Although Hongjun's movement was subtle, it still caught the eyes of many great powers present.
Everyone looked at him curiously, unable to understand what the Dao Ancestor intended to do.
Hongjun sensed their gazes, and the expression on his face stiffened for a moment before returning to calm.
He casually placed the Creation Jade Plate on the cushion beside him.
Taking a deep breath to settle his mind, he slowly spoke:
"This is the final sermon. I shall speak of the path of sainthood for three thousand years!"
As Hongjun's words fell, the sermon officially began.
In an instant, the aura of a Saint surged magnificently from Hongjun. Within Zixiao Palace, wondrous phenomena appeared in abundance: heavenly flowers rained down, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, and the mystical sounds of the Great Dao echoed throughout the hall.
Everyone hurriedly focused their minds and immersed themselves in Hongjun's Dao voice, doing their utmost to absorb the indescribably profound true meaning of the Great Dao.
Three thousand years passed in a flash. Hongjun opened his eyes, his calm gaze sweeping across the crowd in the hall as he slowly said:
"This sermon has concluded. If any of you have doubts, you may raise them."
Dijun immediately rose and respectfully asked:
"Dao Ancestor, our Demon Court was established with the Heavenly Dao's approval. Why does the Heavenly Dao seek to destroy our demon race?"
Upon hearing this,
Hongjun's expression did not change as he replied indifferently:
"The Great Dao has fifty, while Heaven evolves forty-nine, with one escaping. All things possess a sliver of vitality."
He paused before continuing:
"This is both a crisis and a trial. If you can safely overcome this calamity, attaining the Dao and becoming Saints in the future will not be difficult."
A gleam flashed through Dijun's eyes. He quickly bowed in gratitude.
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for clearing away my confusion!"
Qin Xuan watched from the side and muttered inwardly:
Keep bluffing. Go on, keep bluffing!
If Dijun got sold by Hongjun, he would probably still help count the money.
Then Nüwa also rose and asked:
"Dao Ancestor, is severing the Three Corpses the only way to attain the Dao and become a Saint?"
Hongjun said:
"Besides severing the Three Corpses, there are also the paths of attaining the Dao through merit and attaining the Dao through laws."
"To attain the Dao through merit, one must accumulate immeasurable Heavenly Dao merit and obtain the foundation of sainthood, Primordial Violet Qi, before one can achieve the status of a Saint."
"As for attaining the Dao through laws, since the Great Dao withdrew from the world, laws have ceased to manifest. That path is now impassable."
At this moment, Tongtian also stood and asked:
"Dao Ancestor, among these three methods of attaining the Dao, which is stronger and which is weaker?"
Hongjun cast Tongtian an indifferent glance and said:
"There is no distinction between strong and weak."
Qin Xuan curled his lip. This old fool was still bluffing. It was universally acknowledged in the Primordial World that attaining the Dao through laws was the strongest, while attaining the Dao through merit was the weakest.
The path of laws cultivated one's own strength, pursuing great freedom and great ease.
Becoming a Saint through merit meant living entirely at the mercy of the Heavenly Dao.
Though one became a Saint, one would not dare defy the Heavenly Dao at all and would even be controlled by Hongjun, the Heavenly Dao's spokesperson.
As for attaining the Dao by severing the Three Corpses, aside from Hongjun, no one had ever succeeded.
After answering everyone's doubts, Hongjun's expression turned solemn as he said in a deep voice:
"The Heavenly Dao of the Primordial World remains incomplete. After this sermon, I shall merge myself with the Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao."
"From this day forth, Hongjun shall be the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao shall not be Hongjun."
As soon as those words were spoken, everyone rose and bowed.
"Dao Ancestor, your righteousness is immense!"
Hongjun nodded in satisfaction and continued:
"From now on, as long as the greater course of the Heavenly Dao remains unchanged, Hongjun shall not appear!"
"This time, I intend to take six disciples to govern the four directions on my behalf and safeguard the peace of the Primordial World."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone present became excited.
Disciples of the Dao Ancestor!
What an exalted status was that?
With the Dao Ancestor's protection, who would dare provoke them?
For a time, heavy breathing filled the great hall.
Especially Duke Dong.
Not only had he been personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the leader of the male immortals,
but back on Penglai Island,
the Dao Ancestor had personally told him, "I will always stand behind you."
There had to be a place among the Dao Ancestor's disciples for him!
However, in the next moment, Hongjun spoke:
"Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian."
"You were transformed from Pangu's Primal Spirit. You bear the merit of opening Heaven and possess great destiny. You may become Saints in the future."
"You shall be my personal disciples!"
The Three Pure Ones were overjoyed upon hearing this and hurriedly kowtowed.
"This disciple greets Teacher!"
As Yuanshi bent down, he shot Qin Xuan a sidelong glance, his eyes full of smugness.
Hongjun waved his hand and continued:
"Nüwa, you possess great opportunities and great merit in the future. You too may become a Saint."
"You may also become my personal disciple."
Nüwa rose and hurriedly gave thanks.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
In an instant, everyone from the Demon Court was ecstatic. With a Saint's disciple in the Demon Court, what could the Immortal Court use to contend against them?
At that moment, Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance.
In the next instant, the two scrambled and crawled to Hongjun's feet. Each hugged one of Hongjun's legs and began to cry.
"Wuwuwu!"
"Wuwuwuwu!"
"Dao Ancestor, please pity the barrenness of our Western Earth Veins and accept us brothers as your disciples."
"We brothers will surely do our utmost to enlighten the living beings of the west and govern the western lands."
"Please show us mercy, Dao Ancestor!"
As soon as those words were spoken,
everyone revealed disdainful expressions. Did these two truly have no backbone as cultivators?
Besides, what kind of figure was the Dao Ancestor? How could he accept them as disciples just because of a few tears?
Duke Dong, meanwhile, became anxious. There were only six places for the Dao Ancestor's disciples.
If these two took them, would there not be no place left for him?
He immediately knelt on the ground and said angrily:
"Whom the Dao Ancestor accepts as disciples is naturally his decision. How can you be allowed to cause trouble here?"
After saying that, Duke Dong cast Jieyin and Zhunti a contemptuous look.
Then he looked eagerly at Hongjun.
However, in the next moment, Duke Dong was completely dumbfounded.
Hongjun said:
"Alas, during the battle between Dao and Demon in the past, Luo Hou and I fought our decisive battle in the west, causing the Western Earth Veins to shatter."
"Though Luo Hou is dead, I too bear a share of this karma."
"So be it. You two shall become my registered disciples, as repayment for that karma from long ago."
Jieyin and Zhunti hurriedly wiped away their tears and excitedly knelt in worship.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
In an instant, everyone present was utterly dumbfounded!
Crying worked that well?
During the first sermon, the two had cried their way onto the cushions.
During this sermon, they had cried their way into becoming the Dao Ancestor's disciples.
For a moment, everyone was tempted.
In the next instant, the sound of people dropping to their knees rang out in a great rush.
Then came overwhelming cries.
"Wuwuwu!"
"Wuwuwuwu!"
"Please show us mercy, Dao Ancestor!"
When Qin Xuan saw this scene, he nearly burst out laughing.
If he had not known he was in the Primordial World, he might have thought he was at a funeral.
Hongjun's mouth twitched slightly.
With a wave of his hand, an invisible force lifted everyone up as he said:
"Silence!"
Once the hall had quieted down, Hongjun continued:
"To become a Saint requires the Dao Foundation, Primordial Violet Qi."
"The Heavenly Dao bestowed eight strands of Primordial Violet Qi upon me, but I used one when I became a Saint."
As he spoke, seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi, their radiant light flowing, appeared out of thin air in Hongjun's hand.
In an instant, everyone's eyes went wide.
They all looked at Hongjun with pleading expressions.
However, in the next moment, Hongjun waved his hand.
Six strands of Primordial Violet Qi fell directly before the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
Hongjun said:
"You six are my disciples. You shall govern the Primordial World, and all may become Saints."
The six suppressed their joy and hurriedly rose to give thanks.
"Thank you, Teacher!"
The others in the hall stared fixedly at the final strand of Primordial Violet Qi in Hongjun's hand, their eyes nearly popping out.
Hongjun's gaze slowly swept across the entire hall before finally settling on Qin Xuan.
He looked deeply at Qin Xuan and said:
"Qin Xuan, you were transformed from Pangu's essence blood and possess the merit of opening Heaven. You may become a Saint."
As his words fell, the final strand of Primordial Violet Qi in Hongjun's hand drifted straight down before Qin Xuan.
Before you continue