Ruler Revealed, Golden Crow Falls; Cushions Set the Sage Positions

Taiyi sneered inwardly. In his view, his covert obstruction with the Chaos Bell had been measured to perfection: it had both humiliated Donghua and prevented him from claiming a cushion, yet had not truly crossed a Sage's bottom line.

Even if Donghua knew perfectly well what had happened, here in a Sage's Daoist Ground, beneath the watchful eyes of all, he could only swallow this hidden loss whole. How would he dare retaliate openly?

Could Donghua really dare attack me openly in a Sage's Daoist Ground?

The thought had barely crossed his mind, and the mocking curve at the corner of his lips had not yet fully faded.

A sudden change erupted!

Donghua did not move, yet his right hand shot out like lightning. A jade ruler wreathed in purple qi and naturally etched with Dao patterns appeared out of thin air!

The might within that ruler—to shatter all laws and measure heaven and earth—made Taiyi's pupils contract sharply as his mind shook violently!

How could he...?

His thoughts of shock and disbelief crashed over him like ice water poured over his head, but Donghua moved far faster than thought!

Taiyi only felt a sense of danger so intense that it made his Primordial Spirit tremble descend upon him. The Chaos Bell above his head burst with clear light, humming urgently as it moved to protect its master on its own.

But how could such hastily triggered automatic defenses compare to Donghua's furious strike, infused with vast Magic Power?

"Crack!"

A crisp sound rang out, as though some law itself had been broken. The protective clear light cast down by the Chaos Bell shattered like Lapis Lazuli before the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler!

The ruler broke through the defense without losing momentum and struck Taiyi squarely in the chest!

"Bang!!"

With a dull, thunderous boom, Taiyi's entire body jolted. The icy sneer on his face utterly transformed into extreme shock and agony. He did not even manage a cry of pain before he flew away like a kite with its string snapped, viciously sent flying by that irresistible, majestic force!

Under countless horrified gazes, his body cut a miserable arc through the air.

With a boom, he slammed heavily into a massive white jade pillar wreathed in chaotic qi before the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace!

The dull impact of body against pillar echoed before the deathly silent palace gates.

"Taiyi!"

Donghua's sharp shout pulled everyone back to their senses.

"A Sage has opened a lecture on the Great Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace, bestowing grace upon all beings. Yet in such a solemn place, for the sake of your own private grudge, you dared strike in secret and disrupt the order."

Donghua's voice suddenly turned stern. "Where does such conduct place the Sage's majesty? Where does it place the hearts of the fellow Daoists present, who seek the Dao?"

"This strike of mine is not for private vengeance. It is merely a small punishment dealt on the Sage's behalf, to awaken an arrogant fool like you who neither understands propriety nor respects the Sage's Dao!"

The great powers within the hall watched this scene, each harboring different thoughts.

Laozi sat steadily upon the foremost cushion, his eyelids lowered as though the turmoil outside had nothing to do with him.

Only at the instant Donghua produced the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler did the faintest ripple pass through his eyes, before they returned to the stillness of an ancient well.

Seeing Taiyi's sorry state, a trace of scorn rose unbidden at the corner of Yuanshi's lips.

How could such creatures, born damp and hatched from eggs, covered in fur and armored in scales, deserve to sit alongside them? Seeing him humiliated now merely proved how shallow his origins were.

Tongtian lightly stroked the blade of the Qingping Sword with his fingertips, his blazing gaze fixed on the jade ruler in Donghua's hand as sword intent surged from his body.

Such a clean and decisive counterattack, such a razor-sharp spiritual treasure, suited his tastes perfectly. He dearly wished to challenge him at once and test its edge.

As everyone harbored their own thoughts, Ancestor Witch Jumang suddenly rose to his feet. Pointing at Taiyi, who was still struggling beneath the pillar, he roared like thunder:

"Fellow Daoist Donghua is right—well struck! This mongrel bird has been begging for a lesson! Even a Sage's Daoist Ground is being defiled by you two flat-feathered beasts!"

That furious rebuke exploded like thunder, completely shattering the previous silence. Di Jun's face instantly turned livid, and Solar True Fire around his body surged uncontrollably three zhang into the air.

Seeing this, Ancestor Witch Gonggong, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, immediately stood up. "What? Someone hit a sore spot, and now you want to fight? Come, come, come—let me see what progress this old crow of yours has made!"

The Twelve Ancestor Witches burst into laughter as vast blood qi shot into the heavens, crashing violently against the Demon Race's chilling killing intent.

At that critical moment, a calm yet unquestionable Dao Sound suddenly resounded through the great hall:

"No clamor within the Purple Cloud Palace."

Haotian the Attendant had appeared in the hall without anyone knowing when. His gaze swept over the two sides poised to draw swords.

Though he was merely an attendant, his words became law. The Dao rhythm of the entire Purple Cloud Palace trembled with them, forcibly suppressing the conflict that was on the verge of erupting.

Jade Pool Attendant followed close behind and said softly, "Master's carriage is about to arrive. Please return to your places."

Di Jun took a deep breath, forcefully suppressing his towering rage. Supporting the severely injured Taiyi, he said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Donghua is right. My second brother was discourteous."

The Twelve Ancestor Witches also fell silent in frustration, though their gazes upon the two remained brimming with provocation.

Donghua had already put away the Sky Measuring Ruler. He stood quietly to one side with Taizhen, as though none of what had just occurred had anything to do with them.

Only Taiyi's venomous gaze remained nailed to Donghua like a maggot clinging to bone.

The Sage's vast pressure instantly blanketed the entire scene. Sage Hongjun's figure suddenly appeared, seated upon the Cloud Bed in the place of honor.

Seeing the Sage appear, everyone bowed in salute:

"Greetings, Sage Hongjun." Those below the platform saluted in unison, their voices shaking the great hall.

"No need for ceremony."

Hongjun's gaze swept calmly over those below. It paused briefly upon the six cushions, his eyes holding neither sorrow nor joy, before he said indifferently:

"From this day forth, the seating order within Purple Cloud Palace is hereby set."

As soon as the words fell, the six golden prayer mats suddenly burst forth with boundless radiance, their auras linking with the six seated upon them. The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Zhunti, and Daoist Jieyin all felt a profound Dao rhythm settle upon them, as though some great karmic bond had been ordained in the unseen.

"I shall lecture three times, three thousand years each." Hongjun's voice rang like the cosmic resonance of the Great Dao, sounding within the heart of every Dao listener:

"The first lecture shall cover the Dao of Daluo, the second the Dao of Quasi-Saints, and the third the Dao of Saints."

At this moment, Dao Sound drifted through Purple Cloud Palace, like morning bells and evening drums, striking straight at the heart.

"Daluo transcends the River of Fate, beholds past and future, all time and space, free and eternal."

As soon as the words fell, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice grew ever deeper and more distant:

"The Dao is hollow, yet its use is never exhausted. Deep and unfathomable, it seems the ancestor of all things. It blunts its sharpness, untangles its knots, harmonizes its light, and mingles with its dust. Dim and profound, it seems perhaps to exist. I know not whose child it is; it seems to precede the Emperor."

As this scripture, containing supreme and mysterious truths, was recited, the entire Purple Cloud Palace trembled.

Ripples spread through the void, as though an invisible force were unfolding the Principles of Heaven and Earth; countless rays of rosy light descended from the dome, each containing a different true meaning of the Great Dao.

Golden lotuses bloomed from Chaos, innate Dao patterns flowing across their hearts; auspicious vapors rose and gathered, transforming within the hall into the spectacle of soaring dragons and dancing phoenixes.

Spiritual light from the heavens poured down like a waterfall, enveloping the three thousand guests.

The great powers felt a tremor deep within their Primordial Spirits, as though sweet rain had fallen after a long drought.

Laozi's eyes were half-closed, Yin and Yang Energies naturally circulating around him.

Yuanshi's expression was solemn. Jeweled pendants and hanging pearls adorned his body, manifesting the image of myriad phenomena renewing themselves.

Tongtian's fingertips trembled faintly, and Qingping Sword rang of its own accord, as though it wished to cleave through all illusion.

Nuwa appeared lost in thought, the aura of creation churning endlessly in her palm.

Daoist Jieyin wore an expression of compassion and sorrow, and behind him the Land of Ultimate Bliss faintly emerged.