Hongjun saw this and said no more. His gaze swept over everyone once again before he spoke calmly: "This sermon will be divided into three sessions. Each session will last ten thousand years, with an interval of thirty thousand years between each."
Then Hongjun continued, "The cultivation of the Great Dao can be divided into three realms."
"First is Da Luo, free and unfettered, impervious to countless tribulations."
"Second is Quasi-Saint, with Magic Power reaching the profound and already glimpsing the threshold of the Sage's Dao."
"Third is Sage, with the Primordial Spirit entrusted to the Heavenly Dao. Such a being is impervious to countless tribulations, neither dying nor suffering injury, and wields the Dao on behalf of Heaven."
At this point, Hongjun paused slightly, and his gaze seemed to grow even deeper.
"Beneath the Sage, all are ants!"
Those eight simple words caused every mighty figure in the hall to tremble violently!
Ants!
Even innate Great Gods as powerful as them, with profound roots and dominion over their respective regions, were merely ants in the eyes of a Sage!
Many were horrified, while an unprecedented yearning for that supreme Sage realm also arose in their hearts! Ants?
Hongjun ignored everyone's reaction and continued, "In this sermon, I shall sort out the realms beneath the Grand Unity Golden Immortal for all of you."
"Beneath Da Luo, there are six realms: Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Mysterious Immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and Grand Unity Golden Immortal."
As Hongjun spoke, the Heavenly Dao operated in the unseen world, and the division of these six realms was completely etched into the laws of heaven and earth throughout the Primordial Wilderness.
"Today, I shall begin with the Heavenly Immortal realm..."
After saying this, Hongjun spoke no more and began expounding the true meaning of the Great Dao.
In an instant, countless marvels appeared within Zixiao Palace!
Heavenly Flowers Falling, golden lotuses rising from the earth, the faint Sound of the Great Dao, and laws resonating in harmony!
Purple qi billowed, and Dao Rhythm flowed, rendering the entire palace incomparably sacred.
Hongjun's voice was not loud, yet it contained infinite profundity and entered everyone's ears with perfect clarity.
The mysteries of each realm were revealed by Hongjun in a gentle, unhurried manner, explained simply while pointing straight to the core.
The three thousand guests in the hall, regardless of cultivation or origins, were all utterly entranced, completely immersed in this ocean of the Great Dao!
Some frowned in deep thought, some suddenly understood, some danced with excitement, and some shed tears!
Every aspect of life was revealed without concealment on the road to seeking the Dao.
Wu Ming also closed his eyes and sank his mind into it.
What Hongjun expounded was the immortal path of the Mystic Gate, seemingly entirely different from the Witch Clan's Path of Laws.
But the stones of other mountains could serve to polish jade!
The three thousand Great Daos all led to the same destination by different routes.
Wu Ming silently circulated his Primordial Spirit. As he listened to Hongjun explain the mysteries of the immortal path, he compared them against the Pangu inheritance and the Great Dao of Laws he had comprehended himself.
By comparing the two, he drew inferences from one example and gained many insights.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches behind him also held their breath and listened attentively.
Because they now possessed Primordial Spirits, they no longer listened to the Sage's sermon like a heavenly text, utterly unable to understand it as they would have according to their original fate.
Although many of the subtleties Hongjun expounded remained somewhat obscure to them, they could still understand quite a bit of the general direction and principles.
They, too, compared what Hongjun taught with the laws they controlled.
Under the guidance of Hongjun's Great Dao, they seemed to gain an even deeper understanding of the laws they controlled!
Within Zixiao Palace, all was silent, save for the Sound of the Great Dao echoing through the air.
The years drifted by, seeming like a fleeting instant.
Ten thousand years passed quietly.
Upon the elevated platform, Hongjun's voice gradually came to a stop.
The boundless Dao Rhythm permeating the palace also slowly subsided.
Everyone awakened as if from a dream, emerging one after another from that wondrous state of enlightenment, their faces filled with lingering reluctance.
Ten thousand years of listening to the Dao surpassed countless Kalpas of bitter cultivation!
Many even felt that bottlenecks which had troubled them for years were beginning to loosen!
Their gazes toward Hongjun on the elevated platform were filled with awe and gratitude.
Hongjun's calm, unruffled voice rang out once more: "This sermon ends here."
"After thirty thousand years, I shall preach again and expound the Quasi-Saint Path."
"You may withdraw."
After Hongjun finished speaking, his figure quietly faded from the elevated platform and vanished without a trace.
The two child attendants, Haotian and Yaochi, appeared once more and walked to the palace gate.
Creak—
The gates of Zixiao Palace, which had remained shut for ten thousand years, slowly opened.
"We respectfully see off the Sage!"
The three thousand guests in the hall rose together and bowed in salute.
After completing the ritual, everyone finally suppressed their excitement. Some left in groups of two or three, while others departed alone, transforming into streaks of light that flew out of Zixiao Palace and returned to the lands of the Primordial Wilderness.
They had gained enormously from this sermon and all needed to return and retreat in seclusion to digest their insights.
In particular, the realms Hongjun had established, along with his declaration that "all beneath the Sage are ants," weighed on the heart of every mighty figure in the Primordial Wilderness like a massive mountain!
Cultivate!
They had to cultivate as quickly as possible!
Only by breaking through to a higher realm before the next sermon would they have hope of glimpsing the supreme Way of Sages!
"Whew... The Sage's sermon truly is formidable!" Zhurong scratched his head, his face showing a hint of excitement.
"It truly was profound." Dijiang nodded as well, his eyes flashing brightly. "Although the path is different, our understanding of the laws has indeed deepened considerably."
"It's a pity he only taught for ten thousand years." Houtu knitted her brows slightly, still reluctant for it to end.
Wu Ming watched the Ancestor Witches discussing excitedly and smiled faintly.
It is good enough that we gained something.
His gaze shifted, and he saw Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun preparing to leave.
Hong Yun still looked somewhat dazed, his face bitter. Clearly, he had yet to recover from the immense blow of losing the opportunity connected to the Cushion.
Zhen Yuanzi was quietly comforting him from the side, a helpless expression on his face as well.
"Fellow Daoists Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun, please wait." Wu Ming spoke gently.
Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun stopped and turned around.
Zhen Yuanzi saluted with clasped hands. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming."
Hong Yun also forced a smile. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, may I ask what guidance you have?"
Wu Ming looked at the two of them and smiled. "You two fellow Daoists must have gained quite a lot from listening to the Dao this time."
"Once we return to the Primordial Wilderness and digest our respective insights, would you have time to visit Pangu Hall of my Witch Clan?"
"Together with the Ancestor Witches, I have also gained some understanding in cultivation. Perhaps we can verify our insights against one another and discuss the Great Dao."
Upon hearing this, Zhen Yuanzi glanced at Hong Yun, pondered for a moment, and nodded. "Very well. Since Fellow Daoist Wu Ming has invited us, after Fellow Daoist Hong Yun and I retreat to digest our gains, we shall certainly visit Buzhou Mountain and impose upon you."
Hong Yun also came back to himself. Although his mood remained low, he could hardly refuse Wu Ming's personal invitation, so he nodded as well. "Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. When the time comes, Hong Yun will certainly go with Brother Zhen Yuan."
"Good!" Wu Ming clapped his hands and laughed. "Then it is settled! Wu Ming shall await the distinguished arrival of the two fellow Daoists at Pangu Hall!"
"Farewell."
Wu Ming said no more. He turned to the Twelve Ancestor Witches and said, "Let's go. Back to Buzhou Mountain!"
"Yes, Brother Wu Ming!"
The thirteen figures instantly transformed into streaks of light, tearing through Chaos as they sped toward the lands of the Primordial Wilderness.
Zhen Yuanzi watched in the direction the Witch Clan had departed, then glanced at Hong Yun, who was still sighing beside him, and shook his head.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, what is done is done. Thinking about it further will accomplish nothing."
"We should return to the Primordial Wilderness first, properly digest the Sage's teachings, and improve our strength. That is the proper path."
Hong Yun nodded bitterly. "Sigh, I know. It's just... it's just that I truly cannot find peace in my heart!"
Zhen Yuanzi patted him on the shoulder. "Come, let us first return to my Wuzhuang Temple and cultivate in seclusion with peace of mind."