Laozi's breakthrough seemed to press a starting key, and immediately following him, a sharp light flashed in Venerable Yuanshi's eyes as the Yuqing Pearl bloomed with seven-colored rosy clouds.
He entrusted his good thought within the pearl, and a manifestation dressed in brocade robes with a majestic visage slowly emerged, bowing as he said, "This poor Daoist is Yuqing, greetings to the original body."
Yuanshi nodded slightly, subsequently putting the manifestation away as his early Quasi-Saint aura permeated the air, sharper than Laozi's.
Sect Master Tongtian was even more unconstrained, casually taking out the Shangqing Pearl and merging it into his primordial spirit.
Immediately after, a manifestation clad in black robes with rebellious eyes leaped out, loudly proclaiming, "This poor Daoist is Shangqing, greetings to the original body!"
Sword hums and the Quasi-Saint aura intertwined, carrying a Dao rhythm of untamed slaughter.
Nuwa was not slow either, taking out the top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Three-Spiral Ring of Heaven, Earth, and Man, and pouring her good thought into it.
Following closely, a manifestation in a pink skirt and a gentle demeanor emerged, softly saying, "This poor Daoist is Nuwa, greetings to the original body."
The manifestation's aura was gentle yet carried the heavy sensation of the power of creation, also elevating Nuwa's cultivation to the early Quasi-Saint realm.
Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other, each also taking out a high-grade innate spiritual treasure to entrust their good thoughts.
Subsequently, the manifestations of two Daoists—one in an earth-yellow monk robe and one in a gray Daoist robe—appeared here one after the other.
The two men's Quasi-Saint auras carried the withered feeling unique to the Western Territory, yet they also solidly stepped into the Quasi-Saint realm.
In the millenniums that followed, the Quasi-Saint auras within the hall erupted one after another.
Holding the Luo Book, Dijun took out the top-grade innate spiritual treasure, the Sun Essence Wheel, entrusting his good thought within it to successfully break through to the early Quasi-Saint stage.
Taiyi also took out a top-grade innate spiritual treasure, entrusted his good thought to it, and broke through to the Quasi-Saint realm!
With the two of them taking the lead, others capable of breaking through successively took out innate spiritual treasures to break through.
Just as everyone was rejoicing over breaking through to the Quasi-Saint realm, a wave of gentle Ren Water spiritual Qi suddenly erupted.
The gold-edged purple mist surrounding Jade Pool suddenly contracted, transforming into a blue pillar of light that soared straight toward the ceiling of the hall.
The Twelve-Petal Pure World White Lotus rotated above her head, and the purifying light dots scattered from the lotus petals continuously seeped into her primordial spirit.
A moment later, the pillar of light dispersed, Jade Pool opened her eyes, and the aura around her body had stabilized at the mid Golden Immortal of the Origin, heavier than before.
Junior Sister has advanced! Haotian's eyes flashed with gratification, and just as he wanted to open his mouth to congratulate her, his own aura also suddenly climbed.
The flowing light of the space law around his body violently surged, and the phantom images of the three manifestations—Lingxiao, Youming, and Fengyin—appeared clearly.
Lingxiao's space blade carved fine cracks in the void, Youming's Youming chain wound with faint nether fire, and Fengyin's wind flute emitted a crisp ringing sound.
"Boom—" An aura far surpassing a Quasi-Saint erupted, reaching the peak Golden Immortal of the Origin!
The golden runes in the hall gathered toward Haotian one after another, merging into his primordial spirit; even the Dao rhythm left in the hall by Hongjun seemed to tremble slightly.
This sudden breakthrough instantly silenced everyone in the hall. The Three Pure Ones' eyes were filled with envy.
Because they had been a bit slower on the path of Grand Unity, although they stepped into the Quasi-Saint realm, they had severed the Dao path of naturally charging toward the Primordial Origin Golden Immortal.
Meanwhile, Haotian and Jade Pool had consistently walked the orthodox path of the unity of law and self. Now one was at the peak of the Origin and the other at the mid Origin, and in the future, they even had the chance to challenge the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal.
Dijun and Taiyi were also secretly astonished, calculating in their hearts whether they should find an opportunity to befriend Haotian and Jade Pool.
Jieyin and Zhunti looked at each other, both seeing a sense of urgency in the other's eyes.
The Western Land was inherently barren; if they did not elevate their strength as quickly as possible, they feared it would be difficult to even find a foothold in the future.
Yet everyone merely felt emotional, and no one dared to reveal any dissatisfaction.
Haotian's talent and cultivation were right there, and jealousy was useless; instead, it would offend this core disciple of the Mystic Gate.
Therefore, after secretly feeling a burst of emotion in their hearts, everyone calmed their minds once more to comprehend.
Thus, the final several hundred years of time also quietly slipped away amidst the blessing of the Dao sound.
As Hongjun's Dao sound abruptly stopped, the golden lotus and purple Qi gradually dissipated.
His gaze swept over everyone in the hall before his voice spoke in a manner that remained extremely aloof.
"This lecture is now concluded. Ten thousand years hence, you shall come to the Purple Sky Palace once more to hear my third lecture."
"We disciples take our leave!" Everyone rose one after another, respectfully bowing in salute as they prepared to leave.
However, right at this moment, Houtu in the back row suddenly stepped forward.
She wore the animal-skin robes unique to the Witch Clan, her face carrying a trace of worry, yet she still bowed toward the high platform in salute.
"This disciple, Houtu of the Witch Clan, has a matter she does not understand and wishes to consult the Dao Ancestor, hoping the Dao Ancestor will resolve her confusion."
Everyone in the hall abruptly halted their steps, curiously looking toward Houtu.
The Witch Clan achieved sainthood through their physical bodies and did not value the primordial spirit. This Ancestral Witch had always been steady, yet today she would take the initiative to consult the Dao Ancestor; what matter could it be?
Hongjun fell silent for a moment, his gaze resting on Houtu for a brief instant, his tone no longer carrying the aloofness of before, but instead imbued with a trace of emotion.
"The worry in your heart pertains to the future survival of the Witch Clan; I already know it."
"Yet the Dao path of the Witch Clan does not lie with me, nor does it lie with other mighty figures, but rather within yourself."
"Within myself?" Houtu startled, her brows furrowing even tighter as she wanted to press further on what it meant to lie within oneself.
Yet she saw Hongjun's figure sway slightly, having already vanished from the high platform, leaving behind only lingering traces of faint Dao rhythm.
"This..." Houtu stood in place, her heart filled with bewilderment, failing to comprehend the profound meaning behind the Dao Ancestor's words.
The Witch Clan possessed no primordial spirits, could not sever corpses, and found it difficult to comprehend the Great Dao laws. Where on earth did their future path lie?
Most of the people in the hall also wore puzzled expressions, exchanging glances with one another.
"What does the Dao Ancestor mean by these words? How is Ancestral Witch Houtu's confusion supposed to lie within herself?"
Zhenyuanzi furrowed his brows in thought, and Hongyun beside him also shook his head, evidently failing to penetrate the meaning either.
Only Haotian's eyes flashed with a trace of comprehension.
He knew Houtu would transform into the samsara with her body in the future, and the Dao Ancestor's words were awakening her to find the Dao path of bearing the responsibility of samsara with her own body.
Yet he did not point it out; this was Houtu's opportunity, which required her to comprehend it on her own.
Houtu stood in a daze for a moment, ultimately letting out a helpless sigh as she turned and walked toward the outside of the hall, pondering the Dao Ancestor's words as she went.
Seeing that there was no more excitement to watch, the crowd also successively left the Purple Sky Palace.
The Three Pure Ones accompanied each other back to Kunlun Mountain, preparing to sort out their Dao paths after severing their corpses.
Dijun and Taiyi brought the core of the Demon Clan, hastily returning to the Sun Star, wishing to utilize their Quasi-Saint strength to integrate more tribes.
Jieyin and Zhunti were filled with anxiety, discussing how to revitalize the Western Land as quickly as possible.
Haotian and Jade Pool lagged behind at the very end, watching the departing figures of the crowd as they prepared to return to Penglai Immortal Island in the East Sea.
The third lecture ten thousand years later would be the true critical juncture concerning the Primordial Violet Qi and the layout of the Primordial Wilderness, and they needed to further solidify their cultivation during this period.
Therefore, seeing that everyone had successively departed, the two also took out the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud and seated themselves upon it.
Before long, the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud bore the two of them, transforming into a stream of light as it left the Purple Sky Palace.
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