Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Second Lecture of the Violet Firmament

Listening to the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth’s explanation, Kong Xuan could not help but ask in astonishment, “Master, did you really kill a Celestial Azure Dragon of the Great Luo Golden Immortal rank?”

“That’s right. In those days, Ao Cang of the Dragon Clan, greedy for treasure, pursued your eldest senior brother Bai Ze. So I intervened and slew him, using the materials from his dragon body along with some rare spiritual ingredients to forge quite a few magical treasures,” the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth nodded calmly.

Kong Xuan could not help but exclaim, “Master, that was a dragon of the Great Luo Golden Immortal cultivation! You’re truly remarkable!”

“In this primordial world, only the strong survive. What of a Great Luo Golden Immortal? Back then, the ancestral dragon chief of the Dragon Clan and the Kirin King of the Kirin Clan were both at the quasi-saint level, yet did they not also perish in the end? So you must always remain vigilant and remember that there is always someone stronger. Even though you are now a Golden Immortal and carry the treasures bestowed upon you by your teacher, you must still be cautious and prudent when you venture into the outside world,” the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth admonished sternly.

“Rest assured, Master, I will never forget your advice and will be cautious in all things,” Kong Xuan replied respectfully, then added with some excitement, “Master, on this journey, I might even run into my senior brother! I’ve been cultivating under you for so long, yet I’ve never met him.”

At the mention of Bai Ze, the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth’s expression grew serious. He said in a deep voice, “Kong Xuan, listen well. You may meet your senior brother, but do not involve yourself in the affairs of the demon clan. If you become entangled in their karmic disputes, don’t blame me for not having warned you in advance. Your journey is for your own cultivation—focus on that and avoid meddling in unrelated matters.”

“Yes, Master. I will remember your words,” Kong Xuan replied with utmost respect. Though still a bit puzzled, he dared not ask further.

Once Kong Xuan had accepted the Azure Dragon Spear and other divine treasures and departed, the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth’s expression grew a touch complicated as he sighed softly, “Bai Ze must be one of the Ten Great Demon Saints by now. With his talent, he should have reached the Great Luo level already.”

Now, including the yet-to-transform Green Lotus, the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth had taken three disciples, but the one who weighed most heavily on his mind was still Bai Ze. Yet, in the three thousand years since, Bai Ze had not returned to Fangzhang Island even once. Although the Patriarch enjoyed the tranquility this afforded, he could not help but worry about his eldest disciple—a classic case of an underdog’s concern.

Soon after Kong Xuan’s departure, the second lecture at the Palace of Purple Clouds commenced. The Blood Sea Avatar of the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth, disguised as the Patriarch of the Nether River, also hurried there.

The Blood Sea Avatar arrived early and watched as one after another, powerful cultivators entered the palace, many of whom were new faces. Compared to the first lecture, the number of attendees had increased markedly.

Led by Emperor Jun and the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, over two or three hundred demon experts made an imposing entrance, among them Bai Ze.

Another figure who drew the Blood Sea Avatar’s attention was a gentle woman—none other than Houtu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Sorcerers of the Wu Clan.

As the crowd gathered, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun suddenly appeared atop the cloud bed. This time, he seemed even more ethereal, as if merged with the entire Palace of Purple Clouds. There was no sense of oppression, yet an irresistible pressure hung in the air.

“Be seated and listen to my teachings,” Hongjun glanced at the assembly before beginning, “The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. The name that can be named is not the eternal name. Nameless, it is the origin of heaven and earth; named, it is the mother of all things...”

“The Three Corpses are entities of soul, spirit, and ghost. If one wishes for an early death, the corpse will become a ghost, wandering at will…”

“The Three Corpses: the first is called Green Maiden, who harms the eyes, causing darkness, wrinkles, and tooth loss; the second, White Maiden, brings abdominal distress, skeletal decay, and a fading will, leaving one’s desires unfulfilled. Thus, those who seek immortality must first eliminate the Three Corpses, remain tranquil and desireless, keep the spirit calm and the nature clear, and accumulate many virtues—then, taking elixirs will be effective, and the path to immortality can be achieved.”

Hearing the teachings on the Three Corpses, the Blood Sea Avatar grew spirited and listened intently.

Unbeknownst to all, three thousand years passed in this way. Hongjun paused his lecture, then said, “After the heaven and earth opened, I attained the artifact of creation and achieved the Dao of Hongjun. Under the Heavenly Dao, I am required to lecture three times to enlighten all beings. After today, only one session remains. When next I teach, it will be on the Dao Fruit of Primordial Unity, ten thousand years from now. If you have any questions, ask them now.”

“Dao Ancestor, is there a method to attain the Dao?” Laozi could not help but ask.

At this question, everyone held their breath, all eyes fixed on Hongjun. Cultivators pursue immortality, but even Great Luo Golden Immortals and quasi-saints are not truly immortal—only saints are deathless and transcendent. Who would not seek to attain the Dao?

Hongjun pondered briefly, then said, “There are three thousand paths to the Dao, and all can lead to Primordial Unity. My Dao of Hongjun offers three ways: the highest is to prove the Dao by force, using one’s profound power to break the shackles of the Heavenly Dao; the second is to sever the Three Corpses—eliminating the corpses of good, evil, and self, and when the three are unified, one attains the Dao; the lowest is to prove the Dao through merit, gaining the recognition of the Heavenly Dao through immense virtue.”

The assembly listened with rapt attention. Though there were indeed countless ways to prove the Dao, comprehending its mysteries grew only harder with progress. To gain full insight into a path was as difficult as reaching the heavens.

Of the three methods Hongjun described, the first—proving the Dao by force—none even considered. Not even the great Pangu succeeded in that route; in the current world, it would be courting death. The other two methods were more feasible, but both required the aid of the Primordial Purple Qi. Once one used the Purple Qi, future sainthood would mean merging one’s soul and will with the Heavenly Dao, sharing its fate and being forever bound by its ordinances.

“Dao Ancestor, what exactly are the Three Corpses? How does one sever them?” Yuanshi Tianzun eagerly asked. Since proving the Dao by force was impossible and merit was impractical, he resolved to sever the Three Corpses instead.

Hongjun explained, “The Three Corpses are poisons; in the human body, the spirits of the Three Corpses are called the Three Poisons…”

“If you wish to sever the Corpses, you must use innate treasures, for only such can carry the trinity of good, evil, and obsession. The quality of the innate treasure used directly affects one’s cultivation after the severance, so choose carefully.” With a wave of his hand, Hongjun concluded, “This lecture ends here. You may withdraw.”

Without waiting for further questions, Hongjun vanished once again.

The crowd, left with no choice, paid their respects to the cloud bed above and departed in groups, discussing the path of severing the Three Corpses as they went.

Amid the throng, the Blood Sea Avatar watched the bustling crowd and could not help but sigh inwardly. Now that the method of severing the Three Corpses to prove the Dao was known, there would surely be even fiercer struggles among the powerful for innate spiritual treasures. However, he was not worried that others might target him—after all, even the Three Pure Ones might not be able to do anything to him, and as for the rest, should they try, they would only be seeking death.

Returning straight to the Blood Sea, the avatar immediately began a meditative retreat to contemplate the method of severing the Three Corpses to prove the Dao.

To sever the Three Corpses was not an easy feat—it required a certain level of enlightenment regarding the Dao. Thus, although this method was somewhat easier than directly comprehending the laws, it still demanded profound understanding.

Many Great Luo Golden Immortals failed to sever their Corpses because their comprehension was insufficient. For the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth, however, this was no obstacle, for his realm was already lofty and his insight into the Dao, perhaps even deeper than the now-saintly Hongjun.

After studying the method for some time, the Patriarch of Heaven and Earth began his preparations.

On Fangzhang Island in the Eastern Sea, within the Hall of Heaven and Earth, the patriarch sat atop a cloud bed. Auspicious clouds gathered above his head, three blossoms swayed gently, and he slowly opened his eyes.

“It is time to sever the Corpses. But…what treasure should I use to do so?” he murmured, frowning in some difficulty.