Purple Heaven Palace Gathering, Competing for Cushions

Hongjun waved with a smile. "Cultivation ultimately depends on oneself. That you can walk the Great Path is already a tremendous opportunity."

"However, cultivation also requires balancing work and rest. There's no need to remain trapped in training forever."

"Many mighty figures of the Primordial Wilderness will come to listen to this sermon. Once it concludes, go explore the Primordial Wilderness and learn more of the changes between heaven and earth."

"For now, go on my behalf to the entrance of the Purple Xia Palace and welcome them."

"Disciple obeys!"

Haotian and Jade Pool acknowledged the order, turned, and walked to the platform before the Purple Xia Palace. There they waited while slowly cultivating.

Though their master had just advised them not to train constantly.

But this gray, murky Chaos held nothing worth seeing. They might as well cultivate. If this were the Primordial Wilderness, it would be different.

Thus, once they calmed their minds, streams of spiritual energy began gathering around them.

The phantom avatars of Lingxiao, Netherworld, and Fengyin flickered in and out of visibility.

The auras of Space, Reincarnation, and the Wind Law interwove, forming an invisible barrier that isolated the dangers of Chaos outside.

A thousand years passed like this, until several distinct auras came from afar.

One was heavy as the great earth, carrying an auspicious purple energy from the east.

One was pure and noble like an azure cloud, exuding solemn dignity. One was sharp as a sword's edge, concealing unrestrained freedom.

Haotian and Jade Pool looked up and saw Laozi, Venerable Yuanshi, and Sect Master Tongtian approaching atop auspicious clouds.

Behind them followed Nuwa and a man dressed in a green robe.

"Greetings to three senior brothers, Senior Sister Nuwa, and Daoist Fuxi." Haotian and Jade Pool stepped forward and courteously bowed.

"Junior Brother Haotian, Junior Sister Jade Pool." The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa nodded slightly.

The latter stepped forward with a smile, pulling the green-robed man beside her.

"Junior Brother Haotian, Junior Sister Jade Pool, this is my elder brother Fuxi. I have specially brought him to hear the Dao Ancestor's teachings, hoping it may aid his breakthrough."

"Greetings to Daoist Haotian, Daoist Jade Pool." Fuxi stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute.

Though his aura was only at Late Grand Unity, it carried a warm, innate Dao Charm.

Haotian and Jade Pool nodded in return, then turned their gazes to the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.

"Esteemed senior brothers and sister, the six cushions at the front of the Purple Xia Palace conceal hidden mysteries. You should strive with all your might to seize them when the time comes."

The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa's hearts tightened. They had already suspected that the front-row cushions at the Dao Ancestor's sermon were no ordinary seats.

Now that Haotian had revealed it, they were even more certain that opportunity lay within. They all nodded in acknowledgment.

Then they calmed their minds to wait. But if they hadn't calmed down, it would have been fine. Once they did, they were stunned.

Because at this moment, they truly sensed the cultivation levels of Haotian and Jade Pool for the first time.

Though Jade Pool's aura was clear and pure, they could vaguely discern the outline of an early Golden Immortal of the Origin.

But Haotian's aura was as unfathomable as a deep pool. Though he stood right before them, it felt as if he were separated by endless space.

They could only sense a pressure far beyond that of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

This feeling... it reminded them of the sensation they had when meeting Old Ancestor Yin Yang and Old Ancestor Qiankun before the War of Dao and Demons.

"Junior Brother..." Laozi began, weighing his words as purple energy rippled faintly around him.

"Might I ask what cultivation level you and Junior Sister Jade Pool have now reached?"

Haotian was prepared and smiled as he cupped his hands. "I was fortunate enough to break through to the mid Golden Immortal of the Origin."

"Junior Sister Jade Pool has just reached the early stage as well. All thanks to our master's guidance and the nourishment of Chaos Spiritual Energy."

He deliberately concealed his late-stage cultivation, so as not to discourage the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa too greatly.

But when these words reached the ears of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, they exploded like thunder.

They had been stuck at the peak of Grand Unity for thousands of Yuanhui, unable even to touch the threshold of breakthrough.

Yet these two junior siblings had already stepped into the Golden Immortal of the Origin!

The fly whisk in Laozi's hand paused. Venerable Yuanshi's fingers tightened slightly around the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi.

Sect Master Tongtian's eyes went wide, his voice carrying a hint of disbelief. "Junior Brother... you have already reached the Golden Immortal of the Origin?"

Nuwa was also shaken. She had cultivated in the same generation as the Three Pure Ones and knew well the difficulty of breaking through Grand Unity, let alone a realm like the Golden Immortal of the Origin.

For a moment, a mix of emotions churned within them—shock, envy, and a trace of regret.

If they had stayed longer by the Dao Ancestor's side to cultivate, perhaps they too could have obtained such an opportunity.

But they were, after all, the senior figures of the Xuan Sect. They did not show too much.

They merely cast a complex glance at Haotian and Jade Pool, then sat cross-legged on one side of the platform, quietly waiting for the others to arrive.

Another thousand years passed like this, as one by one, auras came through Chaos.

Dijun and Taiyi arrived with Bai Ze and others of the Demon Race, their bodies wrapped in the blazing heat of True Sun Fire.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun walked side by side, the auras of the Ginseng Fruit and Auspicious Cloud intertwining.

East King Duke and West Queen Mother drove their Immortal Chariot, the aura of the Yin Yang Law flickering faintly.

The North Sea Kunpeng transformed into human form, a black robe exuding chill; Blood Sea Minghe brought his Two Protectors, his blood light restrained yet still hiding a fierce brutality.

As these figures neared Purple Xia Palace, they were all shaken by the unfathomable aura radiating from Haotian.

That pressure was far beyond what a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal could possess, and even peak Zenith Heaven experts like Dijun and Taiyi felt a pang of wariness.

None dared act rashly; they stepped forward one by one to offer greetings, then sat cross-legged on the other side of the platform, no one daring to speak out of turn.

Another thousand years passed, and more and more people had arrived from the Chaos, but after this point, few new figures appeared.

Haotian understood in his heart that most of those who could cross the Chaos in the Primordial World were Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.

Even if not, they likely relied on extremely powerful treasures to make the journey.

Those who had yet to arrive were either lacking in cultivation and dared not enter the Chaos, or had been swept away by a Chaos Storm midway.

Or perhaps they were the two from the West, Jieyin and Zhunti.

Though the pair were not yet renowned, they would surely come, but the distance was great, so they would probably be the last to arrive.

Thinking this, Haotian decided to let these people enter first.

Thus, he formed a hand seal with his fingers, and the Chaos Airflow began to surge.

The gate of Purple Xia Palace, forged from Chaos Crystal, slowly swung open.

Beyond the gate, a thousand rays of rosy light shone, Dao resonance flowed, and countless Cushions could be faintly seen arranged inside the palace.

The six Cushions at the very front radiated a dense Origin Aura.

"Go!" Laozi barked in a low voice, his purple aura surging as he flew toward the palace first.

Yuanshi and Tongtian followed closely behind; the Three Pure Ones' auras linked together, forming an invisible barrier that blocked the others.

Nuwa pulled her elder brother Fuxi, her Seven-colored Rosy Clouds blazing, her speed no slower as she followed right after the Three Pure Ones.

Dijun and Taiyi tried to rush forward and contend, but were forced back by a Sword Qi from Tongtian.

Though Tongtian was carefree, he still protected his senior brother and junior sister, unwilling to let outsiders seize the front-row Cushions.

Inside the palace, the Three Pure Ones relied on their profound cultivation to land steadily on the first three Cushions. Laozi took the first, Yuanshi the second, Tongtian the third.

Nuwa, using Fuxi's cover, dodged Kunpeng's sneak attack, seized the fourth Cushion, and shot Kunpeng a furious glare.

Kunpeng's eyes turned slightly cold; his form turned into a black shadow, instantly flashing past Hongyun, and he sat firmly on the fifth Cushion.

Hongyun reacted a beat slower but still evaded Minghe's Blood Claw and landed on the sixth Cushion.

The others, though regretful, dared not act recklessly inside Purple Xia Palace.

The Dao Ancestor had yet to appear; fighting here would be no different from provoking his wrath.

Dijun, Taiyi, Zhenyuanzi, East King Duke, West Queen Mother, and other experts could only find seats on the rear Cushions.

Minghe stood in a corner with a dark expression, his gaze locked onto Hongyun, clearly bitter about failing to snatch a Cushion.

Haotian and Jade Pool did not compete for the Cushions; instead, after everyone had taken their seats, they slowly walked to the entrance of Purple Xia Palace, quietly waiting for the Dao Ancestor and any last possible arrivals.

The Dao resonance within the palace grew ever denser. Everyone held their breath, their gazes fixed on the high platform at the front, anticipating the appearance of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.