Dharma Comprehension, Dao Attainment, Dao Realization

Upon hearing Hongjun say this, everyone yearned even more for the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.

But at this moment, Hongjun suddenly added, "After I became a Saint, I considered how difficult it was to attain the Primordial Golden Immortal realm, with all manner of methods scattered and disordered. Thus, I resolved to sort them out and establish a proper path."

"In the end, drawing upon my own experience of becoming a Saint, I created the Three Corpses Severing Method."

"Three Corpses Severing?" Everyone was utterly bewildered upon hearing this.

Hongjun said, "The so-called Three Corpses Severing means using Innate Spiritual Treasures to entrust and sever one's benevolent thoughts, malicious thoughts, and obsessions. With every corpse severed, one's cultivation doubles. Once all Three Corpses have been severed, one's cultivation and mana will approach that of a Saint without limit. At that point, once the opportunity arrives, one may realize the Dao and become a Saint."

Become a Saint? Everyone's eyes had already lit up when they heard that severing each corpse could double one's cultivation.

When they heard that the Three Corpses Severing Method could ultimately allow one to realize the Dao and become a Saint, they were instantly thrilled.

After all, who did not want to become a Saint like Hongjun?

And now, there was such a method that could lead to sainthood—the Three Corpses Severing Method?

Hongjun looked at them and shook his head. "Quiet yourselves and listen to me."

Only then did everyone calm down, though their gazes toward Hongjun on the platform remained filled with longing and fervor.

Hongjun said, "Because the Three Corpses Severing Method requires Innate Spiritual Treasures to entrust one's obsessions, those who break through using this method are generally far weaker than Primordial Golden Immortals who break through their shackles entirely through their own strength. Therefore, I call the realm attained through the Three Corpses Severing Method 'Quasi-Saint.'"

"Quasi-Saint?" Everyone repeated this new term, already gaining some understanding from Hongjun's words.

Those who relied on their own efforts to break through were Primordial Golden Immortals. Those who used Hongjun's Three Corpses Severing Method were Quasi-Saints.

Between the two, Primordial Golden Immortals who broke through solely by their own strength were somewhat stronger than Quasi-Saints who relied on Innate Spiritual Treasures to entrust their obsessions.

But overall, the two belonged to the same realm.

"Teacher, above Quasi-Saint is Saint?" one great cultivator could not help asking.

"Yes, yet no."

Hongjun nodded, then shook his head. Before anyone could ask further, he explained, "A Saint is not truly a realm, but a Karmic Rank beneath the Heavenly Dao. This rank is the ultimate station of heaven and earth, supreme and noble beyond compare. A Saint is, in truth, an emissary of the Heavenly Dao, conveying its words and wielding its authority."

Everyone's ears rang as they finally understood what extraordinary beings Saints truly were.

No wonder Hongjun had displayed such terrifying might and brought forth such boundless celestial phenomena when he became a Saint.

For a time, everyone nearly forgot Hongjun's statement that Saint was not a realm. Their breathing grew rapid, their faces flushed red, and all of them were filled with longing to become Saints.

"Alas!"

Seeing them like this, Hongjun could not help sighing softly. Fortunately, when his gaze swept over the crowd below, he saw that although most were wildly excited, a small number still had clear eyes and remained calm.

Hongjun raised a hand and pressed down lightly. An invisible pressure immediately cooled the atmosphere within Zixiao Palace.

Once everyone's attention had gathered upon him again, Hongjun continued, "The Three Corpses Severing Method is a path that leads directly to Hunyuan. As one's benevolent thoughts, malicious thoughts, and obsessions are severed in turn, one's state of mind will continually improve and gradually reach perfection. Once all Three Corpses have been severed, one's state of mind will also reach perfection. With a lucid heart untouched by external things and unbound by karma, comprehending the Great Dao will naturally yield twice the result with half the effort."

"Moreover, Three Corpses Severing has another benefit. Every corpse that is severed will become an existence similar to one's own avatar. Naturally, the finer the Innate Spiritual Treasure used, the stronger the avatar produced will usually be. These Three Corpses Avatars are independent of the true body, yet remain connected to one another and are controlled by the true body. After being severed, their strength can continue to grow, and they may even cultivate during ordinary times."

Upon hearing this, everyone yearned for the Three Corpses Severing Method Hongjun had described even more.

But Hongjun's tone shifted again. "However, all of this is merely incidental. Once all Three Corpses have been severed, the true body's cultivation will infinitely approach that of a Saint."

"But infinitely approaching is still only approaching. There remains an enormous gulf between it and a Saint, and crossing that step is no easy matter. Therefore, after severing the Three Corpses, one must also reunite the Three Corpses."

"Three Corpses Reunification?" Everyone was confused once more.

If they were to be reunited, then why sever them in the first place?

As though seeing the doubts in their hearts, Hongjun explained directly, "Three Corpses Severing is done to clearly understand one's own obsessions. Once those obsessions are removed, the state of mind reaches perfection, the heart aligns with the Dao, and comprehending the Dao becomes easier!"

"But Three Corpses Reunification is a matter of 'breaking before establishing.' As the saying goes, 'Without breaking, there can be no establishment; only after breaking can one establish anew.' Once all Three Corpses have been severed, one's potential may be said to have been excavated to its limit. Under such circumstances, the Three Corpses Avatars severed earlier become crucial. If one can successfully reunite them with oneself, one can break through the bottleneck once more, surpass one's own limits, and reach true Hunyuan. That is Dao Realization!"

After Hongjun finished speaking, everyone finally understood the different meanings of Three Corpses Severing and Three Corpses Reunification.

Hongjun sighed and continued, "Earlier, I said that Saint is not a realm, but merely a Karmic Rank beneath the Heavenly Dao. Also, before I summarized the Three Corpses Severing Method, the realm above Great Principle Golden Immortal was called Primordial Golden Immortal. I also said that after reuniting the Three Corpses, one reaches Hunyuan. In that case, you should understand that above Primordial Golden Immortal—or rather, above Quasi-Saint—there is another realm. This realm is called Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal."

"Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal?" Everyone was stunned again.

Yuanshi, seated on a prayer cushion near the front, could not help asking, "Teacher, you said that Saint is not a realm, while Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal is. Then what profound mysteries does this Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal realm contain?"

Hongjun explained, "Great Principle Golden Immortal is the Realm of Dharma Comprehension. Primordial Golden Immortal and Quasi-Saint are the Realm of Dao Attainment. Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal, however, is the Realm of Dao Realization."

"A Great Principle Golden Immortal comprehends countless laws, but has yet to form his own Dao. Thus, he must go a step further and combine the various laws he has comprehended into one. This is Primordial Golden Immortal and Quasi-Saint, called Dao Attainment—obtaining one's own Dao. Yet after obtaining one's own Dao, one must still realize it. After Dao Realization, one becomes a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal."