Inside Zixiao Palace, the atmosphere was unprecedentedly solemn and oppressive. Although Dao Ancestor Hongjun had spoken of Primordial Violet Qi, his final icy gaze and the "truth" he had personally admitted hung over every listener like dark clouds, especially those Quasi-Saints who had already embarked on the path of severing the Three Corpses.
The violent fluctuations and plummeting of the Immortal Path's fortune made the faces of orthodox figures like Laozi and Yuanshi turn exceedingly grim. They felt as though they had become part of the Dao Ancestor's calculations, and the road ahead had become unfathomable.
Amid the deathly silence and undercurrents, mist once again gathered atop the cloud bed Hongjun had supposedly left. Hongjun's figure once more sat upon the cloud bed! This time, his expression remained indifferent, yet that oppressive aura made everyone hold their breath.
He did not look at Xuan Wazi again, as though Xuan Wazi were a stain that should not exist. His gaze swept across the crowd below before finally settling on those seated on the prayer mats in the front row. He spoke indifferently, his voice carrying the unquestionable judgment of the Heavenly Dao:
"The three sermons have concluded, and the saintly positions of the Primordial World are likewise ordained by Heaven. You six, seated upon these prayer mats, share fate with me and may inherit the saintly positions."
The moment those words were spoken, everyone was shocked! Saintly positions were ordained by Heaven? The prayer mats were the opportunity?!
Hongjun raised his hand, and six wisps of purple qi filled with profound Dao rhythms flew from his sleeve. They were Primordial Violet Qi, circling through the hall like six nimble dragons.
"This is Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation of the Great Dao and the opportunity to become a saint," Hongjun said calmly.
As though drawn by an unseen force, the six strands of Primordial Violet Qi flew respectively toward Xuan Wazi, Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Nuwa, and Hong Yun, hovering before them. The purple qi was profoundly mysterious, seemingly containing endless Dao and reason, making hearts yearn for it.
Yet as Xuan Wazi looked at the Primordial Violet Qi that countless people dreamed of obtaining, the system's warning sounded in his mind:
[Warning! Heavenly Dao trap detected within the Primordial Violet Qi. Direct use will result in assimilation by the Heavenly Dao and turn the user into a puppet! Recommendation: It may be used to assist in comprehending laws, but must not be directly refined to become a saint!]
Xuan Wazi sneered inwardly. Just as expected! He did not reach out to take it immediately, instead watching leisurely.
Laozi and Yuanshi looked at the Primordial Violet Qi before them, heat flashing through their eyes. Yet recalling what Xuan Wazi had just said, they hesitated somewhat.
Tongtian frowned deeply. He pursued the Dao of Strength and instinctively rejected such a "shortcut."
Nuwa's beautiful eyes were similarly conflicted. She had already developed doubts about the Dao of Merit, and this Primordial Violet Qi also seemed far too deeply bound to the Heavenly Dao.
Hong Yun was both shocked and delighted, yet also somewhat at a loss.
Hongjun ignored everyone's reactions. The seventh and eighth strands of Primordial Violet Qi circled through the air, seemingly hesitating, before finally flying toward Jieyin and Zhunti, who stood in the second row with longing and misery written across their faces.
"Jieyin, Zhunti, you also possess karmic affinity. I grant these two strands of violet qi to you. I hope you will comprehend them well and revitalize the West," Hongjun said indifferently. Giving Primordial Violet Qi to the Two Buddhas of the West was considered a settlement of the karmic debt from the Dao-Devil War, which had destroyed the West's ley lines. Otherwise, if that karmic debt remained unresolved, it would greatly obstruct Hongjun's fusion with the Dao.
Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed. They hurriedly knelt and kowtowed in thanks, so excited they were nearly in tears.
Thus, all eight strands of Primordial Violet Qi found their owners.
Hongjun's gaze swept over the six people in the front row again before finally landing on Xuan Wazi. His tone remained calm and unruffled. "Xuan Wazi, I wish to accept you as my disciple. Are you willing?"
It was here! Everyone's gazes instantly focused on Xuan Wazi! The Dao Ancestor's first disciple! What glory and opportunity was that? Even if one's Three Corpses could not merge into one, the Dao Ancestor could help them attain the Dao. Their future would be limitless!
Yet Xuan Wazi grinned, carrying that trademark mischievousness and unruliness. He cupped his hands and said, "In reply to Dao Ancestor, this disciple has long been used to freedom and cannot bear restraints. Nor do I dare walk the uncertain path of severing the Three Corpses. I fear I lack the fortune to become your disciple, so please seek another worthy student."
He actually refused?!
An uproar erupted within Zixiao Palace! He had refused the Dao Ancestor's offer to take him as a disciple?! This Xuan Wazi truly was... arrogant beyond measure!
The chill in the depths of Hongjun's eyes intensified, but his expression remained unchanged. He turned to Laozi. "Taiching Laozi, are you willing to become the first disciple of my sect?"
Laozi was silent for a moment. He looked at the Primordial Violet Qi before him, then at Hongjun, before finally bowing. "This disciple is willing." He chose to accept. Perhaps he believed that even if there were hidden dangers, he could find a solution through his own wisdom and supreme treasures such as the Taiji Diagram and the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda.
"Good." Hongjun nodded, then looked toward Yuanshi. "Yuqing Yuanshi, are you willing to enter my sect?"
Yuanshi also bowed. "This disciple is willing." Though proud, he understood that all beneath saints were ants. He could not refuse the status of the Dao Ancestor's disciple and the Primordial Violet Qi.
When it came to Tongtian, before Hongjun could speak, Tongtian rose directly and offered a salute. His voice was resolute. "Many thanks for Dao Ancestor's favor! However, Tongtian's ambition lies in attaining the Dao through the Dao of Strength. I do not wish to be bound by external things, and I fear I cannot become a worthy disciple of Dao Ancestor. Please forgive me!" He had refused as well!
Hongjun's gaze narrowed slightly. He looked at Tongtian, then swept his eyes over the unruffled Xuan Wazi beside him. Understanding dawned upon him, and he said indifferently, "In that case, you shall be a nominal disciple."
Tongtian still wished to say something, but Hongjun had already turned toward Nuwa. "Nuwa, are you willing to enter my sect?"
Nuwa also rose and gave a graceful bow. "Nuwa thanks Dao Ancestor, but Nuwa's Dao lies in creation. I wish to seek my own path to transcendence, and I likewise dare not take a master." She had refused as well!
Hongjun's expression did not change. "You shall likewise be a nominal disciple." He then looked toward Hong Yun.
Hong Yun hurriedly waved his hands and laughed awkwardly. "Dao Ancestor, please forgive me. This poor Daoist... this poor Daoist does not think he is cut out for it. It would be better to remain a free cultivator. I do not even dare accept the position of nominal disciple." Xuan Wazi had thoroughly frightened him, and he did not dare ask for anything.
Hongjun said no more and looked toward Jieyin and Zhunti, but before he could speak—
Jieyin and Zhunti immediately prostrated themselves. "We are willing! This disciple is willing to take Dao Ancestor as master!" They did not have so many reservations.
"You two lack sufficient karmic affinity with me, so you shall be nominal disciples," Hongjun determined their status.
Thus, Hongjun's acceptance of disciples was complete. His personal disciples were only Laozi and Yuanshi, while Tongtian, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti were all nominal disciples. Xuan Wazi and Hong Yun had completely become "outsiders."
Hongjun no longer paid attention to the crowd and instead said, "The Primordial World has only just stabilized. The male and female immortals cannot be without leaders. Today, I appoint East King Duke as leader of the male immortals and grant him a Dragon Head Staff. I appoint West Queen Mother as leader of the female immortals and grant her a peach tree. I hope you will govern well and not disappoint Heaven's grace."
Upon hearing this, East King Duke, transformed from the first wisp of supreme yang qi between Heaven and Earth, immediately felt immense fortune descend upon him. Having also received a spiritual treasure personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor, he instantly felt capable again. He held his head high and puffed out his chest, looking around with pride, never noticing the fleeting killing intent in the eyes of Di Jun, Taiyi, and the others.
West Queen Mother, transformed from the first wisp of supreme yin qi between Heaven and Earth, frowned slightly. She felt that this responsibility was weighty and not what she desired, but since the Dao Ancestor had appointed her, she did not dare refuse. She could only bow and accept. "West Queen Mother accepts the decree. I will certainly do my utmost and not fail the Dao Ancestor's trust."
After doing all this, Hongjun's figure began to turn illusory, and his Dao voice slowly rang out. "Today, I, Hongjun, shall fuse my body with the Heavenly Dao and complete the Primordial World. From this day onward, if the Heavenly Dao does not emerge, Hongjun shall not appear."
The moment those words were spoken, the eight people swiftly put away their Primordial Violet Qi. Whether they intended to use it or not, they moved even faster than Xuan Wazi did when causing trouble and fleeing.
Just as his figure was about to completely disperse, one final message entered everyone's minds. "My spiritual treasures are no longer of use to me. They have been placed upon Treasure Distribution Cliff outside the palace. Those with fate may take them for themselves."
As his words fell, Hongjun's figure disappeared completely.
Boom!
As though a dam had burst, the three thousand visitors who had long been unable to restrain themselves instantly transformed into streaks of violent escape light. They rushed out of Zixiao Palace, scrambling toward Treasure Distribution Cliff floating within the chaos! Treasure light soared into the sky there, clearly indicating that countless spiritual treasures had been placed upon it!
Yet no matter how fast they were, how could they be faster than Xuan Wazi, who had prepared in advance and had just advanced to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm?
The instant Hongjun spoke the three words "Treasure Distribution Cliff," Xuan Wazi had already moved!
"Chaos Boundless, Spatial Folding!" he shouted. Hunyuan magical power surged around him as the power of the Great Dao of Strength Fragment and the Chaos Bead was driven to its limit! Rather than charging toward the palace gates, he directly used supreme magical power to distort the spatial distance between himself and Treasure Distribution Cliff, as though opening a spatial gate on the spot that led directly to the cliff's core!
The next moment, before everyone's horrified eyes, Xuan Wazi's figure had already appeared in the core region of Treasure Distribution Cliff, where the treasure light was most brilliant!
"Haha! Many thanks, Dao Ancestor! Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for yielding! This poor Daoist will gladly accept!" Xuan Wazi laughed loudly. The spatial power of the Chaos Bead unfurled completely, like a whale drawing in water and a gale sweeping away clouds!
The mountain-like piles of low-grade and mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, along with several high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and countless precious Innate Spirit Materials, surged madly into Xuan Wazi's Chaos Bead as though they had encountered a bottomless abyss! Wherever he passed, it was like a locust swarm had swept through—nothing was left behind!
By the time the fastest group, including the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Taiyi, Zhen Yuanzi, and Minghe, rushed to Treasure Distribution Cliff, all they saw was a bare cliff face and Xuan Wazi trying to pry up the entire Treasure Distribution Cliff itself and pack it away!
"Xuan! Wazi!"
"You're not even a person!"
"We shall never coexist with you!"
Furious roars echoed through the chaos! Di Jun and Taiyi in particular had bloodshot eyes! Their Demon Clan had only just been established and was desperately short of spiritual treasures to suppress its fortune and reward its subordinates, yet this bastard had taken everything in one sweep!
However, Xuan Wazi merely turned around and gave everyone an extremely punchable grin. Then, with a sudden heave, he forcibly stuffed the enormous Treasure Distribution Cliff into the Chaos Bead before their stunned eyes. His figure flickered and melted into the chaos, disappearing without a trace, leaving behind a group of Primordial Great Powers trembling with rage yet powerless to do anything.
Inside the Chaos Bead, Xuan Wazi looked at the mountain of spiritual treasures and the stripped-bare Treasure Distribution Cliff, then threw back his head and laughed with his hands on his hips.
[Ding! Successfully seized the vast majority of spiritual treasures from Treasure Distribution Cliff, provoking public outrage and deeply conforming to the behavior of "Not Being a Person." Reward: Innate Spiritual Treasure "Eight Trigrams Furnace" ×1, Pangu's Essence Blood ×1, realm stabilized at the early Hunyuan Golden Immortal stage.]
This trip to Zixiao Palace had made him the greatest winner! Not only had his cultivation broken through to Hunyuan, but he had also disrupted Hongjun's plans, seized Primordial Violet Qi, and robbed Treasure Distribution Cliff of all its treasures! The title of "not being a person" was now thoroughly confirmed!
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