and Zunti also raised questions in turn.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor answered them one by one, unhurried and composed.

The lecture continued for three thousand years, and the Dao Rhyme in the hall grew incredibly dense.

Xuanqing felt as though his body itself was glowing. The power of merit was circulating wildly within him.

The Great Yi Mysterious Immortal magical power in his body had reached its limit. He was only a thin barrier away from Golden Immortal.

Yet the barrier was unusually tough, and no matter what he did, he could not break through it.

Looks like I'm still missing the right opportunity. Xuanqing understood that this sort of thing could not be rushed.

As the lecture neared its end, Hongjun Dao Ancestor suddenly stopped.

He looked at the six people at the front, his gaze profound.

"You six, seated upon the Prayer Mats, are destined to have a connection with me."

"From today onward, you shall be my formal disciples."

Taishang, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nüwa, Jieyin, and Zunti rose to their feet together.

They bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Teacher!"

The other great powers in the hall watched, their eyes red with envy.

These were disciples of a Sage!

With that status, they would be able to throw their weight around anywhere in Honghuang.

Xuanqing also benefited from the connection. He was now the direct disciple's own disciple of a Sage.

In terms of seniority, he was absolutely among the top tier in Honghuang.

"The lecture is over. You may all leave."

Hongjun Dao Ancestor waved his sleeve, and his figure vanished from the dais in an instant.

The three thousand great powers rose one after another and filed out of Zixiao Palace.

Xuanqing followed Yuanshi Tianzun, about to leave as well.

That fellow Zunti came over again, wearing a fake smile.

"Young friend Xuanqing, my Western Paradise has many wondrous arts. Are you really not interested in taking a look?"

Yuanshi Tianzun snorted. The Three Treasures Jade Scepter gave off waves of immortal light.

Zunti shrank his neck, gave an awkward laugh, and ran off faster than a rabbit.

"Disciple, return to Kunlun Mountain first." Yuanshi Tianzun turned to him, his voice gentler.

"Your master still has important matters to discuss with your two uncles. Be careful on the way."

Xuanqing hurriedly agreed. "Rest assured, Master. Your disciple will keep a low profile."

He left Zixiao Palace and immediately summoned the Merit Golden Wheel, turning into a streak of light as he plunged into Chaos.

After passing through the chaotic lightning and flames, Xuanqing returned to the land of Honghuang.