Discussing Saint Positions within Pangu Hall

"On one side was your solemn warning, Daoist Friend; on the other, the Death Omen that left me unable to sit or stand at ease, along with my compassion for those two from the West..."

"In the end... in the end, I still could not withstand that unseen pressure and the pity in my heart... and chose to yield my seat."

"After giving up my seat, that sense of danger vanished in an instant. Yet in my heart... there was only an emptiness, as though I had lost something incomparably important."

After Hong Yun finished, his face was filled with regret and lingering fear.

Wu Ming listened quietly, without the slightest change in expression.

Just as expected. How could the Heavenly Dao Trend be so easily altered?

Hong Yun's personality had been the inducement, but that clear sense of impending danger had likely been what truly made him surrender his seat.

It had been covert interference and a Saint's Scheme, whether from the Heavenly Dao or the Saints themselves.

Exploiting Hong Yun's weakness of character, coupled with the threat of death, they had forced him into submission.

Those Cushions had been prepared for Jieyin and Zhunti from the very beginning.

Understanding dawned upon Wu Ming, and he looked calmly at Hong Yun.

"Daoist Friend, do you know that what you yielded was not merely a seat?"

Hong Yun abruptly raised his head, his face even more bewildered.

"Wu Ming, what do you mean by that?"

Wu Ming did not answer directly, but instead asked a question.

"Have you ever considered why, within the vast Purple Cloud Palace, with three thousand Great Powers gathered together, only those six Cushions were different from all the rest?"

Hong Yun froze. He had never given this question much thought.

"Why?" Hong Yun truly did not know. He had only felt that the Cushions were exceedingly profound. Sitting upon them cleared one's primordial spirit and brought one into harmony with the Dao; they were indeed a tremendous opportunity. Yet he had never pondered what they meant.

Zhen Yuanzi also furrowed his brow, evidently led into thought by Wu Ming's words.

"Because those six Cushions were prepared by the Saint for his future disciples."

"Buzz!" Hong Yun felt a roar explode in his mind, leaving him utterly stunned.

"Disciples?" Zhen Yuanzi blurted out, disbelief appearing on his face as well.

"Not only that."

"Those who obtain those Cushions, barring unforeseen circumstances, will all... become Saints in the future!"

"W-What?!" Hong Yun shot to his feet.

"Become a Saint... a Saint Position?!"

Zhen Yuanzi's face was likewise filled with shock, the hand holding his teacup suspended in midair.

"Are your words... truly true?"

"True beyond a doubt." Wu Ming's tone was decisive as nails driven into iron.

Zhen Yuanzi's face was equally aghast as he looked toward Wu Ming.

"Wu Ming, this matter is of enormous importance. How... how do you know it in such detail?"

Wu Ming met Zhen Yuanzi's gaze.

"This matter concerns secrets of my Wu Clan, so it is not convenient to elaborate." Wu Ming did not explain further. "But every word I have spoken is true. Once the Second Sermon ends, Daoist Friend will naturally understand that my words were no lie."

Hong Yun slumped back down, utterly dejected. "Then... did I not... yield a Saint Position?!"

Wu Ming looked at him and continued speaking.

"At first, I thought so as well." Wu Ming shook his head. "But after hearing Daoist Friend's detailed account of how you felt when yielding your seat, I finally understood completely."

"Those six positions had been prepared from the beginning for the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti."

"The Heavenly Dao Trend, the Saint's Scheme—Daoist Friend, you... were destined not to keep that position secure."

"I see..." Enlightenment struck Hong Yun, followed by a bitter smile. "No wonder... no wonder when I was unwilling to yield my seat, I felt such an intense sense of danger. So it was Heaven's will..."

Wu Ming changed tack. "What Daoist Friend should consider now is not the Saint Position you have already lost, which never belonged to you in the first place. It is how to resolve the karma between yourself and Kunpeng."

"Because Daoist Friend yielded your seat, Kunpeng indirectly lost his position. Though Kunpeng would ultimately have found it difficult to keep that position anyway, he does not know the truth. He will only put this debt on Daoist Friend's head."

"Regardless of the truth behind who those Cushions belonged to, from Kunpeng's perspective, it was because you yielded your seat first that Jieyin and Zhunti found an opening, and thus forced him to give up the fifth Cushion."

"In his eyes, what he lost was likewise a future Saint Position!"

"This Grudge of Blocking the Dao is irreconcilable beneath the same heavens!"

"Even if you tell him every word I said today exactly as it was, and tell him that the Cushion was never his to begin with, do you think..."

"Kunpeng—would he believe it? Would he be willing to believe it?"

Zhen Yuanzi said gravely, "Wu Ming is absolutely right. The struggle over a Saint Position is already the greatest karma in the Primordial Wilderness. Daoist Friend Kunpeng is solitary by nature and holds grudges. Having suffered such extraordinary humiliation in Purple Cloud Palace this time, he will most certainly put this debt on you, Hong Yun."

Hong Yun's complexion became incomparably unsightly once more, even paler than when he had just learned he had missed out on a "Saint Position."

Hong Yun's expression grew increasingly bitter. "Alas... in this matter, it truly was I who implicated Daoist Friend Kunpeng. Even if the Saint Position had long been predestined, Daoist Friend Kunpeng certainly would not believe it."

Zhen Yuanzi frowned. "The karma of a Saint Position involves far too much. This..."

"This... this karma involving a Saint Position—how could it possibly be resolved? I fear... it will be a fight to the death..." Hong Yun's eyes were filled with despair.

"Actually, it is not entirely without a way to resolve it." Wu Ming spoke slowly. "It only depends on whether Daoist Friend... can bear to part with it."

Hong Yun abruptly raised his head, a flicker of hope igniting in his eyes. "Oh? Daoist Friend truly has a way? You can help this poor Daoist settle this karma with Daoist Friend Kunpeng? Daoist Friend, do not deceive this poor Daoist!"

"Of course not." Wu Ming's tone was certain. "Daoist Friend and I have known each other for many years. You should know what kind of person I am."

"However, there is little point in speaking of this method now."

"After the Third Sermon, this poor Daoist will naturally tell you how to resolve it. I only hope that when the time comes, Daoist Friend will not be reluctant to let go."

Hong Yun answered without the slightest hesitation, his words as resolute as nails driven into iron.

"Never! So long as I can settle this karma with Daoist Friend Kunpeng, no matter how great the price, this poor Daoist will be willing to pay it!"

Watching Hong Yun's determined expression, Zhen Yuanzi seemed to want to say something, yet stopped himself. In the end, he merely nodded lightly.

"I only hope that your words today are not spoken on a moment's impulse. When that time comes... do not regret it because the price is too great and refuse to part with it."

Hong Yun drew a deep breath, his gaze becoming incomparably firm. He solemnly bowed to Wu Ming with clasped hands.

"Daoist Friend Wu Ming, rest assured! So long as I can settle this karma with Daoist Friend Kunpeng, even if it costs me all my possessions—even this very life of mine—Hong Yun will not so much as furrow his brow! I will never regret it!"

Wu Ming nodded slightly.

"Good. Since Daoist Friend has made such a resolve, then we shall speak of it after the Third Sermon."

What needed to be said had been said, and what needed to be hinted at had been hinted at.

With matters having reached this point, the atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat heavy.

After chatting idly a while longer, Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun rose to take their leave.

"Today, we thank Daoist Friend Wu Ming for speaking so candidly and clearing away many of the doubts in our hearts.

Daoist Friend Hong Yun and I have imposed upon you for long enough. We shall take our leave now."

"Once we have digested our gains, we will come gather with Daoist Friend again."

Hong Yun also cupped his hands in farewell to Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Though his worries over Kunpeng had not diminished, he had at least found a glimmer of hope for a solution.

"Take care, Daoist Friends."

Wu Ming rose to see them off.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun did not linger any longer. They transformed into two streaks of light and swiftly departed from the region of Buzhou Mountain.

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