Nuwa Wreaks Havoc at Purple Cloud Palace

Hongjun's face flushed red with fury.

He was about to begin his lecture, already a Sage in status, yet Nuwa—though she was that person's disciple—dared to show him such disrespect. She even wanted to kill him outright?

But looking at the dozens of Wooden Tokens floating above his head, he felt a chill of fear.

He had already experienced the power of those tokens firsthand.

Now, seeing them again, his heart was filled with dread.

Yet by now, Hongjun had figured out how the tokens worked.

With a single thought, all the tokens flew into his hands.

When he looked at Nuwa again, her body was completely immobilized.

Nuwa sensed the change in herself.

Completely frozen in place, she glared at Zhunti before her.

Her face was full of rage.

Hongjun spoke at that moment.

"Nuwa, do not stir up trouble while I am lecturing. Sit quietly and listen to the Dao!"

After saying this, he seemed to take control of Nuwa's body, and she obediently sat down on the cushion.

Then he looked at Zhunti and Jieyin, a trace of helplessness on his face.

Those two—why provoke anyone, let alone Nuwa?

He had restrained Nuwa for now, but retaliation from her later was inevitable.

Killing her had crossed his mind.

But Nuwa was fated by destiny and still that person's disciple.

If he made a move, that person would come knocking, and he would be the one to suffer.

For now, he could only swallow his anger.

Once she completed her heaven-ordained task and he succeeded in merging with the Dao, he could settle the score then.

Hongjun had waited from the chaos until now—his patience was absolute.

He could even be called the embodiment of forbearance.

Seeing this, Yuanshi stepped forward and bowed to Hongjun.

"Sage, this woman disrupted the lecture at Purple Cloud Palace and spoke such treasonous words. Please mete out punishment!"

The matter might have ended there, but Yuanshi suddenly butted in.

Thinking back to Yuanshi's earlier antics, Hongjun felt a flicker of irritation.

This guy really had no fear of death!

Still, what he said wasn't wrong—if Nuwa had no backing, Hongjun might have acted.

But she had a master of unknown cultivation depth. If he did anything, they could all lie down and wait for death.

"This is Purple Cloud Palace, and I am a Sage. I give you all a warning: do not cause trouble recklessly. This matter ends here."

"Your seats are settled as they are. No one may fight over or change them."

With these words, he sealed the fate of Zhunti and Jieyin—they would not sit on the cushions.

Then, looking at Nuwa again, his mind was full of fury.

If not for that person, the tide of destiny would not allow this woman to be so arrogant.

How wonderful that would be.

Now, with this Nuwa, he was completely helpless. Aside from scolding her, he dared not make a move.

Yuanshi, hearing this, felt a sinking in his heart.

Beside him, Laozi seemed to sense something and closed his eyes, sitting quietly to await Hongjun's lecture.

Nuwa, sitting there, was equally furious and even secretly regretted it.

"Damn it, I forgot the token had to be activated myself. I should have triggered it right away and not given him the chance."

After saying this, she made a mental note.

From now on, unless necessary, she would not show off—she would act directly.

Thinking of her master, who seemed to act first in every situation.

He never spoke much, always saying others talked too much.

This time, she hadn't inherited her master's approach well and had been a bit impulsive.

Sitting there, she nodded, committing this lesson to memory.

She had lost this round. Next time, she would not let it happen again.

Anyway, he had come out ahead this time, having snatched countless treasures from Hongjun.

When this sermon ended, he simply wouldn't come next time.

After all, could this sermon possibly surpass the Daoist Canon his own master had compiled?

The realm of the Grand Unity Immortal recorded within—that was the true state worth yearning for.

After a moment, Nuwa dismissed the matter entirely. With a cold snort, she sat cross-legged on her cushion and began to cultivate.

During the sermon, everyone in the Purple Cloud Palace who had witnessed this spectacle couldn't help but marvel at Nuwa's good fortune.

She had spoken such treasonous words and yet faced no consequences at all.

But a few others had different thoughts.

Laozi, at that moment, was deep in contemplation.

When those Wooden Tokens had appeared earlier, Hongjun's face had shown shock, as if he feared their power.

And as a Sage, to be so humiliated—if there were no deterrent, he surely wouldn't have let such rebellious words pass without response.

This could only mean one thing: Hongjun was wary of something.

What could a Sage be wary of?

His mind churned with thoughts, and then he recalled Nuwa's master.

The aura Nuwa had displayed earlier clearly showed she had taken a step beyond them, the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.

That level of cultivation should only be known to Sages, the Ancestors of the Three Tribes from the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, or the Demon Ancestor Luohu.

Putting it all together, Laozi deduced a possibility.

Nuwa's master was the root cause of Hongjun's wariness.

Those Wooden Tokens had also been bestowed by Nuwa's master.

But why would a Golden Immortal-level cultivator make Hongjun so cautious?

Nuwa had mentioned that her master was a Golden Immortal.

Could a Golden Immortal provoke such a strong reaction from Hongjun?

It seemed unlikely, yet the scene before him clearly told him it wasn't impossible.

After a brief moment of thought, Hongjun looked at the Purple Cloud Palace, sighed, and then began to speak.

"Let the sermon commence!"

He closed his eyes and slowly started to preach.

The crowd also gathered their focus and began to listen intently.

For a time, everyone in the Purple Cloud Palace wore varied expressions, but all were entranced.

Only at the very back, a woman sat scratching her head, her face full of confusion.

She couldn't understand this Dao.

But as she looked at Nuwa seated at the front, admiration welled up in her heart.

Her Witch Clan had once feared nothing under heaven.

Yet here in the Purple Cloud Palace, she had to behave herself, for this was a realm they had never understood.

Sage!

But this Nuwa had dared to speak such bold words. She couldn't help but silently applaud her spirit.

If not for the ongoing sermon, she would have gone up to strike up a conversation.

Such a domineering person, as bold and unrestrained as the Witch Clan—she absolutely had to befriend her.

Still, she had some questions she wanted to ask this Sage, so she held back and sat quietly.

"When the sermon ends, I must definitely get to know her."

Having made up her mind, she listened to the lecture that sounded like a heavenly scripture and began to grow drowsy.

Gradually, she simply lay down on the ground and fell asleep.