The First Sermon at Purple Cloud Palace Ends, Hongjun Becomes Dao Ancestor and Divides the Leaders of Yin and Yang

There was no sense of time in cultivating and comprehending the Dao; a thousand leisurely years passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the Chaotic Purple Cloud Palace, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's sermon continued uninterrupted for three thousand years.

The Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests were all utterly engrossed, unable to extricate themselves.

Immersed in the Dao's rhythm, their primordial spirits entered a hazy state of enlightenment.

On this day, Dao Ancestor Hongjun suddenly stopped and fell silent.

The wondrous scene of heavenly flowers raining down, Golden lotuses surging from the earth, and laws surging through the world also vanished, returning everything to calm.

Many people awoke from their enlightenment, displeasure appearing on their faces.

However, they quickly composed themselves and respectfully bowed to Daoist Hongjun, seated high upon the foremost seat of Purple Cloud Palace.

"We thank the Dao Ancestor for his compassion, for expounding the Grand Luo Dao, resolving doubts and difficulties, and delivering the multitude from delusion."

At this time, everyone had become sincerely convinced by Hongjun's title as Dao Ancestor and willingly acknowledged him as the ancestor of the Great Dao.

Preaching the Dao for Three Thousand Years in the Chaotic Purple Cloud Palace, delivering all living beings, spreading the Dao throughout the Primordial Wilderness, and expounding the Mystic Sect's Dao arts—he was naturally the founding patriarch of the Mystic Sect's lineage.

Daoist Hongjun's status was thus naturally elevated from Sage to the revered Dao Ancestor of the Primordial Wilderness.

"The first sermon concerned the Dao of the Grand Luo and lasted three thousand years. It has now ended."

"The next sermon will be held three thousand years from now. You may leave on your own shortly."

"However, I have something to say now. Listen carefully."

Seeing that everyone had awakened, Dao Ancestor Hongjun lightly flicked his whisk and spoke.

When he saw that no one made any unusual movement and that all were focused on listening attentively, Dao Ancestor Hongjun nodded inwardly.

"Since the Primordial World was opened, it has been steeped in chaos, with yin and yang left unmanifest. Before, I had the will but lacked the strength."

"Now that all of you Grand Luo Immortals of the Primordial Wilderness are gathered here, let us discuss the matter."

As he spoke, Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked toward two people among the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests below and said,

"Eastern King Duke, Queen Mother of the West, come forward."

Two figures, a male Daoist and a female Daoist nun, immediately rose from the crowd and walked forward.

They were Eastern King Duke of Purple Mansion Continent and Queen Mother of the West of West Kunlun Mountain.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked at the male and female Dao cultivators before him and nodded. "One of you was formed from Innate Supreme Yang qi and shall be the leader of the male immortals of the Primordial Wilderness."

"The other was formed from Innate Supreme Yin qi and shall be the leader of the female Dao cultivators of the Primordial Wilderness."

"The two of you shall together be the leaders of the yin and yang immortals of the Primordial Wilderness. You must cooperate with one another, coordinate each other, sort out the order of yin and yang in the Primordial Wilderness, and conduct yourselves properly."

"This is decreed by the Heavenly Dao. There must be no mistake."

As he spoke, Dao Ancestor Hongjun bestowed the Dragon Head Staff and the Western Plain Cloud Banner upon Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West for their protection.

There was naturally no need to say much about the Western Plain Cloud Banner. It was the western banner among the Innate Five Element Banners.

As for the Dragon Head Staff, there was much more to be said.

The Dragon Head Staff was also known in later generations as the Dragon-Head Golden Staff and the Nine Dragon Golden Staff.

It had been Dao Ancestor Hongjun's protective implement before he became a Sage. It could serve as a walking stick or a weapon.

Legend had it that after Progenitor Dragon fell, Dao Ancestor Hongjun took Progenitor Dragon's head and forged it into this supreme treasure.

Later, the Nine Dragon Golden Staff became the symbolic inheritance item of the leader of the Mystic Sect, founded by Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

After Dao Ancestor Hongjun merged with the Dao, he distributed treasures to the Six Sages of the Heavens atop Treasure Distribution Cliff.

He bestowed this Nine Dragon Golden Staff, the symbolic inheritance item of the Mystic Sect's leader, upon Taiqing Laozi.

He also left him with these words: "Today, the Nine Dragons are granted to Taishang; for all eternity, he shall be honored as the master of the Mystic Sect."

As Dao Ancestor Hongjun's personal everyday item, the Nine Dragon Golden Staff possessed tremendous symbolic significance.

It could be said that whoever held the Nine Dragon Golden Staff would hold the authority to interpret the teachings and govern the Mystic Sect's Dao lineage in the future.

Its function was no less significant than the Imperial Jade Seal.

Such an important treasure had been bestowed upon him.

Eastern King Duke was immediately overwhelmed with ecstasy, leaving him completely dazed.

The Dao Ancestor had actually taken the initiative to feed this enormous windfall to me?

Unbelievable!

To become the leader of all male Dao cultivators and male immortals in the Primordial Wilderness—what immense fortune and destiny was this?

However, ecstasy aside, Eastern King Duke still respectfully held the Dragon-Head Golden Staff in both hands and bowed in thanks to Dao Ancestor Hongjun above.

"Eastern King Duke shall remember the Dao Ancestor's teachings, regulate the Dao of yin and yang in the Primordial Wilderness, and manage the male immortals under heaven."

Though Queen Mother of the West was likewise deeply shaken, she reacted quickly. She hurriedly bowed, accepted the small banner, and similarly promised,

"Queen Mother of the West shall remember the Dao Ancestor's teachings, regulate the Dao of yin and yang in the Primordial Wilderness, and manage the female immortals under heaven."

The Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests were all numb at the sight.

Dao Ancestor, you have already directly bestowed artifacts as tokens. If we still fail to appreciate your favor and object now, wouldn't that be refusing to give you face?

Everyone inwardly complained madly.

Though he said they would discuss it, in truth, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had decided the matter with a single word.

"I intend for Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West to lead the immortals under heaven. Do any of you have objections?"

After speaking, Dao Ancestor Hongjun raised his eyes toward the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests and spoke calmly.

"This..."

Everyone looked at one another. Though they did not know how to complain inwardly, they did not dare say anything more and all bowed in assent.

Not a single person voiced an objection.

Passed unanimously!

However, the way everyone looked at Eastern King Duke had become somewhat strange.

Queen Mother of the West, the leader of the female Dao cultivators, was one thing.

After all, there were not many female immortals on the Primordial Continent at present.

She would not affect their own authority or interests.

But this leader of the male immortals was another matter entirely.

One had to know that the three thousand guests of Purple Cloud Palace were essentially all male Dao cultivators.

And what was Eastern King Duke, anyway?

He was merely the first wisp of supreme yang qi between heaven and earth to take form and appear.

There were countless Innate Saints present whose foundations were far deeper than his.

And as for his Dao attainments, realm, and cultivation?

Everyone looked at Eastern King Duke, who was merely at the middle stage of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, and felt unconvinced.

An Eastern King Duke at the middle stage of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal realm, formed from the first wisp of supreme yang qi, wanted to command them?

He simply did not know the immensity of heaven and earth!

At this moment, everyone made up their minds that if Eastern King Duke failed to recognize his place and dared interfere in their affairs, they would absolutely leave him covered in dust and stripped of all dignity.

When it came to interests and authority, even the Dao Ancestor would not be able to make them comply.

Much less a mere Eastern King Duke.

Naturally, Eastern King Duke, who was filled with wild joy, knew nothing of everyone's thoughts.

At this very moment, Eastern King Duke only wanted to throw back his head and laugh three times.

However, this was the Sage's dojo of Purple Cloud Palace, so Eastern King Duke did not dare act recklessly.

He could only suppress the ecstasy in his heart and repeatedly bow toward the direction in which the Dao Ancestor had departed.

As a female Dao cultivator, Queen Mother of the West was exceptionally perceptive and sensed that something was amiss.

She hurriedly said to everyone, "I was personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the leader of the female immortals. I dare not say more."

"As for how the Primordial Wilderness will be in the future, it shall remain as it always has."

Everyone immediately found the way they looked at Queen Mother of the West much more pleasing.

Even the Three Pure Ones showed appreciation in their eyes.

Queen Mother of the West lived upon West Kunlun Mountain, making her practically neighbors with the Three Pure Ones.

If Queen Mother of the West failed to recognize her place and attempted to interfere with the Three Pure Ones' territory at East Kunlun Mountain, they would certainly let her know what it meant to be Pangu orthodox successors.

As for Eastern King Duke—

The Three Pure Ones merely gave him a brief glance before withdrawing their gazes, utterly unconcerned.

A mere worthless being with a shallow foundation and low Dao attainments was not enough to make the Three Pure Ones fear him.

Even with the title of being personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor, it was nothing more than an empty reputation.

Thus, the first sermon at Purple Cloud Palace came to an end. Some rejoiced, while others worried.

Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West had also officially stepped onto the stage of the Primordial Continent.