Hong Yun Became a Disciple, and Li Yi Set His Sights on the West's Sage Position

Feeling the gazes of the four disciples below, Hongjun was troubled at first.

But he was a Peak Quasi-Saint who had lived since the days of chaos, and his resolve was firm. In a flash, he found his answer.

"Fools!"

"The Three Corpses Severing Method is the path I walked myself. How could it be a dead end?"

As he spoke, Hongjun feigned a frown.

"Have you been listening to that Heaven-Earth Daoist's lies?"

"He deceived every one of you!"

"Haah. I had intended to tell you later, but now I shall explain everything."

"I told you before that there are three paths to Sagehood!"

"First, becoming a Sage through laws. Second, through the Three Corpses Severing Method. And last, through Heavenly Dao Merit!"

"In terms of strength, laws rank first, Three Corpses Severing second, and Heavenly Dao Merit last!"

"But do you know that the Law Dao is the path of Demon Gods born in chaos? Their bodies are innately suited to it, yet even among them, those who became Sages were few!"

"If it was so difficult even for Demon Gods, do you Primordial Divines believe you can match them?"

The four below fell silent.

Seeing this, Hongjun smiled.

"Thus, becoming a Sage through the Law Dao may seem powerful, but it is a dead end!"

"As for the Three Corpses Severing Method, it is the path I cultivated with supreme treasures. How could it be wrong? The Heaven-Earth Daoist does not know the method. He merely saw that its final step was Three Corpses Unity and concluded that the Spirit Treasures used must share the same origin!"

"That is nothing but baseless speculation! Any Spirit Treasures can be used to achieve Three Corpses Unity!"

"Of course, when I taught you the Three Corpses Severing Method, I did not expect you to attain the Dao through it!"

"Not because the method is flawed, but because you lack the talent!"

Knowing that a string of outright lies would only make them more suspicious, Hongjun mixed one falsehood among nine truths.

After all, he alone possessed the Three Corpses Severing Method. He got to say how it worked!

And if they failed? That would not be because he had held anything back. These disciples simply lacked the insight!

The four were stunned by his last words.

There's nothing wrong with Master's method? But he thinks we lack the talent? Then why teach it to us?

Hongjun continued.

"The key to your Sagehood lies in the final step!"

"Though you lack the talent for Three Corpses Unity, the Three Corpses Severing Method can swiftly bring all four of you to the Peak Quasi-Saint realm!"

"Then, once you find your Sage Destiny, you can become Sages through Heavenly Dao Merit! You will be truly free in the Primordial World. Even if heaven and earth perish, you will endure!"

Yuanshi frowned slightly and spoke first.

"We could still attempt to become Sages through the Three Corpses Severing Method. Why must we rely on Merit?"

He had always been proud. If the path of laws was strongest, Three Corpses Severing came next, and Merit ranked last, he instinctively resisted becoming a Sage through Merit.

Hongjun shook his head.

"Do you know that the number of Sage Positions under the Heavenly Dao is fixed?"

"At most, six beings of the Primordial World can become Sages!"

"Each new Sage leaves one fewer Sage Position!"

"Once the sixth becomes a Sage, everyone else will remain trapped at the Quasi-Saint realm, no matter how great their fortune or whether they possess the talent of a Demon God!"

Hongjun had deduced this himself. He had not lied to them.

He and Qiankun had been born in chaos and were not constrained by the Heavenly Dao. But for beings of the Primordial World under its rule, there were at most six Sage Positions.

Understanding flashed in the four disciples' eyes!

So every new Sage means one fewer position?

If that's true, Dao Ancestor Hongjun really is looking out for us!

We should reach Peak Quasi-Saint through the Three Corpses Severing Method as soon as possible, then become Sages through Merit!

If we cling to the Law Dao, we might still be Mid-stage Quasi-Saints when others claim every Sage Position!

Having made up their minds, the four bowed respectfully.

"We disciples were foolish and let Qiankun's lies cloud our judgment! Please forgive us, Master!"

Seeing that he had convinced them, Hongjun nodded slightly and breathed a sigh of relief.

In truth, each of them was bound to tremendous Karma. Unless the Heavenly Secrets changed drastically, the Sage Positions were practically theirs!

He had taught them the Three Corpses Severing Method precisely because he wanted their foundations to be weaker, lest they compete with him for the position of Heavenly Dao Representative after attaining the Dao...

Li Yi had no idea Hongjun had talked Yuanshi and the others around again. Even if he had known, he would not have cared.

He had spread the warning only to keep those who had yet to become Quasi-Saints from taking that path and owing Hongjun Karma.

The number of Heavenly Dao Sage Positions was fixed. Li Yi did not want to become a Sage through Merit himself and limit his potential, but he could arrange for others to do so.

Hongjun only knew that the four were Sages chosen by the Heavenly Dao. He could not calculate how they would attain Sagehood.

Li Yi was different. He knew in advance how they would become Sages, so he could seize those opportunities first!

Even the Heavenly Dao Sages would be people he had chosen himself!

In the blink of an eye, Li Yi had finished teaching the paths to Sagehood!

As everyone below bowed respectfully, Hong Yun stepped forward!

He stopped below the Jade Platform, a little behind Tongtian and Nuwa, his expression reverent.

"I, Hong Yun, owe my attainment of Primordial Unity to the Dao Ancestor's teachings!"

"I humbly ask the Dao Ancestor to accept me as his disciple!"

He had always been kindhearted and knew how to repay a favor!

He owed Li Yi so much that he decided to enter his school outright.

The others looked between them, then turned envious eyes on Hong Yun.

Li Yi laughed heartily.

"Good! From today onward, you are my third disciple!"

He had already chosen who would receive the Merit of the Human Sect and the Elucidation Sect. Only the West's Merit remained unclaimed!

Now that he thought about it, Hong Yun, that kindhearted soul, was the perfect person to send west!

What faces will those two bald men, Zhunti and Jieyin, make when they return home and find someone has taken everything?

As the thought crossed his mind, Li Yi swept an unobtrusive glance over Zhunti's and Jieyin's incarnations below.

Neither incarnation noticed. Instead, they watched Hong Yun with a sense of superiority.

From Hongjun's words, they believed they now understood the path to Sagehood. They thought little of Hong Yun, and were even beginning to look down on Li Yi!

Hong Yun has good roots. He gave up his seat for us before, so he has an affinity with the West. Once we attain the Dao, we'll take him in as a protector!

The Heaven-Earth Daoist has good roots too, and he helped clear up a few doubts for us today. Once we attain the Dao, we'll take him in as a protector as well...

Hong Yun and Li Yi were not the only ones. The two had secretly set their sights on quite a few people—and even Dharma Treasures—present!

They could not help it. They had been poor for too long!

With everyone having witnessed Li Yi accept Hong Yun, this Dao Discussion formally came to an end.

After the others departed, Li Yi summoned Tongtian, Nuwa, and Hong Yun before him.