Great Powers Arrive

Three hundred years quietly slipped by within the chaos.

For the five people seated before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace, this three-hundred-year wait was not difficult to endure.

Though there was no cycle of sun and moon within the chaos, no flow of Spiritual Energy.

They were all Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, their minds settled and calm; a mere three hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Hongyun was a bit restless at first, occasionally opening his eyes to look around, muttering things like "Why hasn't anyone come yet" and "This chaos is really boring."

But gradually, he too calmed down, entering a state half of cultivation, half of waiting.

Zhenyuanzi remained as steady as a mountain, eyes closed in silent meditation, his aura peaceful and even.

Jieyin's expression was still one of bitter sorrow, but within that bitterness, a faint trace of anticipation could be seen.

Zhunti would occasionally open his eyes to gaze at the distant chaos, then at the tightly shut palace gates, his eyes full of longing.

Xuande sat quietly among the group, but his mind was not entirely still.

He was thinking about what would happen next.

According to later legends, on the day Purple Cloud Palace began its lectures, the Three Thousand Red Dust Guests would gather.

And those who arrived first were often the great beings with the deepest roots and the strongest fortune.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Dijun and Taiyi, East King Duke and West Queen Mother, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Randeng... these names flashed through his mind one by one.

And those six Cushions...

Xuande's gaze flickered slightly.

He knew what those six Cushions represented.

They were the seats of the future six Heavenly Dao Saints.

But exactly who sat where—he remembered several versions of the legend.

Some said the Three Pure Ones took the first three, Nuwa took the fourth, and Jieyin and Zhunti took the fifth and sixth.

Some said Hongyun once sat on a Cushion but later gave it up.

Others said Kunpeng had also snatched a seat...

Too many legends, hard to tell truth from falsehood.

But he knew one thing: in the legends, Jieyin and Zhunti were the last to arrive, and they only got the fifth and sixth seats by shamelessly trading on face.

And this time, they had come early, becoming the first batch.

As for whether he himself could sit on a Cushion... Xuande had no obsession about it.

He had the Merit Golden Lotus as his true body, the Destruction Black Lotus and the God-Slaying Spear as his foundation.

He had Jieyin, Zhunti, Zhenyuanzi, and Hongyun as his companions. The path ahead did not necessarily have to be the road of a Heavenly Dao Saint.

If he could sit, he would sit. If not, he would stand and listen.

Time slowly passed in silent meditation.

No one knew how long it had been—perhaps two hundred years, perhaps two hundred and fifty.

Suddenly, there was movement in the chaos.

Xuande opened his eyes.

In the distance, within the gray, hazy void, three figures appeared.

Those three figures drew closer from afar, gradually becoming clear.

The one in front was a middle-aged Daoist, with a gaunt face and deep eyes, his aura heavy and profound like an abyss, as if merged with the entire world.

The two half a step behind him—one dignified and solemn, the other with a restrained sharpness—both had auras equally unfathomable.

"The Three Pure Ones," Xuande murmured to himself.

The one in front was naturally Taiqing Laozi.

The two half a step behind were Yuqing Yuanshi and Shangqing Tongtian.

The Three Pure Ones had clearly also seen the five people before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace.

Laozi's gaze swept over them, a faint, almost imperceptible flicker of surprise passing through his eyes before returning to calm.

Yuanshi frowned slightly, apparently not expecting anyone to have arrived earlier than them.

Tongtian, on the other hand, looked them over with interest, and when he saw Hongyun's striking red robes, the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.

But none of them spoke. They merely gave the five a slight nod as a greeting, then found a spot not far from Purple Cloud Palace on the other side, crossed their legs, and sat down.

Laozi closed his eyes and sat in meditation, no longer paying attention to the outside world.

Yuanshi also quickly settled his mind.

Tongtian looked a few more times, but seeing that his elder brothers had already entered stillness, he too gathered his mind and sat waiting in silence.

Xuande nodded inwardly.

The Three Pure Ones truly lived up to being the orthodox descendants of Pangu—their bearing was indeed extraordinary.

Though somewhat surprised that others had arrived before them, they did not speak or ask further, simply accepting it calmly.

After another unknown stretch of time, movement stirred once more within the chaos.

This time, it was two figures.

Xuande looked up, and a faint warmth stirred in his heart.

The one in front wore a moon-white Daoist robe, her figure slender and graceful, her features clear and lovely, enveloped in a soft, gentle halo.

The one half a step behind was tall and straight, clad in a dark azure Daoist robe, his face handsome and composed.

Nuwa, Fuxi.

The two also spotted Xuande.

A flicker of surprise passed through Nuwa's eyes, then softened into a warm smile.

Fuxi gave a slight nod, a gentle smile spreading across his face.

"Daoist friend Xuande," Nuwa said softly as she drew near, "I didn't expect you to arrive so early."

Xuande rose to greet them, smiling. "Daoist friend Nuwa, Daoist friend Fuxi, it has been a long time."

Fuxi glanced at the four who had also stood behind Xuande and asked warmly, "And these are?"

Xuande quickly introduced them:

"This is Daoist friend Jieyin, and this is Daoist friend Zhunti—both fellow Daoists of mine from Mount Sumeru.

These two are Daoist friend Zhenyuanzi and Daoist friend Hongyun, whose temple is at Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain. They and I share the bond of jointly cultivating the Earth Vein."

He then turned to Jieyin and the other three, saying, "These two are the Daoist friends from Buzhou Mountain—Daoist friend Nuwa and Daoist friend Fuxi."

Hearing this, Jieyin promptly bowed. "We have long admired your esteemed names.

When Daoist brother Xuande returned from his travels, he often spoke of the guidance you both provided."

Zhunti also smiled and said, "Daoist friend Nuwa, Daoist friend Fuxi, what a pleasure to meet you! Daoist brother Xuande said your Daoist cultivation is profound, and now that we see you, it is truly as reputed."

Zhenyuanzi clasped his hands. "This Humble One is Zhenyuanzi. Greetings to you both, fellow Daoists."

Hongyun was even more enthusiastic, stepping forward with a grin.

"Daoist friend Nuwa! Daoist friend Fuxi! I've heard Xuande talk about you!

He said you live in seclusion halfway up Buzhou Mountain and even brewed tea for him!

What good fortune that must have been! I've never tasted tea from Buzhou Mountain!"

Nuwa was amused by his warmth and gave a slight smile, saying softly, "If Daoist friend Hongyun ever has the chance to visit Buzhou Mountain, I will brew tea for you as well."

Hongyun's eyes lit up. "Then it's settled! Once the lecture is over, I will definitely come to Buzhou Mountain and trouble you!"

Fuxi also nodded with a smile, exchanging greetings with everyone in turn.

After a few pleasantries, they found adjacent spots before the gate of Purple Cloud Palace and sat down.

Nuwa and Fuxi were seated close to Xuande and his five companions, making it easy to talk.

"Daoist friend Xuande," Nuwa asked softly, "when did you arrive?"

Xuande replied, "About two hundred years ago. The West is remote, so we set out early to avoid delays on the road."

Nuwa nodded. "I see. My elder brother and I also set out early, yet we still arrived later than you."

Fuxi said, "The West is indeed far. Arriving this early shows your thorough planning, Daoist friend."

Zhunti chimed in from the side, "It was all thanks to Daoist brother Xuande's reminder!

He said the West was farthest from the chaos, and if we didn't leave early, we might be late.

We heeded his words and set out well ahead of time. Looking back, it's a good thing we listened!"

Nuwa glanced at Xuande, a hint of thoughtful contemplation flickering in her eyes, but she said nothing more, only murmuring softly, "Daoist friend Xuande's foresight runs deep."

Xuande gave a faint smile and did not respond.

Time continued to flow.

After another unknown span, movement in the chaos grew more frequent.

First, two auras appeared simultaneously—one blazing like fire, one majestic as the sun.

They were Dijun and Taiyi.

The brothers radiated the power of the sun, their light shining in all directions, strikingly vivid against the gray, murky chaos.

They swept their gaze over the crowd already gathered before Purple Cloud Palace, pausing briefly on Nuwa and the Three Pure Ones, then found a place to sit.

Soon after, a deep, cold, and shadowy aura drifted in from the depths of the chaos.

That was a Daoist clad in a blood-red robe, faint traces of bloodlight swirling around him. His face was sinister and composed, his aura deep as an abyss.

He was gaunt, with dark red eyes that seemed to hold an endless intent to kill.

Minghe had come from the Blood Sea, alone.

He spoke to no one, simply found a corner far off, crossed his legs, sat down, and closed his eyes in silence.

After Minghe, another aura approached rapidly.

That figure moved with incredible speed, like a streak of light, arriving from afar in an instant.

The newcomer wore a dark Daoist robe, his face lean, his gaze sharp, and his entire being radiated a fierce aura.

Kunpeng.

He swept his eyes over the crowd.

His gaze lingered briefly on Dijun and Taiyi, and he gave a slight nod in greeting.

He also glanced at the Three Pure Ones, then found a spot not far from Minghe and sat down in silence.

Next came two figures—East King Duke and West Queen Mother.

East King Duke was clad in white, elegant and graceful; West Queen Mother was dignified and refined, bearing an extraordinary air.

They exchanged slight nods with Dijun and Taiyi, then also took seats nearby.

After that, a wild and chaotic aura suddenly surged from the chaos.

Twelve figures appeared at once, each with a different form—some with beast heads and human bodies, some hideous and terrifying, all radiating a primal and violent power.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches.

Dijiang, Zhujiuyin, Rushou, Goumang, Gonggong, Zhurong, Tianwu, Qiangliang, Xizi, Shebishi, Houtu, Xuanming.

Each had a distinct aura, yet they were faintly linked, forming a power that could shake heaven and earth.

They swept their eyes over the crowd before the Purple Cloud Palace, said nothing, and directly found a corner to sit on the ground.

Among them, a woman with a gentle face—Houtu—let her gaze pass over the crowd.

She paused briefly on Nuwa and gave a slight nod.

Nuwa nodded back lightly in return.

Finally, a deep, obscure aura slowly approached.

That was a gaunt old Daoist, shrouded in faint lamplight, his face aged but his eyes deep as an abyss.

Randeng.

He had arrived the latest, but he was neither hurried nor slow. He found a spot a little farther from the others, crossed his legs, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

By now, before the Purple Cloud Palace, the most supreme figures of the Primordial Wilderness had gathered.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, Dijun and Taiyi, Minghe, Kunpeng, East King Duke and West Queen Mother, the Twelve Ancestral Witches, Randeng, plus Xuande and his five companions.

About thirty people in total.

Xuande silently swept his gaze around and nodded to himself.

These people were all future protagonists of the Primordial Wilderness.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti would all become saints in the future.

Dijun and Taiyi would be the Demon Emperor of the Demon Race.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches would lead the Wu Race.

East King Duke and West Queen Mother would govern male and female immortals.

Randeng would later join the Buddhist path...

Every name represented a legend.

And now, they were merely cultivators waiting before the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao.

In the chaos, time was hard to measure.

That palace gate, which had been closed for who knows how many years, suddenly let out a soft sound.

"Creak—"

Everyone opened their eyes at once and looked toward the gate.

The door of the Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened.

Inside was a purple glow, too deep to see through.

But from within that glow faintly emanated a vast, profound, supreme aura—the aura of a saint, the aura of Hongjun.