Contention for the First Guest Outside Zixiao Palace

The Primordial Era is timeless, but since the end of the conflict between the Dao and the Demon, Demon Ancestor Luohu's defeat and demise, he used a sliver of his remnant soul and the origin of a Chaos Demon to forcibly open the Demonic Realm. Luohu then issued a curse: from this day forward, the Dao shall be one foot high, and the Demon shall be one foot taller. Since then, cultivators must undergo the Tribulation of the Heart Demon and the Tribulation of the Heavenly Demon. At the same time, a reshaping of order occurred throughout the Primordial Era, and the Daoist rhythm of the impending emergence of Saints became increasingly clear. Xuan Wazi emerged from his secluded cultivation within the Chaos Bead, his cultivation having stabilized at the peak of the mid-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. He was full of energy and spirit, only lacking a single opportunity to break through.

He stood atop Mount Buzhou, gazing at the churning chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"The time has come," he murmured to himself. The instant his words fell, a vast, unparalleled pressure, supreme over all beings, spread like spilled mercury, instantly enveloping the entire Primordial Era! All beings bowed their heads, and all life trembled!

A peaceful yet majestic Dao sound resonated clearly in the Primordial Spirits of all cultivators who had reached a certain level:

"High I recline in the ninefold clouds, On a cushion, I understand the true Dao. Beyond the Xuanhuang of Heaven and Earth, I shall preside as the sect leader. Pangu gave birth to Taiji, Yin and Yang follow the Four Symbols. One Dao passed to the Three Companions, Two sects, Chan and Jie, divided. The Xuanmen are all leaders, One Qi transforms into Hongjun."

"I am Hongjun. I have now attained the Dao and become a Saint. In the chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens, I have established Zixiao Palace to expound on the Dao of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal and the Quasi-Saint. Those who are fated may come and listen."

The Dao sound lingered, and the era of Saints arrived!

In an instant, the entire Primordial Era erupted! Countless reclusive great powers and strong individuals from all races transformed into brilliant streams of light, like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, rushing towards the chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens!

On Kunlun Mountain, three pure lights shot into the sky, their aura vast, these were the Three Pure Ones.

On Longevity Mountain, an earthy yellow stream of light was accompanied by red clouds, it was Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun.

On the Solar Star, two domineering golden rainbows tore through the sky, Di Jun and Tai Yi, side by side.

On the Lunar Star, a cold moon's radiance flickered, Xi He and Chang Xi broke through the void.

From the Netherworld Blood Sea, a blood-red stream of light quietly rose...

In the Western lands, two urgent and sorrowful streams of light struggled forward, it was Jieyin and Zhunti.

The top great powers of the Primordial Era, almost all of them, emerged!

As for Xuan Wazi, the moment Hongjun's Dao sound echoed, he had already moved!

"Brother System, it's up to you!" Xuan Wazi silently chanted in his heart, fully activating the Chaos Bead and the fragments of the Great Dao of Strength!

"Boom!"

The space before him was forcefully torn open by a brute force, creating a passage! This was not an ordinary escape technique, but a "power leap" achieved by combining fragments of the Great Dao of Strength with the spatial authority of the Chaos Bead! Simple, crude, and effective!

His figure blurred and disappeared from his original position. The next moment, he had already appeared at the edge of the chaos, billions of miles away! His speed was astonishing, far surpassing cloud-riding or rainbow-transforming, even slightly faster than the Golden Crow's rainbow transformation technique!

"Whoosh--!"

Another ripple of power spread out, and Xuan Wazi tore through space again. His figure flickered a few times within the Chaos Qi, leaving the vast majority of his competitors far behind! The Chaos Qi, with the Chaos Bead protecting him, felt like walking on level ground.

His goal was clear—Zixiao Palace, the first cushion!

Passing through layers of chaotic mist, an ancient and magnificent purple palace quietly floated in the chaos, the platform before its entrance was already in sight!

Zixiao Palace had arrived!

The platform was empty! He was the first to arrive!

Xuan Wazi rejoiced in his heart, his figure like lightning, rushing straight for the palace gates.

However, just as he was about to step onto the platform, from the side and behind him, a profound light, serene and effortless, yet seemingly containing the ultimate principles of heaven and earth, arrived later but moved faster. It landed steadily on the platform, its radiance fading to reveal the calm figure of Taiqing Laozi.

"Fellow Daoist Taiqing, what speed!" Xuan Wazi's gaze sharpened, he exclaimed, but his feet did not stop, still rushing into the grand gates of Zixiao Palace half a step ahead! He was still the first!

A flicker of surprise flashed in Laozi's eyes. He seemed not to have expected someone to be faster than him, and with such a brute-force method. He nodded slightly, saying no more, and followed closely, entering the great hall as the second person.

The great hall was spacious and ancient, filled with Daoist charm. At the very front, a cloud bed hung high, and beneath it, six purple cushions emanated a profound aura.

Xuan Wazi did not hesitate, directly rushing towards the first cushion and sitting down peacefully!

Laozi, entering second, his expression was as calm as a still pool. He glanced at Xuan Wazi on the main seat and silently walked towards the second cushion to sit down.

Immediately after, Yuqing Yuanshi entered the great hall as the third. Seeing the first seat occupied by a stranger and his elder brother relegated to second, he frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face, but ultimately said nothing. With a cold snort, he walked towards the third cushion.

Following him, a sharp sword light broke in, it was Shangqing Tongtian. Seeing the seating arrangement ahead, especially seeing Yuanshi sitting in third and himself ranked fourth, he raised an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat unconvinced. But seeing that Laozi and Yuanshi had already taken their seats, he could only suppress his temper and walk towards the fourth cushion.

Nuwa entered fifth. Her aura was ethereal. She glanced at the people on the cushions, especially Xuan Wazi in the main seat, her beautiful eyes filled with even more curiosity, and walked towards the fifth cushion.

Old Ancestor Hong Yun entered sixth. He still had that good-natured demeanor, smiling as he looked around. Seeing that the five before him were all extraordinary, he walked towards the last, the sixth cushion.

Thus, the six cushions were instantly occupied! The order was set: Xuan Wazi in the main seat, Taiqing Laozi second, Yuqing Yuanshi third, Shangqing Tongtian fourth, Nuwa fifth, and Hong Yun sixth!

The great powers who entered later, Zhen Yuanzi and Fuxi, were overjoyed that their friend and sister had secured cushions. As for Di Jun, Tai Yi, Minghe, and others, seeing that the six cushions ahead were full, although they were unwilling, they could only find seats in the back of the hall. In a Saint's dojo, no one dared to be presumptuous.

As for Jieyin and Zhunti from the West, they arrived late. They entered the great hall and their eyes immediately fell upon the six full cushions, especially Hong Yun sitting in the last seat. Their faces instantly contorted with sorrow.

Jieyin's eyes turned red, while Zhunti beat his chest and stamped his feet, crying with a choked voice, "Senior Brother! We have traveled thousands of miles from the barren lands of the West, only to listen to the Saint's profound teachings and bring glory to our Western religion. Alas... alas, our fate is so thin, we don't even have a place to sit and listen to the Dao! How tragic! How painful!"

His voice was mournful, attempting to evoke sympathy. Old Ancestor Hong Yun, sitting on the sixth cushion, indeed showed a look of pity, his lips moving as if to get up.

Xuan Wazi, seated in the main seat, saw all this with a cold sneer. He immediately transmitted a message to Hong Yun in secret, his voice carrying a hint of solemnity:

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, do not be soft-hearted! This cushion is an opportunity for Sainthood, concerning the future of the Great Dao, and is by no means an ordinary seat! You cannot give it up, absolutely cannot give it up! Look at the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, do any of them intend to yield? This is a destiny set by heaven. Forcing it would not be good. Sit with peace of mind!"

Hong Yun's body trembled upon receiving the transmission. He looked at Xuan Wazi in the main seat, then at the expressionless Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, who was meditating with her eyes closed, and then at the wailing Western duo. A struggle flashed across his face. Finally, he gritted his teeth, noting Xuan Wazi's slight gratitude, and firmly remained seated on the cushion, ignoring them further.

Jieyin and Zhunti wailed for a long time. Seeing that no one responded, especially Hong Yun remaining firmly seated, they felt both anxious and angry in their hearts, but they did not dare to act within the Saint's dojo. They could only stand resentfully in the second row, their eyes casting gloomy glances at the six people in front.

[Ding! Main quest 'First Guest of Zixiao Palace' completed! Successfully seized the first cushion! Reward issued: Innate Spiritual Treasure 'Boundless Bracelet' x1, Jade Disk of Fortune Fragment x1, Cultivation increased to late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal!]

A surge of powerful and pure energy instantly poured into Xuan Wazi's body, pushing his already near-bottlenecked cultivation to break through as if it were natural! Late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal! His magic power became even more boundless, his divine sense became even more penetrating, and his understanding of the Great Dao of Strength seemed to have deepened another layer!

Feeling the improvement in his own strength, and the subtle connection that had arisen between him, Zixiao Palace, and the Saint's Great Dao due to sitting in the main seat cushion, Xuan Wazi's heart settled, and he was filled with satisfaction.

He leisurely sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the three thousand guests in the hall with various expressions, especially Di Jun and Tai Yi in the back row with ashen faces, and the Western duo with sorrowful yet truly resentful eyes. The "stubborn" smile on his lips grew even more pronounced.

"Old man Hongjun, I'm here, and I've taken your top seat. This sermon, you'd better start quickly."

Just as his thoughts were stirring, above the cloud bed at the front of the great hall, mist swirled, golden lotuses emerged from the ground, and a blurry figure silently coalesced, as if merging with the palace, the chaos, and the Heavenly Dao.

Hongjun, suddenly appeared on the cloud bed!