Chapter Thirty-Six: The Second Discourse on the Violet Firmament

Time flew by swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, several thousand more years had passed. The day of Hongjun’s second sermon was fast approaching, and the great powers of the primordial world were all making their way toward the Zixiao Palace. Naturally, Li Tian was no exception. This time, aside from Li Tian, Nuwa, and Fuxi, several dozen other figures of deep heritage from the Heavenly Court accompanied them.

Li Tian shielded the group with the Chaos Bell, traversing the turbulent currents of chaos, and only after several decades did they arrive before the grand gates of the Zixiao Palace. By then, many had already gathered, the area bustling with activity—at a glance, there were at least ten thousand present.

After instructing his companions, Li Tian, Nuwa, and Fuxi made their way to a spot near the palace gates, where the Three Pure Ones and others also stood.

“Duobao, come and pay your respects to your elders,” Tongtian said to a plump, jovial youth standing behind him. This was Duobao, a disciple Tongtian had accepted several thousand years prior.

“Greetings, uncle-masters,” Duobao said, bowing to Li Tian and Nuwa upon hearing the command.

“You have quite a promising disciple,” Li Tian praised with a smile. Seeing the future Buddha showing him such deference filled him with a sense of accomplishment.

After a moment’s thought, Li Tian took out a bodhi seed from his storage treasure—the very one Zhun Ti had given him long ago.

“This is a bodhi seed, which calms the mind and nourishes the spirit. I offer it to you as a gift for our first meeting.”

Delighted, Duobao bowed deeply. “Thank you, uncle-master.”

“You’re too generous, brother,” Tongtian chuckled but did not refuse the gift.

“It’s nothing,” Li Tian replied with a smile and a shake of his head. After all, Zhun Ti had plenty of such seeds.

Behind Yuanshi stood a man with an extraordinarily high forehead—none other than the future Lord of the South Pole. Seeing Duobao receive a bodhi seed simply for calling someone uncle-master, he grew envious and kept glancing at his own teacher, Yuanshi.

But Yuanshi remained with eyes closed, serene and unmoved, as if lost in some profound state. The Lord of the South Pole dared not disturb him, so, with no other choice, he imitated Yuanshi’s composure and stood quietly.

As time passed, more and more people gathered outside the Zixiao Palace. Near the time for the sermon to begin, even the Wu tribe sent a representative—Houtu herself.

At last, under the watchful eyes of all, the day of Hongjun’s sermon arrived. The palace gates slowly opened, and Haotian and Yaochi emerged, just as they had before.

“The second sermon is about to begin. Please enter in an orderly fashion,” Haotian declared.

At his word, the crowd filed into the palace, each finding a seat. Li Tian, Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, Zhun Ti, and the others took their places on the six meditation mats at the head, just as they had before.

Moments later, Hongjun appeared without a sound, swept his gaze over the assembly, and began to preach.

This time, the subject was the Path of the Quasi-Sage—the method of severing the three corpses to attain enlightenment, which Li Tian had long anticipated.

As Hongjun spoke, waves of mystical sound echoed in everyone’s ears, wondrous visions manifested within the grand hall, and spiritual energy abounded, the scent of incense uplifting all.

To those above the level of Golden Immortal of the Great Principle, Hongjun’s words were like celestial music, the ultimate truths of the cosmos, causing them to become utterly absorbed and lose all sense of time.

But to those below that level, the sermon was unbearably dry and tedious—each word was a trial to endure.

Many first-time listeners felt the urge to leave, but, fearing to offend a sage, they could only grit their teeth and persevere.

In the blink of an eye, a thousand years passed. At last, Hongjun finished expounding the method of severing the three corpses. Seeing Li Tian and the others still yearning for more, he said, “As I know it, there are three primary paths to enlightenment. The highest is to prove the Way through strength. If successful, one may directly attain the Great Dao. Alas, this is the most difficult. In ancient times, Pangu was born with strength rivaling that of a sage, wielding both the Axe of Creation and the Jade Disc of Fortune—truly blessed by heaven. Yet, in the end, even he failed, and I fear no one will ever walk that path again.

“The lowest path is to attain enlightenment through merit. Those who perform great deeds recognized by Heaven and Earth can become Hunyuan beings, though their power is the weakest and they remain bound to the Way of Heaven, unable to achieve ultimate freedom.

“The method I have just taught—the Path of Severing the Three Corpses—is the path I myself walked. Sever the corpses of benevolence, evil, and self, entrusting them to innate spiritual treasures, and when the three are united once more, one attains Hunyuan.”

Hearing that what they had just listened to was the method for attaining enlightenment, many in the audience were filled with regret—why had they not paid closer attention? Those who had sealed their five senses in meditation beat their chests in despair, wishing they could weep.

Those who had listened attentively were stunned by Hongjun’s words: to sever the three corpses, one must entrust each to an innate spiritual treasure. To sever one requires one treasure—so to sever three, they would need three such treasures?

But where would they find such things?

After all, innate spiritual treasures were exceedingly rare. Of all those gathered at Zixiao Palace, perhaps only one in a thousand possessed even a single such treasure, let alone three.

Naturally, Hongjun paid no heed to the concerns of these lesser beings. Having finished expounding the method, he proceeded to explain the Three Thousand Daos.

The Dao is infinitely profound, and none can fully comprehend it; yet it is also supremely simple, accessible to mortals and sages alike.

Thus, this time, everyone listened with rapt attention, losing themselves in the passage of time.

Another two thousand years passed in a flash. Hongjun ended his sermon and awakened the assembly. “The sermon is concluded. Return again after some time.”

With a wave of his hand, he transported them all outside.

The crowd found themselves once more in the chaotic expanse outside the palace, savoring the taste of the Way they had just heard, reluctant to leave yet having no choice but to depart, already anticipating the next sermon.

Li Tian, Nuwa, Fuxi, and the others, having experienced this once before, felt a tinge of regret but were now accustomed to it, and didn’t dwell on it much.

Just as Li Tian was gathering the members of the Heavenly Court to depart, he saw, from afar, the sisters Xihe and Changxi approaching.

“We thank the Heavenly Emperor for guiding us to the sermon,” Xihe said, leading Changxi in a bow before Li Tian and his group, expressing their gratitude.

The teachings of Hongjun had benefited them greatly, broadening their horizons beyond the confines of the Golden Immortal realm.

“It was nothing,” Li Tian replied with a smile, then extended an invitation. “Would you two ladies be willing to join my Heavenly Court?”

Xihe and Changxi exchanged hesitant glances.

“Please consider it carefully,” Li Tian said, not pressing the matter. “If you decide, you may come find me anytime atop Mount Buzhou.”

“Thank you, Heavenly Emperor, for your understanding,” Xihe replied with a bow, visibly relieved.

Though both sisters held Li Tian in high regard, joining a faction was a weighty decision, one they needed to consider carefully.

Watching the sisters depart, Li Tian gathered his people, summoned the Chaos Bell, and led the group back toward the primordial world.