After retrieving the Innate Gourd Vine from Buzhou Mountain, Wu Ming stayed deep within Pangu Hall and rarely ventured out.
In one corner of the hall, the Innate Gourd Vine had been carefully planted. Wu Ming carefully nourished it with the Witch Clan's accumulated merit and cautiously watered the vine, trying to ripen its final fruit. The vines were lush and green, but the Blue Gourd showed no sign of ripening.
Wu Ming sat cross-legged in meditation, his mind immersed in the Sea of Laws.
Wu Ming was not impatient.
He knew this would take time, and require even more merit.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches were not idle, either.
Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, and Houtu, the three newly advanced Primordial Golden Immortals, either secluded themselves to stabilize their realms and comprehend the laws, while the other Ancestor Witches continued to fulfill the Witch Clan's oath. They traveled across the Primordial Wilderness, cleared away the lingering baleful aura, organized the disordered earth veins, accumulated merit, and tempered their bodies.
From top to bottom, the Witch Clan followed the direction Wu Ming had set, accumulating strength and fulfilling their oath. The entire clan was bustling with activity.
Time passed. To the mighty beings of the Primordial Wilderness, a thousand or ten thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.
The day of the Third Preaching at Zixiao Palace quietly arrived.
On this day, the gates of Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain opened.
Wu Ming walked out, and the Twelve Ancestor Witches had already been waiting outside.
"Big Brother!"
"Let's go." Wu Ming nodded.
Thirteen figures soared into the sky, cleaving through the firmament as they flew toward Zixiao Palace Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Chaos airflow surged, and the ancient gates of Zixiao Palace stood open.
Many figures had already gathered inside the palace.
Wu Ming descended with the Twelve Ancestor Witches, drawing quite a few gazes.
Wu Ming's expression did not change as he led the Ancestor Witches into the palace.
Inside Zixiao Palace, the Cushions remained as before.
The six Cushions in the front row were occupied by the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
Soon, the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests had nearly all arrived.
Buzz—
The gates of Zixiao Palace silently closed.
Upon the high platform, Hongjun Dao Ancestor's figure appeared without a sound, as if he had been there since time immemorial.
Dao Rhythm circulated, profound and unfathomable.
"We pay our respects to Dao Ancestor!" Everyone rose together and bowed.
Hongjun's expression remained impassive. His voice was flat, yet it clearly reached every person's ears. "Sit."
After everyone had taken their seats, Hongjun's calm voice rang out:
"This is the Third Preaching, and also the final one."
"I shall explain the Way of Sages to you."
The Way of Sages!
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall held their breath for a moment.
Even top-tier mighty beings such as the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa revealed solemnity and anticipation in their eyes.
Ignoring the commotion below, Hongjun began to explain slowly.
"A Sage entrusts their Primordial Spirit to the Heavenly Dao. A Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal endures ten thousand tribulations without being worn away and comes into contact with Karma without being stained..."
The Sound of the Great Dao filled the air. Heavenly Flowers Falling appeared, and Earth Surging Golden Lotuses sprang forth.
Within Zixiao Palace, the laws manifested, profound and wondrous beyond compare.
Everyone was intoxicated, immersed in the profundity of the Way of Sages.
Time slowly passed amid the abstruse and difficult preaching.
No one knew how long had passed. Perhaps a thousand years, perhaps ten thousand.
Upon the high platform, Hongjun's voice abruptly stopped.
The heavenly flowers faded, and the golden lotuses dissipated.
The Sound of the Great Dao vanished, and Zixiao Palace returned to silence.
Below the high platform, everyone remained immersed in the profundity of the Way of Sages, each displaying a different expression.
Some had their brows tightly furrowed. Clearly, they had understood nothing and could not find a way in.
Some closed their eyes and focused their minds, apparently having gained something and working hard to digest it.
Others wore bewildered expressions, as if they had never heard such obscure and difficult principles before.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun opened his eyes and calmly swept his gaze across those below.
After a moment, everyone gradually broke free from that wondrous Dao state and slowly regained consciousness.
Upon the high platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's gaze swept over those below.
He looked toward the three figures at the very front of the Cushions.
"Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian."
"You three were transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit. You bear the merit of creating the heavens, possess profound blessings and fortune, and are fated to be connected with my Mystic Gate."
"Are you willing to acknowledge me as your master?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the hearts of many mighty beings in the hall jolted.
Acknowledge Hongjun as their master?
This was a heaven-defying opportunity!
Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian exchanged a glance. Without the slightest hesitation, they immediately bowed and performed the rites of discipleship.
"Your disciples Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian pay their respects to Master!"
Their voices rang out, filled with excitement.
"Good."
Hongjun nodded slightly, accepting them.
He then turned his gaze toward Nuwa.
"Nuwa."
"You shall possess great Creation and a great opportunity in the future. Are you willing to become my personal disciple?"
Nuwa froze for a moment, then quickly reacted and hurriedly bowed.
"Your disciple Nuwa pays her respects to Master!"
Her voice was clear and carried delight.
Looking at the four people kneeling below, Hongjun raised a hand and waved.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi shot through the air. As if endowed with sentience, they instantly entered the brows of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa.
"This is Hongmeng Purple Qi," Hongjun explained.
"It contains the laws of Heaven and Earth and is the foundation for attaining Sainthood. Today, I bestow it upon you."
"Thank you, Master!" The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa bowed again.
The foundation for attaining Sainthood!
Those four words exploded through Zixiao Palace like thunder!
Everyone's eyes turned red!
Envy!
Jealousy!
Hatred!
Why?
Why were they the ones who could obtain the foundation for attaining Sainthood?
Especially those mighty beings who considered themselves no weaker than the Three Pure Ones or Nuwa—their hearts were thrown into turmoil.
At that moment, an unexpected change suddenly occurred.
"Wuwuwu... Teacher, you are compassionate!"
"Please take pity on us, Teacher!"
At that moment, an unexpected change suddenly occurred!
Zhunti Daoist, who was beside them, suddenly rose from his Cushion and fell to his knees before Hongjun, bursting into loud sobs.
"Teacher, you are compassionate! Please take pity on the West!"
"My senior brother and I came from the impoverished West, traveling countless millions of miles, solely to seek the true transmission of the Great Dao!"
"Yet the West suffered a calamity. Its spirit veins were completely destroyed, and resources are scarce. Cultivating has been so difficult for us!"
"Please take pity on us, Teacher. Accept us as disciples and leave a glimmer of hope for the West!"
The two sang one after another, wailing as if the heavens and earth were collapsing. Their emotions seemed genuine enough to sadden those who heard them and bring tears to the eyes of those who saw them.
The mighty beings inside Zixiao Palace were all dumbfounded.
Could they do that?
Could they really pull off such a maneuver?
That shamelessness... absolutely incredible!
Even the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa could not help glancing sideways.
The corner of Yuanshi's mouth twitched, revealing a hint of disdain.
Tongtian raised his brows slightly, seemingly finding it somewhat amusing.
Taiqing remained with his eyes closed, unmoving as a mountain.
Watching this classic scene, Wu Ming's heart remained utterly unmoved.
Behind him, Zhurong curled his lips and whispered to Gonggong beside him, "Those two shameless fellows really know how to act!"
Gonggong snorted. "They're really good at pretending to be poor!"
On the high platform, Hongjun looked at the two sobbing below. His expression remained unchanged, but a trace of helplessness flashed through his eyes.
During the Dao-Devil War, Luohu had self-detonated and destroyed the Western Spirit Vein.
This matter was indeed connected to him, and he owed the West a debt of Karma.
"Sigh..."
Hongjun let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
"Very well."
"Jieyin, Zhunti."
"Although the two of you have no master-disciple relationship with me in name, your sincerity is commendable, and you are also fated to be connected with the Mystic Gate."
"I shall accept you as Nominal Disciples."
As he spoke, Hongjun raised his hand again.
Two more strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi flew out and entered Jieyin and Zhunti's bodies.
"Teacher, you are compassionate! Teacher, you are compassionate!"
Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and hurriedly kowtowed to express their thanks.