The Way of the Three Pure Ones

After Xuan Heng broke through, the pure qi within Kunlun Mountain lingered for a long while. Above the lotus pool, the Purifying White Lotus slowly revolved, its twelve-grade petals reflecting a faint, profound blue radiance.

Kong Xuan still sat before the lotus pool. The strand of fiery baleful karmic force that Xuan Heng had stripped from his shoulder had already vanished.

Kong Xuan felt refreshed as never before. The strand of deep-seated karmic force Xuan Heng had absorbed was even more intense than all the superficial karmic force from before combined.

Six Ears sat upright not far from the lotus pool. He only felt that Kunlun Mountain was absurdly quiet today; he did not even need to deliberately restrain his talent to keep stray sounds from entering his ears.

Only after noticing this change did Six Ears open his eyes. Yet the moment he did, Kong Xuan's voice entered his ears. "This disciple, Kong Xuan, congratulates Master on condensing a Law Dao Tree and breaking through to the Quasi-Sage realm."

Six Ears could not remain seated after hearing this. He leaped down from the mountaintop, landing beside the lotus pool, and said to Xuan Heng, "This disciple, Six Ears, congratulates Master on breaking through to the Quasi-Sage realm."

Before long, the Three Pure Ones also arrived beside the lotus pool.

The Three Pure Ones descended beside the pool and looked together at Xuan Heng, who was seated at its edge.

Xuan Heng slowly rose and bowed to the three of them. "Eldest Brother, Second Brother, Third Brother."

Taiqing looked at him for a long time before slowly speaking. "The Dao Seed has taken root. On the path of attaining the Dao through Laws, you have taken your first step."

Tongtian circled Xuan Heng once, then suddenly smiled. "You have only just condensed your Dao Seed, yet your aura already rivals that of a Quasi-Sage who has slain two corpses. Fourth Brother, if you truly walk this road to its end, I fear quite a few people will lose sleep."

Hearing Tongtian's words, Kong Xuan and Six Ears were deeply shaken. There were only a handful of Quasi-Sages who had slain two corpses in the Primordial World. Their master had only just broken through, yet he was already this powerful. The weight carried by the path of attaining the Dao through Laws was now plain to see.

Taiqing raised a hand, and a strand of Taiqing immortal light entered Xuan Heng's glabella.

Xuan Heng did not evade it. That strand of immortal light slowly traveled along his Primordial Spirit, Dao Fruit, and Law Dao Seed, like a drop of clear water flowing over bluestone—leaving no trace, yet examining Xuan Heng from head to toe.

A moment later, Taiqing withdrew his hand.

"Mm. His foundation is very stable, and there is no sign of an unstable realm."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi's expression eased somewhat. He then glanced at Kong Xuan before turning to Xuan Heng. "The karmic force upon Kong Xuan involves the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity. Though you succeeded in using it to break through this time, you must not let eagerness for swift progress take hold again."

Hearing Yuanshi's words, Kong Xuan immediately lowered his head and said softly, "Second Martial Uncle, this all began because of this disciple. Master cannot be blamed."

Yuanshi glanced at him and said evenly, "I do not blame you. Since you have entered the Profound Pure Lineage, the karmic force upon you is something the Profound Pure Lineage must resolve. I merely blame your master for being too reckless. If anything went wrong, karmic force could flood back into him, and his cultivation could regress. That would be irreversible damage."

Xuan Heng did not argue. He cupped his hands and said, "Rest assured, Second Brother. I know what I am doing."

Tongtian glanced at him and chuckled. "You admitted it rather quickly this time."

Xuan Heng gave a soft laugh but said nothing.

Taiqing sat down beside the lotus pool.

"Sit."

Xuan Heng, Yuanshi, and Tongtian also took their seats in turn.

Kong Xuan and Six Ears withdrew to one side.

The Three Pure Ones and Xuan Heng sat around the stone table by the lotus pool. Taiqing shifted his gaze from Xuan Heng and looked beyond Kunlun, speaking calmly.

"It has been some time since Junior Sister Nuwa became a Sage. We too must hurry and find our own paths to Sagehood."

The instant Taiqing said this, an eerie stillness descended beside the lotus pool.

After Nuwa became a Sage, Sages were no longer merely the lofty Dao Ancestor. The moment Sage might entered the Primordial World, the very order of heaven and earth had changed.

Yuanshi slowly said, "She attained Sagehood through creation, with boundless merit. Junior Sister Nuwa's opportunity for Sagehood lay in creating humankind, and also in the insights into creation she gained from traveling the Primordial World all these years."

Tongtian lightly tapped the stone table with his fingertips.

"She has already taken the first step. Those two in the West are likely unable to sit still either."

Taiqing said nothing. His gaze fell upon the lotus pool's surface, which reflected Kunlun's mountains and clouds, as well as the Primordial Violet Qi slowly circulating around the Three Pure Ones.

After Hongjun's third lecture at Purple Cloud Palace, the Three Pure Ones had each obtained a strand of Primordial Violet Qi. They knew they possessed an opportunity for Sagehood, but after so long, that opportunity remained shrouded in a thin mist, impossible to see through.

After a period of silence, Yuanshi looked at Xuan Heng and spoke.

"Fourth Brother, you have traveled the Primordial World all these years and witnessed Junior Sister Nuwa attain Sagehood through creation. You yourself also received a share of the merit from creating humankind. In your view, how much weight does the Human Race carry for the Profound Sect?"

Xuan Heng fell silent for a moment before slowly answering, "The Human Race has only just been born and is exceedingly weak, even weaker than some of the spirits and monsters in the mountains and forests. But they possess one tremendous advantage."

Tongtian could not help asking, "What advantage?"

Xuan Heng paused before saying, "Everything the Human Race has right now is blank."

The moment Xuan Heng said this, the Three Pure Ones' gazes instantly fell upon him.

Xuan Heng continued, "The Human Race is unlike the Witch Clan, born with blood and qi soaring to the heavens and powerful physical bodies. Nor are they like the Demon Race, whose every race generally possesses its own innate divine abilities. Humans are weak, short-lived, and must learn. They need inheritance; generation after generation, they must pass what their predecessors gained on to those who come after."

At this, a glint flashed through Taiqing's eyes.

Striking while the iron was hot, Xuan Heng continued, "Such a race is most suited to bearing enlightenment."

Yuanshi's expression tightened slightly, while Tongtian's fingertips also stopped tapping against the table.

Xuan Heng could only say this much. He had discovered that strange force had come again. Just now, he had wanted to directly say that the Three Pure Ones should establish teachings and attain Sagehood, but he could not utter it at all. He could only tactfully change it into saying that the Human Race was suited to bearing the path of enlightenment.

Taiqing closed his eyes for a moment, then softly said, "Enlighten all living beings; establish a teaching to stabilize fortune."

This was a Dao Hongjun had once spoken of at Purple Cloud Palace.

Yet when it came from Taiqing's mouth now, it carried an additional air of truly taking root in the world.

Yuanshi said, "Junior Sister Nuwa created humankind and opened the vitality of a race. Teacher once said that the three of us are the orthodox lineage of the Profound Sect. Thus, if we wish to attain Sagehood, we should establish the Profound Sect's teachings and enlightenment, so that the Great Dao may have an inheritance."

Tongtian said, "Exactly. But all living beings should have a sliver of hope. If teaching only accepts those with deep foundations, how can that be considered fulfilling the duty of enlightenment?"

Yuanshi looked at him.

"Those with shallow foundations, if their hearts and natures are unstable, may become calamities after entering the Dao."

Taiqing watched the two bicker without speaking.

Xuan Heng, standing nearby, watched Yuanshi and Tongtian without joining in. The Three Pure Ones had always been like this; the Great Dao each cultivated was different. Forcing them onto the same path was simply unrealistic.

What Xuan Heng truly needed to do now was ensure that this difference, from the very beginning, fell upon "the branching of Dao lineages," rather than "brothers vying against one another."