Yuanshi had been plotting to get his way, unaware that his words instantly enraged Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi.
Donghuang Taiyi glared at Yuanshi and snapped, "Yuanshi, what do you mean? Are you looking for a fight?"
"Fur-covered, horned, egg-born, and swamp-spawned creatures!"
Yuanshi snorted, making no effort to hide his contempt.
"Second Brother, enough!"
Tongtian couldn't stand it anymore and repeatedly warned him.
Laozi shook his head almost imperceptibly. Though he also looked down on Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi, Yuanshi's words had offended countless people present.
After all, quite a few of those present were the very fur-covered, horned, egg-born, and swamp-spawned creatures Yuanshi had just insulted.
He'd just insulted everyone in one fell swoop!
How reckless!
"Sanqing, fine! Just fine! This isn't over!"
Dijun gritted his teeth, then turned to Xuanyuan. "We admit defeat this time. We'll meet again someday. Sooner or later, we'll take back the River Diagram and Luo Book, and the Donghuang Bell!"
"Heh. We'll be waiting!"
Xuanyuan laughed heartily and waved a hand, signaling for Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi to be released.
Xuanyuan had several objectives in coming to Zixiao Palace.
He wanted to complete his sign-in and system missions, disrupt the karmic arrangements behind Hongjun's lecture, test the Primordial World's many powerful figures, and win over powerful figures of the Earthly Dao and Human Dao, such as Hong Yun, Zhen Yuanzi, Nuwa, and Ancestor Minghe.
Thus, at the edge of the Outer Heavens, Xuanyuan had agreed to bring Six-Eared Macaque and the others across the Chaos Void to Zixiao Palace, disrupt Hongjun's plans, and use the Supreme Grade Innate Supreme Treasure—the Taiji Diagram.
He had long anticipated that the moment the Taiji Diagram appeared, it would attract unscrupulous people hoping to seize it.
In the end, he had used bait to draw out Sanqing, Dijun, Donghuang Taiyi, and Ancestor Minghe.
He had also used the opportunity to draw Hong Yun into the affair.
Unfortunately, Ancestor Hong Yun, that honest fellow, wasn't so honest after all.
His plan to draw out Zhen Yuanzi, Nuwa, and the others later couldn't be carried out.
So he changed tactics, striking decisively to instantly subdue Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi and seize the Donghuang Bell and River Diagram and Luo Book.
He had displayed his formidable, terrifying strength.
On one hand, he was telling the many powerful figures present that the Witch Clan was not to be trifled with, and that they should stop scheming against them. On the other, he was weakening Dijun and Donghuang Taiyi, laying the groundwork in advance for the upcoming Witch-Yaoguai Calamity.
Just as Xuanyuan had expected, everyone stared in shock, mouths agape, and backed away repeatedly, not daring to entertain any further designs.
Inside Zixiao Palace.
Old Ancestor Hongjun continuously ran his calculations, his usually placid face now full of alarm and uncertainty.
Xuanyuan, the Ancestor Witches, the Taiji Diagram, fifty-four thousand living beings...
There were too many variables, all beyond his control.
Even he, a Heavenly Dao Sage, felt vexed.
"Haotian, Yaochi, open the palace gates. The lecture is about to begin!"
"Yes, Master!"
The two attendants, Haotian and Yaochi, respectfully acknowledged the order.
They couldn't help feeling surprised.
Their master was always punctual. If he said the lecture would begin in a thousand years, he would never start early or put it off.
But the thousand-year period hadn't ended, and their master was already opening Zixiao Palace for the lecture?
The two obeyed and left the palace. In clear voices, they announced, "The thousand-year period has ended! Zixiao Palace is open!"
As soon as they heard this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Zixiao Palace was open, and the Dao Ancestor was about to lecture.
At last, they wouldn't have to face Xuanyuan and those twelve calamity-bringing Ancestor Witches.
"Quick!"
"Charge!"
"The Dao Ancestor's lecture is a tremendous opportunity. We have to claim a good spot!"
The beings who had come to listen grew excited and eagerly surged toward Zixiao Palace at full speed.
"The thousand-year period clearly hasn't ended. Why did Hongjun open Zixiao Palace early?"
Xuanyuan was puzzled, but when he saw Sanqing transform into three streaks of light and shoot toward the palace, he immediately understood.
Hongjun had opened Zixiao Palace early because he was afraid Xuanyuan would keep seizing Sanqing's treasures.
"Hongjun, what a shameless display of favoritism!"
Xuanyuan sneered inwardly. Since you, Hongjun, are so unfair, don't blame me for showing you no respect!
Having made up his mind, Xuanyuan raised a hand and unleashed the Space Law—A World Away.
Zixiao Palace was clearly right before their eyes, yet it seemed as distant as the horizon. No matter how hard the crowd tried, they couldn't get any closer.
"How can this be?"
"This must be a trial set by the Sage! I won't give up!"
"That's right! If we pass the trial, we'll be able to enter Zixiao Palace and hear the Sage lecture!"
Everyone thought it was a trial set by Old Ancestor Hongjun, unaware that Xuanyuan was secretly causing trouble.
They could struggle for tens of thousands of years and still never get any closer to Zixiao Palace.
"Come on, let's go in!"
Xuanyuan led the Twelve Ancestor Witches toward Zixiao Palace.
"Make way! Don't block the road!"
Zhurong and Gonggong bellowed at the top of their lungs.
Seeing them, everyone else hurriedly moved aside, afraid of provoking those calamity-bringers.
The scene at the Outer Heavens was still fresh in their minds. No one wanted to test their luck now.
"Why are you putting on airs? You think it's easy to pass a trial set by a Sage?"
"We can't do it, so how could you uncivilized brutes manage?"
"This is a Sage's trial. What good is brute strength?"
Yuanshi, Donghuang Taiyi, and Ancestor Minghe scoffed disdainfully.
They were convinced that this was Old Ancestor Hongjun's trial for those seeking to hear his lecture, and that it couldn't be passed easily. No matter how strong the Ancestor Witches were, could they really be stronger than a Sage?
"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean we can't!"
"Keep your eyes wide open and watch how we enter Zixiao Palace!"
Xuanyuan led the Twelve Ancestor Witches forward without haste, strolling leisurely as they easily crossed the palace threshold and entered.
This sight shocked everyone.
"How is this possible?"
"This is unfair! Unfair!"
"Complaining won't help. If those Witch Clan brutes can enter Zixiao Palace, so can we!"
Some refused to accept it, but more saw hope. They brought out their strongest treasures and tried even harder to push forward, determined to enter Zixiao Palace.
Hongjun's lecture was the greatest opportunity in the Primordial World. No one would give it up.
Deep inside Zixiao Palace, Old Ancestor Hongjun was so furious he nearly spat blood.
Shameless! Absolutely shameless!
Xuanyuan was so shameless that Hongjun wanted nothing more than to slap him dead.
But Xuanyuan was an Ancestor Witch, formed from Great God Pangu's blood essence. He bore the merit of creating the world and was destined to be the protagonist of the next Heaven and Earth Calamity. Even a Heavenly Dao Sage like Hongjun had to consider whether he could bear the karma of making a move against him.
"Hmph. The Ancestor Witches were born without Nascent Souls. To them, a lecture would be like a book written in the heavens. Once the lecture ends, Sanqing, Dijun, and the others will surely advance to Daluo Golden Immortal. Then they'll take action themselves!"
Hongjun snorted. The urgent matter was to let Sanqing, Dijun, and the others enter Zixiao Palace first.
"This poor Daoist has seen how difficult it is for the beings of the Primordial World to cultivate. I have therefore opened a place of cultivation in Zixiao Palace. All who are fated may enter and listen to the lecture!"
As the Sound of the Great Dao rang out, all kinds of wondrous phenomena appeared inside and outside Zixiao Palace.
Heavenly flowers rained down, golden lotuses sprang from the earth, radiance filled the sky, and purple qi stretched across the heavens.
A faint cracking sound came from outside Zixiao Palace. The Law Power blocking everyone vanished, and Sanqing, Dijun, and the others rushed inside at once.
Zixiao Palace looked small from the outside, but once everyone entered, they found its space endless.
Even with fifty-four thousand people inside at once, it didn't feel crowded.
Instead, it was incredibly spacious!
The entire palace was also filled with the rhythm of the Dao, and Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Qi was everywhere. Cultivating here for a day was equivalent to a hundred years outside.
Everyone was secretly amazed. A Sage's place of cultivation was truly extraordinary.
Before you continue