Later, several Great Powers asked about some finer points of cultivation. Hongjun answered each question, explaining profound principles in simple terms. Everyone felt they had gained a great deal.
Seeing that no one else had any questions, Hongjun said, "That concludes today's lecture."
"The next lecture will be in one yuanhui. At that time, I will expound upon the Way of the Quasi-Sage. You may all leave."
With that, his figure slowly faded from the high platform, as if melting into the void.
Once the Sage had departed, the invisible pressure vanished, and the atmosphere in Zixiao Palace relaxed.
But immediately afterward, an undercurrent began to stir.
The Three Pure Ones shot Xuan Qing a cold glance, then shielded Li Shou and left first, turning into streaks of light.
Clutching the lotus leaf, Xuan Qing glared venomously in the direction the Three Pure Ones had gone, then glowered at the few people on the meditation cushions before fleeing in a streak of azure light.
Nuwa, Fuxi, Xi He, Chang Xi, and the others also departed one after another.
Tai Yi wanted to give chase, but Qin Yuan held him back firmly.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches stretched, calling, "Let's go, let's go. Time to head back and sleep!" They crowded around Chen Tian and swaggered out.
Zhenyuanzi hurried away with Hong Yun, afraid of causing any more trouble.
Kunpeng cast a lingering glance at the six meditation cushions, especially the fifth one he had occupied and the sixth, where Xuan Qing had sat. His eyes flickered as he wondered what to make of it, then he quietly disappeared.
Outside Zixiao Palace, just as the Four Pure Ones were about to enter the Prehistoric World, an overwhelming killing intent locked onto all four of them.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
Xuan Qing suddenly launched an attack, gripping the Green Lotus Sword as he slashed straight at the Four Pure Ones.
With the help of his Devouring System, he had quickly absorbed the contents of the lecture. His cultivation had now reached Grand Unity Perfection.
The Green Lotus Sword in his hand had also risen from a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure to the level of an Innate Supreme Treasure.
Over the past yuanhui, he had no idea how many Great Powers of the Prehistoric World he had ambushed and killed, devouring their essence to raise this companion Lingbao by two grades.
The Four Pure Ones hadn't expected Xuan Qing to attack outside Zixiao Palace. They froze for a moment, but quickly reacted.
Laozi brought out the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Black Yellow Pagoda, enveloping all four of them within it as black-yellow energy shielded them.
Xuan Qing gave a cold snort. Creation power appeared in wisps around the Green Lotus Sword, and he slammed it straight into the pagoda.
Boom—
The destructive force sent the Four Pure Ones flying.
"An Innate Supreme Treasure?!" Tongtian exclaimed in shock. The last time he had seen this sword, it had only been a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!
The other Great Powers sensed the aura of an Innate Supreme Treasure and hurried over.
When many of them saw the Green Lotus Sword in Xuan Qing's hand, greed showed on their faces.
But once they sensed that he had reached Grand Unity Perfection, they put those thoughts aside.
"Why has Daoist Xuan Qing started fighting the Four Pure Ones?" Zhenyuanzi asked, baffled.
The Four Pure Ones rarely caused trouble, and their strength made them well-liked among the Great Powers.
Seeing Xuan Qing fight the Four Pure Ones, Hong Yun looked anxious. "Could there be some misunderstanding between them? Should I go try to talk them down?"
Hong Yun was just about to intervene when Zhenyuanzi grabbed him.
Kunpeng, Minghe, and the others looked at Hong Yun as if he were a fool.
Daoist Xuan Qing was powerful, and his origins were mysterious. Standing up for the Four Pure Ones would only invite trouble.
Chen Tian and the other Transmigrators couldn't make heads or tails of why Xuan Qing had attacked the Four Pure Ones, either.
If Xuan Qing had claimed one of the meditation cushions in Zixiao Palace, shouldn't he be one of the destined Saints? By all rights, he should have been on the same side as the Four Pure Ones.
Tai Yi, meanwhile, had no interest in their fight. Instead, he tried striking up a conversation with Nuwa.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, things are getting heated over there. Why don't you take shelter over here with me?"
Nuwa had noticed Tai Yi watching her long ago.
Although she didn't know why he was paying so much attention to her, she replied politely, "Thank you for your concern, Fellow Daoist Di Jun, but my elder brother is here to protect me."
Fuxi stepped between Nuwa and Tai Yi.
"You'd be better off looking after yourself."
Tai Yi nodded awkwardly. "Uh... well, is it possible that I'm Tai Yi?"
Fuxi and Nuwa stared at him for a moment. Could that seven- or eight-year-old child actually be Di Jun?
Tai Yi seemed to notice their confusion, so he explained, "My elder brother didn't come this time. That child is our third brother, Qin Yuan."
At Tai Yi's explanation, Fuxi and Nuwa looked perplexed.
Had the Solar Star given birth to three Golden Crows?
That didn't sound anything like what the Little White Dragon they had met had told them.
Meanwhile,
the battle between Xuan Qing and the Four Pure Ones had reached a fever pitch.
Xuan Qing's eyes were bloodshot, and the Green Lotus Sword in his hand unleashed a terrifying edge that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth.
Creation power coursed along the blade. Each slash made the Heaven and Earth Black Yellow Pagoda shudder violently, scattering its black-yellow energy like a waterfall.
"Today, you will pay with your lives for my wife!"
He roared as Sword Light split into thousands of strands, briefly transforming the surrounding Chaos into a sea of azure lotuses. Countless lotus leaves spun and sliced through the air, sealing off every escape route for the Four Pure Ones.
Laozi's expression was grave. The Heaven and Earth Black Yellow Pagoda above his head released streams of black-yellow primordial energy, barely managing to protect the four of them.
Primordial Heavenly Venerate struck out with streams of Yuqing Immortal Light, but each one dissipated under the strange power of creation before it could reach the Green Lotus Sword.
Tongtian Cult Master was even more frustrated. He cultivated the Way of the Sword, yet his swordsmanship was now completely suppressed by Xuan Qing's.
Li Shou had it worst, as his cultivation was the weakest.
Though his elder brothers shielded him, the stray sword qi still shredded his robe and left him covered in blood.
But he clenched his teeth and stared at Xuan Qing, his heart filling with indignation.
"Xuan Qing, the three Lingbao your wife became are not in our hands. If you want revenge, go after the Ancestor Witches!"
With blood in his mouth, Li Shou shouted himself hoarse.
This Daoist Xuan Qing was absurdly powerful. He was suppressing all four of them by himself.
Of the Four Pure Ones, only he was at Late Grand Unity; the other three were all at the same level as Xuan Qing, Grand Unity Perfection.
Wasn't this a little too ridiculous?
"The Ancestor Witches?"
Xuan Qing froze, then connected with his system. He quickly learned that the three Lingbao formed from the Creation Green Lotus were now in Chen Tian's possession.
He shot the Three Pure Ones a cold glance, then turned the Green Lotus Sword toward the Thirteen Ancestral Witches, who had been watching from the sidelines.
"Are my wife's belongings in your hands?"
"Gasp—"
The Great Powers present heard him and immediately began looking at the Thirteen Ancestral Witches differently.
Qin Yuan even started concocting a wild tale with his system.
"The Thirteen Ancestral Witches abducted Daoist Xuan Qing's wife!"
When Chen Tian saw the other Great Powers' reactions, he felt his whole world collapse.
The Twelve Ancestor Witches immediately started cursing.
"Bullshit! Which one of us Ancestor Witches would be interested in your wife?!" Zhu Rong roared with fury.
If Chen Tian hadn't told them not to cause trouble here, Zhu Rong would have gone up and slapped Xuan Qing twice.
"Are the Coiling Dragon Crutch, the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi, and the Qingping Sword in your hands?" Xuan Qing demanded coldly.
Chen Tian picked up the thread and replied, "They are. What do they have to do with your wife?"
He remembered that the Ancestor Witches had snatched those three treasures from the Three Pure Ones. They shouldn't have anything to do with this Daoist Xuan Qing.
As he spoke, he brought out the three Lingbao. Their auras were linked to Chen Tian's, making it obvious that he had already refined them.
Xuan Qing was so enraged he nearly lost his mind. How was this any different from being cuckolded?!
"Ahhh! How dare you refine my wife!"