The Great Dao's laws appeared, and the order of the Immortal Dao spread.
Behind Dao Ancestor Hongjun, the Heavenly Dao Golden Wheel emitted a faint radiance, and boundless merit manifested.
"The Dao is empty, yet its use is inexhaustible. Deep and profound, it seems the source of all things; subtle and obscure, yet it seems to exist. I know not whose child it is; it seems to have existed before the Emperor."
"Heaven and Earth are impartial, treating all things as straw dogs; the sages are impartial, treating the people as straw dogs. Is the space between Heaven and Earth not like a bellows? Empty, yet never exhausted; moved, it produces ever more. Too many words lead only to exhaustion; better to hold to the center."
Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke slowly, and boundless Dao Sound rang throughout Purple Cloud Palace.
Upon the meditation cushions, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others felt their Dao hearts grow clear. Countless Heavenly Dao Opportunities poured into their minds from their seats.
No matter how obscure and abstruse the path to Grand Unity Golden Immortal that Dao Ancestor Hongjun taught might be, they could comprehend it in an instant, their spirits roaming the Great Void and their divine abilities boundless.
As for the other Innate Deities, some furrowed their brows, while the Twelve Ancestral Witches were already nodding off. Zhu Rong and Gong Gong's snores in particular rumbled like thunder, stirring irritation among the powerful beings.
Ancestral Witch Houtu fought off her drowsiness, hoping to grasp a sage's opportunity.
Unfortunately, the Ancestral Witches had been born from the Heaven and Earth Sha Qi. Their already-weak souls had long since been corroded, and only Houtu had retained a sliver of her soul. That was the only reason she had not fallen completely asleep.
Alas, Hongjun's Dao was not meant for the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Dong Wanggong circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique, comprehending Dao Ancestor Hongjun's Immortal Dao and grasping its opportunities from those ethereal laws.
"The Immortal Dao cherishes life and saves all without measure!"
"Dao Ancestor Hongjun teaches and transforms all beings. This is the root of his Immortal Dao, yet he is bound within this Primordial World and can never attain great freedom!"
"What is my Immortal Dao?"
In a hazy state, Dong Wanggong relaxed his mind and sensed the vastness of the cosmos.
Within his soul, the scene of the world's creation, the divine and the sacred of the myriad heavens, the Myriad Stars, and all living beings appeared before him. He was like a passing traveler, calmly surveying all things.
The Yin-Yang Law became a Tai Chi Fish, encompassing Dong Wanggong as he roamed freely within the Great Dao.
The Law of Strength shattered all laws, destroying Heaven and Earth!
Suddenly, Three Flowers gathered at his crown, and Five Energies returned to the Origin.
The Great Luo Three Flowers of Twelve Petals appeared in Purple Cloud Palace, unleashing a supreme and majestic aura that swept outward and drew in the Immortal Dao laws surrounding Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
In the Primordial World, years were uncounted; in a single instant, three thousand years passed.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun opened his eyes and looked at the Three Thousand Innate Gods within Purple Cloud Palace, his gaze utterly expressionless. But the moment he saw Dong Wanggong, time and space seemed to freeze.
"The Great Luo Three Flowers of Twelve Petals? How is that possible?"
Before Dao Ancestor Hongjun could react, Old Master Taiqing, seated upon the first meditation cushion, cried out in shock. His body trembled as though he had witnessed something terrifying.
"Thud!"
Old Master Taiqing tumbled from his cushion and stared at Dong Wanggong in disbelief, his expression utterly lost. Then, wisps of decay spread from his body.
A crack had appeared in Old Master Taiqing's Dao heart. It seemed he was about to pass away!
Although his cultivation had already reached Peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal under Dao Ancestor Hongjun's teachings, Old Master Taiqing felt no joy. Instead, he was despondent and defeated.
Taiqing followed nonaction, yet still acted!
The Great Luo Three Flowers of Twelve Petals had truly reduced Old Master Taiqing's pride to ashes.
The Flower of Zenith Heaven symbolized a cultivator's foundation and potential.
Among the Three Thousand Innate Gods, only Old Master Taiqing's Great Luo Three Flowers of Rank Nine could compare with Dao Ancestor Hongjun's. Even Jade Pure Yuanshi and Upper Pure Tongtian had only achieved Great Luo Three Flowers of Rank Eight.
The other top powers had Great Luo Three Flowers of Rank Seven or Rank Eight.
Nine was the supreme number; twelve meant perfection.
Dong Wanggong's Great Luo Three Flowers had actually reached perfection!
"Foolish child, wake up!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun swept his jade sleeve and sent a surge of magic power toward Old Master Taiqing.
In an instant!
The peaceful, sacred Dao Resonance of the Immortal Dao mended the crack in his Dao heart, and Old Master Taiqing awoke from his state of cultivation deviation.
The aura of decay vanished as well.
"Taiqing thanks Dao Ancestor!"
With his thoughts clear, Old Master Taiqing bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun. The despondency swept from him, and he seemed reborn.
Jade Pure Yuanshi and Upper Pure Tongtian, beside him, finally breathed a sigh of relief!
Just now, they had thought their elder brother was about to die!
"The path of the Great Dao is long and arduous. Aptitude is but a drop in the ocean; only a steadfast Dao heart can endure. There is no need for you to feel inferior. You must devote yourselves even more to cultivation!"
"Dong Wanggong is at a crucial moment of enlightenment. The Immortal Dao he is comprehending will benefit you greatly. Why not quietly observe?"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun's face took on a kindly expression, and the corners of his mouth lifted—a rare sight.
Clearly, Dong Wanggong had caught his attention and become someone he would watch closely.
This was because, among the Three Thousand Innate Gods, only Dong Wanggong could comprehend the Immortal Dao. The others had grasped no more than a fraction of its surface!
"Boom!"
A thunderous crash echoed from within Dong Wanggong's body.
In an instant, endless Innate Spiritual Qi poured into the Flower of Zenith Heaven, forming a Great Dao Divine Mark!
"I am the Immortal Emperor. I shall suppress every foe beneath Heaven!"
"At the Peak of Immortality, I stand proud above the world. I wield Starry River Sand as my sword, slay all things, and roam freely between the banks of the River of Life—undying and imperishable, eternal in a single thought!"
The Dao Sound was vast and distant; the Immortal Dao unfolded.
Dong Wanggong opened his eyes, and a vast, imposing presence emerged from him. The Innate Deities felt a sense of awe and fear, while also gaining insight into the boundless Immortal Dao he had comprehended.
He had reached the entry level of the Immortal Dao Law!
To date, he had comprehended three laws.
The Yin-Yang Law, the Law of Strength, and the Immortal Dao Law—all at the entry level.
"Daoist Dong Wanggong, and you said your luck wasn't good! With such an impressive background, you never told me. I'll settle this with you later!"
West Queen Mother gave a playful huff and reached her right hand toward Dong Wanggong's lower back.
She pinched him!
It was excruciating. Dong Wanggong could only smile helplessly.
He lowered his physical defenses and let West Queen Mother's hand roam freely. His heart felt as if a cat were scratching at it. Dong Wanggong suffered and enjoyed it at once, unable to pull himself away!
Upon the Cloud Platform,
Three Thousand Laws flowed, and the Immortal Dao surged.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked over the crowd in Purple Cloud Palace, then rested his gaze upon Dong Wanggong.
"The First Lecture at Purple Cloud Palace has ended. You may return to hear the next lecture in ten thousand years. At that time, I shall teach the Path to Quasi-Saint!"
"But before then, I have one more matter to announce!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun lowered his eyelids, looking kindly and benevolent.
At the sight of this, Dong Wanggong sensed trouble.
He wondered what sort of mischief Dao Ancestor Hongjun was plotting.
"The Innate Deities are newly born, the Primordial World is in chaos, and the Ten Thousand Races cannot be properly taught. Thus, I intend to appoint a Head of Male Immortals and a Head of Female Immortals to govern the Heaven and Earth Beings on my behalf!"
"Dong Wanggong, West Queen Mother, are you willing?"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun spoke, his eyes showing how highly he regarded them both.
Within the great hall,
Dong Wanggong stood tall and imposing, his immortal aura serene and his expression solemn. The Yin Yang Divine Pattern on his Crimson Gold Dao Robe gleamed, and his aura as a supreme powerhouse silently awed the crowd.
West Queen Mother's skin was smooth as jade, and her bearing was in no way inferior to Nuwa, Xihe, or Changxi. Her noble and dignified air in particular stirred goodwill in the hearts of many male immortals.
Upon the meditation cushion, Old Master Taiqing gave a slight nod.
If Dong Wanggong became Head of Male Immortals, he had no strong objections. After all, he could still find an opportunity to discuss the Dao with him later.
The strong admired one another. Old Master Taiqing could see that Dong Wanggong had no intention of dominating the Primordial World.
By contrast, Dijun and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were known for their wild ambitions. Old Master Taiqing did not take them seriously.
"Reporting to Dao Ancestor, although Daoist Dong Wanggong has an impressive background, he and West Queen Mother are alone. If they are to govern the Heaven and Earth Beings, I fear they will lack the strength to do so!"
"Our demon race has many elite members and can help Dao Ancestor teach and transform all beings. I implore Dao Ancestor to reconsider!"
Dijun knelt before Dao Ancestor Hongjun, tears welling in his eyes as he displayed his utmost sincerity, as though he were the Primordial World's savior.
The demon race ought to lead all beings, and Dijun had been born with the destiny of a Lord of Heaven and Earth.
If Dong Wanggong became Head of Male Immortals, the demon race's plan to dominate the Primordial World would become even harder to achieve.
"I, Jade Pure Yuanshi, support Daoist Dong Wanggong as Head of Male Immortals!"
"The demon race wreaks havoc in the Primordial World and is unfit to lead the immortals. Daoist Dijun, you would do well to know your place. Stay on the Sun Star and improve your cultivation before you speak again!"
As he spoke, Jade Pure Yuanshi broke through to Late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.
Dong Wanggong was now the First Under Saint. And since he was no creature born from the damp or one covered in fur and horns, he was naturally more agreeable than the Two Golden Crow Brothers.
Jade Pure Yuanshi had, for once, acknowledged Dong Wanggong's strength.
"Roar! If the Immortal Emperor is willing to become Head of Male Immortals, then I, this king, will gladly follow his lead. If anyone objects, fight me in a Bloody Battle right now!"
The Fierce Beast Qiongqi roared, and Heavenly Gang Thunder Fire swept forth.
After witnessing Dong Wanggong's strength, he had willingly resigned himself to becoming a mount.
[ Ding! ] [ The God-Tier Selection Mission has refreshed. Two choices are now available to the host... ]
Before you continue