Chapter 506
Yuan Feng Breaks Through to the Hunyuan Daluo Realm! Dao Ancestor Spits Blood in Anger
Deep within the Purple Cloud Palace, chaotic energy surged, permeated with Daoist rhymes.
Yuanshi Tianzun sat cross-legged on the Jade Purity Futon, his face ashen. The Three Treasures Jade Ruyi floated in front of him, its jade light flowing, yet it could not conceal the fine cracks on its surface.
That crack, like a mark of shame branded on his heart, constantly reminded him of the crushing defeat he suffered not long ago on the summit of Kunlun Mountain!
"Reaching the Heavens... The Primordial Chaos of the Sword Dao..."
A cold glint flashed in Yuanshi's eyes, and humiliation surged within him.
"Unorthodox methods! Weak foundation! It's nothing more than a stroke of luck, a mere lucky break at the brink of death! How can it compare to the orthodox path of Pangu, the path of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment?!"
He forcibly suppressed his surging anger, his gaze sweeping over Laozi (who had reached the third level of Quasi-Saint) beside him, who was meditating with his eyes closed and whose aura was becoming increasingly ethereal, and then over Jieyin and Zhunti (both of whom were Quasi-Saints) sitting in the distance with their eyes closed and whose bodies were surrounded by faint Buddhist light.
And further away, with their deep auras and sharp eyes, were Di Jun, Tai Yi, and Bai Ze (the three giants of the Demon Court: Tai Yi, a Primordial Golden Immortal, and Di Jun and Bai Ze, Quasi-Saints).
Throughout the entire Zixiao Palace, three thousand Zixiao guests gathered together, their auras varying in strength, yet all carrying a yearning for the path of the Primordial Saint!
The atmosphere inside the palace was far from peaceful. Invisible barriers between factions were clearly visible!
Celestial Court Faction: Dongwanggong sat in the front row, surrounded by dozens of Daluo Golden Immortals. He wore a magnificent purple-gold Daoist robe, its precious light shimmering, and his eyes were disdainful, carrying a reserved arrogance.
His gaze occasionally swept towards the direction of the Demon Court, carrying undisguised scrutiny and barely perceptible hostility.
The Demon Court faction: Di Jun, Tai Yi, and Bai Ze sat side by side, their auras deep and concentrated.
Di Jun's expression was calm, his eyes deep, as if he were deducing something.
Taiyi closed his eyes to meditate, the Chaos Golden Bell hovering above his head, emanating an aura that suppressed all heavens.
Bai Ze gently waved his feather fan, his wise gaze sweeping across the entire room with a solemn expression.
Behind them, the auras of demon gods such as Ji Meng and Ying Zhao were fierce, subtly confronting the Celestial Court's forces.
Western camp: Jieyin and Zhunti are located in the corner, their faces showing suffering, their bodies radiating Buddha's light. They appear low-key, yet they form a unique entity.
The Three Pure Ones faction: Lao Tzu sits cross-legged at the head of the cloud bed, his aura serene and effortless.
Yuan Shi's face was gloomy.
It reached the heavens... but there was no trace of it.
Other powerful beings, such as Nuwa, Fuxi, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi, and Kunpeng, either sat alone or in groups of two or three, each occupying a region.
The factions are clearly divided! Especially between the Celestial Court and the Demon Court, the invisible hostility and competition have almost materialized!
Dongwanggong tried to provoke him several times, but was deterred by Dijun's unfathomable gaze.
The entire Zixiao Palace was shrouded in a tense atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing.
On the vast and desolate land, countless cultivators who failed to reach the Purple Cloud Palace felt something amiss and looked up at the direction of chaos, discussing among themselves.
"The Three Lectures at Zixiao Palace! They're finally about to begin!"
"I heard this lecture is about the Way of the Sages! Heavens! If I could listen, maybe I could..."
"Stop dreaming! The path of the sage is profound and unfathomable! Unless you are at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, you can't even get close to the threshold! Let's just focus on our cultivation."
"Proving the Dao through the laws is too difficult! I still hope that the Dao Ancestor can explain the Dao of the Sage. Perhaps... we can also walk the path of severing the three corpses?"
"Do you think... that Demon Ancestor Rahu will go?"
"Impossible! The Dao Ancestor is preaching; how could he allow a demon to defile this sacred land? Besides, Rahu has always been mysterious; he might not even show himself..."
Just as everyone was discussing it—
Deep within the Purple Cloud Palace, an immense and overwhelming pressure, seemingly representing the will of the primordial Heavenly Dao, suddenly descended!
Instantly silencing all the commotion and undercurrents within the palace!
The three thousand Purple Cloud guests were shaken to their core and all looked up!
On the high platform, a figure in an ancient gray Taoist robe appeared silently. It was none other than the Dao Ancestor Hongjun!
Hongjun's gaze was calm as still water as he swept over all living beings below. His voice was not loud, yet it was like the imperial decree of the Great Dao, clearly resounding deep within the consciousness of every Zixiao guest, penetrating the barrier of Zixiao Palace, and spreading throughout the primordial world:
"The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Evolution is forty-nine, and one is hidden away. Above the Primordial Chaos, there is the Sage."
"The way of the sage transcends the mundane, surpasses the laws, wields power, and unites with the truth of the Dao."
"This lecture will be to you the teachings of the sages."
"The Way of the Sage!"
"Indeed, this is the way of the sage!"
"We are deeply grateful to the Dao Ancestor for his compassionate teachings!"
The Purple Cloud Palace instantly erupted in excitement!
The three thousand Purple Cloud Guests, regardless of their faction or cultivation level, were all overjoyed and unable to contain their excitement! The Path of the Sage!
This is the supreme path to the pinnacle of the primordial world! It is the ultimate goal they have always dreamed of!
Although the beings of the primordial world could not personally attend the Daoist temple, the imperial edict of the Great Dao still stirred their hearts and minds, filling them with excitement!
"The Way of the Sage! The Dao Ancestor has begun expounding on the Way of the Sage!"
"Unfortunately...we will not have the chance to hear it..."
"Alas, proving one's Dao through the laws is too difficult, and the method of severing the three corpses requires a primordial spiritual treasure to rely on... This path of the sage is probably beyond our reach..."
"To hear the Dao Ancestor's teachings is already an immense blessing! Quickly! Calm your mind and contemplate! You might gain something from it!"
As Hongjun's voice faded, strange phenomena appeared outside Zixiao Palace!
Above the nine heavens, the purple aura stretched for thirty thousand miles, like a celestial river rolling back and falling from the purple sky!
Within the Dao Palace, golden lotuses bloomed everywhere, celestial flowers rained down, and a strange fragrance filled the air! Celestial music resounded, and the Great Dao echoed!
The entire Zixiao Palace seemed to have transformed into the source of the Great Dao and an ocean of laws!
Hongjun sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, his eyes slightly closed, then opened again.
His gaze seemed to pierce through endless time and space, landing on the mysterious origin of the Heavenly Dao.
Without uttering any superfluous words, he spoke directly, his voice like an exposition of the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, pointing straight to the heart of the Dao:
“A sage is a Primordial Golden Immortal. However, not all Primordial Golden Immortals are sages.”
“A sage is one who has the approval of the Way of Heaven, holds the authority of the Way of Heaven, acts on behalf of Heaven, and is in harmony with the Way. Therefore, he is immortal and indestructible, and his virtue is imperishable through countless eons.”
There are three methods to attain sainthood.
"Firstly, prove the Dao with force! Break the shackles of the Heavenly Dao with supreme power and transcend it! This is the method of Pangu, but he exhausted his power to create the world and failed to succeed. This method can only be done by those with great perseverance, great opportunity, and great foundation, and is close to a dead end."
"Secondly, sever the three corpses to prove the Dao! Sever the corpses of good thoughts, evil thoughts, and obsessions, entrust them to the innate spiritual treasure, clarify the Dao heart, unite the three corpses into one, attract the approval of the Heavenly Dao, and let down the Primordial Purple Qi. The primordial spirit entrusts itself to the void of the Heavenly Dao, thus becoming a Heavenly Dao Saint!"
This method, transmitted by me, is the open path that all living beings in the primordial world can follow!
"Thirdly, merit proves the Dao! By performing immeasurable merit, one gains the favor of the Heavenly Dao, which bestows immeasurable merit. With the power of merit, one can forcefully break through the shackles of the Heavenly Dao and become a merit saint! However, merit saints are most deeply bound by the Heavenly Dao, and their strength is the lowest of the three methods."
Hongjun's voice was calm and profound, clearly revealing the essence of the sage's way and the three paths to enlightenment to all the Zixiao guests.
Every word contains the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, and the profound mysteries of the Great Dao!
"The Primordial Purple Qi is formed from the origin of the Heavenly Dao and is the foundation for becoming a saint! Only by obtaining it can one gain the approval of the Heavenly Dao, entrust one's primordial spirit to the void, and achieve an immortal and indestructible body!"
"However, the Primordial Purple Qi is finite, and under the Heavenly Dao, the number of Saintly positions is limited! Only those with great opportunities, great fortune, and great merit can obtain them!"
These words were like a thunderclap!
All the Purple Cloud Guests were shaken to their core! The number of Saintly Positions is limited! The Primordial Purple Qi is finite!
This means that not all who hear the word have the opportunity to become saints!
This...this is naked competition! It's the beginning of a battle for the Great Dao!
Di Jun, Tai Yi, and Bai Ze's eyes instantly became incredibly sharp!
The Eastern King was breathing heavily, and a burning ambition burst forth in his eyes!
Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, their expressions of suffering deepening, yet also revealing a resolute determination!
Nuwa, Fuxi, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi and other top-level experts were all deeply moved and began to frantically deduce their own opportunities!
Hongjun's voice continued, beginning to elaborate on the essence of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment: how to unite the three corpses, how to trigger the Heavenly Dao's response, and how to refine the Primordial Purple Qi...
Every detail contains profound mysteries, pointing directly to the core of the sacred path!
As he preached, the Taoist aura within the Purple Cloud Palace grew increasingly intense! The wondrous phenomenon of golden lotus flowers in the heavens became even more dazzling!
Countless Zixiao guests fell into a deep state of enlightenment! Some showed ecstatic joy, as if they had gained some insights.
Some people had furrowed brows and were struggling.
Someone's aura is fluctuating, showing faint signs of a breakthrough!
Above Di Jun's head, the illusory images of the Hetu and Luoshu swirled as he frantically deduced the compatibility between the method of severing the three corpses and the Zhou Tian Star Array. The Taiyi Chaos Golden Bell vibrated gently, resonating with the origin of chaos and the true meaning of the holy path.
Bai Ze waved his feather fan, and countless profound runes appeared and disappeared in his sea of consciousness, deciphering the mysteries of the sacred path...
The pure Yang energy around Dongwanggong surged, and the Pure Yang Mirror shone brightly, attempting to integrate the true meaning of the sacred path into himself.
Behind Jieyin and Zhunti, Buddha's light shone everywhere, and the illusory image of the twelve-petaled golden lotus floated and swayed, mutually confirming the teachings of Hongjun and their own great vows...
The entire Zixiao Palace was engulfed in an unprecedented frenzy of enlightenment!
The profound gate to the path of the sages slowly opened to these top beings of the primordial world as Hongjun narrated it!
The future landscape of the primordial world was quietly laid out in this grand pronouncement!
Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, the Daoist aura was as vast as the sea, heavenly flowers rained down, and golden lotuses covered the ground.
Hongjun Daozu sat cross-legged on a cloud bed, his voice like the imperial edict of the Great Dao, expounding the supreme mystery of severing the three corpses to attain the Dao:
"Severing one corpse elevates one to the early stage of Quasi-Saint. Severing two corpses elevates one to the middle stage of Quasi-Saint."
The three corpses are completely severed, achieving the perfection of Quasi-Sainthood. The three corpses merge into one, the Dao Heart becomes clear, drawing upon the Heavenly Dao, which descends with Primordial Purple Qi! The Primordial Spirit resides in the void of the Heavenly Dao, merging with the Dao! From this point on, the Heavenly Dao is indestructible, and the Saint is immortal! This is… the Heavenly Dao Saint!
Every word struck the hearts of the three thousand Purple Cloud Guests like a heavy hammer!
Severing the Corpse! Merging the Three Corpses into One! Primordial Purple Qi! The Primordial Spirit Entrusted to the Heavenly Dao! Immortal and Indestructible!
This clear path, this unparalleled allure, stirred the hearts of all the great beings, making them unable to restrain themselves!
As Hongjun's sermon deepened, strange phenomena reappeared in the void outside Zixiao Palace!
Boundless auspicious clouds of merit appeared out of nowhere, covering an area of five million acres! Their golden light shone brightly, illuminating the chaos!
It was even bigger than the previous two sermons combined!
The vast golden light of merit poured down like a celestial river, crashing down and completely merging into Hongjun's body!
At the same time, wisps of pure fortune rose from the bodies of the three thousand Zixiao guests and gathered around Hongjun!
With the blessing of this massive amount of merit and fortune, Hongjun's aura became even more profound and vast, as if it had completely merged with the Heavenly Dao!
The oppressive aura of a Saint at the Third Heaven level hinted at a potential breakthrough!
All living beings in the primordial world were terrified!
"Five million acres of merit?! Heavens! The Dao Ancestor's merits are immeasurable!"
"Gathering the fortune of three thousand Purple Heavens! Dao Ancestor... is he about to completely control the Primordial World?!"
"The Way of the Sage! The Primordial Spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Way! Immortal and indestructible!"
This is true transcendence!
"Envious! So envious! If I could hear the Dao Ancestor preach, I would die without regret!"
People looked up at the five million acres of auspicious clouds of merit, their eyes filled with endless envy and awe.
In their hearts, Hongjun Daozu was already the supreme being of the primordial world!
However, just as everyone was watching and the Dao Ancestor's majesty reached its peak—
Sizzle—!
A jet-black rift, seemingly capable of swallowing all light, tore apart the dazzling auspicious clouds of merit outside the Zixiao Palace without warning!
A cold, domineering, and chaotic demonic figure slowly emerged from the crack!
It is a projection of the Demon Ancestor Rahu!
"Hmph! Old man Hongjun!"
Luo Hou's icy, piercing voice, filled with endless mockery, boomed like thunder, instantly overpowering the Daoist chants within Zixiao Palace and resounding throughout the primordial world!
"You speak so eloquently, yet why don't you mention the fatal flaw of your method of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment?!"
"Drawbacks?!"
"There are drawbacks to attaining enlightenment by severing the three corpses?!"
"The Demon Ancestor Rahu?!"
He...he actually dared to question the Dao Ancestor?!
"A fatal flaw? What do you mean?!"
The primordial beings were instantly thrown into an uproar! Like a calm lake tossed with a stone, a colossal wave was unleashed!
Everyone was stunned by Luo Hou's sudden question!
Questioning the Dao Ancestor? Questioning this seemingly perfect path of the sage? Has this Demon Ancestor gone mad?!
Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, the three thousand Purple Cloud Guests were also awakened from their deep meditation!
Di Jun, Tai Yi, Dong Wang Gong, Jie Yin, Zhun Ti...
All the top experts' expressions changed drastically, and they looked at the demonic figure outside the palace with surprise and uncertainty!
Hongjun sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, and for the first time, an extremely subtle ripple appeared on his usually calm and composed face!
That wasn't anger, but rather... a chilling feeling of having one's secret exposed!
His gaze was like lightning, piercing through the palace walls, locking onto Rahu's projection, his mind racing.
"How could Rahu know?!"
This is my greatest secret! The method of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment has hidden drawbacks that are difficult for anyone but a Primordial Saint to detect!
How could a mere remnant soul of a chaotic demon god, clinging to life, know this?! Could it be... he's bluffing me?!
Hongjun was filled with doubt and surprise, but his face remained calm, and his voice was indifferent.
"Rahu, your demonic and heretical words mislead and confuse the masses. The method of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment was created by me and directly points to the holy path. How could it have any drawbacks? Stop talking nonsense here and disturbing the sacred space!"
"nonsense?"
A chilling sarcasm erupted from Rahu's projected crimson eyes.
"Hongjun! Stop with your hypocritical tricks! The method of severing the three corpses that you passed down may seem like a grand and righteous path, but it actually harbors evil intentions! It is a... utterly dead end!"
His voice suddenly rose, like a sharp sword piercing Hongjun, and even more so, piercing the hearts and minds of all the Zixiao guests:
"The primordial spirit resides in the void of the Heavenly Dao? Immortal and indestructible? Hahaha! How laughable! How pathetic! How lamentable!"
"When your primordial spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, you are completely handing over your lifeline to the Heavenly Dao's control! From then on, your life and death, your will, are all in the hands of the Heavenly Dao!"
"If Heaven decrees your birth, you are born! If Heaven decrees your death, you die! So-called immortality is nothing more than a slightly more advanced puppet under the sway of Heaven!"
"Sever the Three Corpses! Sever the Three Corpses! What you're severing isn't just good thoughts, evil thoughts, and obsessions! It's severing the very foundation of your own Great Dao! It's severing your possibility of transcending the Heavenly Dao! It's severing your... hope of becoming your true 'self'!"
"The Three Corpses Unite as One? Gaining the approval of the Heavenly Dao? Ha! That's just the final step the Heavenly Dao will take to put shackles around your neck! From now on, you will be nothing more than a pawn in the operation of the Heavenly Dao! The fuel for the Great Calamity! You will have no freedom left!"
"Hongjun! Your method of severing the three corpses to prove the Dao is called proving the Dao, but in reality it is... self-binding! It is a path of fraud that turns all living beings in the prehistoric world into puppets of the Heavenly Dao!"
Every word Rahu uttered was like a thunderclap from the heavens, exploding in the hearts of all living beings in the primordial world!
Every word carries a shocking impact!
The primordial spirit being entrusted to the Heavenly Dao = becoming a puppet of the Heavenly Dao?
Severing the Three Corpses = Severing the Foundation of the Great Dao = Self-Binding?
=A saint who has attained enlightenment = reduced to a pawn of the Heavenly Dao?
This...this revolutionary statement left all living beings dumbfounded!
They never imagined that the seemingly perfect path of sainthood concealed such a terrifying truth!
Is this...is this real?!
"No...it can't be, right? How could the Dao Ancestor..."
"Demon Ancestor Rahu...is he slandering Dao Ancestor?"
"But...what he said...seems to make some sense..."
"Entrusting one's primordial spirit to the Heavenly Dao... it does sound like entrusting one's life to someone else..."
“Severing one’s own foundation…this…”
Across the primordial world, discussions arose! Doubt, fear, confusion, wavering... all sorts of emotions sprouted in the hearts of all living beings! For the first time, the supreme image of Dao Ancestor Hongjun showed cracks in the hearts of countless beings!
Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, it was deathly silent! You could hear a pin drop!
Di Jun's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he frantically deduced the River Chart and Luo Book!
The Taiyi Chaos Golden Bell vibrated incessantly! Bai Ze's feather fan stopped, his brows furrowed!
The Eastern King Duke's face turned deathly pale, his eyes filled with astonishment and doubt! Jieyin and Zhunti showed signs of suffering, their faces radiating Buddhist light!
All the guests of Zixiao were so shocked by Luo Hou's outrageous remarks that they lost their composure!
They instinctively looked at Hongjun on the high platform, seeking answers, but only saw a cold and indifferent face!
Hongjun's fingers, hidden in his sleeve, curled slightly, and the Jade Disc of Creation vibrated violently deep within his primordial spirit! Luo Hou... actually knew!
And they know it so clearly!
How can this be? !
His heart was filled with murderous intent, and he was almost ready to do whatever it took to completely obliterate this disruptive demon projection!
But he forcefully suppressed his impulse, his voice as cold as ice. (End of Chapter)