The Prehistoric World knew no years.
In the blink of an eye, only a hundred years remained before the second lecture at Zixiao Palace began.
Many Great Powers had already arrived outside Zixiao Palace early, waiting for the gates to open.
This time, the Sage had said he would lecture on the Way of the Quasi-Saint.
In the Prehistoric World now, most people had already reached Late Great Unity.
There were also quite a few Great Powers who had broken through to Great Unity Perfection.
Many people wore looks of anticipation.
Hao Tian and Yao Chi stood outside Zixiao Palace, their gazes sweeping over the assembled Great Powers.
"Senior Brother, how come we haven't seen those two Golden Crows this time?" Yao Chi asked in a low voice, turning to Hao Tian, who was looking just as bored.
Hao Tian glanced at his junior sister and said with a smile, "It's best if they don't come. That way, they won't ask foolish questions and upset Lord again."
"Let me tell you, Tai Yi is a notorious flirt in the Prehistoric World. He can't take his eyes off a pretty Female Immortal."
"Be careful, Junior Sister. Don't let that fellow Tai Yi set his sights on you."
"Bah! I'd never be interested in someone so frivolous!" Yao Chi scrunched up her little face and waved dismissively, though her eyes curiously darted toward the crowd. "But, Senior Brother, do you think Tai Yi would really dare pester a Female Immortal at the gates of Zixiao Palace? Isn't he afraid Lord will punish him?"
Hao Tian was about to answer when his gaze passed over two figures approaching together in the distance. He suddenly exclaimed, "Huh?"
Nuwa and Fuxi had arrived. They were exchanging pleasantries with Hong Yun and Zhenyuanzi.
On the other side, cool moonlight shimmered as Xi He and Chang Xi appeared quietly, immediately attracting many gazes.
Chang Xi still stayed close to Xi He, her little face bearing its usual wary distance from outsiders.
"Look, the two goddesses from the Lunar Star are here."
Hao Tian gestured with his eyes.
"I heard Tai Yi took a fancy to the two Ancestral Witches, Xuanming and Houtu, and got beaten up by Dijiang. If he dares try again this time, I'm afraid..."
Before he could finish, Yao Chi's eyes widened. She whispered, "He really has some nerve, daring to go after even Ancestral Witches..."
Before her words had faded,
a somewhat hurried sound of rushing air came from afar.
Two figures arrived one after the other. They were Jieyin and Zhunti.
The two looked a little different from last time. Jieyin's expression seemed even more sorrowful, while a trace of undisguisable exhaustion showed in Zhunti's eyes.
As soon as they landed, they instinctively looked in a certain direction.
Not far away,
Xuan Qing stood alone in the shadow of a corner, holding a lotus leaf in his arms, his aura gloomy.
Whenever he looked toward the Four Pure Ones, resentment showed in his eyes.
Jieyin and Zhunti looked away and exchanged glances, both seeing helplessness in the other's eyes.
They'd spent an entire Yuanhui watching this lunatic. It was utterly draining.
"Senior Brother, look over there." Yao Chi suddenly tugged at Hao Tian's sleeve.
Two Golden Crows, blazing like the sun, landed outside Zixiao Palace. As their Solar True Fire dissipated, Tai Yi and Qin Yuan came into view.
Following behind them were Bai Ze, Ji Meng, and other Great Powers at Late Great Unity.
After Chen Tian and Dijiang revealed their Hun Yuan Golden Immortal cultivation, the Witch Clan had become even more rampant in the Prehistoric World.
Many weaker clans had been wiped out by the Witch Clan and used as blood food.
Even some powerful Great Powers had suffered at their hands.
So, after Tai Yi proposed forming the Demon Clan, quite a few people began associating with him.
After the second lecture, the Demon Clan would probably be founded to stand against the Witch Clan.
Tai Yi didn't notice Hao Tian and Yao Chi watching him.
His attention was entirely on the Female Immortals of the Prehistoric World gathered here.
He had already received several rounds of rewards from Many Sons, Much Fortune, and had gained several Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
If he gave these treasures to Nuwa and Xi He, he might win their favor.
Tai Yi was just about to go talk to Xi He when Qin Yuan beside him held him back.
"Second Brother, the gates of Zixiao Palace are opening," Qin Yuan kindly reminded him.
Tai Yi looked displeased. How could his third brother be so oblivious? Wasn't his second brother just trying to find him a few more sisters-in-law? Why was he against it?
Hao Tian and Yao Chi pushed open the gates of Zixiao Palace.
The assembled Great Powers entered together.
There were far fewer people than at the last lecture.
Some had died during this Yuanhui, while others were unable to come for various reasons.
The Thirteen Ancestral Witches, for example, were busy training in the Twelve Heavenly Gods and Fiends Formation.
Inside Zixiao Palace,
the six meditation cushions were still in their original places, but Hongjun was nowhere to be seen.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Kunpeng, and Xuan Qing took the six cushions, while everyone else found a comfortable spot and sat down.
Quite a few Transmigrators had also come this Yuanhui.
Seeing the six people on the cushions, they were puzzled.
Why was the seating arrangement completely different from the one they remembered?
But they didn't think much of it. The seating arrangement had nothing to do with them anyway.
Besides, since the Western duo hadn't obtained cushions, there was a good chance they wouldn't become Sages.
Then they could rob the West without restraint.
Although the Western world wasn't as prosperous as the East, it still had plenty of treasures.
The Transmigrators all looked at Jieyin and Zhunti in unison, grinning wickedly.
Jieyin shuddered and turned to Zhunti beside him. "Junior Brother, do you have a bad feeling about something?"
"No, Senior Brother. I think keeping watch over Xuan Qing has worn you out. I'll keep a closer eye on him when we get back this time," Zhunti replied.
"Let's hope so." Jieyin fell silent and began looking forward to the lecture.
Sitting on his cushion, Xuan Qing searched the crowd with his gaze but didn't spot Chen Tian.
His resentment toward Chen Tian now far surpassed his resentment toward the Four Pure Ones.
But he also knew that his strength alone would never be enough to stand against the Ancestral Witches.
After this lecture, the Heavenly Court would be established. He would join it then.
The Three Pure Ones, like the other Great Powers, had few thoughts of their own. They only wanted to wait for Hongjun to appear and explain the Way of the Quasi-Saint.
Li Shou stood beside the Three Pure Ones as well, his eyes filled with anticipation.
His roots and aptitude were among the very best in the Prehistoric World.
But as a Transmigrator, his comprehension was indeed limited. It was only a hundred years ago that he had barely reached Great Unity Perfection.
"Dao Ancestor, please make it simple," Li Shou prayed.
Of the Four Pure Ones, he was the one who worked the hardest, yet his cultivation still advanced the slowest.
Click.
As Hao Tian and Yao Chi closed the gates of Zixiao Palace, Hongjun had somehow taken his seat on the cushion atop the high platform.
Profound Daoist rhymes filled the whole palace, making everyone's heart tremble.
The Sage's cultivation was even more unfathomable than before.
Hongjun looked at the crowd, whose expressions varied, and slowly began, "In this lecture, I shall impart the Way of the Quasi-Saint."
"May I ask the Sage, what is a Quasi-Saint, and how are we to break through to that realm?" a Great Power in the crowd hurriedly asked.
The others also turned their gazes toward Hongjun.
Quite a few Great Powers present had reached Great Unity Perfection, yet not one had broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm.
If Chen Tian and Chang Xi hadn't displayed power beyond Great Unity, they would truly have thought Great Unity Perfection was the end of cultivation.