With Laozi establishing the Human Sect (Ren Jiao) and attaining Sainthood (achieve sainthood), the framework for human cultivation was finally complete.
Before the emergence of the Human Race, the living beings of the Great Desolation were born with immense spiritual foundations. Most began their journey at the Earth Immortal realm, progressing to Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Profound Immortal, and finally Golden Immortal.
But for humanity, a new, lower ladder was formed. The journey was split into four preparatory stages:
Refining Essence into Qi
Refining Qi into Soul (Qi Refining Soul Transformation)
Refining Soul into Void (Spirit Refining)
Refining Void into Dao (Void Refining Dao)
These four stages were further divided into nine major realms and thirty-six minor levels. Only after crossing this grueling gauntlet could a human reach the rank of Human Immortal, and only then could they begin the climb toward Earth Immortal and beyond. While most primordial beings were born as Earth Immortals, a human had to crawl through the mud of mortality just to reach the starting line.
Shouyang Mountain
"So this is a Saint..."
Laozi whispered to himself, feeling the vast changes within his being. Secrets of the universe that were once shrouded in fog were now as clear as spring water. With a halo of Heavenly Merit (Karma) crowning his head, he descended slowly into the human tribe and stood before Zi Wei.
He offered a holy, serene smile. "Are you willing to become the first disciple of my Human Sect?"
Even with his aura suppressed, Laozi radiated an indescribable, transcendent grace. He had been rejected before, but he assumed that witnessing a literal ascension would have changed the boy's mind. After all, if he opened his doors to disciples now, the line would stretch from Shouyang Mountain all the way to Mount Sumeru in the West.
Zi Wei stared at the Saint, his eyes wide for a long moment. Then, he slowly shook his head.
Some deep, primal instinct within him recoiled. It was a rejection born of his very nature.
Laozi's smile faltered. Even the humans watching from the shadows were slack-jawed with shock.
"Truly... a piece of rotten wood that cannot be carved," Laozi sighed, shaking his head. He turned and walked away. To offer a second chance was already an act of immense mercy; he would not offer a third.
Finding a stray Green Ox from somewhere, he sat astride it and began to wander through the human lands, his gaze fixed on the distant Yujing Mountain.
The Ascension of the Brothers
The world had barely finished processing Laozi's ascension when the Heavenly Dao roared again. Mirages and auspicious signs stretched for hundreds of millions of miles. A river of Heavenly Merit (Karma) cascaded from the void above Yujing Mountain like a celestial waterfall.
A majestic voice boomed throughout the cosmos:
"I am the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu, Yuqing Yuanshi! Today, I establish the Chan Sect! In accordance with the mandate of heaven, I shall elucidate the Heavenly Dao! I use the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner, to suppress its Luck!"
The heavens responded instantly. A deluge of Merit poured down, fusing with the Primordial Violet Qi and the Pangu Creation Karma within Yuanshi's body. A boundless Saintly pressure swept across the world, cowing all living souls.
The Great Powers of the world were stunned. Two Saints in such a short window? But the shocks weren't over. Tongtian's voice followed immediately, leaving the onlookers utterly speechless.
"I am Shangqing Tongtian! Today, I establish the Jie Sect! The Great Dao consists of fifty paths; the heavens manifest forty-nine, leaving a single 'Stray Thread' of life! I establish the Jie Sect to claim that 'Stray Thread' for all living beings! I use the Immortal Slaying Swords as the treasures of my sect!"
The sky rumbled a third time. The Merit that had seemingly been drained by Yuanshi surged forth again, drenching Tongtian. His aura climbed vertically, breaking through the final barrier to become an eternal, indestructible Saint.
Pangu Temple
Inside the ancestral hall of the Witches, the Ancestral Witches had collapsed into their seats, their faces masks of hollow despair.
The Sanqing had all ascended. It was like a dream—or a nightmare. A single Saint could have turned their entire race into ash. Three was simply beyond comprehension.
"Big Brother... is there still a turn of events?" Xuan Ming asked, her usual cheerful face clouded with dread.
"One Saint or three... for us, there is no difference," Di Jiang replied, his voice sounding like he was at a funeral. "Things cannot possibly get any worse."
A heavy silence fell over them. Qiang Liang clenched his fists. "Damn it! Why does our Witch race have no Saint?"
In the back, Hou Tu sat in silence, her beautiful face etched with sorrow as she pondered the same question. Why?
The New Invincibility
Yuanshi felt his Saintly body. He felt light, as if he could drift away into the stars. His Divine Thought was transparent; in a single heartbeat, he could observe the entire heavens. He saw the birth and death of stars in his eyes as if eons were but a passing moment.
"This... this is the feeling of being invincible."
"From this day forth, I am eternal. I shall not perish through ten thousand tribulations. The light of the sun and moon cannot reach my heights; the longevity of heaven and earth cannot compare to mine!"
Yuanshi's eyes flashed with brilliant light that could pierce the Nine Heavens. He felt a soaring, heroic confidence. Everything was within his grasp. He was the Dominator, the Sovereign of all souls.
"Heh... Ling Xiao. Now that I am a Saint, the Karma of the past shall be settled, one account at a time."
He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression majestic and his brow etched with a cold, haughty resolve.
"Haha! Congratulations, Second Brother, on achieving the Primordial Chaos rank and eternal freedom!" Tongtian approached, stowing his aura and offering a bow of congratulation.
"The same to you, brother," Yuanshi replied, his mood grand. All the petty bickering of the past seemed to vanish in the light of their new power.
Soon, Laozi arrived on his green ox. The three brothers stood amidst a sea of celestial light, sharing their mutual triumph.
"Congratulations, Big Brother, on achieving an eternal, indestructible Dao-body."
"The same to you both," Laozi replied with a smile.
Their long-standing frustration had mostly been vented. But a final knot remained in their hearts.
"Big Brother, Third Brother," Yuanshi said, his eyes glinting with a lethal chill. "Now that we are Saints, it is time to settle the scores of the past."