In Kunlun Mountain.
"Hiss—is this the power of a Saint? Too terrifying!" Yuanshi was filled with shock, his eyes flickering uncertainly.
The thought of being able to possess such power in the future quietly dispelled his jealousy towards Dijun.
"Below Saints, all are ants."
At this moment, he truly understood the weight of this sentence.
Amidst his excitement, he secretly made a firm resolution. He had to cultivate diligently, achieve sainthood as soon as possible, and become the most supreme existence in the Primordial World!
Beside him, Laozi saw this and the corner of his mouth curved up, revealing a hint of relief.
This second brother finally understood the true meaning of cultivation.
He reckoned that his state of mind would no longer be easily unbalanced in the future.
On Mount Sumeru.
"Senior Brother, the might of a Saint is now beyond doubt. We must seize this time to cultivate," Zhunti said with excitement in his voice and a face full of eagerness.
His usual steady demeanor was long gone, replaced by an elder's face full of anticipation.
"Precisely so," Jieyin pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "After the third lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace concludes, we will enter solitary confinement. We will not step out until we have achieved sainthood!"
Inside Wuzhuang Temple.
"Amazing! Truly amazing! This is the power of a true expert!" Zhenyuanzi's face was filled with envy, his eyes longing.
Beside him, Hongyun gently nodded, sighing inwardly.
If one could attain a Saintly Position, where in the Primordial World could they not go?
From then on, there would be no more mortal danger, nor the oppression of the strong.
In the Ancestral Witch Hall.
"That Hongjun is truly hateful!" Zhurong gritted his teeth, his face contorted with rage.
He could have ended the battle with a single axe, yet he chose to intervene at this critical juncture.
If it weren't for his fear of Hongjun's terrifying strength, he would have loved to swing his axe at him right then and there.
"Watch your words," Dijiang reminded him in a low voice, his expression darkening slightly.
He wasn't afraid of Hongjun.
As an Ancestor Witch, he needed to consider the entire Witch Race.
If he angered Hongjun through a moment of impulsiveness, his kin might suffer collateral damage.
"It's merely an Epoch. There's no need to be angry," Houtu also stood up and said softly to comfort him.
Time flew by, and the third lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace arrived in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Hongjun's voice echoed from the depths of chaos, his tone indifferent yet filled with overwhelming pressure, resonating throughout the Primordial World.
"Ten thousand years have passed. The third lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace begins. Those who are fated may come and listen to the Dao."
As his voice fell, the entire Primordial World trembled.
After Fuxi received the message, Tongtian looked at Nuwa, whose face was still flushed, on the cloud bed beside him, and teased.
"Let's go, Madam Cult Master."
Indeed, not long after the great battle between the Witches and Demons had ended, he had completely won Nuwa over.
In the years that followed, Nuwa, who had once sworn never to compromise, had repeatedly launched counterattacks.
Unfortunately, each attempt ended in failure.
Rolling her eyes, Nuwa was no longer as shy as before and casually linked her arm with his.
In the blink of an eye, the two arrived before the Purple Heaven Palace.
Before long, powerful auras began to arrive one after another.
At the forefront were the two leaders of the Demon Race, Dijun and Taiyi.
Closely following were Laozi and Yuanshi, who had entered the Quasi-Saint mid-stage in recent years.
Further behind were Jieyin and Zhunti, who had only recently broken through and had not yet fully contained their auras.
The rest were Fuxi, the elders of the Three Immortal Islands, and the reclusive experts scattered throughout the Primordial World.
Such as Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Ancestor Minghe, and others.
Sensing Tongtian's unfathomable aura, everyone's pupils contracted.
They all cursed him as a "monster" in their hearts, yet they couldn't help but feel a hint of envy.
An indescribable sense of awe quietly emerged in everyone's hearts.
After everyone had gathered, Hongjun's figure reappeared on the cloud bed without any warning.
Compared to the previous two times, Tongtian could now clearly sense the trace of his arrival.
"This sermon concerns the Saint realm, which is above the Quasi-Saint. How much you gain from it depends entirely on your comprehension," Hongjun said calmly, beginning his third sermon after a brief explanation.
"The reason heaven and earth can exist for a long time is that they do not exist for themselves, and thus they can endure.
Therefore, Saints often place themselves last, yet they end up ahead of everyone else; they disregard themselves, yet they preserve themselves..."
Watching the miraculous scene of flowers falling from the sky, golden lotuses blooming, and myriad rays of auspicious energy filling the air, Tongtian and the other great cultivators, long accustomed to such sights, straightened their postures, closed their eyes, and began to meditate on the profound mysteries.
A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
As Hongjun's Daoist pronouncements became increasingly profound and difficult to understand, over ninety percent of the listeners, except for those seated in the front rows, began to feel dizzy and bewildered, unable to grasp the meaning.
The quicker ones attempted to memorize the words, hoping to comprehend them later. However, those obscure and difficult phrases vanished from their minds moments after they entered.
Another thousand years passed.
By this time, even Dijun, Taiyi, the Three Pure Ones, and others with higher cultivation, besides Tongtian, were starting to struggle. As for those slightly less capable, their faces were blank with confusion.
"The time has come. This sermon concludes here. The Purple Heaven Palace will no longer hold lectures."
The profound Daoist sounds abruptly ceased. Hongjun calmly swept his gaze over everyone before speaking again.
"However, guided by heavenly secrets, there are destined to be six disciples under my tutelage."
Those who had been somewhat disappointed were instantly invigorated by his words and respectfully kowtowed.
"We implore our teacher to accept us!"
Tongtian did not join the crowd. Seeing their behavior, he couldn't help but smile inwardly. These fellows hadn't learned much else, but they had perfectly mimicked Zhunti and Jieyin's act of feigning pitifulness.
Three breaths later.
The intelligent powerhouses noticed the prayer mats beneath Tongtian and the others. A flash of inspiration struck them, and they instantly understood. They were filled with regret and then cast looks of schadenfreude towards Hongyun. They all knew that the spot on the prayer mat had originally been voluntarily given up by Hongyun. Seeing the great opportunity that should have been theirs fall into others' hands, how could they not feel heartache?
Sensing the gazes cast upon him, Hongyun couldn't help but show a wry smile. It would be a lie to say he wasn't disappointed. But with things as they were, regretting it was useless.
Zhenyuanzi, standing beside him, also sighed softly. He then sent a telepathic message to comfort his friend.
Hongjun took in everyone's expressions. Under their watchful eyes, he slowly spoke.
"Nuwa, you have great fortune awaiting you. You shall be my first disciple."
"This treasure, the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure Map of Mountains and Rivers and the Red Embroidered Ball, are bestowed upon you for your use."
Nuwa rose upon hearing this and bowed gracefully. "Disciple greets Master, thank you, Master, for bestowing these treasures."
"No need for formalities." Hongjun raised his hand to help her up, his gaze then shifting to Fuxi.
"Fuxi, you also have a great fortune ahead of you. You shall be my second direct disciple."
"This is the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure - the Northern Profound Origin Water Control Banner, and the Twelve-grade Pure World White Lotus. Both are bestowed upon you for your protection."
Tongtian, standing nearby, was stunned. Wasn't the Northern Profound Origin Water Control Banner supposed to belong to Ancestor Minghe? And the Twelve-grade Pure World White Lotus, which was rumored to be lost, how did it suddenly appear? After a few moments of shock, he finally understood. The Northern Profound Origin Water Control Banner was likely an item Ancestor Minghe obtained from the Treasure Distribution Rock. But because he had altered certain karmic connections, Hongjun had no choice but to take it out as a welcoming gift for Fuxi's initiation. It was just one spiritual treasure, after all. Compared to the countless supreme treasures on the Treasure Distribution Rock, this loss was insignificant. As for the Twelve-grade Pure World White Lotus, with Hongjun's impending fusion with the Dao and the half-piece of the Creation Jade Disk in his possession, the existence of such items in the Three Realms was less a matter of finding them and more a matter of whether one wanted them.
Furthermore, if even a heaven-defying treasure like the Universe Cauldron could be bestowed upon himself, what was the Twelve-grade White Lotus in comparison?
"Disciple Fuxi pays respects to Master, and thanks Master for his generous gift." Fuxi bowed respectfully.
Although he already possessed many Spiritual Treasures, who would ever say no to having more?
Especially treasures like these Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, they were something everyone dreamed of.
Hongjun nodded slightly and continued speaking, his tone as calm as water.
"Laozi, you are a manifestation of Pangu's Primordial Spirit and bear the merit of Heaven's creation. You shall be my third disciple."
"This is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram. It is adept at defense and suppression, and can protect destiny. I bestow it upon you for self-defense."
"Yuanshi, you are also a manifestation of Pangu's Primordial Spirit and share the responsibility of Heaven's creation. You shall be my fourth disciple."
"This is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner. It masters the path of offense and can also suppress destiny. I bestow it upon you."
Laozi and Yuanshi, who had been waiting eagerly by the side, were overjoyed upon hearing this.
Suppressing the surging joy in their hearts, they quickly bowed down.
"Disciple Laozi, Disciple Yuanshi, pay respects to Master, and thank Master for the bestowed treasures!"
After receiving the Spiritual Treasures, Yuanshi inadvertently glanced at Tongtian and the others.
Their smug expressions made it obvious to anyone – our status in Master's heart is higher!
Seeing Yuanshi's expression, Tongtian couldn't help but roll his eyes.
If it weren't for destiny, why would it be your turn?
Moreover, they were just two Innate Supreme Treasures, what was there to show off about?
I possess a Chaos Supreme Treasure!
He scoffed, too lazy to bother.
After Hongjun bestowed the magical treasures, he fell silent.
Seeing this, Zhunti and Jieyin became anxious.
"To prosper our barren West, my brother and I have endured hardships and traveled far and wide. We beg Master for mercy!"
After speaking, they put on sorrowful expressions, their voices choked with emotion, their eyes even reddening.
The onlookers were both surprised and impressed.
Those tears came so timely.
They couldn't learn that, truly couldn't learn it.
Hongjun looked at them, his lips twitching slightly.
He gained a new understanding of their thick skin.
He could only say helplessly.
"Very well, since your desire for the Dao is so sincere, I shall accept you as registered disciples."
"However, your affinity with me is shallow, hence you are only registered disciples."
"Jieyin, this is the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Twelve-grade Golden Lotus of Merit. It can defend and trap, and also suppress destiny."
"Zhunti, this is the High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Vajra Scepter. I bestow it upon you for protection."
The expressions on their faces did not change upon hearing this, but a flicker of disappointment crossed their hearts.
Laozi and Yuanshi both received Innate Supreme Treasures, while Fuxi and Nuwa each received two Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
And they...
One Supreme Grade, one High-grade?
However, being accepted into the sect was already a great fortune, so they dared not say more.
The two respectfully accepted the magical treasures and bowed:
"Disciple Jieyin, Zhunti, pay respects to Master, and thank Master for his grace."
Seeing Jieyin and Zhunti gain benefits through their "sincere emotions," the others also got ideas.
It wouldn't hurt to try, what if they succeeded?
Thus, Dijun and Taiyi led the assembled immortals, and they all knelt down.
"We beg Master for compassion!"
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