Gathering at Zixiao Palace, Competing for Cushions

Wu Ming led the Twelve Ancestor Witches toward Zixiao Palace.

The closer they drew, the deeper and more vast the Dao rhythm emanating from Zixiao Palace became.

Before them, Zixiao Palace hung silently in the void, wreathed in purple mist, as if existing outside time and space, unchanging through the ages.

"Damn... this place has some real weight to it." Zhurong rubbed his chin, eyes wide.

"Truly extraordinary." Dijiang also studied the legendary Sage's Dojo with a grave expression.

When they reached the palace gates, they found the massive doors tightly shut—clearly, the Sage's sermon had not yet begun.

"Heh, they expect us to just wait here?" Gonggong stiffened his neck, a bit annoyed.

Wu Ming remained calm, signaling everyone to be patient. He found an open spot outside the gates, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes to rest.

Seeing this, the Twelve Ancestor Witches suppressed their restlessness, imitating Wu Ming and finding places to sit.

But they were far less composed than Wu Ming, their eyes darting around, taking in the Sage's Dojo in the Chaos and the "neighbors" who had already arrived.

They were not the first to come. Several figures were already seated before them.

Not far off, three figures wreathed in clear qi sat side by side—the Three Pure Ones, incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit: Grand Pure One Laozi, Yuqing Yuanshi, and Shangqing Tongtian.

Nearby, two imposing figures sat with the faint silhouettes of massive Three-Legged Golden Crows flickering behind them, Solar True Fire shimmering around their bodies, their gazes arrogant—these were the future emperors of the Demon Race, Di Jun and Taiyi.

These were the most top-tier Innate Great Gods of the Primordial Wilderness!

An invisible pressure clashed between these great figures, the atmosphere tense.

All of them had deep roots and refused to yield to one another, but restrained themselves out of respect for the Sage's Dojo.

As time passed, streaks of light flashed through the Chaos, and one powerful presence after another arrived.

Amid swirling Auspicious Clouds and dazzling Immortal Light, Nuwa and Fuxi came together—one peerlessly elegant, the other refined and gentle.

They surveyed the scene, their gazes lingering briefly on the Witch Clan, then sat down not far from the Three Pure Ones.

Next, East Prince Gong and West Queen Mother arrived together—one brimming with immortal aura, the other dignified and noble.

Then, a Blood-Colored Rainbow tore through the void. Ancestor Minghe stepped on the Twelve-grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus, wielding Yuantu and Abi, and settled in a distant corner, his killing intent concealed but palpable.

One by one, the Innate Great Gods of the Primordial Wilderness gathered here.

In an instant, the most top-tier powers of the entire Primordial Wilderness converged before Zixiao Palace, the atmosphere growing heavy.

Just then, two figures arrived together.

One had the bearing of a transcendent immortal, holding the Earth Book—this was Zhen Yuanzi of Wuzhuang Temple.

The other wore a warm smile, a faint red glow around him, appearing extremely kind—this was the renowned good-natured Daoist Hongyun.

When they saw Wu Ming seated there, their eyes lit up, and they walked straight toward the Witch Clan.

"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! I didn't expect you to arrive so early!" Daoist Hongyun called out cheerfully before he even reached them.

Zhen Yuanzi also clasped his hands in greeting: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, it's good to see you well."

Wu Ming rose and returned the greeting with a gentle smile: "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi, Fellow Daoist Hongyun. With a Sage preaching the Dao—an event rare in ten thousand ages—my Witch Clan naturally had to be eager."

"Haha, indeed, indeed!" Hongyun laughed, his curious gaze sweeping over the Twelve Ancestor Witches behind Wu Ming. "May I ask how you Ancestor Witches are named?"

Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, and the others rose to greet them as well, briefly introducing themselves.

After a few pleasantries, the atmosphere was quite amicable.

Then, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun sat down beside the Witch Clan, waiting for the palace gates to open.

This scene naturally caught the eyes of the other great gods nearby.

The Three Pure Ones merely glanced over and then returned to their meditative repose.

Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a look, a flicker of surprise in their eyes. When had the Witch Clan forged ties with Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun?

Deep within Zixiao Palace.

On the Cloud Bed, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze piercing through the palace to fall upon the beings outside.

His eyes swept over the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun and Taiyi, Nuwa and Fuxi...

When his gaze landed on Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestor Witches, even his Sage's state of mind faltered for a moment.

"The Witch Clan... thirteen of them?

"And... these thirteen... all possess Primordial Spirits?!"

Hongjun was stunned. How... could this be?

The Witch Clan was born from Pangu's Sha Qi, inherently possessing formidable physical bodies and mastery over laws, but they did not cultivate Primordial Spirits and could not discern heavenly fate—this was fixed!

Yet these thirteen Witches before him not only included one extra, but every single one clearly radiated the fluctuations of a Primordial Spirit!

Though their Primordial Spirits were still somewhat immature compared to same-realm immortal cultivators, they were undeniably real Primordial Spirits!

How had this come to be?

Who was that extra member of the Witch Clan? And how had they managed to condense a Primordial Spirit?

Hongjun made a calculation with his fingers, but all he sensed was a chaotic mess of Heavenly secrets. Regarding this sudden change in the Witch Clan, he could deduce absolutely nothing!

It was as if an invisible force was interfering with the Heavenly secrets!

Was it a remnant of Pangu's Will? Hongjun's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed again.

Oh well. As long as the general trend of the Heavenly Dao remained unchanged, a few minor variables wouldn't hurt.

Perhaps this anomaly in the Witch Clan was another possibility under the operation of the Heavenly Dao?

He glanced at the two child attendants beside him, Haotian and Yaochi, and instructed calmly, "The time has come. Open the palace gates."

"Yes, Master." Haotian and Yaochi bowed in acknowledgment.

Creak—

The heavy, ancient doors of Zixiao Palace slowly swung open to both sides.

An indescribable aura wafted out from within the palace, invigorating every great deity waiting outside!

"They're open! The palace gates are open!"

"Hurry! Seize the front-row seats!"

The moment the gates opened, the many Primordial Wilderness great powers, who had long been unable to contain themselves, transformed into streaks of light and surged toward the interior of the palace!

Their target was unmistakably the six cushions at the very front of the hall, which radiated a mysterious aura!

Anyone could see that these six cushions were no ordinary items—they must contain great fortune!

In an instant, divine abilities clashed, and Magic Power surged!

Though no one dared to kill outright, out of respect for the Sage's Dojo, the covert struggle was fierce!

"Get lost!"

"This seat is mine!"

"Don't even think about it!"

The Three Pure Ones exerted their strength almost simultaneously. Grand Pure One Laozi had the Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda suspended above his head, its ten thousand beams of Golden Light of Merit rendering him immune to all techniques, and he steadily claimed the first cushion.

Venerable Lord Yuanshi and Sect Master Tongtian followed closely, taking the second and third cushions.

With the full protection of her elder brother Fuxi, Nuwa steadily sat down on the fourth cushion.

Kunpeng, unmatched in speed, transformed into a streak of light and snatched the fifth.

The struggle for the last cushion was the most intense!

Just as Di Jun and Taiyi were about to succeed, Zhen Yuanzi let out a low shout. The Earth Book blazed with light, blocking them for an instant!

Seizing the opportunity, Daoist Hongyun transformed into a red light and, under Zhen Yuanzi's cover, sat down on it by a hair's breadth!

In the blink of an eye, the six cushions had their owners!

Those great powers who were too slow or had lost in the struggle—such as Di Jun, Taiyi, and East Prince Gong—wore expressions of unwillingness on their faces, but there was nothing they could do. They could only find other seats.

"Hmph, a bunch of brutes." Zhurong curled his lip in disdain at the chaotic scene ahead.

Gonggong chimed in, "Exactly. Is a shabby mat really worth all that fuss?"

Wu Ming did not join the scramble. He simply watched it all in silence.

He knew full well what these cushions signified—they were the seats of future Sage disciples.

But his Witch Clan did not walk the path of the Mystic Gate Immortal Arts. These cushions were useless to them.

Besides, even if he wanted to fight for one, Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao would never allow the Witch Clan to sit on a cushion representing the Destiny of the Mystic Gate.

Once the hall had quieted down a little, Wu Ming led the Twelve Ancestor Witches forward unhurriedly. He found a spot near the rear of Zhen Yuanzi and Daoist Hongyun, and sat down cross-legged.

Zhen Yuanzi turned his head to look at Wu Ming and nodded at him with goodwill.

Hongyun also smiled and nodded in greeting.

Wu Ming responded with a slight nod, then closed his eyes, composed his mind, and silently awaited Hongjun's appearance.

The Twelve Ancestor Witches followed suit, setting aside their usual arrogance and sitting quietly behind Wu Ming.

Within the vast Zixiao Palace, the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests gathered together, waiting for that legendary Sage to begin his lecture on the Great Dao!