Ownership of the Saint Seats

Facing Hongjun's question, Laozi, seated on the first meditation cushion, rose and stepped forward. After bowing, he asked, "May I ask, Sage, who in the Primordial World can become a saint?"

Bai Jing revealed an interested expression upon hearing this. With Laozi asking that question, was it time to distribute the Primordial Violet Qi next?

Sure enough, Hongjun answered the very next moment, "Setting aside those who prove the Dao through laws, there are nine saint seats beneath the Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World. To become a saint, one must use the Heavenly Dao sacred relic, Primordial Violet Qi, to establish one's Dao foundation and entrust one's primordial spirit to the Heavenly Dao.

Nine is the ultimate number. Thus, there are nine strands of Primordial Violet Qi beneath the Heavenly Dao. Yet the Great Dao has fifty, Heaven evolves forty-nine, and one escapes. One strand of Primordial Violet Qi has now vanished without a trace; even the Heavenly Dao cannot calculate its whereabouts.

When I became a saint, I used one strand. The remaining seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi are all in my possession."

Upon hearing Hongjun's words, the mighty experts within Zixiao Palace could no longer maintain calm hearts. Even Laozi, who had always been tranquil and detached, stared at Hongjun with blazing eyes.

After all, the saint seats were right before them. What mighty expert could remain calm?

As for the path of proving the Dao through strength, even Hongjun had failed to succeed on it. The great experts of the Primordial World instinctively chose to abandon that path.

This could be seen from the fact that, aside from Bai Jing, Houtu, and Eastern Sovereign Taiyi, who possessed the Chaos Bell and were Primordial Golden Immortals, all the others who had broken through to Great Luo Golden Immortal had taken the path of Three Corpse Severing.

To these mighty experts, Primordial Violet Qi was the foundation of their Dao attainment.

Yet some clever people had already begun to feel an ominous foreboding.

Hongjun had just made it very clear: the Primordial Violet Qi capable of creating saints was in his hands. Did that not mean whoever Hongjun wished to become a saint could become one?

At this thought, Minghe, Dijun, and the other peak experts in Zixiao Palace fixed their gazes tightly upon the six meditation cushions at the front.

After all, there were only seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi and seven saint seats, while there were already six meditation cushions at the front. If all six people possessed Primordial Violet Qi, then these seats were far more important than they had imagined.

Minghe felt a wave of regret. Had he known this, he should have fought for a seat back then. Leaving aside the Three Pure Ones, who among Nuwa, Fuxi, and the pair from the West could have contested it with him?

Kunpeng, meanwhile, stared at Hongyun with a dark expression. If sitting on a meditation cushion truly meant receiving Primordial Violet Qi, then he would definitely kill Hongyun!

Hongyun also felt somewhat regretful at that moment. Why had he softened his heart and given up his seat?

If the saint seats were truly connected to the meditation cushions, had he not missed out on an enormous opportunity?

While the mighty experts of Zixiao Palace were consumed by chaotic thoughts, Hongjun spoke. "I have comprehended the Heavenly Dao and learned that saints should emerge from among my disciples. Thus, I shall accept disciples here and pass on Primordial Violet Qi to them, allowing them to attain sainthood."

As he spoke, Hongjun looked down below, passing over those burning gazes before turning to Laozi.

With a raised hand and a light point, a strand of Primordial Violet Qi, flowing with Dao charm and profound beyond measure, appeared beside Hongjun. Then Hongjun looked at Laozi and said, "Laozi, you are one of the Three Pure Ones transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit. You carry the great merit of opening Heaven and Earth and may become a saint. Are you willing to become my personal disciple?"

Laozi hesitated upon hearing this. Just as Hongjun had said, he had been transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit and was Pangu's orthodox lineage. If he took Hongjun as his master, would that not place Hongjun on equal footing with Father God Pangu?

If that were so, could the Three Pure Ones still call themselves Pangu's orthodox lineage?

Yet the saint seat was right before his eyes, and Laozi truly could not refuse it.

After a moment, Laozi still chose to bow down. "This disciple is willing. Greetings, Master."

When Houtu saw that Laozi had truly chosen to take Hongjun as his master, her expression became several degrees uglier.

The Three Pure Ones claimed to be Pangu's orthodox lineage, yet they had never truly held Father God in their hearts. Otherwise, how could they take Hongjun as their master?

Bai Jing, standing nearby, did not think there was anything wrong with Laozi becoming a disciple.

Laozi had clearly hesitated just now. After all, he was one of the Three Pure Ones and Pangu's orthodox lineage, so he might not truly have wished to become Hongjun's disciple.

Unfortunately, circumstances were stronger than people. Primordial Violet Qi was in Hongjun's hands. If Laozi refused, what if Hongjun chose not to give him Primordial Violet Qi?

Laozi was not like Bai Jing, who knew that the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa would inevitably become saints whether they possessed Primordial Violet Qi or not. With a saint seat within reach, who could resist such temptation?

Seeing Laozi agree, Hongjun nodded in satisfaction. After passing that strand of Primordial Violet Qi to Laozi, he took out a treasure diagram.

Yin and yang energies flowed across the diagram. It was the Taiji Diagram, the innate supreme treasure that had once protected Yin-Yang Ancestor.

After Yin-Yang Ancestor fell in his great battle with Luohu, Hongjun obtained the diagram.

"Laozi, as my personal disciple, you cannot go without a treasure to protect yourself. This diagram is the innate supreme treasure, the Taiji Diagram. Its defense is unparalleled and it can suppress fortune. I bestow it upon you for your protection." With that, Hongjun bestowed the Taiji Diagram upon him.

Having obtained both Primordial Violet Qi and the Taiji Diagram, Laozi's earlier hesitation and unwillingness vanished like smoke. Even an innate supreme treasure had been bestowed upon him; becoming a disciple was well worth it.

Bai Jing, however, secretly thought, Laozi is celebrating too soon. Hongjun may appear to have bestowed the Taiji Diagram upon him, but during the great calamity later on, he can recall it at any time. The same goes for the other treasures.

Hongjun has clearly left contingencies within these treasures. Whether they truly belong to the Heavenly Dao saints or to Hongjun remains uncertain!

Hongjun then turned to Yuanshi and said, "Yuanshi, are you willing to take me as your master?"

Yuanshi was the proudest among the Three Pure Ones, and he had some objections to taking Hongjun as his master.

Yet his elder brother had already become a disciple and received both Primordial Violet Qi and the innate supreme treasure Taiji Diagram. With both temptation and pressure before him, though Yuanshi was unwilling in his heart, he did not show it on his face. He bowed and said, "This disciple is willing."

Hongjun nodded approvingly and bestowed upon him Primordial Violet Qi as well as the innate supreme treasure Pangu Banner.

The first two members of the Three Pure Ones had both become disciples, so Tongtian naturally did not refuse when facing Hongjun's question.

Hongjun first took out a strand of Primordial Violet Qi and handed it to Tongtian. A moment later, he took out a sword formation and gave it to him as well.

The moment the sword formation appeared, an astonishing killing intent swept through the entire Zixiao Palace.

Quite a few of the mighty experts in Zixiao Palace used swords, and upon seeing this sword formation, they all revealed envious expressions. Minghe in particular found it exceptionally well suited to him.

Tongtian received the sword formation and could not bear to put it down. He had always loved using the sword, possessed considerable attainment in the Sword Dao, and had also dabbled in formation Dao. Among the Three Pure Ones, he was the most skilled at setting formations. Now that he had seen such a terrifying sword formation, he was naturally overjoyed.

Seeing this, Hongjun expressionlessly cautioned him, "This sword formation is called the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation. It is a supreme treasure of slaughter, possessing boundless power. If a saint sets up this formation, it cannot be broken without four saints. Use it carefully."

Tongtian was startled at first upon hearing this, but then grew even more fond of the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation.