Chapter 114: The Universe Becomes Sacred

After receiving guidance from the Ancient Patriarch of the Universe, Kong Xuan felt a surge of inspiration flood his mind. He then retreated into seclusion on Fangzhang Island.

Decades later, a powerful aura erupted across the entire island, sweeping through the air like a tempest. Emerging from his retreat, Kong Xuan radiated an extraordinary brilliance, his aura now profound and majestic—he had ascended to the realm of the Great Dao Immortal. His rapid advancement was not only due to his innate talent and prior cultivation but also owed much to the meticulous tutelage of the Ancient Patriarch of the Universe.

“Senior Brother Kong Xuan, congratulations on stepping into the Great Dao realm so swiftly,” said a gentle voice outside the cave where Kong Xuan had secluded himself. A figure clad in an elegant azure silk gown, the serene and graceful Azure Lotus Immortal, floated down with a warm smile.

Kong Xuan smiled in return, his eyes brightening as he regarded her. “Azure Lotus, you have progressed well yourself, now a Taiyi Golden Immortal.”

“Compared to you, I still have a long way to go,” she replied with a faint smile, then quickly added, “Senior Brother, Master has asked me to call you. Let’s hurry to the Universe Hall to see him!”

Nodding with a smile, Kong Xuan said, “I was just about to bid farewell to Master and leave Fangzhang Island to continue my journey through the Prehistoric Era.”

“Senior Brother, are you really going to the Prehistoric Era? Isn’t cultivating here on Fangzhang Island better? Why must you venture into the wilds?” Azure Lotus asked, curious.

Kong Xuan shook his head with a gentle laugh. “You have a calm nature and can stay here peacefully, but I, born of the avian clan, cannot remain idle. Though I have reached the Great Dao Golden Immortal stage, I am by nature a free spirit who loves to soar through the skies, to explore mountains and rivers, and to behold the wonders of the Prehistoric Era. Master once said that one’s nature cannot be erased. As cultivators, do we not seek eternal life and freedom?”

Azure Lotus nodded thoughtfully. “You make a good point. Your travels have surely broadened your horizons; your insights surpass mine. I wished to converse more with you, but you are so eager to leave…”

“If that’s the case, Sister Azure Lotus, then I shall postpone my departure,” Kong Xuan said with a smile. “By the way, since you are already a Taiyi Golden Immortal but have never left Fangzhang Island, why not come with me this time? We can explore the Prehistoric Era together. I believe Master would approve.”

Azure Lotus hesitated, then replied, “I must ask Master first. If he permits, I will accompany you. Otherwise, I will remain here to cultivate quietly and heed his teachings.”

Kong Xuan could not help but feel a little exasperated. Though his junior sister’s cultivation was admirable, her mindset was still rather naive. How could a cultivator have no independent judgment, always deferring to the Master? Without a strong Dao heart, how could she advance? He resolved that she must see the world beyond the island to grow.

Within the Universe Hall, the Ancient Patriarch of the Universe warmly encouraged Kong Xuan, clearly pleased with his disciple. When Kong Xuan proposed to take Azure Lotus on a journey through the Prehistoric Era, the Patriarch, after consulting with Azure Lotus, gladly consented.

Kong Xuan’s reasoning was sound. Though Azure Lotus was gifted and talented, her innocence was a limitation. For cultivators, refining one’s Dao heart is as crucial as enhancing one’s power. He believed that a journey of trial and tribulation would accelerate her growth.

The Patriarch of the Universe also felt a twinge of guilt. As a teacher, he had been so focused on his own path to enlightenment and the Great Dao that he had somewhat neglected Azure Lotus. Kong Xuan and White Ze had both matured impressively in power and character, but Azure Lotus still needed guidance. With Kong Xuan as a responsible senior brother, the Patriarch felt assured.

He considered himself fortunate to have taken Kong Xuan as his disciple. Not only did Kong Xuan inspire confidence, but he also eased the Patriarch’s burdens.

Before sending his disciples off, the Patriarch bestowed upon them several precious spiritual treasures. First, he gifted Azure Lotus the Ninth-Rank Azure Lotus, a supreme innate treasure for protection. Then, he presented the Azure Dragon Sword, Azure Vine Immortal Robes, Dragon-Binding Rope, and Dragon Bone Shuttle—most of which were supreme innate treasures, except for the Dragon Bone Shuttle, which was mid-grade.

After seeing his two disciples on their way, the Patriarch resumed his secluded meditation on the Way of Space. With his profound understanding and the cultivation of the Three Corps Quasi-Saint, combined with the merits of the Heaven’s Opening Technique, and the aid of the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, he might be on the verge of sainthood. Yet, achieving enlightenment in the Great Dao remained an immense challenge, as despite his deep insights and solid accumulation, he still lacked something crucial.

Several centuries later, a visitor arrived at Fangzhang Island—it was White Ze, the Patriarch’s senior disciple and one of the Ten Demon Saints of the Demon Clan. However, the Patriarch did not end his retreat to see him personally, instead sending his corporeal avatar, Daoist Qianyuan, to meet him.

After a heartfelt farewell and some exchanges, Daoist Qianyuan instructed White Ze on the secrets of severing the corpses, urging him to cultivate diligently and strive to become a Quasi-Saint. The Patriarch also bestowed upon him a set of nine flying daggers forged from Azure Dragon bones and a supreme innate treasure, the Dragon Bone Banner, before sending him on his way.

As a Demon Saint, White Ze’s affairs were many, and he could not linger on Fangzhang Island.

Only months after White Ze’s departure, a tremendous and terrifying pressure arose from the East Sea. In an instant, celestial music filled the heavens, fragrant aromas wafted through the air, myriad beasts cried out in unison, and auspicious energies rained down upon the Prehistoric Era. Countless pure essences of heaven and earth condensed into golden flowers, which scattered across the land. Many cultivators absorbed the energy of these golden blossoms, experiencing tremendous breakthroughs in their cultivation. Even plants, beasts, and countless rare spiritual treasures awakened their intelligence; some even transformed, transcending their mundane forms.

This familiar fluctuation and overwhelming aura had been felt before by the beings of the Prehistoric Era. The great cultivators, awakened from their meditations, looked toward the East Sea with expressions of shock and astonishment. They knew someone had attained sainthood. The question was: who?

None of the powerful beings who had acquired the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi were practicing in the East Sea, were they?

At Mount Buzhou, the Three Purities gathered with grave expressions, their faces clouded. As the orthodox descendants of Pangu, having obtained the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, they still had not achieved sainthood. Even Laozi had only recently severed the Three Corps, while Yuanshi and Tongtian had only severed two. They were still far from sainthood. Yet now, someone had achieved it before them—and apparently it was neither Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, nor Minghe. This meant the individual had not obtained the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi but had nonetheless attained sainthood. How could they not find this unbelievable and unacceptable?

“How can one become a saint without the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi?” Yuanshi Tianzun frowned deeply, feeling as if his understanding had been overturned.

Tongtian’s gaze flickered uncertainly. “Who could it be? There are no formidable beings above the East Sea. Even the East King Duke is only a one-corpse Quasi-Saint. I find it hard to believe he has become a saint.”

“I have thought of someone,” Laozi said with narrowed eyes. “The Ancient Patriarch of the Universe, do you remember him? He is a contemporary of our Master and once fought alongside him against the Demon Ancestor Luo Hou. If anyone in the Prehistoric Era could achieve sainthood at this time, it would have to be the Patriarch of the Universe.”

Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged glances, their expressions shifting slightly.

“Now that you mention it, it very well could be him! Why didn’t I think of it before?” Tongtian said with burning eyes.

Yuanshi, however, could not believe it. “The Patriarch of the Universe? He… has become a saint? That’s impossible! He never went to the Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Way.”