Chapter 70 Forced Corpse Slaughter
As soon as Hongjun spoke, the entire hall was filled with the sound of a pin drop. For the first time, everyone suddenly understood how difficult it was to break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. In an instant, becoming a Quasi-Saint became the most important thing in the hearts of many cultivators.
"Any questions?" Having gained experience, Hongjun gave them some time to answer.
Zhunti looked around and saw only Great Luo Immortals. Then he looked at the Three Pure Ones, and his pupils contracted slightly. "May I ask, Master, how much is the difference between a Quasi-Saint and a Saint? And how much is the difference between a Quasi-Saint and a Great Luo Immortal?"
“The peak of the Great Luo realm is just one step away from becoming a Quasi-Saint,” Hongjun said frankly. “Below the Saint realm, Quasi-Saints are all ants, and below the Quasi-Saint realm, Great Luo realm cultivators are all ants.”
"Hiss..." Everyone gasped, looking at Hongjun with even greater awe.
"During this sermon, I intend to take on disciples. May the best disciples be ordained by Heaven..." Hongjun suddenly spoke, and the entire hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Hopeful eyes looked at Hongjun, hoping he would utter their names.
Hongjun looked down and said, "I have three personal disciples in my destiny: Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian. Would you be willing to become my personal disciples?"
"Yes, disciple pays respects to master..." The three Qing said in unison. They were master and disciple to begin with, and this was just a formality.
Countless envious gazes were cast upon the Three Pure Ones. They truly possessed everything, and now they even had a sage as their teacher. Heaven, you are unjust...
"From now on, you will be my direct successors. You must pass on my lineage and live up to the Daoist tradition. All those who are fortunate enough to hear my teachings and cultivate the Dao I have taught will be members of my Daoist school." Hongjun was very satisfied with the Three Pure Ones, and even more satisfied that their Dao was of the same lineage as his, and that they had arrived at the same destination through different paths.
“Yes, Master,” Sanqing replied.
"Greetings, Dao Ancestor..." Everyone was convinced and, having cultivated the Dao transmitted by Hongjun, changed their address accordingly.
Nuwa realized something was wrong and stepped forward to plead for herself, saying, "Please, Dao Ancestor, have mercy and accept me as your disciple. I am confident that my aptitude, comprehension, and perseverance are all excellent, and I will certainly not bring shame upon you."
Hongjun hesitated for a moment. Nuwa also had a divine affinity, so accepting her was acceptable. "Seeing your sincerity, you may become my disciple."
Nuwa knew when to stop. Although she was unwilling to accept that she was not a direct disciple, she had at least gained the title of disciple, which was better than nothing.
She immediately bowed and said, "Nuwa greets Master..."
"Rise..." Hongjun closed his eyes, "Let's disperse."
Yaochi poked Chang Hao with her index finger. "Senior brother, hurry up and say it! Say you want to become my disciple..."
“Dao Ancestor,” Zhunti bowed down, “Our West is barren and its great powers are scarce. I beg the Dao Ancestor to have mercy and accept my brother and me into the sect, so that we may promote the Dao and revive the West.”
"You two brothers have no affinity with the Daoist sect, and even less with me as master and disciple. There's no need for you to beg; leave now." Hongjun had no intention of taking on any more disciples.
"The Dao Ancestor is merciful. Considering that the spiritual veins of the West are almost entirely destroyed, please preserve a glimmer of hope for the West." Jieyin pleaded earnestly.
Hongjun hesitated for a moment. The West was the result of Rahu's evil deeds, but when he fought Rahu, he couldn't care less about the consequences. He also severed many of the West's spiritual veins. In the end, it was all related to him.
When Jieyin and Zhunti realized that Hongjun's attitude had softened when the West was mentioned, they were overjoyed.
"Dao Ancestor, please have mercy! Our West is now just endless yellow sand. In recent years, even those who have transformed into human form are few and far between, and powerful beings are even fewer. Apart from my fellow disciples, there are no other powerful beings in the West. Although the land is vast, it is barren. Even Mount Ling today has less spiritual energy than an unnamed hill in the East. We beg Dao Ancestor, please accept my brother and me..."
"Very well, for the sake of the West, you two will become my nominal disciples." Hongjun relented, though impatience flickered in his eyes.
“Dao Ancestor…” Zhunti was unwilling and wanted to try again.
Jieyin Chong and Zhunti shook their heads. They only needed the title; their cultivation was still their own.
Seeing that there was something to be done, Di Jun was about to speak.
Hongjun was well aware of the restless activity below. "Things shouldn't happen three times. Let's disperse now."
In the blink of an eye, everyone found themselves in the primordial world. They wanted to go back to Zixiao Palace, but could not find the entrance. Instead, they met several like-minded people.
"Forget it, brother. The opportunity has passed, the demon clan is busy with its affairs, and sister-in-law is facing increasing difficulties. We should hurry back," Taiyi advised.
"Very well, I'll try again after the third sermon at Zixiao Palace." Emperor Jun had no choice but to turn back.
Inside Zixiao Palace, Hongjun did not expel everyone; he left behind his newly accepted disciples, including the nominal disciples Jieyin and Zhunti.
"Now that I have accepted you as my disciples, you are now fellow disciples. Please greet each other." Hongjun just wanted to get through the formalities as quickly as possible.
Nuwa turned to the side and said, "Nuwa greets my three senior brothers."
Laozi, representing the Three Pure Ones, gently helped Nuwa up, saying, "Junior Sister, there's no need for such formalities."
Jieyin and Zhunti followed closely behind, saying, "Greetings, Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, and Senior Sister."
"Junior brother, please rise." Tongtian raised his hand.
“Yaochi is my little Taoist disciple,” Hongjun suddenly said. “Yaochi, please greet your senior brothers and sisters.”
"Yes," Yaochi said with a straight face, "Greetings, senior brothers and sisters."
Hongjun immediately dismissed them, saying, "Now that the greetings have been exchanged, you may disperse. The sermon a thousand years from now is of utmost importance, so do not be absent."
Everyone here is a shrewd person. Hongjun has explained it so clearly, how could they not understand?
"Yes, Master..."
"Yaochi, go and check on your peaches," Hongjun said calmly. "You are a peach blossom in human form, and your roots are still shallow. You cannot stay away from your mother branch for long."
"Yes, Dao Ancestor." Yaochi looked back every few steps, worried sick about Chang Hao. Senior brother, you must live up to expectations! Mention the matter of becoming a disciple and give it a try. How will you know if you can't do it if you don't try?
With no one around, Hongjun carefully examined Chang Hao, and after a moment a smile appeared on his face. "Not bad, you've already reached the peak of Quasi-Saint."
“Chang Hao, get up. I have investigated all the people in the hall, and none of them have been tainted by your primordial spirit,” Hongjun leaned down and pulled Chang Hao. “They must be in Luo Hou’s hands. Since things have come to this, it is better to give up that wisp of primordial spirit.”
"I'm so angry!! It's none of your business," Chang Hao's pent-up anger finally erupted, "I hate being restricted in my freedom the most!"
Five thousand years! Sun Wukong was only imprisoned under the Five Fingers Mountain for five hundred years. He was trapped for five thousand years and had to passively accept Hongjun's terrible Taoist teachings.
Unfortunately, Hongjun targeted him, replaying every single word in his mind in a loop, making it impossible for him to ignore. He was driven to the brink of madness.
"I knew you'd be angry, but without me, where would your formidable cultivation be today?" Hongjun faced the anger head-on, yet remained calm and composed. "I've come up with a solution for you. All you have to do is sever the connection between your primordial spirit and your corpse. No matter who it falls into, it won't affect you."
Chang Hao was practically bursting with pent-up frustration. Hongjun had such a thick skin, constantly taking credit for himself—this was his original cultivation level, his original level!!!
"I will give you the Qiankun Cauldron, along with your Cangmin Sword, which will allow you to sever two corpses easily." Hongjun felt that this method was perfect, as the Qiankun Cauldron, a supreme treasure, could be used to sever the corpses, and even if the remaining corpse was slightly insufficient, it could make up for it.
Chang Hao was furious as he looked at the Qiankun Cauldron that Hongjun had presented to him. "You make it sound so easy. It's a part of me. It was lost and wandered outside. Now it may have been transformed into a weak and helpless human. It may have fallen into enemy hands and been bullied by everyone. And you want me to just give it up?" Chang Hao was not buying it. "Get out of my way. I will never give up on myself."
"Will you dismember the corpse directly, or should I do it for you?" Hongjun was eager to try. He had never experienced dismembering someone's corpse before. Which scripture should he recite later?
Well, Chang Hao is already at the peak of Quasi-Saint, and ordinary scriptures probably can't shake his will.
The Qiankun Cauldron hovered in front of Chang Hao. With a 'clang,' Chang Hao slapped the cauldron away, yelling, "Get out of the way! Who wants your stinky cauldron..."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com