"This is the Primordial Purple Qi, the foundation of the Great Dao and an indispensable treasure for attaining sainthood."
"When heaven and earth first opened, I collected seven strands. Today, I shall bestow one upon each of you!"
Within the Purple Cloud Palace.
With a turn of Hongjun's palm, seven strands of Primordial Purple Qi floated before him.
Chen Ku's expression shifted at the sight.
The Dao Ancestor was bestowing the Primordial Purple Qi?!
He had assumed the Primordial Purple Qi had long since been distributed, and that before harmonizing with the Dao, Hongjun merely intended to leave everyone with a few final instructions.
Yet unexpectedly, Hongjun had waited until the end of his third sermon before finally bestowing the Primordial Purple Qi?
On second thought, Chen Ku soon understood.
That was right!
Chen Ku was hardly unfamiliar with this.
After all, Dao Ancestor Hongjun was already preparing to use the Harmonization Method.
That meant the era of Saints was about to begin.
In other words, only after confirming that he could harmonize with the Dao did Hongjun choose the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Jie Yin and Zhun Ti to succeed him as Saints, spreading the teachings and doctrine of the Mystic School in his stead.
And the recipients of the Primordial Purple Qi were just as Chen Ku had known.
The first four strands fell into the hands of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa. The four of them offered their grateful thanks, which needed no further mention.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti watched with burning eyes. They had thought that, just as with the previous bestowal of treasures, the two of them would be ignored outright.
Yet Hongjun turned to look at them.
"Jie Yin, Zhun Ti!"
"You shall each receive one strand of Primordial Purple Qi."
"This... may be considered repayment for the karmic debt owed to the West."
Unlike with the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, Hongjun deliberately spoke those words when addressing Jie Yin and Zhun Ti.
The karmic debt to the West ought to be settled at last.
Hearing this, Jie Yin and Zhun Ti froze for a moment before bursting into joy.
"This disciple thanks Dao Ancestor Master!"
How could Jie Yin and Zhun Ti still care about Hongjun's words of "repaying karmic debt"?
With the Primordial Purple Qi in hand came the hope of attaining sainthood in the future.
The two hurriedly bowed in thanks, then eagerly accepted their respective strands of Primordial Purple Qi.
At this moment, the remaining great powers had long since become fervent with anticipation.
"Hehe, good thing we didn't chase after those spiritual treasures earlier."
"This Primordial Purple Qi is the greatest opportunity of all."
One great power muttered this, prompting the others to nod in agreement.
Primordial Purple Qi!
It was a treasure that could allow one to attain sainthood.
It was no exaggeration to say that even a thousand spiritual treasures could not compare to a single strand of Primordial Purple Qi.
Everyone looked at Dao Ancestor Hongjun with expectant eyes.
However, after bestowing six strands of Primordial Purple Qi, Hongjun swept his gaze across the crowd and fell silent, speaking no further.
Seeing this, everyone exchanged confused looks.
Was that the end of it?!
Other than the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jie Yin, and Zhun Ti, was no one else fated to receive the Primordial Purple Qi?!
With that thought, the great powers hurriedly spoke up, unable to contain themselves.
"Dao Ancestor above, please grant me a strand of Primordial Purple Qi."
"Saint, in your wisdom, please grant me hope of attaining the Dao."
"In the future, this disciple shall surely extol the Saint's merits and enlighten all living beings."
"..."
Everyone clamored over one another, unable to conceal the desire and greed in their eyes.
After all, according to Dao Ancestor Hongjun, only the final strand of Primordial Purple Qi remained.
Whoever obtained it would depend on their own fortune.
At the side, Chen Ku appeared rather calm and made no plea.
There was no other reason!
Chen Ku knew that destiny had already been decided. No matter what everyone said, even if they knelt and begged with tears, it would be useless.
Or rather, given enough time, he might gain the strength to rewrite destiny and seize treasures by force.
But for now, he was still far from capable of that.
Moreover, as he watched the three thousand great powers grow feverish, shouting the Dao Ancestor's name and even making all manner of promises, Chen Ku revealed an imperceptible sneer.
Weren't you great powers all so arrogant before, looking down on my master and martial uncle?!
In the end, the benefits simply weren't great enough!
Now that the Primordial Purple Qi is before you, who can truly remain indifferent?
How are you people, begging so desperately and clinging on so shamelessly, any better than Jie Yin and Zhun Ti?!
Ridiculous!
Chen Ku sighed thus in his heart.
Hongjun had clearly anticipated the pleas of all living beings.
He ignored the requests of the great powers and merely sighed to himself.
Then, with a wave of his hand, the final strand of Primordial Purple Qi immediately rose and fell, mysterious beyond comprehension.
"This final strand of Primordial Purple Qi has its own destined owner!"
"Everything is determined by destiny!"
Sure enough, with the words "determined by destiny," Hongjun left the many great powers present speechless.
After all, a Saint's words were decrees, supreme and unquestionable.
Moreover, the unseen workings of destiny were what countless great powers feared most.
For a time, the vast Purple Cloud Palace sank into an eerie silence.
Everyone stared fixedly at that strand of Primordial Purple Qi, as though they had forgotten even to breathe.
Hongjun nodded in satisfaction at the sight.
Then, with another wave of his hand, the Primordial Purple Qi floated through the void, drifting above the heads of the three thousand great powers.
It was being allowed to choose its own master!
In an instant, the three thousand great powers held their breath, their eyes nearly popping out of their sockets.
"Choose me, choose me!"
"If I obtain this strand of Primordial Purple Qi, I shall surely stand on equal footing with the Three Pure Ones and the rest in the future."
"Heavens, bless me and let this final strand of Primordial Purple Qi fall into my hands."
Unable to suppress the intense anticipation in their hearts, everyone could not help muttering such words under their breath.
Some gazed at it in yearning!
Some cried out!
Some even wore devout expressions as they secretly prayed.
It was truly a display of all manner of living beings!
Only Chen Ku secretly laughed to himself.
"This Dao Ancestor Hongjun is quite skilled at stirring up everyone's emotions."
"And this way, since it is all according to fate, the great powers will not resent Dao Ancestor Hongjun."
"Truly ingenious..."
Just as Chen Ku was quietly marveling to himself.
The final strand of Primordial Purple Qi finally drifted down.
Its direction was unmistakably toward Duke of the East.
Duke of the East was instantly overjoyed.
Was this Dao Ancestor Hongjun's special favor toward me, the leader of the male immortals?!
Around him, the experts of the Celestial Court were equally ecstatic.
After all, if this strand of Primordial Purple Qi truly fell into Duke of the East's hands, the Celestial Court's strength, status, reputation, and everything else would surely soar by leaps and bounds.
Amid the envious or jealous gazes of the crowd.
Duke of the East already looked as though victory was assured, laughing as he spoke.
"Haha, thank you, Dao Ancestor—"
However, before he could finish, the Primordial Purple Qi that had been hovering above his head suddenly flashed with spiritual light and shot away in another direction at lightning speed.
The smile on Duke of the East's face froze abruptly, and the words he had yet to say were swallowed back down.
Celebrating too soon?
That was embarrassing!
He stood there dumbfounded, his face cycling between green and red in a truly spectacular display that made everyone struggle not to laugh.
However, no one had the leisure to mock Duke of the East right now.
If they were honest, anyone in his place would likely have reacted the same way.
Besides, since the Primordial Purple Qi had yet to choose a master, that meant they still had a chance.
Countless gazes continued to follow the Primordial Purple Qi's movements.
After leaving Duke of the East's head, it flew toward another figure.
That figure was none other than Kunpeng!
Seeing this, Kunpeng, whose expression had still been somewhat gloomy, suddenly became excited as well.
Could it be that I have the opportunity to become a Saint?!
Kunpeng could not help thinking.
Before you continue