Chapter 670: So-called Universal Salvation, World-Purifying Glaze

True Monarch Pu Du made no mention of the enmity between Xu Yunfan and Qingyuan. He only pointed out that Qingyuan had obstructed Xu Yunfan’s path and plotted against his foundation, framing the matter as Xu Yunfan eliminating a scourge for the Sect. This stance instantly elevated the situation, pulling Xu Yunfan completely into the Primordial Sect’s core circle of interest.

Moreover, what Xu Yunfan found most unsettling was that while True Monarch Pu Du’s actions were ostensibly Daoist, they were Buddhist in practice.

As if sensing the doubt in Xu Yunfan’s mind,

a slight smile appeared on True Monarch Pu Du’s face.

“Do you think my methods are rather similar to those monks from the Puchen Pure Land?”

Xu Yunfan said, “Please enlighten me, True Monarch.”

True Monarch Pu Du said, “This is not something from the Buddhist Sect. It is merely the aura of the Daoist Technique manifested by my sanctum’s Imagery—Universal Salvation and World-Purifying Lapis Lazuli.”

His gaze seemed to pierce through the great hall’s glazed roof, looking off into the distance.

“This lapis lazuli-like ambition isn’t for the sake of compassion, but for the purification of the world. I have a dream: for there to be peace under heaven. This became my obsession, and in turn, the Imagery for my path to the Dao. I seek to wash away the filth that has accumulated in the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm and eradicate all hostile energy. Then, all disputes will naturally cease, and only then will a truly pure path of cultivation be possible.”

Hearing this, Xu Yunfan had so many retorts he didn’t know where to begin.

‘It was as comical as a girl who frequents nightclubs, with who knows how many men passing through her room daily, yet she looks you in the eye and solemnly insists she’s a pure, innocent maiden, and all those men were just ‘playing games’ with her.’

Xu Yunfan followed up, “I wonder, True Monarch, what is your Dao about?”

True Monarch Pu Du said faintly, “For lapis lazuli to purify the world, it must ultimately bring universal salvation to all people.”

Good heavens.

Xu Yunfan finally understood what True Monarch Pu Du meant.

‘Killing everyone is also a form of universal salvation, a way to create a world of pure lapis lazuli.’

‘This Imagery was nothing short of terrifying.’

‘Now that he understood, Xu Yunfan felt the man before him was completely insane.’

Xu Yunfan gave a dry laugh as a response but said nothing more.

True Monarch Pu Du didn’t seem to mind and gave a slight nod.

“You are now a Golden Core True Monarch and a member of the Sect’s upper echelon. Several of our Primordial Sect’s Nine Great Immortal Mountains are currently vacant. You may choose one to be your sanctum.

Divine Sky Peak is good, but it is ultimately just a Spirit Peak. Its foundation is not as deep as an Immortal Mountain’s, and it can hardly support the evolution of a True Monarch Level Grotto Heaven.”

Xu Yunfan’s heart stirred upon hearing this.

The Nine Great Immortal Mountains were the very foundation of the Primordial Sect. Their Spiritual Qi Origin was abundant and their Law was stable, far beyond what an ordinary Spirit Peak could compare to.

Possessing an Immortal Mountain as a sanctum would be of immense benefit to the process of Nurturing Heaven and evolving a Grotto Heaven.

He quickly said, “I have only just entered the Golden Core realm. I ask for the True Monarch’s guidance. Which Immortal Mountains are available to choose from?”

“You are also a True Monarch now. You can simply call me Senior Brother.”

True Monarch Pu Du said casually.

Xu Yunfan readily complied.

“Senior Brother.”

“Of the Nine Immortals Mountain, aside from my Chenghua Mountain, Junior Sister Dongming’s Profound Evil Mountain, and Pure Source Mountain, which has mostly collapsed along with Qingyuan…”

True Monarch Pu Du’s tone was flat, as if he were discussing a trivial matter.

“…Purple Void Mountain, Jade Palace Mountain, Celestial City Peak, Youhuang Valley, and Blood Soul Cliff remain vacant. You can use your heart to sense them and choose the one that resonates most with your Divine Sky Dao Rhyme.”

Xu Yunfan was a little surprised. “Senior Brother, does the Sect only have three True Monarchs now?”

‘That was even fewer than he had imagined.’

‘Qingyuan was dead, Dongming was still here, and including himself… True Monarch Pu Du had just admitted it.’

“Indeed.”

A complex, almost imperceptible expression flickered across True Monarch Pu Du’s face. He sighed softly and said, “Back then, I was a bit impulsive in my haste to consolidate my Imagery.

In the golden age of the Taihua Spirit Ruins Realm, our Sect controlled four mountains, and we had five or six True Monarchs.

However, the path of the Dao is fraught with peril. With internal strife and external calamities over the past millennium, we have dwindled to this state. New blood is scarce, and the old guard is trapped in their own struggles.

Junior Brother Xu, your successful attainment of the Golden Core is truly a blessing of the Sect’s destiny.

I hope you will cherish this position, cultivate diligently, and also think of the Sect’s future.”

Xu Yunfan understood.

‘Limited resources, scarce Dao Fruits, internal power struggles, external pressure, and the uncertainty of the cultivation path after Golden Core—all these factors led to the sharp decline in the number of True Monarchs in the Primordial Sect.’

‘As the Controller, True Monarch Pu Du’s pressure must be immense.’

‘He, a newly ascended True Monarch, had undoubtedly become the subject of high hopes. At the very least, he was crucial new blood and a reinforcement to the Sect’s strength for now.’

Of course, Xu Yunfan could surmise the meaning True Monarch Pu Du wished to convey. But as for what the True Monarch was *really* thinking, Xu Yunfan had his reservations.

‘The disciples of the Primordial Sect were mostly selfish.’

‘Those who could form a Golden Core had surely climbed to their position over the bodies of others; a single general’s success is built on ten thousand corpses.’

‘And now here was True Monarch Pu Du, acting all compassionate and worried about the Sect’s future.’

‘Xu Yunfan felt he was laying it on a bit thick.’

“I will remember the True Monarch’s teachings, and I will certainly cultivate with all my might so as not to disappoint the Sect.”

Xu Yunfan stated solemnly.

A satisfied smile appeared on True Monarch Pu Du’s face. He offered Xu Yunfan some words of encouragement, which were just the usual high-sounding platitudes about diligently cultivating the Great Dao, guarding against arrogance and impatience, the Sect being one body, and members watching out for each other.

Xu Yunfan lowered his head and listened respectfully, but his mind was racing.

‘The man was an old monster who had lived for who knows how many years. It was best just to listen to such words and not take them to heart.’

Seeing that nearly everything that needed to be said had been said, Xu Yunfan remained standing respectfully in place, showing no intention of taking his leave.

True Monarch Pu Du’s gaze shifted slightly, and the smile on his face deepened a fraction. “Junior Brother, you seem to have some lingering doubts? Are you facing any confusion in your cultivation? Feel free to speak. We are both True Monarchs now; discussing the Dao and clearing up confusion is a common practice.”

‘That was the sentence he’d been waiting for.’

Xu Yunfan relaxed inwardly, but he deliberately put on a hesitant expression, as if he had something difficult to say. After a moment, he spoke in a probing tone, “I do have one matter that leaves me feeling uneasy, Senior Brother. I’m not sure if I should bring it up.”

“Speak freely,”

True Monarch Pu Du said.

Xu Yunfan took a deep breath, as if mustering his courage, putting on a full display for show.

“When I was attaining the Dao, by a stroke of fortune, I… seized the Taiyin Profound Mirror Dao Fruit…”

He deliberately stressed the word “seized,” observing True Monarch Pu Du’s expression carefully as he spoke.

‘As expected. These old codgers who had lived for who knows how many years had such excellent control over their expressions that it was impossible to read anything on his face.’

“I later heard that this Dao Fruit seemed to have some connection to you, Senior Brother. My actions were truly a desperate act of self-preservation. Thinking back on it now, I feel deeply uneasy and terrified that I may have offended you.”

‘The question was extremely cunning.’

‘It was true that True Monarch Pu Du had his eyes on the Taiyin Profound Mirror Dao Fruit and had laid plans for it. And it was also a fact that Xu Yunfan had taken advantage of the situation to his own benefit.’

‘By bringing it up himself and adopting an apologetic posture, he was, one, probing True Monarch Pu Du’s true attitude, and two, bringing a hidden conflict out into the open.’

‘If True Monarch Pu Du became furious, he would have to immediately start thinking of an escape plan.’

‘If the other party tolerated it, it meant either the fruit wasn’t as critical to him as Xu Yunfan had imagined, or he had weighed the pros and cons and decided that making a move against him would do more harm than good.’

The smile on True Monarch Pu Du’s face faded for an instant, but in the next moment, his compassionate and peaceful expression returned.