Hongjun Accepts Disciples and Distributes Treasures, Xuan Wazi Intercepts Again

Inside Zixiao Palace, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly solemn and oppressive. Although Dao Ancestor Hongjun had mentioned the Primordial Violet Qi, his final cold gaze and the "truth" he personally admitted cast a shadow over the hearts of every listener, especially the Quasi-Saints who had already embarked on the path of severing the Three Corpses.

The violent fluctuations and sharp decline in the luck of the immortal path made the faces of Laozi, Yuanshi, and other orthodox Xuanmen disciples extremely grim. They felt as if they had become pawns in the Dao Ancestor's scheme, their future paths becoming obscure and unpredictable.

Just as this deathly silence and undercurrent of turmoil ensued, on the cloud bed where Hongjun had originally departed, mist and smoke began to gather again, and Hongjun's figure reappeared on the cloud bed! However, this time, his expression remained indifferent, but the oppressive aura caused everyone to hold their breath.

He no longer looked at Xuan Wazi, as if he were an unworthy stain. His gaze swept over the crowd below, finally settling on the few individuals sitting on the futons in the front row, and he spoke indifferently, his voice carrying an undeniable tone of Heavenly Dao judgment:

"The three lectures are now complete. The positions of Saints in the Primordial Era are also determined by Heaven. You six, who sit upon the futons, have a connection with me and can inherit the Saintly position."

Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked! The Saintly position is predetermined by Heaven? The futons represent destiny?!

Hongjun raised his hand, and six streams of violet mist swirled, emitting profound Daoist rhymes. The Primordial Violet Qi flew out from his sleeve, like six agile, swimming dragons, circling within the hall.

"This is the Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation of the Great Dao, the opportunity to become a Saint," Hongjun said calmly.

Six streams of Primordial Violet Qi, as if guided, flew towards Xuan Wazi, Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, and Hong Yun respectively, hovering before them. The violet Qi was mysterious, seeming to contain infinite Dao and principles, making one's heart yearn for it.

However, as Xuan Wazi looked at the Primordial Violet Qi, which countless people dreamed of, the system's warning sound echoed in his mind:

[Warning! A Heavenly Dao trap has been detected within the Primordial Violet Qi. Direct use will result in assimilation by the Heavenly Dao, turning you into a puppet! Recommendation: It can be used to assist in comprehending laws, but cannot be directly refined to achieve sainthood!]

Xuan Wazi sneered inwardly. It was just as he suspected! He didn't reach out to take it immediately, but instead watched with leisurely composure.

Laozi and Yuanshi looked at the Primordial Violet Qi before them, their eyes flashing with fervor, but recalling Xuan Wazi's earlier words, they hesitated.

Tongtian frowned deeply. He pursued the Dao of Strength and instinctively rejected such "shortcuts."

Nuwa's beautiful eyes were also complex. She already harbored doubts about the Dao of Merit, and this Primordial Violet Qi seemed too deeply bound to the Heavenly Dao.

Hong Yun was both surprised and delighted, yet also somewhat at a loss.

Hongjun paid no attention to their reactions. The seventh and eighth streams of Primordial Violet Qi circled in the air, seeming hesitant, before finally flying towards Jieyin and Zhunti, who stood in the second row with eager yet sorrowful expressions.

"Jieyin, Zhunti, you also have a destined connection. These two streams of violet Qi are for you. I hope you will comprehend them well and revitalize the West," Hongjun said faintly, bestowing the Primordial Violet Qi upon the two Western monks as a way to settle the karmic debt from the destruction of the Western Earth Vein during the Dao-Demon Conflict. Otherwise, with the karmic debt unresolved, it would greatly hinder Hongjun's integration with the Dao.

Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and immediately prostrated themselves in thanks, so excited they were almost in tears.

Thus, the eight streams of Primordial Violet Qi all found their owners.

Hongjun's gaze swept over the six in the front row again, finally landing on Xuan Wazi, and his tone remained calm and unwavering: "Xuan Wazi, I wish to take you as my disciple. Are you willing?"

Here it comes! Everyone's attention instantly focused on Xuan Wazi! The Dao Ancestor's first disciple! What an honor and opportunity! Even if the Three Corpses cannot be united, the Dao Ancestor would help him achieve the Dao, and his future would be limitless!

However, Xuan Wazi grinned, with his characteristic "stubborn" playfulness and unruliness, cupped his hands and said, "Replying to the Dao Ancestor, this disciple is accustomed to freedom and cannot bear restraint. Moreover, I dare not tread the uncertain path of severing the Three Corpses, and I fear I lack the fortune to be your disciple. Please find another worthy student."

He actually refused?!

A clamor erupted in Zixiao Palace! Refusing the Dao Ancestor's offer of discipleship?! This Xuan Wazi is truly... outrageously arrogant!

The coldness in Hongjun's eyes deepened, but his expression remained unchanged. He turned to Laozi: "Grand Pure One Laozi, are you willing to be my foremost disciple?"

Laozi was silent for a moment. He glanced at the Primordial Violet Qi before him, then at Hongjun, and finally bowed: "This disciple is willing." He chose to accept, perhaps believing that even with potential hidden dangers, he could find a solution with his own wisdom, the Taiji Diagram, the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda, and other supreme treasures.

"Good," Hongjun nodded, then looked at Yuanshi: "Yuqing Yuanshi, are you willing to join my sect?"

Yuanshi also bowed: "This disciple is willing." Although he was arrogant, he also knew that below Saints, all were ants. He could not refuse the status of Dao Ancestor's disciple and the Primordial Violet Qi.

When it was Tongtian's turn, before Hongjun could speak, Tongtian directly stood up, bowed, and said with a firm voice: "Thank you for your kind regard, Dao Ancestor! However, Tongtian's ambition is to achieve the Dao of Strength and he does not wish to be bound by external factors. I fear I cannot be a worthy disciple of the Dao Ancestor. Please forgive me!" He refused as well!

Hongjun's gaze slightly narrowed. He looked at Tongtian, then at the nonchalant Xuan Wazi beside him, and understood. He said indifferently, "Since that is the case, you shall be a nominal disciple."

Tongtian wanted to say something more, but seeing that Hongjun had already turned to Nuwa: "Nuwa, are you willing to join my sect?"

Nuwa also stood up and bowed gracefully: "Nuwa thanks the Dao Ancestor. However, Nuwa's Dao lies in creation, and I wish to seek my own path of transcendence. I dare not become a disciple." She refused too!

Hongjun's expression remained unchanged: "You shall also be a nominal disciple." He then looked at Hong Yun.

Hong Yun quickly waved his hands and chuckled dryly: "Dao Ancestor, please forgive me. This humble one... this humble one doesn't think I'm cut out for it. It's better to be a rogue cultivator at ease. I don't even dare to be a nominal disciple." He was thoroughly scared by Xuan Wazi and dared not accept anything.

Hongjun said no more and looked at Jieyin and Zhunti. Before he could speak, Jieyin and Zhunti bowed their heads: "Willing! This disciple is willing to become a disciple of the Dao Ancestor!" They didn't have so many scruples.

"Your connection with me is insufficient, so you shall be nominal disciples," Hongjun declared their status.

Thus, Hongjun's disciple-taking concluded. There were only two direct disciples, Laozi and Yuanshi. Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti were all nominal disciples. As for Xuan Wazi and Hong Yun, they became complete "outsiders."

Hongjun no longer paid attention to the crowd and instead said, "The Primordial Era is newly established. The male and female immortals cannot be without leaders. I now decree East King Duke as the leader of the male immortals and bestow upon him a dragon-headed staff; I decree West Queen Mother as the leader of the female immortals and bestow upon her a peach tree. I hope you will manage them well and not fail Heaven's grace."

East King Duke (formed from the first wisp of supreme yang energy in heaven and earth) felt a surge of immense fortune upon hearing this, and with a spiritual treasure personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor, he instantly felt invigorated. He straightened his chest and looked around proudly, failing to notice the fleeting killing intent in the eyes of Di Jun, Tai Yi, and others.

West Queen Mother (formed from the first wisp of supreme yin energy in heaven and earth) frowned slightly, feeling the immense responsibility of this position was not what she desired. However, as it was decreed by the Dao Ancestor, she dared not refuse and could only bow and accept: "West Queen Mother accepts the decree and will surely do her best not to fail the Dao Ancestor's trust."

After completing all this, Hongjun's figure began to fade, and his Daoist voice slowly sounded: "Now I, Hongjun, shall merge with the Heavenly Dao and complete the Primordial Era. From this moment on, the Heavenly Dao shall not appear, and Hongjun shall not manifest."

As soon as these words were spoken, the eight individuals quickly put away their Primordial Violet Qi. Regardless of whether they would use it or not, their speed was faster than Xuan Wazi's mischief-making escape speed.

Just as his figure was about to completely dissipate, the last message entered everyone's consciousness: "My spiritual treasures are now useless. They have been placed outside the palace on the Treasure Distribution Cliff. Those with destiny may take them as they please."

As the voice faded, Hongjun's figure vanished completely.

"Boom!"

As if a dam had broken, the three thousand worldly travelers, who had long suppressed their desires, instantly transformed into streaks of violent escaping light, rushing out of Zixiao Palace in a frenzy towards the Treasure Distribution Cliff floating in the chaos! The treasure light there soared into the sky, clearly indicating countless spiritual treasures were placed there!

However, no matter how fast they were, could they be faster than Xuan Wazi, who was already prepared and had just ascended to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm?

The moment Hongjun uttered the words "Treasure Distribution Cliff," Xuan Wazi had already moved!

"Limitless chaos, space fold!" he roared, his Hunyuan magical power surging around him, pushing the fragments of the Great Dao of Strength and the power of the Chaos Bead to their absolute limit! He didn't charge towards the palace gate. Instead, with supreme magical power, he distorted the spatial distance between himself and the Treasure Distribution Cliff, as if opening a spatial gate directly to the core of the Treasure Distribution Cliff from where he stood!

The next moment, under the horrified gazes of everyone, Xuan Wazi's figure had already appeared in the core area of the Treasure Distribution Cliff, where the treasure light was most brilliant!

"Haha! Thank you, Dao Ancestor! Thank you, fellow Daoists, for letting me have it! This humble one will not refuse!" Xuan Wazi let out a long laugh. The spatial power of the Chaos Bead fully unleashed, like a great whale swallowing water, like wind sweeping away clouds!

The mountains of low-grade, mid-grade, and even a few high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, and the countless rare Innate Spiritual Materials, poured into Xuan Wazi's Chaos Bead like they had encountered a bottomless pit! Wherever he passed, it was like a swarm of locusts, leaving nothing behind!

By the time the fastest group, including the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun and Tai Yi, Zhen Yuanzi, and Minghe, rushed to the Treasure Distribution Cliff, they saw only a bare cliff face and Xuan Wazi, who was attempting to pry up the entire Treasure Distribution Cliff body to pack it away!

"Xuan! Wazi!"

"Scum!"

"We are irreconcilable with you!"

Angry roars echoed in the chaos! Di Jun and Tai Yi were especially furious! Their Demon Clan had just been established and was in dire need of spiritual treasures to suppress their destiny and reward their subordinates, yet this fellow had taken it all in one go!

However, Xuan Wazi merely turned back, flashed an incredibly obnoxious smile at everyone, and then, with a sudden surge of strength, in the stunned eyes of the crowd, he forcibly stuffed the enormous Treasure Distribution Cliff into the Chaos Bead. His figure then flickered, merging into the chaos and disappearing, leaving behind a group of Primordial Era great powers trembling with rage but utterly helpless.

Inside the Chaos Bead, Xuan Wazi looked at the mountains of spiritual treasures and the bare Treasure Distribution Cliff, put his hands on his hips, and laughed heartily.

[Ding! Successfully plundered the vast majority of spiritual treasures from the Treasure Distribution Cliff, provoking the wrath of the masses, deeply fitting the behavior of 'scum'. Reward: Innate Spiritual Treasure 'Eight Trigrams Furnace' ×1, Pangu's Essence Blood ×1, realm stabilized at the early stage of Hunyuan Golden Immortal.]

This trip to Zixiao Palace could be considered his greatest victory! Not only did his cultivation break through to Hunyuan, but he also disrupted Hongjun's plans, seized the Primordial Violet Qi, and plundered all the treasures of the Treasure Distribution Cliff! The title of "scum" was now thoroughly cemented!