Hongjun Takes a Disciple

The three returned to Wuzhuang Temple, each entering closed-door cultivation to refine their treasures. Qing Xuan took out four gourds—a cyan-blue one and a platinum-gold one—and ultimately succeeded in forging the Water-Fire Gourd and the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.

The Water-Fire Gourd contained the innate power of water and fire, able to transform into a water dragon and fire phoenix to attack enemies, as well as protect its user and counter spells.

For the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, Qing Xuan used Chaos Refined Gold as the main material, infusing it with Chaos Qi to form a Chaos Blade within the gourd. Originally, it only needed to be aimed at an enemy to release, but Qing Xuan, out of a mischievous streak, added a chant: one must aim at the enemy, lock onto their Mud Pill Palace, and recite, "Please, treasure, turn around!" to slay them.

Because it contained Chaos Qi, the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife was far more powerful than its original version; with sufficient cultivation, it could even kill a Sage.

As for the Chaos Gourd, Qing Xuan did not refine it extensively, only granting it two additional functions. One was to draw people inside, where the dense Chaos Qi would instantly dissolve their body and Dao. The other was to spew vast amounts of Chaos Qi, capable of killing enemies and breaking formations. He named it the "Jie Xu Gourd."

Finally, the Xuanhuang Gourd contained a thread of the primal Earth essence, 'Xuanhuang Qi.' Qing Xuan refined this gourd thoroughly, forming a "Xuanhuang Minor World" within it, capable of evolving Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind.

It could release Xuanhuang Qi to cover the user's body, granting immunity to all damage. Qing Xuan named it the "Earth Suppressing Gourd."

All four treasure gourds were High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, ranking among the finest in the Primordial Wilderness.

"I should go out now; the other two have probably been waiting a long time." Qing Xuan had spent six hundred years forging these four treasures, while Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi only needed to refine a single spiritual treasure, so they were naturally much faster.

Qing Xuan then left his meditation chamber and headed to the front courtyard of Wuzhuang Temple. As soon as he entered, he saw the two of them eating hotpot and drinking spirit wine.

Hong Yun's eyes lit up at the sight of Qing Xuan, and he quickly waved him over.

"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, come eat hotpot!"

"Hahaha, what are you two eating?" Qing Xuan asked with a smile, stepping forward quickly to look into the pot. To his surprise, the two were actually boiling Ginseng Fruits in it.

"This..." Qing Xuan looked speechlessly at Zhen Yuanzi. It was one thing for Hong Yun to act recklessly, but he never expected the usually proper Zhen Yuanzi to lose his mind as well.

"Fellow Daoist, we discovered this method by accident. Who would have thought that Ginseng Fruit boiled in hotpot would taste unexpectedly good? You should try it." Zhen Yuanzi looked a bit embarrassed, then quickly urged Qing Xuan to taste it, as if to prove he hadn't lost his mind.

Hearing this, Qing Xuan decided to give it a try. After all, with his current cultivation, food poisoning wasn't a concern.

Qing Xuan took a bite of the cooked Ginseng Fruit and was surprised to find it delicious—like adding tomatoes to hotpot in his past life, with a perfect blend of sour, sweet, spicy, and numbing flavors.

The three then ate and chatted together. Qing Xuan showed them the four treasure gourds, and after marveling at them, the other two brought out their own refined spiritual treasures.

As expected, Hong Yun had infused his gourd with his own divine ability, forging the legendary "Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd." This treasure could corrupt an enemy's Primordial Spirit and possessed boundless power.

Zhen Yuanzi, meanwhile, had refined the Purple Gold Gourd. Like Laozi's, this treasure could contain all things and held Samadhi True Fire within. Anyone who entered would be refined into an elixir in no time.

After resting briefly at Wuzhuang Temple, the three set off for the Purple Cloud Palace. With less than a hundred years until Senior Hongjun's second sermon, they were all looking forward to it.

In the blink of an eye, five thousand years passed, and the second sermon was about to begin. Everyone gathered at the entrance of the Purple Cloud Palace. Qing Xuan and his companions saw many familiar faces. When the Three Pure Ones spotted them, their expressions remained unchanged.

Qing Xuan looked around but didn't see Kong Xuan or Peng Xuan. Logically, the two should have been qualified to attend this sermon, yet they hadn't shown up.

"Fellow Daoist, are you looking for your two beloved disciples?" Zhen Yuanzi asked with a smile.

"Yes, but there's no sign of them. Perhaps they have their own opportunities." Qing Xuan replied. He wasn't worried about them encountering danger, as he had left a resonance on them; if they faced life-threatening peril, he would sense it.

"The second sermon begins. Please enter." As before, the doors opened, and the Boy and Girl Attendants invited everyone inside.

Qing Xuan and his companions entered the hall. As Qing Xuan looked at the arrangement inside, his heart skipped a beat.

[What's going on?]

The layout of the Purple Cloud Palace was mostly the same as the first time—a high Dao Platform, with cushions neatly arranged on both sides. The only change was that the six cushions beneath the platform had disappeared.

"Oh? No six cushions this time. I was hoping I could snatch one again!" Hong Yun said regretfully. Many others shared his sentiment, and seeing this arrangement, they could only sigh inwardly.

[I see. So this time, he's going to take disciples.] Qing Xuan thought to himself. The first time, no disciples were taken because Hong Yun hadn't given up his cushion. To avoid repeating that mistake, the six cushions had simply been omitted this time.

[I wonder if I've indirectly caused trouble. I hope Senior Hongjun doesn't hold a grudge.] Qing Xuan mused, then found a spot with the other two and sat down, quietly waiting for Hongjun to arrive.

Once everyone was seated, Hongjun suddenly appeared.

"The second sermon begins. This time, I will speak on what lies beyond the Great Golden Immortal—the path to the Quasi-Saint."

Just as everyone leaned in to listen closely, Hongjun abruptly fell silent.

"Hmph. From now on, the Dharma shall not be transmitted to Six-Eared." Hongjun suddenly declared.

While everyone wondered who Six-Eared was, Hongjun began the content of this sermon, and everyone hurriedly listened.

This time, Hongjun primarily expounded on the method of Severing the Three Corpses. Among those seated below, the Three Pure Ones, Zhen Yuanzi, and Hong Yun were all at the Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, while Qing Xuan alone was at the Great Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal Perfection realm. Thus, Qing Xuan gained the most from the sermon.

A thousand years passed, and the sermon came to an end. As everyone awoke from the Dao resonance, they realized that Sage Hongjun had not left. They quickly bowed.

"Thank you, Sage, for the sermon!"

Hongjun looked over the crowd, a glint of light flashing in his eyes, and spoke.

"Now that the second sermon is over, I intend to take a few as disciples of the Mystic Gate."

At these words, the hall erupted. Everyone whispered among themselves before falling silent, each hoping to be accepted as a disciple of the Sage.

[Just as I thought.] Qing Xuan understood. The six disciples were fated; the rest had no chance.

Hongjun scanned the room, then called out the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.

"I intend to take the four of you as disciples. Laozi will be the eldest disciple, and Nuwa the fourth. Are you willing?"

The four were overjoyed and immediately knelt, saying, "We pay respects to Master!"

Hongjun waved his hand, and a treasure landed beside Laozi.

"This is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram. I grant it to you. I hope you cultivate well."

Laozi was overjoyed and knelt again. "Many thanks, Master!"

"This treasure is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner. I bestow it upon you. May you cultivate it well."

"Many thanks, Master!"

"This treasure is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation and the Immortal Slaying Four Swords. I bestow them upon you. May you cultivate them well."

"Many thanks, Master!"

"This treasure is the High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the River Diagram of Mountains and Rivers. I bestow it upon you. May you cultivate it well."

"Many thanks, Master!"

Then Hongjun bestowed treasures upon the other three in turn, drawing envious gazes from all present. At that moment, a voice rang out.

"We beseech the Sage to look with compassion upon the Western lands!"