Tongtian Refuses Three Corpses Severance

"But they actually had no doubts at all."

"Hongjun is fooling us? What is he after?"

Listening to Lu Chen's inner thoughts, a trace of confusion appeared in Tongtian's eyes.

"The Dao of Three Corpses is to first sever one's own good, evil, and obsession, using Dharma treasures to bear them... One corpse marks the initial stage, two corpses the later stage, and severing all three corpses marks the final stage."

Manifest the three thoughts into the Three Corpses, then nurture them to their peak and merge them back into oneself to ascend the Saintly Dao..."

Hongjun chanted continuously, his Dao voice instantly spreading throughout the entire Zixiao Palace.

All kinds of phenomena appeared within Zixiao Palace.

Heavenly flowers rained down, while golden lotuses sprang from the earth.

The path of a Quasi-Saint was somewhat too profound for Lu Chen. Even with his exceptional foundation and talent, he could not truly compare with old monsters like Tongtian, who had cultivated for who knew how many years. After all, their accumulated foundation was there, and this sermon from Hongjun had specifically been meant for these three thousand guests of the mortal world.

His main purpose in coming here was to absorb those lotuses of Dharma power, accumulating power in preparation for Great Luo.

As the Dao voice filled the air, the mighty experts displayed different forms. Some revealed benevolent faces that sought to save all living beings, while others exposed vicious and monstrous evil faces.

The Dao voice ceased, and the sermon had just ended.

"Sever!"

Laozi shouted softly. Above his head, he offered up the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, slowly condensing an elderly man in white robes with a kind and benevolent expression.

This was Laozi's Good Corpse.

Yuanshi followed immediately after, using the Jade Ruyi as a vessel to sever his Good Corpse.

After that, several mighty experts with deep foundations successively used Dharma treasures to sever their corpses.

"Third Brother, you?"

Laozi and Yuanshi frowned slightly, looking in confusion at Tongtian beside them.

They were confused because Tongtian had not severed a corpse.

They believed that Tongtian had definitely not refrained from severing a corpse because his cultivation was insufficient. Though Tongtian's cultivation was slightly inferior to theirs, he was absolutely stronger than some fellow Daoists who had already severed their corpses.

That left only one answer: Tongtian was unwilling to sever one.

"What is wrong with Master? The Green Duckweed Sword is right beside him. Why isn't he severing a corpse? Could it be that he saw through the flaw in Three Corpses Severance?"

Lu Chen slightly opened his eyes and saw that Tongtian was still at Peak Great Luo. Doubt quietly arose in his heart.

"There is a flaw in Three Corpses Severance!"

Tongtian's gaze shifted slightly. He slowly rose to his feet and bowed to Hongjun.

"Tongtian has a doubt trapped within his heart. I hope the Sage can answer it."

"Speak."

"Does this method of Three Corpses Severance contain any flaws?"

Tongtian spoke bluntly, directly asking the question from Lu Chen's inner thoughts.

"It does not."

Hongjun shook his head.

"Third Brother, apologize to the Sage at once!"

Laozi and Yuanshi, standing nearby, stared at Tongtian in alarm and hurriedly rebuked him.

They knew Tongtian could sometimes be stubborn and rash, but they had never expected him to be this reckless—to actually dare question the method of attaining the Dao passed down by a Sage!

They then stood and bowed to Hongjun. "Sage, my third brother has always had a somewhat rash temperament. I hope the Sage will not lower himself to his level."

"Why does this master seem somewhat off?"

"This is bad. I acted a little too conspicuously just now!"

Hearing Lu Chen's inner thoughts, Tongtian's heart tightened. His expression remained unchanged as he respectfully bowed to Hongjun.

"I hope the Sage will not take offense at this junior."

"No matter. Sit. If you have any other doubts, speak freely. I shall answer them for you."

Hongjun waved his hand, and an invisible force pressed the Three Pure Ones back into their seats.

After sitting down, Tongtian looked toward Lu Chen. He was secretly growing anxious.

"You brat, just say it already! What flaw is there in Three Corpses Severance?!"

His earlier question had not truly been meant for Hongjun. The one he had really wanted to question was Lu Chen.

He himself could hear Lu Chen's inner thoughts and knew that there was a problem with Three Corpses Severance, but his eldest and second brothers did not know. Nor could he speak openly, because he had no way to explain himself. As for stopping them from severing their corpses—

Tongtian had never considered it. First, he had no suitable reason to convince the two of them. Second, those who obstructed another's Dao would break even brotherly bonds and turn against one another as enemies.

He could not stop Yuanshi and Laozi from severing their corpses. He could only hope to learn the flaw in Three Corpses Severance from Lu Chen and see whether there was a way to remedy it.

But Lu Chen would not say anything...

And as his master, he still could not ask. Even if he did, Lu Chen might not tell him truthfully. Worse, asking would expose the secret that he could eavesdrop on Lu Chen's inner thoughts.

"Third Brother, why will you not sever a corpse? Your Green Duckweed Sword is a top-grade innate spirit treasure. Aside from a Primordial Supreme Treasure, it is already among the finest."

Yuanshi's tone carried a hint of urging.

Faced with Yuanshi's urging, Tongtian finally understood what it meant to have suffering he could not speak of.

Before learning what flaw existed in Three Corpses Severance, he absolutely would not sever a corpse.

He had a premonition that this flaw was likely related to becoming a Sage.

Perhaps Hongjun had concealed something from them during his sermon.

"If there is nothing else, then disperse."

Hongjun gave Tongtian a deep look. With a sweep of his Daoist sleeve, the gates of Zixiao Palace opened.

Laozi stopped Yuanshi, who still wanted to continue pressing the matter. "Enough, Second Brother. Since Third Brother is unwilling to sever a corpse, he must have his own reasons. Do not force him."

"Eldest Brother is right."

Hearing Laozi's words, Yuanshi nodded.

He glared at Tongtian. "From now on, I will no longer concern myself with your cultivation."

"Has Master entered his rebellious phase?"

Seeing that Tongtian still refused to sever a corpse even after Yuanshi rebuked him, Lu Chen raised his brows slightly.

"Rebellious phase? What does rebellious mean?"

Though he did not understand what Lu Chen meant by rebellious, Tongtian felt a trace of grievance after being glared at by Yuanshi. His gaze toward Lu Chen carried a hint of urgency.

"Good disciple, tell me the flaw in Three Corpses Severance. Your master is truly dying of anxiety!"

"What the hell? Why is Master looking at me like that? Uncle-Master glared at you because you refused to sever a corpse. What does that have to do with me? It is not as though you refused to sever a corpse because of me."

Seeing the urgency in Tongtian's eyes, Lu Chen looked puzzled.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, let us return."

"Mm."

"Hmph!"

Yuanshi snorted coldly, his stern face turned toward Tongtian.

This Daoist is suffering!

Tongtian cried out inwardly and could only pretend not to see Yuanshi's frosty expression.

He followed behind Laozi and left Zixiao Palace.

"This entire bottle is full of Chaos energy. If I refine it all, who knows how much Spirit Liquid it will produce."

After returning to Kunlun Mountain, Lu Chen did not mooch off Duobao's cave abode. Instead, he waved his claws and dug a hole large enough for one person.

He then shrank his body and crawled inside, setting up several simple formations within the hole—some to conceal his aura, others defensive restrictions.

These formations were not meant to defend against anyone. They were merely to show that he was entering secluded cultivation and did not wish to be disturbed.

Along the way, he had felt that Tongtian's gaze upon him was strange, always carrying an urgent, yearning look.

It was as if Lu Chen possessed something Tongtian sought, or perhaps an answer Tongtian wanted.

So even if Tongtian wanted to learn something from him or obtain something from him, since he had not asked before, he could wait until Lu Chen emerged from secluded cultivation!

Nothing was more important than cultivation.

P.S. This is my first time writing about the Primordial World. If there are any flaws, please point them out in the comments. Also, please send some free votes my way...