Gathering at Purple Heaven Palace, Competing for Cushions

Wu Ming led the Twelve Ancestral Witches toward the Purple Firmament Palace.

The closer they came, the deeper and more vast the Dao resonance radiating from the Purple Firmament Palace became.

Before them, the Purple Firmament Palace floated silently, swathed in purple qi, as though it stood apart from space and time, eternal and unchanging.

"Good grief... this place has some real substance." Zhu Rong stroked his chin, his eyes wide as saucers.

"It truly is extraordinarily grand." Di Jiang likewise studied this legendary Sage's Dao Field with a grave expression.

When they reached the palace gates, they discovered that the immense gates of the Purple Firmament Palace were tightly shut. Clearly, the time for the Sage's sermon had not yet arrived.

"Heh, we're supposed to just stand around here waiting?" Gong Gong craned his neck, somewhat displeased.

Wu Ming remained calm. He gestured for everyone to settle down, then found an open space outside the gates, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, the Twelve Ancestral Witches could only restrain themselves and imitate Wu Ming, each finding a place to sit.

But they were nowhere near as composed as Wu Ming. Their gazes darted everywhere as they surveyed this Sage's Dao Field amid the chaos, as well as the "neighbors" who had already arrived.

They were not the first to arrive. Before them, several figures were already seated cross-legged there.

Not far away, three figures wreathed in clear qi sat side by side. They were the Three Pure Ones formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit—Grand Pure One Laozi, Yuqing Yuanshi, and Shangqing Tongtian.

Nearby sat two more figures whose domineering auras overflowed. The phantom forms of two enormous Three-legged Golden Crows flickered behind them, while True Sun Fire shimmered around their bodies. Their gazes looked down upon all beneath heaven. They were the future rulers of the Demon Race, Di Jun and Taiyi.

These few were all the most exceptional Innate Great Gods of the Primordial Wilderness!

Invisible auras collided among these great figures, making the atmosphere somewhat delicate.

All of them possessed profound foundations, and none would submit to another. Only because this was a Sage's Dao Field did they refrain from erupting on the spot.

As time passed, streams of light continually flashed through the chaos, and one powerful aura after another arrived in quick succession.

Amid auspicious clouds and dazzling immortal light, Nuwa and Fuxi arrived together. One possessed peerless grace, while the other was refined and easygoing.

They glanced over the scene, their eyes pausing briefly upon the Wu Clan's group before they took seats not far from the Three Pure Ones.

Next, East King Duke and West Queen Mother arrived together, one radiating immortal bearing, the other dignified and magnificent.

Soon after, a blood-red rainbow tore through the void. Ancestor Minghe descended upon the Twelve-grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus, carrying Primordial Slaughter and Abi, and landed in a corner some distance from the others, his killing intent concealed but ready to erupt.

One Innate Great God after another from the Primordial Wilderness had now gathered here.

For a time, the area before the Purple Firmament Palace gates had assembled the foremost powers of the entire Primordial Wilderness, and the atmosphere grew heavy without anyone noticing.

Just then, two figures arrived together.

One had the bearing of an immortal Daoist and held the Earth Book. He was Zhen Yuanzi of Five Village Temple.

The other wore a warm smile, faint red light glowing about his body. He looked exceptionally kind and was the Primordial Wilderness's famously good-natured man, Daoist Hongyun.

When the two saw Wu Ming seated there, their eyes lit up, and they walked directly toward the Wu Clan.

"Daoist Friend Wu Ming, I didn't expect you to arrive so early!" Daoist Hongyun was forthright by nature; before he arrived, his voice did.

Zhen Yuanzi also cupped his hands in salute. "Daoist Friend Wu Ming, I trust you have been well."

Wu Ming rose and returned the salute with a gentle smile. "Greetings, Daoist Friend Zhen Yuanzi, Daoist Friend Hongyun. A Sage's sermon is a grand event rarely seen even in ten thousand ages. Naturally, our Wu Clan had to be more proactive."

"Haha, exactly, exactly!" Hongyun laughed, his curious gaze sweeping over the Twelve Ancestral Witches behind Wu Ming. "May I ask how these Ancestral Witch Daoist Friends are addressed?"

Seeing this, Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and the others also rose to exchange greetings with the two and briefly introduced themselves.

The two sides exchanged a few pleasantries, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious.

Afterward, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun took seats beside the Wu Clan and waited for the palace gates to open.

Naturally, this scene also fell into the eyes of the other great gods nearby.

The Three Pure Ones merely cast a faint glance their way before withdrawing their gazes and continuing to rest with closed eyes.

Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance, a trace of surprise flashing through their eyes. Since when had the Wu Clan formed ties with Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun?

Deep within the Purple Firmament Palace.

Upon a cloud bed, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes. His gaze pierced through the palace and fell upon the beings outside its gates.

His eyes swept one by one over the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun and Taiyi, Nuwa and Fuxi...

When his gaze passed over Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches, even his state of mind as a Sage faltered slightly.

"The Wu Clan... thirteen of them?

"And... these thirteen people... all have Primordial Spirits?!"

Hongjun was utterly astonished. How... could this be possible?

The Wu Clan had been born bearing Pangu's baleful intent. Their Physical Bodies were innately powerful, and they controlled Law, but they did not cultivate Primordial Spirits or understand the workings of fate. This was fixed destiny!

Yet these thirteen members of the Wu Clan not only included one extra person, but every single one of them clearly emanated the fluctuations of a Primordial Spirit!

Although their Primordial Spirits still seemed somewhat immature compared to Immortal Path cultivators of the same realm, they were unmistakably Primordial Spirits!

How had things become like this?

Who was that additional member of the Wu Clan? And how had they condensed Primordial Spirits?

Hongjun made calculations with his fingers, yet found only chaos in the Heavenly Secrets. Regarding this sudden change in the Wu Clan, he could not deduce the slightest thing!

It was as though an invisible force had interfered with the Heavenly Secrets!

Was it the remnant of Pangu Will? Hongjun's brow furrowed briefly, then relaxed.

Never mind. So long as the Heavenly Dao Trend remained unchanged, a few minor variables were of no consequence.

Perhaps this anomaly within the Wu Clan was another possibility born of the Heavenly Dao's workings?

He glanced at the two boy attendants beside him, Haotian and Yaochi, and calmly instructed, "The time has come. Open the palace gates."

"Yes, Master," Haotian and Yaochi replied with bows.

Creak—

The heavy, ancient gates of the Purple Firmament Palace slowly opened to either side.

An indescribable aura spilled out from within the palace gates, rousing the spirits of every Great Power waiting outside!

"It's open! The palace gates are open!"

"Quick! Take the front positions!"

The instant the gates opened, the many Primordial Wilderness Great Powers who had long been unable to restrain themselves turned into streaks of light and rushed into the palace!

Their target was, astonishingly, the six Cushions at the very front of the hall, each emanating an enigmatic aura!

Anyone could tell that these six Cushions were anything but ordinary. They surely contained immense opportunities!

For a time, divine abilities collided and magical power surged!

Though none dared to strike with lethal force within a Sage's Dao Field, the covert struggle was incomparably fierce!

"Get lost!"

"This spot is mine!"

"Don't even think about it!"

The Three Pure Ones exerted themselves almost simultaneously. Above Grand Pure One Laozi's head, the Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda cast down myriad rays of Merit Golden Light. Untouched by all techniques, he firmly claimed the first Cushion.

Primordial Lord Tianzun and Sect Master Tongtian followed close behind, taking the second and third Cushions.

Under the full protection of her Elder Brother Fuxi, Nuwa steadily took her seat upon the fourth Cushion.

Kunpeng's speed was unmatched. Transforming into a streak of light, he seized the fifth.

The contest for the final Cushion was the fiercest of all!

Just as Di Jun and Taiyi were about to succeed, Zhen Yuanzi gave a low shout. The Earth Book blazed with light, forcibly stopping them for an instant!

Seizing that opportunity, Daoist Hongyun transformed into a crimson ray and, under Zhen Yuanzi's cover, perilously took the seat!

In the flash between spark and flint, all six Cushions had found their owners!

The Great Powers who had been a step too slow or defeated in the struggle—such as Di Jun, Taiyi, East King, and the others—wore unwilling expressions, but there was nothing they could do. They could only find other places to sit.

"Hmph, a pack of brutes." Zhu Rong curled his lip disdainfully at the chaotic scene ahead.

Gong Gong chimed in, "Exactly. Is it really worth all this over a lousy cushion?"

Wu Ming did not join the scramble. He merely watched everything in silence.

He knew perfectly well what these Cushions represented: the seats of future Sage Disciples.

But the Wu Clan did not follow the Mystic Gate Immortal Dao. The Cushions were useless to them.

Besides, even if he wished to fight for one, Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao would never permit the Wu Clan to sit upon Cushions representing the Fortune of the Mystic Gate.

After the hall had quieted somewhat, Wu Ming led the Twelve Ancestral Witches forward at an unhurried pace. They found a place behind and near Zhen Yuanzi and Daoist Hongyun, then sat down cross-legged.

Zhen Yuanzi turned back to glance at Wu Ming and nodded to him kindly.

Daoist Hongyun also smiled and nodded in greeting.

Wu Ming gave a slight nod in return, then closed his eyes, gathered his thoughts, and quietly awaited Hongjun's appearance.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches followed his example, putting away their usual flamboyance and sitting quietly behind Wu Ming.

Within the vast Purple Firmament Palace, Three Thousand Mortal Guests had gathered together, awaiting that legendary Sage to expound the Great Dao!