Chapter 19

"Why are you all here?" Li Peng asked.

"Big Brother Li, there are only sixteen hundred years left until Dao Ancestor Hongjun's third sermon. Don't tell me you forgot we still have to go to Purple Xiao Palace to hear the Dao?" Changxi blinked innocently.

Only then did Li Peng remember that the Period of preaching was approaching. Unwilling to admit his oversight, he smiled and said:

"Of course I remembered. But I have now slain my second corpse, and my primordial spirit has reached the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage. My flight speed far surpasses what it once was. From here to Purple Xiao Palace, I can arrive in less than two hundred years. If we set out now, are we supposed to wait outside the palace gates for fourteen hundred years?"

"Big Brother Li, you're amazing! You broke through to the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage so quickly!" Changxi exclaimed.

But Changxi's expression instantly dimmed, and she said with a hint of grievance, "But I'm only at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. I haven't even slain a corpse yet."

Li Peng smiled and comforted her. "You're so cute and kind. When the time comes, you'll naturally be able to easily slay your Good Corpse."

"But Sister Xihe and Sister Nuwa have both slain their corpses and become Quasi-Saints. I'm the only one still holding everyone back," Changxi said dejectedly.

Clearly, Nuwa and Xihe's breakthroughs had dealt this little girl quite a blow.

"It's alright. Big Brother Li will protect you from now on. You just need to be happy," Li Peng said as he gently stroked Changxi's head.

The moment Changxi heard this, her eyes lit up. The gloom on her face vanished, replaced by a radiant smile.

"That's right! With Big Brother Li protecting me, I don't need to worry about these things at all!" she said happily.

As soon as she finished speaking, Changxi's aura abruptly erupted, and the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth surged into her body like a tide.

The Heaven, Earth, and Human Three Flowers appeared above her head, each blooming to the seventh grade and circulating boundless Dao charm.

Suddenly, the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Taiyin Jade Hairpin, flew out of Changxi's body and entered the Three Flowers, merging with the Human Flower.

The next moment, a woman with features similar to hers appeared before everyone.

"She succeeded in slaying her corpse just like that?" Nuwa pointed at Changxi in disbelief.

"Yes, she succeeded," Xihe said dazedly.

"You can break through like that?" Fuxi looked at Li Peng with a devastated expression.

The three of them looked at Li Peng at the same time, their gazes as though they had discovered a new continent.

Li Peng looked utterly innocent. "If I said I didn't expect this either, would you believe me?"

"As if we'd believe you!" Fuxi, Nuwa, and Xihe said in unison.

Fuxi suddenly looked seriously at Li Peng. "How about you say what you just told Changxi to me too? See whether I can break through?"

Li Peng's face darkened as he snapped, "Get lost!"

Changxi and the Good Corpse she had slain could not help laughing when they heard this exchange.

Li Peng, Fuxi, Nuwa, and Xihe all felt somewhat awkward seeing them laugh so merrily, their faces flushing slightly.

But Li Peng had always been thick-skinned, and that trace of embarrassment vanished within seconds.

"Congratulations, little sister Changxi, on successfully slaying your corpse and advancing to the Quasi-Saint realm," Li Peng said with a smile.

"It's all thanks to Big Brother Li. If not for you, who knows how long I would have had to wait before slaying my corpse," Changxi said brightly.

"It was the result of your own cultivation. It had little to do with me," Li Peng replied, waving his hand.

"No! This is Big Brother Li's credit!" Changxi said solemnly.

Hearing this, Li Peng understood that there was no use refusing any further. If he continued arguing with Changxi, they might not reach a conclusion even after thousands or tens of thousands of years. So he suggested instead, "You should give your Good Corpse a name or Dao title. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient to address her in the future."

Changxi nodded in agreement, but fell into a naming dilemma. "Taiyin Immortal? No, that doesn't sound like a good person. Moon Goddess? That's too narcissistic. How about..."

Seeing her propose dozens of names in succession only to reject them herself, Li Peng knew that at this rate, she would not settle on one even after a thousand years. He suggested, "Since she was slain using the Taiyin Jade Hairpin, why not call her 'Little Jade'? It sounds nice and cute."

"Alright, we'll use that name," the woman who resembled Changxi hurriedly agreed. She had clearly been frightened by her main body's naming ability and feared she would end up with an odd name.

As time flowed on, thirteen hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Li Peng arrived at Purple Xiao Palace with Nuwa, Fuxi, Xihe, and Changxi, quietly awaiting Dao Ancestor Hongjun's sermon. At this moment, fewer than fifteen hundred great cultivators remained in the palace. The other fifteen hundred-plus had all perished while fighting over Innate Spiritual Treasures, showing just how greatly the method of Slaying Three Corpses had affected the primordial world.

Li Peng sighed faintly and noticed that the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, and Tai Yi had all broken through to the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage. Clearly, they too had cultivated diligently without pause.

Before long, Dao Ancestor Hongjun silently appeared atop the nine-tiered cloud platform from the void. His aura was now even more profound and ethereal, and his cultivation had clearly advanced another step. Hongjun swept his gaze across the hall. Seeing that the number of people in the palace had halved, his brows furrowed slightly. But when his gaze fell upon Li Peng, the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, and Tai Yi, he finally nodded in satisfaction—these individuals had all slain their second corpses and entered the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage.

Hongjun thought to himself, I deliberately shortened the time between sermons by a thousandfold to test those who have laid out plans in the primordial world. Yet so many great cultivators still broke through to the Quasi-Saint Mid-stage. Such talent and comprehension are truly rare!

After surveying the cultivators in the hall, Dao Ancestor Hongjun began preaching the Great Dao of Primordial Unity once more. In an instant, Dao charm like pearls of wisdom flowed from his lips and lingered endlessly beneath Purple Xiao Palace's vaulted ceiling. Golden lotuses surged through the hall, Heavenly Flowers fell in profusion, and countless Laws of the Heavenly Dao manifested as magnificent phenomena.

"The Dao gave birth to One. One gave birth to Two. Two gave birth to Three. Three gave birth to all things. All things carry yin and embrace yang, blending their vital breaths into harmony."

"Act without acting, attend to affairs without meddling, savor what has no flavor. Regard the great as small and the many as few; repay resentment with virtue..."

"What is secure is easy to hold; what has not yet shown signs is easy to plan for... A tree that fills one's embrace grows from a tiny sprout; a nine-story terrace rises from heaps of earth..."

"The way of Heaven is like drawing a bow! It lowers the high and raises the low..."

"Heaven and earth are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs. Sages are not benevolent; they treat the people as straw dogs..."

This Great Dao of Primordial Unity was profound and obscure. Even Li Peng, who had inherited the Yin-Yang Demon God's legacy and reached the Quasi-Saint Late Stage, could comprehend only half of its essence. Though he did not understand it all, he still did his utmost to memorize its Dao charm for later study. The seven great cultivators seated in the front row—the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Kunpeng, Jieyin, and Zhunti—likewise had tightly furrowed brows, clearly finding it difficult to comprehend.

Three thousand years passed in a flash. When Hongjun stopped preaching the Great Dao of Primordial Unity, most of the thousand-plus cultivators in the hall were dazed, with only a small number still able to remain clear-headed. The Dao of Primordial Unity was simply too mysterious; those with shallow cultivation naturally felt as if they had fallen into clouds and mist upon hearing it.

Seeing this, Hongjun said calmly, "After Pangu opened heaven and earth, I obtained the Creation Jade Plate, comprehended the Great Dao, and followed Heaven's will to enlighten all living beings. My three sermons have now reached completion. From this day onward, I shall merge my body with the Heavenly Dao and will not emerge unless heaven and earth face a great upheaval."

The moment Hongjun spoke, the great cultivators who had been dazed in the hall all woke up, clearly because he had used some sort of divine ability.

As soon as they awoke and heard Hongjun's words, they immediately tried to dissuade him.

"Teacher, you must not!"

"Teacher, without you, the order of the primordial world will surely fall into chaos!"

"If Teacher does not govern it, great disorder will surely arise in the primordial world!"

Purple Xiao Palace became noisy for a time as the great cultivators came up with all kinds of reasons, truly resorting to every possible means.

In truth, everyone felt relieved inside. After all, no one wished to have a mountain pressing down above their heads.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's expression did not change as he continued, "Under the Heavenly Dao, Saints should arise to govern the primordial world and enlighten all living beings. There shall be six Saints among my disciples."

Li Peng felt puzzled upon hearing this. There were clearly several great cultivators seated in the front row, yet Hongjun spoke of only six Saints. What did he mean? Did he intend to forcibly twist the trajectory of the Heavenly Dao, or did he simply think Li Peng and Kunpeng lacked the aptitude?

While he was considering this, the great cultivators below had already knelt one after another and pleaded:

"Please, Dao Ancestor, accept me as your disciple!"

"Please, Dao Ancestor, accept me as your disciple!"

Li Peng watched coldly from the side, knowing that Hongjun's Heavenly Dao Saint Positions had long been predetermined. No matter how they begged, it would be futile.

Seeing that Li Peng had no intention of pleading, Nuwa, Fuxi, Changxi, and Xihe also stood silently to one side and watched.

Hongjun's gaze was indifferent as he said, "Three Pure Ones, you were transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and possess immense merit. Are you willing to become my direct disciples?"

The Three Pure Ones were overjoyed. Becoming Hongjun's disciples meant they would have a chance to become Saints, so they answered in unison without hesitation, "We are willing!"

Dao Ancestor Hongjun nodded slightly. "Good."

With that, he reached lightly into the void, and three strands of misty violet qi appeared in his palm.

"This is Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation for attaining the Dao and becoming a Saint. If you can comprehend the mysteries within it, you may immediately attain a Saint Position," Dao Ancestor Hongjun said calmly.

The moment these words were spoken, all the great cultivators below stared intensely at the three strands of Primordial Violet Qi.

"Today, I shall bestow these three strands of Primordial Violet Qi upon you. I hope you attain the Saint Fruit soon," Dao Ancestor Hongjun said to the Three Pure Ones.

Before his words had faded, the three strands of violet qi had already turned into streams of light and entered the Three Pure Ones' bodies.

"Thank you, Teacher, for your gift!" the Three Pure Ones said together in gratitude.

Hongjun nodded, then turned to Nuwa. "Nuwa, you shall perform a great deed of merit in the future. Are you willing to enter my sect as a direct disciple?"

Hearing this, Nuwa could not help turning to Li Peng, as though seeking his opinion.

Warmth immediately welled up in Li Peng's heart. He had never expected that, faced with such a tremendous opportunity as becoming a Saint, Nuwa would still remember to ask for his thoughts.

It made him truly realize how much weight he held in Nuwa's heart.

Li Peng smiled and nodded, indicating that Nuwa should agree.

Only after seeing Li Peng agree did Nuwa respectfully reply to Dao Ancestor Hongjun, "I am willing."

When Hongjun saw that Nuwa had not agreed immediately and had instead first sought Li Peng's opinion, he felt slightly displeased.

But Nuwa was a Saint destined by Heaven. Even if Hongjun held a grievance, there was nothing he could do to her at this moment.

Thus, Hongjun calmly agreed and bestowed a strand of Primordial Violet Qi upon Nuwa.

After bestowing the violet qi, Hongjun stopped moving, seemingly weighing who should receive the remaining two disciple positions.

Zhunti and Jieyin grew anxious at once. Great cultivators present such as Li Peng, Di Jun, Tai Yi, and Kunpeng were no weaker than them in either cultivation or origin. If they missed this opportunity, they might never have another chance to become Saints.

The two hurriedly knelt and pleaded sorrowfully, "We beg Teacher to accept us as disciples and bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon us!"

After speaking, they repeatedly kowtowed, casting the dignity of Innate great cultivators completely aside.

The great cultivators present all showed contemptuous expressions at the sight.

Yet under everyone's disdainful gazes, Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke calmly. "Though you two possess great perseverance, your affinity with the Mystic Sect is shallow. How about I accept you as registered disciples?"

Upon hearing Dao Ancestor Hongjun's words, Zhunti and Jieyin became wildly excited and answered repeatedly, "We are willing! We are willing!"

The many great cultivators who had just mocked the two for being shameless were all stunned. No one had expected such pleading to move Hongjun and make him accept Zhunti and Jieyin as disciples.

In an instant, everyone in the hall followed suit, kneeling and pleading:

"Please, Teacher, accept us as disciples and bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon us!"

"Please, Teacher, accept us as disciples and bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon us!"

"Please, Teacher, accept us as disciples and bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon us!"

Seeing this, Li Peng felt rather helpless and thought to himself, Didn't Dao Ancestor say there would only be six disciples under him? What use is crying and begging now?

Hongjun ignored everyone and instead looked toward Li Peng and Kunpeng. "You two have no affinity with my Mystic Sect, but since you have obtained this opportunity, the Primordial Violet Qi that belongs to you naturally shall not be lacking."

As soon as he finished speaking, Hongjun cast out two more strands of Primordial Violet Qi, which entered Li Peng and Kunpeng's bodies in an instant.

Li Peng was puzzled and secretly thought, What exactly is Hongjun's intention? Could he be planning to scheme against me and send me to my death, just as he did Hong Yun in the original history of the primordial world?

But upon further thought, ever since the battle over the treasure gourd, his strength had become known to the great cultivators of the primordial world. No one would dare attack him lightly. After all, his cultivation now far surpassed everyone present.

Then what was Dao Ancestor Hongjun's true purpose?

Just as Li Peng's thoughts were in turmoil, Hongjun's voice rang out again:

"The Great Dao has fifty, while Heaven evolves forty-nine. All things possess a single thread of opportunity. Thus, though the Heavenly Dao has fixed destinies, those with great perseverance and great wisdom may also attain the Dao and become Saints. You should strive with all your might to seize that single thread of opportunity!"

The atmosphere below the platform changed abruptly at these words. All the great cultivators understood Hongjun's implication—Primordial Violet Qi was not beyond contest. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti were Hongjun's disciples, so no one dared make reckless moves against them. But Li Peng and Kunpeng were not.

However, when everyone's gazes swept over Li Peng, deep apprehension filled their eyes.

Yet when their gazes focused on Kunpeng, their eyes immediately lit up.

Kunpeng's cultivation was not much different from theirs. Taking Primordial Violet Qi from him would not be difficult.

Every great cultivator who had cultivated to their current realm possessed extraordinary talent and a steadfast will.

They all believed that with just one strand of Primordial Violet Qi, they could attain the Dao of Primordial Unity.