Chapter Seventy-Two: Nuwa Ascends to Sainthood

At last, after a millennium of the great calamity of the primordial Weak Water, it was banished without a trace by Lady Nuwa's basin of "Five-Colored Jade Elixir." When they saw that the vast hole above no longer poured water below, everyone finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Yet, witnessing Nuwa patching the sky brought joy to their hearts, but in their delight, they let their guard down and exhaled deeply, causing their spiritual powers to be severely depleted. Their bodies trembled atop the clouds, and the auspicious clouds supporting their feet grew thin and fragile. Thus, they all tumbled down from the heavens.

Taishang Laojun and Tongtian had just arrived; the four of them joined forces to employ their powers and promptly moved Yuanshi Tianzun and the others to a safe region. The cultivators finally cheered in celebration. This was the first collaboration among the various forces of the primordial world—a rare sight indeed.

Just then, the heavens suddenly radiated with dazzling light, and the lands below, which had been eroded by the Weak Water, burst forth with golden lotuses blooming everywhere. Soon after, a Dharma Wheel appeared—the Wheel of the Heavenly Dao. Without much ceremony, it descended, releasing boundless merit upon the heads of all present.

Among them, Lady Nuwa received the most. Not only was the Cauldron of Heaven and Earth hers, but she had also crafted the Five-Colored Jade Elixir and led the sky-mending endeavor, thus earning abundant merit. Previously, Nuwa's cultivation was only at the mid-stage of the Golden Immortal of the Great Luo, a middling level among the cultivators. But now, absorbing the merit, she instantly advanced to the realm of the Primordial Golden Immortal, inspiring much admiration.

While the cultivators were still immersed in the joy of merit and restoring their powers, they suddenly sensed a majestic force compelling them to bow in reverence. Looking up, they saw it was none other than Lady Nuwa herself.

Everyone tried to withstand this overwhelming aura, but the pressure of a Primordial Golden Immortal was not so easily resisted. First, Minghe and Zhenyuanzi could not hold out and prostrated themselves on the ground, unable to move. The Three Pure Ones, along with Jieyin and Zhunti, struggled bitterly to withstand it.

Tongtian fared better than the other four, having already severed two aspects of himself—Good and Evil—each holding significant positions, with plenty of merit and fortune, giving him confidence.

In contrast, Taishang Laojun, Yuanshi Tianzun, Jieyin, and Zhunti had their legs bending under the pressure, but they desperately circulated their own power to resist it.

At this critical moment, Tongtian realized that if they all knelt before Nuwa, she would enjoy unrivaled prestige in the days to come. He cried out, "Lady Nuwa, if you do not awaken now, when will you?"

Tongtian was secretly amazed. In his previous life, he had seen the Saints in the Investiture of the Gods wielding wind and rain with ease, full of spirit and confidence—he had envied them deeply. Yet, in the primordial world, even Pangu, a Saint himself, could perish; to survive eternally here, one must always calculate carefully. Thus, Tongtian shouted out.

If Nuwa did not awaken from his shout, even if everyone knelt now, they would remember his deed; if she did awaken, she and those present would be grateful to him for preserving their dignity.

A shrewd calculation indeed!

Tongtian’s words seemed effective. Lady Nuwa abruptly opened her eyes, seeing the crowd bowing to her, and felt the changes in her own cultivation. She then withdrew her aura.

Lady Nuwa addressed the assembly: "Today I, Nuwa, have finally attained the realm of the Primordial Golden Immortal. Henceforth, I shall await your visits in the ‘Nuwa Palace’ above the Ninth Heaven." With that, she vanished without a trace.

After Nuwa departed, Zhunti muttered, "So arrogant! When we become Saints, let’s see if she can still hold her head high!" Jieyin, noticing Zhunti's words were too provocative, quickly tugged his sleeve.

At that moment, an angry snort echoed in Zhunti’s heart, causing him to spit blood involuntarily. Jieyin immediately realized Lady Nuwa was displeased and quickly addressed the sky, "Lady, please forgive this fool; he speaks without thinking and deserves punishment. I shall discipline him thoroughly when we return."

The clouds drifted overhead, the wind still blew; nothing else happened.

Everyone now understood the power of a Saint: as long as there was slander in heaven and earth, the Saint could sense it and respond.

The Three Pure Ones had recovered their powers and addressed the crowd: "Now that Lady Nuwa has attained the Dao, let us pay our respects at the ‘Nuwa Palace.’"

The cultivators recalled Nuwa’s formidable presence and felt a surge of apprehension.

"Absolutely, absolutely."

"Indeed, I would gladly join my fellow Daoists."

Flattering voices erupted everywhere, each vying to be heard, though some renowned figures remained silent, as if Nuwa’s attainment had dealt them a heavy blow.

Without further ado, the crowd soared toward the "Nuwa Palace" beyond the heavens.

At the gates stood a child, wearing a Circlet of Heaven and Earth, draped with the Chaos Sash, standing atop Wind-Fire Wheels, and holding a Flaming Spear. Everyone recognized him immediately: the famous "Third Prince Nezha" of later generations, though for now, just a gatekeeper at Nuwa Palace.

Tongtian saw the attire and manner and knew who he was. He stepped forward and said, "Are you Ling Zhuzi, child?"

Nezha had not yet reincarnated, so he was still Ling Zhuzi.

"May I ask who you are, elder?" Ling Zhuzi, with a sly twinkle in his eye and a smile, replied to Tongtian.

"We have come to pay respects to Lady Nuwa," Kunpeng stepped forward to answer.

"Hmph, my master has no wish to see the likes of you—self-serving and ungrateful!" Ling Zhuzi, a rosy-cheeked child dressed so adorably, inspired both compassion and affection.

"Exactly, how could such a person meet a Saint?" Instantly, everyone turned on Kunpeng, who, thoroughly frustrated, flew away from Nuwa Palace and returned to his own lair.

The exchange between Ling Zhuzi and Kunpeng was but a minor episode. Soon, the group paid their respects to Lady Nuwa and departed.

Tongtian now understood that the Three Pure Ones and Jieyin and Zhunti’s grand aspiration to attain sainthood was not far off. He himself was not eager to attain the Dao so soon, but destiny could not be defied. When suppressing the Black Dragon, Ancestor Hongjun had told the Three Pure Ones that he would soon merge with the Dao, and that suppressing the Black Dragon required the Saints to channel their power, or else the dragon would resurface.

Yet Tongtian had no residence—what was he to do?

As if sensing his troubles, a voice called out, "Master, are you troubled about finding a place for your abode?!"