Hongjun

Thus, time quietly passed, and before anyone realized it, an Eon had gone by.

Xuanxiao finally stopped preaching.

The Three Pure Ones also gradually awoke from their state of enlightenment.

The three members of the Three Pure Ones slowly awoke from their state of enlightenment, their faces filled with undisguisable joy.

They clearly felt that, thanks to Xuanxiao's preaching this time, the time of their birth had been greatly brought forward, saving them a tremendous amount of cultivation time.

"Thank you, Second Uncle!" The three members of the Three Pure Ones looked at Xuanxiao with beaming smiles, their eyes filled with gratitude.

After spending this time together, their relationship with Xuanxiao had clearly grown much closer.

"All right, we're family. Why say such formal things?" Xuanxiao waved his hand indifferently.

He looked at the Three Pure Ones and smiled warmly. "The Three Pure Ones, I've stayed here with you for quite some time. It's time for me to leave. Once you are born in the future, if you want to see me, come find me at Thunder Marsh."

Upon hearing that Xuanxiao was leaving, the three members of the Three Pure Ones could not help showing their reluctance.

"Second Uncle, why don't you stay here? This is one of the finest blessed paradises in the Primordial World. The conditions are excellent." Tongtian looked at Xuanxiao expectantly and tried to persuade him to stay.

Xuanxiao shook his head and said:

"No. The Primordial World was created by Eldest Brother alone. Now that Eldest Brother can no longer see the Primordial World, I have to travel around in his place and see it for him.

I plan to wander through the Primordial World as I please first, then return to Thunder Marsh to cultivate in seclusion. I won't stay here any longer."

Hearing Xuanxiao's explanation, the three members of the Three Pure Ones could no longer force him to stay and could only say:

"Then, Second Uncle, you must be careful on your journey. If you have time, remember to come back and visit us. Once we are born and transform, we'll immediately go find you."

Xuanxiao smiled and nodded. "All right, I'm setting off now. After I leave, you must cultivate properly. Don't be lazy."

Xuanxiao thought for a moment before earnestly reminding them:

"By the way, you still have twelve brothers.

Although they were not transformed from Eldest Brother's primordial spirit, they were formed from Eldest Brother's vital essence.

If you encounter them in the future, don't start a conflict with them lightly.

And as for you three, minor squabbles are fine, but you absolutely must not join forces with outsiders against your own family.

If you have any disagreements, come find Second Uncle and let me resolve them for you." Xuanxiao gazed at the three members of the Three Pure Ones with a gentle yet faintly stern look.

Upon hearing that they actually had twelve brothers, the three members of the Three Pure Ones were stunned at first, then hurriedly nodded to show that they understood.

"All right, I've said everything that needed saying. Second Uncle will be leaving now." After Xuanxiao finished speaking, his figure turned and instantly vanished before the Three Pure Ones.

Looking in the direction where Xuanxiao had disappeared, the three members of the Three Pure Ones wore sorrowful expressions.

After a long while, Laozi was the first to recover. He looked at Yuanshi and Tongtian and said:

"All right, Second Uncle is merely traveling throughout the Primordial Wilderness. It's not as if he won't come back.

The most important thing for us now is to cultivate as hard as possible and transform as soon as we can. Then we'll be able to go find Second Uncle.

Besides, Second Uncle said that we have twelve brothers. Although he told us not to fight with them, we can't fall behind others either. When we meet, we'll inevitably have to spar and test ourselves against them."

After hearing this, Yuanshi and Tongtian both nodded solemnly.

Afterward, the three of them quickly adjusted their states and devoted themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation.

At this moment, Xuanxiao, leisurely traveling through the void, happened to hear what Laozi had said. He could not help shaking his head and thinking to himself:

"Laozi actually has such thoughts. Still, that's a good thing.

The Laozi in my memories was too heartless. Although that was closer to the essence of the Dao, I still think it is better to have some human warmth.

Besides, Eldest Brother had the greatest sense of human warmth just before he attained the Dao. This shows that the Dao of emotion is not necessarily inferior to the Dao of ruthlessness."

After finishing his thoughts, Xuanxiao continued forward and left the place where the Three Pure Ones resided.

This time, Xuanxiao had not set any destination. He wandered freely throughout the Primordial World, going wherever his whims took him.

At this time, many lifeforms had gradually been born in the Primordial World, with the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin tribes flourishing the most. During the previous Fierce Beast Tribulation, these three tribes had contributed greatly. Now, favored by the Heavenly Dao, their influence was at its peak, and they rapidly developed and expanded.

However, none of this had much to do with Xuanxiao. He had no intention of interfering in the conflicts among the three tribes. As long as their actions did not cause destructive damage to the Primordial World, Xuanxiao would not easily intervene.

Thus, Xuanxiao wandered aimlessly through the Primordial World for ten Eons.

One day, he arrived at an unnamed valley in the Primordial World and leisurely strolled around.

Suddenly, Xuanxiao seemed to sense something. A faint smile appeared on his face as he spoke toward the void. "Come out. I know the Jade Butterfly of Creation far too well. Even if you use it, you still can't conceal your aura. Am I right, Hongjun?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a white-robed Daoist slowly appeared in the void. It was Hongjun.

Xuanxiao's gaze fell on Hongjun as he sized him up from head to toe, thinking to himself:

"I didn't expect this Hongjun to be different from the white-robed old man in my memories.

It seems the events in my memories aren't entirely accurate. Besides, the Primordial World now has me as a variable, so I must act even more cautiously in the future. I can't make judgments based solely on those memories."

Seeing Xuanxiao stare at him, Hongjun looked somewhat puzzled and asked, "Dao Venerable, is there something wrong with me?"

Only then did Xuanxiao return to his senses from his contemplation.

"Nothing. I merely thought of some things from the past. However, you just addressed me as 'Dao Venerable.' What does that mean?" Xuanxiao looked at Hongjun curiously as he asked. He had never heard of himself having such an honorific title.

Hongjun bowed slightly and explained, "Fellow Daoist, you may not know this, but 'Dao Venerable' is the honorific title the Heavenly Dao has bestowed upon you.

For now, I am the only one who can learn of this title by communicating with the Heavenly Dao through the Jade Butterfly of Creation.

However, the Heavenly Dao should inform all living beings of the Primordial World of the Dao Venerable's title later."

Xuanxiao was slightly stunned upon hearing this. He truly had not expected the Heavenly Dao to go out of its way to bestow an honorific title upon him.

Although Xuanxiao had never cared much about such things, he still cupped his hands toward the void and said, "Brother Heavenly Dao, although this title doesn't seem to have any practical use, thank you all the same."

"This Dao Venerable truly is the reincarnation of Great God Pangu's younger brother. He is actually so bold as to openly discuss the Heavenly Dao." Although Hongjun had long known that Xuanxiao's identity was extraordinarily noble, he was still inevitably shocked to witness Xuanxiao "speaking" with the Heavenly Dao in such a manner.