First Sermon Ends

Jie Yin sat down without hesitation, then Zhunti looked toward Hong Yun on the Fifth Cushion, intending to repeat the same trick, when Qing Xuan and Zhen Yuanzi walked over.

"Long time no see. Healed up nicely?" Qing Xuan said with a grin, looking at Zhunti.

"It's you!" Zhunti and Jie Yin's faces changed drastically. The mere sight of Qing Xuan made Zhunti's body ache faintly.

"Hmph! Since you two have already secured one seat, if you still aren't satisfied, let us test your skills ourselves." Zhen Yuanzi found their recent behavior quite contemptible.

"Hehehe, a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. Junior Brother, go find a seat over there." Jie Yin quickly said upon seeing this.

Zhunti reluctantly moved aside. He couldn't beat Qing Xuan to begin with, and now with two helpers backing him, the day of revenge felt impossibly distant.

"Heh!" Qing Xuan chuckled lightly and returned to his seat with Zhen Yuanzi.

After a short wait, a figure suddenly appeared on the Dao Platform. Everyone quickly rose and bowed.

"We pay homage to the Sage!"

Hongjun looked over the assembled crowd, but instead of speaking, he turned his gaze to Qing Xuan and said.

"Little Friend Qing Xuan, long time no see."

"Congratulations, Senior, on attaining the Dao!" Qing Xuan replied.

The crowd was startled. They hadn't expected this man to be acquainted with Hongjun, and each silently committed Qing Xuan's face to memory.

After greeting Qing Xuan, Hongjun spoke.

"This Seat will deliver three sermons, one every five thousand years, each lasting a thousand years. The first sermon covers the Three Thousand Great Daos; the second, the path to Quasi-Saint; the third, the path to Sagehood. All who are fated may come and listen. The first sermon begins now!"

Qing Xuan was inwardly surprised. [He didn't assign the seats. Looks like the butterfly effect is already here!]

Then Hongjun began his sermon. On the Dao Platform, Old Ancestor Hongjun sat upright, his form flickering in and out of view, his voice as if it came from between Heaven and Earth, every word brimming with infinite Dao resonance.

As he spoke, the sounds of Heaven and Earth rang out, echoing through the hall of Purple Cloud Palace. Marvelous phenomena unfolded—golden lotuses sprang from the ground, waves of profound, mysterious energy filled the air, and the gathered listeners were utterly absorbed, drunk with ecstasy, all immersed in the sound of Hongjun's preaching.

[Is this the Three Thousand Great Daos contained within the Jade Disc of Creation?] Qing Xuan marveled inwardly.

He had previously obtained the image of 'Pangu Splitting Heaven and Earth' at Buzhou Mountain, and combined with his cultivation technique, the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Technique, his training in the Law of Strength had progressed with unparalleled smoothness.

Now, his Law of Strength was nearly at minor completion. Listening to Hongjun's sermon resolved some of his lingering doubts, and he felt he might take this opportunity to break through to the Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

With that, Qing Xuan immersed himself fully in Hongjun's preaching, mana surging around him as if he could break through at any moment.

In the hall, many others showed similar signs of breakthrough, including the six on the cushions below the Dao Platform. Seeing this, the rest felt deep regret, wishing they had fought harder for the cushions.

Time passed without measure in the Primordial World. In the blink of an eye, a thousand years had gone by, and Hongjun stopped his sermon.

"A thousand years have passed. This sermon is concluded. You may all depart." With that, Hongjun vanished without waiting for the crowd to awaken.

As the hall's occupants still lingered in the Dao resonance, a surge of mana and spiritual energy suddenly emanated from Qing Xuan. He smoothly broke through to the Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Qing Xuan's breakthrough was like a spark on dry tinder. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fu Xi, Jie Yin and Zhunti, Di Jun and Tai Yi, along with Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun—all the great beings of the Primordial World broke through their own bottlenecks in succession.

Only one person watched the scene with a complicated expression: the Ancestral Witch Houtu. Houtu did not cultivate the Primordial Spirit, so she could understand nothing of Hongjun's sermon.

Yet she couldn't leave early, so she had no choice but to sit rigidly in Purple Cloud Palace for a thousand years. She found it quite frustrating.

[Is there truly no path forward for my Wu Clan?]

Houtu thought of the Wu Clan's innate technique, the Eight-Nine Arcane Art—cultivating only the body, not the Primordial Spirit, unable to use Spiritual Treasures. Though they were born with various Laws, they could advance no further. What was to be done?

With this in mind, Houtu resolved to attend the next sermon, even if she had to sit through another empty thousand years, to find a way for the Wu Clan.

When everyone in the hall finally awoke, they rose and bowed in thanks toward the Dao Platform, then filed out.

"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, let us go as well." Zhen Yuanzi said after finishing his bow.

Qing Xuan thought for a moment, then walked out with Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun. At the doorway, he approached the Boy and Girl Attendants.

"May I trouble you two to report to Sage Hongjun that an old acquaintance, Qing Xuan, requests an audience?" Qing Xuan said earnestly.

The Boy and Girl Attendants exchanged surprised glances, then the Boy spoke.

"The Master said that if Senior Qing Xuan came seeking an audience, you are to wait until everyone has left, then enter Purple Cloud Palace."

Qing Xuan was slightly surprised that Hongjun had already made arrangements. Looking at the attendants, a thought struck him.

"And if I hadn't sought an audience? Did the Senior have any instructions?" Qing Xuan asked with a smile, though he already knew the answer.

The attendants exchanged another surprised look. After a moment's deliberation, the Girl spoke.

"The Master said that if you did not ask, he would take no notice and let you leave."

[Just as I thought.]

Qing Xuan understood. This fit the image of Hongjun he held in his mind. It seemed Hongjun had only just begun merging with the Dao and still retained human emotions and desires—otherwise, he wouldn't play such petty tricks.

Then Qing Xuan turned to Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun.

"Fellow Daoists, I still have matters to discuss with Senior Hongjun. Afterwards, I'll return directly to the Three Immortal Islands to see my disciple. Let us part ways here!"

The two understood and bid him farewell.

"Very well, Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan. Until we meet again!" Zhen Yuanzi said.

"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, if anything comes up, just say the word. This poor Daoist will surely help!" Hong Yun patted his chest in reply.

Qing Xuan felt deeply moved. Compared to the rest of the Primordial Beings, these two were truly men of heart and character. He replied sincerely.

"If you two Fellow Daoists have nothing pressing, you're welcome to gather on my Three Immortal Islands—This Seat will certainly not treat you poorly!"

"Hahahaha, you said it yourself! Once I return to Huoyun Palace and solidify my cultivation, I'll come find you for hotpot. Don't complain if I eat your Three Immortal Islands clean!!!" Hong Yun was overjoyed; after tasting the hotpot Qing Xuan had created, he'd taken a keen interest in this novel way of eating.

Zhen Yuanzi chimed in from the side, teasing along.

"Hahaha, the Three Immortal Islands are vast and rich in spiritual treasures—how could Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan possibly fear that the two of us will eat too much?"

"Hahahaha, come and eat all you want! I'm only afraid you'll burst yourselves—my Three Immortal Islands would barely lose a tenth!" Qing Xuan said boldly.

Then the three parted ways: Hong Yun returned to Huoyun Palace, Zhen Yuanzi to Wuzhuang Temple, and they agreed to meet again a thousand years later at the East Sea Three Immortal Islands.

Afterward, Qing Xuan stood at the entrance waiting for everyone to leave. As members of the Demon Race passed by, he specifically reminded Da Bai to cultivate diligently and return to the Three Immortal Islands in a Hundred Years.