Hongjun's momentum came swiftly and dissipated just as quickly. After displaying Saint's Might, the overwhelming pressure filling the sky and earth completely subsided. The Phenomenon Between Heaven and Earth slowly faded, but the lingering resonance of the Heavenly Dao remained.
Even so, All Honghuang Beings unconsciously sank into the supreme aura of the Saint, unable to pull themselves free for a long time.
Inside the Supreme Yang Palace on Mount Fang Island, the Yin-Yang Two Qi gradually faded. With East King Duke protecting them, the several disciples and youths were in much better condition than the other living beings of the Primordial World, but each still wore an expression of shock. They were all minor cultivators below the Golden Immortal realm; how could they withstand the Saint's mighty power pressing down on them?
Only after a long while did Xuan Yang and the others, who had nearly suffocated, recover. Their hearts still trembled with lingering fear.
"May I ask Master, what kind of status does this Saint possess to wield such terrifying might?"
"Above Great Luo is the Quasi-Saint realm, and above the Quasi-Saint realm is the Saint realm. Saints rank beneath the Heavenly Dao and act on Heaven's behalf. They possess the highest status in the Primordial World."
"Ranking beneath the Heavenly Dao? Saint Hongjun is actually this powerful!"
Seeing that his disciples were ignorant and speaking without restraint, East King Duke's expression turned stern as he rebuked them, "Silence! You must not casually mention a Saint's name. Mount Fang Island can conceal the Heavenly Secrets, but outside, a Saint's power reaches the heavens. With a single thought, he can sense it. Be careful not to show disrespect."
"Please forgive us, Master. We'll remember!"
The several disciples were all terrified.
After the disciples left, Queen Mother of the West said, "Dong Hua, this Saint Hongjun is the senior who invited you to suppress the demons in the west many years ago, isn't he?"
East King Duke nodded.
"Indeed. Two Yuan Hui ago, he was already at the Quasi-Saint Peak of the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal realm. Now that he has become the first Saint of the Primordial World, it is only natural."
"As for the sermon in the Chaos Purple Firmament Palace, should we go?"
"Go! We must not miss a Saint's Sermon. You and I can go together."
"Good!"
East King Duke was not the only one planning to attend the sermon.
Inside the Three Pure Ones Hall on Kunlun Mountain, Taiqing Laozi summoned the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. Using the Mysterious Yellow Power to protect the three brothers, he preserved Pangu's dignity. Though they were all terrified, they did not have to bow down.
The three of them had divided the Twenty-four-grade Creation Green Lotus at Buzhou Mountain. Though each had obtained a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, they still had to rely on the power of the Exquisite Pagoda for defense.
After the Saintly Might faded, Upper Pure Tongtian showed a shocked expression. "Is the status of a Saint the position above the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm? Senior Hongjun is truly formidable. I'm far inferior."
Taiqing Laozi nodded slightly. "There was a world-shaking battle in the western lands back then, and its aftershocks shook the Primordial World. Through deduction, I knew that powerful beings had fought. I imagine this Saint Hongjun was one of them."
Tongtian suddenly understood, his gaze burning. "With such a powerful being giving a sermon, we must go and listen."
Primordial, standing to the side, instead furrowed his brows. Earlier, when he had sensed the Saint's might, he had been shocked but also unwilling to accept it. As one of the Pangu Three Pure Ones, Jade Pure Primordial had always been proud. He had thought that the three brothers were already at the pinnacle of the Primordial World, but he had never expected that there were powerful beings far beyond their reach.
"Third Brother, don't be like this. We are the Pangu Orthodox and possess our own inheritance. Why should we listen to that so-called Saint's Dao?"
Tongtian was about to retort, but Taiqing spoke first. "Although we Three Pure Ones were born noble, our Dao Path remains unclear. After the Great Luo realm, the Path Ahead is hazy. A Saint is the honored one of Heaven and Earth, so we should ask for his guidance. We must not act willfully."
With a single statement from Taiqing Laozi, the Three Pure Ones finally reached an agreement and decided to make a journey to the Purple Firmament Palace.
Fuxi and Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, Hong Yun, those several figures in the starry sky, and that one in the Sea of Blood... Even the impoverished west had Great Luo Cultivators preparing to act. For a time, the Primordial World was thrown into turmoil.
Inside the Supreme Yang Palace on Mount Fang Island, East King Duke withdrew his cultivation technique.
"The Supreme Yang Power has become exceedingly pure. It is time to take that step."
He muttered to himself, then vanished from the spot.
At the same time, inside the Pure Yin Palace, Queen Mother of the West also opened her eyes. A trace of nervousness appeared on her face, but more than that, she looked expectant.
Outside the palace gates, the two faced one another. The Yin Yang Qi gradually converged, and tenderness arose between them.
East King Duke stepped forward and said gently, "Lone yang cannot grow, and lone yin cannot exist. You and I have known one another for hundreds of thousands of years. You know my feelings, and I know your intentions. Beneath the Heavenly Mandate, we should unite. Now the time has come. Tai Zhen, are you willing to become my Dao companion, so that we may explore the Great Dao together and accompany each other for eternity?"
As he spoke, he extended his right hand.
A rosy flush swept across Queen Mother of the West's face, making her beauty shine brilliantly. Though she appeared slightly bashful, she still stepped forward with incomparable determination.
"Dong Hua, I am willing!"
Then she placed her hand upon his.
The instant their hands met, two points of spiritual light intertwined atop Supreme Yang Mountain and shot into the heavens. The sunset clouds at the edge of the sky descended, their radiance illuminating the entire Mount Fangzhang Immortal Island.
The Yin-Yang Two Qi between Heaven and Earth manifested in celebration.
"Congratulations, Master and Mistress—Your Majesties! Yin and yang have joined in harmony, and may your hearts remain united forever!"
Inside the Supreme Yang Palace, only the several disciples and youths were present. Though there were not many Fellow Daoists to bear witness, the ceremony was no less solemn. Before the altar facing south, where Heaven and Earth were enshrined, East King Duke and Queen Mother of the West stepped forward solemnly, honoring Heaven above and bowing to Earth below.
"I, East King Duke, an Innate Divine Being of the Primordial World, today take Queen Mother of the West as my Dao companion. From this day forth, yin and yang shall unite and become one..."
"I, Queen Mother of the West, an Innate Divine Being of the Primordial World, today take East King Duke as my Dao companion..."
Before Heaven and Earth, the two made their vows, becoming true companions on the path to the Dao. At this time, the Marriage Sacred Artifact had yet to appear, and the two were not the protagonists of the Heavenly Marriage. Even so, the union of yin and yang conformed to the Heavenly Dao, and Heaven still bestowed a reward.
A considerable Merit Golden Cloud descended. East King Duke kept not a trace of it for himself, giving it all to Queen Mother of the West, who calmly accepted it.
After the ceremony ended, all the disciples withdrew. The gates of the Supreme Yang Palace closed with a boom, and East King Duke and Queen Mother of the West entered the inner chamber hand in hand. The room had already been arranged with auspicious-cloud curtains and a lotus bed.
"Husband!"
"Wife!"
Only after a full century did the phenomena in the inner chamber slowly vanish. The Yin-Yang Power receded, and Supreme Yang Mountain gradually became peaceful, but the gates of the Dao palace remained tightly shut, never opening.
Although everything outside seemed calm, the inner chamber of the Dao palace was anything but peaceful. The Yin-Yang Power intertwined, inseparable (five hundred words were deleted here)... The two seemed to have entered a new world.
Another century passed. East King Duke and Queen Mother of the West sat facing each other atop the Eighteen-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus. The Yin Yang Qi flowed through them, continuously circulating through their Dao bodies and primordial spirits. Slowly... a seed was planted.
East King Duke's aura suddenly surged, and three flowers appeared above his head.
Suddenly, the River of Fate materialized before him. His primordial spirit left his body and sat suspended above the river. The three flowers swayed gracefully, continuously releasing the vitality of creation, while their fragrance grew increasingly intense.
Then, above the three flowers atop his Dao body's head, a ray of light appeared, followed by a second and a third...
Queen Mother of the West, sitting opposite him, saw this and revealed a delighted expression. Her eyes remained fixed on him without looking away for even an instant!
For reasons everyone knows, a passage was deleted by the system. It may be somewhat disjointed, so please bear with it. There is nothing I can do.
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