The Zixiao Palace was utterly silent.
The Three Thousand Great Beings sat quietly. Some closed their eyes and regulated their breathing, while others calmly sized up the fellow Daoists around them.
Although no one spoke, undercurrents surged through the hall, and the atmosphere was far from peaceful.
The six Cushions at the front especially drew everyone's attention without a word.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Kunpeng, and Hong Yun sat quietly upon the Cushions, their auras deep and restrained. Without doing anything, they had already distanced themselves from the other listeners.
Wu Ming looked toward Daoist Hongyun, who was seated on the sixth Cushion. At that moment, he was beaming as he spoke quietly with Zhen Yuanzi beside him, clearly very pleased to have secured the spot.
Thinking of this good-natured man's future fate, Wu Ming's heart stirred slightly.
After pondering for a moment, he addressed Hong Yun, "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun."
Hong Yun had been speaking quietly with Zhen Yuanzi. Hearing this, he turned around, the same kind smile still on his face. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, what is it?"
"Fellow Daoist, since you have seized this Cushion, it is your opportunity. Do not casually give it to anyone else." Wu Ming's gaze remained calm, but his tone carried a hint of gravity.
Hong Yun was stunned. Clearly, he had not expected Wu Ming to suddenly say this.
He lowered his head to look at the Cushion beneath him, then glanced at Wu Ming's serious expression. Although puzzled, he still replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. Rest assured. This is the Sage's Dojo, and these Cushions are of great importance. How could I casually give mine away?"
He assumed Wu Ming had seen his gentle nature and feared someone would take advantage of him, so he felt somewhat grateful.
Wu Ming nodded and said no more, closing his eyes again to rest.
He had already given the warning he should. Whether Hong Yun took it to heart was his own choice.
The general trend of the Heavenly Dao and an individual's fate often hinged on a single thought.
Just then.
Two somewhat disheveled figures stumbled through the gates of the Zixiao Palace.
One was sallow and gaunt, with tightly knitted brows, as though every hardship in the world had gathered upon him.
The other looked somewhat better, but his expression was still mournful. He appeared travel-worn, weathered by countless trials and tribulations.
These two were Jieyin and Zhunti, who had hurried over from the distant West.
They were travel-stained and their auras were weak. Deep exhaustion filled their faces, clearly showing that they had expended immense effort crossing the Chaos to reach this place.
As soon as they entered the Zixiao Palace, their gazes were instantly drawn to the six unusual Cushions at the very front!
Dao Rhythm flowed around those Cushions, which were profoundly wondrous. At a glance, it was obvious that they were extraordinary treasures!
This was undoubtedly a heaven-defying opportunity!
The two exchanged a glance, and both saw desire and determination in the other's eyes!
Damn it! They were still a step too late!
The six Cushions were already occupied!
The two exchanged another glance. Years of tacit understanding allowed them to understand each other's intentions instantly.
Zhunti's eyes shifted, and an idea came to him.
"Waah, waah..."
Without warning, Daoist Zhunti burst into loud, sorrowful sobs. His voice was heartrending and choked with tears. "The West is barren, and the journey is so far. My senior brother and I heard that a Sage was giving a lecture, and our hearts yearned for the Great Dao. That is why we traveled billions of li, hurrying day and night without daring to slacken in the slightest!"
Daoist Jieyin also wore a bitter expression and cooperated with a sigh. "Yes! Yes!"
"How dangerous the Chaos was! The two of us nearly became lost within it, dying and having our Daos destroyed!"
"After finally finding the Sage's Dojo, yet..."
His voice choked, grief welling up from within. "Yet we do not even have a place to listen to the lecture!"
"Could it be that the living beings of our West are truly so ill-fated, destined to have no affinity with the Great Dao?!"
Zhunti, standing beside him, became even more absorbed in his performance. He dropped straight to the floor, beat his chest, stamped his feet, and began wailing loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire Zixiao Palace.
"Heavens above! Earth below!"
"My brother and I climbed mountains and crossed rivers, traversing the endless Chaos. How much hardship and suffering have we endured? Was it easy for us?!"
"We thought we would be able to hear the Sage's teachings and obtain the true transmission of the Great Dao. Who could have imagined... Who could have imagined..."
"That we would not even have a place to sit!"
"Our hearts yearn for the Dao with such sincerity. Why would you not even leave a seat for us?!"
"Waah, waah... The Heavenly Dao is unjust! The Heavenly Dao is unjust! We might as well return home, return home!"
The two sang and cried in perfect harmony. Their wails were earth-shaking, their expressions miserable, and their sorrowful tones so affecting that those who heard them grieved and those who saw them wept.
The hall's originally quiet atmosphere was instantly shattered.
Many Great Beings frowned, their faces showing disdain or impatience.
Di Jun and Taiyi had just lost their seats to Hong Yun. Now, seeing the two of them sobbing and whining, their gazes turned even colder, filled with undisguised contempt.
Venerable Lord Yuanshi, seated on the second Cushion, looked even more disgusted and let out a cold snort.
He loathed and despised such behavior—disregarding one's status and making a scene in the Sage's Dojo.
"Hey! These two fellows are shameless!" Zhurong had never seen such a display. He rolled up his sleeves and was about to start cursing.
"Quiet." Wu Ming cast him a faint glance, signaling him to calm down.
Wu Ming's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze fell upon Hong Yun.
He wanted to see whether, after his reminder, Hong Yun would still give up his seat as he had in his memories.
At that moment, Hong Yun was indeed caught in a fierce inner struggle.
He had always been softhearted. Seeing Jieyin and Zhunti weeping so miserably, he could not help feeling somewhat reluctant to refuse them.
He remembered Fellow Daoist Wu Ming's earlier warning and admonished himself: I cannot give it up! This is my opportunity!
"But..."
Hong Yun's expression shifted uncertainly.
"Alas..."
In the end, Hong Yun let out a long sigh.
He rose to his feet, his face filled with deep helplessness and bitterness, and spoke to Jieyin and Zhunti, who were still wailing.
"Forget it, forget it."
"You two fellow Daoists have come from afar, and your sincerity is commendable. I... I shall give this seat to you."
The moment he finished speaking, Jieyin and Zhunti's sobs came to an abrupt halt!
Their faces instantly lit up with ecstatic joy. Where was even the slightest trace of their earlier sorrow?
Zhunti reacted even faster. He sprang up from the floor in one fluid motion and, before anyone could react, dropped onto the Cushion Hong Yun had vacated!
Jieyin also hurried forward and repeatedly bowed to Hong Yun.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist! Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
"Your compassion is boundless! Your righteousness is admirable!"
"We, brothers, will never forget the favor you have shown us today. We will certainly repay it generously in the future."
After saying this, he paid no attention to Hong Yun's reaction and hurriedly sat down in the empty spot beside Zhunti, afraid that something might change again.
Hong Yun looked at the Cushion that had been snatched away in an instant. He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, it became nothing more than a silent, bitter smile.
The Sense of Crisis in his heart had indeed vanished, but he could not shake the feeling that he had lost something important.
Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi let out a heavy sigh and patted Hong Yun on the shoulder in consolation.
Wu Ming glanced at Jieyin and Zhunti, whose faces were full of gratitude while their hearts secretly rejoiced, then looked at Hong Yun, who seemed somewhat lost.
Just as expected.
The general trend of the Heavenly Dao surged forward with overwhelming momentum.
A single well-intentioned reminder from him had ultimately been unable to shake it.
Forget it. Perhaps this was simply his fate.