"I shall use the Twelve-Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus to secure the fortune of my sect!"
Boom!
The Twelve-Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus beneath Minghe's feet erupted with an unprecedented crimson radiance. Flames fed by karma surged from its petals, becoming a vast blood-red pillar that engulfed the Blood Sea and shot into the heavens!
The pillar seemed poised to tear through the curtain of interwoven Sword Qi and rush straight at the onlookers.
Tongtian waved a hand. The curtain drew back, once more showing the figure above the Blood Sea and the towering pillar of blood.
Within the crimson pillar, countless lotus-shaped flames sprang into being and vanished. Endless karma fed them; so long as karma remained, the flames would never die!
"The Asura Sect is founded!"
Minghe's voice struck like a boulder plunging into a still lake, and the world changed in an instant!
Streams of Merit Golden Light descended from the boundless void, vast and overwhelming!
The brilliant golden light scattered the filthy blood clouds that had shrouded the Blood Sea for eons. It bathed the endless waters in resplendent gold and red, making this forbidden wasteland of the Primordial World look like a supreme blessed sanctuary.
The merit within that golden sea was only slightly less than what the Three Pure Ones and the two Western Sages had received together when they founded their sects!
"The Blood Sea again!"
"Ancestor Minghe! He never lets up!"
"Surely he won't actually become a Sage?"
"..."
Every innate divinity who understood what was happening fixed their gaze on the golden-shrouded Blood Sea, whether with goodwill or malice. They watched to see if Minghe would become the first to tread a new path!
If an innate divinity without Primordial Violet Qi could truly become a Sage, it would overturn the balance of the Primordial World!
Golden light surged into Ancestor Minghe's body like a tide. He stood upon the Karma Fire Red Lotus, with two Innate Spiritual Treasures radiating murderous intent circling him.
Minghe's aura began to soar! Under the scrutiny of the gathered mighty beings, he broke through the barrier of the late Quasi-Saint stage as though it were paper, instantly reaching the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm!
"Roar!"
Minghe let out a roar that shook the Blood Sea and hurled himself against the solid barrier to the Sage realm.
Boom!
"Pfft!"
The Three Pure Ones and their disciples watched Minghe's aura soar within the curtain of light. But just as it reached the very limit of the Quasi-Saint realm, it collapsed like a punctured balloon and began to fall!
As the golden light slowly faded, the center of the Blood Sea came into view. Minghe still stood tall upon the Karma Fire Red Lotus, but beneath his proud, bloodthirsty bearing lay the unmistakable deathly stillness of one whose path forward had been cut off.
He had failed.
The churning waves of the Blood Sea gradually stilled. Only the wails of mindless, lost souls remained.
Minghe raised his head and looked around, as though meeting the eyes of the Sages and innate divinities watching his humiliation. The petals of the Karma Fire Red Lotus suddenly expanded, wrapped around him, and sank into the Blood Sea. He vanished from sight.
On the sermon platform at Three Purities Peak, Tongtian gave a light wave of his hand. The curtain of interwoven Sword Qi shattered and dissolved into motes of starlight.
Yellow Dragon watched the curtain disappear, then glanced around. Nanji, Duobao, and the others were still caught up in the sight of Minghe's failed breakthrough. He looked up at the Three Pure Ones and found all three of his teachers watching him. He froze.
The Three Pure Ones regarded the disciple who had not been shaken by Minghe from beginning to end. There seemed to be something different about him now.
Yuanshi gently moved the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi in his hand, drawing a clear chime from it. Like a fresh breeze after rain, it swept the haze from the hearts of Nanji and the others.
Only then did the disciples realize how deeply the scene had affected them. Their teachers had needed to wake them.
They were about to rise and thank Yuanshi when he gently moved the Jade Ruyi again. A soft force pressed them back onto their cushions.
"Your resolve in pursuing the Dao still needs tempering. Yellow Dragon did well in this regard. He remained unaffected from beginning to end!"
Before you continue