Contesting the Golden Cloud Prayer Mat

She had never been in the company of so many Innate Divine Beings and Great Power Cultivators before. The exchanges just now had truly drained her mind, and the wariness in her heart was difficult to dispel.

Seeing this, Haotian secretly found it amusing.

He had never expected that this younger sister of his, born innately, would actually have "social anxiety."

Noticing the subtle look Haotian was giving her, Yaochi vaguely saw through his thoughts. A rosy flush immediately tinged her jade cheeks as she chided softly, "Elder Brother only knows how to tease your younger sister."

Seeing her like this, Haotian could not help but laugh. He clasped his hands and begged forgiveness. "How would I dare? Younger Sister, please do not blame me."

Seeing him "give in," a trace of amusement flickered through Yaochi's eyes. She gave a soft snort and did not pursue the matter further.

Instead, she looked at him with admiration and said, "Elder Brother truly made your younger sister utterly convinced just now."

"Those Innate Divine Beings, regardless of origin, cultivation, or the ages they have lived through, far surpass you and me. Yet Elder Brother subdued them with only a few words."

"If it had been me, facing the majesty of so many Great Powers head-on, my heart would surely have fluttered wildly, and I would have found it hard to speak with ease."

Yet Haotian did not grow smug at her words. Instead, he shook his head. "Younger Sister, that is not so."

"What they respect and fear above all is the bearing of a Saint."

"Your elder brother merely happens to occupy this position and borrow its momentum."

"The Primordial World is vast, and those with Supernatural Powers are numerous. You and I still have shallow foundations; we must always remember that."

Yaochi considered his words, then lightly nodded her lovely head. "Elder Brother's teaching is correct."

Meanwhile, within Purple Firmament Palace, the scene was entirely different.

Unlike Haotian and Yaochi, who possessed Purple Firmament Tokens and could move about freely while controlling the palace's restrictions, the various Great Powers did not find a smooth road before them after entering the palace gates.

Within the palace, corridors twisted and halls turned, while layers of void rose one upon another. From time to time, clear and turbid qi transformed into gale-force winds, thunder, and fire that came hurtling at them.

There were also Great Dao patterns that manifested illusory mirrors, reflecting the myriad hindrances of their inner demons.

Though there was no danger of death, they still had to display their respective Supernatural Powers and proceed with caution before they could shatter the obstacles and advance.

Naturally, Hongjun had arranged this deliberately.

His purpose was to let the Great Powers understand that the Dharma could not be transmitted lightly.

Time flies. With no sense of time within the palace, several decades passed in the outside world in a flash.

Deep within Purple Firmament Palace, inside Yan Dao Palace.

This magnificent great world personally opened by Hongjun remained unchanged: clouds and rosy vapors formed its sky, Spiritual Veins formed its earth, Dao intent permeated the air like mist, and laws manifested like dragons—mysterious beyond compare.

At this moment, beneath the violet-jade Dao Platform wreathed in endless Dao laws at the center of this silent, mysterious world, three figures finally appeared.

One was an old man, serene and inactive.

One was middle-aged, dignified and orderly.

One was a youth, sharp and full of vigor.

They were the Three Pure Ones Daoists, Pangu's Orthodox Lineage.

Guided by World-Opening Merit and protected by the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda, the three were the first to break through the many trials and arrive here.

Following the pull of the Dao intent in the unseen, the three came to the center of the world.

Before the violet-jade Dao Platform floated six radiant golden Auspicious Clouds shaped like lotus seats.

Below them were several thousand flawless white ordinary cloud masses.

Mysterious Dao patterns flowed over every cloud mass, making the distinction between high and low obvious at a glance.

Grand Supreme Elder Lord wore an indifferent expression as he was the first to take a seat upon the leftmost golden cloud.

Primordial Lord of Heaven followed close behind and took the middle seat.

Tongtian Sect Master was the most free-spirited of them all. With a hearty laugh, he landed upon the golden cloud to the right.

Sensing the surrounding laws of heaven and earth, nearly condensed into substance, he could not help but praise, "A Saint's methods truly are inconceivable."

"Though this world was opened in the acquired era, the grandeur of its structure and the purity of its Dao intent scarcely fall short of the Primordial World opened by Great God Pangu."

Hearing this, Primordial Lord of Heaven, seated to his left, imperceptibly furrowed his brow and said slowly, "Third Brother, this is a Saint's Dao Field. We have come to receive instruction and seek the Dao, so we should hold reverence in our hearts and be cautious in word and deed. How can you pass judgment so casually?"

Tongtian did not take it to heart and smiled. "Why must Second Brother be so restrained?"

"A Saint's mind contains chaos and encompasses the Primordial World. How could he harbor a grudge over a single remark of mine?"

"Besides, my words were entirely meant as praise. How could they be offensive?"

At this, Primordial Lord of Heaven's expression darkened slightly, and he was about to speak again...

when Grand Supreme Elder Lord, seated at the head, suddenly transmitted, "Silence. Guests have arrived."

Grand Supreme Elder Lord had long grown accustomed to the occasional bickering and arguments between Primordial Lord of Heaven and Tongtian Sect Master, and he almost never interfered.

But he had one bottom line: the two of them were not permitted to reveal their discord before outsiders.

At their eldest brother's words, Primordial Lord of Heaven and Tongtian Sect Master immediately fell silent.

Though Grand Supreme Elder Lord rarely spoke, he had lived longer than the two of them, and his cultivation and mastery of the Dao surpassed theirs. Moreover, he was easygoing by nature and never argued with them.

Thus, Primordial Lord of Heaven and Tongtian Sect Master had always held him in great respect.

Not long after Grand Supreme Elder Lord finished speaking, a man and a woman entered the core of this realm side by side.

The man was as gentle as jade, while the woman was incomparably graceful and beautiful. The Dao aura around them was deep, peaceful, and harmonious. They were none other than Fuxi and Nuwa.

The two arrived before the purple jade high platform. Seeing that the Three Pure Ones had already arrived, they calmly offered their greetings.

"Fuxi and Nuwa greet the three Daoists."

The Three Pure Ones knew the origins of the two as well and did not dare put on airs. They all rose to return the greeting.

"Grand Supreme Elder Lord, Primordial Lord of Heaven, and Tongtian Sect Master greet the two Daoists."

Once the formalities were over, Nuwa's gaze swept across the six golden clouds. A feeling stirred within her, and she chose one close to the Three Pure Ones to sit upon.

Yet when she turned her head, she saw that her elder brother, Fuxi, had not chosen one of the remaining golden clouds. Instead, he selected a pristine white cloud some distance away at her side and settled down upon it peacefully.

Nuwa was surprised and could not help asking, "Elder Brother, this golden cloud is rich with Dao aura. It is clearly no ordinary thing and may conceal a fortuitous opportunity. Why forsake this for that?"

Straightforward by nature, she did not send her question through divine sense. Thus, the Three Pure Ones heard it clearly as well. Their expressions shifted slightly as they all looked toward Fuxi.

Fuxi smiled faintly, his expression gentle and calm as he explained, "Do not be anxious, Younger Sister."

"You and I were born from the same source. We share weal and woe alike. If you obtain a fortuitous opportunity, it is no different from me obtaining one. Why distinguish between yours and mine?"

"Besides, judging by this arrangement, there are only six golden clouds, which means the opportunities are limited."

"We were fortunate enough to arrive first and have already received Heaven's favor. If we were to occupy every spot as well, we might harm the blessings and fortunes of those who come later. That would not be the way of benevolence."

As he spoke, he realized that his words might seem to cast a shadow upon the Three Pure Ones already seated on the golden clouds. He hurriedly inclined his head toward them in apology. "Fuxi merely spoke what he felt. I absolutely did not mean to criticize the three Daoists. I hope you will not take offense."

The Three Pure Ones were not petty people, and all said that it was of no concern.

Fuxi secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then continued softly to Nuwa, "The Profound Mysteries of the Great Dao bind fortune and misfortune together."

"Today, Younger Sister's chance upon this golden cloud may not be wholly a blessing."

"Your elder brother's temporary stay upon a white cloud may not necessarily be a loss, either."

"The affairs of the world are like a game of chess, and the workings of heaven and earth cannot be fathomed. Each should rest in their proper place and follow their own fate."

"Younger Sister, simply sit at ease."

Fuxi's words were painstaking and heartfelt.

Nuwa knew full well that he said this because he did not wish to covet or claim too much, and because he wanted to yield the opportunity to her.

Yet she could find no better reason to refute him. She could only nod silently and say no more.

Meanwhile, after hearing Fuxi's words, the Three Pure Ones each had their own thoughts.