Nuwa and Fuxi's Thanks

The Three Pure Ones were the first to leave.

Laozi's expression was calm, revealing neither joy nor anger;

Yuanshi's gaze was deep as he swept a glance over the six Cushions without saying a word;

Tongtian, however, looked back at Jieyin and Zhunti, grinned, and left without anyone knowing what it meant.

Dijun and Taiyi followed close behind.

Taiyi's expression was rather unpleasant, his brow tightly furrowed.

Dijun patted him on the shoulder without speaking, and the two departed side by side.

Minghe left alone, his blood-red figure vanishing beyond the palace gates.

Kunpeng left quickly, practically fleeing. His expression shifted unpredictably, and no one knew what he was thinking.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches left together.

Houtu walked at the very back. She looked back at Nuwa and gave a slight nod, and Nuwa gently nodded in return.

East King Duke and West Queen Mother walked side by side, speaking in low voices.

Randeng was the last to rise, his steps slow.

His gaze lingered on the six Cushions for a moment, a trace of complicated emotion flashing through his eyes before he turned and left as well.

Zixiao Palace gradually emptied.

Jieyin and Zhunti still sat upon the six Cushions at the front.

It wasn't that they didn't want to leave, but that they had yet to fully emerge from their enlightenment.

Xuande was in no hurry to leave.

He rose, stretched his limbs, and walked over to Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun.

Zhenyuanzi was meditating with his eyes closed. Sensing Xuande's approach, he opened his eyes and smiled faintly.

"Daoist friend Xuande."

Hongyun also emerged from his enlightenment and stretched lazily.

"It's finally over! Two thousand nine hundred years without moving—I was getting stiff!"

Xuande laughed.

"You're joking, Daoist friend. How could a Grand Unity Golden Immortal get stiff bones?"

Hongyun chuckled. "I was exaggerating!

But seriously, this sermon was incredibly rewarding!

So many things I didn't understand before are clear to me now!

The Dao Ancestor truly is the Dao Ancestor. He's amazing!"

Zhenyuanzi nodded, his expression solemn.

"This sermon has benefited us immeasurably. Once we return, we must enter seclusion and thoroughly digest everything we gained."

As the three spoke, Jieyin and Zhunti finally awoke from their enlightenment as well.

The two slowly rose and approached Xuande's group.

"Daoist brother." Jieyin bowed. Though his face still bore a sorrowful look, joy shone in his eyes. "Being able to sit in those seats was all thanks to your reminder. Otherwise, had we arrived late as usual, I'm afraid..."

He didn't finish, but his meaning was already obvious.

Zhunti was even more direct. He stepped forward, grasped Xuande's hand, and said excitedly,

"Daoist brother! Zhunti will remember this kindness forever!

Had you not reminded us to set out early, Senior Brother and I might truly have arrived too late!

If that had happened, these Cushions... these Cushions..."

Xuande gently patted his hand and smiled.

"You're overstating it, Daoist friend.

The three of us are connected by a shared bond. Why speak of thanks?

Your seats on those Cushions were your destined fortune, as well as the destined fortune of the West.

I merely gave you a reminder. Your own cultivation and opportunities were what truly allowed you to sit there."

Jieyin shook his head. "You're too modest, Daoist brother. Without your reminder, even the greatest destined fortune would have been useless."

Zhunti nodded repeatedly. "Exactly! Senior Brother and I will remember this favor in our hearts!"

As the three spoke, two figures slowly approached from the entrance of Zixiao Palace.

They were Nuwa and Fuxi.

Nuwa walked before Xuande and solemnly bowed.

Xuande hurriedly returned the bow. "Daoist friend Nuwa, what is the meaning of this?"

Nuwa straightened, her gaze clear and sincere, and said softly, "daoist friend Xuande, I came to thank you."

Xuande was slightly taken aback.

Nuwa said, "Regarding the sixth cushion, had you not stepped in to help, I might not have been able to sit upon it.

At the time, my brother and I were standing to the side and hadn't stepped forward.

It was you who used Merit Golden Light to protect me and send me onto that cushion. I will remember this kindness in my heart."

Fuxi stepped forward as well and cupped his hands.

"Daoist friend Xuande, Fuxi offers you his thanks. My sister was able to obtain that seat entirely because of your assistance. Should you ever need anything in the future, Fuxi will certainly do his utmost."

Xuande quickly returned the salute and said sincerely,

"You two are overstating it.

I merely acted with the flow of events.

There was already a sixth place on that cushion. I simply felt that daoist friend Nuwa ought to sit there.

Had it been anyone else, I might not have intervened."

He paused, then added, "Besides, I have always remembered how the two of you welcomed me with tea on Buzhou Mountain and gifted me flowers.

Consider today a return of that courtesy. Neither of you needs to dwell on it."

Nuwa smiled faintly, her smile elegant and sincere.

"You're too modest, Daoist friend. No matter what, I will remember this favor."

Fuxi nodded as well, his gaze gentle.

Nuwa continued, "This sermon has ended, but there will be another in three thousand years.

We shall gather again then. Once the Dao Ancestor has finished preaching, if you have time, you may come to Buzhou Mountain for a visit. My brother and I will welcome you anytime."

Xuande nodded. "Thank you, Daoist friend. I will certainly come and trouble you then."

After speaking a few more words, Nuwa and Fuxi took their leave first, turning into two streams of light and vanishing into Chaos.

Watching the direction in which they departed, Jieyin slowly said,

"Daoist friend Nuwa and daoist friend Fuxi possess profound cultivation and gentle temperaments. They are worthy of friendship."

Zhunti nodded. "Especially daoist friend Nuwa. Since she was able to sit on that sixth cushion, her future achievements will be limitless."

Xuande nodded inwardly.

Limitless? It was far more than merely limitless.

The future Sage, the supreme Nuwa Sovereign, the Lord of Creation—what kind of existence would she be?

Being able to form such a good bond with her was an unexpected delight of this journey.

"Let's go as well," he said.

The five of them walked together toward the gates of Zixiao Palace.

Once outside, they looked back and saw the ancient palace quietly floating amid Chaos, faint purple light flowing around it.

It seemed to have existed there since the Creation of Heaven and Earth, and it would continue to exist forever, witnessing the rise and fall of the Primordial Wilderness.

"The next time we come will be three thousand years from now."

Hongyun sighed. "I wonder whether we'll still be able to find this place then."

Zhenyuanzi said, "Having come here once, we now have a connection to it. It shouldn't be too difficult to return next time."

Zhunti smiled. "That's good! I was worried we'd get lost next time!"

As they spoke, they raised their Escape Lights and flew toward the Primordial Wilderness.

Chaos remained an endless gray expanse, but having come once before, they now had a sense of direction. Their return journey was much faster than their trip here.

Along the way, the five silently digested what they had gained from this sermon. They occasionally exchanged a few insights, but more often remained silent.

The two-thousand-nine-hundred-year sermon contained far too much information. They needed time to slowly comprehend and absorb it.

After an unknown amount of time, light finally appeared ahead.

It was the boundary of the Primordial Wilderness.

Passing through it, familiar Spiritual Energy rushed toward them.

All five took deep breaths, feeling the familiar world around them.

"We're finally back!" Hongyun gave a huge stretch.

"The Primordial Wilderness is still better! There's nothing in Chaos. It was far too uncomfortable!"

Zhenyuanzi smiled. "Enough complaining.

Go back and enter seclusion properly. Digest what you gained from this sermon, and perhaps you can advance further."

Hongyun nodded. "Naturally! I don't intend to waste this opportunity."

The five stopped at the boundary.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun bid farewell to the other three.

"Daoist friend Jieyin, daoist friend Zhunti, daoist friend Xuande."

Zhenyuanzi cupped his hands. "Traveling together this time has benefited me greatly.

You three should return to Mount Sumeru and enter seclusion. In three thousand years, let us meet again at Zixiao Palace."

Hongyun waved as well. "See you next time! We'll travel together again then!"

Jieyin returned the salute. "Very well. Take care on your journey, you two."

Zhunti smiled. "Daoist friend Hongyun, see you next time! When that time comes, you have to treat me to Ginseng Fruit!"

Hongyun burst into laughter. "Sure! As long as you can make it to Wuzhuang Temple, you'll have all the Ginseng Fruit you want!"

After joking around for a few more moments, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun raised their Escape Lights and flew toward Longevity Mountain.