Hongjun Bestows Treasures, Distributes Sage Seats, and Takes Sage Disciples (Second Update, Please Vote Monthly)

The path of the Sage was profound beyond all measure, elusive and untraceable, seeming both attainable and unattainable, deep and obscure.

Everyone in Purple Cloud Palace listened as though lost amid clouds and mist, unable to comprehend its mysteries. They could only lower their heads and ponder bitterly.

Only the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, Zhunti, and Jieyin, seated upon the six Grand Dao Mats, listened with great relish.

Expressions of sudden understanding occasionally flickered across their faces.

The Grand Dao Mats could enhance one's comprehension, allowing them to draw infinitely close to the Grand Dao and perceive its laws.

And so, three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

A thousand years in the world passed in the span of an immortal's nap.

Hongjun Daozu closed his mouth and stopped preaching the Dao, and everyone gradually awakened.

The other Purple Cloud Guests mostly sighed inwardly in relief, feeling as though each day had lasted a year.

They could not understand what they heard, yet did not dare move. It was unbearably miserable.

The six, including the Three Pure Ones, wore faces full of lingering dissatisfaction.

If they could, they truly wanted Hongjun Daozu to continue preaching.

However, the Dao Ancestor had said that the three preachings had already ended. There would never be another.

The six sighed softly in their hearts.

What exactly was the path of the Sage? They had yet to find the way in.

As everyone looked at the six, their eyes were filled with envy and jealousy.

The gap between poor students and geniuses was obvious at a glance.

"The three preachings of Purple Cloud Palace have come to an end. If you have questions, you may ask this poor Daoist."

Hongjun Daozu opened those captivating eyes that reflected the universe and the Primordial Starry Sky, looking toward the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests below the platform as he spoke.

The crowd exchanged glances, all considering how to speak and forming their questions.

At that moment, Taiqing Laozi, seated on the first Wind Fire Grand Dao Mat, was the first to rise. He bowed, then asked, "May I ask, Master, what is the Dao? And how does one seek it?"

Hongjun Daozu's starry gaze fell upon Laozi as he replied, "The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao. What can be sought is not the Dao."

Laozi contemplated for a long while, then bowed once more before sitting back down.

Seeing this, Yuanshi, seated upon the second Heaven and Earth Grand Dao Mat, hurriedly rose and asked, "May I ask Sage Master, how does one sever the Three Corpses?"

Hongjun Daozu pondered slightly. "The so-called Three Corpses are the good thoughts, evil thoughts, and obsessions within a living being's heart."

"If one completely erases the distinction between good and evil and possesses no obsessions, one can thoroughly sever the Three Corpse Gods, merge the corpses of the three thoughts, refine the Primordial Violet Qi that forms the foundation of the Grand Dao, entrust one's primordial spirit to the Heavenly Dao, and attain the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit."

Yuanshi was delighted, and was about to ask another question.

But Tongtian Daoist, seated upon the third Azure Lotus Grand Dao Mat, had already risen and bowed. "May I ask, Master, what does Sage mean? And what is Primal Chaos?"

Yuanshi shot an irritated glare at his Third Brother Tongtian, then could only sit back down helplessly.

Hearing Tongtian's question, Hongjun Daozu raised a brow slightly and seemed to glance at him casually before saying, "A Sage is Primal Chaos, but Primal Chaos is not necessarily a Sage."

"A Sage is a fruit position of Heaven and Earth bestowed by the Heavenly Dao, honored as a Heavenly Dao Sage."

"Primal Chaos, meanwhile, is a realm of the Grand Dao."

"Above Great Luo lies Primal Chaos."

"Great Luo encompasses all phenomena and contains everything."

"Primal Chaos blends all things and comprehends them as one."

"As long as you sever the Three Corpse Gods, you can attain the Primal Chaos Dao Fruit and become Heavenly Dao Sages."

Hongjun Daozu deliberately explained in ambiguous terms.

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts burned even hotter.

They secretly resolved that once they returned, they would diligently cultivate this method of Three Corpses Severing.

Nüwa, seated upon the fourth Derivative Grand Dao Mat, was about to rise as well, but Hongjun Daozu dismissed her.

"Enough. There is no need to say more. As long as you cultivate diligently, one day you will become Heavenly Dao Sages."

"Know this: beneath Sages, all are ants."

Seeing Hongjun Daozu raise a hand to stop her, Nüwa, who had just risen, could only sit back down gloomily.

She looked exactly like a well-behaved student in a future classroom who wanted to raise her hand and speak, only to be ignored by the teacher.

At the sight of this, Zhunti and Jieyin immediately abandoned their own thoughts as well.

Then, hearing Hongjun Daozu's words, they were deeply shaken.

Could it be that in Hongjun Daozu's eyes, they were merely ants?

Such terrifying thought made everyone's hearts tremble.

Before the crowd could digest this, Hongjun Daozu spoke again. "This poor Daoist has a destined connection with the Three Pure Ones. You may acknowledge me as your master and become members of my Mystic Sect."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon the Three Pure Ones.

The Three Pure Ones immediately understood. They rose and knelt upon the ground, chanting, "This disciple pays respects to Master."

Anyone who failed to seize such a good opportunity would be a fool.

They would be disciples of a Sage!

And the first three disciples at that!

Everyone immediately looked at the Three Pure Ones with intense envy.

Becoming a Sage's disciple meant clinging to a golden thigh.

But Hongjun Daozu's next actions made their eyes nearly pop out of their sockets.

"Since you three have become my disciples, these three strands of Primordial Violet Qi shall be your master's greeting gifts."

Hongjun Daozu flicked his sleeve, and three faint strands of Primordial Violet Qi shot toward the Three Pure Ones like lightning, instantly merging into their bodies.

"With the foundation of the Grand Dao, you still lack treasures for protection."

"I bestow these three treasures upon you. They may suppress the Dao lineage and fortune of my Mystic Sect."

Before everyone could recover their senses, Hongjun Daozu successively produced the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, the Four Swords of Zhuxian, and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram.

He handed them one by one to Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian.

"Laozi, you are the chief disciple of the Mystic Sect and shall wield this Taiji Diagram. This diagram was transformed from the back of the Heaven Splitting Axe and is one of the three treasures born from the opening of Heaven."

"It possesses the might to calm Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind; the power to transform yin and yang and the five elements; the ability to evolve the mysteries of the Grand Dao; and the capacity to refine Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind."

"Its power is immense and its functions extraordinary. Use it with caution."

Hongjun raised a finger, and the Taiji Diagram flew before Laozi.

"This disciple thanks Master for bestowing this treasure."

Laozi accepted the Taiji Diagram and hurriedly bowed in thanks.

"Yuanshi, you are the second disciple of the Mystic Sect and shall wield this Pangu Banner. This banner shares the same origin as the Taiji Diagram, having been transformed from the blade of the Heaven Splitting Axe."

"It possesses the might to tear apart primal chaos, the power to shatter the spacetime of all heavens, the ability to govern the mysteries of all laws, and the capacity to open Heaven and Earth."

"Among supreme treasures, this banner possesses the greatest might. It must not be used lightly."

Hongjun reminded and warned him.

"This disciple thanks Master for bestowing this treasure!"

Yuanshi happily put away the Pangu Banner as well, then knelt upon the ground.

"As for you, Tongtian."

Hongjun fell silent for a moment.

Then he said, "You are the third disciple of my Mystic Sect and shall wield these Four Swords of Zhuxian and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram."

"Though these two items are not of the same origin as the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner, they are still sinister treasures of the Heavenly Dao that can injure Sages."

"If you form the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation, once the formation is complete, it cannot be broken without four Sages. However, it cannot increase your own fortune."

"You must use them carefully and must not kill excessively."

Hongjun warned.

"This disciple thanks Master for bestowing these treasures."

Tongtian Daoist obediently accepted the Four Swords of Zhuxian and the Zhuxian Formation Diagram, then knelt to express his gratitude.

The remaining Purple Cloud Guests could only stare blankly, their gazes fixed tightly upon the Three Pure Ones.

Hongjun Daozu had distributed Sage seats and the Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation of the Grand Dao, to the Three Pure Ones, then bestowed top-tier Innate Supreme Treasures upon them to protect their Dao. His favoritism could not have been more blatant.

It was impossible for them not to have thoughts about it.

Yet beneath the pressure of a Sage, all dark thoughts could only be buried in their hearts, leaving behind nothing but envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Hearing Hongjun Daozu's words, Laozi and Yuanshi were also greatly surprised.

It could not be broken unless four Sages joined forces?

Their Third Brother had obtained an extraordinary treasure!

Even though they had already received Innate Supreme Treasures, Laozi and Yuanshi still cast tempted glances at the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation in Tongtian's hands.