Words in the Pangu Hall on Saint Positions

"On one hand, there was your solemn warning, Fellow Daoist. On the other, there was the Death Omen that made me unable to sit still, and my pity for those two from the West..."

"In the end... in the end, I still couldn't withstand that Invisible Pressure and the reluctance in my heart... and chose to give up my seat."

"After I gave up the seat, that Sense of Crisis vanished instantly, but in my heart... I felt empty, as if I had lost something incredibly important."

Hongyun finished speaking, his face full of regret and lingering fear.

Wu Ming listened quietly, his expression unchanging.

Just as I thought. How could the grand trend of the Heavenly Dao be so easily changed?

Hongyun's personality was the trigger, but that clear Sense of Crisis was likely the real key that made him yield.

That was the covert interference and scheming from the Heavenly Dao, or rather, the Sages.

Using Hongyun's own character flaws, coupled with the threat of death, to force his hand.

Those Cushions were always prepared for Jieyin and Zhunti.

Wu Ming understood in his heart and looked calmly at Hongyun.

"Fellow Daoist, do you know that what you gave up was not merely a seat?"

Hongyun jerked his head up, his confusion deepening.

"Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist, what do you mean by that?"

Wu Ming did not answer directly but instead asked a question.

"Fellow Daoist, have you ever considered why, in the vast Zixiao Palace, with the Three Thousand Great Beings gathered, only those six Cushions were different?"

Hongyun was stunned. He had never thought deeply about this question.

"Why?" Hongyun truly did not know. He only felt that those Cushions were profoundly mysterious. Sitting on them, his Primordial Spirit was clear, harmonizing with the Dao. It was indeed a great opportunity, but he had never pondered its meaning.

Zhen Yuanzi also furrowed his brow, clearly stirred by Wu Ming's words.

"Because those six Cushions were prepared by the Sages for their future disciples."

"Boom!" Hongyun felt a thunderclap in his mind, his entire being stunned.

"Disciples?" Zhen Yuanzi exclaimed, his face showing disbelief.

"Not only that."

"Those who obtained those Cushions, barring unforeseen circumstances, will all... become Sages in the future!"

"Wh... what?!" Hongyun shot to his feet.

"Become a Saint... a Saint Position?!"

Zhen Yuanzi also showed a shocked expression, his hand holding the teacup frozen in midair.

"Fellow Daoist, what you say... is it true?"

"Absolutely true." Wu Ming's tone was resolute.

Zhen Yuanzi's face was filled with horror as he looked at Wu Ming.

"Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist, this matter is of great importance. How... how do you know it in such detail?"

Wu Ming met Zhen Yuanzi's gaze.

"This matter concerns the secrets of my Witch Clan, so I cannot elaborate." Wu Ming did not go into detail. "But every word I speak is true. When the second preaching of the Dao ends, Fellow Daoist will naturally understand that what I say is not false."

Hongyun slumped back down, dejected: "So then... did I not... give up a Saint Position?!"

Wu Ming looked at him and continued.

"At first, I thought so too." Wu Ming shook his head. "But after hearing your detailed account of the feelings when you gave up the seat, I understood completely."

"Those six positions were, from the very beginning, prepared for the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti."

"The grand trend of the Heavenly Dao, the schemes of the Sages, Fellow Daoist... you were never meant to sit firmly in that position."

"That's right..." Hongyun suddenly understood, then smiled bitterly. "No wonder... no wonder when I was unwilling to give up the seat, I felt such a strong Sense of Crisis. It was the will of Heaven..."

Wu Ming shifted his tone and said, "What Fellow Daoist should consider most now is not the lost Saint Position, which was never yours to begin with. It is how to resolve the karma between you and Kunpeng."

"Because you gave up your seat, you indirectly caused Kunpeng to lose his position. Although Kunpeng would have had difficulty keeping it in the end, he does not understand the inside story. He will only blame you for this debt."

"Regardless of the truth behind the Cushions' ownership, in Kunpeng's eyes, you gave up your seat first, which gave Jieyin and Zhunti the opportunity to force him to give up the fifth Cushion."

"In his eyes, what he lost was also a future Saint Position!"

"This kind of Dao-Blocking Grudge is irreconcilable!"

"Even if you tell him everything I said today, word for word, and tell him that the Cushion was never his to begin with, do you think..."

"Will Kunpeng believe it? Will he be willing to believe it?"

Zhen Yuanzi said gravely, "Wu Ming, Fellow Daoist, speaks the truth. The struggle for a Saint Position is already the greatest karma in the Primordial Wilderness. Kunpeng, Fellow Daoist, has always been withdrawn and vengeful. After suffering such a great humiliation in Zixiao Palace, he will definitely hold you, Hongyun, Fellow Daoist, responsible for this debt."

Hongyun's face turned even uglier, even paler than when he had just learned he had missed the "Saint Position."

Hongyun's expression grew even more bitter. "Alas... this matter is indeed my fault for implicating Kunpeng, Fellow Daoist. Even if the Saint Position was already predetermined, Kunpeng, Fellow Daoist, will certainly not believe it."

Zhen Yuanzi frowned. "The karma of the Saint Position is too great. This..."

"This... a karmic debt involving a Saint position—how could it ever be resolved? I fear... it will only end when one of us dies..." Hongyun's eyes were filled with despair.

"Actually, it's not entirely without a solution." Wu Ming spoke slowly. "It only depends on whether you, Fellow Daoist... are willing to part with something."

Hongyun's head snapped up, a glimmer of hope igniting in his eyes: "Oh? You have a way, Fellow Daoist? You can help me settle this karmic debt with Fellow Daoist Kunpeng? You wouldn't deceive me, would you?"

"Of course not." Wu Ming's tone was firm. "You've known me for years, Fellow Daoist. You should know my character."

"However, speaking of this method now would be useless."

"After the third preaching of the Dao, I will naturally tell you the solution. I only hope that when the time comes, you won't be reluctant to let go."

Hongyun did not hesitate, his voice resolute.

"Absolutely not! As long as I can settle this karmic debt with Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, I would willingly pay any price, no matter how great!"

Zhen Yuanzi watched Hongyun's determined expression, opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately only gave a slight nod.

"I only hope that your words today are not a momentary impulse. When that time comes... don't regret it because the cost is too great, unwilling to let go."

Hongyun took a deep breath, his gaze turning unshakably firm. He solemnly clasped his hands and bowed to Wu Ming.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! Even if it costs me my entire fortune to settle this karmic debt with Fellow Daoist Kunpeng, Hongyun will not so much as frown! I will never go back on my word!"

Wu Ming gave a slight nod.

"Good. Since you have made up your mind, Fellow Daoist, then we will speak of it after the third preaching of the Dao."

What needed to be said had been said; what needed to be hinted at had been hinted.

With that, the atmosphere in the hall grew somewhat heavy.

After a few more moments of idle chat, Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun rose to take their leave.

"Thank you for your frank words today, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. You have cleared up many doubts in our hearts."

"I have imposed on you for too long with Fellow Daoist Hongyun. We will take our leave now."

"Once we have digested what we have gained, we will return to gather with you again."

Hongyun also cupped his hands in farewell to Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestor Witches. Though the worry over Kunpeng still lingered in his heart, at least a thread of hope for resolution had appeared.

"Take care, both of you, Fellow Daoists."

Wu Ming rose to see them off.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun lingered no longer. Transforming into two streaks of light, they swiftly departed from the territory of Buzhou Mountain.