Hongjun Takes Disciples, Only to Be Slapped in the Face

Over the next thousand years, Dongwanggong had no heart to continue cultivating. Instead, he began searching for Innate Spirit Treasures of the same lineage.

Unfortunately, Innate Spirit Treasures were not so easy to find. In the blink of an eye, five hundred years passed, yet Dongwanggong had not found a single Innate Spirit Treasure.

Throughout those five hundred years, Chen Xuan remained by Dongwanggong's side, constantly impressing upon him the benefits of having a force under his command.

He even said that if Dongwanggong possessed a faction and had enough cultivators at his disposal, let alone three Innate Spirit Treasures—even thirty or three hundred would likely have been found by now.

Dongwanggong believed this without a doubt. Even as he traveled with Chen Xuan to Purple Cloud Palace, he continued to dwell on it.

Once this visit to Purple Cloud Palace was over, he would establish a force of his own. Then, with that force at his command, he would search for Innate Spirit Treasures of the same lineage.

By the time the two arrived at Purple Cloud Palace, many people had already gathered outside. Before long, Haotian and Yaochi ushered everyone into Purple Cloud Palace and had them take their seats.

Although Hongjun had once said that the next time they came to Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao, they were to sit according to their original seats,

that applied only to those with prayer mats. As for those without them, no one cared where they had sat last time.

Thus, Dongwanggong naturally pulled Chen Xuan over to sit with him. He even made sure to squeeze as far forward as possible.

Chen Xuan had no objection to this and let Dongwanggong pull him to the front row. It could almost be said that they were sitting right beneath Hongjun's nose.

Taking the opportunity to look around, Chen Xuan saw that the Three Pure Ones, Houtu, Fuxi, and Nuwa had all arrived. Yet the other eleven Ancestral Witches were nowhere to be seen.

Chen Xuan could only shake his head helplessly, unable to stop himself from thinking, I need to find a way to make them develop Primordial Spirits as soon as possible. Otherwise, this can never be a long-term solution.

Just then, Hongjun appeared upon the central prayer mat. After merely glancing over everyone in Purple Cloud Palace, he began expounding the Dao.

For a time, flowers rained down from the heavens and golden lotuses surged from the earth within Purple Cloud Palace. All the cultivators could not help but lose themselves in the voice of the Great Dao.

Another three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye, and Dao Ancestor Hongjun finally ceased expounding the Great Dao. He then spoke directly.

"The second sermon ends here. What I have taught this time is the method of Quasi-Sainthood. Once you return, you must study and comprehend it carefully."

"In three thousand years, Purple Cloud Palace will open once more. I shall expound to you the Dao of Sainthood."

The moment Hongjun finished speaking, Laozi directly asked, "What is a Saint?"

Hearing Laozi's question, Hongjun looked over and said, "A Saint may entrust their True Spirit to the Heavenly Dao. They are truly undying and indestructible."

After Hongjun answered Laozi's question, Primordial Heavenly Venerable also asked, "How does one become a Saint?"

Hongjun looked at Primordial Heavenly Venerable and replied, "There are three paths to Sainthood. The first is proving the Dao through strength, the second is proving the Dao by severing the Three Corpses, and the third is proving the Dao through merit."

"To prove the Dao through strength is to comprehend the laws of the Great Dao and use the power of those laws to open the heavens and prove the Dao. This was the path Pangu walked."

"However, the Great Dao no longer manifests, while the Heavenly Dao governs the Primordial World. Thus, the path of proving the Dao through strength is almost impossible to walk anymore. Even Pangu ultimately met the end of transforming his body into the Primordial World."

"The path of severing the Three Corpses is the Dao I have expounded this time. One must possess great perseverance to sever good, evil, and self, then use Innate Spirit Treasures to entrust the Three Corpse incarnations."

"Once the Three Corpses unite as one, one may attain the Saint's fruition. However, their strength will fall somewhat short of those who prove the Dao through strength."

"The third is to attain the Saint's Dao fruition through great merit. This method of proving the Dao is the simplest, but one's strength will also be the weakest among Saints."

Hearing Hongjun's answer, Dongwanggong could not help frowning. He even glanced at Chen Xuan beside him.

It was as though he were asking Chen Xuan why the Dao Ancestor had not said that one needed Innate Spirit Treasures of the same lineage to entrust the Three Corpse incarnations.

Chen Xuan pretended not to notice. After all, he had already laid all the groundwork he needed to; what remained was for those chess pieces to perform on their own.

At this moment, Tongtian spoke as well. "Then who can become Saints?"

Hongjun looked at Tongtian before saying, "Under the Heavenly Dao, nine is the ultimate number. Therefore, there should be eight Saints beneath me."

"The Three Pure Ones were transformed from Pangu's three souls. When they took form, they already possessed the merit of opening the heavens, and they are destined to become my disciples. Therefore, the Three Pure Ones may become—"

Before Hongjun could finish, the Three Pure Ones all rose to their feet. Primordial Heavenly Venerable spoke directly.

"My two brothers and I already have a master. Naturally, we cannot change masters and take you as our teacher. Therefore, do not mention taking us as disciples again."

The moment Primordial Heavenly Venerable said this, Purple Cloud Palace instantly fell so silent that one could hear a pin drop. Everyone turned their eyes toward Hongjun.

After all, the Three Pure Ones' refusal to take Hongjun as their master was no different from openly slapping Hongjun across the face.

At this moment, anger had appeared on Hongjun's face. It was obvious that he was struggling to suppress it.

Tongtian then asked, "Does that mean that if the three of us do not take you as our master, we will have no chance of becoming Saints?"

Hongjun nodded without hesitation. "I represent the Heavenly Dao. The Saints beneath the Heavenly Dao are destined to come from under my tutelage."

"If you refuse to take me as your master, it is equivalent to giving up the position of Saint. Therefore, I advise you to think thrice before acting."

After saying this, he turned his gaze to Nuwa beside Fuxi. "Nuwa was transformed from Innate Creation Qi. She is destined to possess a great merit in the future."

"She may likewise enter my sect and become my disci—"

Before Hongjun could finish, Nuwa stood and bowed. "Dao Ancestor, I appreciate your kind intentions."

"Although Nuwa is unlike the Three Pure Ones, who have already found illustrious masters, I have already chosen the person I recognize as my master. Therefore, Nuwa cannot take the Dao Ancestor as her teacher."

Nuwa's refusal came as a surprise even to Chen Xuan. He could not help thinking, What is going on with this girl?

The Three Pure Ones refusing Hongjun has already made it hard enough for him to save face. Now even this girl refuses to become his disciple. Won't Hongjun go mad on the spot?

Chen Xuan was not worried in the slightest. If anything, he felt a trace of secret delight, for he had always been the sort who feared that chaos was not big enough.

Hongjun's expression had now turned incomparably ugly. The repeated refusals had already pushed him to the brink of fury.

Yet in order to preserve his image, Hongjun could only endure again and again. He then turned his gaze toward the two of the Western School.

"Jieyin and Zhunti, in the future you will establish eight hundred side sects and enlighten the living beings of one region. You are also qualified to enter under my tutelage as my disciples and become Saints."