"Heavenly Dao above, I, Grand Pure One Laozi, have perceived that the Dao teachings of the Primordial World are uneven in quality. I wish to establish a sect to enlighten all living beings, with the Taiji Diagram to suppress its fortune."
"Dao Sect, arise!"
Laozi's voice, amplified by the Heavenly Dao, resounded throughout the entire Primordial World. Golden merit clouds spread across thousands of miles in the sky. Though they could not compare to when Nuwa created the Human Race, they were still a rare sight in the Primordial World—countless times greater than Minghe's.
With the Dao Sect established, the merit clouds transformed into a pillar of light. Roughly seventy percent entered Laozi's body, while thirty percent descended upon the Taiji Diagram.
As the merit entered Laozi's body, although it was immense, it still fell just short of allowing him to become a Sage. However, the World-Opening Merit deep within Laozi's Primordial Spirit was drawn forth, finally bringing his merit to completion.
A thread of Sagely might bloomed from Laozi's body. Strange phenomena arose everywhere.
"Teacher..."
Beside Laozi, a young Human Race child gazed at the sight of rosy light stretching ten thousand miles and golden lotuses springing from the earth. His eyes brimmed with worship and longing.
"A thousand years from now, I will preach the Dao at Kunlun Mountain. All those with affinity may come."
"There is another Sage in this world!"
Sensing that familiar pressure, the great powers of heaven and earth secretly tensed.
On Kunlun Mountain, Yuanshi stirred at the sound. The Primordial Chaos Purple Qi deep within his Primordial Spirit shook wildly before quietly merging with it.
A flash of realization passed through Yuanshi's eyes, followed by wild joy on his face.
"I have finally comprehended the path to Sainthood!"
Yuanshi then rose to his feet and flew out of the Three Pure Ones Palace. Standing upon the void, some of the arrogance on his face faded.
"Heavenly Dao above, I, Jade Pure One Yuanshi, I, Jieyin, and Zhunti... shall use the Pangu Banner and the Twelfth-Grade Meritorious Golden Lotus to suppress our fortune."
"Chan Sect and Western Sect, arise!"
For a time, auspicious clouds spanning a thousand miles appeared around Kunlun Mountain and Western Spirit Mountain alike, though they were somewhat fewer than Laozi's.
The first person to eat crab was always the one who got the most. Laozi had been the first to establish a sect, so he had gained the greatest fortune.
The merit obtained by Yuanshi, Zhunti, and Jieyin was far less, fundamentally insufficient to support their ascension to Sainthood.
Yuanshi possessed World-Opening Merit to supplement it, and Sagely might bloomed from his body.
But there were still two people in the Western Sect. Naturally, the merit they required was even greater.
Seeing that Yuanshi had also become a Sage, Zhunti and Jieyin could not help showing traces of anxiety.
If they could not become Sages today, it would only become harder to do so in the future.
Zhunti's eyes shifted, and a rotten idea immediately welled up in his mind.
He whispered a few words into Jieyin's ear.
"This..."
After hearing Zhunti's rotten idea, hesitation appeared on Jieyin's face.
Though the idea was somewhat rotten, it was still a viable method.
It was simply that the price was rather steep.
"Senior Brother, only by becoming Sages will we have even a sliver of a chance to avenge ourselves!"
Hatred surfaced in Zhunti's eyes.
How could he so easily forget the humiliation Tongtian had dealt him?
And how could he dare forget it!
Hearing Zhunti's words, the conflict on Jieyin's face turned into resolve.
"No matter what, we must become Sages today!"
Jieyin and Zhunti faced the heavens and spoke in unison.
"If we attain the Dao, we shall surely eradicate the Western earth veins and restore them to wholeness..."
"If we attain the Dao..."
Great vows poured from Jieyin and Zhunti's mouths one after another like strings of beads, as though they cost nothing at all.
The merit clouds in the heavens then grew denser.
Only after a full forty-eight great vows had been made did they gain sufficient merit. Two pillars of light descended upon Zhunti and Jieyin, and two streams of Sagely might immediately burst forth.
On this day, four Sages ascended.
Kunlun Mountain.
Lu Chen awoke within his cave abode, rubbing his chin as he pondered in secret.
"Laozi established the Dao Sect rather than the Human Cult. It seems he ran into no ordinary obstacle while spreading the Dao among the Human Race. I wonder how far Master has progressed now."
Sword Cave.
Tongtian slowly opened his eyes. Swordly might raged from his body, leaving several fresh sword marks on the stone walls. After hearing Lu Chen's inner thoughts, he murmured to himself.
"Human Cult, Dao Sect... was this another of your schemes?"
"Even with the Jade Disc of Creation's aid, taking that step remains exceedingly difficult!"
"Perhaps I can open another path..."
"I am Supreme Pure One Tongtian. Of the Great Dao's fifty, Heaven unfolds forty-nine; all things between heaven and earth possess a single thread of life. I am willing to seize that thread of life for all beings, using the Green Duckweed Sword to suppress fortune! This great sect shall be called 'Jie.'"
"Jie Sect, arise!"
"A thousand years from now, I shall preach the Dao at Kunlun Mountain. The teachings shall know no distinction of kind; all who pass the trials may enter my sect."
Lu Chen walked out of his cave abode and looked at Tongtian, who stood above the Sword Cave in azure robes. A complex expression flashed through his eyes.
Auspicious clouds likewise stretched a thousand miles across the heavens. Seeing that Tongtian had also established a sect, Yuanshi revealed a trace of relief.
Since he and his elder brother Laozi could not walk the path of Three Corpses Severance and could only become Sages through merit, while Tongtian—the only one who had hoped to attain the Dao by another path—had now also chosen to establish a sect and become a Sage through merit, Yuanshi instantly felt utterly at ease.
He thought of how his little brother, who had originally gone somewhat astray, had finally returned to the proper track.
Watching the thousand-mile merit clouds transform into a pillar of light and descend, Tongtian remained calm as the Green Duckweed Sword appeared.
"Go."
With a light push of Tongtian's hand, the Green Duckweed Sword rose above his head, and the entire pillar of merit light entered it.
"I have no wish to become a Sage through merit. I only wish to use the sword in my hand to personally carve out a path."
"A swordsman must not borrow external things, trusting only the sword in his heart and hand!"
Tongtian muttered, and the Jade Disc of Creation drifted down into Lu Chen's hands.
"Master, he..."
Lu Chen looked at Tongtian in midair and remained silent.
"Elder Brother, do you think Master can succeed?"
At some point, Duobao had waddled over beside Lu Chen with his large belly, asking in a low voice.
"I do not know. Attaining the Dao is incomparably difficult. However, since Master has made this choice, he should have some confidence."
Then, as Tongtian returned the Jade Disc of Creation to Lu Chen, his Swordheart Clarity instantly dawned, and he gained a clear understanding of his own Dao.
That final half-step was sincerity toward the sword.
Trust neither Heaven nor the Dao; trust only oneself, trust only the three-foot blade in one's hand.
The path to attaining the Dao was originally one of constant probing and exploration, of refining one's own insights. Yet the insights from the Jade Disc of Creation were like changing from crossing a river by feeling for stones to being supported as one walked.
But how could someone forever supported by another ever grow?
Buzz—
Heaven and earth trembled. An overwhelmingly sharp and unstoppable pressure erupted from Tongtian's body. Every great power who sensed it felt as though sword edges were pointed at their entire body, causing piercing pain.
There were strange phenomena as well, but rather than golden lotuses springing from the earth, a vast river appeared above Kunlun Mountain. A tiny figure identical to Tongtian stepped out of that river, one step at a time, upon stairs formed from countless sword blades.
In the end, the figure transformed into a cyan blade and entered Tongtian's Spirit Platform. A sword-mark imprint appeared between Tongtian's brows.
Transcending the river of Heavenly Dao—
This was the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal!
"Tongtian actually attained the Dao!"
Yuanshi's face was filled with disbelief. The ease he had just felt instantly became blocked again, and his expression turned incomparably ugly.
This was because the pressure was several times stronger than when he had become a Sage. Even though he was as powerful as a Sage, he had invisibly fallen a notch beneath Tongtian.
How could Yuanshi, who had always considered himself inferior to no one save his elder brother, possibly endure this?
And he had fallen beneath his own little brother. How was he supposed to maintain the dignity of an elder brother from now on?!
"Congratulations, Master, on attaining Primordial Unity."
Lu Chen and Duobao cupped their hands toward Tongtian in congratulations.
"Kunlun Mountain will become lively in the future. As the eldest senior brother, you cannot keep running everywhere."
Tongtian looked at his two disciples with a faint smile, his gaze settling on Lu Chen.
"When the time comes, you will handle the matter of accepting disciples."
"Yes, Master."
Lu Chen nodded in acceptance. Even if Tongtian had not assigned the task to him and intended to handle it personally, Lu Chen would have found an opportunity to discuss accepting disciples with him.
Now that Tongtian had handed it to him, things were much simpler.
"Come to the Sword Cave."
Duobao and Lu Chen exchanged a glance before entering the Sword Cave.
"Do you wish to walk the path of the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal, or the path of Three Corpses Severance?"
Tongtian sat on the ground and looked at Lu Chen and Duobao as he asked.
"The path of Primordial Unity."
Lu Chen answered without the slightest hesitation.
Duobao, however, hesitated.
"I..."
"Duobao, if you wish to walk the path of the Three Corpses, you may do so as well. I will do my best to solve the problem of being unable to unite the Three Corpses after severing them all."
Tongtian saw through Duobao's concerns at a glance and spoke slowly.
At those words, the hesitation in Duobao's eyes turned into resolve. "Master, I wish to walk the Dao of Three Corpses Severance."
Tongtian nodded.
Lu Chen could attempt any path, but the path of Primordial Unity did not suit Duobao. To walk that path, one's cultivation depended on one's comprehension of laws. Although Duobao was an innate being with decent foundations, he still lagged far behind Tongtian and Lu Chen.
The Dao of Three Corpses Severance was instead not so demanding toward one's foundations and talent.
"Duobao, go cultivate first."
"Yes, Master."
Hearing Tongtian's words, Duobao bowed and turned to leave.
"If you wish to walk the path of Primordial Unity, do not choose the Sword Dao. Judging from your foundations, the Devouring Path suits you better."
"Master, can one only choose a single Dao to attain Primordial Unity?"
Tongtian froze for a moment, then shook his head.
"Not necessarily. One may attain the Dao through several Daos at once. However, the more Dao laws you comprehend, the harder it becomes to attain the Dao. Likewise, once you do, your strength will be greater."
"Master, are there stronger and weaker Daos?"
"There are not."
"Do you have any other questions?"
"No, Master."
"Go back and cultivate. I shall enter seclusion to see whether I can deduce and perfect the Dao of Three Corpses Severance. The matter of accepting disciples is entrusted to you."
"Yes, Master."
Lu Chen returned to his cave abode. Through Tongtian's explanations just now, he understood that Primordial Unity practitioners were also divided into strong and weak. It was not the Daos themselves that were strong or weak, but the people comprehending them. If one attained Primordial Unity through multiple Daos simultaneously, one would be stronger than someone who attained it through a single Dao.
This was not difficult to understand.
"Let's try the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase's new function."
Lu Chen sat upon the jade bed, grabbed a handful of merit golden light, and stuffed it into the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase.
Within the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase, the merit golden light was refined and condensed into droplets.
A hundred years slipped by in haste.
Lu Chen slowly opened his eyes and took out a droplet from the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase, examining it closely.
The droplet upon Lu Chen's fingertip was Chaos-colored, giving off an abstruse and profound aura. At the same time, it stirred his heart, producing an urge to swallow it in a single gulp.
Lu Chen swallowed the droplet. It melted as soon as it entered his mouth, transforming into an indescribable force that permeated all four limbs and eight channels of his body.
"My origin has increased!"
Feeling the changes within himself, Lu Chen's face lit up with wild joy.
After swallowing the droplet, he felt the origin of the Devouring Demon God within him grow by a trace.
Though the increase was minuscule, it had truly increased.
As his origin rose, Lu Chen gained another trace of insight into the Devouring Path.
"Perhaps I have another path I can take."
The Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase's new function gave Lu Chen new thoughts regarding attaining the Dao.
Lu Chen immediately stuffed in another huge handful of merit, along with the treasures he had gathered over the years.
A thousand years passed leisurely.
Lu Chen emerged from seclusion.
Today was the disciple-acceptance ceremony. He would accept disciples on his master's behalf.
The usually quiet Kunlun Mountain was exceptionally lively today. Cultivators covered the mountains and plains, their lines stretching from the mountainside all the way to the foot of the mountain.
Yuanshi and Laozi sat atop the mountain, looking down at the various cultivators below and silently appraising them. Lu Chen stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "First Senior Uncle, Second Senior Uncle."
Seeing that Lu Chen was alone, Yuanshi asked in confusion, "Where is your Third Uncle?"
"Second Senior Uncle, Master remains in seclusion. I will handle the matter of accepting disciples on his behalf."
"Xuandu greets the Holy Father!"
The young man seated beside Laozi rose and bowed respectfully upon seeing Lu Chen.
Laozi gave Lu Chen a deep look. "Then begin."
Now that he had become a Sage, Laozi could see not only Lu Chen's foundations, but also his fortune. He sensed the dense Human Race fortune upon Lu Chen. Coupled with his own disciple's identification just now,
he sighed inwardly. He had never expected the Human Race's Holy Father to be Lu Chen.
Laozi set no trials, for he prized nonaction. Whom he accepted as disciples depended on fate—and on first impressions.
Yuanshi, on the other hand, set three trials: to test one's origins, blessings, and comprehension. Only temperament was absent.
Lu Chen simply laid down a grand formation.
The Inquiry-Heart Formation.
This formation tested neither origins, blessings, nor comprehension. It tested only temperament.
The downfall of the Jie Sect had much to do with the turncoat Long-Eared Dingguang Xian. Had he not betrayed them, the Jie Sect would not have fallen so swiftly. Moreover, Lu Chen hated traitors most of all. As for being a mixed bag of good and bad, or burdened by karmic bloodshed, so long as one was guided, there was still a chance to mend one's ways.
"Let the trials begin. Those who reach the summit may enter the Chan Sect (Jie Sect)."
Yuanshi and Lu Chen spoke one after the other.
As their voices fell, the cultivators below grew excited and consciously split into two groups, each beginning the climb.
One group had come for the Chan Sect, while the other had come for the Jie Sect.
Whether because of Grand Primordial Luo's prestige or because the doctrine of teaching without discrimination was more alluring, eight or nine out of every ten cultivators at the foot of the mountain joined the Jie Sect's line.
Time trickled away. Those who passed the Inquiry-Heart Formation continued up the mountain with hearts full of joy, while those who failed left filled with resentment. Some failed the Inquiry-Heart Formation, then tried to fish in troubled waters by slipping into the Chan Sect's line, hoping for another chance.
Yuanshi's face darkened. With a cold snort, he shook those who sought to cheat and cut corners until their faces turned pale and their minds were badly wounded.
Someone from the Jie Sect's line reached the summit.
"Greetings..."
"Those who reach the summit have fate with us. You may call me Senior Brother."
"Senior Brother."
"What is your Daoist name?"
"Jin Ling."
Before you continue