Enlightenment

Laozi occasionally glanced at Yuanshi and found his eyes glazed over as if he had gone mad.

He immediately knew Qing Xuanzi had likely succeeded. Otherwise, Yuanshi would never have worn such an expression.

When he looked back toward Qing Xuanzi, he discovered that Qing Xuanzi had already stopped refining the artifact.

He was lowering his head in contemplation. After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Qing Xuanzi moved.

His entire body radiated an intoxicating Dao aura, while his hands danced gracefully.

It made people involuntarily sink into reverie. Fortunately, everyone present was a Mixed Origin Great Luo Golden Immortal.

Otherwise, several people would surely have died, trapped in the illusion Qing Xuanzi wove and unable to break free until death.

"Array Symbol?" Tongtian was exceptionally sensitive to formations and immediately recognized that Qing Xuanzi was drawing an Array Symbol.

"Tongtian, keep your voice down. Qing Xuanzi is in enlightenment. Don't disturb him." Hongjun's voice sounded beside Tongtian's ear.

Tongtian stared at Qing Xuanzi's dancing hands with an even more incredulous expression.

This was outrageous. Other people merely sat in meditation and comprehended the Dao during enlightenment, but this guy was dancing outright.

Why was his enlightenment so different from everyone else's?

Tongtian's doubts were swiftly answered by Hongjun. "Qing Xuanzi's enlightenment is extraordinary. Legend says there are three kinds of enlightenment."

"The first is Heaven-Human Enlightenment. This is the kind of enlightenment we usually see. Nearly everyone's enlightenment is of this kind."

"The second is Dao-Entering Enlightenment. Qing Xuanzi is currently in this state. Anyone who enters such enlightenment will certainly advance one or several Daos."

"The third is Dao-Emergence Enlightenment. After Dao-Entering Enlightenment, if one encounters a fortunate opportunity, one may enter Dao-Emergence Enlightenment. Anyone who undergoes this kind of enlightenment will surely forge an entirely new Great Dao."

Nüwa's little mouth formed a surprised O. Her crimson lips and smooth, fair skin invited endless fantasies.

"Master, if that is the case, how likely do you think Qing Xuanzi is to enter Dao-Emergence Enlightenment?"

"I do not know either. I only know that if Qing Xuanzi enters Dao-Emergence Enlightenment, the Primordial World will undergo a complete transformation. Overall, that would be a good thing."

Everyone secretly nodded and continued watching Qing Xuanzi perform.

The formation had already taken shape, yet no one knew what kind of formation it was. Hongjun offered an explanation. "I do not know the formation's name, but I can sense the Dao laws within the Creation Jade Butterfly gathering there one after another. It resembles a Spirit Gathering Array, except what it gathers is Dao laws."

After hearing Hongjun's explanation, everyone's eyes lit up.

How was this still merely a formation? It was clearly the finest Dao cultivation ground imaginable, without equal.

Laozi was even more shaken than the others after hearing Hongjun's explanation.

In his eyes, that formation was clearly a Heaven and Earth Pill Furnace.

Originally, Laozi had not understood why the formation was vaguely taking on the shape of a pill furnace.

Now, he understood completely.

That monstrous Qing Xuanzi was plainly going to refine pills.

Sure enough, materials Qing Xuanzi had somehow scavenged were poured out all at once.

One piece of material after another was tossed by Qing Xuanzi into the newly formed Heaven and Earth Pill Furnace.

The instant these materials entered the Heaven and Earth Pill Furnace, they melted away.

Laozi was even more speechless. Among them were precious materials he had gathered over tens of millions of years.

He had not even been willing to use them himself, yet this bastard had somehow taken them directly.

This method was simply impossible to guard against. If Qing Xuanzi wanted something in the future—

Wouldn't he be able to take it as easily as reaching into his pocket?

The Primordial World's greatest thief?

Hongjun seemed to know what Laozi was thinking and said, "Laozi, there is no need to worry. This method can only be used during Dao-Entering Enlightenment. Do you think Dao-Entering Enlightenment is as common as cabbage? Could one enter it every day for no reason?"

Only then did Laozi relax. Fortunately, it could only happen this once. Otherwise, he truly would not know what to do.

Any good item in his home would simply vanish, and he would not even know when it disappeared.

Who could endure that? In just a few years, he would probably die of rage.

Hmm, Laozi's eyes bulged again. Was that a Pill Formation Symbol?

The seemingly complex Pill Formation Symbol took only a few strokes in Qing Xuanzi's hands.

It was as simple as a child casually drawing it.

"As expected, the Great Dao is simple." Like Yuanshi, Laozi was utterly convinced. Damn it, this truly was Dao-Entering Enlightenment.

Simply watching it had already benefited him immensely. Qing Xuanzi had gained such an opportunity; his future achievements would be limitless.

Suddenly, Laozi felt someone looking at him. When he turned around, he saw Yuanshi's sympathetic gaze.

Damn it, second brother, what does that sympathetic look mean?

After thinking it over, he understood. Yuanshi was sharing his misery.

They would both have to surrender their positions. Yuanshi's title as the foremost artifact refiner, and Laozi's title as the foremost pill refiner—

From this day forward, those positions would change hands.

No, the third brother's position was gone as well.

From now on, Qing Xuanzi would likely be the foremost master of pill refining, formations, and artifact refining in the Primordial World.

Three pills flew out of the Heaven and Earth Pill Furnace. Laozi's sharp eyes immediately noticed the patterns on the pills.

They were Thirty-six Petals Golden Pills. There was simply no comparison.

If these pills appeared in the Primordial World, they would likely be able to take form on their own.

He just did not know what effects these pills possessed.

At that moment, the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe also took shape, and a divine radiance burst forth from it.

Hongjun nearly failed to hold himself steady and let out a muffled groan.

"Master!"

"Master!"

"Master!"

"..."

"It is nothing. Fortunately, this divine radiance is uncontrolled and merely the spiritual glow released upon its birth. Otherwise, you likely would no longer have a master."

The saints were all speechless. No master? Did they care? As long as they had Qing Xuanzi, that was enough.

Hongjun did not know what they were thinking. If he had known—

He would probably have slaughtered a few saints for amusement.

"Lu Ya, Xingchen, Yang Mei, your time of death has come!" Qing Xuanzi shouted as he swung the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.

Three beams of divine radiance shot directly into the void, seeking the three people Qing Xuanzi had named.

The Creation Jade Butterfly was Hongjun's spiritual treasure, so he saw everything clearly. The three beams of divine radiance seemed to have been fitted with guidance, locating the three men with flawless accuracy.

At the same time, Hongjun looked at Qing Xuanzi. He did not appear to be awake.

He could actually fight while in enlightenment. Was Dao-Entering Enlightenment truly this powerful?

As though he had sensed Hongjun's thoughts, Qing Xuanzi's lips curled slightly. "The moment the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe released its divine radiance, I had already emerged from the Dao."

Hongjun was first stunned, then overjoyed. He hurriedly asked, "Do you have teachings of the Great Dao?"

"Yes." After answering with that single word, Qing Xuanzi sat down. Without caring whether those three were dead or alive, he began speaking.

"Hurry, hurry! What are you standing around for? The Great Dao is preaching!" Hongjun roared. Everyone's expressions changed, and they swiftly sat cross-legged, calming their minds and steadying their breaths.

"I am the Great Dao. Today, I shall expound..."

Three thousand years quietly slipped by as Qing Xuanzi expounded the Great Dao.

When Qing Xuanzi uttered the final word, his body trembled, and he awakened from Dao-Emergence Enlightenment.

He opened his confused eyes, carefully reviewed what had happened, and was so shocked that his mouth hung open.

Did that count as killing people in his dream? He was far more impressive than Boss Cao.

Three Half-Step Mixed Origin Taiji cultivators, killed just like that?

This was different from before. Qing Xuanzi was certain that the three of them were definitely dead this time.

Dead beyond any possibility of revival.

It was not merely because they had taken a blow from the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, but because he had destroyed them while in enlightenment.

Even if they had countless contingency plans, every one of them would be severed the instant the divine radiance reached them.

Their vitality had been completely extinguished.

Laozi awoke, his cultivation having greatly advanced, but he felt uncomfortable when he looked at the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe beside Qing Xuanzi.

"Junior Brother Qing Xuanzi, can the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe still be separated?"