The Third Sermon, Bestowing Saintly Seats

Three thousand years passed quietly, and it was once again time for the Dao Ancestor to give a sermon.

A group of great powers had long been waiting outside Zixiao Palace. Xuan Yi had also brought his three disciples, along with Nuwa and Fuxi, to wait there.

Crack!

As the gates of Zixiao Palace slowly opened, the great powers surged inside and took their seats.

"High above the ninefold clouds, the Meditation Cushions reveal the true Dao. Beyond Heaven and Earth, dark and yellow, I shall be the honored master of the teachings. Pangu gave birth to Taiji, and the Two Principles and Four Images followed. One teaching passes to three friends; two teachings divide into elucidation and interception. Leader of the entire Mystic Sect, one breath transforms into Hongjun."

As the verse rang out, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared within Zixiao Palace.

"This will be my third sermon, and also my final sermon. After this sermon, I shall merge with the Heavenly Dao. Unless some great matter arises, I will no longer appear in the Primordial World."

"We thank the Dao Ancestor for his great grace!"

As everyone responded in unison, the third sermon officially began.

For a time, celestial flowers fell in profusion within Zixiao Palace, and everyone became immersed in it.

Another three thousand years passed.

"Favored by the Heavenly Dao, I became the first Saint of the Primordial World and thus bear the responsibility of enlightening all living beings. Therefore, I have given three sermons. Now that the three sermons have ended, I shall designate several Saints."

"Beyond the Quasi-Saint realm lies the Saint realm. Saints are immortal and indestructible. After I merge with the Dao, the Heavenly Dao Saints shall govern the Primordial World."

Hongjun's words stirred an uproar among those below, with the six people on the Meditation Cushions bearing the brunt of it.

"May I ask, Master, how does one become a Heavenly Dao Saint?"

Taishang was the first to ask, voicing the thoughts of all the great powers.

"The Three Corpse Severing method I cultivate: severing one corpse makes one an early-stage Quasi-Saint, two corpses a middle-stage Quasi-Saint, and three corpses a late-stage Quasi-Saint. Then, once the three corpses merge into one, one reaches the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm. But one must also merge the Primordial Spirit into the Heavenly Dao and use Primordial Violet Qi as assistance before becoming a Heavenly Dao Saint."

After speaking, Hongjun once again looked over the crowd.

"Do you have any further questions?"

Yuanshi, one of the Sanqing, immediately asked, "May I ask, Teacher, how can one obtain Primordial Violet Qi?"

"It is the will of the Heavenly Dao. I found eight strands in my early years. One was used to achieve Sainthood, leaving seven."

Hongjun answered calmly.

"May I ask, Teacher, how many Saints can the Primordial World accommodate?" Tongtian stood and asked.

"The Primordial World was formed after the fall of the great god Pangu. Nine is the ultimate number. The Primordial World can accommodate eight Saints. Once the ninth Saint is born, the Primordial World shall face an immeasurable calamity."

Hearing that there were still seven Saintly seats in the Primordial World, the great powers could no longer contain themselves and eagerly wanted to know who could become Saints.

"May I ask, Teacher, who can become a Saint?"

Nuwa voiced everyone's thoughts.

Hongjun looked at the great powers of the Primordial World and spoke indifferently.

"Taishang, you are of Pangu's True Lineage and also my eldest disciple. You are entitled to a Saintly seat. I hope you will make good use of it in the future and bring glory to my Mystic Sect."

Upon hearing that he could actually become a Saint, Taishang was so excited that he could hardly contain himself. He hurriedly bowed and kowtowed to Hongjun.

"Taishang thanks Teacher for this gift. May Teacher enjoy eternal peace!"

Hongjun was very satisfied by Taishang's actions and then turned to Yuanshi.

"Yuanshi, you are of Pangu's True Lineage and also my second disciple. You shall become a Saint. Today, your teacher shall bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon you."

As Primordial Violet Qi flew toward him, Yuanshi immediately bowed and kowtowed.

"Thank you, Master. This disciple will surely not disappoint Master's expectations."

Hongjun nodded lightly, then looked toward the immensely excited Tongtian.

"Tongtian, you are of Pangu's True Lineage and also my third disciple. Today, your teacher bestows one strand of Primordial Violet Qi upon you. Cultivate well and bring glory to my Mystic Sect."

"Thank you, Master. Your disciple will certainly do his utmost to bring glory to the Mystic Sect."

Having waited impatiently for this, Tongtian immediately bowed in worship.

After bestowing Primordial Violet Qi upon Tongtian, Hongjun turned his gaze toward Xuan Yi.

Nuwa had thought it would be her turn, but seeing that the Dao Ancestor had not looked at her, an overwhelming sense of loss arose within her. Could it be that I cannot become a Saint?

"Xuan'er, you are my son, but you possess your own inheritance and have no need for Primordial Violet Qi, so I shall not bestow it upon you. From this day onward, you shall be the leader of the Mystic Sect, your status above all Saints."

"If anyone pays you lip service while defying you in secret, I shall personally eliminate them for you!"

After speaking, he swept his cold gaze over the great powers.

"We would not dare!"

Under Hongjun's icy gaze, the great powers trembled in fear. They had never imagined that Xuan Yi was the Dao Ancestor's son. No wonder nothing had happened after he killed East King Duke, and no wonder nothing had happened after Jieyin and Zhunti were beaten half to death. This time, Xuan Yi had truly become famous throughout the Primordial World.

Jieyin and Zhunti were the most miserable of all. They had a deep enmity with Xuan Yi, and this revelation frightened them senseless.

"Thank you, Father!"

Ignoring everyone's thoughts, Xuan Yi cupped his hands and bowed to Hongjun.

Seeing Xuan Yi accept happily, Hongjun turned his gaze toward Nuwa.

"Nuwa, since you have already become Xuan'er's Dao Companion, you may call me Father just as Xuan'er does. Today, I bestow one strand of Primordial Violet Qi upon you. I hope the two of you will remain together until old age."

Nuwa also rose excitedly and bowed.

"Thank you, Father. May Father's saintly life know no bounds."

After handing Primordial Violet Qi to Nuwa, Hongjun fell silent.

Jieyin and Zhunti watched eagerly, believing it would soon be their turn. Yet the Dao Ancestor merely sat motionless and did not speak. Their hearts immediately sank, and they hurriedly fell to their knees and wailed loudly.

"Master, please take pity on us! Since the great war, the West has been barren beyond measure. The two of us have spent our entire lives seeking the prosperity of the West. The future of the West depends on us! We beg Master to grant us Primordial Violet Qi!"

Jieyin and Zhunti truly had no shame. They cried in the hall with tears and snot streaming down their faces. Seeing how humiliating the pair was, everyone else hurriedly moved away from them.

Hongjun looked at them and sighed softly. After all, this karma was something he owed.

"Alas, very well. I see that you possess great perseverance and great wisdom. These two strands of Primordial Violet Qi shall be bestowed upon you."

"Your disciples, Jieyin and Zhunti, thank Master for his grace. May Master enjoy eternal peace."

The moment they saw the Dao Ancestor bestow Primordial Violet Qi upon them, the two immediately stopped crying and kowtowed on the ground in thanks. They truly had no shame.

"Dao Ancestor, please bestow treasures upon us as well, so that we may glimpse the bearing of Saints."

Seeing those two gain Primordial Violet Qi merely by throwing tantrums and rolling about, the great powers no longer cared about their dignity. They imitated Jieyin and Zhunti, throwing tantrums and rolling around.

Seeing the crowd below in such a state, Hongjun sighed softly again.

"Alas, very well. As the saying goes, the Great Dao is fifty, yet one escapes. This strand of Primordial Violet Qi shall be bestowed upon you all."

Hongjun then tossed the Primordial Violet Qi in his hand. It circled around the crowd once before descending upon Hong Yun's head.

"It chose me?"

Hong Yun was completely bewildered, followed immediately by wild delight.

However, the expressions of the other great powers were far from pleasant.

This was the foundation of Sainthood. They were unwilling to let Hong Yun obtain it so easily.

The people seated on the cushions were all disciples of the Dao Ancestor, beings whom the Dao Ancestor had personally declared would certainly become Saints in the future. What was Hong Yun? What right did he have to receive Primordial Violet Qi?

Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun's close friend, also realized this. He worried whether Hong Yun could protect this strand of Primordial Violet Qi. As for taking it himself, that thought had never crossed his mind.

On the other side, Kunpeng was burning with rage. It was all because of Hong Yun that he had missed out on a Meditation Cushion. That Primordial Violet Qi should originally have been his.

But because Hong Yun had given up his seat, the opportunity that should have belonged to him had been completely shattered.

Most hateful of all, Hong Yun had ultimately obtained Primordial Violet Qi.

At this thought, Kunpeng's eyes filled with venom.

Of course, Kunpeng was not the only one. Great powers such as Di Jun and Tai Yi looked at Hong Yun with greed in their eyes.

Cough, cough!

A light cough from the Dao Ancestor interrupted everyone's thoughts.

"Today, I, Hongjun, have settled the karma of the Primordial World and shall prepare to merge with the Heavenly Dao, thereby perfecting myself. Henceforth, the Heavenly Dao is Hongjun, but Hongjun is not the Heavenly Dao."

"Very well, this matter is concluded. You may disperse on your own. Behind Zixiao Palace lies Treasure Distribution Cliff, where I have placed some spiritual treasures gathered in my early years. I shall gift them to you."

As soon as Hongjun finished speaking, he vanished from Zixiao Palace.

"We bid farewell to the Dao Ancestor!"

After paying their respects, everyone instantly transformed into streams of light and flew toward Treasure Distribution Cliff.