End of Second Lecture, Houtu's Question!

Laozi's breakthrough seemed to press the start button, and immediately after, a sharp gleam flashed in Venerable Yuanshi's eyes as the Yuqing Pearl burst into seven-colored rosy clouds.

He placed his Good Thought into the pearl, and a solemn-faced incarnation clad in brocade robes slowly materialized, bowing and saying, "This humble Daoist Yuqing greets the original."

Yuanshi gave a slight nod, then also withdrew the incarnation, his Quasi-Saint aura spreading forth, sharper than Laozi's.

Sect Master Tongtian was even more unrestrained; he casually took out the Shangqing Pearl and merged it into his Primordial Spirit.

Immediately after, an incarnation in a black robe with a defiant gaze leaped out and declared loudly, "This humble Daoist Shangqing greets the original!"

The clash of sword chants and Quasi-Saint aura interwove, carrying a hint of unrestrained, murderous Dao resonance.

Nuwa was not slow either; she produced the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Three-Spiral Ring of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and infused her Good Thought into it.

Soon after, a gentle, graceful incarnation in a pink dress emerged and said softly, "This humble Daoist Nuwa greets the original."

The incarnation's aura was soft, yet carried the profound weight of Creation Force, also elevating Nuwa's cultivation to Early Quasi-Saint.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, each taking out a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure to house their Good Thoughts.

Then, one incarnation in an earth-yellow monk's robe and another in a gray Daoist robe appeared in succession.

Their Quasi-Saint auras bore the unique withered quality of the Western lands, yet they had truly stepped into the Quasi-Saint realm.

In the following thousand years, Quasi-Saint auras erupted one after another within the hall.

Dijun, holding the River Diagram and Luo Book, brought out the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Sun Essence Wheel, placed his Good Thought into it, and successfully broke through to Early Quasi-Saint.

Taiyi also took out a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, placed his Good Thought within, and broke through to Quasi-Saint!

With these two leading the way, all others who could break through promptly brought out their Innate Spiritual Treasures to do so.

Just as everyone was rejoicing over their Quasi-Saint breakthroughs, a gentle surge of Ren Water Spiritual Qi suddenly erupted.

The Gold-Edged Purple Mist around Jade Pool abruptly contracted, transforming into a blue pillar of light that shot straight to the hall's ceiling.

The Twelve-Petal Pure World White Lotus spun above her head, and the purifying light specks shed by its petals continuously seeped into her Primordial Spirit.

After a moment, the pillar of light dissipated. Jade Pool opened her eyes, her aura now stabilized at the mid-stage Golden Immortal of the Origin, heavier and more profound than before.

"Junior sister has advanced!" A look of relief flashed in Haotian's eyes. Just as he was about to offer his congratulations, his own aura suddenly surged upward.

The flowing light of Space Law around him churned violently, and the phantom images of his three incarnations—Lingxiao, Youming, and Fengyin—clearly manifested.

Lingxiao's spatial blade carved fine cracks in the void, Youming's Youming Chain coiled with faint yin fire, and Fengyin's Wind Flute emitted a crisp, clear ring.

"Boom—" An aura far surpassing Quasi-Saint exploded forth—it was the peak of Golden Immortal of the Origin!

The golden runes within the hall all converged toward Haotian, merging into his Primordial Spirit, and even the Dao resonance left by Hongjun in the hall seemed to tremble.

This sudden breakthrough plunged everyone in the hall into instant silence. The Three Pure Ones' eyes were filled with envy.

Because they had been slower on the Way of Grand Unity, although they had stepped into Quasi-Saint, they had severed the natural path to charging toward Golden Immortal of the Origin.

But Haotian and Jade Pool had always walked the orthodox path of Unity of Law and Self. Now, one at the peak of the Origin realm and the other at mid-stage, they even had a future chance to impact the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin.

Dijun and Taiyi were also secretly astonished, calculating in their minds whether they should find an opportunity to befriend Haotian and Jade Pool.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance, both seeing urgency in each other's eyes.

The West was already barren; if they did not raise their strength quickly, they might struggle to even secure a foothold in the future.

But everyone merely sighed inwardly; no one dared to show any discontent.

Haotian's talent and cultivation were plain to see. Jealousy was useless and would only offend this core disciple of the Mystic Gate.

Thus, after a brief moment of inner reflection, everyone settled back down to comprehend.

And so, the final few hundred years quietly passed amid the blessing of the Dao Sound.

As Hongjun's Dao Sound suddenly ceased, the golden lotuses and Purple Qi gradually dissipated.

His gaze swept over everyone in the hall, and his voice remained utterly indifferent as he spoke.

"This session of preaching is concluded. In ten thousand years, come again to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear my third discourse."

"Your disciples take their leave!" Everyone rose, bowed respectfully, and prepared to depart.

But just then, Houtu, who had been at the back, suddenly stepped forward.

She wore a beast-hide robe characteristic of the Witch Clan, her face carrying a hint of worry, yet she still bowed deeply toward the high platform.

"Your disciple Houtu of the Witch Clan has a matter I do not understand and wishes to seek guidance from the Dao Ancestor. I humbly ask the Dao Ancestor to resolve my doubt."

Everyone in the hall immediately halted, looking curiously at Houtu.

The Witch Clan attained sainthood through the physical body and did not value the Primordial Spirit. This Ancestral Witch had always been steady, yet today she took the initiative to ask the Dao Ancestor for guidance. What could it be?

Hongjun was silent for a moment. His gaze rested on Houtu briefly, and his tone was no longer as indifferent as before, but carried a hint of emotion as he said.

"The worry in your heart concerns the future survival of the Witch Clan. I already know."

"But the path of the Witch Clan lies not with me, nor with any other great power, but with yourself."

"With myself?" Houtu was startled, her brow furrowing even more tightly. She was about to ask what he meant by "with yourself,"

when she saw Hongjun's figure flicker slightly, and he had already vanished from the high platform, leaving only a faint trace of Dao resonance behind.

"This..." Houtu stood in place, her heart full of confusion, unable to grasp the deeper meaning of the Dao Ancestor's words.

The Witch Clan had no Primordial Spirit, unable to slay their corpse or easily comprehend the laws of the Great Dao—where exactly did their future path lie?

Most of those within the hall also wore expressions of confusion, exchanging glances with one another.

"What does the Dao Ancestor mean by this? How could Ancestral Witch Houtu's doubt lie within herself?"

Zhenyuanzi frowned in thought, and beside him, Hongyun shook his head, clearly not grasping it either.

Only Haotian's eyes flickered with a trace of understanding.

He knew that in the future, Houtu would transform her body into the cycle of reincarnation. The Dao Ancestor's words were a hint for her to seek the path of bearing the responsibility of reincarnation through her own form.

But he did not point it out—this was Houtu's opportunity, and she needed to comprehend it on her own.

Houtu was stunned for a moment, then ultimately let out a helpless sigh. She turned and walked toward the hall's exit, pondering the Dao Ancestor's words as she went.

Seeing that there was no more excitement to be had, the crowd also left the Purple Cloud Palace one after another.

The Three Pure Ones traveled together back to Kunlun Mountain, preparing to sort out their path after slaying their corpse.

Dijun and Taiyi, leading the core of the Demon Race, hurried back to the Sun Star, intending to use their Quasi-Saint strength to integrate more tribes.

Jieyin and Zhunti, however, were filled with worry, discussing how to revive the West as quickly as possible.

Haotian and Jade Pool lingered at the very end, watching the departing figures of the crowd, preparing to return to Penglai Immortal Island in the East Sea.

The third sermon, ten thousand years later, would be the true key to the Primordial Violet Qi and the structure of the Primordial Wilderness. They needed to use this time to further solidify their cultivation.

Thus, seeing that everyone had left, the two took out the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud and sat upon it.

Before long, the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud carried them, transforming into a streak of light as it departed from the Purple Cloud Palace.