Asking the Dao

Hongjun did not hoard anything for himself; he imparted his understanding of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal path to everyone present.

He did not deliberately target the Transmigrators either.

Those who could traverse the chaos to Zixiao Palace were naturally among the fated individuals he spoke of.

As a Saint of the Great Desolation, in his eyes, all beings were equal, without distinction of nobility or baseness.

Saints are not benevolent; they treat all things as straw dogs.

The Heavenly Dao is impartial; it treats Saints as straw dogs.

Zhang Hao's thoughts were similar to Hongjun's. As long as these Transmigrators didn't court disaster, he didn't mind letting them remain in the Great Desolation.

However, the possibility of that was too low.

Transmigrators were always backed by Systems. They came to the Great Desolation to disrupt destiny and seize the Great Desolation's origin.

It was rare to find another like Li Shou, whose System was gone from the start.

As the sermon progressed, everyone present experienced a profound awakening, and many even broke through on the spot.

The Three Pure Ones, Ming He, Nuwa... and a host of powerful beings directly broke through to Grand Unity Perfection.

Even those with lower comprehension broke through to Late Grand Unity.

A thousand years passed in the blink of an eye.

After Hongjun stopped preaching, everyone felt they hadn't had enough and looked expectantly at him.

"May I ask, Saint, what realm lies beyond Grand Unity?" Laozi, who had already reached Grand Unity Perfection, did not know how to break through to the next stage.

Everyone else had the same question.

"The realm beyond Grand Unity is Quasi-Saint, also known as Hun Yuan Golden Immortal in the ancient times," Hongjun said slowly.

"May I ask, Saint, what is the difference between Quasi-Saint and Hun Yuan Golden Immortal, and how does one break through?" Jieyin asked, having retreated to the back of the crowd.

After this sermon, his and Zhunti's cultivation realms had both broken through to Late Grand Unity.

If they were given some more time to digest the gains from this sermon, they would soon break through to Grand Unity Perfection, and then they would need to prepare for breaking through to Quasi-Saint.

Jieyin voiced the thoughts of everyone present.

Even among the Transmigrators, many chose to follow Hongjun's method of severing the Three Corpses to become Saints.

Proving the Dao through strength relied on one's own power. Their cultivation was System-given, so it was naturally difficult for them to prove the Dao through strength.

However, not many Transmigrators had this realization; more of them scoffed at Hongjun's Three Corpses method.

As Transmigrators, of course, we must prove the Dao through strength!

Hongjun provided an explanation:

"Hun Yuan Golden Immortals comprehend the laws of the Great Dao, while Quasi-Saints do not need to comprehend them. I will explain in detail during the second sermon, which will be held after one Yuan Hui."

The arrangement for the second sermon to be held after one Yuan Hui was Zhang Hao's doing.

Normally, the interval between the three sermons would only be three thousand years.

But this Great Desolation was not normal.

If the native beings of the Great Desolation were not given time to develop.

After three thousand years, once Hongjun finished preaching the path of Quasi-Sainthood, the Transmigrators would likely drop all pretense and break through to Quasi-Saint immediately.

After hearing Hongjun's words, everyone present understood.

"If you have any more questions, feel free to ask. I will answer them one by one," Hongjun said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned for a moment, then fell into thought.

A Saint answering questions was a tremendous opportunity.

"Chen Tian of the Witch Clan, greetings, Saint. The Witch Clan does not cultivate the primordial spirit, only the physical body and bloodline, revering strength above all else."

"May I ask, Saint, can this method lead to Hun Yuan? Does it contradict the Heavenly Dao?"

Chen Tian asked first. Although his System would occasionally reward him with treasures and cultivation, he still hoped to prove the Hun Yuan realm through his own strength.

Moreover, he did not believe that the System brought him to the Great Desolation without any purpose.

The others looked at Chen Tian with displeasure.

This question only concerned the Witch Clan's path. If the Saint were to give some pointers, wouldn't the Great Desolation in the future be the domain of the Ancestor Witches?

Hongjun looked at Chen Tian and did not hide anything due to his Transmigrator identity, saying peacefully:

"Great God Pangu opened up the Great Desolation with his physical body. The extreme of strength can break the Dao."

"All things are within the Dao; how can there be contradiction?"

"However, specializing in the physical body, without understanding the times, without observing cause and effect, and with too much karma from killing, one is prone to attracting calamities."

"Your ability to ponder this question is a sign of fate."

This answer gave the Witch Clan hope, yet it also contained a warning.

Chen Tian's heart grew solemn, and he respectfully retreated.

Later, their Witch Clan's downfall was indeed due to the Heavenly Dao's schemes. But why would Hongjun tell him these things?

Could it be...

Hongjun has already been controlled by the Heavenly Dao, and is asking him for help?

Yes, that's the only possibility. After all, he, Chen Tian, is the variable in the Great Desolation, and only he can help Hongjun break free from the Heavenly Dao's control.

He silently regarded Hongjun as his ally against the Heavenly Dao.

At this moment, Qin Yuan, who had been silent, rolled his eyes, suddenly raised his hand, and asked loudly in a childish voice, "Venerable Saint! Is the Heavenly Dao a man or a woman? Are you familiar with the Heavenly Dao?"

"Pfft—"

"Cough cough!"

Suppressed chuckles and coughs echoed in Zixiao Palace.

Tai Yi stared wide-eyed at his "third brother," his expression one of "Are you crazy?"

Many powerful beings also wore strange expressions. Why did this Golden Crow ask such an unreliable question?

On the high platform, Hongjun's lips twitched almost imperceptibly.

In the void of the Heavenly Dao, Zhang Hao almost choked on his own saliva.

Hongjun's face was expressionless, his voice calm, "The Heavenly Dao is impartial, formless and shapeless, neither male nor female. I, as a Heavenly Dao Sage, naturally act on behalf of Heaven."

"Oh..." Qin Yuan nodded as if he understood but didn't. The Wild History System recorded another entry: "Dao Ancestor personally admits to a close relationship with the Heavenly Dao, suspected official certification!"

"Points +20"

Qin Yuan rejoiced inwardly. As expected, more explosive questions meant more points.

Just as he was about to ask something more "in-depth," Tai Yi next to him preempted him, a fawning smile on his face, rubbing his hands as he asked:

"Venerable Saint, please enlighten me! Junior Tai Yi has a question."

"This union of Yin and Yang is the ultimate principle of heaven and earth."

"I wonder if the Venerable Saint knows how to better... hmm, procreate offspring and expand the clan? Preferably with many blessings and each with a profound foundation!"

He asked "sincerely," but his eyes involuntarily strayed towards Nuwa and Xi He.

Nuwa frowned slightly, Xi He was expressionless, while Chang Xi glared fiercely at him, her eyes seeming to want to kill.

Zixiao Palace fell into silence.

The Transmigrators were completely bewildered.

What kind of questions were these?!

One asked about the Heavenly Dao's gender with childish innocence, and the other was even more direct, asking how to have children efficiently and with high quality?!

What was going on with this batch of disciples listening to the sermon in Zixiao Palace?

Even the Three Pure Ones glanced sideways.

Yuanshi even snorted softly, "Those with fur and horns, as expected, do not understand the Heavenly Mandate or etiquette!"

Hongjun's composure was clearly far beyond that of ordinary people. He merely glanced lightly at Tai Yi and said:

"The Great Dao is natural, Yin and Yang are in order."

"Root destiny and fortune are determined by Heaven. Forcing it is useless and will only bring disaster. Focusing on the Great Dao is the right path."

Tai Yi hit a soft nail and retreated sheepishly, though he was dismissive in his heart.

The rewards from the System were tangible!

Li Shou watched this farce, his heart filled with anxiety. He finally couldn't help but step forward and bow respectfully:

"Junior Li Shou has a question."

"As cultivators, how should one protect the important people in their heart, preventing them from suffering calamities? Even if one knows fate is unavoidable, can it be resisted with strength?"

He asked with genuine emotion, his gaze unintentionally falling upon the Three Pure Ones. Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones felt a warmth in their hearts.

Hongjun looked at Li Shou, this "Fourth Pure One of the Great Desolation." He naturally knew that his origins were fabricated by the System.

However, observing his character, he didn't seem to have been corrupted by the System; instead, he held genuine affection for the Three Pure Ones.

His tone softened slightly:

"The Great Dao has fifty, Heaven's evolution is forty-nine, and Man escapes one."

"All things are not fixed. Though calamities are set, they are also within human agency."

"Acting with the flow, using external force to counter external force, one might find a sliver of hope. However, remember, acting rashly like a reckless man is merely a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

These words were both an answer and seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

Li Shou pondered, then bowed gratefully.

Xuan Qing lowered his head, his body trembling slightly, as if he had reached his limit.

He suddenly looked up, his eyes bloodshot, staring intently at the Three Pure Ones, his voice hoarse:

"Venerable Saint! If someone steals my supreme treasure, destroys my cultivation path, and severs my beloved! Can this vengeance be avenged?! Will the Heavenly Dao care about such personal grudges?!"

He asked through gritted teeth, his venomous aura almost palpable, his target aimed directly at the Three Pure Ones.

The atmosphere within Zixiao Palace suddenly tensed.

The Three Pure Ones' faces darkened, while the Transmigrators all turned to look at Xuan Qing, the "anomaly."

This unknown great power actually held a grudge against the Three Pure Ones. Could it be that the Heavenly Dao had made arrangements in advance, intending to gain complete control over the Three Pure Ones before the Investiture of the Gods?

Hongjun looked calmly at Xuan Qing, his gaze seeming to pierce through the restless Devouring System in his sea of consciousness, and slowly said:

"In the Great Desolation, karma cycles, and retribution is inescapable."

"The reasons for seizing treasures and destroying the Dao are self-evident."

"Clinging to hatred blinds the Dao heart, leading to self-destruction on the path of cultivation."

"The Heavenly Dao is impartial, rewarding good and punishing evil, but it does not interfere in personal feuds and entanglements. How you resolve them is up to yourselves. However..."

He paused, a sliver of saintly might revealing itself, causing the Dao rhythm within Zixiao Palace to congeal:

"Zixiao Palace is a place of pure Dao practice, a sacred ground for lecturing the Dao."

"Personal grudges are not to be settled here."

"Once you leave this place, you may act as you please, but remember, acting recklessly will invite calamity."

This was drawing a line: no fighting within Zixiao Palace. Outside, they could kill each other if they wished, but they would bear the consequences themselves.

Xuan Qing trembled all over. Under that saintly might, he felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. His full heart of resentment was forcibly suppressed, and he could only lower his head and grit his teeth, saying, "...Xuan Qing understands."

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