"I reclined high in the ninth heaven, upon my cushion comprehending the truth."
"Beyond Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang, I shall reign as the supreme teacher."
"Pangu gave birth to Taiji; the Two Modes and Four Images followed."
"The leader of the Mystic Gate, the One Qi transformed into Hongjun."
An auspicious vision appeared, bringing blessings to all living beings.
Beyond the myriad heavens of Chaos, a palace shone with purple radiance, wreathed in immortal energy.
A Saint's phantom gazed down upon the Primordial Wilderness, his face kind and benevolent. His divine bearing was sacred, yet approachable.
As the sound of the Great Dao flowed through Heaven and Earth, countless living beings fell into sudden enlightenment.
Simply gazing upon the phantom of Dao Ancestor Hongjun allowed them to comprehend the Heavenly Dao, saving them ten thousand years of cultivation.
In an instant!
Purple energy rose, and spiritual rain fell.
Across the Primordial World, countless auspicious signs brought blessings to all living beings.
In the western lands.
The Earth Veins had once been utterly destroyed, but now a glimmer of life force emerged, restoring the ravaged mountains, rivers, and lakes.
The four corners of the world, too, teemed with life.
Spirit herbs took human form, immortal cranes soared into the sky, and many enlightened beings awakened their intelligence and broke through major realms.
"So this is what a Saint is?"
Dong Wanggong raised his head to the sky and gazed at the phantom of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
Even that Saintly might alone was beyond anything he could match.
"I am Hongjun. Fate has ordained that I become a Saint. I obtained the Jade Disk of Creation and comprehended the supreme immortal Dao."
"Today, I prove the Dao and attain the Saint Fruit. I wish to teach and guide all living beings of the Primordial Wilderness, and will lecture at the Zixiao Palace three thousand years from now."
"All who are fated to attend may come and listen."
As the distant Dao Sound faded, Dao Ancestor Hongjun withdrew his Saintly might.
The Three Thousand Innate Gods and all the living beings of the Ten Thousand Races were drenched in sweat, their bodies trembling.
Terrifying!
Just now, it had felt as if they had died once.
[ Ding! ]
[God-Tier Selection Mission refreshed!]
As Dong Wanggong pondered, the system's voice rang in his mind.
[Choice One: Go to the Zixiao Palace to listen to the lecture and claim a meditation cushion. Reward: Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner, a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.]
[Choice Two: Stay cautious and remain in seclusion to cultivate. Reward: twelve Sea-Calming Pearls.]
[Choice Three: Dao Ancestor Hongjun's lecture can help the host comprehend the Dao. Go to the Zixiao Palace and listen, but do not claim a seat. Reward: Primordial Measure Ruler, a Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure.]
This time, there were actually three choices!
Dong Wanggong looked cautious, but soon made up his mind.
Being cautious didn't mean hiding away!
At the Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, with the Grand Unity Three Flowers at twelve petals, there was no reason for someone of his cultivation and potential to remain confined to Penglai Immortal Island.
The Great Dao was won through striving; without desire, one could not stand firm.
Besides, he wanted to witness the bearing of the many top Innate Deities.
"This Emperor chooses option three!"
"The Primordial Measure Ruler, a Postnatal Supreme Treasure, is an unparalleled weapon of attack. Its power is in no way inferior to Innate Supreme Treasures such as the Pangu Banner and the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation."
"With this supreme treasure, this Emperor can unleash his full strength."
Dong Wanggong spoke, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.
In the Primordial Wilderness, cultivation realms and spiritual treasures were divided into ranks.
Cultivation realms were divided into: Earth Immortal, Heavenly Immortal, True Immortal, Mysterious Immortal, Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Grand Unity Golden Immortal, Quasi-Saint (Hunyuan Golden Immortal), and Heavenly Dao Saint (Hunyuan Grand Unity Golden Immortal).
Nine was the ultimate number; twelve meant perfection.
Above the Heavenly Dao Saints were three more realms.
Great Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, Limitless Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, and Primordial Great Dao Realm.
During the Chaos era, Great God Pangu had been half a step into the Primordial Great Dao Realm. Sadly, he died in the World-Opening Tribulation, while the other Chaos Demon Gods were all but wiped out.
As for spiritual treasures, they were divided into Innate and Postnatal, with four grades: low, middle, high, and top.
Above Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures were Innate Supreme Treasures, of which there were no more than ten.
Above Top-grade Postnatal Spirit Treasures were Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasures.
There were only two Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasures in the Primordial Wilderness.
One was Old Master Taiqing's Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Exquisite Pagoda; the other was the Primordial Measure Ruler.
[Congratulations, host! You have obtained the Primordial Measure Ruler!]
A flash of mysterious light appeared.
A ruler of purple-gold hue landed in Dong Wanggong's hand.
Great Dao Divine Marks flickered across it, merit-gold light shimmered, and it felt as heavy as a mountain while exuding vast, ethereal power.
"What a fine spiritual treasure!"
"Everything the system produces is top quality. I don't even need to refine its restrictions—marvelous!"
Dong Wanggong gripped the Primordial Measure Ruler tightly and swung it lightly toward the East Sea.
In an instant!
The Yin-Yang Law ran rampant, and a streak of purple-gold light shot down onto the sea.
Boom!
The seawater surged, raising towering waves tens of millions of feet high.
Countless Space Rifts devoured everything, and the entire East Sea seemed on the verge of destruction.
Dong Wanggong's single strike was enough to overwhelm it!
"Still!"
Dong Wanggong waved his jade sleeve. The Yin-Yang Taiji Dao Intent swept past, and the violent energy settled.
Deep within Penglai Immortal Island.
Dong Wanggong stepped upon an Auspicious Cloud and descended beside a towering tree ten thousand zhang tall.
Its trunk stood straight, and law-inscribed runes shimmered upon its leaves.
It soared into the clouds, radiating the purest Innate Spiritual Qi. Immortal fruits lay hidden within the energy at the crown of the tree.
"The Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root Yellow Middle Plum. This must be the Great Dao's only gift to this Emperor."
"Alas, Fangzhang Island and Yingzhou Island have yet to emerge. Even with this Emperor's deep cultivation, I can't discern their locations. Otherwise, I'd reap even greater rewards."
In the Primordial Wilderness, there were Ten Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots.
The Yellow Middle Plum could unquestionably be called the foremost of them.
Every fruit held Heaven-defying Fortune. Even the Nine-Revolutions Golden Elixirs refined by Old Master Taiqing could not compare to the Yellow Middle Plum's effects.
It bloomed once every Yuan Hui, bore fruit once every Yuan Hui, and ripened once every Yuan Hui. In three Yuan Hui, it produced only nine spiritual fruits.
Its flowers resembled lotuses, and its fruits resembled pearls. The Great Dao Divine Marks "Yellow Middle" appeared on both the flowers and fruit, hence its name: Yellow Middle Plum.
Eating a Yellow Middle Plum could instantly bring one to the Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm.
As for the side effects, they were negligible for top Innate Deities.
But anyone with mediocre talent who ate one would never break through their shackles again. No matter how determined they were, their cultivation would not advance in the slightest.
Dong Wanggong picked all nine Yellow Middle Plums and placed them in a Jade Box, then casually took one out to taste.
It melted in his mouth!
Rich Innate Spiritual Qi nourished his body, opened his meridians, and strengthened his foundation.
"System, open the status panel!"
Dong Wanggong spoke softly, and a purple screen soon appeared before him.
[God-tier Choice System] [Host: Dong Wanggong] [Cultivation: Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal] [Flower of Zenith Heaven: Twelve Petals] [Technique: Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique] [Laws: Yin-Yang Law (Initiate), Law of Strength (Initiate)] [Spiritual Treasure: Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, Primordial Measure Ruler] [Spiritual Root: Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root Yellow Middle Plum]
"This Emperor is still dirt-poor. This meager foundation is nowhere near enough to prove the Dao and become a Saint!"
"I should still go to the Zixiao Palace to hear the lecture and try to break through to the Quasi-Saint realm as soon as possible, raising the Yin-Yang Law and the Law of Strength to Great Accomplishment."
In the Primordial Wilderness, laws were divided into four stages.
Initiation, Minor Accomplishment, Great Accomplishment, and Perfection.
These corresponded to Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, Early-stage Quasi-Saint, Late Quasi-Saint, and Quasi-Saint Peak.
At Quasi-Saint Peak, to prove the Hunyuan Dao, one had to transform laws into Dao Principles and temper one's magic power in the Chaos Void. Only then could one become a Saint through the laws.
Dao Principles were the Great Dao's laws.
Among all living beings in the Primordial Wilderness, only Dao Ancestor Hongjun now cultivated the Heavenly Dao's laws. Everyone else cultivated laws beneath the Heavenly Dao.
Dong Wanggong's Dao encompassed the Three Thousand Laws, embracing all rivers and accepting all things.
The Three Thousand Great Daos all return to me.
I am the Three Thousand Great Daos, deriving the Myriad Worlds, the universe and all existence, invincible beneath the heavens!
Of course, that day was still far away!
"It's time to go to the Zixiao Palace and hear the lecture."
"Dao Ancestor Hongjun, Old Master Taiqing, the Golden Crow Brothers... The Primordial Wilderness truly is a magnificent age, intoxicating to behold!"
The road to the Dao was long, and the Great Dao endless!
Dong Wanggong's path of cultivation stretched on without end, beset with difficulties and dangers, but his Dao Heart would never die, and the Great Dao would endure forever.
Immortal radiance flowed around him as he soared into the sky, crossing billions of miles of void.
The Nine Heavens and Ten Earths lay beneath his feet.
Through the starry sky, he saw a faint purple light in the Chaos Void.
It was the Zixiao Palace!
Before you continue