The Path to Sainthood

As Shi Mo's words, "Sorry to trouble you, but please give up your seat," left his mouth, the somewhat noisy Purple Heaven Palace instantly fell silent.

The great cultivators with Daluo Golden Immortal cultivation nearby all looked over in astonishment. Even the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa subconsciously turned to look at Shi Mo.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun did not know whether to laugh or cry. Di Jun and Kunpeng were stunned at first, then prepared to enjoy the show with a hint of gloating. Old Ancestor Minghe was not someone to be trifled with.

Under the gazes of everyone in Purple Heaven Palace, Old Ancestor Minghe's face darkened and his chest heaved. Facing the smiling Shi Mo, he nearly failed to restrain himself from pulling out Abi and Yuantu, the two supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure divine swords, and fighting him.

But in the end, faced with Shi Mo's increasingly sharp and icy gaze, as well as the invisible pressure radiating from him, Old Ancestor Minghe gritted his teeth. To everyone's astonishment, he stood up and walked toward the back.

"Get lost!" With a wave of his hand, Old Ancestor Minghe sent a Taiyi Golden Immortal Monster Clan expert who had been watching the show flying, then unceremoniously took his seat.

"Minghe." Di Jun had not expected the Monster Clan to suffer collateral damage. After coming to his senses, he could not help frowning at Minghe.

But when he saw Minghe's bloodshot eyes and his teeth-gritted, savage expression, Di Jun forcibly swallowed the words that had reached his lips.

Shi Mo was not afraid of offending Minghe, but the Monster Clan had no choice but to be wary of him. After all, those with nothing to lose feared nothing, let alone a madman like Old Ancestor Minghe who was not afraid of death!

In the end, the burly Monster Clan expert who had suffered this collateral damage could only go to the back in sullen frustration and seize the seat of another unlucky Golden Immortal.

Faced with this unprovoked disaster, the equally furious unlucky Golden Immortal walked to the very back. He had only glanced at the sharp-mouthed, feather-covered fellow with Taiyi Loose Immortal cultivation when the brocade-robed young man beside him hurriedly pulled back the sharp-mouthed fellow, who had been about to erupt, and wisely gave up a spot beside him.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, why have you arrived so late this time as well?" After Shi Mo sat down, Zhun Ti in front of him turned back and greeted him politely.

"We ran into some inconsiderate people blocking the way and had to deal with them before rushing here," Shi Mo replied casually with a smile, while inwardly grumbling, You're being quite polite now. Why didn't you offer me your seat earlier?

"Blocking the way? Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, who would dare block your path? Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?" Zhun Ti asked in surprise.

At Zhun Ti's words, Di Jun and the others could not help looking uneasy. When Zhun Ti followed Shi Mo's gaze and looked toward Di Jun's group, especially noticing their darkening expressions, he became rather embarrassed.

"Fellow Daoist Shi Mo, I am Fuxi, and this is my younger sister, Nuwa," said the somewhat burly and rugged man beside him, smiling warmly as he took the initiative to greet Shi Mo.

After Fuxi's introduction, Nuwa in front also nodded slightly at Shi Mo. Her beautiful eyes lingered on him twice more with apparent curiosity.

"Fellow Daoist Fuxi, Fellow Daoist Nuwa," Shi Mo naturally did not dare neglect these two great deities and hurriedly returned the greeting with a polite smile.

Soon after, the Three Pure Ones, as well as King of the East, Queen Mother of the West, and the others nearby, also courteously introduced themselves to Shi Mo.

Although they had not seen Shi Mo during the previous lecture at Purple Heaven Palace, his name now thundered in their ears, and some of them even feared him.

After all, they had never seen such a formidable figure before—someone who dared oppose the entire Monster Clan, scheme against them, and clash head-on with the Ancestral Witches.

Shi Mo's earth-shaking battle against the Monster Clan had truly shocked them all.

Even the Three Pure Ones, who regarded themselves as Pangu's orthodox lineage, were only at the peak Daluo Golden Immortal realm now. They, too, were wary of Shi Mo.

After exchanging pleasantries, everyone quietly waited for Dao Ancestor Hongjun to appear and deliver his lecture.

Just as Shi Mo was idly and curiously staring at the empty cloud couch ahead, a gaunt old Daoist in a purple robe appeared abruptly. An invisible saintly pressure spread out, causing Shi Mo to jolt awake.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor!" Amid the neat, respectful voices of the cultivators and great experts in the hall, Shi Mo followed the crowd and cupped his hands in salute.

Then Shi Mo realized that Hongjun seemed to be looking at him. That gaze, as though it could see through him completely, made Shi Mo feel guilty, and he subconsciously lowered his head.

Hongjun expressionlessly withdrew his gaze and turned to the crowd, saying calmly, "This lecture shall concern the methods of attaining sainthood!"

Methods of attaining sainthood? At Hongjun's words, the people who had been quietly listening in Purple Heaven Palace immediately became excited.

The Daluo Golden Immortals in particular had blazing eyes.

"Do you know what a saint is?" Without waiting for anyone to answer, Hongjun continued:

"A saint survives countless tribulations without dying and endures myriad laws without perishing, existing alongside the sun, moon, stars, and the heavens and earth of the Primordial World. Beneath saints, all are ants!"

Hongjun's words instantly set everyone's hearts in Purple Heaven Palace ablaze.

The final sentence in particular was far too devastating and provocative, directly changing the expressions of many.

Di Jun, Kunpeng, the Three Pure Ones, and the others had even more burning gazes as they looked at Hongjun expectantly.

The methods of attaining sainthood were clearly what every Daluo Golden Immortal present, especially those at the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, desperately desired.

Laozi, leader of the Three Pure Ones, could not help asking first, "May I ask, Dao Ancestor, how may one attain sainthood?"

"Under the Heavenly Dao, there are three methods of proving the Dao!" Hongjun's words made everyone even more expectant.

Shi Mo, who was also listening with anticipation and curiosity, could not help thinking, Could there truly be only three methods of proving the Dao?

Under everyone's curious and expectant gazes, Hongjun slowly spoke:

"First, proving the Dao through merit. Those who possess immense merit and gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao may prove the Dao and become saints. However, this method carries the suspicion of taking shortcuts, and after attaining sainthood, one's cultivation and magical power are comparatively weak. This is the lowest method."

"Second, proving the Dao through the three corpses. One successively severs the three corpses of good, evil, and self, then finally unites the three corpses to prove the Dao and become a saint. This is the middle method."

"Third, proving the Dao through strength. One force breaks ten thousand laws, and one's cultivation and strength are the greatest. This is the highest method, but it is also the most difficult path."

"Dao Ancestor, what exactly does proving the Dao through strength mean?" Shi Mo could not help asking.

Hongjun gave Shi Mo a deep look before replying, "So-called proving the Dao through strength is a method of achieving sainthood through the fleshly body. One breaks laws with strength, possessing heaven-overturning might. Only Pangu, who was born in Chaos before the creation of heaven and earth, achieved it. Yet he left behind no clear cultivation method. Thus, this path of proving the Dao has no method to follow and is the most difficult."

"You possess immense merit, so you may try the path of attaining sainthood through merit," Hongjun continued.

Attaining sainthood through merit? Shi Mo raised his brows at Hongjun, then frowned slightly. Does he hope that I will attain sainthood through merit? But saints who attain it through merit are the weakest. Besides, even if I wanted to attain sainthood through merit, it would not be so easy, would it?