Third Sermon, Taking Disciples

After retrieving the Innate Gourd Vine from Buzhou Mountain, Wu Ming secluded himself deep within Pangu Hall and rarely went out.

In one corner of the hall, the Innate Gourd Vine had been carefully planted. Wu Ming used the merit accumulated by the Wu Clan to nourish it with utmost care, watering the vine gingerly in an attempt to ripen this final fruit. The vine was lush and green, yet the blue gourd showed not the slightest sign of maturing.

Wu Ming sat cross-legged in meditation, his consciousness sinking into the sea of Law.

Wu Ming was in no hurry.

He knew that this required time, and even more merit.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches had not been idle either.

Di Jiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and Houtu, the three newly advanced quasi-Sages, either entered Seclusion to stabilize their realms and comprehend Law; the remaining Ancestral Witches continued to fulfill the Wu Clan's oath, traveling across the Primordial Land to clear away lingering baleful intent, straighten out disordered earth veins, accumulate merit, and temper their Physical Bodies.

From top to bottom, the Wu Clan followed the course Wu Ming had laid out, building their strength and fulfilling their oath. Everywhere was a scene of bustling activity.

Time flowed on. To the Great Powers of the Primordial Land, a thousand or ten thousand years were no more than the flick of a finger.

The day of the Purple Firmament Palace's Third Sermon quietly arrived.

On this day, the gates of Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain opened.

Wu Ming emerged, while the Twelve Ancestral Witches had long been waiting outside.

"Big Brother!"

"Let's go." Wu Ming nodded.

Thirteen figures shot into the sky, tearing across the heavens as they flew toward the Purple Firmament Palace Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.

Chaos currents surged as the ancient gates of the Purple Firmament Palace stood open.

Numerous figures had already gathered within the palace.

Wu Ming descended with the Twelve Ancestral Witches, drawing quite a few gazes.

His expression unchanged, Wu Ming led the Ancestral Witches into the palace.

Inside the Purple Firmament Palace, the Cushions remained as before.

On the six Cushions at the front sat the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

Before long, the Three Thousand Mortal Guests had mostly arrived.

Buzz—

The gates of the Purple Firmament Palace closed soundlessly.

Upon the high platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's figure appeared without a sound, as though he had been there since time immemorial.

Dao rhythms flowed around him, profound and unfathomable.

"We pay respects to Dao Ancestor!" Everyone rose as one and bowed.

Hongjun remained expressionless. His voice was calm, yet it rang clearly in everyone's ears. "Sit."

Once everyone had taken their seats, Hongjun's placid voice sounded.

"This is the third sermon, and also the last."

"I shall Clarify for you the Way of Sages."

The Way of Sages!

The instant those words fell, everyone in the hall caught their breath.

Even the foremost Great Powers like the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa revealed grave expectation in their eyes.

Ignoring the stir below, Hongjun slowly began his sermon.

"A Sage is one whose primordial spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, a Chaotic Grand Unity Golden Immortal, unweathered by ten thousand kalpas, unstained even when touched by Karma..."

The sound of the Great Dao filled the air. Heavenly Flowers Fell in Chaos, and Golden Lotuses Erupted from the Earth.

Within the Purple Firmament Palace, Law manifested in forms of boundless mystery.

The listeners were entranced, immersed in the profundities of the Way of Sages.

Time slowly passed amid this abstruse sermon.

No one knew how long it had been—perhaps a thousand years, perhaps ten thousand.

Upon the high platform, Hongjun's voice abruptly ceased.

The heavenly flowers vanished, and the golden lotuses dispersed.

The sound of the Great Dao faded away, and the Purple Firmament Palace returned to silence.

Below the platform, the crowd remained immersed in the mysteries of the Way of Sages, each wearing a different expression.

Some furrowed their brows deeply, clearly lost in a fog, unable to find the way in.

Some closed their eyes in concentration, seemingly having gained something as they struggled to digest it.

Others looked utterly bewildered, as if they had never heard such obscure and difficult principles before.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun opened his eyes and calmly swept his gaze over those below.

After a moment, the crowd gradually broke free from that wondrous state of Dao and came back to their senses.

From atop the high platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun swept his gaze over those below.

He looked toward the three figures at the very front of the Cushions.

"Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian."

"You three were transformed from Pangu Origin Spirit, bearing the merit of opening heaven. Your blessings and fate run deep, and you are destined for my Mysterious Sect."

"Are you willing to take me as your master?"

The moment these words fell, the hearts of quite a few Great Powers in the hall lurched.

Take Hongjun as their master?

This was a heaven-sent opportunity!

Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian exchanged glances. Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately bowed down and performed the rites of disciples.

"Disciples Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian pay respects to Master!"

Their voices rang out loud and clear, brimming with excitement.

"Good."

Hongjun gave a slight nod, acknowledging them.

He then shifted his gaze to Nuwa at the side.

"Nuwa."

"You are destined for great fortune and great opportunity in the future. Are you willing to become my personal disciple?"

Nuwa froze for a moment, then quickly came to her senses and hastily bowed.

"Disciple Nuwa pays respects to Master!"

Her voice was crisp and bright, carrying delight.

Hongjun looked at the four kneeling below, then waved a hand.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Four strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi shot through the air. As though possessed of spirit, they instantly entered the brows of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.

"This is Hongmeng Purple Qi."

Hongjun explained.

"It contains the Laws of heaven and earth and is the foundation for Proving the Dao and becoming a Saint. Today, I bestow it upon you."

"Thank you, Master!" The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa kowtowed once more.

The foundation of sainthood!

Those four words exploded through the Purple Firmament Palace like thunder!

Everyone's eyes turned red!

Envy!

Jealousy!

Why?

Why did they get the foundation for becoming Saints?

Especially those Great Powers who considered themselves no weaker than the Three Pure Ones or Nuwa—their hearts churned like storm-tossed seas.

Just then, an unexpected change erupted.

"Waaah... Master, have mercy!"

"Master, please take pity on us!"

Just then, an unexpected change erupted!

Daoist Zhunti at the side suddenly rose from his Cushion, dropped to his knees before Hongjun, and burst into loud sobs.

"Master, have mercy! Please, take pity on our Western land!"

"My senior brother and I have traveled countless billions of miles from that barren Western land, all to seek the true transmission of the Great Dao!"

"But the West suffered calamity, its Spiritual Veins utterly destroyed and its resources scarce. Cultivation is truly difficult for us!"

"Master, please show mercy. Take us as disciples, and leave the West a thread of hope!"

The two sang in perfect harmony, wailing to heaven and pounding the earth. Their grief was so sincere that listeners felt sorrow and onlookers shed tears.

The Great Powers within the Purple Firmament Palace were all dumbfounded.

That worked too?

You could operate like that?

That shamelessness... was truly unmatched!

Even the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa could not help but glance sideways.

The corner of Primordial Lord Tianzun's mouth twitched, revealing a trace of contempt.

Tongtian Sect Master raised a brow slightly, seeming to find it rather amusing.

Laozi remained with his eyes closed, unmoving as a mountain.

Watching this classic scene unfold, Wu Ming felt not the slightest ripple in his heart.

Behind him, Zhu Rong curled his lip and whispered to Gonggong beside him, "Those two shameless bastards can really put on a show!"

Gonggong snorted. "They really know how to cry poverty!"

On the high platform, Hongjun looked at the two men weeping below. His expression did not change, yet a flicker of helplessness passed through his eyes.

During the Dao-Demon Conflict, Luohu's self-destruction had ruined the Western Spiritual Veins.

This matter was indeed connected to him; he owed the West a share of Karma.

"Alas..."

Hongjun let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

"So be it."

"Jieyin, Zhunti."

"Though you two have no formal master-disciple bond with me, your sincerity is commendable, and you are also fated with the Mystical Sect."

"I shall accept you as registered disciples."

As he spoke, Hongjun raised his hand once more.

Two more strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi flew out and entered Jieyin and Zhunti's bodies.

"Teacher is merciful! Teacher is merciful!"

Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed beyond measure and hurriedly kowtowed in gratitude.