Contents
- 1Biodata
- 2Nature and Standing
- 3Known Sages
- 4Abilities & Authority
- 4.1Sage Might
- 4.2Great Dao Laws and Corpse Incarnations
- 4.3Heavenly Dao Immortality
- 5Paths to Sagehood
- 6Limitations and Vulnerabilities
- 7Major Conflicts
- 7.1Chaoge confrontation
- 7.2Lunar Star battle
- 7.3Human Immortal Martial Path conflict
- 7.4Interception Sect victory
Biodata
| Feature | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Sage (圣人) |
| Alias(es) | Heavenly Dao Sage |
| Affiliation | The Six Sages; each is associated with a major sect or power |
| Status | Supreme cultivators whose Primordial Spirits are entrusted to the Heavenly Dao; effectively immortal and indestructible through calamities 174 |
| First Appearance | Chapter 36 |
Nature and Standing
Sages stand above Quasi-Sages and are regarded as a fundamentally higher order of existence. Their power is not merely greater cultivation: even powerful Quasi-Sages consider the gap between themselves and a Sage nearly impossible to bridge 36 131.
- The Six Sages are identified as Taiqing Laozi, Primordial Celestial Worthy, Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti 69.
- Sage-level conflict can crack the Primordial World’s void; the Sages therefore fight in Chaos to avoid devastating the world itself 130 131.
- Although their bodies can be destroyed, Sages may revive through the Heavenly Dao. Their contests are consequently often decided by dominance and loss of face rather than death 174.
- Houtu is not counted among the Six Sages, but her Reincarnation Dharma Body possesses combat power comparable to a Sage 68 79.
Known Sages
| Sage | Affiliation / Position | Noted traits |
|---|---|---|
| Taiqing Laozi | Leader of the Human Sect; foremost of the Three Pure Ones | Wields the Supreme Ultimate Diagram and the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Pagoda; possesses the hidden technique One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones 131 171 |
| Primordial Celestial Worthy | Leader of the Clarifying Sect | Wields the Pangu Banner and the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi 131 169 |
| Lord Tongtian | Leader of the Interception Sect | Wields the Green Duckweed Sword and commands the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation; his Sword Dao Laws have reached the sixth level 69 124 |
| Nuwa | Nuwa Palace; Human Race Holy Mother and Demon Race Saint | Wields the Red Embroidered Ball and the Landscape and Kingdom Diagram 69 131 |
| Jieyin | Co-leader of the Western Sect | His Sagehood is supported by vows made to the Heavenly Dao; he relies on the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus in battle 79 131 |
| Zhunti | Co-leader of the Western Sect | Wields the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree and frequently schemes to expand Western Sect influence 67 130 |
Abilities & Authority
Sage Might
A Sage’s power can overwhelm cultivators far below their realm and influence battles across vast distances.
- Tongtian’s Good Corpse incarnation grievously injured a Peak Quasi-Sage Outer-Realm Heavenly Devil Ancestor with sword qi 36.
- Taiqing’s remote Yin-Yang palm threatened Jiang Yun, Chaoge, and Great Shang simultaneously before Tongtian intercepted it 169.
- Tongtian’s Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation suppressed Jieyin and Zhunti even while facing both Sages alone 131.
Great Dao Laws and Corpse Incarnations
Sagehood does not end cultivation; Sages continue to cultivate Great Dao Laws and use their Three Corpses to pursue further power.
- Tongtian’s Evil Corpse, Daoist Sword Qing, embodies Sword Dao Laws at the sixth level 124.
- Tongtian explains that Sage and Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation ultimately center on Laws 124.
- The Three Corpses can continue pursuing Law-Proving Dao, allowing Sage avatars to retain Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal power even if Sage status is lost 124.
- Taiqing’s One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones creates Taiqing, Yuqing, and Shangqing avatars, each with Half-Step Hunyuan strength 171.
Heavenly Dao Immortality
The Heavenly Dao protects the Sages’ continued existence.
- Their Primordial Spirits are entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, making them imperishable through repeated calamities 174.
- This immortality does not prevent defeat, humiliation, or political loss; Tongtian’s cutting of Laozi’s robe was accepted as a decisive victory 174.
Paths to Sagehood
| Path | Description |
|---|---|
| Three Corpses Enlightenment | The mainstream Xuanmen path, using suitable Xiantian Spiritual Treasures to sever good, evil, and self attachments 179 |
| Merit Enlightenment | A path supported by vast merit; the Western Sages made forty-eight vows to borrow sufficient Heavenly Dao merit for their Sage positions 79 |
| Law-Proving Dao / Strength Enlightenment | The path associated with Pangu, based on comprehending and proving Great Dao Laws; it is presented as more difficult but more powerful than Three Corpses Enlightenment 124 179 |
| Fortune Enlightenment | A path based on gathering immense racial or worldly Fortune, potentially allowing a leader to advance toward Hunyuan Sagehood 176 |
Limitations and Vulnerabilities
- Sage authority is tied to Fortune, sect foundations, Karma, and the Heavenly Dao; these interests can restrain their actions 79 100.
- The Western Sages’ positions are especially vulnerable because their Sagehood depends on repaying their debt of Heavenly Dao merit through the flourishing of the Western Sect 79.
- Despite the saying that all beneath Sages are ants, Jiang Yun demonstrates that overwhelming physique, Law mastery, supreme treasures, and formations can temporarily suppress a Sage 172 173.
- The Six Sages remain divided by sectarian interests; major conflicts repeatedly form a four-Sage alliance of Taiqing, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti against Tongtian and his allies 130 169.
Major Conflicts
Chaoge confrontation
Zhunti’s attempt to manipulate Di Xin and insult Nuwa brought Nuwa, Tongtian, the Western Sages, Yuanshi, and Laozi to Chaoge. Laozi mediated the immediate crisis, forcing the Western Sect to compensate Nuwa and Tongtian 67 69.
Lunar Star battle
A dispute over the Lunar Star’s treasure escalated into a seven-way Sage-level confrontation. Tongtian fought Jieyin and Zhunti, Laozi fought Nuwa, and Yuanshi fought Houtu in Chaos 130 131.
Human Immortal Martial Path conflict
Taiqing declared Jiang Yun’s Human Immortal Martial Path intolerable because it threatened the Human Sect’s Fortune. Tongtian intervened, and the conflict expanded into a confrontation between Tongtian and four opposing Sages 169 170.
Interception Sect victory
Taiqing’s One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones temporarily neutralized Tongtian’s formation, but the technique expired. Tongtian then damaged Laozi’s robe with the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation, forcing Laozi, Yuanshi, Jieyin, and Zhunti to withdraw 171 174.