He even returned the Blessed Land of Zhongnan Mountain, along with the Immortal Apricot, one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots.
If the Heavenly Dao truly intended to destroy him, it would not even have given him the chance to reincarnate!
Did they really think the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun were just loafing around?!
The uproar over Hong Yun giving up his seat had only just subsided, yet an odd silence still hung over the Purple Heaven Palace.
"Junior Brother, since you have obtained this fated opportunity, listen well to the Great Dao here. As your senior brother... I shall stand guard outside."
The sorrow on Jieyin's face deepened as he too made a show of preparing to leave.
"Senior Brother! What are you saying?!"
Zhunti immediately "panicked," raising his voice.
"You and I are bound together, sharing honor and disgrace alike! If you do not sit, how could I possibly be at ease?!"
Before his words had even faded, his gaze flashed like lightning and locked onto the figure seated on the final purple cushion—Kunpeng.
A fierce aura suddenly erupted.
"Hmph!" Zhunti barked sharply, his voice ringing like clashing metal, filled with disdain and reproach.
"This is a Sage's Dao Field, a sacred place for the opportunity to hear the Great Dao! Since when did the likes of a Demonic Beast who attained Transformation have the right to usurp a nest here?!
"You have simply defiled this pure sacred ground! Get down at once and yield your seat to my senior brother!"
"Creatures Born of Wetness and Eggs, Beasts with Fur and Horns—are they worthy of sitting alongside our Three Pure Ones? Filth!"
Primordial Heavenly Venerate's cold, haughty voice, brimming with contempt, sounded at just the right moment. It was like an authoritative seal placed upon this farce, or perhaps he simply found the noise irritating and impatiently added fuel to the flames.
The moment those words were spoken, the atmosphere within the Purple Heaven Palace froze solid.
Quite a few great powers frowned, especially those who had transformed from Innate spirit beasts. A chill suddenly appeared in their eyes.
But Zhunti, that old schemer of the Primordial Wilderness, gave Kunpeng no time at all to defend himself or react!
Before his words had faded, he had already unhesitatingly brought forth an Innate Spiritual Treasure blazing with treasure light. Carrying irresistible force, it smashed ruthlessly toward the unprepared Kunpeng!
"You!"
Kunpeng was shocked and enraged. He had never imagined that the other man would dare to strike directly within a Sage's Dao Field, before everyone's eyes!
In his haste, he only had time to raise his protective Demonic Light, but the Spiritual Treasure came too fiercely and too swiftly.
With a muffled bang, his entire body, along with the protective Demonic Light around him, was struck solidly.
The tremendous force left him unable to steady himself. He was flung away by the violent impact and crashed miserably into the dust!
"Pfft!"
Kunpeng tasted blood in his throat and forcibly suppressed the surging blood qi. He abruptly raised his head, and within those sharp, hawk-like eyes blazed towering resentment and humiliation. His gaze nailed Zhunti in place, as if he wished to carve the figures of those two bald Western monks into his very bones!
"Senior Brother! If you do not sit now, when will you?!"
Having succeeded with one blow, Zhunti immediately called out loudly.
Daoist Jieyin, who had been "overwhelmed with grief" all this time, moved as swiftly as a ghost. With a flash, he was already seated firmly upon the purple cushion that still carried Kunpeng's warmth.
Then he closed his eyes, his expression solemn and dignified, as though none of the turmoil just now had anything to do with him. He had seemingly already wandered beyond the heavens, preparing to listen to the Dao.
The speed at which he entered meditation was truly among the finest in the Primordial Wilderness!
Zhenyuanzi looked at Hong Yun beside him, who still wore a gratified smile as if he had done some tremendous good deed, and his heart completely sank.
His brows furrowed so deeply that they nearly twisted into a knot.
Hong Yun, Hong Yun... it would have been one thing if you foolishly gave up your own seat, but now you have even caused Daoist Kunpeng to lose his place!
Was Kunpeng the sort to be broad-minded and let such matters go?
This Karma... had been forged too deeply! Deep enough to overturn the stars and stain the skies with blood!
Kunpeng staggered to his feet. First, he shot Zhunti a venomous glare, his eyes like poisoned blades.
Then, an icy gaze filled with endless killing intent wrapped around Hong Yun like two venomous snakes!
There was not the slightest attempt to conceal it. The naked hatred nearly solidified into substance!
Without another word, he fiercely flicked his sleeve. Carrying his disheveled state and towering resentment, he silently walked toward the darkest corner at the back of the hall, his figure melting into the shadows.
"Big Brother!"
Anger flared across Eastern Emperor Taiyi's heroic face, and traces of Solar True Fire stirred around him.
"These two have gone too far! Should we uphold justice for Fellow Daoist Kunpeng?"
Tai Yi could not stand such despicable conduct.
"Second Brother, do not act rashly!"
Di Jun's gaze was profound as he forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, along with a trace of admiration for Kunpeng's strength.
"This is a Sage's Dao Field. How can we resort to violence here? Endure for now."
After a pause, his eyes swept toward the corner where Kunpeng had vanished, and he fell into thought.
"Once the sermon has ended, it will not be too late for us to seek out Fellow Daoist Kunpeng and speak with him."
He was already calculating swiftly in his heart.
"This great demon possesses extraordinary innate foundations. Having suffered such humiliation, this is the perfect time to recruit him..."
Qing Huan took in this annual grand drama of the Primordial Wilderness and inwardly shook his head with an amused smile.
""Tsk, a classic scene indeed. Its reputation is well deserved.
"The live version is... truly even more exciting than the legends. What a pity..."
He glanced at Di Jun.
"Brother Di Jun, your composed 'we'll talk afterward' approach has cost you a perfect chance to max out Kunpeng's goodwill.
"No wonder your River Diagram and Luo Script would later be 'carted off' by him, never to return! The seed of this Karma has been planted deep today."
Just then, the grand gates of the Purple Heaven Palace, which seemed to isolate heaven and earth, slammed shut with a thunderous boom.
The two Dao children, Hao Tian and Yao Chi, wore respectful expressions as they walked steadily toward the high platform that held everyone's attention.
In an instant, the entire Purple Heaven Palace became silent enough to hear a needle drop. All three thousand Innate Deities held their breath, their burning gazes gathered upon these two seemingly young children who represented the Sage's will.
Yao Chi stepped onto the high platform and stood beside the six cushions bearing invisible opportunities. Her clear voice echoed through the silent hall.
"The ten-thousand-year term has ended. The master will soon arrive. Fellow Daoists, please be silent."
As soon as her words fell, an indescribable pressure quietly spread.
The void within the hall suddenly shone. Golden lotuses bloomed from the earth, thousands of strands of Auspicious Qi intertwined, and the two qi of Xuan Huang coiled like dragons and serpents.
Amid this sacred and solemn phenomenon, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's figure manifested atop the high platform without warning, as though he had always belonged there, existing alongside the Dao.
He appeared lean and refined, with white hair and beard, clad in an ancient Purple Gold Dao Robe. An ineffable aura beyond the mundane and above all ages lingered around him.
"We pay respects to the Sage!"
Without need for command, the three thousand Innate Deities within the hall rose together and bowed. Their voices converged into a vast torrent of Dao Sound.
Qing Huan naturally blended in among them and did not dare show the slightest negligence.
How could the might of a Sage be treated lightly? That would be no different from severing one's own path to the Dao...
To truly rely on his own comprehension... it was not impossible, merely a matter of how long it would take...
"Please be seated."
Hongjun's voice was plain and unremarkable, yet it contained the supreme charm of the Dao and clearly entered the ears of every listener.
His seemingly ordinary gaze slowly swept across the beings below the platform, profound as though it contained the entire Sea of Stars.
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