Upon hearing this, a trace of relief flashed through Hongjun's eyes. "Your talent is not lacking to begin with. There is no need to rush for quick success. Once the third lecture ends, perhaps an opportunity will arise."
After a pause, his tone became somewhat more solemn.
"Haotian, Jade Pool, I summoned you back today because I have something to tell you. After the third lecture, I fear you will not see me for a very long time."
"Master, what do you mean by that?"
Jade Pool's heart tightened, and the smile on her face vanished instantly. Her voice trembled slightly.
Though Haotian had long anticipated this, his heart still sank slightly. He silently looked at Hongjun.
"After the third lecture, I will merge myself with the Dao."
Hongjun spoke slowly, his voice calm yet carrying immense weight.
"Since the Primordial Wilderness was opened, order has been established, yet hidden dangers remain. The remnants of the demonic path have not been eradicated, and conflict among the races continues without end."
"Pangu once entrusted me with the task of merging with the Heavenly Dao, using my own Dao Rhythm to stabilize the foundations of the Primordial Wilderness and prevent a world-ending calamity."
"Merge with the Dao... Then, Master, will you completely disappear like one who has transformed into the Dao?"
Jade Pool could no longer hold back her tears. Her eyes reddened, and her voice choked with sobs.
Seeing this, Hongjun comforted her gently. "Silly child, merging with the Dao is not the same as transforming into the Dao."
"Though I will merge with the Heavenly Dao, I will not vanish from this world."
"It is only that most of my energy afterward will be needed to maintain the operation of the Heavenly Dao, making it difficult for me to meet with you as I do now."
"However, it is not as though we will never meet again. When I have time, or when there are matters to discuss, we may still gather here."
He raised a hand and brushed Jade Pool's cheek, wiping away her tears. "You are all the core of the Mystic Gate, and in the future, you must bear the responsibility of protecting the Primordial Wilderness. Do not be overly sorrowful."
Jade Pool sniffled and nodded firmly. "This disciple understands. Rest assured, Master. I will cultivate diligently and never disappoint you!"
Haotian also bowed. "This disciple will certainly not fail Master's trust and will safeguard the order of the Primordial Wilderness."
Hongjun nodded in satisfaction, then turned his gaze toward the outside of the hall.
"Very well. The time for the third lecture is drawing near, and those coming to hear it will soon arrive. Go welcome them outside the palace gates."
Haotian and Jade Pool acknowledged the order. After straightening their Daoist robes, they transformed into streams of light and flew outside the Purple Cloud Palace, where they sat cross-legged and waited quietly.
Before long, a light cyan stream of light was the first to cut through Chaos.
The Three Pure Ones arrived through the air. Laozi wore white robes and held a White Jade Flat Staff, Pure and Non-Action Dao Rhythm lingering around him as he walked with steady steps.
Venerable Yuanshi followed close behind, the patterns of the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi embroidered upon his splendid robes, his brows carrying a hint of majesty.
Sect Master Tongtian held the Qingping Sword, his black Daoist robes billowing as an unrestrained and carefree air shone in his eyes.
Upon landing, the three gave Haotian and Jade Pool slight nods. "Fifth Junior Brother, Sixth Junior Sister."
"Three Senior Brothers." Haotian returned the gesture with cupped hands, while Jade Pool obediently greeted them as well.
Just as they finished speaking, two more gentle spiritual lights arrived one after another.
Nuwa wore a pink dress, warmth from the Law of Creation surrounding her, while Fuxi beside her possessed a gentle and refined temperament.
"Fifth Junior Brother, Sixth Junior Sister, it has been a long time." Nuwa smiled as she spoke. Her gaze swept over the Purple Cloud Palace, and her eyes held a trace of anticipation for the final lecture.
"Senior Sister Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi!" Haotian and Jade Pool returned the greeting in turn.
After exchanging pleasantries for a while, everyone sat cross-legged, cultivating as they waited.
Several hundred years passed in this manner before waves of stellar fluctuations came from the Chaos Depths.
Dijun and Taiyi had arrived, leading the core members of the demon race.
The spiritual light of the River Diagram and Luo Book swirled around Dijun, while Taiyi held the Chaos Bell, True Sun Fire flickering faintly upon its surface.
Kunpeng followed closely behind them, followed in turn by numerous demon race great powers. Their spiritual energy intertwined, forming an impressive display.
Soon after, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, and other Top Great Powers arrived one after another over the following thousand years.
Among them were also many great powers at the Grand Unity Golden Immortal and Grand Unity Golden Immortal levels, arriving outside the Purple Cloud Palace either alone or in groups.
"Most have arrived." Sensing the surrounding auras, Haotian raised his hand and formed a seal. The pale gold barrier around the Purple Cloud Palace slowly unfolded.
Hongjun's Dao Rhythm flowed across the barrier like a transparent membrane of light, sealing the Chaos Airflow outside.
"Everyone, please enter." His voice was gentle, yet dignified.
The great powers nodded one after another and entered according to the seating arrangements of the previous two lectures. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti sat in the first row.
Dijun, Taiyi, Kunpeng, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, and the other Top Great Powers sat in the second row, while the remaining great powers took seats in the rear according to their cultivation, all in perfect order.
The moment everyone was seated, Hongjun's figure slowly appeared upon the high platform of the Purple Cloud Palace.
He still sat upon the cushion. The Dao Rhythm around him was even more profound than during the previous two lectures. His gaze swept over the gathered great powers below, his tone indifferent yet carrying unquestionable majesty.
"This will be my final lecture, and it will last four thousand years."
"After the lecture ends, I will merge myself with the Dao and maintain the order of the Primordial Wilderness. From this day onward, the Heavenly Dao is Hongjun, but Hongjun is not the Heavenly Dao."
"Dao Ancestor! You must not!" The instant his words fell, cries erupted from below.
Many great powers rose to their feet, their faces filled with grief. Some even knelt and kowtowed, begging Hongjun to withdraw his decision.
Yet upon closer inspection, one would find little genuine sorrow in their eyes.
Though Jieyin and Zhunti held their hands together, an almost imperceptible anticipation lingered at the corners of their mouths.
Dijun and Taiyi wore expressions of reluctance, but inwardly calculated that once the Dao Ancestor merged with the Dao, the demon race would face far fewer restraints.
Even some Grand Unity Golden Immortals merely pretended to agree while secretly rejoicing. With no absolute authority above them, the future might offer more opportunities.
Only Haotian, Jade Pool, and the other direct disciples felt varying degrees of sorrow.
Hongjun took all of this in, and a trace of gentleness flashed through his eyes. Yet he did not expose their pretense, merely raising a hand in a calming gesture.
"There is no need for this. My merging with the Dao is not transformation into the Dao. If the Primordial Wilderness faces a great calamity in the future, I will still protect it through the Heavenly Dao Will."
Hearing this, everyone finally quieted down, and Hongjun slowly began to speak of the Dao of Saints. His voice was no longer indifferent, but instead carried the profound weight of the Great Dao, each syllable transforming into golden law runes that flowed through the air.
"A Saint receives the breath of the Great Dao, uses Primordial Violet Qi to stir Heavenly Dao Power, and entrusts their primordial spirit within the void of the Heavenly Dao. This is known as 'Primordial Spirit Entrusted to the Void.'"
"From then on, so long as the Heavenly Dao remains undestroyed, the Saint shall remain undying. Yet Saints must preserve Heavenly Dao Balance. They may not recklessly interfere in the disputes of the Primordial Wilderness, nor may they proactively trigger a world-ending calamity. This is the responsibility of a Saint."
As waves of Dao Sound descended, heavenly phenomena appeared within the Purple Cloud Palace.
The Purple Qi that had originally lingered throughout the hall suddenly boiled, transforming into golden chains of Dao that coiled around everyone and aided their comprehension.
Twelve-petal golden lotuses bloomed from the ground, the petals inscribed with the patterns of Saint laws and radiating a dense aura of enlightenment.
Seven-colored heavenly flowers drifted down from the sky. The moment their petals touched the ground, they dissolved and merged into everyone's primordial spirits, sorting through their chaotic Law Comprehension.
Spiritual birds also flew in from Chaos, carrying Innate Spiritual Grass in their beaks and placing it at the edge of the high platform.
The fragrant scent released by the spiritual grass could stabilize one's Dao Heart, preventing everyone from losing control while comprehending the Dao. Such heavenly phenomena were even grander than those of the previous two lectures, showing just how precious the Dao of Saints was.
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