Giving Up a Seat's Profound Meaning

Zhenyuanzi, seated behind, watched Hongyun stand up to offer his seat, his expression turning grim and perplexed. Seeing that Hongyun had already risen and spoken, he could only sigh deeply and shake his head in resignation.

As a close friend, he had already tried to intervene once. Since Hongyun was determined, his mind must be made up, and there was no need for him to stop him further.

After all, it was Hongyun, not himself, sitting on the cushion. For now, he could only close his eyes and pretend to nap; out of sight, out of mind.

Zhunti and Jieyin saw Hongyun stand and quickly halted their movements. Jiang Yun also stopped, and the three walked up to Hongyun, tidied their attire, and cupped their hands in thanks.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun (Senior), your great virtue is immense, we thank you!"

Zhunti continued, "The grace of your offering this seat is something the three of us will remember. I, on behalf of the Mount Sumeru lineage, owe you a favor. Should you ever have a request in the future, we will do our utmost to assist."

It's a small matter, no need for such formalities. I am greatly impressed by your actions for the sake of the sentient beings of the West. Meeting here in Purple Heaven Palace is also fate. Please sit down first, lest you miss the opportunity to hear the Dao.

After Hongyun spoke and moved aside, Zhunti nodded in response. However, he did not sit down himself. Instead, he pulled Jieyin in front of him and pressed him onto the seat.

"Brother, you sit first."

Jieyin was stunned for a moment, then understood Zhunti's good intentions. He nodded without saying much.

Seeing the brotherly affection between the two, Hongyun felt very gratified. He then squeezed himself next to Zhenyuanzi. Zhenyuanzi, full of helplessness, opened his eyes to glance at him, then leaned to the side, making space for him.

The other great cultivators saw this act of offering a seat, their thoughts varied. Some praised Hongyun for his generosity and compassion, while others mocked the Westerners for their impure intentions and shamelessness. Still others, like Kunpeng, were too preoccupied to care.

At this moment, Kunpeng, like Hongyun, was also struggling to suppress the resistance of the cushion beneath him. However, unlike Hongyun, he had no intention of giving up his seat.

Regardless of whether the cushion had a connection with him or not, since he sensed a hidden mystery within the seat, he would not easily let it go. If fate did not favor him, he would create his own fate through strength. A twisted melon might not be sweet, but it could quench thirst.

He, Kunpeng, was also a powerful being. To be in his current state without much fortune, not even a single Innate Spiritual Treasure, was unacceptable. Now that he had secured a front-row cushion, he had no intention of giving it up voluntarily.

As the cushion's resistance intensified, Kunpeng inadvertently leaked a trace of his aura while resisting it. This immediately alerted those around him.

With a slight turn of their minds, they understood the situation.

This Kunpeng fellow was definitely not the destined person for this cushion, otherwise, he wouldn't be resisting it.

Thinking this, Zhunti spoke to Kunpeng, "Since this fellow Daoist is not the fated person, why not follow Fellow Daoist Hongyun's example and yield the seat to me? I shall be grateful for your kindness and form a good karma with you. What do you say, fellow Daoist?"

Kunpeng glanced at Zhunti with disdain. He was no fool like Hongyun. He arrogantly declared, "Since I was able to contend for this seat among all fellow Daoists, is that not fate favoring me! You don't need to try to deceive me with such empty words. If you truly have the ability, then make your move. Otherwise, I'll look down on you."

Before Zhunti could reply, Yuanshi from the other side unexpectedly chimed in, "You, a creature born of scales, horns, dampness, and eggs, what right do you have to sit on a cushion with us? Yield your seat quickly."

It turned out that Yuanshi's cultivation of the Chan Dao emphasized following heaven's will and obeying the Heavenly Dao. Since Kunpeng was not the destined person for this cushion, how could he forcibly occupy it? He had merely snatched the seat by luck through his speed, undeserving of his position, and thus could not hold onto it for long.

Zhunti was overjoyed upon hearing this. It was truly like getting a pillow when one was sleepy.

Yuanshi's words undoubtedly aided Zhunti, but they also offended many beings in the Daoist temple. If they were not in Zixiao Palace, a fight would have broken out on the spot.

When Yuanshi spoke, Laozi and Tongtian looked at each other in surprise. This matter originally had nothing to do with them; why did Yuanshi suddenly get involved?

They both sensed that Yuanshi's words had offended many powerful beings. However, since the three of them were united, and Yuanshi had already spoken, there was no way to retract his words. They could only tacitly agree with his statement and bear any consequences together.

The aura of the Three Pure Ones connected. Yuanshi directly unleashed his pressure on Kunpeng. Kunpeng was still fully resisting the power of the cushion when the sudden pressure almost made him fall off.

Yuanshi intended to directly knock Kunpeng off his seat, but surprisingly, he managed to withstand it. Yuanshi could only let out a cold "Hmph" and let it go.

Kunpeng was just congratulating himself on holding onto the cushion when Zhunti seized the opportunity, channeling his magic power and using the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree in his hand to forcefully sweep at him. With a single strike, he unexpectedly swept Kunpeng off the cushion.

Zhunti immediately flipped over and sat on it. The next moment, Jieyin's energy connected with Zhunti's, forming an offensive and defensive unity.

Seeing Zhunti seated safely, Yuanshi nodded in approval, as if he felt he had acted in accordance with destiny, showing a hint of self-satisfaction.

By the time Kunpeng reacted, Zhunti and Jieyin were already prepared. It was too late to reclaim the seat, especially with Yuanshi also poised to act.

Kunpeng was furious, knowing that this cushion was completely out of his reach. He wanted to fight back, but he was wary of this being a Saint's Daoist temple, and the opposing side had more people. If a real fight broke out, he might not be their match. He could only temporarily suppress his anger.

He harbored resentment towards Yuanshi and Zhunti. Then, his gaze fell upon Hongyun, who was sitting behind Jieyin. Recalling Hongyun's voluntary offering of his seat and forging good karma with Zhunti and the others, he felt bitter that he, in contrast, had been ambushed and lost his seat without gaining anything. In his heart, he also resented Hongyun.

Kunpeng angrily flicked his hand and dejectedly went to the back to find a place to sit.

After Jieyin sat on the cushion, Jiang Yun sat down to Jieyin's right, then excitedly watched the rest of the events unfold, not missing even the hateful glare Kunpeng cast at Hongyun later.

Zhenyuanzi was in a similar situation. Watching the hatred in Kunpeng's eyes, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on for Hongyun. The person in question, Hongyun, however, seemed oblivious and maintained an air of nonchalance, leaving Zhenyuanzi speechless.

After witnessing Zhunti and Jieyin's maneuver, some people in the hall began to have ideas, thinking that seats could be obtained in such a manner. Before anyone could try, a grand voice echoed through the hall.

"The three thousand destined listeners have gathered. Close the palace doors."

As the voice fell, two young attendants quickly closed the doors of the Purple Heaven Palace and then went to wait on either side of the high platform at the front.

The next moment, colorful rays of light and purple energy surged within the Purple Heaven Palace, and a figure appeared out of thin air, seated on the cushion on the high platform.

Seeing this, those below rose and bowed, saying, "We pay our respects to the Saint, wishing the Saint eternal life and boundless blessings!"

Old Ancestor Hongjun scanned the crowd in the hall and then cast his gaze upon the six people on the cushions in front. He seemed to nod in satisfaction and then said, "No need for formalities. The seats are now fixed. For future lectures, everyone will be seated according to this arrangement and no further changes will be made."

With a casual remark from Old Ancestor Hongjun, the seating arrangement for everyone was permanently settled. Those who had been contemplating choosing new seats gave up their ideas. Some of the more intelligent individuals, however, sensed something unusual, wondering if there was some hidden meaning behind the seating order.