Third Discourse at Purple Cloud Palace

"Haha, you don't know this, but Second Brother has been worried about you these past few years. If you still hadn't returned, he would have gone out to look for you himself." Tongtian laughed heartily, patting Xuan Heng on the shoulder as he spoke.

"Third Brother, stop making trouble out of nothing. When have I ever said such a thing?" Before Xuan Heng could speak, Yuanshi and Taiqing had already arrived outside Xuan Heng's cave abode.

Tongtian said nothing, merely giving Xuan Heng a look.

"Thank you, brothers, for your concern. This journey through the primordial wilderness went quite smoothly, and I encountered no trouble. But as I traveled, I discovered that the witch and demon clans were already locked in constant minor clashes."

Hearing this, warmth filled Xuan Heng's heart. He naturally knew that Tongtian was telling the truth; Yuanshi was merely putting up a stiff front.

"Come, tell us what you gained from your thousand-year journey," Taiqing said with a smile.

"Alright. Three brothers, come into my cave abode so we may talk."

"Hmm, this sword is quite good. A mid-grade innate spirit treasure—it will do for now. But it feels like its killing power is somewhat lacking."

Inside Xuan Heng's cave abode, Tongtian looked at the Calamity Severing Sword that Xuan Heng had placed on the table and spoke.

"Stop talking nonsense. Though this treasure is only a mid-grade innate spirit treasure, its aura is extremely compatible with Xuan Heng. In battle, it will likely be able to display the power of a high-grade innate spirit treasure. Besides, Xuan Heng is not like you. His Profound Pure Immortal Light is all-embracing and purifying. A treasure with overly powerful killing intent may not necessarily suit him."

Yuanshi shot Tongtian an annoyed glance as he spoke.

"Second Brother is right. This sword is highly compatible with my own Great Dao. If I were to forcefully seek a high-grade spirit treasure unsuited to myself, it would instead easily become a burden upon my Dao path."

Xuan Heng nodded as he spoke.

"Since that is the case, refine it first. I see that its innate restrictions have yet to be refined," Taiqing said slowly, looking at Xuan Heng.

"Mm." Xuan Heng nodded in agreement.

For the time that followed, Xuan Heng did not leave the primordial wilderness again. He honestly remained in his cave abode, consolidating his foundations while refining the Calamity Severing Sword.

As the time for Purple Cloud Palace's third discourse approached, the Three Pure Ones had all severed their first corpses and become mighty quasi-sages.

About another thousand years later, violet qi rose once more above Kunlun Mountain.

Xuan Heng opened his eyes within his cave abode. The Calamity Severing Sword at his side flashed with spiritual light before Xuan Heng drew it into his Primordial Spirit.

"Fourth Brother, it is time to leave seclusion. The Dao Ancestor's third discourse is about to begin."

The moment Xuan Heng ended his seclusion, he heard Tongtian's urging voice from outside the cave abode.

"Let us go first. We must not delay the appointed time." As soon as Xuan Heng emerged, before he could speak, Taiqing summoned the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda. The innate Mystic Yellow merit qi once more protected the four of them as they flew toward Purple Cloud Palace.

Along the way, Xuan Heng did not speak. His mind was filled with the events that would be decided during Purple Cloud Palace's third discourse.

The ownership of the seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi would be confirmed; Hongjun would merge with the Dao; Hongjun would establish the Mystic Sect as the orthodox lineage; Treasure Distribution Cliff—all of these would happen after Purple Cloud Palace's third discourse.

And what ultimately drove the Three Pure Ones to turn against one another was perhaps that strand of Primordial Violet Qi. The Three Pure Ones would rely on Primordial Violet Qi and merit to become saints, binding themselves too deeply to the Heavenly Dao. Sect fortune, the push of calamities, the balance of the Heavenly Dao—these things would all pile together, eventually leading to the Three Pure Ones' falling-out and the great rise of the West.

But the current Xuan Heng had no power to change any of it. He could only alter the general tide of the future bit by bit, changing the future outcome little by little.

The journey passed swiftly. While Xuan Heng was deep in thought, the Three Pure Ones had already brought him outside Purple Cloud Palace.

At the same time, mighty figures from every direction appeared before Xuan Heng once again. The auras of these great powers were even deeper than when they had attended the second discourse. Evidently, after hearing the quasi-sage method of severing the three corpses, all of them had gained considerably.

Before long, the two attendants Haotian and Yaochi appeared once more, and the gates of Purple Cloud Palace opened with them.

The great powers filed inside, where they once again saw the Heavenly Dao cushions representing the seats of the six Heavenly Dao Saints.

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

Xuan Heng had just followed the Three Pure Ones to the six saint cushions when a streak of violet qi flashed before him, and his exclusive little cushion appeared once more.

Xuan Heng did not waste any time. He went straight to the little cushion and sat down steadily. Once seated, that sensation of being isolated from the Heavenly Dao swept over him again.

Everyone in the hall had grown accustomed to this sight. During the first discourse, they had been shocked; during the second, they had speculated. Now, at the third discourse, everyone understood that this seat had been reserved by Hongjun for Xuan Heng.

Upon the Dao platform, Hongjun's figure appeared soundlessly.

Everyone gathered their thoughts in unison.

Hongjun's gaze swept across those below as he said, "For this third discourse, I shall speak of the Dao of Saints."

The instant the word "saint" was spoken, the entire Purple Cloud Palace fell silent. Even the Three Pure Ones became far more solemn.

Hongjun continued, "Those of the Primordial Unity have perfected their Dao fruit and proven themselves indestructible."

"A saint entrusts their Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao, borrowing the power of the Heavenly Dao, and thus cannot be destroyed through ten thousand calamities. So long as Heaven and Earth endure, saints shall not fall."

As soon as Hongjun spoke these words, the hearts and minds of every mighty figure present shook violently. To entrust one's Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao and become undying and indestructible—who could withstand such temptation?

Yet when Xuan Heng heard this, he scoffed inwardly. Entrusting one's Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao sounded wonderful, but Xuan Heng knew the workings behind it.

Heavenly Dao Saints who entrusted themselves to the Heavenly Dao would indeed be undying and indestructible, but they would also be the easiest for the Heavenly Dao to control. Since the Heavenly Dao could make you a saint, it could naturally use you to drive the great calamities forward. This was indeed a road to the summit, but it was also a road that bound one deeply to the Heavenly Dao.

Though Xuan Heng was thinking, Hongjun did not pause his discourse.

"There are three methods to prove the Dao."

"The first is to prove the Dao through strength. Use one's own Great Dao to shatter the barriers of all laws and attain the Primordial Unity of Limitlessness. This method is the most difficult; none but those with great perseverance, great foundations, and great fortune may walk it."

"The second is to prove the Dao by severing the three corpses. Sever the three corpses of good, evil, and obsession, then unite them back into the true self to glimpse Primordial Unity."

"The third is to prove the Dao through merit. Establish great merit for Heaven and Earth, gain the favor of the Heavenly Dao, and use merit to complete one's Dao fruit, thereby attaining the saintly seat."

Hongjun laid the three paths to sainthood directly before them all.

But the mighty figures within Purple Cloud Palace showed slight changes in expression. Although Hongjun had laid out three paths to sainthood, proving the Dao through strength was far too difficult. Severing the Three Corpses to prove the Dao was already the path everyone knew best, yet Hongjun had pointed out during his second lecture just how hard it was to unite the three corpses as one.

Proving the Dao through merit sounded the most straightforward, but in the primordial world, how many deeds of great merit could truly support one's ascent to sainthood?

Xuan Heng sat upon his little meditation cushion, listening with rapt attention.

He did not seek the heavenly Dao's saintly rank, yet he had to hear this third path clearly, for his three elder brothers would all walk the path of heavenly Dao sages who attained sainthood through merit in the future.

He could not directly prevent the Three Pure Ones from obtaining saintly rank. The Three Pure Ones had been transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit; they were the orthodox lineage of the Mystic Gate and pillars of the primordial world's heavenly Dao order that could not be bypassed.

If he truly forced himself to stop the Three Pure Ones from becoming saints, he would only push the situation in an even more uncontrollable direction.

What Xuan Heng needed to do was alter the predetermined course of the Three Teachings after the Three Pure Ones became saints, thereby ensuring that the Three Pure Ones would not turn against one another and that the Mystic Gate would not decline.

The lecture continued, and all the mighty figures present listened with utmost concentration...