Grand Master Xuandu wore a white Daoist robe. His expression was calm, and his aura was restrained. At first glance, there was nothing remarkable about him, yet the immense aura of a peak Golden Immortal faintly flowed around him.
"Though we're both members of the Human Race, even with the system's help, I've only just reached peak True Immortal."
"Grand Master Xuandu has only an inferior Innate Being Foundation, yet he's achieved such a level of cultivation. I bet he really does eat Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs like Sugar Beans."
Li Qingxu muttered inwardly.
In the entire Primordial World, apart from Dao Ancestor Hongjun, probably only Taiqing Laozi could disregard foundation and force Xuandu step by step to the level of a Quasi-Saint.
As for Duobao Daoist, he wore a purple Daoist robe and had a rather rounded build. A sharp gleam shone in his narrow eyes, a neat pair of mustaches adorned his upper lip, and a genial smile rested on his face.
However, Duobao Daoist's aura was far stronger than Grand Master Xuandu's. He had already reached the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
As the Eldest Senior Brother of the Interception Sect, Duobao Daoist was powerful and highly respected among the disciples.
Winged Immortal, Qiushou Xian, Qin Wan, and the others surrounded him like stars around the moon, their expressions and words full of deference and flattery.
Li Qingxu didn't have much fondness for Duobao Daoist.
After all, in his memories from his previous life, Duobao Daoist had done nothing throughout the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation. Worse still, he had thrown his life away in the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation and eventually defected to the Western Sect with Chang'er Dingguang Xian, becoming Buddha Tathagata. He was a traitor to his own side.
Even though Li Qingxu wasn't a member of the Interception Sect, he had little regard for someone who betrayed his master and ancestors.
Duobao Daoist seemed to sense Li Qingxu's gaze. He turned and met his eyes for a moment, even giving him a slight nod in greeting.
A short while later, all the disciples of the Human, Chan, and Jie Sects had arrived.
Just as Li Qingxu had guessed, there were more than ten times as many Jie Sect Disciples as when he had first joined. It was truly a gathering of ten thousand immortals, a scene of tremendous prosperity.
Unfortunately, although the Jie Sect had many disciples, most were arrogant and domineering. Even Li Qingxu, with his True Immortal cultivation, could faintly sense the lingering Karma around them.
Perhaps Tongtian Cult Master believed that as a Heavenly Dao Saint and the Dao Ancestor's eldest direct disciple, his disciples would remain safe no matter how much Karma they accumulated. So he simply left the matter alone.
The Three Pure Ones looked around the hall. After confirming that all the disciples of the Three Religions had arrived, Taiqing Laozi spoke first:
"You have been members of the Xuanmen for several hundred years."
"Though the teachings of the Human, Chan, and Jie Sects differ, the Three Thousand Great Daos all lead to the same destination. We have decided to lecture on the Dao for a hundred years to help you strengthen your Dao Foundations and understand your true hearts. Listen attentively."
After Taiqing Laozi finished speaking, barely restrained excitement appeared on every disciple's face.
"We thank the Saint!"
All the disciples bowed in unison, their resonant voices echoing through the hall.
"Mm."
Taiqing Laozi gave a slight nod, then closed his eyes to compose himself and began the lecture:
"The Dao of the Saint is the Heavenly Dao."
"Act without contention. Let the Heavenly Dao govern the world. Do not seek what is desirable, do not seek what can be gained, do not contend with the Dao for fame, do not contend with Heaven for merit, and do not contend with the world for profit."
"When stillness reaches its extreme, movement arises without end, giving birth to Qi. When movement reaches its extreme, stillness follows, giving birth to Yin. Yin and Yang are rooted in each other, and the Two Poles are established through them."
"Once you penetrate the origin of existence and nonexistence, the truth of the Great Ultimate and the wonders of the Non-Ultimate will become clear. Then the Dao of Fortune will be revealed..."
As the Taiqing Saint began to speak, the entire Kunlun Mountain trembled.
The once-clear sky was suddenly filled with boundless Purple Qi, which streamed from the east for thirty thousand miles without end. Like a heavenly river pouring down, it bathed the mountains and all creation in a layer of noble, auspicious Rosy Clouds.
In the empty air, no one played an instrument, yet the Great Dao Resonant Sound drew near from afar. At first it was faint, then it became like the tolling of great bells, resounding throughout the cosmos. It was also like the harmonious cries of dragons and phoenixes, clear and melodious.
Next, countless golden lotuses bloomed across the heavens. Their petals, formed from the purest innate Dao Qi, drifted down in profusion.
At the same time, Divine Springs welled up from the earth, and liquid Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth gushed from their sources. In an instant, the entire Three Pure Ones Hall became an ocean of spiritual energy.
The disciples of the Three Religions, regardless of their foundations or cultivation levels, were all immersed in the boundless Dao resonance and magnificent phenomena.
Those with exceptional talent, such as Duobao and Guangchengzi, soon entered a state of Comprehending the Dao, and their auras grew at a visible rate.
Even some of the Jie Sect Outer Disciples with shallow foundations felt their minds opening. The obstacles in their cultivation that they had struggled to understand for years now seemed to be loosening.
Li Qingxu now possessed the foundation of a top-tier Innate Being. Even without the help of the Ten Thousand Times Comprehension Card, he soon entered a state of Comprehending the Dao. Phenomena gradually appeared around him as he began to break through to the Golden Immortal realm.
Taiqing Laozi, Primordial Heavenly Venerate, and Tongtian Cult Master were slightly astonished when they sensed the aura Li Qingxu was giving off.
"It seems this child truly has great fortune."
Taiqing Laozi and Tongtian Cult Master marveled inwardly, while Primordial Heavenly Venerate stroked his beard and smiled faintly.
His judgment had indeed been exceptional. Li Qingxu truly was a pillar of talent, and his future achievements might even rival those of Guangchengzi and Duobao Daoist.
Of course, as a member of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage and a Heavenly Dao Saint, he would never covet the opportunities his disciple had obtained. He was simply happy for him.
Just as Li Qingxu was devoting himself to comprehending the Dao taught by the Saint, a mysterious aura suddenly settled upon him. His Sea of Consciousness trembled, and the speed of his cultivation doubled.
At the same time, the system's voice rang out in his mind:
[The Great Ming World of group member Emperor Yongle sacrificed ten million strands of fortune. The system triggered a ten-thousandfold critical bonus, transforming them into one hundred billion strands of fortune!]
[Note: Since fortune is a special resource offered over an extended period, it can only trigger a ten-thousandfold critical bonus.]
"Fortune sacrificed by the Great Ming World?"
"It must be because Zhu Di built my idol in the Great Ming and had the people worship it, generating fortune."
Li Qingxu made a guess.
"This fortune is truly wondrous."
"It has even greatly improved my comprehension and cultivation speed."
"Moreover, those with abundant fortune can receive the Heavenly Dao's favor unseen and avoid many calamities."
"No wonder even the supreme Heavenly Dao Saints, who look down on everything, will fall out with one another over fortune."
Feeling the benefits brought by the fortune's blessing, Li Qingxu was quite excited and delighted.
He already had the foundation of a top-tier Innate Being, and now he had the added blessing of fortune. This lecture would surely benefit him immensely, allowing his cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds!
Before you continue