Second Lecture at Purple Cloud Palace

To the primordial world, three thousand years was not a long time.

"At the peak of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. After Purple Cloud Palace's second lecture, I should be able to break through to Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal."

Xuan Heng exhaled a breath of stale air, then opened his eyes. He could sense that the Three Pure Ones were already outside his cave dwelling. It seemed the time for Purple Cloud Palace's second lecture was about right.

When Xuan Heng stepped out of his cave dwelling, the Three Pure Ones were already waiting outside.

"At the peak of Primordial Unity Golden Immortal—looks like Fourth Brother hasn't been slacking off these three thousand years either." Tongtian walked over and patted Xuan Heng on the shoulder.

"Third Brother, you're already at the late stage of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, yet you're still teasing me. Catching up to you three brothers remains a long and arduous road."

Xuan Heng smiled and spoke softly.

"Heh, you brat." Tongtian raised a brow.

"Cultivation realm is certainly important, but you must advance steadily and build a solid foundation. Do not chase speed and leave your foundation floating and unstable." Yuanshi glanced at Xuan Heng as he spoke.

Xuan Heng nodded.

Taiqing looked at Xuan Heng and asked, "Has there been any movement from the Purifying White Lotus?"

Xuan Heng shook his head. "No. That trace of green within the lotus heart is still there, but it has not continued spreading over these three thousand years. I tried to draw upon that power, but I could only sense a thread of life force. I cannot wield that power."

Yuanshi nodded. "Since there is no way to use it, leave it untouched for now. The Chaos Green Lotus is of an exceedingly high grade, and the power of its origin is no trifling matter. Your cultivation is still shallow. If you forcibly stir that power, you may very well suffer backlash."

Xuan Heng nodded. Over these three thousand years, he had not dared to act rashly. The Purifying White Lotus was the origin treasure that had nurtured him; if anything truly went wrong, even his Dao foundation might be damaged.

"Let's go. The time is about right. It is time to set out for Purple Cloud Palace." Taiqing waved his hand and summoned the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda. Mystic yellow merit qi cascaded down, shielding them once again. Then four streams of clear light rose from Kunlun Mountain and shot toward the chaos beyond the heavens.

On his second journey to Purple Cloud Palace, Xuan Heng was far more composed. Protected by the Three Pure Ones and the mystic yellow merit qi, he hardly needed to fear the chaotic astral winds, leaving him plenty of attention to observe his surroundings.

Along the way, great powers of the primordial world appeared one after another.

Fuxi and Nuwa still traveled together, as did Red Cloud and Zhenyuanzi.

When Xuan Heng saw Red Cloud, Red Cloud cupped his hands toward him, a smile still on his face. Yet this time, he was practically walking pressed against Zhenyuanzi's side.

Seeing this, Xuan Heng knew his previous advice had not been wasted. At the very least, Red Cloud had taken it to heart.

Zhunti and Receiving Guide had arrived as well. Upon seeing Xuan Heng, they even greeted him with smiles.

"That shameless fellow actually greeted Little Brother? Could he be eyeing the little meditation cushion the Dao Ancestor gave Little Brother this time?" Tongtian made no attempt to hide his disgust upon seeing Zhunti.

Yuanshi's face also darkened at the sight of Zhunti. What those two Westerners had done during Purple Cloud Palace's first sermon had truly earned the contempt of the primordial world's great powers.

"Pay them no mind. Just focus on the journey. If he truly has designs on Little Brother, let him come." Taiqing's expression did not change, but his words were the harshest.

"Thank you for your concern, brothers. Those two from the West likely do not dare set their sights on me. We should simply focus on the journey." Warmth filled Xuan Heng's heart as he spoke.

Before long, Purple Cloud Palace appeared before them once more.

Haotian and Yaochi still stood before the gates, welcoming the primordial world's great powers.

"Purple Cloud Palace's second sermon is about to begin. Please enter, everyone!" As Haotian's voice fell, the gates of Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened.

Everyone entered Purple Cloud Palace, where the six meditation cushions remained in their original places.

Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, Receiving Guide, and Zhunti took their seats in turn.

Red Cloud stood beside Zhenyuanzi, looking at Receiving Guide and Zhunti without any expression on his face.

Kunpeng stood among the crowd at the rear, his face gloomy.

Just as Xuan Heng followed the Three Pure Ones to the side of the Sage meditation cushions, a wisp of purple qi gathered before the six cushions, and the little meditation cushion belonging to Xuan Heng appeared once more.

The instant that little meditation cushion appeared, it drew the attention of all the great powers in the hall. The first time might have been a coincidence, but when it appeared again this second time, there could be only one explanation: this cushion was meant for Xuan Heng by the Dao Ancestor.

This time, Xuan Heng did not hesitate. He stepped forward and sat down directly. The more he hesitated, the more flaws he would reveal. Since Hongjun had given him this cushion, he would sit firmly upon it.

Before long, Hongjun's figure appeared once more atop the Dao platform.

Everyone gathered their minds and looked toward Hongjun with rapt attention.

"In the first sermon, I spoke of the path of the Great Unity beyond Zenith Heaven."

"Today's second sermon shall speak of the method of Quasi-Sages."

Hearing this, Xuan Heng inwardly thought, Just as expected. After Purple Cloud Palace's second sermon, the primordial world would officially enter an age where Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals were as common as dogs, and Quasi-Sages walked everywhere.

At the same time, all the primordial world's great powers within Purple Cloud Palace were deeply drawn to the two words "Quasi-Sage" that Hongjun had just uttered. Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal was already the pinnacle of the primordial world, but most of those within Purple Cloud Palace were innate great powers—who would not wish to take another step forward?

Hongjun continued, "After Zenith Heaven, the Dao Fruit is difficult to advance. If one wishes to improve further, one may sever the Three Corpses and ascend to Quasi-Sagehood."

"Humans have benevolent thoughts, malicious thoughts, and obsessive thoughts. Sever the benevolent corpse to understand the compassion of one's true heart; sever the malicious corpse to cast away the turbidness of slaughter; sever the obsessive corpse to break one's own attachments."

"Entrust the Three Corpses to innate spiritual treasures. Once the Three Corpses are severed, one's mana will greatly increase, and one's Dao practice will likewise advance by leaps and bounds. When all Three Corpses are severed and reunited as one, one may understand one's true self and glimpse the path of Great Unity."

Upon hearing Hongjun's words, the great powers within Purple Cloud Palace instantly revealed eager expressions. The path of Great Unity discussed in the first sermon was still far too distant from them, but some of them could begin attempting the method of severing the Three Corpses to enter Quasi-Sagehood as soon as they returned from Purple Cloud Palace.

Seated upon the little meditation cushion, Xuan Heng was not particularly excited. Though the method of severing the Three Corpses offered enormous gains in the early stages, others might not know it, but he did: making the Three Corpses become one was basically impossible. What it involved was far more complex than Hongjun had explained.

The strength of one's spiritual treasures determined the strength of the Three Corpses. The stronger the treasure, the stronger the severed corpses. Yet once the Three Corpses were severed with the aid of spiritual treasures, the karma between the cultivator and those treasures would become ever more deeply bound. When the time came for the Three Corpses to reunite, it would depend on whether one's own Dao Fruit was compatible with the treasures. Countless great powers were ultimately stuck at the final step toward sainthood: the unification of the Three Corpses.

Xuan Heng suppressed his thoughts and continued listening to the Dao.

Hongjun's lecture grew ever more profound. From the Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit to the innate thoughts of the Three Corpses, from entrusting them to spiritual treasures to unifying the Three Corpses, from the initial stage of Quasi-Sagehood to Quasi-Sage perfection, every step was explained with crystal clarity.

As Hongjun's lecture grew ever deeper, phenomena began to rise once more behind the great powers within Purple Cloud Palace.