Xuande looked at the young man and woman, and felt a little warmth in his heart.
He remembered that the last time he had come, he had given them two Ginseng Fruits.
It had only been a small gesture, yet he hadn't expected them to remember it.
Haotian raised his head and swept his gaze over the seven of them, his eyes full of gratitude.
"True Ones," he said, stepping forward and speaking solemnly. "There is something I would like to tell you."
All seven looked at him.
Haotian said, "After the Dao Ancestor finishes preaching this time, he will distribute treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff, outside Zixiao Palace.
This is something I heard the Dao Ancestor mention, and I wanted to tell you True Ones in particular.
You can... make preparations in advance."
Treasure Distribution Cliff.
Treasure distribution.
The seven of them were all stirred.
Hong Yun's eyes widened. "Distribute treasures? The Dao Ancestor is going to distribute treasures?"
Zhunti was stunned as well. "Th-this is a major event!"
Haotian nodded and said softly, "I am grateful to you True Ones for the fruits you gave us last time. In particular, those two Ginseng Fruits from True One Xuande warmed Yaochi's and my hearts.
Such great kindness cannot be repaid.
After learning about the treasure distribution, I knew I had to tell you True Ones, so you could be prepared."
Yaochi nodded gently too, her gaze clear and sincere.
Xuande looked at the two young ones, a surge of warmth rising in his heart.
He had given them the fruits as a small gesture, without expecting anything in return.
He hadn't imagined that these two children would remember it for thousands of years—and now tell them such important news.
He couldn't discuss the treasure distribution openly with Jieyin, Zhunti, and the others.
Now that Haotian and Yaochi had told them, they could learn of it in advance, prepare early, and gain the upper hand.
This kindness was too great.
"You two young friends have been very thoughtful."
Xuande said solemnly, "We seven will remember this kindness. If you ever need anything, just ask."
Haotian hurriedly waved his hands. "You are too kind, True One! I have no way to repay your kindness from that day. This little matter is nothing."
Yaochi also said softly, "You True Ones are all good people. I hope you can obtain more treasures."
Hong Yun laughed heartily and stepped forward to pat Haotian on the shoulder.
"What a good lad! You've got a good eye! Once the Dao Ancestor finishes distributing the treasures, I'll treat you to a drink!"
Haotian staggered under the blow, but couldn't help laughing.
Everyone laughed.
A warm feeling flowed through their laughter.
Haotian and Yaochi bowed once more, then returned to the palace gates to continue waiting for the other great powers.
The seven found a spot outside the palace gates and sat down cross-legged.
Hong Yun was so excited he couldn't sit still, pacing back and forth.
"Treasure distribution! The Dao Ancestor is going to distribute treasures! How many treasures do you think he has? What might we get?"
Zhunti smiled. "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, calm down. When the Dao Ancestor distributes treasures, those with affinity will receive them. It cannot be forced."
Hong Yun glared. "I know it can't be forced! But there's nothing wrong with wondering, is there?"
Everyone laughed.
Fuxi mused, "It's a pleasant surprise that Haotian and Yaochi told us about this.
Now we can prepare in advance and won't be caught off guard when the time comes."
Zhenyuanzi nodded. "Exactly. This matter is of great importance.
Without advance warning, when the treasures appear and everyone scrambles for them, we might not gain the upper hand.
Now that we know in advance, we can respond calmly."
Nuwa said softly, "Those two children know how to repay kindness and have pure hearts. If they achieve greatness in the future, they will surely be blessed with good fortune."
Jieyin said slowly, "Good. Good causes bear good fruit. That is precisely the principle."
Xuande said nothing. He simply watched Haotian and Yaochi standing on either side of the palace gates.
The two young ones were busy welcoming the great powers as they arrived, their faces bearing just the right degree of respect.
Yet in their eyes was a trace of fatigue that few could detect.
They kept watch in the Chaos, greeting those who came and sending off those who left, day after day, year after year.
How many of those great powers truly paid them any mind? How many would spare them a word of thanks for their efforts?
He had given them two fruits, yet they had remembered for thousands of years and even shared a secret as important as the treasure distribution.
That was a good cause.
He turned his gaze away and resumed meditating.
Time passed quietly as they waited.
The Three Pure Ones arrived first.
Laozi wore a serene expression and walked with unhurried steps; Yuanshi remained as solemn as ever; Tongtian still carried a hint of his usual easygoing manner.
The three nodded slightly to Xuande and the others in greeting, then sat down on the other side of the palace gates.
Di Jun and Tai Yi arrived right after them.
The brothers looked even more solemn than last time, faint glimmers of light flickering in their eyes.
Minghe came alone, a faint blood-red glow surrounding him. He found a corner in the distance and sat down.
Kunpeng followed close behind, still wearing that sinister expression.
Only Houtu had come from the Twelve Ancestral Witches, as before.
She appeared alone in the Chaos, nodded slightly to Nuwa, then found a place to sit.
King Father of the East and West Queen Mother arrived side by side. Their auras were more solid than before, clearly showing how much they had gained from three thousand years of secluded cultivation.
Randeng arrived last, walking slowly, his gaze profound.
Little by little, the Three Thousand Cultivators gathered once more.
Haotian and Yaochi stood on either side of the palace gates, welcoming every great power who arrived with just the right degree of respect.
Only when their gazes passed over Xuande and the others did a sincere smile appear beneath that respectful expression.
Xuande noticed, and felt moved.
He looked up at the great powers arriving one after another, then suddenly felt his heart stir. He focused and sensed their auras.
Laozi's aura was utterly different from what it had been three thousand years ago.
That unfathomable feeling, that hint of Daoist resonance in harmony with the heavens and earth, that natural authority radiating from his every gesture...
Quasi-Saint.
Laozi had Severed a Corpse and reached the Quasi-Saint realm.
Xuande silently nodded to himself.
The Three Pure Ones truly lived up to the Pangu Orthodox Lineage, with deep roots and exceptional comprehension.
In the three thousand years after the first sermon, someone had succeeded in Severing a Corpse. And that someone was Laozi.
He looked toward the other great powers.
Yuanshi was still at the peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm, just one step away from Severing a Corpse.
Tongtian was about the same.
Di Jun and Tai Yi, Minghe and Kunpeng, King Father of the East and West Queen Mother, Randeng and Houtu... They were all still in the late or peak stages of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm. None had Severed a Corpse.
Only Laozi had entered the Quasi-Saint realm.
That was the difference.
Xuande wasn't overly moved by it.
He knew that Severing a Corpse was no easy matter.
It required opportunity, comprehension, a spiritual treasure, and time.
Laozi had been the first to Sever a Corpse because of his own ability.
Xuande simply committed this information to memory.
At last, the palace gates that had been shut for three thousand years slowly opened.
"Creak."
The familiar sound rang out. Everyone opened their eyes at once and looked toward the gates.
Beyond them, the purple glow remained, unfathomable as ever.
The crowd rose and filed inside.
Xuande and the other six walked at the front.
Stepping through the gates, they saw the same spacious hall as before, with the plain meditation cushion resting atop the raised platform.
Below the platform, the six cushions were still arranged exactly as they had been three thousand years ago.
Everyone took their places.
Laozi, Jieyin, Zhunti, Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa sat down on the six cushions in that order.
The other cultivators sat cross-legged toward the rear or on the floor at either side, each finding a place.
Xuande took his usual seat not far behind Jieyin and Zhunti.
Zhenyuanzi and Hong Yun sat beside him, Fuxi sat behind Nuwa, and Houtu sat a little farther away.
Once everyone was seated, the hall fell silent.
A figure slowly appeared on the raised platform.
Ancestor Hongjun still looked plain and unremarkable, wearing a gray Daoist robe, his face lean, without the slightest fluctuation in his aura.
Yet the moment he appeared, the entire hall fell still.
"We pay our respects to the Dao Ancestor."
The Three Thousand Cultivators rose together and bowed.
Hongjun nodded slightly, signaling for them to sit.
When everyone had settled, he began to speak. His voice was not loud, yet it carried clearly to every person in the hall.
"This sermon will last three thousand years. I will expound the Sage's Path."
The Sage's Path.
The hall fell silent.
Everyone's gaze converged on the plain figure atop the raised platform, their eyes filled with awe and longing.