Just as Taishang was unsure why Nuwa had suddenly made a move!
Zhenyuanzi arrived beside Taishang and said,
"Sect Master, you do not walk the path of a Heavenly Dao Sage, so you do not understand the intricacies. The reason Heavenly Dao Sages can achieve immortality and invincibility lies in these very words, 'Heavenly Dao.'"
"Entrusting one's divine soul is the most crucial aspect. What Jieyin said just now was to make the entire Primordial World aware, aiming to make Taihao hesitate during the process of entrusting his divine soul!"
"And judging by Taihao's reaction, he did hesitate! When a Heavenly Dao Sage achieves sainthood, as their divine soul is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, their physical body must bear the weight of the world as their soul is severed and moves towards the Heavenly Dao."
"This is a mutual exchange. After achieving sainthood, the Heavenly Dao bears our divine souls, and during the process of achieving sainthood, we bear the weight of the Heavenly Dao. The body of the Heavenly Dao is, in essence, this world!"
Upon hearing this, Taishang finally understood and said,
"Is becoming a Heavenly Dao Sage that difficult?"
Zhenyuanzi shook his head and replied,
"It's not difficult, nor is it easy. If one does not hesitate midway, almost anyone can entrust their divine soul to the Heavenly Dao! But if one hesitates, it becomes difficult!"
Taishang looked at Zhenyuanzi and asked,
"What do you mean by that?"
Zhenyuanzi said,
"As we bear the weight of the Heavenly Dao, its burden increases progressively! The longer it takes, the heavier it becomes. This was Jieyin's objective; all Taihao needed to do was waver, and the weight of the Heavenly Dao would crush him!"
Hearing this, Taishang's face darkened. He had just assured Nuwa that he would not let Taihao face any trouble, and now he was being proven wrong instantly!
With a worried look towards Taihao, Taishang asked Zhenyuanzi,
"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, in your estimation, what are Taihao's chances of achieving sainthood?"
Zhenyuanzi sighed and replied,
"If Jieyin had not interfered, it would have been a hundred percent. After Jieyin's arrival, although Fellow Daoist Nuwa reminded him promptly, it was too late. The chances are now less than twenty percent!"
Taishang quickly inquired,
"Is there no way to remedy this?"
Zhenyuanzi nodded and said,
"This can only depend on himself. Others cannot help him!"
Hearing this, Taishang looked at Taihao. Could it be that Taihao was destined to fail? With less than a twenty percent chance of success, Taishang did not believe Taihao would have such exceptional luck!
So, Taishang addressed Taihao,
"Taihao, take a good look. Your sister is being bullied by Jieyin. Aren't you going to do something about it?"
Jieyin: ??????
Jieyin had no idea what madness had possessed Taishang. He hadn't even touched Nuwa, yet Taishang was accusing him of bullying her?
It wasn't that Jieyin was incapable of defeating Nuwa, nor was he feeling guilty. It was because Jieyin feared that if he were to act, Taishang and Zhenyuanzi would also intervene, which would be highly disadvantageous to their brethren!
Taishang spoke again,
"Taihao, Zhunti has also joined the fray! How shameless of them, ganging up to bully your sister! Aren't you going to act!"
"Taihao, this is bad! Jieyin's Jieyin Banner is about to strike your sister! Oh no, Zhunti's Seven Treasures Tree has made your sister's face unrecognizable!"
Jieyin: ??????
Zhunti: ??????
Zhenyuanzi: ??????
Nuwa: ??????
Zhunti couldn't fathom why Taishang was speaking such blatant falsehoods. Wasn't he standing right here? How had it come to pass in Taishang's words that the two of them were almost beating Nuwa to death?
Upon hearing Nuwa's voice, Taihao immediately took action. However, he found that the effortless feeling he had before was gone. Instead, he felt as if a mountain was pressing down on him!
Just as Taihao was about to succumb, Taishang's voice suddenly reached him. Taihao felt as if a volcano had erupted within his heart, and he roared,
"Those who touch my sister die! All of you die!"
Taihao, who had been losing strength, suddenly stirred again and strode towards the white light that symbolized the Heavenly Dao!
Taishang spoke to Zhenyuanzi,
"Fellow Daoist, come! Shout like I did just now!"
Zhenyuanzi heard this and felt a sense of embarrassment. This...
Taishang did not give Zhenyuanzi time to react and said,
"Whether Taihao succeeds depends on you now!"
Zhenyuanzi heard this and asked,
"This can help Taihao succeed?"
Taishang nodded and replied,
"Yes!"
Then, Taishang directly unleashed his technique of "One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones." Taiqing and Yuqing, wielding the Coiled Dragon Staff and the Profound Yellow Pagoda respectively, joined Nuwa and Jieyin on the battlefield.
As for Taishang and Shangqing, they held the Vajra Ring and the Taiji Diagram and moved to attack Zhunti.
Neither Jieyin nor Zhunti had expected Taishang to possess such divine abilities, being able to manifest three saints of the same cultivation level as himself. Wasn't this blatant cheating?
Under the combined might of Taiqing, Yuqing, and Nuwa, Jieyin was put under immense pressure. As their coordinated attacks grew fiercer, Jieyin found himself in perilous straits.
Zhunti was not faring any better. Facing Taishang and Shangqing alone, he was also in a desperate situation. The Taiji Diagram wielded by Shangqing and the ring in Taishang's hand were particularly devastating.
As Zhunti was about to unleash his Seven Treasures Tree, Taishang coldly sneered and said,
"I have been waiting for you for a long time!"
With those words, Taishang tossed his Vajra Ring, which promptly confiscated Zhunti's newly unleashed Seven Treasures Tree.
Zhunti suddenly found himself disconnected from his natal spiritual treasure and let out a scream, saying,
"Taishang, return my Seven Treasures Tree!"
Taishang ignored Zhunti and threw the Vajra Ring towards Jieyin, confiscating Jieyin's Jieyin Banner and the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit.
Jieyin immediately let out a cry of anguish. While other spiritual treasures were acceptable, the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit was the foundation of his Western Teachings; if it were lost, the Western Teachings would be finished! He immediately cried out,
"Taishang, return my spiritual treasures!"
Taishang sneered and replied,
"You two almost ruined the saintly fruit of my Daoist sect. Taking only three of your spiritual treasures is already being lenient. You still want more spiritual treasures?"
Zhenyuanzi, watching the spectacular battle unfold, interjected,
"Taihao, this is bad! Fellow Daoist Nuwa has been struck and spat blood!"
"Taihao, this is bad! Jieyin's Jieyin Banner is about to strike Fellow Daoist Nuwa's divine platform!"
As soon as Zhenyuanzi finished speaking, a sage's might emanated from Taihao. Everyone felt this aura and a thought arose in their minds!
Taihao! He had achieved sainthood!