The First Lecture Ends

The struggle that occurred within Zixiao Palace naturally couldn't escape Hongjun's eyes.

However, all beings below the level of a Sage were but ants. Such minor squabbles weren't worth his intervention.

Small trends within the Primordial Chaos could be altered, but the grand scheme was irreversible. In his view, Hou Tu and Dijun occupying the prayer mats were insignificant.

Although the six prayer mats represented seats of Sainthood, the Hongmeng Purple Qi was in his hands. Who could become a Sage was ultimately his decision.

His gaze shifted to Jieyin and Zhunti, who were still wiping away tears in the corner. A hint of barely perceptible disdain flashed in Hongjun's eyes.

For Great Golden Immortals to be so uncomposed, constantly weeping and wailing, was a disgrace to the mighty figures of the Primordial Chaos.

These two were simply unworthy of sitting on those prayer mats.

Therefore, when Qin Xuan had violently beaten them earlier, he hadn't intervened. Instead, he had taken out spiritual fruits and enjoyed the show.

However... recalling the karma from back then, Hongjun gently waved his hand.

Two prayer mats, identical to the previous ones, appeared out of thin air beside Jieyin and Zhunti.

Upon closer inspection, one would notice that these two prayer mats lacked some of the natural Dao aura.

He hadn't wanted to bother with these two shameless disciples, but during the decisive battle with Luo Hou, the entire Western leyline had been detonated.

Luo Hou had died cleanly, but the immense karma had to be repaid by someone.

This heavy burden had been placed squarely on his shoulders.

To smoothly merge with the Heavenly Dao in the future, this karma had to be resolved.

However, among the three thousand guests in the hall, the only ones from the West were these weeping and wailing brothers.

Helplessly, he not only had to give them prayer mats but also had to accept them as disciples in the future and help them become Sages...

Upon seeing this, Jieyin and Zhunti's sorrow vanished. They hurriedly scrambled up, sat on the prayer mats, and kowtowed with mixed surprise and joy:

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for your compassion!"

Hongjun nodded slightly, his voice indifferent and majestic:

"From now on, the seating arrangement is fixed and shall not be changed."

Qin Xuan took all of this in, understanding dawning in his heart.

From the moment Hongjun gave out the prayer mats, his meaning was clear.

Even if Hou Tu sat on a prayer mat, the future six Sages of the Heavenly Dao would still be the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, and the two from the West.

Just as Qin Xuan was pondering this, Hongjun's ethereal and emotionless voice rang out again, echoing throughout Zixiao Palace:

"My Dao will be taught in three installments, each lasting three thousand years. This time, I will lecture on the Dao of the Great Golden Immortal."

As his voice fell, endless profound Dao sounds, accompanied by misty purple Qi, instantly filled the entire hall.

No one dared to be negligent. They hurriedly gathered their minds, immersed themselves in it, and strove to comprehend.

Soon, the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, and Dijun on the prayer mats revealed expressions of joy.

As soon as they entered a meditative state, they felt waves of cool Dao aura emanating from the prayer mats beneath them, flowing into their primordial spirits. The previously obscure Dao sounds seemed to be dissected, becoming clear and easy to understand. All sorts of profound truths were readily available.

But Jieyin and Zhunti didn't have such good fortune.

Their prayer mats were imitations casually made by Hongjun, possessing only the appearance, without any function to assist in comprehension.

The two listened in a daze, their brows furrowed in distress, yet they dared not complain.

They naturally didn't know that the six Innate Prayer Mats were determined by the Heavenly Dao, containing a trace of the Heavenly Dao's origin, a chance prepared for the future Sages.

As for Qin Xuan and Hou Tu, the two of them weren't listening at all.

Qin Xuan wasn't foolish. Listening to Hongjun preach was equivalent to incurring karma. Although there was no formal master-disciple relationship, there was the reality of imparting the Dao.

Not only would he be entangled in the future, but who knew if this Dao Ancestor would conveniently steal his luck? He had his own Great Dao, so why bother with these things?

Hou Tu, on the other hand, completely listened to Qin Xuan. Since Qin Xuan didn't allow her to listen, she obediently closed her eyes and cultivated the Law of Earth on her own.

Just as everyone was listening with rapt attention, Hongjun's preaching suddenly paused, and he said indifferently:

"The Law shall not be passed to the Six-Eared!"

As his voice fell, he continued preaching as if nothing had happened.

At the same time, in a remote mountain forest somewhere in the Primordial Continent, the Six-Eared Macaque, who was eavesdropping with his ears perked up, suddenly screamed miserably, clutching his ears and collapsing to the ground, convulsing uncontrollably. Fresh blood gurgled from his ear orifices, staining the ground beneath him red...

Time flew by, and three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, the brilliant glow of breakthroughs within Zixiao Palace almost never ceased.

Taiqing Laozi and Dijun on the prayer mats gained the most, both breaking through to the peak of the Great Golden Immortal realm.

Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nüwa followed closely behind, also steadily entering the late stage of the Great Golden Immortal.

Only Jieyin and Zhunti were the most miserable.

They were already injured, and their prayer mats had no effect. They spent most of their time healing and stabilizing their realm. Over the three thousand years, their cultivation had only slightly improved in the middle stage of the Great Golden Immortal realm.

"This lecture is over. After a period of rest, I will lecture on the Dao of Quasi-Saints."

As Hongjun's voice fell, his figure vanished like a bubble on the throne.

Inside the hall, everyone awoke as if from a dream, rising one after another. After bidding farewell, they transformed into streams of light and departed, each returning to their respective dojos to seclude themselves and digest their gains.

Qin Xuan, holding Hou Tu's hand, also returned directly to Buzhou Mountain.

I wonder if my elder brothers have found that Innate Gourd Vine yet.

On Kunlun Mountain.

Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian sat cross-legged, each absorbing the insights gained from listening to the Dao at Zixiao Palace.

This was Hongjun's first lecture, and the amount of information was overwhelming. Every bit of understanding was precious.

Suddenly, Tongtian seemed to sense something. His brow twitched slightly, and he stood up abruptly.

"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, come with me."

Before his voice faded, he had already transformed into a sword beam, shooting straight towards a certain spot in the Kunlun Mountains.

Taiqing and Yuanshi exchanged a glance.

Although Tongtian was straightforward, he never acted without purpose. Understanding dawned on them, and they immediately rose to follow.

Before long, Tongtian stopped his escape light in a seemingly ordinary clearing, his eyes filled with undisguised astonishment.

Taiqing and Yuanshi arrived close behind. Seeing Tongtian in such a state, Yuanshi, being the most impatient, couldn't help but ask, "Third Brother, you haven't fully grasped the Dao Ancestor's profound methods yet. What are you rushing here for?" His tone carried obvious impatience and a hint of displeasure at being interrupted from his cultivation.

Tongtian frowned slightly but still patiently explained, "I sensed that a supreme treasure is about to be born here, so I rushed over."

He was proficient in the Dao of formations and could clearly sense that this seemingly ordinary clearing actually contained an innate grand formation, from which faint, terrifying fluctuations emanated.

What was guarded by an innate grand formation could not be ordinary.

As soon as Yuanshi heard the words "supreme treasure," his eyes lit up.

The three brothers could be said to be dirt poor. Apart from Taiqing, who was born with the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Pagoda as his companion treasure, he had yet to find a decent treasure.

"Then what are we waiting for!" Yuanshi immediately perked up. "You and I, brothers, join forces and break this formation directly!" As he spoke, he was about to activate a magic seal.

Taiqing and Tongtian exchanged a look and also took action.

"Taiqing Divine Lightning!"

"Yuqing Divine Lightning!"

"Shangqing Divine Lightning!"

In an instant, three completely different yet originating from the same source of vast power soared into the sky, causing the wind and clouds above Kunlun Mountain to change color.

Dense dark clouds gathered out of thin air, and countless electric snakes danced wildly in the clouds, quickly condensing into three huge thunderballs containing terrifying power, emitting deafening rumbles.

In the next instant, the three thunderballs exploded simultaneously, turning into a rain of lightning that crashed down on the clearing below!

Crack!

The innate grand formation, which was already on the verge of being born, shattered under the combined attack of the Three Pure Ones!

The lightning and smoke gradually dissipated, revealing a peculiar pool on the originally empty ground.

The pool water was no ordinary water, crystal clear and suffused with a faint layer of purple aura, emitting a refreshing fragrance.

In the center of the pool, a lotus platform floated quietly.

Vibrant green lotus leaves supported a section of jade-like lotus root, and on top of the lotus root, a delicate and alluring red flower was swaying in the wind, slowly blooming.

Almost the moment they saw this object, information about it naturally appeared in the Three Pure Ones' primordial spirits.

This object was the Chaos Treasure, the 36th Grade Creation Green Lotus. After it shattered during the Opening Heaven Calamity, one of its lotus seeds fell into the Primordial Chaos, nourished by the spiritual energy of Kunlun Mountain, and after countless eras, it was finally conceived.

The three were shocked, almost shouting in unison:

"24th Grade Creation Green Lotus!"

This was an innate supreme treasure!

Yuanshi's heart burned with passion, and he could no longer restrain himself. He took a step forward, about to reach out and pluck this supreme opportunity.