Three hundred years passed quietly in the chaos.
For the five people sitting in meditation before the gates of Zixiao Palace, the three-hundred-year wait was not difficult to endure.
Though there was no turning of the sun and moon or flow of Spiritual Energy in the chaos,
they were all Grand Unity Golden Immortals, with calm minds. A mere three hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
At first, Hong Yun had trouble sitting still. He would occasionally open his eyes to look around and mutter things like, "Why hasn't anyone come yet?" and "The chaos is so boring."
But little by little, he calmed down too, settling into a state halfway between cultivation and waiting.
Zhenyuanzi remained as steady as a mountain, sitting with his eyes closed and his aura serene.
Jieyin's expression was still sorrowful, but within that sorrow, there was a faint trace of anticipation.
Zhunti occasionally opened his eyes to look at the distant chaos, then at the tightly shut palace gates. His eyes were filled with longing.
Xuande sat among them, but his mind had not entirely grown still.
He was wondering what would happen next.
According to the legends passed down in later generations, on the day the Dao was expounded at Zixiao Palace, the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests would gather.
And those who arrived first were usually the great powers with the deepest roots and the greatest fortune.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Di Jun and Tai Yi, King Father of the East and West Queen Mother, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Randeng... The names flashed through his mind one by one.
And those six meditation cushions...
Xuande's gaze flickered slightly.
He knew what those six cushions represented.
They were the seats of the six future Heavenly Dao Sages.
But as for who sat in which seat, he remembered several different versions of the legend.
One said the Three Pure Ones took the first three seats, Nuwa sat in the fourth, and Jieyin and Zhunti took the fifth and sixth.
Another said Hong Yun had also sat on a cushion, but later gave it up.
Yet another claimed Kunpeng had once seized a seat...
There were too many versions of the tale to tell which were true.
But he did know one thing: in the legends, Jieyin and Zhunti had arrived last. They had shamelessly traded on their reputations to get the fifth and sixth seats.
This time, however, they had come early and were among the first to arrive.
As for whether he himself could claim a seat... Xuande felt no attachment to the idea.
His true form was the Merit Golden Lotus, and he had the Destruction Black Lotus and God-Slaying Spear as his foundation.
With Jieyin, Zhunti, Zhenyuanzi, and Hong Yun as fellow Daoists, he did not necessarily have to follow the path of a Heavenly Dao Sage in the future.
If he could take a seat, he would. If not, he would stand and listen.
Time passed slowly as they sat in meditation.
He did not know how long it had been. Perhaps two hundred years, perhaps two hundred and fifty.
Suddenly, something stirred in the chaos.
Xuande opened his eyes.
In the distant, hazy void, three figures appeared.
They drew nearer, gradually coming into focus.
The one in front looked like a middle-aged Daoist. He had a lean, refined face and deep-set eyes, and his aura was as still and profound as an abyss, as if he had become one with the world itself.
Half a step behind him were two others. One was dignified and solemn, while the other kept his sharpness sheathed. Their auras were equally unfathomable.
"The Three Pure Ones," Xuande thought.
The one in front was naturally Taiqing Laozi.
The two following him were Yuqing Yuanshi and Shangqing Tongtian.
The Three Pure Ones had clearly seen the five people before the gates of Zixiao Palace as well.
Laozi's gaze swept over them, and a trace of surprise, almost impossible to detect, flickered in his eyes before his expression returned to calm.
Yuanshi furrowed his brow slightly, seemingly surprised that anyone had arrived before them.
Tongtian, on the other hand, looked them over with interest. When he spotted Hong Yun's conspicuous red robe, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
But none of them spoke. They merely nodded to the five in greeting, then found a place on the other side, not far from Zixiao Palace, and sat cross-legged.
Laozi closed his eyes and paid no further attention to the outside world.
Yuanshi quickly settled his mind as well.
Tongtian took a few more looks, but when he saw that his elder brothers had entered meditation, he too composed himself and sat in wait.
Xuande nodded to himself.
The Three Pure Ones truly lived up to the name of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Their bearing was indeed extraordinary.
Though surprised that others had arrived before them, they had not asked questions or made a fuss. They had simply accepted it calmly.
An unknown amount of time passed, and once again, something stirred in the chaos.
This time, it was two figures.
Xuande looked up, and warmth stirred faintly in his heart.
The one in front wore a moon-white Daoist robe. Her figure was slender, her features delicate, and a soft halo surrounded her.
The one half a step behind her was tall and slender, dressed in a dark blue-green Daoist robe, with a handsome, composed face.
Nuwa and Fuxi.
The two of them saw Xuande as well.
A trace of surprise crossed Nuwa's eyes, then softened into a warm smile.
Fuxi nodded slightly, his face brightening with a gentle smile.
"Fellow Daoist Xuande," Nuwa said softly as she approached. "I didn't expect you to arrive so early."
Xuande rose to greet them with a smile. "Fellow Daoist Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi. It's been a long time."
Fuxi glanced at the four people behind Xuande, who had risen as well, and asked warmly, "And who might these fellow Daoists be?"
Xuande promptly made the introductions.
"This is Fellow Daoist Jieyin, and this is Fellow Daoist Zhunti. They are both fellow cultivators of mine from Mount Sumeru.
"These two are Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi and Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. Their home is Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, where we cultivated the Earth Vein together."
He turned to the four with Jieyin and said, "These two are the fellow Daoists from Buzhou Mountain, Fellow Daoist Nuwa and Fellow Daoist Fuxi."
At that, Jieyin hurriedly bowed. "We've long admired you both.
"When Fellow Daoist Xuande returned from his travels, he often spoke of how you had guided him."
Zhunti smiled as well.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, Fellow Daoist Fuxi, a pleasure to meet you! Fellow Daoist Xuande said you both had profound cultivation. Now that I've met you, I see his words were true."
Zhenyuanzi cupped his hands. "I am Zhenyuanzi. Greetings, fellow Daoists."
Hong Yun was even more enthusiastic. He stepped forward with a smile.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa! Fellow Daoist Fuxi! I've heard about you from Fellow Daoist Xuande!
"He said you live halfway up Buzhou Mountain and even made tea for him!
"What a blessing! I've never had tea from Buzhou Mountain!"
Nuwa was amused by his enthusiasm and smiled faintly. She said softly, "If you ever have the chance to visit Buzhou Mountain, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, I'll make tea for you too."
Hong Yun's eyes lit up.
"Then it's a promise! Once I've finished listening to the Dao, I'll definitely come to Buzhou Mountain and impose on you!"
Fuxi smiled and nodded as well, greeting everyone in turn.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, they found places beside one another before the gates of Zixiao Palace and sat down.
Nuwa and Fuxi sat close to Xuande and the others, making it easy for them to talk.
"Fellow Daoist Xuande," Nuwa asked softly, "when did you arrive?"
"About two hundred years ago," Xuande replied. "The West is far away, so I was worried the journey might be delayed. We set out a little early."
Nuwa nodded. "I see. My brother and I set out early too, but we still arrived later than you."
"The West is indeed far away," Fuxi said. "Arriving this early shows how carefully you planned ahead."
Zhunti chimed in from the side. "It was all thanks to Fellow Daoist Xuande!
"He said the West was farthest from the chaos, and if we didn't leave early, we might arrive late.
"We took his advice and set out well in advance. Now it seems we were lucky to listen to him!"
Nuwa glanced at Xuande, a thoughtful look passing through her eyes, but she said nothing more. She only remarked softly, "Fellow Daoist Xuande is far-sighted."
Xuande smiled faintly but did not respond.
Time continued to pass.
After an unknown length of time, the chaos stirred more and more frequently.
First, two auras appeared at once, one blazing like fire and the other as imposing as the sun.
They were Di Jun and Taiyi.
The brothers radiated the power of the sun, their brilliance dazzling and especially conspicuous in the gray chaos.
They glanced at the people gathered before the gates of Zixiao Palace. Their gazes lingered on Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones for a moment, then they found a place and sat down.
Immediately afterward, a deep, icy aura drifted over from the depths of the chaos.
A Daoist in a blood-red robe appeared, faint bloodlight swirling around him. His face was sinister yet composed, and his aura was as profound as an abyss.
He was thin, and his eyes were dark red, as if they held an endless intent to kill.
Minghe had come from the Blood Sea, alone.
He spoke to no one. He simply found a corner some distance away, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes without a word.
After Minghe, another aura drew near at great speed.
The figure moved like a streak of light, crossing the distance in an instant.
The newcomer wore a black Daoist robe and had a lean face and keen eyes. A fierce aura radiated from him.
Kunpeng.
He glanced at everyone present.
His gaze lingered on Di Jun and Taiyi for a moment, and he nodded slightly in greeting.
He glanced toward the Three Pure Ones as well, then found a place not far from Minghe and silently took his seat.
Next came two more figures: King Father of the East and West Queen Mother.
King Father of the East wore white and had an elegant bearing, while West Queen Mother was dignified and graceful, with an extraordinary presence.
They nodded slightly to Di Jun and Taiyi in greeting, then sat down nearby.
After that, a wild and chaotic aura suddenly surged through the chaos.
Twelve figures appeared at once, each with a different form. Some had the heads of beasts and bodies of men, while others looked terrifying. They radiated a primitive, violent power.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, Rushou, Goumang, Gonggong, Zhurong, Tianwu, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, Houtu, and Xuanming.
Their auras differed, yet were faintly connected, forming a power capable of shaking the world.
They glanced at the people before the gates of Zixiao Palace, said nothing, and directly found a corner where they sat on the ground.
Among them, a gentle-looking woman—Houtu—surveyed the people present.
Her gaze lingered on Nuwa for a moment, and she nodded slightly in greeting.
Nuwa returned the greeting with a light nod.
At last, a profound aura slowly drew near.
A gaunt old Daoist appeared, surrounded by the faint glow of lamplight. His face was aged, but his eyes were as deep as an abyss.
Randeng.
He arrived last, but remained unhurried. He found a spot some distance from the others, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.
By now, a group of the Primordial Wilderness's most powerful figures had gathered before the gates of Zixiao Palace.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Di Jun and Taiyi, Minghe, Kunpeng, King Father of the East and West Queen Mother, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Randeng, and Xuande's group of five.
There were about thirty people.
Xuande surveyed them in silence and nodded to himself.
These people were all destined to shape the future of the Primordial Wilderness.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti would all become Sages in the future.
Di Jun and Taiyi would become the Heavenly Emperors of the Demon Clan.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches would lead the Witch Clan.
King Father of the East and West Queen Mother would rule over the male and female immortals.
Randeng would join the Buddhist sect in the future...
Every name represented a legend.
And at this moment, they were simply cultivators gathered before Zixiao Palace, waiting to hear the Dao.
Time was impossible to measure in the chaos.
The palace gates, which had remained shut for who knew how many years, suddenly gave a soft creak.
"Creeeak—"
Everyone opened their eyes at once and looked toward the gates.
The gates of Zixiao Palace slowly swung open.
Within them lay a hazy purple glow, its depths impossible to see.
Yet from within that glow came a boundless, profound, supreme aura—the aura of a Sage, the aura of Hongjun.