"Fellow Daoist."
Bei Ming gazed at Daoist Xuan Yuan, a trace of deeper meaning hidden in his eyes.
"You should understand what I mean."
Daoist Xuan Yuan glanced around, his expression calm and unruffled as he spoke with quiet resolve:
"You and I were originally one. Even if I have manifested in this world, that fact will not change.
Your success is also our success.
To contribute to your path of proving the Dao is my duty and mission."
Whether Bei Ming successfully refined the True Spirit of the Destruction Demon God, grasped its Laws of Destruction, annihilated the Three Corpses, and pursued the Dao of Hunyuan;
or united the Three Corpses through Spirit Treasures of the Same Origin and proved the Dao to become a saint;
unless one attained sainthood through Merit, the Three Corpses would eventually disperse.
The great hall was still, its candle flames swaying as though bearing witness to their unspoken understanding.
"The road to Hunyuan is long and arduous." Daoist Xuan Yuan's face turned solemn, his voice low.
"Though the Destruction Demon God has only its True Spirit left and has been weakened through countless Yuanhuis, you must still make every possible preparation."
Bei Ming nodded lightly and turned his palm over, taking out the Primordial Gourd he had obtained atop Mount Buzhou Summit.
Spiritual light flowed across the gourd's surface, containing endless mysteries.
"So fortunately, this is the Primordial Wilderness." Bei Ming spoke in a deep voice.
"And I am a legitimate native cultivator of the Primordial Wilderness.
As long as I can resolve the Baleful Aura in the Northern Continent, the Merit I gain will be a lifesaving talisman when I refine the True Spirit of the Destruction Demon God."
Heavenly Dao Merit was still quite useful in the Primordial Wilderness.
The former Destruction Demon God might once have scorned the Heavenly Dao, but now he was like a tiger stranded on the plains.
If he truly dared to seize the body of a cultivator carrying immense Heavenly Dao Merit, the Heavenly Dao would certainly intervene.
At those words, determination flashed through Daoist Xuan Yuan's eyes. He cupped his hands and said:
"Then let us hope we prove the Dao soon."
As his words fell, his figure flickered and transformed into a streak of spiritual light, returning to the main body.
The hall fell silent once more, leaving only the swaying candle flames.
Bei Ming put away the Primordial Gourd, having already made his decision.
Once the Third Lecture ended and he had sufficient time, he would begin gathering the remaining Fierce Beast corpses across the Northern Continent, use the gourd to contain the Baleful Aura, and obtain Heavenly Dao Merit.
Afterward, Bei Ming closed his eyes and focused, immersing his mind within the Laws.
After slashing off a corpse, he could clearly feel the Heavenly Dao's blessing. His thoughts had become lucid, and all manner of profound principles flowed through his mind several times more smoothly than before.
Time passed, and the date of the Third Lecture drew near.
Bei Ming ended his cultivation early, left Great Void Palace, and once again headed into Hundun.
Hundun churned as Zixiao Palace stood towering within it.
By the time Bei Ming arrived at Zixiao Palace, its gates had already opened.
Bei Ming entered the main hall. Yinyun and auspicious light filled the hall, which was silent and solemn.
The Three Pure Ones had arrived long ago. They sat upon their Prayer Mats with their eyes closed, each concealing their aura.
Only the faintly discernible aura surrounding them revealed their newly advanced cultivation.
Judging from the fluctuations, Yuanshi and Tongtian had also successfully slashed off One Corpse and become Quasi-Saints.
Bei Ming did not speak to disturb them. He went straight to his own prayer mat, sat down, calmed his breathing, and quietly waited for the Saint to begin the lecture.
Not long afterward, one Escape Light after another arrived within Hundun.
More and more Cultivators gathered in Zixiao Palace.
Nüwa and Fuxi were among them as well.
Seeing familiar faces, the three exchanged smiles, their expressions becoming somewhat more relaxed.
Bei Ming praised them. "Two Fellow Daoists, you have both successfully slashed off corpses and become Quasi-Saints. Truly, congratulations are in order."
"Mhm." A hint of laughter shone in Nüwa's eyes.
"We only barely managed to slash off One Corpse before the lecture began. Compared with you, we still fall short."
Fuxi asked, "Bei Ming, have you given any thought to slashing off the Second Corpse?"
Bei Ming shook his head. "There is no rush. Before slashing off the Two Corpses, I should first deepen my cultivation of the Laws and solidify my foundation. Cultivation cannot be rushed."
"That is true." Fuxi sighed.
"Though we have become Quasi-Saints, we must both maintain our comprehension of the Laws and concern ourselves with slashing off corpses. This method is far from easy."
"As for cultivation, just let nature take its course." Nüwa looked at ease, a lively glint in her eyes.
"Sometimes, all it takes is a flash of inspiration to seize the opportunity for a breakthrough."
Just then, Jieyin sat on the sixth prayer mat and said humbly:
"Fellow Daoist Nüwa, what you said is right. With such a state of mind, Poor Daoist cannot compare. I am truly ashamed."
Unlike Zhunti, who always wore a smile;
Jieyin often bore a compassionate expression, and his eyes seemed to perpetually reveal the weight of "worrying for all living beings."
Because of the struggle over the Prayer Mats before the first lecture, Nüwa did not think much of Jieyin and Zhunti. Her voice therefore remained somewhat cold.
"Fellow Daoist Jieyin, you know shame as well?"
Jieyin pressed his palms together, lowering his eyes. His expression was peaceful yet resolute.
"To know joy and sorrow, to know honor and disgrace—some things must be done by someone.
Whether one is praised by others or condemned by the world is unimportant.
Only following the direction of one's true self is the true Dao."
"Heh... You know honor and disgrace, yet deliberately choose disgrace?"
Nüwa sneered.
"Using the pursuit of your true self as a pretext while actually seeking selfish desires—do you not find that laughable?"
Jieyin's eyes were deep as he replied lightly, "Adapt to circumstances and people."
Fellow Daoist Nüwa does not know our hardships, so it is difficult for you to understand what we do."
Zhunti, however, continued smiling as if trying to smooth things over.
"Fellow Daoist Nüwa, your Eastern Continent is abundant, with spiritual veins crisscrossing the land. Yet our West has barren mountains and rivers, with living beings dwindling away. How can the two be compared?"
With a meaningful smile, Bei Ming said, "The resolve of you Two Fellow Daoists is indeed admirable.
I am rather curious to see just what state your West can reach in your hands."
Respect appeared between Jieyin's brows.
"Fellow Daoist Beiming is also a person of great compassion. Poor Daoist admires you greatly."
Bei Ming asked in return, "What makes you say that?"
Jieyin answered softly, "My senior and junior brother and I traveled through Honghuang, and we heard of the affairs in the North.
In the Changbai Mountain Range, the Baleful Aura has been entirely cleared away and the spiritual veins have been reborn. Fellow Daoist must have had a hand in this. Should this great undertaking succeed, the Merit will surely be immeasurable."
Originally, the West and North of the Honghuang Continent had been fellow sufferers.
One had its spiritual veins blasted apart, while the other was eroded by Baleful Aura.
Now, the Northern Continent's Baleful Aura had been restrained, and it was already showing signs of revival.
Jieyin and Zhunti were keen-minded. After discovering this and making a few inquiries, they focused on Changbai Mountain and connected it to Bei Ming.
Zhunti's eyes flickered. With a trace of sincerity, he added with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist Beiming, since you possess such Great Divine Power, would you be willing to visit the West?
My senior and junior brother and I will certainly receive you with utmost sincerity.
If Fellow Daoist is willing, you may become the Lord of the West, while we are content to serve as your assistants."
Whether these words were sincere or false was difficult to judge, but Zhunti and Jieyin certainly possessed the resolve to accomplish such a thing.
Originally, after Canonization of the Gods, these two had openly betrayed the Mystic Gate and established the Buddhist Sect, but many unexpected changes had occurred.
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