Hongjun's gaze swept over Dijun, then slowly moved across everyone in the hall.
"Not so."
"There are four methods for achieving Sainthood."
As soon as these words were spoken, all the mighty figures in the hall perked up their ears.
This was the path to Sainthood personally expounded by a Saint!
"Firstly, proving the Dao with power."
"This method was the Dao walked by Great God Pangu, who opened the Heaven and Earth, seeking to break through the shackles of the Great Dao with supreme power and attain the Primordial Dao Fruit."
Hongjun's tone carried a hint of indescribable complexity, as if recalling, praising, and regretting.
"However, Great God Pangu also failed, transforming his body into all things in the Primordial World."
These words caused many mighty figures in the hall to feel a chill in their hearts.
Great God Pangu, who opened the Heaven and Earth! What immense power! Even he failed?
This path was simply not something they could hope for.
Wu Ming's heart stirred, however; Hongjun was subtly changing the concept.
He deliberately exaggerated the difficulty of proving the Dao with power, attributing Great God Pangu's failure to prove the Dao to the method itself, but he completely avoided mentioning that what Great God Pangu was proving was not as simple as a Primordial Saint, but a higher level of the Great Dao.
However, Wu Ming also knew that proving the Dao with power was indeed as difficult as ascending to Heaven.
Now, with the Laws of the Primordial World already established and the environment greatly changed, it was almost impossible to replicate the path of their Father God.
Hongjun continued to expound, his voice undisturbed.
"Secondly, as just mentioned, proving the Dao by severing the three corpses."
"This method requires the aid of an Innate Spirit Treasure to sever the three corpses of good, evil, and self. When the three corpses merge into one, one can also prove the Primordial Dao."
"This method is relatively stable and is also the method I used to prove the Dao."
He listed this method as the second and clearly stated that it was his own method, implying his strong recommendation.
The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, Yuanshi Tianzun nodded slightly, Laozi remained expressionless, while Tongtian seemed to be deep in thought.
As manifestations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, they had profound foundations and long-lasting Luck, and they were not lacking in High Grade Innate Spirit Treasures, making the method of severing the three corpses very suitable for them.
"Thirdly, proving the Dao with Law."
Hongjun's gaze subtly swept over Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches behind him.
"Comprehending the Heavenly Dao Law and cultivating one's comprehended Law to the state of Perfection, mastering an Origin, can also lead to the esteemed position of a Saint."
"This method demands extremely high Aptitude and Comprehension, and the process is arduous, requiring continuous verification of one's own Law and Great Dao, pushing the understanding and deduction of Law to the extreme."
"Although not as much of a dead end as proving the Dao with power, its difficulty is also far beyond ordinary imagination."
Wu Ming understood in his heart. This was the path the Wu Clan should take!
The Wu Clan inherently controlled Law, using Law to temper their Physical Body and Primordial Spirit. If they could comprehend Law to the extreme and control the Origin, their power would far exceed those who became Saints by severing the three corpses.
Although the Wu Clan now possessed Primordial Spirits, Wu Ming would not let them take the path of severing the three corpses.
The Dao of severing the three corpses, seemingly stable and a path verified by a Saint, required an Innate Spirit Treasure as a vessel, which was completely different from the Wu Clan's path of tempering the Physical Body and controlling Law.
What's more... the Saint positions had already been predetermined by the Heavenly Dao. If the Wu Clan chose this path, even if they severed all three corpses, it would be absolutely impossible for them to become Saints.
Apart from those six Saints, under the Heavenly Dao, no one else would be able to become a Saint.
Proving the Dao with Law, though difficult, was not without Opportunity.
The Wu Clan must prove the Dao with Law!
This was their only Opportunity!
"Fourthly, proving the Dao with Karma."
"This method involves accumulating immeasurable Karma, gaining the Heavenly Dao's approval, and thus achieving the position of a Heavenly Dao Saint."
"To become a Saint by this method requires great contributions to the Primordial World, acquiring massive Karma, and is only possible for those with great perseverance, great Opportunity, and great Karma."
Proving the Dao with Karma. Zhenyuanzi seemed somewhat moved. He controlled the Earth Scroll, which was closely related to the earth. If he could sort out the earth veins and benefit the Primordial World, he might have an Opportunity to accumulate Karma.
But the word "massive" made him hesitate again.
Proving the Dao with Karma... Wu Ming looked in Houtu's direction. Houtu... she could indeed try to prove the Dao with Karma.
But Wu Ming immediately dismissed this idea.
Houtu's transformation into Reincarnation and her suppression of the Underworld, while seemingly bringing immeasurable Karma, would in reality confine her to one place, depriving her of freedom. That was not the outcome he wanted to see.
Dijun and Taiyi frowned deeply. The two Golden Crows exchanged glances, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Severing the three corpses required Spirit Treasures, proving the Dao with Law seemed unrelated to them, and proving the Dao with Karma... perhaps they could scheme for it?
Would establishing order and ruling over all living beings count as great Karma?
Hongjun finished briefly describing the four paths and said no more, quietly awaiting the next questioner.
The hall fell into a long silence.
Four paths lay before them, each seemingly bright, yet fraught with thorns.
All the mighty figures were digesting the information Hongjun had provided, weighing their own paths.
Time passed bit by bit, and in Purple Cloud Palace, a pin drop could be heard.
After a long while, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the still-contemplating crowd below. Seeing that no one else spoke up with questions, he seemed to recall something.
He suddenly spoke faintly, his voice not loud, yet clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"Eastern King Duke, Queen Mother of the West."
The two people whose names were called were both startled, then quickly rose.
"You two are formed from Innate Yin and Yang Qi, with extraordinary foundations, and should be the leaders of all immortals."
"Eastern King Duke, you shall be the head of all male immortals in the Primordial World. I bestow upon you the Dragon Head Staff, to govern all male immortals under Heaven."
A stream of light flew out, transforming into an ancient and majestic Dragon Head Staff, landing before Eastern King Duke.
"Queen Mother of the West, you shall be the head of all female immortals in the Primordial World. I bestow upon you the Western Plain-Colored Cloud Boundary Flag, to govern all female immortals under Heaven."
Another stream of light flew out, transforming into an apricot-yellow precious flag, emitting a soft immortal light, landing before Queen Mother of the West.
Hongjun's words, like a Heavenly decree, directly established their titles and authority.
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of many people in the hall subtly changed.
The Three Pure Ones remained calm.
Dijun and Taiyi's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Other mighty figures also had various thoughts, but no one dared to show them before the Saint.
"Thank you, Saint!"
Both were surprised and delighted, hastily bowing in Rei and accepting the Spirit Treasures.
Eastern King Duke was even more excited, his face flushed, feeling an unprecedented authority bestowed upon him, full of vigor and pride.
In a flash of inspiration, he bowed deeply to Hongjun again, speaking loudly, his voice filled with reverence and flattery:
"Hongjun Saint is merciful, guiding us living beings of the Primordial World in the direction of the Great Dao, imparting supreme profound methods. He is the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Dao, and should be — the Dao Ancestor!"
His voice was resonant, spreading throughout Purple Cloud Palace.
As the words "Dao Ancestor" were spoken, the atmosphere in the hall instantly became somewhat peculiar.
Many mighty figures secretly cursed in their hearts: This Eastern King Duke is such a sycophant!
The Three Pure Ones were expressionless.
Dijun and Taiyi had cold smiles on their lips.
Zhenyuanzi frowned.
Hongyun habitually wanted to mediate, but looking at the occasion, he still kept his mouth shut.
Wu Ming felt speechless. This Eastern King Duke, having gained a little benefit, didn't know his own place. "Head of all immortals," indeed, he was truly courting death.
Hongjun was noncommittal about this title, his face still devoid of any expression.
He spoke again, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
"Thirty thousand years from now, I will open Purple Cloud Palace again to lecture on the Primordial Dao Fruit."
"You all should cultivate diligently."
As his voice faded, Hongjun's figure dissipated like a bubble in water, vanishing without a trace.
The high platform was empty again, as if no one had ever been there.
Everyone in the hall was stunned for a moment before they reacted.
They all rose in unison, bowing towards the empty high platform.
"Respectfully sending off Dao Ancestor!"
As Hongjun departed, the great doors of Purple Cloud Palace opened silently.
Everyone rose one after another, each with different thoughts, and began to walk out.