299: Taoism, Laozi became a saint

“Now that the Dao Sect is established, it shall be suppressed by the Taiji Diagram and the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda, hoping for the Heavenly Dao to bear witness.”

As soon as the words fell, in an instant, thunder exploded above the Nine Heavens, shaking the universe.

The thunder was as thick as a pillar, flashing with dazzling light, as if it were the Heavenly Dao’s response to the Dao Sect established by Supreme Lord Laozi.

Vast golden clouds of Celestial Merit, like a surging torrent, gathered from the horizon, and the immense Human Dao's luck also surged forth like a tumultuous tide.

The gathering momentum seemed to pour all the auspiciousness and blessings in the world onto the Dao Sect established by Supreme Lord Laozi, and the Heavenly Dao Celestial Merit gathered was far more than the Heavenly Dao Celestial Merit that descended when the Jie Sect and Chan Sect were established.

As the massive Heavenly Dao Celestial Merit poured down like a torrential rain, these golden clouds of Celestial Merit activated the Hongmeng Purple Energy deep within Supreme Lord Laozi’s primordial spirit.

The Hongmeng Purple Energy, like nimble immortal snakes, coiled and wound in the air, then surged into Supreme Lord Laozi’s body, automatically completing the Three Flowers above his head, transforming into his solid foundation for becoming a Saint.

At the same time, the Hongmeng Purple Energy also guided his primordial spirit to slowly entrust itself to the Heavenly Dao, establishing a subtle and close connection between him and the Heavenly Dao.

And that immense Human Dao's luck, like a key, unlocked the Pangu Authentic Lineage Celestial Merit sealed deep within Supreme Lord Laozi’s primordial spirit.

In an instant, the vigorous Opening Heaven Celestial Merit surged forth like a volcanic eruption, and endless Celestial Merit source power, like a rushing river, continuously washed away his cultivation bottleneck.

Driven by this powerful force, Supreme Lord Laozi’s cultivation rapidly increased like a rocket, first successfully reaching the Half-Saint realm, and then, in one go, stepping into the Mixed Origin Saint First Heaven realm.

Unlike the Sect Master Tongtian and Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, who frantically absorbed the power of Celestial Merit to raise their cultivation realms after becoming Saints, Supreme Lord Laozi quickly stopped absorbing the power of Celestial Merit immediately after breaking through to the Mixed Origin Saint First Heaven realm.

This was naturally because Supreme Lord Laozi had a deeper understanding of the importance of the power of Celestial Merit in his heart, and he valued it even more, especially the Opening Heaven Celestial Merit, which he cherished greatly.

Now that he had become a Heavenly Dao Saint, there was no need to continue consuming these Opening Heaven Celestial Merits to improve his strength; after all, these Opening Heaven Celestial Merits would decrease with each absorption, and perhaps they would have more important uses in the future, and could even serve as protection.

With Supreme Lord Laozi’s successful sanctification, an immense and unparalleled Saintly pressure instantly swept across the entire Primordial World like an overwhelming tide.

This pressure caused the heavens and earth to change color, the mountains and rivers to tremble, and all things in the world felt a reverence from the depths of their souls.

At the same time, above the Human Race territory, purple energy instantly came from the east for hundreds of millions of miles. The purple energy was so dense that it seemed corporeal, like a gigantic auspicious beast, tumbling and roaring in the sky.

Rolling rainbows danced in the air like colorful ribbons, weaving splendid patterns. Auspicious mists and immortal light permeated everywhere, as if draping the entire sky in a dreamy veil.

Moral brilliance, like dazzling stars, shone with the light of wisdom and compassion, illuminating every corner. A faint, exotic fragrance, as if it blended all the fragrances in the world, made those who smelled it feel refreshed and clear-minded, as if their souls had been cleansed.

Endless phenomena of sanctification filled the entire sky, adorning the Human Race territory above like a dream, as if an immortal realm had descended upon the human world.

A Saint emerged, and heaven and earth celebrated together! As Supreme Lord Laozi successfully became a Saint, endless innate blessings, like brilliant light rain, poured down, covering the entire Primordial World.

Wherever these blessings reached, mountains and rivers burst with vitality, rivers became clearer, flowers and trees instantly bloomed with brilliant colors, and all living beings seemed to be infused with a vigorous power.

Countless Primordial World beings looked up at the sky, their eyes filled with reverence, and prostrated themselves, shouting: “Congratulations, Saint! May your Saintly life be boundless! May the Saint protect the Primordial World and forever enjoy peace!”

The rising and falling voices, like rolling waves, resounded between heaven and earth.

This scene of Supreme Lord Laozi becoming a Saint filled countless Prehistoric Great Powers with both envy and helplessness.

Eastern Emperor Taiyi’s face was gloomy, his eyes full of unwillingness, and he gritted his teeth and whispered: “Hmph, merely establishing a sect can lead to sanctification, while we fight desperately, yet always struggle to cross this last step. Without Hongmeng Purple Energy, without enough Celestial Merit, are we, the Demon Race, destined to only look up to the radiance of their Saints?”

Di Jiang, Ancestor Witch, was even more furious, his face flushed, his hands clenched into fists, his knuckles white, and he roared: “This is unfair! How many hardships have we, the Witch Race, endured to improve our strength, yet the Mixed Origin Saint realm is so far out of reach. That Supreme Lord Laozi achieved it so easily, it’s truly hateful!”

“Are only their Three Pure Ones the Pangu Authentic Lineage? And are we, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, not the Pangu Authentic Lineage?”

And on Kunlun Mountain, in Yuxu Palace, and on Jinao Island in the East Sea, Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning and Sect Master Tongtian also looked at Supreme Lord Laozi’s Saintly manifestation radiating endless brilliance in the void, their eyes filled with envy.

Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning frowned slightly and sighed softly: “Elder Brother established another sect, reopening a Dao, and from now on, he enjoys his luck exclusively. While my Chan Sect belongs to the Xuanmen, even if Grandmaster Hongjun seems to have perished now, he was only cast into the land of eternal tribulation, and there is a possibility of his return after endless years. My Chan Sect will always have to share some luck, making it difficult to be as free as Elder Brother.”

Sect Master Tongtian’s expression was complex, and he snorted: “Yes, alas, how easy is it to establish another Dao? Not only does it require creating a completely new cultivation system, but also sufficient benefits and potential, and a foundation for spreading. Alas, it seems Elder Brother’s move was brilliant.”

However, despite the envy in their hearts, both Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning and Sect Master Tongtian were happy for Supreme Lord Laozi’s sanctification deep down.

After all, the Three Pure Ones were originally one family; even though they had now established their own sects and separated, the fraternal bond remained.

And with Supreme Lord Laozi’s sanctification, all three of them, the Three Pure Ones, had become Heavenly Dao Saints. In this Primordial World, besides the Immortal Palace backed by the Dao Venerable, which other force would dare to provoke their three brothers?

...

Above the Human Race sky!

Just then, the sky was ablaze with light. West Queen Mother, surrounded by colorful immortal light, with graceful immortal bearing, moved her lotus steps lightly and appeared first, smiling as she said: “Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Taiqing, for proving the Mixed Origin today and achieving the Saintly Fruit Position!”

Before her words finished, ten thousand rays of light suddenly appeared in the sky, and a white jade lotus slowly bloomed from the void. Saint Nuwa stood on the lotus platform, gracefully arriving.

She was draped in a seven-colored immortal robe, her cloud-like hair lightly coiled, and between her brows lay the power of creation. Her temperament was transcendent. With a gentle wave of her jade hand, the spiritual energy in heaven and earth solidified, and she softly laughed: “Fellow Daoist Taiqing, years of arduous cultivation have finally culminated in the Great Dao. This is truly a cause for joy and celebration.”

Sage Jieyin and Saint Zhunti also descended together. In the void, Sanskrit sounds reverberated, and immeasurable golden light swept in from the west.

Sage Jieyin had a compassionate expression, a golden lotus atop his head, and radiated vast Buddha light around him. He put his palms together and said: “Saint Taiqing’s proving of the Dao is truly a matter of great Celestial Merit, and my Western Religion also feels gratified.”

Saint Zhunti stepped on the Seven Treasure Tree, its branches and leaves swaying, scattering auspiciousness across the sky. His face was wreathed in smiles, and three thousand Dharmakayas appeared behind him, echoing: “Precisely, precisely. Saint Taiqing has now established the Dao Sect, and we hope for much care for my Western Religion in the future.”

Subsequently, the laws of heaven and earth resonated, and the auras of the Three Pure Ones echoed each other.

Celestial Worthy of the Primordial Beginning, with myriad clouds above his head, holding a jade ruyi scepter, and surrounded by innate Dao charm, slowly stepped out of the void, saying with a smile: “Congratulations, Eldest Brother, on becoming a Saint! This is truly a cause for joy and celebration!”

Sect Master Tongtian, stepping on the phantom of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, surrounded by purple lightning, and exuding an unparalleled domineering aura, laughed heartily: “Haha, Eldest Brother, congratulations to you! Now that our three brothers are all Saints, we will surely make the prestige of our Three Pure Ones spread to every corner of the Primordial World.”

“Thank you, Fellow Daoists!” Supreme Lord Laozi cupped his hands in thanks, a faint smile on his face, appearing very calm and composed.

Although he was the last to become a Saint among those present, he remained calm at this moment, not showing excessive excitement or agitation.

After all, if he had wanted to become a Saint earlier, he would have had the opportunity to do so by establishing a sect.

However, he had always been unwilling to become a Saint merely by relying on Celestial Merit, and had always yearned to follow the path of Proving Dao with Force or other paths, but unfortunately, he had never succeeded.

Now, with the unpredictable changes in the Primordial World’s situation, and with the Dao Venerable’s guidance, he decided to establish another sect to achieve sanctification.

He was quite satisfied with this outcome; although it was still sanctification through Celestial Merit, establishing another sect was better than simply establishing a religion.

Moreover, his realm at the time of his breakthrough far surpassed that of his two younger brothers, so the Celestial Merit he needed when he achieved sainthood was also lower than that of his two younger brothers, and he promptly stopped absorbing Opening Heaven Celestial Merit after breaking through, which allowed him to retain a large amount of Opening Heaven Celestial Merit.

In his opinion, preserving these precious Opening Heaven Celestial Merits was far more important than a temporary increase in realm. Since he had already broken through to the Saint realm, there was naturally no need to waste Opening Heaven Celestial Merits.

At this moment, although his realm seemed slightly lower than his second and third brothers, he did not take these differences to heart.

...

The Netherworld Blood Sea, that was a vast, boundless, mysterious, and terrifying existence in the Primordial World. Within the Blood Sea, blood waves surged, like ferocious giant beasts roaring, each blood wave reaching tens of thousands of feet high, carrying a world-destroying momentum, as if it could swallow everything in the world.

Above the Blood Sea, a thick layer of blood mist permeated. Within the blood mist, strange lights flickered from time to time, as if countless pairs of prying eyes were hidden. Wherever the blood mist reached, space was corroded into a thousand holes, and tiny cracks spread like spiderwebs, emitting a chilling aura.

In the depths of this Blood Sea, a magnificent palace stood quietly. The palace was entirely constructed from blood-colored crystals, emitting a cold light.

The palace gate was a hundred feet high, carved with countless patterns of various shapes, as if narrating the endless slaughter and cruelty of the Blood Sea.

Inside the palace, blood-red light illuminated every corner. The walls were inlaid with blood-red gems, and within the gems, souls seemed to be struggling in pain, emitting faint wails.