The palace gates were tightly shut. Dao Ancestor Hongjun had appeared on the Cloud Bed atop the Dao Platform at some point.
Seeing Hongjun arrive, everyone bowed in unison.
"Greetings, Teacher."
"Greetings, Master."
Hongjun said kindly, "There's no need for formalities."
"Each of you has now achieved something, whether as the ruler of a region or as the Dao Lord of one. I'm deeply gratified, and my title as your teacher and Dao Ancestor has not been in vain."
"The heavens are vast and boundless; our Dao will flourish day by day."
As Hongjun's words fell, celestial flowers rained down inside Purple Heaven Palace, and golden lotuses sprang from the earth. The River of Time and Space appeared, with the River of Destiny faintly visible within it.
The Four Heavenly Spirits—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise—rose into the sky, emitting waves of sound.
The Three Thousand Great Daos appeared one by one. The Great Dao thundered throughout the Primordial Wilderness, heavenly rain fell, and myriad rays of multicolored light shone between heaven and earth. The eight celestial sounds resounded across the Primordial Wilderness.
Donghua and the others sensed this and each released their own Great Dao, harmonizing with Hongjun's Three Thousand Great Daos as they danced together.
The sound of the Great Dao seeped into the silence.
Hongjun was preaching the Dao once again!
Donghua hurriedly stilled his mind and immersed himself in the Three Thousand Great Daos Hongjun had revealed, carefully comprehending them.
This time, Hongjun's Three Thousand Great Daos were permanently engraved into the Primordial World. All sentient beings with the insight and affinity could comprehend the truths of the Great Dao from heaven and earth.
Perhaps this was the last chance Hongjun would grant all living beings to pursue the Dao.
Time passed unnoticed.