The Two Sages of the West attained the Dao one after another, like two resounding slaps viciously striking the faces of the Three Pure Ones on Kunlun Mountain—especially Primordial Lord of Heaven, who had always cared most about his pride.
The atmosphere on Kunlun Mountain was oppressive to the extreme, a mixture of towering fury, utter unwillingness, and a desperate resolve to prove themselves.
As the foremost of the Three Pure Ones, Sage Laozi possessed the most rounded and profound Dao heart, yet even he could no longer remain completely calm.
He stood before Jade Void Palace, his gaze seeming to pierce through endless space and behold the Primordial World, magnificent in its myriad manifestations yet roiling with hidden currents after the Two Sages of the West attained the Dao.
"We are Pangu's Orthodox Lineage. We inherited the merit of opening heaven and hold Primordial Violet Qi in our hands. How could we possibly fall behind others?"
Laozi's voice was low, yet it carried an unquestionable firmness. "Establishing a sect to become a Sage is imperative.
"However, our Dao must differ from that of The West. It must suit ourselves and elucidate the origin of the Great Dao!"
He did not travel through the Primordial World in search of an opportunity as he had in the original course of events, for the intense urgency and his determination to prove himself—
—had made external seeking unnecessary. He directly found the foundation for establishing a sect within the most fundamental Dao of his own being!
Laozi stepped out of Kunlun Mountain and hovered above the nine heavens. Taiqing Immortal Light swirled around him as yin and yang qi naturally circulated, evolving into the image of Taiji.
Facing all living beings of the Primordial World, his majestic Dao Sound resounded through the cosmos like a Heavenly Edict:
"Heavenly Dao above, I, Laozi, have perceived that the Great Dao is nameless, nurturing all things. Yet living beings seek tirelessly without understanding their roots.
"I have observed the principle of Taiji: yin and yang divide; one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three gives birth to all things! All things bear yin and embrace yang, blending their qi into harmony, until they finally return to one. The Dao follows nature!"
As he expounded, a vast Taiji Dao diagram unfolded above his head. The yin-yang fish chased one another in ceaseless motion, giving rise to Earth, Water, Fire, Wind.
Mountains, rivers, vegetation, birds, beasts, insects, fish, and even the phantoms of the myriad races of the Primordial World evolved within it. In the end, every image collapsed back into one, returning to the Taiji origin point of Chaos and the Limitless.
The profundity of his Dao essence pointed directly to the fundamental laws of the birth and destruction of the universe, and the reincarnation of all things!
"I hereby establish a sect, named—the Dao! The Taiji Diagram shall be its treasure of suppression, stabilizing the sect's Fortune!"
Laozi brought forth the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram. The scroll expanded with the wind, transforming into a golden bridge that spanned heaven and earth. It fixed Earth, Water, Fire, Wind in place and drew in an immense, boundless tide of Mystic Gate Fortune!
"The Daoist Sect shall elucidate the supreme principles of the Heavenly Dao, follow nature and nonaction, cultivate the self and nourish one's nature, and pursue that ultimate Dao realm of unified Chaos and unfettered Transcendence!"
Rumble—!
The Heavenly Dao responded! Boundless Mysterious Yellow Merit, in no way inferior to that bestowed when The West established its sect, descended from the nine heavens and poured into Laozi's body!
The Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda above his head also radiated brilliant light, helping him absorb the merit.
Under the combined effect of the vast merit and Primordial Violet Qi, Laozi's aura instantly shattered its barriers. A Sage's pressure, tranquil and effortless yet commanding all laws, erupted with a thunderous force!
"Today, I, Laozi, establish the Dao Sect and illuminate the Great Dao. My merit is complete, and I have attained the Dao to become a Sage! From this day onward, I am the Grand Pure Virtue Heavenly Lord!"
Another Sage had been added to the Primordial World! Moreover, he was the Grand Pure Saint with the firmest foundation, having established his sect through elucidating the origin of the Great Dao!
Before the phenomena had fully dispersed, Primordial Lord of Heaven and Lord of the Heavens, who had long been unable to restrain themselves, acted almost at the same time atop Kunlun Mountain!
Primordial Lord of Heaven flew forth, his expression solemn and majestic. Holding the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, he proclaimed in a clear voice:
"Heavenly Dao above, I, Primordial, have perceived that the Heavenly Dao possesses order and all things have their proper rules. Living beings must understand rites and obey the law, strictly adhering to the proper principles!
"I hereby establish a sect, named—Elucidation! To elucidate is to make clear! It shall explain the Heavenly Dao, comply with heaven and answer the needs of mankind, educate all living beings, and distinguish right from wrong! The Pangu Banner shall suppress its Fortune!"
The Pangu Banner fluttered fiercely, its Chaos sword qi tearing apart space and displaying supreme authority.
Heavenly Dao Merit descended. Primordial Lord of Heaven successfully attained the Dao, becoming the Jade Pure Saint and taking the title Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Lord!
Lord of the Heavens laughed heartily. His Qingping Sword pointed straight at the heavens, its sword qi soaring into the sky, where killing intent and Life Force coexisted.
"Heavenly Dao above, I, Tongtian, have perceived that the Heavenly Dao is ever-changing, with one escape remaining. All living beings possess a Thread of Life!
"I hereby establish a sect, named—Interception! To intercept is to seize! It shall seize this thread of heavenly opportunity and fight for the lives of all living beings! There shall be education without distinction; ten thousand immortals shall come in homage! The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation shall suppress its Fortune!"
The phantoms of the Four Immortal Slaying Swords stretched across the sky. Killing Intent intertwined with Dao essence, drawing down Heavenly Dao Merit. Lord of the Heavens attained the Dao and became the Upper Pure Saint, taking the title Upper Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Lord!
Thus, Pangu's Three Pure Ones established the Dao, Elucidation, and Interception sects one after another on the same day. With supreme merit and Primordial Violet Qi, all three attained the Dao and became Sages!
Heaven and earth in the Primordial World celebrated them, with phenomena continuing without end. Their momentum even surpassed that of the Two Sages of the West when they attained the Dao!
Grand Pure embraced nonaction, Jade Pure upheld order, and Upper Pure fought for life!
The Dao ideals of the Three Pure Saints were entirely different, yet they came from the same source. Having become Sages simultaneously, the Mystic Gate's Fortune instantly surged to its peak, firmly suppressing the newly risen Buddhist Sect in The West!
Primordial Lord of Heaven felt the vast Sage power within him, as well as the immense Fortune brought by establishing his sect and elucidating the order of the Heavenly Dao.
The gloom and jealousy born from the Two Sages of the West attaining the Dao before him were finally swept away!
He stood proudly upon the Cloud Summit, his gaze sweeping toward The West with the reserved dignity and authority of Pangu's Orthodox Lineage.
Although the process had been hastened by the provocation from The West, and Laozi had not undergone enlightenment through the Human Race, the foundation of his sect, established through his own Taiji Dao, was instead purer and more direct.
The Three Pure Ones had ultimately ascended to the Saint Positions in the way they were meant to, proclaiming to the entire Primordial World who truly stood beneath Hongjun: the Orthodox Mystic Gate and Pangu's Orthodox Lineage!
With the Three Pure Ones becoming Sages at the same time, the era of Sages in the Primordial World officially entered a brand-new chapter—an age where many Sages stood side by side and the Great Dao contended!
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