Chapter 65: Hongjun Takes Action, Authority Over the Primordial World

Houtu and Nuwa furrowed their brows in secret.

Three hundred strands of the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth to prove the fruit of a Saint of the Great Dao?

As great beings of the Primordial World, who had encountered the power of merit many times, they naturally understood the implications. A cloud of seven-colored merit could allow a supreme innate treasure to break its limits and transform into an innate supreme treasure.

Not all supreme innate treasures were capable of this; ideally, it would be something like the Twelve-Petaled Lotus of Creation, which, during the evolution of the Primordial World, was constrained by the Heavenly Dao and thus never ascended to the rank of supreme innate treasure, but possessed power that rivaled such treasures. With the aid of a seven-colored merit cloud, it could break free from the constraints of the Heavenly Dao and become a supreme innate treasure.

Treasures like the Tablet of Heavenly Dao or the Jade Scroll of the Great Dao, if they started as only upper-grade innate treasures and lacked the potential to become supreme, would not benefit even from the seven-colored merit cloud, remaining merely top-tier supreme innate treasures.

However, if it was the merit of opening the heavens—

One-tenth of such merit, that is, one thousand strands of Primordial Qi, could allow an innate supreme treasure to transform into a treasure of the Three Opening Heavens, capable of suppressing fate.

The Three Treasures of Opening Heavens, though also supreme innate treasures, stood half a grade above those promoted by the seven-colored merit cloud.

In other words,

One-tenth of the merit of opening the heavens was enough for a peak Hunyuan Divine Demon to achieve the fruit of a Saint of the Great Dao.

While the seven-colored merit cloud could only allow such a being to become a Saint of the Heavenly Dao.

The difference is only in a single word, yet the chasm between them is vast!

Three hundred strands of Primordial Qi, though powerful and perhaps comparable to the seven-colored merit cloud, could only enable the cultivator to reach sainthood of the Heavenly Dao. How could that possibly help the Three Pure Ones to achieve the true Dao?

...

Had Emperor Cang not mentioned the distinction between Saints of the Great Dao and Saints of the Heavenly Dao, even they would have been lost, unable to figure it out.

But now,

Knowing the difference between Saints of the Great Dao and Saints of the Heavenly Dao, how could they not grasp the subtlety?

“It is exactly as Emperor Cang said!” Nuwa sighed inwardly. “Ancestor Hongjun speaks of Saints of the Heavenly Dao, while the Three Pure Ones speak of Saints of the Great Dao. A hair’s breadth in error leads to a thousand miles of difference—the gap between the two is beyond measure.”

“Judging by the Three Pure Ones, they seem not to realize it, and are instead overjoyed!”

Nuwa and Houtu exchanged glances.

Though they had come to understand, neither spoke up to warn them.

---

The reason was very simple. Now, in the Primordial World, the Dao Ancestor stands alone in power. The fact that they, together with Emperor Cang, reached this conclusion through cautious discussion in the Hall of Pangu on Mount Buzhou shows that, unless absolutely necessary, who would dare provoke the Dao Ancestor directly?

If they were to step forward and expose the truth, it would be a declaration of eternal enmity with the Dao Ancestor.

Both Houtu and Nuwa were wise enough to know their place; with their current strength lacking, how could they dare meddle recklessly?

For now, each swept their own doorstep, paying no heed to the frost on the tiles of the Three Pure Ones.

...

Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke: “This sermon in the Palace of Purple Clouds will be divided into three sessions!”

“The first session lasts a thousand years. I will teach the path of immortals: refining essence to transform qi, refining qi to transform spirit, returning spirit to emptiness, earth immortals, heavenly immortals... up to the realm of Grand Luo Immortals!”

“A thousand cycles of time later, the second session begins, lasting another thousand years, covering the Grand Luo realm and the quasi-saint realm!”

“Another thousand cycles later, the third session begins, lasting a thousand years, teaching the method of attaining sainthood!”

Hongjun smiled. “Among my disciples, ten will have the opportunity to become saints. The Three Pure Ones possess great merit and fortune, being three of them.”

Originally, the matter of saintly quotas was to be revealed at the end of the Purple Clouds Palace sermon.

Yet at this moment,

In order to dispel the concerns of the Three Pure Ones and others and ensure the smooth progress of the sermon, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had to explain early and calm the hearts of the Three Pure Ones.

Hearing that the remaining merit would suffice for sainthood, the Three Pure Ones could not help but show their delight.

They then recalled that,

Though some of the merit of opening the heavens within them had been taken, it had only been integrated into the Exquisite Tower of Primordial Qi, not truly lost. In the future, it might still be accessible.

Realizing this, the Three Pure Ones immediately relaxed, no longer concerned with the present situation.

In truth, given their wisdom, they should not have been so oblivious, failing to notice the loss of their opportunity.

First, their foundation was so deep that they did not believe Hongjun would dare suppress them.

Second, the sermon in the Purple Clouds Palace was of utmost importance, and they did not think Hongjun would dare speak falsehoods here—in fact, Hongjun had not lied.

Third, the Three Pure Ones’ sainthood benefitted the growth of the Heavenly Dao and the prosperity of the Primordial World, so from the standpoint of the world’s flourishing, the Great Dao sided with Hongjun.

Overconfident, trusting too much in the order of heaven and earth, the Three Pure Ones unknowingly lost a tremendous opportunity!

Of course,

---

Even if the Twelve Ancestor Witches did not act, the Three Pure Ones would not escape their doom. Now, it was simply confirmed ahead of time.

...

At this moment, Dao Ancestor Hongjun began his lecture.

A thousand years passed in a flash.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun declared, “As the ancestor of immortals, I make a grand vow to teach all beings of the Primordial World, to impart the Dao, knowledge, and resolve doubts. Yet, dwelling in the Chaos Heaven, relying on my own strength, I cannot govern the entire Primordial Land nor teach all beings. Therefore, I plan to choose two great beings in the Primordial World to act as my agents, spreading the Dao across the world and benefiting all living things!”

Before anyone could react,

Hongjun continued: “The Eastern King was born of pure yang qi of heaven and earth, accompanied from birth by the supreme innate treasure, the Pure Yang Sword. Additionally, I bestow upon you another supreme innate treasure, the Dragon-head Staff, making you the leader of all male immortals in the world!”

“The Western Queen was born from the utmost yin qi of heaven and earth, accompanied from birth by the supreme innate treasure, the Kunlun Mirror. Furthermore, I bestow upon you the supreme innate root, the Peach Tree of Immortality, making you the leader of all female immortals in the world!”

The former as the leader of all male immortals, the latter as the leader of all female immortals.

Upon hearing Hongjun’s proclamation, all great beings in the Palace of Purple Clouds were startled.

Emperor Jun pondered inwardly: “The leader of all male immortals and the leader of all female immortals in the Primordial World—isn’t that tantamount to acting in place of the Dao Ancestor, governing all people of the world?”

“The Primordial World already has my Heavenly Court, and the Three Alliance manages the world jointly. Dao Ancestor ignores us completely, simply appointing the Eastern King and Western Queen—what does this mean?”

“Could it be—?”

Emperor Jun was suddenly struck by suspicion, wondering if the Dao Ancestor no longer intended to disguise his intentions, but planned to openly use the Eastern King and Western Queen to compete with the Three Alliance for authority over the Primordial World.

Emperor Jun, for all his qualities, had a formidable thirst for power.

Simply put, he was too ambitious!

For Emperor Jun,

The Primordial World belonged to the Heavenly Court; the Three Alliance was merely a self-preserving coalition, and how could he allow others to vie for control?

Immediately,

Emperor Jun’s tiger eyes widened, his gaze wary as he stared at the Eastern King and Western Queen.

The Eastern King’s eyes flickered, pondering deeply within his heart.