Dijun's Invitation: A Heavenly Gathering! Debate? Or Recruitment?

What astonished Qin Mu even more was that Hongjun would actually gift him such a treasure.

Shaken from his shock, Qin Mu quickly collected himself and bowed to Hongjun in gratitude: "Disciple thanks the Ancestor for the gift!"

With that, Qin Mu moved his mind and directly stored away that Creation Green Lotus seed.

Just then, movement came from outside Zixiao Palace again.

Before long, Dijun, Taiyi, Fuxi, and the others returned after having left.

They had already departed.

But halfway along the way, they suddenly realized something was off.

Hongjun's lecture this time had been too short—only two thousand five hundred years.

So Dijun and the others swiftly turned back.

"Hm?"

Seeing that the Three Pure Ones and Qin Mu had already returned ahead of them, Dijun and the others showed surprise and doubt.

Then Dijun and the others stepped forward and paid their respects to Hongjun.

"May we ask the Dao Ancestor, is this lecture not yet over?" Dijun inquired.

Hongjun did not answer, only said flatly: "Since you have returned, then continue listening to the Dao."

Next, Hongjun began lecturing once more.

The sound of the Heavenly Dao echoed through Zixiao Palace.

The assembled Great Experts were immersed in it, enraptured.

As for Qin Mu, he listened to the Dao while simultaneously cultivating his own Exclusive Great Dao Level Cultivation Method.

He was different from the other Primordial Great Experts.

The path of the Great Dao he walked was not within the scope of Hongjun's lectures.

Instead, it was the Exclusive Great Dao Level Cultivation Method rewarded by the system.

Time flowed on.

Unnoticed, three hundred years passed.

At this point, Hongjun continued his explanations.

Suddenly, two figures rushed in from outside Zixiao Palace.

The arrivals were none other than Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti from the West.

Their expressions were extremely anxious.

After leaving Zixiao Palace earlier, they had returned to the West.

But the more they thought about it afterward, the more something felt wrong, so they hurried all the way back to Zixiao Palace.

Seeing the Three Pure Ones and the others all intently listening to Hongjun's lecture, Jieyin and Zhunti quickly bowed deeply to Hongjun, then took their seats on the front cushions and continued listening to the Dao.

After that, one by one, more people returned to Zixiao Palace.

Realizing Hongjun was still lecturing, they naturally sat down and focused on listening.

In the blink of an eye, another two hundred years passed.

By now, Hongjun's third lecture had lasted three thousand years.

Inside Zixiao Palace, Hongjun, seated on the Dao platform, ceased his lecture, and the lingering Dao resonance within the Dao Field slowly receded.

The assembled Primordial Great Experts were still lost in rapture.

Hongjun's gaze swept over them as he said flatly: "This lecture is concluded. You may all leave."

Hearing this, the Primordial Great Experts who had returned snapped out of their trance and rose one after another to bow.

This time, everyone understood.

Hongjun's third lecture had truly ended.

After paying their respects, the crowd transformed into streaks of light and flew out of Zixiao Palace, returning to the Primordial Land.

At the boundary between Chaos Space and the Thirty-Three Heavens.

The Western Daoist Jieyin and Daoist Zhunti were the first to leave.

As they departed, both wore expressions of bitter distress on their faces.

The look they bore clearly showed their regret at having missed three hundred years of Hongjun's lecture.

After the two Westerners left, Zhenyuanzi and Old Ancestor Hongyun departed together.

The two were close friends of long standing.

Before long, in the chaos beyond the heavens, only the Three Pure Ones, Qin Mu, Nuwa, Fuxi, Dijun, and Taiyi remained.

Just as the Three Pure Ones and the others were about to leave, a strange glint flashed in Dijun's eyes, and he quickly called out to stop them:

"Fellow Daoists, please wait a moment!"

Hearing Dijun's shout, the Three Pure Ones and the others halted and turned their gazes toward Dijun.

"Does Fellow Daoist Dijun have something else to say?"

Fuxi inquired.

Dijun gave a slight smile and replied:

"Fellow Daoists, now that the Dao Ancestor's third lecture has concluded."

"On your way back, you all must pass through the Thirty-Three Heavens. Why not follow This Emperor to the Heavenly Court for a gathering, share some celestial nectar, and discuss the Dao together? What do you say?"

Upon hearing this, the Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, their expressions varied.

After a brief pause, Yuanshi and Tongtian turned their eyes to Taishang.

Clearly, they were letting Taishang, as the elder brother, make the decision.

Taishang narrowed his eyes slightly, putting on a thoughtful air, and mused to himself:

"Now in this Primordial World, the Witch and Demon races are powerful, and their conflict grows ever fiercer."

"Dijun, as the Lord of the Heavenly Court, has taken the initiative to invite us. It would be hard to refuse."

In Taishang's view, the Demon race was not weak at present, and since Dijun had extended the invitation himself, simply visiting the Heavenly Court for a while would do no harm.

Seeing that the Three Pure Ones had yet to respond, a hint of awkwardness flickered across Dijun's face, but he still waited patiently.

At that moment, Taiyi swept his gaze over the Three Pure Ones.

Meeting Taiyi's eyes, Yuanshi let out a cold snort, clearly showing his disdain for Taiyi.

After all, he had never taken a liking to the Demon race.

Back when Hongjun gave his first lecture, Yuanshi had already looked down on Kunpeng of the Demon race, and with Jieyin and Zhunti fanning the flames from the side, he had directly kicked Kunpeng off his cushion.

Seeing this, Qin Mu silently sighed to himself:

"Dijun, this Yao Emperor, inviting the Three Pure Ones and the others to the Heavenly Court at this time—he's probably trying to win them over!"

"Truly... he has no self-awareness!"

Qin Mu knew that the Three Pure Ones prided themselves on being Pangu's Orthodox Lineage, each with exceedingly high standards.

Moreover, at this point in time, the conflict between the Witch and Demon races was at its peak.

For Dijun to invite them to the Heavenly Court to discuss the Dao and such—his heart was surely set on recruiting a few Great Experts.

Of course, though he saw through all this, Qin Mu remained silent.

After all, his status was lowly now, and his cultivation was merely at the early Golden Immortal level.

Before figures like Dijun, he had no right to speak.

After a moment of thought, a look of resolve flashed in Taishang's eyes, and he then turned to Dijun:

"In that case, we shall trouble you!"

Seeing Taishang agree, Dijun was overjoyed, and then he glanced at Fuxi and Nuwa.

Nuwa did not respond, instead looking toward Fuxi.

Fuxi gave a slight smile and said:

"Since Fellow Daoist Dijun has graciously invited us, it is only right that we go."

Dijun nodded, feeling pleased, and exchanged a knowing smile with Taiyi before leading the group to the Heavenly Court.

Before long, Qin Mu and the others, guided by Dijun and Taiyi, arrived at the Heavenly Court.

Inside the Lingxiao Treasure Hall, it was resplendent with gold and jade, and auspicious vapors coiled in countless strands.

Dijun quickly gave orders to prepare a grand feast for the guests.

Soon, demon maidens began to dance within the hall, and celestial maidens scattered flowers.

Celestial nectar was laid out on the tables, and the fragrance of innate spiritual fruits filled the air.

Rare treasures such as spiritual fruits and Star Fruits were all present in abundance, fully displaying the lavish foundation of the Demon race's Heavenly Court.

Dijun sat high on the main seat, with Taiyi seated at his side.

The Three Pure Ones and the others sat at the banquet, sampling the innate spiritual fruits.

Because of the Three Pure Ones, Qin Mu also received a seat.

Though it was somewhat toward the back, the table still bore every requisite—jade nectar and celestial spirit fruits, not a single item missing.

Qin Mu made no pretense of modesty, helping himself to the food and drink.

After the wine had made three rounds, Dijun, seated at the head, suddenly rose to his feet and looked toward the Three Pure Ones with a solemn expression.

Qin Mu noticed this and murmured softly, "He's about to try and recruit the Three Pure Ones, isn't he?"