Upon receiving the news, the Grand Pure One, Laozi, sighed. It meant that of the three brothers, only one could sever three corpses and achieve sainthood!
Hongjun extended a finger and touched the center of Laozi's forehead. "The method of severing three corpses, I shall pass it to you first!"
Having received Hongjun's teachings, Laozi repeatedly expressed his gratitude. After putting away the spiritual treasures gifted by Hongjun, he bid farewell and left.
Outside the Zixiao Palace, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Tongtian, and Yuanshi were waiting and chatting.
Seeing Laozi emerge, they all stepped forward. Laozi waved his hand and produced two spiritual treasures. "These are spiritual treasures to sever karma between saints and us. Take these two. For your shares, my second and third brothers, I will give them to you back at Kunlun!"
Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun each received a spiritual treasure, their faces filled with surprise. They had karma with a saint? They had no idea!
Upon closer inspection, they realized these were supreme-grade innate spiritual treasures! The methods of saints were indeed extraordinary!
Laozi bestowed upon Zhenyuanzi the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Mountain River Social Diagram, which perfectly complemented Zhenyuanzi's Book of Earth. This treasure was originally meant for Nuwa, but it was now given to Zhenyuanzi in advance!
Hongyun's gift was the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Verdant Light Two-Yi Lamp!
Laozi explained the matter of repairing the earth veins. Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun then finally understood and expressed their heartfelt thanks to Laozi. Without Laozi, they would have remained oblivious!
Now, not only did they possess innate spiritual treasures, but they also gained abundant merit. They had truly struck it rich!
"Fellow Daoist friends, would you care to visit my Fire Cloud Cave?" Hongyun, beaming with joy after receiving his treasure, extended an invitation.
Laozi's heart stirred slightly, and he replied, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, I believe it would be best for you to abandon the Fire Cloud Cave. After all, it is the foremost blessed land. You lack an item to suppress its destiny, and you may suffer a backlash. If Heaven unleashes its wrath, it will not be pleasant."
Hongyun became dejected. However, he knew that the Three Pure Ones were men of great virtue, and Laozi, in particular, was someone he admired. He said, "Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist. I shall find another residence upon my return!"
Laozi patted Hongyun's shoulder. After all, they were friends. He could not bear to see him perish. After this conversation, Hongyun lost his enthusiasm. After the others bid farewell, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian returned to Kunlun Mountain.
Upon their return to Kunlun, Laozi waved his hand, and two spiritual treasures flew out. One was called the Seven Stars Sword, a supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure! The other was the Kunlun Mirror! It was also a supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure, but Laozi wondered why the Kunlun Mirror, which should be in Kunlun Mountain, was in the hands of that old scoundrel Hongjun!
Tongtian immediately took a liking to the Seven Stars Sword and accepted it. Yuanshi did not contend with Tongtian and took the Kunlun Mirror.
Laozi gestured, and a barrier appeared. Then, Laozi spoke solemnly, "My two younger brothers, this is what happened, and this is how it unfolded!"
Laozi recounted what he had discussed with the Ancestral Dao in the Zixiao Palace. He then extended his finger and transmitted the method of severing three corpses to Yuanshi and Tongtian, before asking, "My two brothers, tell me what you think!"
"Eldest brother, you are the eldest brother. Since the method of severing three corpses can only lead to enlightenment for one person, it naturally falls to you," said Tongtian, releasing his Qingping Sword and handing it to Laozi.
"Indeed, Eldest Brother. You are our elder brother, and these spiritual treasures were all procured for us by you!" Yuanshi also said, releasing his Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.
"My two brothers, have you no other thoughts?" Laozi asked sternly.
Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged glances and laughed. "What is there to think about? Eldest Brother, stop dithering! Besides, there is also enlightenment through merit. We possess the merit of splitting the heavens, so we can achieve enlightenment through merit."
Laozi accepted the two spiritual treasures and said, "Very well. There are three paths to enlightenment. The first is to prove the Dao through strength. This is largely irrelevant to us now, as the Heavenly Dao becomes increasingly complete, and we have missed the optimal time.
"The second is to sever three corpses to prove the Dao. This method yields the next best strength. It requires spiritual treasures of the same origin and power. In this vast Primordial World, we possess the only such set!"
"The third is to prove the Dao through merit. This yields the least strength, but it is currently the most suitable for you two brothers."
They nodded. Afterward, they prepared to cultivate the method of severing three corpses. Although they would ultimately seek enlightenment through merit, severing three corpses was a transitional method. Naturally, they had to advance to the Quasi-Saint realm first.
After the two departed, Laozi took out his Dragon-Coiled Staff and shouted, "Sever!"
Indeed, Laozi's cultivation had long reached its peak, with only the method of severing the corpse remaining. Now that the Ancestral Dao had preemptively given him the method of severing three corpses, he could naturally proceed!
As a young man appeared before Laozi, he said, "I, Li Er, greet Fellow Daoist!"
Laozi was surprised. His first severing of a corpse had actually resulted in severing his self-corporeal form!
As a former human, Laozi deeply understood his obsessions. Severing his self-corporeal form was therefore a natural progression.
Subsequently, Li Er transformed into a beam of light and entered Laozi's Three Flowers.
At this moment, Laozi's strength had already reached the early Quasi-Saint stage!
Thus, Laozi began his secluded cultivation to stabilize his realm.
The Primordial World keeps no count of years!
When Laozi emerged from seclusion, his divine sense swept over Kunlun Mountain. Yuanshi and Tongtian were still in seclusion. The entire Primordial World was busy consolidating the gains from the Ancestral Dao's sermon, and there were no large-scale conflicts.
If there were any conflicts, it would be with the Wu Clan. Due to their rapid development, Bu Zhou Mountain could no longer accommodate so many Wu clan members. They were now scattered across the Primordial World. However, the Wu clan's food primarily came from the Monster Clan, with both great and small monsters appearing on their menu.
Therefore, conflict was inevitable!
Gradually, Yuanshi and Tongtian also emerged from seclusion.
Upon their release, they too had reached the early Quasi-Saint realm!
Tongtian had used the Seven Stars Sword to sever his corpse, manifesting his malevolent corpse.
Yuanshi, on the other hand, had severed his benevolent corpse, using one of the Five Banners, the Northern Xuan Yuan Water Control Banner!
The three brothers met, realizing that they had each severed different types of corpses, and burst into laughter.
However, regarding Laozi's first severing of his self-corporeal form, Yuanshi and Tongtian expressed their admiration. It was understood that among the three corpses, the self-corporeal form was the most difficult to sever. Laozi's ability to achieve it on his first attempt indicated that he was truly suited for enlightenment through severing three corpses.
"There are still five thousand years until the saint's second sermon. Eldest Brother, I wish to go out and wander," said Yuanshi.
With his Quasi-Saint strength this time, he did not believe Minghe would dare to appear again!
Tongtian also planned to travel. After all, he had been pressured by Minghe last time and had not properly explored. This time, he could do so.
Laozi nodded and smiled, "My two brothers, go ahead. I will not be joining you. I will guard Kunlun Mountain."
"Thank you for your trouble, Eldest Brother!" the two cupped their fists.
Laozi, however, did not feel it was troublesome. He himself was disinclined to move.