The Second Sermon, Laozi's Three Questions

Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, in the depths of chaos.

The heavy violet-gold gates of Violet Firmament Palace opened once more, and three thousand worldly guests filed inside.

Unlike their bewilderment during the first sermon, everyone's eyes this time brimmed with intense anticipation and yearning.

The path of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal had already benefited them beyond measure. How profound, then, would the legendary path of the Quasi-Saint be?

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti still sat firmly upon the six golden prayer mats at the very front.

"Dong—"

The bell rang, and Hongjun's figure appeared atop the violet prayer mat without warning.

His gaze swept across those below. When he saw the spots that remained empty, the shadow deep in his eyes instantly darkened to the extreme.

"The Twelve Ancestral Witches... still haven't come!"

Hongjun snorted coldly in his heart.

Their absence the first time could be attributed to their arrogant pride, but this second sermon concerned the path of the Quasi-Saint—the only road leading to Sagehood. They could actually resist such temptation?

"It seems they have truly set their hearts on opposing this Daoist."

Hongjun suppressed his displeasure, and his expression returned to the stillness of an ancient well.

"This sermon concerns the path of the Quasi-Saint, as well as the methods of proving the Dao."

Hongjun's voice was ethereal and distant, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"There are three thousand Great Daos, and every one may prove the Primordial Origin. Yet in summary, there are three methods of proving the Dao."

"First, Force-Proving Dao. With supreme magical power and immense perseverance, one forcibly shatters Heaven's Way's shackles and attains the Primordial Dao Fruit."

"Second, Three-Corpse Severing to prove the Dao. Sever the three corpses of good, evil, and obsession; illuminate one's heart and perceive one's nature. In the end, unite the three corpses as one, entrust them to Heaven's Way, and attain the Sage's fruition. This method was created by this Daoist and is also the method by which this Daoist became a Sage."

"Third, Merit-Proving Dao. One who renders great merit to heaven and earth shall receive boundless golden light of merit from Heaven's Way, which aids them in becoming a Sage."

The moment Hongjun finished speaking, everyone below sucked in a breath of cold air.

There were actually three paths to proving the Dao!

Just as everyone was still digesting this shocking revelation, Laozi, seated on the first prayer mat, suddenly opened his eyes and respectfully bowed.

"May I ask, Teacher, what realm have the twelve people of Mount Buzhou now reached?"

The moment Laozi asked this question, Violet Firmament Palace fell silent.

During the battle over the Mount Buzhou gourd vine years ago, the Three Pure Ones being forced back by Zhu Rong's single punch had not been widely publicized, but quite a few great powers present had heard of it.

They were also curious just how powerful those twelve madmen were, those who disdained even to attend Violet Firmament Palace.

Hongjun gave Laozi a deep look and calmly spoke two words. "Quasi-Saint."

"Hiss—"

A chorus of sharp inhalations rose within Violet Firmament Palace.

Quasi-Saint!

They, Innate divine beings who had listened to the Great Dao in Violet Firmament Palace for three thousand years, had only reached the peak of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. Yet the Twelve Ancestral Witches had already entered the Quasi-Saint Realm?!

A gleam flashed through Laozi's eyes as he continued, "May I ask, Teacher, which path of proving the Dao do the Twelve Ancestral Witches follow?"

Hongjun fell silent for a moment.

Naturally, he knew.

"Force-Proving Dao." Hongjun spoke slowly.

Laozi drew a deep breath and asked his third question. "May I ask, Teacher, between Force-Proving Dao and the path of Three-Corpse Severing, which is stronger and which is weaker?"

This question was exceedingly sharp.

If Hongjun said Force-Proving Dao was stronger, would that not be slapping his own face?

If he said Three-Corpse Severing was stronger... he was not shameless enough to tell such a blatant lie with his eyes open, especially one that could so easily be exposed.

But if he told the truth, would Laozi and the others not all choose the Law Dao instead?

Hongjun's expression did not change. Skirting the important and dwelling on the trivial, he answered, "This Daoist relied upon the method of Three-Corpse Severing to become a Heavenly Dao Sage. And in those years, Great God Pangu walked the path of Force-Proving Dao."

Hearing this answer, the corners of Laozi's lips rose slightly. He asked no more questions and closed his eyes again.

He had already received the answer he wanted.

Though Great God Pangu had been powerful, he had ultimately still fallen.

Yet Hongjun sat alive before them, having become a lofty Sage!

What did that prove?

It proved that while Force-Proving Dao was powerful, it was a dead end!

Yuanshi Tianzun, seated upon the second prayer mat, was even less restrained, his face openly displaying smug confidence and the certainty of victory.

"Hmph, what a pack of barbarians. They have chosen a dead road and do not even know it!"

Yuanshi Tianzun sneered inwardly. Once I cultivate the path of Three-Corpse Severing and attain the Sage's fruition, I will definitely trample you beneath my feet!

"Silence."

Seeing that the time was ripe, Hongjun spoke no further nonsense and directly began expounding the mysteries of Three-Corpse Severing.

"To sever the three corpses, one must use an Innate Spirit Treasure as the vessel..."

As Hongjun spoke, heavenly flowers once again scattered chaotically through Violet Firmament Palace, while golden lotuses surged from the earth.

The three thousand worldly guests listened, spellbound and intoxicated, completely immersed in this broad and smooth road leading to the Sage Realm.

Meanwhile, on the Primordial Wilderness Continent, Mount Buzhou.

The plaza outside Pangu Hall was densely packed with living beings at the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal levels.

All of them held their breath in concentration, their gazes feverishly fixed upon the twelve towering figures in midair.

Dijiang sat cross-legged at the center. Silver Space Law flowed around him like rippling water, radiating a heart-palpitating Primordial Origin pressure.

"Today, we Twelve Ancestral Witches shall expound the Primordial Origin Great Dao for you!"

Dijiang's voice was like a great bell and thunderous chime, exploding within the sea of consciousness of every living being.

Unlike Hongjun, he did not dangle gimmicks such as becoming a Sage through merit or the path of Three-Corpse Severing.

He taught only one path—the Law Dao!

"Heaven, earth, and all things are built from laws. To cultivate the Dao is to cultivate laws!"

"Borrow no external objects, seek not Heaven's Way, and return great power to oneself!"

"When your comprehension of a single law reaches its utmost limit and you gain complete control over it, you may condense within your body a Law Dao Fruit that belongs to you alone!"

"When the Dao Fruit is formed, the Primordial Origin stands!"

Dijiang's voice carried an incomparably domineering confidence and pride.

He analyzed the mysteries of Space Law in terms simple yet profound, displaying before everyone without reservation his insights from breaking through to the Primordial Golden Immortal Realm.

Afterward came Zhu Jiuyin's Time Law, Zhu Rong's Flame Law, Gonggong's Water Law...

The Twelve Ancestral Witches took the stage in turn, vividly presenting before these living beings twelve entirely different yet ultimately convergent great paths of law.

The living beings below listened in rapt intoxication, their blood boiling.

Compared to the ethereal path of Three-Corpse Severing in Violet Firmament Palace, which required an Innate Spirit Treasure as its support, the Law Dao taught by Dijiang and the others was more direct, more pure, and more suited to the Primordial World's nature of the strong devouring the weak and revering power!

"Returning great power to oneself... this is the true supreme Great Dao!"

"Seek not Heaven's Way, seek only oneself! The Ancestral Witches are right—relying on others can never compare to relying on yourself!"

Countless living beings fell into sudden enlightenment as they listened, and their auras began to fluctuate violently. Some even broke through their bottlenecks on the spot!

And as these living beings' recognition and fervor for the Law Dao grew, the fortune they bestowed upon Dijiang and the others instantly surged another step higher.