Chapter 173: Chapter 171: The Taoist Patriarch Lays a Cunning Trap Chapter 173: Chapter 171: The Taoist Patriarch Lays a Cunning Trap Kunpeng, having received the imperial edict from Di Jun along with a talisman, headed to the depths of the Celestial Realm.

Though the talisman flew swiftly, Kunpeng’s speed was not slow either. The ancient sages spoke of “soaring up ninety thousand li,” but those ancients writing books always preferred hyperbole, so this ninety thousand li is naturally an exaggeration. This lord of myriad demons could span much more than ninety thousand li with a single flap of his wings—perhaps even two hundred and ninety thousand li! Yet, even with such speed, he barely caught up with the talisman.

After flying for three whole days, the white clouds of the Celestial Realm whizzed past him, and tiny cracks began to appear in the void before him, leaking small amounts of Chaotic Aura. However, these were quickly repaired.

Before long, he saw a white-robed Taoist and Di Jun sitting cross-legged on the ground, ingesting Golden Cores and stabilizing the spatial cracks, with a vast Mountains and Rivers Map spread out before them as if it covered the entire heaven and earth. Kunpeng felt an overwhelming surge of Great Dao Magical Power which made him want to prostrate in reverence. Only when the Qian Kun Dual Energies within him circulated, could he dispel the terrifying sensation.

“Heavenly Emperor,” Kunpeng bowed respectfully as he approached Di Jun.

“This is Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch,” said Di Jun to Kunpeng.

Kunpeng was inwardly shocked and turned to bow to Hong Jun as well, thinking to himself, “It seems that my elevation to sainthood is no deception.”

Kunpeng said, “Kunpeng pays his respects to Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch.”

Hong Jun said, “Dispense with the formalities.”

Di Jun and Hong Jun were suppressing the void, their embodiment a manifestation of the Dao that sent shivers down anyone’s spine. Kunpeng felt extreme discomfort all over.

“Kunpeng, do you know the maximum number of Heavenly Dao Saints that this heaven and earth can accommodate?” Di Jun spoke indifferently.

“Are there limits for Heavenly Dao Saints?” Kunpeng couldn’t help but inquire.

“Naturally,” Di Jun replied.

“Xuan Ming, Three Pure Ones, Amitabha, Zhun Ti, Lu Ya, Luo Hou… that already makes eight,” Kunpeng carefully calculated and then said, “Perhaps the limit is nine? Nine is the supreme number.”

Di Jun nodded and said, “You guessed correctly. The heaven and earth can only harbor nine Great Dao Sages. This is not because there are Heavenly Dao Laws imposing this limit, but if a tenth sage were to appear, there would be a significant karmic entanglement among the ten sages, and inevitably, one would fall.”

Kunpeng said nothing.

“Now that Sun Wukong’s ascension to sainthood is a certainty,” Di Jun sighed, “if he becomes a sage, then it will be difficult for others in this heaven and earth to attain sainthood. Given that there can only be nine sages, if he becomes one, then the path to sainthood for anyone else will be much harder. Hong Jun Taoist Patriarch and I have discussed and decided to make you a saint, to reach the ultimate tally of nine. This will make the path to proving the Dao tougher, but I believe he can still manage. Once we eliminate Lu Ya, we will have exactly nine.”

Kunpeng was shocked once again. So this was Di Jun’s scheme—wanting him to ascend to sainthood in order to complete the count of nine Heavenly Dao Saints. Sun Wukong would then inevitably be the tenth person to achieve sainthood—but with great karmic entanglements among ten saints. Knowing Sun Wukong’s nature, he certainly wouldn’t let Lu Ya off the hook. With Xuan Ming’s support and his own, and with the Three Pure Ones restraining the two other saints of the Buddhist Sect, Lu Ya was doomed for sure!

“What a clever plan!” Kunpeng was inwardly astounded.

He couldn’t help but steal a glance at the Taoist Patriarch Hong Jun, who seemed carefree and unconcerned with worldly affairs, simply focusing on stabilizing the void. Yet, he too held some resentment towards those traitors. Who wouldn’t harbor hatred for betrayals of such nature? It was one thing to bolster the Western Religion, but to then audaciously attempt to seize the fire of the Taoist Sect was a betrayal of the faith itself. How could he, the Patriarch of the Taoist Sect, allow such insolence to stand?

If Wukong became a saint, the Buddhist Sect would surely crumble, and the very foundations of Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti would be destroyed. Then with the death of Lu Ya, only two saints would remain—paling in comparison to the Three Pure Ones of the Taoist Sect.

After all, if the heavens and the earth could only sustain nine saints, what harm was there in any excess falling?

Di Jun asked with a smile, “Would you agree to become a saint?”

Kunpeng nodded eagerly, responding, “I am willing, naturally willing!”

Who wouldn’t want to become a saint? Even if it meant being used by others, he was willing! Besides, this did not harm himself; Hong Jun was plotting against the traitors Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti Taoist to strangle Lu Ya, leaving the Three Pure Ones to suppress the Buddhist Sect.

It was also because the Three Pure Ones preached non-action and allowed the Buddhist Sect to grow unchecked. By the time they realized action was needed, they discovered that their opponents had already grown in strength.

“Good, then you shall become a saint!” Di Jun proclaimed.

“How can I become a saint?” Kunpeng inquired.

This was when Hong Jun finally spoke, “There are four methods to become a saint. First, Slaying the Three Corpses; second, accumulating Merit; third, breaking through the Heavenly Dao Laws by force; and fourth, carving out your unique Dao.” He sighed after these words, “To realize the Dao by force has only been achieved by Pangu since ancient times. However, when he later attempted to prove the Great Dao by force, he was repelled and perished.”

Pangu had forced his way to become a Heavenly Dao Saint and later attempted to force his way to Great Dao Sainthood, but was repelled by the Great Dao and perished as a result.

“There is one more method, which is to be born with an Innate Taoist Body, naturally destined to be a saint. Like Di Jun, born within the fiery eyes of the sun, a saint from birth; like the Nine Heavens Profound Lady, nurtured by the Heavenly Dao Laws, a saint at birth,” Hong Jun explained.

Kunpeng couldn’t help asking, “Then how can I become a saint?”

Hong Jun reached out into the void and grasped a wisp of Qi, saying, “This is Hongmeng Purple Qi, bearing the merit of creating the world and the Great Dao of Primordial Unity. Take it to comprehend, and I’ll gift you nine thousand strands of Creation Merit, and then you can become a Heavenly Dao Saint.”

Kunpeng accepted the Hongmeng Purple Qi with great joy and said, “Thank you, Taoist Patriarch!”

After speaking, he opened his mouth to inhale, drawing the Hongmeng Purple Qi into his belly. The Golden Core circulated, and the Hongmeng Purple Qi immediately adhered to it.

“Nine thousand strands of Creation Merit, catch them well!” Hong Jun formed a spell with both hands and expelled a bright golden light from his mouth.

Kunpeng dared not slack off, spitting out his Golden Core that hung in the void. The nine thousand strands of merit, thread by thread, wrapped around the Golden Core, encasing it completely. Then, fine lines began to appear on the Golden Core, one for each strand of merit, and after the full time it takes an incense stick to burn, all nine thousand strands of merit were absorbed, and the Golden Core bore nine thousand lines of merit.

Kunpeng then retracted the Golden Core into his belly, and the Hongmeng Purple Qi immediately clung to it, nearly merging with the Golden Core as he felt his mana continuously rising!

It was an extremely comfortable sensation, like ascending to immortality, flying higher and higher, his body becoming lighter and lighter.

“I’m finally going to become a Saint!” Kunpeng was ecstatic.

However, Di Jun sternly said, “Do not rejoice yet, first secure your inner self, entrust your Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao, and obtain the Heavenly Heart Seal.”

Kunpeng naturally did not dare to neglect, operating his Primordial Spirit, pinching a spell with his hands, he then peered into the changes of the Heavenly Dao. A wisp of his Primordial Spirit detached and approached the laws of the Heavenly Dao, which sucked it in like a black hole. A Heavenly Dao Law then descended, settled inside Kunpeng’s Golden Core within his body, leaving a mark.

“The Heavenly Heart Seal is formed, and my Primordial Spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, have I become a Saint?” Kunpeng asked.

He now asked with a feeling of having all things in the world in his grasp, an overlooking sensation towards all beings, feeling that he knew everything and could do anything! Everything under heaven was in his sight!

Di Jun smiled and said, “You have become a Saint, but your Golden Core has not yet perfectly rounded out.”

Upon advancing from Daluo Golden Immortal to Primordial Golden Immortal, the Golden Core would produce a Primordial Dao Fruit, containing the Qian Kun Dual Energies. Generally speaking, it can still be called a Golden Core, yet it was only Sun Wukong who transformed his Golden Core into a Golden Lotus, without a Primordial Dao Fruit emerging.

“The Qian Kun Dual Energies give birth to all things. Although you’ve become a Saint, this Golden Core needs further refinement to comprehend the included Qian Kun Dual Energies,” Kunpeng said.

Di Jun responded, “It’s good that you understand. Even though you have become a Saint, you must not be negligent. You possess the Qian Kun Dual Energies, who knows, one day you might gain a thorough understanding and thoroughly comprehend the Great Dao, achieving the status of a Great Dao Saint.”

Kunpeng replied, “Heavenly Emperor, you flatter me.”

Hong Jun said to Kunpeng, “Now that you’ve become a Saint, remember not to act rashly, to avoid breaking the rules and causing all the Saints to fight, which would result in chaos. Also, keep your saintly ascension low-key. After descending from the Celestial Realm, go straight to your Bei Ming deep sea and do not come out, do not let anyone notice, lest others guess my plan. For all matters, simply let your disciple, the Golden-Winged Great Peng King, handle them. If he perishes, there’s still the Deification Platform, isn’t there?”

Kunpeng naturally did not dare to disobey Hong Jun’s will. Even Di Jun, who had achieved Great Dao Saint status, had immense respect for Hong Jun, let alone Kunpeng who had just newly achieved Heavenly Dao Saint status and had yet to adjust his mindset!

“I will obey the Taoist Patriarch’s decree,” Kunpeng bowed and said.

“You may go for now, we will summon you if needed,” Hong Jun stated.

Kunpeng acknowledged and flew away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Di Jun said, “Sun Wukong’s need to kill Lu Ya is an inevitable part of the plan, otherwise the strategy to create a Saint will come to an early end.”

Hong Jun agreed, “One must give to receive.”

Di Jun laughed, “Exactly as the Taoist Patriarch says, one must give to receive!”

Hong Jun sighed, “You have also felt it, this part of the void is becoming increasingly unstable. Only our combined efforts are keeping it suppressed. It’s less than eight thousand years until the calamity of the Primordial Cycle, and I hope that in this time, more outstanding figures emerge and the score of sects contend. Otherwise, come the calamity, I fear we will struggle to protect them.”

Di Jun retorted, “Life and death are fated, wealth and rank are in our own hands. Humanity shall prevail over fate!”

Hong Jun also laughed, “Humanity shall prevail over fate.”

The purpose of summoning Kunpeng was to aid in his saintly ascension and then to lay a trap. When the time comes for Wukong to kill Lu Ya, the various Saints will certainly not stand by idly. Those who see benefits will make their move, and those who offer help will assist. Given Xuan Ming’s temperament, he will definitely make a move. Then, Amitabha Buddha and Zhun Ti will find an excuse to act. When Kunpeng makes a surprise attack and the Three Pure Ones intervene, the Buddhist Sect will be doomed to fail.

With Lu Ya dead, the Buddhist Sect will no longer be able to balance the Three Pure Ones. In the long run, their decline is then inevitable.

Whether the actions of Hong Jun and Di Jun were a blessing or a curse was unknown.

To find out what happens next, please stay tuned for the next chapter. (To be continued. If you like this work, I invite you to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)