Distributing Purple Qi, Two People Crying

The scene returned to the Purple Cloud Palace.

Hongjun looked at Tongtian with satisfaction and nodded approvingly.

"To become a sage, one must first attain the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin. A sage is a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, but a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin is not a sage. In short, the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin is a cultivation realm, while the sage is a heavenly status. A Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin endures countless kalpas without perishing, but is not truly immortal and indestructible. Only after becoming a sage, blessed by the Heavenly Dao, can one achieve true immortality and indestructibility!"

"As for how to become a sage..."

Hongjun paused, then took out an object before continuing: "Only by fusing with the Primordial Purple Qi can one become a sage."

Everyone's eyes immediately turned to the object in Hongjun's hand, which emitted a purple glow.

Upon it, the laws of the Heavenly Dao coiled around, and a single glance was enough to make one sink into its profound mysteries.

A fine treasure!

That was the first thought of everyone present.

Hongjun was quite pleased with the fiery gazes of the crowd, but when he saw Styx, he was taken aback again.

Styx's eyes were as calm as still water, seemingly completely unmoved by the Primordial Purple Qi in Hongjun's hand.

Was Styx uninterested in the Primordial Purple Qi?

Of course not.

Although he wouldn't use the Primordial Purple Qi to attain the Dao, Styx was still somewhat curious about it.

But he was certain that the seat on the futon was equivalent to the Primordial Purple Qi.

So the Primordial Purple Qi would surely include a share for him.

Di Jun spoke up to ask: "May I ask the sage, who among us can obtain this Primordial Purple Qi?"

Hongjun temporarily set aside his thoughts about Styx and replied: "Those with the affinity may obtain it."

The crowd couldn't help but look at the six seated on the futons.

"Those with the affinity"—it was hard not to associate that with the futon seats.

Hongjun said: "In heaven and earth, nine is the ultimate number, so there are nine strands of Primordial Purple Qi in total. Earlier, when This Daoist attained the Dao, one strand was used, and another is a thread of hope, not easily revealed to the world. Thus, there are still seven strands of Primordial Purple Qi in heaven and earth."

As he spoke, Hongjun directly produced six strands of Primordial Purple Qi.

Though they had already guessed that the six strands were for the six on the futons, the others couldn't help but fantasize.

What if!

But Hongjun directly shattered their fantasies.

"Styx, are you willing to enter under my tutelage?"

Hongjun called Styx's name first, which caught Styx somewhat off guard.

Styx was startled for a moment, but still replied bluntly: "This Humble One is unwilling."

Entering under Hongjun's tutelage brought him no benefit, and instead he would have to be directed by Hongjun. He would have to be a fool to agree.

But in the eyes of others, that wasn't the case at all!

This was a sage taking on a disciple! The others wished they could replace Styx and be accepted as disciples by the sage.

Even Laozi couldn't help but shoot a jealous glance at Styx at this moment.

As for Styx's refusal, Hongjun had expected it, so his expression didn't change much.

He still wore an inscrutable look, then let out a sigh.

With a light tap of his fingertip, a strand of Primordial Purple Qi flew before Styx.

"Very well, this strand of Primordial Purple Qi is granted to you!"

At this move, the crowd erupted in uproar.

Someone immediately stood up to object: "Sage, Styx has shown such disrespect to you, why grant him the Primordial Purple Qi!"

Styx immediately shot a murderous glare at the speaker.

The man trembled under Styx's gaze but still forced himself to hold firm.

Styx recognized this man—a Great Golden Immortal under the Demon Race!

It seemed Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were quite displeased that he had obtained the Primordial Purple Qi.

But that was understandable.

If Styx hadn't obtained the Primordial Purple Qi, wouldn't the others below the futons have had a chance?

But understanding didn't mean Styx would allow such a thing to happen.

Styx gave a cold laugh, then shot a chilling glance at Di Jun.

He wouldn't vent his anger on that Great Golden Immortal; that would be pointless.

If he wanted to vent, he would go after Di Jun behind it all.

Of course, not now.

If he dared to make a move in the Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun would have a justifiable reason to suppress him.

Styx would not be that foolish.

Hongjun paid no heed to the words of that Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

On second thought, it made sense.

Not to mention that the Primordial Purple Qi was to be obtained by those who sat upon the futons, not designated by Hongjun.

That person's objection carried no weight whatsoever.

Even if it were designated by Hongjun, since Hongjun had already spoken and given it to Styx, for someone to jump out and oppose him—was that not a slap to Hongjun's face?

Hongjun's disregard was like a slap thrown back at Di Jun and that Demon Race Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

And because they had spoken out in opposition, they had also incurred Styx's wrath.

This move of theirs could be said to gain nothing and lose much.

Hongjun then turned his gaze to Laozi: "Laozi, you are the foremost of the Three Pure Ones. In the future, there is a great merit to be accomplished. Are you willing to enter This Daoist's sect?"

Laozi hesitated slightly.

If Hongjun had first spoken to take him as a disciple, Laozi would have agreed without a second thought.

But Hongjun had first taken Styx as a disciple before this, and had been refused.

And if he agreed now, would that not mean he was picking up what Styx had discarded?

Yet the temptation of the Primordial Purple Qi was truly difficult for him to resist.

Hongjun's gaze toward Laozi began to turn cold.

Styx dared to refuse him, perhaps because he had the Heavenly Dao backing him.

And now even Laozi dared to hesitate!

Where would Hongjun's face be placed?

If not for the fact that the Three Pure Ones were the incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, he would not have regarded them highly at all.

And yet they dared to put on airs before him.

Hmph!

But after hesitating for a moment, Laozi ultimately agreed, which improved Hongjun's expression considerably.

Hongjun also bestowed upon him a strand of Primordial Purple Qi.

Then Hongjun followed the same method, taking Yuanshi and Tongtian as his second and third disciples.

Nüwa became his fourth disciple.

After that, Hongjun paused and said nothing.

This made Kunpeng, who sat in the last seat, feel a jolt in his heart.

Could it be that the sage would not take any more disciples?

Fortunately, in the end, Hongjun still gave Kunpeng a strand of Primordial Purple Qi, though he did not say whether Kunpeng could become a sage.

As for those before him, except for Styx, Hongjun had clearly taken them as disciples and stated that they could become sages.

The gazes of the crowd toward Kunpeng instantly turned subtle.

But Kunpeng, immersed in his joy, noticed nothing at all.

In his view, now that he had the Primordial Purple Qi, even if the sage had not taken him as a disciple, he still had a guarantee!

And he was not the only one who had not been taken as a disciple by the sage.

Was there not still Styx?

Kunpeng's joy formed a stark contrast with the desolation of the other great powers in the Purple Cloud Palace.

"Wah wah wah!"

A crying sound came, and everyone was startled.

The sound came from the direction of Jie Yin and Zhun Ti. The two were kowtowing and bowing as they said: "Sage, please see clearly! We two brothers have come from the Western Lands, single-mindedly seeking the Dao! We beg the sage to take pity and bestow the Primordial Purple Qi!"

The others all moved away, clearly looking down on the two for behaving this way.

And had they not seen that the six strands of Primordial Purple Qi had already been bestowed? Where would there be any extra Primordial Purple Qi for these two?

Just as everyone was silently sneering at Jie Yin and Zhun Ti for being petty, Hongjun sighed and actually took out a new strand of Primordial Purple Qi.

Everyone's eyes went wide. There really was more?