Deep in Chaos, a palace floated amid the dense Chaos Qi. Its entire structure was a mysterious shade of purple, gleaming brilliantly, while an unfathomable spiritual aura swirled around it as its light waxed and waned.
This was Purple Sky Palace, Hongjun's cultivation abode. Its halls stood tall and imposing, surrounded by nine-colored auspicious clouds and radiating an air of supreme majesty and solemnity.
Innate Dao Rhyme flowed over the glazed tiles, while Heavenly Dao Divine Fire danced in bronze lamps, illuminating the Time and Space stretching hundreds of millions of li around the palace.
The purple light on its outer walls had condensed from 840 million Innate Restrictions, and the Dao patterns upon them manifested different Heavenly Dao Laws.
In the endless expanse beyond the palace, 129,600 strands of Chaos Sword Qi hung suspended. Whenever violent Chaos Gales brushed against Purple Sky Palace, they turned into a fine rain of Innate Spiritual Qi that nourished all things.
Hum!
Just then, the Chaos Qi outside Purple Sky Palace parted in all directions. A white-haired, white-browed, white-bearded Daoist then pierced through Time and Space and descended there.
He was tall and straight, clad in a flowing Daoist robe that shimmered with iridescent light. His eyes were deep as the sea, and a pair of long brows fell from his forehead like willow branches.
His brows hung like willows, long and straight, framing his immortal face.
His whole body was as white as snow, and his fine, silvery hair fell over his shoulders.
The visitor was Yang Mei.
"Daoist Hongjun, an old friend has come to visit. I hope you'll come out and meet me."
Yang Mei's silver hair was white as snow. At his waist hung half a willow branch, glowing with a gentle green light. Each step he took caused the phantom of a green willow to bloom beneath his feet.
It was a Space Escape Technique much like Shrink the Ground to Inch.
"Daoist Yang Mei, it's been a long time. It's good to see you again."
Hongjun wore a white Daoist robe. He, too, had white hair and beard, and a kindly face. His eyes seemed able to see through the ages. He greeted Yang Mei with a respectful salute.
"Hahaha! I haven't yet congratulated you on proving Hunyuan." Yang Mei returned the salute with a hearty laugh.
"I hadn't expected you to have proved Hunyuan long ago." Hongjun's expression was calm as he gave Yang Mei a long look.
He had thought himself the first in the Primordial World to prove the Dao, invincible as a result. Yet Yang Mei had quietly attained the Hunyuan Dao Fruit at some point without his knowledge.
"Daoist friend, since you've proved the Dao, why don't we spar?"
Hongjun had yet to merge with the Dao, so in front of his old friend, he felt a little competitive.
Countless Dao patterns flickered within his sleeves. With a wave of his hand, the Jade Disc of Creation—which had fallen to the level of a Chaos Spiritual Treasure—floated above his head.
The surface of the Jade Disc of Creation shimmered with the radiance of cosmic stars and rivers. Three thousand mysterious runes were carved upon it, appearing and vanishing as though revealing the truth of the Laws. Golden runes spilled down from it, turning the surrounding Chaos into a brilliant river of stars.
Hongjun knew something of Yang Mei's abilities, so he prepared himself carefully and brought out more treasures.
The Innate Supreme Treasures, Pangu Banner and Taiji Diagram;
the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, Mountain River Society Diagram, Dragon Head Crutch, Pure Water Alms Bowl, and Twelve Petaled Merit Golden Lotus...
Treasures that would make mighty cultivators fight tooth and nail over them in the Primordial World appeared one after another in Hongjun's hands.
"Your collection has grown even more impressive, Daoist friend."
Yang Mei stroked his beard with a smile. He extended his right hand, and his fingertips traced the empty air. A fissure suddenly tore open.
Hongjun's expression shifted. The Pangu Banner slashed out a Heaven Opening Blade, the Taiji Diagram swept up Black and White Qi like crashing waves, and the Mountain River Society Diagram unfurled into a world of its own, attempting to trap Yang Mei within.
"Daoist Hongjun, you've underestimated me if you think you can spar with me in the Space Great Dao."
Yang Mei raised an eyebrow. Countless willow-branch phantoms suddenly rose around him, each leaf rippling with the profound Space Law.
And so, the two mighty cultivators who had attained the Hunyuan Dao Fruit fought in the midst of Chaos.
Hongjun had many treasures to protect him, while Yang Mei had proved the Dao earlier.
Still, perhaps the earthworm's origins were inferior to those of the Hollow Willow, or perhaps Hongjun had only just proved the Dao.
When Yang Mei manifested his true form as the Hollow Willow, a gentle sweep of his branches took every one of Hongjun's treasures.
Only the Jade Disc of Creation remained, favored as it was by the Heavenly Dao. All the other treasures fell into Yang Mei's hands.
"Hunyuan is only the beginning. You still have much work ahead of you, Daoist friend."
Yang Mei stopped and returned the treasures to Hongjun, showing no reluctance.
To him, unless a treasure came from Chaos, ordinary Innate Treasures were less convenient than his own true form. He had no interest in such external possessions.
"There's always a greater world beyond." Hongjun nodded with a rueful smile.
"The Primordial World is too small. I intend to venture into Chaos. Have you noticed any mighty cultivators skilled in the Space Great Dao on Primordial World Earth?"
Yang Mei stroked his beard, then suddenly recalled something that had happened several Eons earlier. His brows furrowed.
He had proved the Dao long ago, and he had the upper hand over Hongjun in their spar.
Yet even as a Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal who enjoyed Great Freedom and Great Ease, he couldn't do what Hongjun, a Heavenly Dao Saint, could—use the Heavenly Dao's power to survey the entire Primordial World as easily as examining the lines on his palm.
He had attempted to divine the secrets of Heaven several times, but every effort had yielded nothing. Even now, he still didn't know the identity of the opponent destined to face him in the Dao Struggle.
That was the one obsession he still held in his heart.
"Allow me to divine it."
Hongjun did not refuse. He merged his Spiritual Sense with the Jade Disc of Creation and closed his eyes. Before long, he opened them again.
"How strange. Candle Dragon of the Dragon Race is skilled in the Time Great Dao, but there isn't a single one who excels at space. Zhen Yuanzi and Kunpeng have only dabbled in it."
Hongjun looked perplexed.
He knew Yang Mei well enough to understand that he never spoke without reason. If he had asked, then there had to be a mighty cultivator in the Primordial World whose mastery of the Space Great Dao concerned him.
Yet even when he used the Jade Disc of Creation to divine the matter as a Heavenly Dao Saint, not a single clue emerged!
Hongjun couldn't help growing curious.
"Daoist friend, in three thousand years, I'll preach here in Purple Sky Palace. The mighty cultivators of the Primordial World will gather then. Perhaps you'll encounter this person."
Hongjun considered it and offered his suggestion.
"So be it. I'm only curious, nothing more. There's no need to search deliberately. Farewell, old friend. I'm off."
Yang Mei shook his head and looked toward the Primordial World, his gaze seeming to pierce the endless barriers of Chaos and Time and Space. Then he smiled faintly and began to vanish with a flicker of his form.
But Hongjun stopped him and told him that Old Ancestor Five Elements had also been schemed against. He urged Yang Mei to take care.
Yang Mei left at last with a furrowed brow.
At the same time, Xuanyuan, far away in Pangu Hall, sensed something and turned his gaze in that direction.
"Fourth Brother, what's wrong?" Tongtian noticed Xuanyuan's odd reaction.
"Nothing. Keep cultivating, brother." Xuanyuan shook his head.
Tongtian did not press him. He devoted himself to cultivation, seeking to advance beyond Grand Unity Golden Immortal Perfection and enter the realm of the Primordial Golden Immortal.
Peace returned to Pangu Hall. The fourteen mighty cultivators were all in seclusion, while news of Hongjun's ascension to sainthood and the Purple Sky Palace Preaching continued to stir throughout the Primordial World.
One mighty cultivator after another began to make their move.
Three thousand years was not long, and Chaos was boundless. Finding Purple Sky Palace within that time was a tremendous challenge in itself, one that required great fortune and great destiny.
They had no idea that Hongjun's preaching concealed a trap. All they knew was that the realm of a Heavenly Dao Saint surpassed that of a Primordial Golden Immortal.
Hongjun was going to preach in Purple Sky Palace. It was surely a great opportunity and a great fortune—one they absolutely could not miss!
And so, in immortal mountains and blessed lands throughout the world, mighty cultivators emerged from seclusion. Those who believed themselves strong enough and were driven by the ambition to grow stronger rushed toward the Chaos beyond the heavens.
But opportunity came hand in hand with danger. How could entering Chaos be so easy?
Never mind the countless obstacles within Chaos; the Heaven and Earth Fetal Membrane at the boundary between the Primordial World and Chaos alone stopped more than seventy percent of the mighty cultivators!
Before you continue