Kunpeng and East Prince Seek Trouble

This trait became a fatal weakness when facing Haotian, who could command all myriad Daos of heaven and earth.

Having shattered the heavenly lightning, Haotian immediately counterattacked, the Power of Great Dao bearing straight down on the Formation Eye.

The Earth Position Black Cup instantly mobilized the Earth Defense Law to erect a barrier, but Haotian swiftly seized its authority as well.

The Heaven and Earth positions were restrained one after another, leaving only the Human Position Gold Cup still able to function.

The Three Talents Jade Cups no longer invoked laws, instead condensing pure spiritual energy into countless golden needles that harassed their foe.

This method was indeed not restrained by Haotian's Great Dao, but its power was limited. Haotian casually swept his sleeve and blocked it all.

The essence of the Three Talents Formation lay in Heavenly Attack, Earth Defense, and human mobility, cycling through their positions so offense and defense complemented each other.

Now that the Heaven and Earth positions had been restrained, the Human Position alone could not hold out.

In less than a hundred years, the formation collapsed.

The radiance of the nine jade cups dimmed as they hovered quietly in the air.

Haotian immediately enveloped the nine jade cups with the Great Dao and began refining them.

This process took even longer than subduing them.

He had to communicate with the Artifact Spirits of all nine cups at once, with one mind serving nine tasks. The slightest misstep would ruin everything accomplished before.

Haotian calmed his mind and stilled his breath, dividing his Primordial Spirit into nine strands and slowly sending them into the cups.

Three thousand years flowed away like water...

When the final imprint was engraved, the nine jade cups rang out in unison, transforming into streams of light that entered Haotian's Sea of Consciousness.

At this point, only the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin and the Pure Glazed Bottle remained floating in the void.

The Treasure Dropping Gold Coin had long since undergone preliminary refinement.

Yet only a little over two thousand years remained before the lecture, far from enough to refine the high-grade spirit treasure, the Pure Glazed Bottle.

Thus, Haotian simply stored both treasures within his Great Dao Space.

After some thought, he decided to put his cultivation on hold for now.

Haotian rose and activated the Purple Firmament Token, heading for Yaochi's Quiet Room.

Inside the Quiet Room, Yaochi was still cultivating.

Though she was within the chaotic Purple Firmament Palace, she could still draw down Lunar Radiance through the Mysterious Dao Principles established by Hongjun.

Bathed in the bright moonlight, Yaochi's boyish form carried a touch of otherworldly grace.

Haotian thought to himself, If she had the appearance of a young woman, she would surely be peerless in beauty.

Sensing another's Aura, Yaochi slowly withdrew her cultivation. When she opened her eyes and saw Haotian, a smile rippled through them. "Your younger sister greets Elder Brother."

Haotian said warmly, "There is no need for such formality between us."

"The date of Esteemed Master's lecture is near. In this elder brother's view, we should pay our respects in advance and ask whether he has any instructions."

Yaochi suddenly understood. "So that is why."

"Elder Brother has considered everything thoroughly. Your younger sister will go with Elder Brother at once."

The two then headed side by side toward Yan Dao Palace.

When they reached the palace gates, before they could knock, Hongjun Dao Sound came from within. "Enter."

Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance, then pushed open the doors and entered.

It was still that vast major world. The two rode clouds to the violet-jade Dao Platform at the center of the world.

Hongjun sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his Dao aura as deep as an abyss.

The two respectfully knelt upon clouds, quietly awaiting his decree.

No one knew how long passed before Hongjun slowly spoke. "At this lecture, all Innate Divine Beings presently in the Primordial Wilderness will come."

"In cultivation and Origin/Foundation, most surpass the two of you."

"But since you are under my gate, even if you possess mortal bodies, you are still nobler than others... You must not disgrace your status."

Haotian and Yaochi bowed low and replied, "This disciple shall remember."

Hongjun continued, "After the lecture, I will leave time for the cultivators to discuss the Dao."

"The Great Powers of the Primordial Wilderness will gather together to expound the mysteries of the Great Dao. Such a sight will be hard to witness again in the future."

"You must seize this opportunity well."

"Thank you for Esteemed Master's favor." The two bowed again.

Hongjun nodded faintly, then said at last, "Heaven and earth have their own fixed destiny. The Mystic Bell shall be placed upon the lecture platform."

"When the bell rings three times, Purple Firmament Palace shall close."

"When the bell rings six times, the seats shall be fixed."

"When the bell rings nine times, This Seat shall arrive."

"The matter of ringing the bell shall be entrusted to you two."

Haotian hesitated briefly, then asked respectfully, "This disciple dares to ask: when would be the proper time to ring the bell?"

Hongjun's expression remained calm. "When the time comes, you will naturally know. Ask no further."

With that, he lightly flicked his whisk, and a Mystic Yellow Bell over ninety feet tall, encircled by three thousand Dao patterns, manifested atop the Dao Platform.

Haotian and Yaochi immediately focused their attention on the bell.

The bell seemed like the True Form of the Great Dao itself, containing all things beneath heaven within it. With but a single glance, the two were utterly captivated.

By the time Haotian and Yaochi came back to their senses, Hongjun's figure had already vanished without a trace.

The two hurriedly deduced the Heavenly Secrets, only to discover that less than a thousand years remained until the sermon began!

Haotian and Yaochi hastily kowtowed toward the bell on the Dao Platform and begged forgiveness, yet received no response for a long while.

The two secretly breathed sighs of relief, then rose and activated the Purple Firmament Token, heading for the palace gates.

Arriving before the gates, they exchanged a glance and nodded. They straightened their appearance, then slowly pushed open the heavy palace doors, one on each side.

Haotian and Yaochi walked out side by side, and the palace doors naturally closed behind them.

Beyond the gates, the Chaotic Cloud Sea roiled. Nearly a hundred figures were already waiting, all in human form.

Yet their auras varied greatly. Some were wreathed in Auspicious Clouds, while Sha Qi faintly surfaced around others.

The reason for this was that the body of Great God Pangu, the creator of the Primordial Wilderness, had been human in form.

Thus, among the Living Beings of the Primordial Wilderness, any who possessed the ability to cultivate an Innate Dao Body would mostly transform into human shape.

Haotian's gaze swept across the crowd, and his heart quietly tightened.

As far as the eye could see, they were all Primordial Unity Golden Immortals. Several possessed auras as deep and unfathomable as the sea—clearly they had already reached Taiyi Peak!

When the palace gates opened, the gazes of all those waiting converged upon them.

A Middle-aged Daoist clad in a crimson robe, with a kindly face, stepped forward first. He cupped his hands with a smile and asked, "Greetings, Holy Boy."

"This Daoist is Hongyun. May I ask whether we may enter the palace?"

Haotian was just about to agree when he suddenly felt a strange gust of wind sweep past. He immediately changed his words. "Daoist, you are too courteous."

"The time has not yet come. Please wait a while longer."

"Oh?" Hongyun's brow twitched, then relaxed again as he asked with a smile, "May I know when we may enter?"

Haotian shook his head. "Heavenly Secrets must not be revealed."

In truth, he did not know the exact time either, but his instincts told him that this was the proper answer.

Hearing this, Hongyun felt somewhat helpless, yet it was not convenient to ask further. He could only cup his hands and return to his original place.

Seeing him return, the other Great Powers stepped forward one after another to inquire. Upon learning the answer, quite a few faces immediately darkened.

A Middle-aged Daoist clad in magnificent brocade robes, bearing an arrogant air, stepped out from the crowd and stared at Haotian. "Boy, though you serve beneath a Saint, your cultivation is merely at the Golden Immortal Early-stage."

"Everyone present is a Taiyi Great Power. By seniority, all are your elders."

"How dare you prattle about Heavenly Secrets and make a mystery of nothing?" His voice rang like a great bell, sending ripples through the Chaotic Cloud Sea. "Quickly state the time when the gates will open!"

At his side, a sinister-looking Daoist in gray robes also added coldly, "Daoist Donghua speaks rightly."

"Daoist Boy, cease making a mystery of nothing. Speak plainly!"

The other Great Powers merely watched from the sidelines, their expressions amused.

Watching the two echo each other in perfect harmony, Haotian sneered inwardly, though his face remained impassive. He cupped his hands and said, "May I ask the honored names of you two Daoists, and where your immortal abodes lie?"

The richly dressed Daoist who had first provoked him declared arrogantly, "This Seat is East Prince of Penglai Island."

After hesitating slightly, the gray-robed Daoist who had backed him up said in a deep voice, "Kunpeng of the Northern Darkness."

"So it is Daoist East Prince and Daoist Kunpeng." Haotian first nodded with a smile.