As the gates of Purple Sky Palace flew open, cultivators from every direction displayed their abilities and dashed forward, all striving to get closer to the Dao Ancestor.
The Dao Ancestor had never said where they had to sit for the first sermon, or where they had to sit afterward, right? Hehe~ (In my setting, seats will be assigned during the third sermon, and the Dao Ancestor will grant the six Saint Positions during the third sermon. If it were the same as every other work, I might as well just copy them, so don't blame me for being strange~)
Di Jun and Taiyi in particular—the married couple, I mean brothers—used the Golden Crow Transforming into Rainbow Technique to charge forward relentlessly.
They considered themselves the future rulers of the primordial world, so naturally they refused to fall behind anyone. They had failed to outpace the Three Pure Ones last time, but this time might be different.
"Space Strangling!"
Dijiang, leader of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, came striding through shattered space. As he spread his arms, invisible ripples of spatial law surged forth. The space before Di Jun and Taiyi abruptly twisted, collapsed, and compressed. Countless shards of space sliced toward them like blades, intent on grinding the two golden rainbows to pieces.
Boom—!
True Sun Fire collided violently with the spatial shards, erupting in a blinding flash. Di Jun and Taiyi's figures stalled, their golden rainbows forcibly halted. True Sun Fire swirled around them, burning the incoming spatial shards into nothingness.
"Damn savages! How dare you block my path!" Di Jun roared furiously, veins bulging on his forehead as he prepared to unleash True Sun Fire again.
Taiyi, however, pressed down on his elder brother's arm and said in a low voice, "Elder Brother, the Dao Ancestor's sermon is more important. There is no need to waste time with these savages. There are still plenty of empty seats ahead. Let us move quickly!"
Di Jun snorted and suppressed his anger. The two turned into golden rainbows once more, but instead of charging straight ahead, they flickered through the warped cracks in space, their speed not slowing in the slightest.
Dijiang grinned savagely. "Those two mangy birds do have some skill!" Just as he was about to use another divine ability, Houtu, one of the Ancestral Witches, stopped him.
"Elder Brother, we must not go too far within the Dao Ancestor's palace."
Houtu shook her head slightly, her gaze sweeping over the three figures already seated ahead. The Three Pure Ones had silently taken the foremost positions with Chen Song and were chatting with the siblings Fuxi and Nuwa.
Dijiang spat, but did not attack again. He led the Twelve Ancestral Witches forward in great strides.
In the end, although Di Jun and Taiyi had failed to surpass the Three Pure Ones, they still seized the positions immediately behind them. Eastern Emperor Taiyi held the Chaos Bell in his arms, his gaze sweeping over those who were taking their seats. When he looked at the Ancestral Witches, a glint of cold light flashed through his eyes.
On the Three Pure Ones' side, Nuwa was studying Chen Song behind them. Her brows curved into crescents, and her beautiful eyes sparkled as she wondered about something in her mind.
"Why is Junior Sister Nuwa staring at my senior disciple nephew? Don't tell me you've taken a fancy to him?" Tongtian asked with an amused smile.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, do not speak nonsense and damage my little sister's reputation." The moment Fuxi heard that, he reacted at once and pulled Nuwa behind him, glaring at Tongtian with displeasure.
Tongtian scratched his head awkwardly. Chen Song had just given him an idea, allowing him to enjoy the spectacle of Di Jun, Taiyi, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches having a "friendly exchange." He had been thinking that if Nuwa took a liking to Chen Song, he could act as their matchmaker.
Hehe, Senior Disciple Nephew, see how good I am to you?
Third Martial Uncle is seriously reckless. That's Nuwa, a future Heavenly Dao Saint. How could he say something like that so casually? Chen Song thought.
Nuwa quickly grabbed her elder brother. Her cheeks reddened slightly as she shot Sect Master Tongtian a reproachful glare, though she was not truly angry. Instead, there was a hint of curiosity and mischief in her expression. "Fellow Daoist Tongtian is joking! I merely thought this little pine tree had an extraordinary Origin/Foundation, and that his true body would make fine material for artifact refinement."
Chen Song: Why is everyone always lusting after my body?
Chen Song used his divine ability to snap off a branch from his true body, the Five Needles Pine of Innate Origin, with the resolve of a warrior cutting off his own arm. He handed it to Nuwa. "Martial Uncle Nuwa truly has sharp eyes. This is a branch from my true body. I hope it will be useful to you, Martial Uncle."
"Oh my, Little Pine Tree, why are you so nervous? I was only teasing you. Put it away quickly. Your pine branch contains the aura of your Five Elements origin. Do not let it damage your foundation." Nuwa smiled softly.
This thing damages my foundation? Why haven't I felt anything? Chen Song wondered. It was not that Chen Song had failed to notice. When his true body had taken form, it had already been strengthened by the qi of the Three Pure Ones. Breaking off a branch from such an enormous pine tree meant nothing; it would grow back soon enough.
"Junior Sister Nuwa, accept it. This branch means little to my disciple. Besides, my third brother was rash earlier. Let this disciple nephew apologize to you on his Martial Uncle's behalf." Laozi finally spoke, easing Chen Song's embarrassment.
"Mm... all right, then. Thank you, Martial Nephew. But since you call me Martial Uncle, I cannot be stingy either. I'll give you this clump of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. For an Innate Spiritual Root of your caliber, it is an excellent tonic." Nuwa did not stand on ceremony and casually gave Chen Song a clump of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, of which she had plenty in her dojo.
I've struck it rich! A single pine branch for Nine Heavens Breathing Soil? What a massive profit!
"It's all because of those two shameless fellows from the West. I still haven't given my senior disciple nephew a greeting gift. Here, take this Three Lights Divine Water. When you run out, come find your Second Martial Uncle." Yuanshi also tossed a gourd to Chen Song.
"That's right, that's right. Here, Senior Disciple Nephew, take this Purple Lightning Hammer for protection."
"In that case, as your Master, I cannot be stingy either. From now on, let the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda protect you," Laozi said calmly.
Who says clinging to powerful thighs is shameful?
These thighs are huge! Thick! Long!
Still, his cheap Master was truly generous. He was actually letting the acquired merit supreme treasure, the Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, protect him. That was a serious investment!
He knew all about Yuanshi's Three Lights Divine Water. His Second Martial Uncle had as much of it as he wanted. As for the Purple Lightning Hammer? The primordial world might change, but the Purple Lightning Hammer would remain! Besides, who was his Third Martial Uncle?
Supreme Pure Spirit Treasure Heavenly Venerate! He might lack anything else, but he would never lack spiritual treasures. Although the Dao Ancestor had yet to distribute treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff, his Master and Martial Uncles had quite substantial family fortunes!
Chen Song did not stand on ceremony and accepted everything.
"Hehe, then thank you, Master and all my Martial Uncles, for these powerful thighs."
"Haha, brat, I never realized your skin was this thick too." Yuanshi chuckled, while Tongtian laughed happily beside him.
Laozi rubbed his forehead. Was it too late to regret taking this disciple? Damn it, refund me!
For a time, the temperature inside Purple Sky Palace rose considerably, because everyone had sucked in so much cold air.
None of those qualified to come to Purple Sky Palace to hear the sermon were ordinary figures. The actions of the Three Pure Ones were undoubtedly a warning to the other great powers.
This kid is under the protection of the Three Pure Ones. If you want to touch him, weigh your own strength first!
Not far away, Di Jun and Taiyi took in the entire scene, their expressions growing even darker. They had fought desperately to seize their seats while guarding against the Ancestral Witches' dirty tricks, yet the Three Pure Ones sat as steady as fishing rods and still had the leisure to bestow treasures upon a junior!
Who would not drool over the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda? Taiyi looked at the Chaos Bell in his arms and even felt that it had become somewhat less appealing.
Over by the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Dijiang sneered. "Hmph, all show and no substance!" Yet there was a trace of gravity deep in his eyes. Although they did not cultivate primordial spirits, they knew those treasures possessed immense power. Since the Three Pure Ones were willing to invest so heavily in that kid, he was surely destined to become extraordinary.
Should the Wu Clan also try to build a good relationship with this kid?
Looking at the gourd of Three Lights Divine Water, the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, and the Purple Lightning Hammer in Chen Song's arms, Jieyin and Zhunti, who were seated not far from the Three Pure Ones, were practically drooling with envy.
"Junior Brother, the West is bitter—far too bitter! Those spiritual treasures ought to belong to the West!"
"Yes, yes! Look at Chen Song's shameless face. He is clearly fated with the West and should become a disciple of the West!"
The Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared soundlessly atop the Cloud Bed. His gaze swept over the beings below as he said indifferently, "This sermon shall cover the Dao of the Quasi-Saint and will last three thousand years."
As his words fell, the three thousand guests within Purple Sky Palace gradually quieted down. The palace gates slowly closed, and the sound of the Great Dao began to rise.
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