Hongjun Joins the Dao

Everyone in the hall erupted once more!

"Th-This works too?"

"Just cry and make a fuss, and you can get Hongmeng Purple Qi?"

"If I'd known, I would've cried too!"

"Why them?! What virtue or ability do those two western barbarians have?!"

The envy, jealousy, and hatred nearly solidified into something tangible.

With Jieyin and Zhunti's "successful example," how could anyone else remain seated?

With a great rustle!

A huge crowd dropped to their knees.

"Please show mercy, Teacher, and accept me as your disciple!"

"Teacher, this disciple is willing to serve at your side!"

"Teacher, look at me! My innate foundations are exceptional!"

For a time, Purple Heaven Palace was like a marketplace, pleas and declarations of loyalty rising one after another.

Hongjun's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly before returning to its usual indifference.

"There is no bond of master and disciple between you and me."

His voice was not loud, yet it reached everyone's ears with perfect clarity, like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads.

The crowd immediately fell silent, their faces filled with disappointment and unwillingness.

Hongjun continued, "Under the Heavenly Dao, there are nine Saint Positions."

"The ninth Sage shall not emerge except during an immeasurable Tribulation."

"I hold the Jade Plate of Creation, and am thus meant to command seven strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi."

"Now, six strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi have been bestowed."

Everyone's hearts leaped into their throats.

Six strands?

Didn't that mean there was still one left?

In an instant, everyone's eyes turned blazing hot as they stared fixedly at Hongjun.

"Teacher! There is still one strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi—please bestow it upon us!"

"Teacher, have mercy and give us a chance!"

"Please fulfill our wish, Teacher!"

Hongjun looked over the myriad expressions of the beings below and remained silent for a long while.

At last, he seemed to let out a soft sigh.

"So be it."

"As for this final strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi, it shall depend on each of your own fate."

As his words fell, he raised a hand and flicked it.

The final streak of purple light flew out. Like a swimming fish, it began circling through Purple Heaven Palace.

Everyone's hearts rose and fell with that purple light, their nerves stretched to the limit.

"Come to me!"

"It's mine!"

"Come here!"

Countless people shouted and prayed in their hearts.

That strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi seemed to hesitate for a moment, circling several times in midair.

Then, beneath everyone's stunned gazes, it suddenly accelerated and shot straight in one direction.

Its target—Hong Yun Patriarch!

The Hongmeng Purple Qi instantly entered Hong Yun Patriarch's body.

The entire Purple Heaven Palace fell into dead silence.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

How could it be him?

Hong Yun Patriarch himself was stunned as well. He stood there blankly, sensing that profound and boundless aura within his body, unable to react for a moment.

Who am I?

Where am I?

Am I... about to become a Sage?

After a brief daze, an immense surge of ecstasy flooded his heart!

Hongmeng Purple Qi!

The foundation for becoming a saint!

I, Hong Yun, will have a day when I become a saint too?

Haha!

Yet his joy did not last long.

He suddenly recalled what Wu Ming had said to him in Pangu Hall.

The smile on Hong Yun's face froze.

He instinctively looked toward a corner of the hall.

There, Kunpeng was staring fixedly at him with eyes that seemed ready to devour him alive.

The resentment, fury, and killing intent in that gaze were utterly undisguised—icy and bone-piercing.

Hong Yun's heart sank at once.

He understood.

This strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi was the key to resolving the karmic entanglement between himself and Kunpeng.

Hong Yun's face turned pale, then green, his thoughts a hopeless tangle.

In the end, all his emotions became a heavy sigh.

"Ah—! Hong Yun!"

Kunpeng was roaring madly within his heart. Damn you, Hong Yun—it's you again.

If you hadn't given up your seat, that Cushion should have been mine!

Now the Cushion is gone, and even the final strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi has been snatched away by you!

You have severed my path! Ruined my future!

This hatred cannot exist beneath the same sky!

Hong Yun, just you wait!

From this day forth, I, Kunpeng, will not rest until either you or I am dead!

Anyone could feel the towering killing intent emanating from Kunpeng, as though it would burn everything to ashes.

The atmosphere within Purple Heaven Palace became incomparably oppressive and strange over the ownership of this final strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi.

There were those who envied, those who were jealous, those who bore resentment, and those who rejoiced in another's misfortune.

Upon the high platform, Hongjun seemed unconcerned by the undercurrents swirling below.

Once the final strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi had been settled, his gaze swept across the six disciples.

"Taiqing."

"You are the first disciple of my Profound Sect and bear the responsibility of enlightening all living beings. You shall wield the Fortune of the Profound Sect. Today, I bestow upon you the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram, which can suppress Fortune."

"Disciple thanks Master!" Laozi bowed in salute.

"Primordial Lord Tianzun."

"The Pangu Banner was formed from the blade of the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe. It contains boundless Heaven-Opening Fiend Qi and can shatter Chaos, recreating earth, water, wind, and fire. It too is an Innate Supreme Treasure, and I now bestow it upon you."

"Disciple thanks Master!" Primordial Lord Tianzun accepted the Pangu Banner, a rare trace of excitement appearing on his face.

"Tongtian."

"I bestow upon you the Four Swords of Zhu Xian, along with the Zhu Xian Array Diagram."

"Once this Sword Formation is laid, it cannot be broken unless four saints join forces. Its power to slaughter is unparalleled. I hope you will use it well."

"Disciple thanks Master!" Tongtian was overjoyed and hurriedly put them away.

Hongjun then looked toward Nuwa.

"Nuwa, you bear great merit. I bestow upon you the Diagram of Mountains and Rivers, the Red Embroidered Ball, and the Qiankun Cauldron. I hope you will make good use of them."

"Disciple thanks Master!" Nuwa accepted them joyfully.

After distributing treasures to the four direct disciples, Hongjun's movements came to a halt.

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged a glance. Their faces immediately filled with "grievance" and longing as they gazed eagerly at Hongjun.

The meaning was obvious: Master, what about ours?

The corners of everyone's mouths in the hall twitched.

These two from the West had truly cultivated their thick skins to perfection.

Hongjun seemed somewhat helpless, but he said nothing more. With a wave of his hand, three more treasures flew out.

He casually waved his hand.

"This is the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit, unmatched in defense. This is the Green Lotus Treasure Banner, also one of the Innate Five Banners. This is the Amulet Staff, capable of subduing demons and vanquishing devils. I bestow them upon you."

"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed. They hurriedly kowtowed in thanks, put away their treasures, and beamed from ear to ear.

Now, the other Great Powers in the hall who had received no treasures could no longer sit still.

Why?

The personal disciples got them, and even the nominal disciples got them!

Yet those of us who had listened to three sermons and struggled all the way here through Chaos got nothing?

"Master, please show mercy and grant us one or two treasures for protection!"

"Master, this disciple's cultivation has not been easy!"

"Master..."

Another chorus of pleading rose up.

Hongjun waved a hand, cutting off their pleas.

"I have placed all the Spiritual Treasures I obtained over the years atop Treasure-Separating Rock Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens."

"After the sermon, you may go there yourselves and take them according to your karmic affinity."

Only then did everyone quiet down, anticipation appearing on their faces.

Treasure-Separating Rock! That was where the Dao Ancestor stored his treasures!

Though they could not compare to Innate Supreme Treasures, there would surely be no shortage of good things!

Hongjun looked over the crowd below before speaking at last.

"The three sermons have come to an end."

"I shall merge with the Dao."

"The Heavenly Dao is incomplete. I shall use my body to make up for it, set creation in motion, and bring order to the Primordial Wilderness."

"From this day forth, the workings of the Primordial Wilderness shall follow their ordained course."

"Unless a heaven-and-earth Tribulation descends, Hongjun shall not appear."

"You may leave."

"From this day forth, unless a heaven-and-earth Tribulation descends, Hongjun shall not appear."

"You may leave."

Upon the high platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's figure gradually turned illusory and transparent, finally vanishing completely as though he had never been there at all.

Only the empty platform remained, along with a group of Primordial Wilderness Great Powers who had yet to fully digest this earth-shattering news.

Rumble—

The ancient, heavy gates of Purple Heaven Palace slowly opened at that moment.