"Ah?"

"More intense training?"

"Not just intense, it's doubled!"

The soldiers murmured complaints among themselves, yet all their faces were brimming with relaxed smiles.

After the last defense battle, Linhuan Pass had suffered nearly half of its forces in losses, paying a great price, relying on the heavy casualties of the soldiers to hold the city.

However, after that, Wen Zhong urgently recruited a new batch of soldiers.

After a period of training, he had already brought this army to the formidable number of 50,000.

It should be noted that the entire population of Linhuan Pass, including the surrounding villages and Human Race citizens, totaled only 500,000.

In other words, out of every ten people in Linhuan Pass, one had become a soldier.

This ratio was undeniably high.

After all, not all the citizens under Linhuan Pass were of working-aged labor; there were many who were too old or too young to take to the battlefield.

Nevertheless, to defend their homeland, they all enthusiastically signed up to join the army.

Wen Zhong, after discussing with Yu Yuan, even innovatively implemented a recruitment system.

To be a soldier, one could receive a military stipend!

In this era where the Human King commands the vassals, vassals command the nobles, and nobles command the slaves, the egalitarian recruitment system was indeed a pioneering initiative unlike any before.

To be a soldier and receive a military stipend!

The military stipend included but was not limited to one hundred dan of grain, a head of livestock, a bolt of cloth, and Spirit Pills exclusively for the soldiers' consumption!

Because most of these soldiers were formerly slaves before enlisting, though they could endure hard work, years of intense labor under the threat of hunger and cold had already exhausted their bodies.

If they were to undergo intense training now, it would be less effective and highly inefficient.

Thus, after recruiting a large army, Wen Zhong first began mass production of Body Refining Pills.

Such elixirs could slowly improve and enhance their physical bodies, increasing their potential.

After more than a month of recuperation, these soldiers had all been completely transformed, standing neatly arranged on the drill ground, truly resembling a formidable army.

And of course, the herbs needed for Alchemy were naturally supported by Yu Yuan's sponsorship.

Although Linhuan Pass was already showing signs of becoming a land of fortune, it was still far from being able to cultivate Spirit Grass.

However, Yu Yuan possessed countless Spiritual Elixirs and treasures of heaven and earth; even cultivating this entire army into Heavenly Soldiers and Generals was well within his means.

He attached such importance to these soldiers for good reason.

Recently, he gained new enlightenment regarding the Hongmeng Purple Qi.

Observing since the Creation of Heaven and Earth, all who achieved Sainthood possessed great Merit.

Relatively speaking, achieving Merit to Saint was a shortcut.

Many powers realized this.

For instance, the Sect Hierarch of the Netherworld Blood Sea, who by creating the Asura Clan and establishing the Asura Sect had amassed vast amounts of Merit.

However, he did not possess the entry ticket of the Hongmeng Purple Qi and ultimately failed to grasp the essence.

Yu Yuan had no such concerns.

Possessing Hongmeng Purple Qi, he already had the qualifications to achieve Sainthood; what he needed to do next was to amass a great amount of Merit, and accomplish a deed greatly beneficial to the Primordial Heaven and Earth.

Just like Nuwa creating the Human Race to complete the Three Powers, The Three Pure Ones establishing the Three Sects to promote enlightenment, Houtu transforming the cycle of reincarnation to enhance the Earthly Path...

Countless thoughts emerged in Yu Yuan's mind.

To achieve Sainthood!

These four words might seem easily spoken, yet enacting them was as difficult as a mortal ascending to the heavens in one step.

Furthermore, even after achieving Sainthood, one might not necessarily obtain one's wishes.

Nuwa created the Human Race, but she then withdrew from the Primordial world, dwelling in the Outer Heaven Chaos.

Houtu transformed the cycle of reincarnation, yet the steering of life and death was not in her hands, but under the Ten Hall Yama and the Savior Heavenly Venerate.

Even the Three Saint Emperors of the Human Path always resided in the Fire Cloud Cave, hardly ever stepping out.

Even Pangu God, after the Creation of Heaven and Earth, did not directly achieve Sainthood but exhausted his strength, perishing and transforming into the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, and the Earth.

From this, it can be seen that the ways of achieving Sainthood vary, and a wrong choice might fail to produce the desired effect.

Which path is the correct one?

Which one is more suited for him?

This is the question that Yu Yuan has been contemplating.

He possesses the Hongmeng Purple Qi, which essentially qualifies him for the status of a Heavenly Dao Merit Saint. Should he attain sainthood through the path of merit, he would assuredly become a Heavenly Dao Merit Saint.

While pondering, Yu Yuan slowly opens his eyes.

To become a saint essentially means to gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao.

It must be the same for Nuwa, Houtu, and Emperor Fu Xi.

Given this, there are but three known methods to earn the recognition of Primordial Heaven and Earth.

Firstly, it is to create new species like Nuwa, adding vibrancy to the Primordial.

Secondly, to become reincarnation like Houtu, instilling order in the Primordial and smoothing its operation.

Thirdly, adopted by The Three Pure Ones, the Western saints and the Three Emperors of the Human Path, which is to establish teachings and guide the orderly development of all beings in the world.

The first method would be unlikely for him to innovate any further.

Minghe Ancestor, too, has proven with his actions that simply creating a new race does not guarantee the approval of the Heavenly Dao.

The second method also doesn't suit Yu Yuan.

Apart from the fact that there are no glaring deficiencies in the current Primordial, even if such deficiencies were found, it would be impossible for him to sacrifice himself to rectify them. That way, even if he could attain sainthood, he might easily lose his sense of self.

Therefore, the only option left for Yu Yuan is the third method.

Cultivating teachings!

This is not a difficult task for him.

In fact, even before he received the Hongmeng Purple Qi, he was already planning this.

Back then, his purpose was to carve a new path for the Jie Sect, but now, it is so that he himself might achieve sainthood.

In his understanding, he needs to use Linhuan Pass as a foundation, spreading various advanced knowledge to make the entire Human Race and even all of Primordial flourish and grow powerful.

When that time comes, perhaps he will gain the recognition of the Heavenly Dao, and become a saint.

Of course, this is all but his speculation.

He has not yet fully comprehended the Hongmeng Purple Qi, and cannot obtain a definitive answer.

However, looking at the current situation, working in this direction is undoubtedly correct.

Besides, there is another matter that is causing Yu Yuan some concern.

That is the fact that Hierarch Tongtian has been away for a long time and there has been no news whatsoever.

Although he is a Saint, who should by all means be indestructible, the issue arises after communicating with Nuwa, that Yu Yuan has begun to doubt whether there might be problems with Zixiao Palace!

In the unfortunate event that his concerns are valid, the outcome of Hierarch Tongtian's journey is indeed unpredictable!

...

Chaos is like an egg, within it lies the Heaven and Earth, Qian Kun.

Boundless and hazy fog fills it, obstructing the vision of the beings inside from peering outward.

Riding on Kui Niu, Hierarch Tongtian advances through the chaotic fog without knowing how long he has traveled.

Aside from leaving markers along the way, he has been continuously on the move.

However, as Yuanshi Tianzun thought, Hierarch Tongtian's journey is ultimately in vain.

Zixiao Palace is the celestial court of Hong Jun Taoist Ancestor, and can only be perceived by others when he wishes to make it appear.

Even six Saints as powerful as they are can only follow a faint sense through the obscure void to catch trace clues, unable to truly predict when and where Zixiao Palace would appear.

Aimless searching like what Hierarch Tongtian is doing is destined to be fruitless.

Sure enough, he has walked for a long time without sensing the location of Zixiao Palace.

"Why does Master avoid and not see me?"

Unable to hold back, Hierarch Tongtian sighs lightly, his face filled with desolation.

Just then, a faint glimmer of light flashes through the chaos up ahead.

At the same time, Hierarch Tongtian feels a sudden and familiar sensation in his heart.

With a thought, he instantly moves to the vicinity of the light.

In an instant, his pupils sharply contract, showing an incredulous expression.

What fills his vision is none other than a Tao Palace in a state of complete disrepair!

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