Refining the Dao into Godhood: A Tale of the Jie Sect

The past is set, unchangeable; the future is mutable, with infinite possibilities. Since the heavens have brought me to Primordial, I have no need for any guilt.

Xuanqing comforted himself.

At this moment, he felt extremely fortunate to have joined the Jie Sect.

Seize a glimmer of life, seize a glimmer of opportunity, seize a glimmer of Merit; what isn't there to seize!

"How can this be?"

Suddenly, as he introspected within himself, he discovered that the Innate Ancestor Qi he had condensed while breaking through to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level seemed to have undergone some transformation!

As if sensing the confusion in Xuanqing's heart, the Tongtian Sect Master, who was seated on the cloud bed, slowly spoke: "Do not worry, this is a good thing! From Taiyi evolves Innate Ancestor Qi, from Daluo evolves the Innate Undying Spirit Light. Although you have not yet achieved Daluo, you have prematurely acquired some Daluo traits!"

Innate Undying Spirit Light!

Xuanqing suddenly understood; the Innate Ancestor Qi he had refined had prematurely transformed into Innate Undying Spirit Light under the influence of the Innate Yi Dao.

From now on, there shall be no more bottleneck before Daluo; the condensation of the Daluo Dao Fruit will just be a matter of course.

Upon hearing this, Daoist Duobao showed a shocked expression, then paid his respects to the Tongtian Sect Master and asked: "Dare I ask Teacher, what exactly did junior brother Xuanqing do? How did he attract Heavenly Dao Merit and prematurely condense the Innate Undying Spirit Light?"

"Please enlighten us, Teacher!"

The other disciples also paid their respects, hoping the Saint could resolve their doubts.

If the Dao of Xuanqing could be emulated by them, perhaps they too could attract the Heavenly Dao Merit.

After all, Nuwa creating humans brought Merit, Minghe Ancestor creating the Asuras always had Merit, The Three Pure Ones establishing sects had Merit, Minghe Ancestor founding the Asura Sect also attracted Heavenly Dao Merit.

Understand Minghe Ancestor, become Minghe Ancestor, surpass Minghe Ancestor!

That was the current thought of everyone present!

Creating humans and establishing sects, they didn't have the capability; but since Xuanqing's realm seemed similar to theirs, it made no sense that what Xuanqing could do, they could not!

Guang Chengzi said thus.

As a disciple of the Chan Sect, seeing Xuanqing steal the limelight naturally left him somewhat unwilling.

However, faced with that vast Heavenly Dao Merit, he could only envy.

Tongtian Sect Master took in everyone's expressions and then laughingly said: "This matter, I'm afraid you cannot learn! Merit requires the recognition of the Heavenly Dao!"

"Pangu births Taiji, the duality follows the Four Symbols!"

"Ever since the primordial times began, this has been the foundation upon which Heaven and Earth operate, and Xuanqing, based on the Four Symbols, evolved the Innate Eight Diagrams and the Acquired Eight Diagrams, greatly benefiting the perfection of the Heavenly Dao Laws!"

"Therefore, the Heavenly Dao bestowed Merit!"

"Perfecting the Heavenly Dao Laws is not an easy task, even for a Saint, who also needs opportunity to do what Xuanqing has just achieved!"

Ever since Hong Jun merged with the Dao, whenever a new Great Dao is born between Heaven and Earth, Heavenly Dao bestows Merit. When he elevated the Sword Dao to the Innate Great Dao, the Heavenly Dao also bestowed quite a lot of Merit upon him.

Additionally, when Taiching established the Alchemy Dao and Yuanshi established the Artifact Dao, the Heavenly Dao also bestowed Merit in the same manner.

This Scriptural Dao Merit, although not as great as the Sect-establishing Merit, was nonetheless sufficient to create a Daluo Golden Immortal.

Because, to become Daluo, one has to forge one's own Dao!

Seeing everyone fall into silence, the Tongtian Sect Master continued: "However, this pursuit, though difficult, is not impossible to achieve. You are all disciples of the Saint, studying the Saint's Great Dao day and night. If you can gain some insights and push the old to bring forth the new, evolving a few branches from the Saint's Great Dao, it is still possible!"

"Do not belittle yourselves!"

Upon seeing this, Yuanshi Tianzun also spoke: "Go back and cultivate earnestly! You are all elite of the Xuan Sect, and in the future, you will walk your own Great Dao paths!"

Taiching, the Elder, then looked at Xuanqing with a hint of appreciation and affirmed: "You, have done very well! From this day forth, our Xuan Sect has one more Thunder Skill!"

"The Grandmaster flatters me!"

Xuanqing promptly performed a bow: "Disciple only happened to be there at the right time!"

"Hmm!"

Taiching Laozi nodded with satisfaction and then said, "All my disciples, return to your cultivation! As for Xuanqing, come to the Taiching Palace later!"

"Yes!"

Everyone hurriedly took their leave.

And Xuanqing also nodded in agreement.

Soon, the various disciples scattered, each returning to their caves to contemplate the Great Dao. Following the Saint's decree, Xuanqing and Xuan Dou went to the Taiching Palace together.

In a flash of splendid light inside the palace, Taiching Laozi, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Tongtian Sect Master, the three Saints, arrived together, and the Taiching Palace was instantly filled with boundless Dao essence.

Clearly, some words were not suitable for the public eye, in front of the disciples of the three sects.

Xuanqing paid his respects in turn: "Disciple greets the Teacher, greets the Grandmaster, and greets the Second Master!"

"Dispense with the formalities!"

Taiching Laozi smiled and said, "Our private meeting this time is also about the matter of the Innate Yi Dao! Besides, it relates to your future cultivation in the Taiyi Realm!"

The Innate Eight Diagrams are evolved from the Innate Four Symbols, considered a derivation of the Four Symbols Dao, but the Innate Yi Dao is an existence that no less rivals the Innate Taiji Great Dao.

Taiyi is unchangeable, just like the Dao of Taiji, the Innate Yi Dao similarly balances Yin Yang, evolves the Four Symbols, and is one of the closest Daos to the origin of heaven and earth.

Taiyi, Tai Chu, Tai Shi, Tai Su, Taiji, collectively known as the Innate Five Tais, are the foundation of the universe, the origin of all things, representing the "Nothingness" from which existence springs!

If Taiji is considered as "Existence," then Taiyi represents "Nothingness." Together, they epitomize the universe's transition "from Nonexistence to Existence" and "from Existence to Nonexistence," aligning closely with the Great Dao Origin of The Three Pure Ones.

Yuanshi Tianzun represents "the beginning of all things," symbolizing creation, while Tongtian Sect Master represents "the end of all things," signifying conclusion, and Taiching Laozi is "the foundation of existence"!

Although Thunder Skill is just a branch of The Three Pure Ones' Dao, Xuanqing's ability to refine it also reveals to them a potential for integrating the Great Dao of The Three Pure Ones.

"Come!"

Taiching Laozi took the lead: "Strike at me with all your might using the Thunder Skill you have comprehended!"

"Yes!"

Xuanqing immediately obeyed, with mind moving intent, a flash of lightning crossed his hands, and a fierce thunderbolt transformed into a Thunder Dragon, assaulting the Taiching Laozi.

This thunderbolt was extremely fast, elusive like the fleeting trace of an antelope's horns, possessing the tranquility of the Taiqing Divine Thunder, the dominance of the Yuqing Divine Thunder, and the vastness of the Xuanqing Divine Thunder, beyond the capability of an ordinary Taiyi Golden Immortal to withstand.

But, it was faced by a Saint!

At the thought of Taiching Laozi, time and space seemed to stagnate, and the originally immense thunderbolt was restrained by the power of the Heavenly Dao just three feet in front of him.

Yuanshi Tianzun curiously examined the restrained Thunder Dragon and then turned to Xuanqing, saying, "This thunderbolt should have more than just one variation, correct?"

"Yes!"

Xuanqing nodded, his finger twitched slightly, and the originally restrained Thunder Dragon immediately split into three, separately morphing into the Taiqing Divine Thunder, the Yuqing Divine Thunder, and the Xuanqing Divine Thunder.

If it can merge, naturally it can also split!

From one Qi into the Three Pure Ones, and the Three Pure Ones returning to one Qi, it mirrors the endless cycle of heaven and earth, the unceasing flow of life, and even carries a hint of the power of creation, bestowing a touch of agility to the "Xuanqing Divine Thunder."

"Not bad!"

Even the usually solemn Yuanshi Tianzun couldn't help but exclaim in admiration.

The three of them scrutinized for a moment, seemingly grasping a crucial point, then each revealed a knowing smile and directly erased the three Thunder Dragons from the void.

Then, Tongtian Sect Master slowly spoke: "Alright, now let's talk about your future cultivation! Cultivation in the Taiyi Realm involves constructing myriad phenomena with the Innate Ancestor Qi, and your condensed Ancestor Qi has already metamorphosed into the Undying Spirit Light, so it naturally cannot proceed in an ordinary fashion!"

"Please enlighten me, Teacher!"

Concerning his future path, Xuanqing dared not take the slightest bit lightly.