Heavenly Dao's merit poured into Jieyin and Zhunti. The Primordial Violet Qi within them stirred to life, becoming a bridge to the source of the Primordial World. Complete laws of heaven and earth unfolded before them, theirs to contemplate.
A moment later, their auras suddenly merged with heaven and earth.
"I, Jieyin—" "I, Zhunti—have attained the Dao and become Sages today! May Heavenly Dao bear witness to our great vows!" The two Sages' voices rang across the West, solemn with relief and heavy with responsibility.
Two towering Sage Dharma Forms appeared in the skies of the Primordial World.
Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth, golden flowers falling from the heavens, Violet Qi blanketing the sky!
The same spectacle played out across the Primordial World once more.
By now, all living beings knew the routine. Under the Sages' might, they bowed and cried, "Praise to Sage Jieyin and Sage Zhunti!"
The Twelve-Petal Merit Golden Lotus slowly descended into a Lotus Pond on Mount Sumeru. Vast merit flowed into the pond, becoming golden waters that nourished the lotus.
The light of the Jieyin Treasure Banner intertwined with that of the Seven Treasures Wondrous Tree. When the glow of merit faded, the two Daoists stood atop Mount Sumeru, radiating the brilliance of Sages. They lacked the weight of the Three Pure Ones' world-shaping power, but possessed a compassion and resolve forged through great vows and unyielding perseverance.
Their gazes met those of the Three Pure Ones, who were watching from Kunlun Mountain. Sparks crackled through the void. Jieyin and Zhunti bowed to them. Supreme Pure gave a slight nod; Yuanshi, stern-faced, offered no response. The Green Duckweed Sword in Tongtian's hand gave a soft hum.
Before the Supreme Pure Palace, the Three Pure Ones watched the Two from the West slowly fade from sight. Laozi glanced calmly at his two junior brothers and said, "Having established our teachings and attained the Sage's station, we must take up the duty of guiding all living beings!"
Yuanshi and Tongtian knew it too. They had founded their teachings for all beings and attained the Dao under heaven. Only by guiding those beings and spreading their teachings throughout the Primordial World could they secure their standing as Sages. Otherwise, they would break faith with Heavenly Dao and find it impossible to advance their cultivation further.
Kunlun Mountain, Five Elements Grotto-Heaven.
As the towering Dharma Forms of the two Western Sages faded from the sky, Yellow Dragon straightened. Their might could not affect Kunlun Mountain, much less a Sage's disciple like him, but Sages still deserved respect. A bow would not cost him so much as a wisp of spiritual energy.
"Come to the Supreme Pure Palace on Three Purities Peak at once!"
A voice sounded beside Yellow Dragon's ear. It belonged to his master, Yuanshi.
"Yes!" Yellow Dragon answered toward the empty air.
After asking Ziling to tend the Spiritual Roots and immortal plants in the Grotto-Heaven, he took flight toward Three Purities Peak.
Of all the disciples, Yellow Dragon's Grotto-Heaven was farthest from Three Purities Peak, and only Xuandu had a lower cultivation level than he did. Xuandu, however, lived closest to the peak. By the time Yellow Dragon arrived, South Pole Immortal Elder, Duobao, and the others were already seated before the Three Pure Ones.
He landed on the preaching platform at Three Purities Peak. The Three Pure Ones often taught their disciples there, hence its name.
He performed the formal rite of three kneelings and nine kowtows to the Three Pure Ones seated ahead of him. "Disciple Yellow Dragon greets Master, Eldest Martial Uncle, and Third Martial Uncle!"
"I arrived late. I'm sorry to have kept my three elders and fellow disciples waiting!"
The Three Pure Ones gave him slight nods but said nothing. Yuanshi flicked a finger, and a cushion appeared beside Guangchengzi. He gestured for Yellow Dragon to sit.
Yellow Dragon bowed to the three Sages again before taking his place beside Guangchengzi, sitting cross-legged on the cushion.
Seeing that every disciple had arrived, the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances. Supreme Pure spoke. "We summoned you here for three matters!"
"First, we Three Pure Ones have established our teachings and attained the Sage's station. We must now guide all living beings. In a thousand years, the three of us will preach the Sages' Dao on Kunlun Mountain. All beings of the Primordial World may come to listen!"
Yuanshi continued, "Second, after the sermon, our Three Teachings will establish three trials before the gates of Kunlun Mountain. Whoever passes them may join one of our teachings and cultivate its Dao!"
As Yuanshi finished speaking, the Three Pure Ones acted together, establishing three trials at the mountain gate. The first tested a seeker's dedication to the Dao, the second their fortune and innate foundation, and the last their comprehension of the Great Dao.
Then Tongtian spoke. "Third, you are our disciples. Though you have not neglected your cultivation, you still fall short."
"Today, we will first preach to you. Cultivate diligently, carry on the Dao of our Three Teachings, and fulfill your duty to guide all living beings!"
Yellow Dragon and the other disciples rose together and bowed respectfully. "We will heed the teachings of our three elders!"
Supreme Pure Saint looked over the disciples and gave his horsetail whisk a gentle wave. They all sat down.
The Three Pure Ones exchanged a glance and were about to begin preaching.
"Heavenly Dao above! Let the Blood Sea bear witness!"
A voice steeped in bloodthirsty killing intent rang across the Primordial World. It seemed to raise waves of blood ten thousand fathoms high and carried a resolve to slaughter all living beings. Every creature heard it clearly!
Yellow Dragon listened to the murderous voice coming from the void and muttered, "Here he goes again..."
But the three Sages and even Nanji and the others all had higher cultivation than Yellow Dragon. Every word reached their ears.
They all turned to look at him. Feeling the pressure mount, Yellow Dragon hurriedly rose and clasped his hands. "I spoke out of turn. Master, Martial Uncles, please punish me!"
Yuanshi said, "It's nothing."
Tongtian, however, smiled at Yellow Dragon. "Tell your fellow disciples about our fellow Daoist Minghe's exploits."
Yellow Dragon could only press on. "I was there when Empress Nuwa created humans. Ancestor Minghe imitated her and created the Rakshasa Race. Heavenly Dao granted him a great deal of merit, but whether it was insufficient or because he lacked Primordial Violet Qi, he failed to become a Sage. Now that he's seen our three elders and the two martial uncles from the West establish teachings and become Sages, he thinks he can do it too!"
After hearing Yellow Dragon's account, Duobao and the other disciples grew deeply curious about this mighty innate being of the Primordial World.
The Three Pure Ones were in no hurry to preach. They, too, wanted to see what their fellow Daoist Minghe could accomplish without Primordial Violet Qi.
Tongtian looked at Duobao and the other disciples, whose faces were full of questions, and asked with a teasing smile, "Want to see what's happening?"
Yellow Dragon rose and bowed to Tongtian. "Martial Uncle, please use your divine power and let us witness Senior Minghe establish his sect!"
Tongtian smiled and nodded. The Green Duckweed Sword slid from its sheath and traced arcs through the air, releasing wisps of astonishing Sword Qi. They wove a circle in the void, within which a blood-red sea slowly appeared.
An enormous figure stood above the Blood Sea!
"I am Minghe, master of the Blood Sea! I have watched slaughter rage without end across the Primordial World. The souls of all beings return to the Blood Sea, their Obsessions lingering and their resentment multiplying!"
"Today, above the Blood Sea, I establish a sect called the Asura Sect!"
As the words "Asura Sect" rang out, heaven and earth shook, and the Blood Sea churned!
Blood surged ten thousand fathoms into the sky, forming countless colossal crimson pillars that joined heaven and earth!
"My teaching is this: attain the Dao through killing! Gather the karmic burden of all beings and burn away the karma of every living creature! Until the karmic flames die, the will to kill shall not fade!"
"I take the two Innate Spiritual Treasures, Primordial Slaughter and Avici, as treasures to bear witness to my Dao and carry the Dao of slaughter!"
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