After Hongjun Dao Ancestor distributed the Primordial Violet Qi and bestowed the saintly positions in Purple Cloud Palace, he looked down upon the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests below the platform and said with a compassionate expression:
"Ever since Pangu split open the primordial chaos and the Primordial World first came into being, the Heavenly Dao has been damaged, and the Three Thousand Great Daos have remained incomplete."
"I have perceived the incompleteness of the Primordial Heavenly Dao and the suffering of sentient beings."
"Therefore, a thousand years from now, I shall merge my body with the Dao, thereby making up for the Heavenly Dao's deficiencies and finding a sliver of hope for all sentient beings."
"From this day onward, the Heavenly Dao shall not manifest, and Hongjun shall not appear."
"You must take care of yourselves."
The moment these words were spoken, everyone cried out in shock.
They all prostrated themselves and bowed deeply. "Dao Ancestor is compassionate! Your merit is immeasurable!"
One after another, they went all out with their acting, shouting that the Dao Ancestor must not abandon them, that the living beings of the Primordial World could not be without the Dao Ancestor's nurturing guidance, and so on.
Once they learned that Hongjun Dao Ancestor was determined to sacrifice himself to restore the Heavenly Dao, that this was ordained by heaven and could not be reversed, they wept bitterly and howled in grief.
Of them all, Jieyin and Zhunti of the Western duo appeared the most sorrowful. Tears streamed down their faces as if they cost nothing, and they desperately begged the Dao Ancestor not to leave.
In truth, the more grief-stricken the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests looked, the happier they were inside.
Hongjun Dao Ancestor, the first Saint between heaven and earth—such a terrifying