Third Lecture at Zixiao Palace

When Nuwa finished repairing her Primordial Spirit, only over a thousand years remained until Hong Jun's third sermon.

So after Nuwa left the Three Lights Divine Water Pool, Qing Xuan and the others were already preparing to head to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao Ancestor's final sermon.

But before setting out, Qing Xuan briefly instructed the other three. After all, this trip to the Purple Cloud Palace to hear the Dao was the true critical moment.

Qing Xuan had considered having Nuwa refuse the Primordial Violet Qi. Later generations all said the Primordial Violet Qi was Hong Jun's key to controlling the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao.

But if Nuwa refused the Primordial Violet Qi in the Purple Cloud Palace, it would inevitably arouse Hong Jun's suspicion. More importantly, Qing Xuan wasn't certain whether the Primordial Violet Qi was actually a virus.

So he only told Nuwa that no matter what she received in the Purple Cloud Palace, she should first store it inside the Mountain River Society Map.

After everything was settled, the four set out on the road to the Purple Cloud Palace. When they arrived, the gate was already open, and the cultivators who had heard the news had already entered.

The four nodded to each other, then made their way inside the Purple Cloud Palace, found their assigned seats, sat cross-legged, and waited for the Dao Ancestor to descend.

Qing Xuan also noticed that the cultivators who previously had no prayer mats hadn't come at all this time.

This struck Qing Xuan as strange. Even if they couldn't understand the Path of the Sages Hong Jun taught, cultivating in the Purple Cloud Palace yielded twice the results with half the effort.

So naturally, no one would willingly give up such a great opportunity. They wouldn't skip coming to the Purple Cloud Palace just because they couldn't understand.

Then there was only one truth: Hong Jun had used some method. Those cultivators without prayer mats simply couldn't find the Purple Cloud Palace's location.

"It seems the 'Three Thousand Purple Cloud Palace Guests' refers to the number present at the final session. Later generations thinking three thousand was just a vague number—that's inaccurate."

Just then, the Purple Cloud Palace's gate was closed by Haotian and Yaochi. This meant the number of attendees would not increase.

At the same time, Hong Jun had already appeared on the prayer mat. Without a single unnecessary word, he began directly expounding the Path of the Sages.

For a time, everyone listened with rapt absorption. As for how many truly understood, only they themselves knew.

In the blink of an eye, three thousand years passed. Hong Jun finally stopped preaching the Path of the Sages. At the same time, the phenomena within the Purple Cloud Palace vanished.

"After this third sermon ends, This Daoist will merge with the Dao. From now on, the Heavenly Dao is Hong Jun, but Hong Jun is not the Heavenly Dao."

"If you have anything you don't understand, you may ask, and This Daoist will do his best to resolve your doubts. After this, unless an Immeasurable Calamity occurs, Hong Jun will not emerge."

As soon as Hong Jun finished speaking, Laozi hastily asked, "Dao Ancestor, how many methods are there to become a Saint?"

Hong Jun replied, "There are three methods to become a Saint. Besides the Path of Severing Three Corpses that This Daoist has taught you, there are also Proving Dao by Force and Proving Dao by Merit."

"Proving Dao by Force means gathering countless Great Dao Laws into one body, forcibly breaking through the barrier, and proving Dao as a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin."

"Although Proving Dao by Force yields the strongest strength, unfortunately the Great Dao is not manifest now, and the Heavenly Dao has emerged. The probability of succeeding on this path is already extremely low."

"The Path of Severing Three Corpses, though inferior to Proving Dao by Force, is stronger than the last method, Proving Dao by Merit. To prove Dao by Merit, one must do things beneficial to the Primordial World and receive Heavenly Dao Merit as a reward."

"Moreover, the amount of Merit needed to prove Dao by Merit is beyond your imagination. So This Daoist does not wish for you to take this path."

Qing Xuan couldn't help thinking to himself: one path is impossible, another you don't want us to take—basically, you just want all Primordial World cultivators to cultivate your Path of Severing Three Corpses, don't you?

He grumbled inwardly, but his expression remained unchanged. He quietly watched the scene unfold.

Laozi thanked Hong Jun, then sat back down on his prayer mat. At the same time, Yuanshi Tianzun stood up, bowed to Hong Jun, and said, "Dao Ancestor, who in the Primordial World can prove Dao and become a Saint?"

Yuanshi Tianzun's question was even more direct, without any roundabout phrasing. But Hong Jun didn't seem displeased; instead, he replied, "In the Primordial World, nine is the extreme number, so there shall be eight Sages under This Daoist's tutelage. One Saint position is left behind, to give Primordial beings a chance of survival."

"The Three Pure Ones are transformed from Pangu's Three Souls. They possessed Heaven Opening Merit upon forming, so they can become Saints."

As he spoke, Hong Jun waved his hand, and three Violet Qi flew out, landing before the Three Pure Ones.

"This is the Foundation of the Great Dao, the Primordial Violet Qi. Those who obtain the Primordial Violet Qi can prove Dao and become Saints."

The Three Pure Ones showed joy, quickly accepted the Primordial Violet Qi, and bowed again to thank Hong Jun.

Hong Jun nodded, then waved his hand at the Three Pure Ones once more. The Taiji Diagram appeared before Laozi, the Pangu Banner appeared before Yuanshi Tianzun, and before Tongtian appeared a Formation Diagram wrapped around four swords.

"Laozi is the head of the Three Pure Ones. In the future, he will establish a Great Teaching to educate the Primordial World. He may be This Daoist's first disciple. I grant you the Innate Supreme Treasure Taiji Diagram to suppress the fortune of your Great Teaching."

Laozi quickly accepted the Taiji Diagram, respectfully performed the master-disciple ceremony to Hong Jun, and addressed him as Disciple paying respects to Master.

Hong Jun nodded, then turned his gaze to Yuanshi Tianzun. "Yuanshi, as This Daoist's second disciple, you will also establish a Great Teaching in the future. I grant you the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner to suppress the fortune of your Great Teaching."

Yuanshi Tianzun likewise performed the master-disciple ceremony to Hong Jun, then joyfully accepted the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner.

"Tongtian may be This Daoist's third disciple. You too will establish a Great Teaching in the future. I grant you the Immortal Slaying Four Swords to govern slaughter in the Primordial World. The Immortal Slaying Four Swords can form the Immortal Slaying Formation. When a Saint sets up the formation, it is Unbreakable by Four Saints."

As soon as Tongtian heard this, the entire Purple Cloud Palace erupted. What did it mean that when a Saint set up the formation, it was Unbreakable by Four Saints?

Didn't that mean that as long as Tongtian set up the formation, the Immortal Slaying Formation was an invincible existence? If Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun joined him, wouldn't the Three Pure Ones be able to run rampant through the Primordial World?

Hong Jun paid no attention to the shocked gazes of the crowd. He simply waved his hand at Nuwa, sending a Primordial Violet Qi and a great cauldron flying toward her.

"Nuwa will have a great merit in the future and can prove Dao to become a Saint. She may be This Daoist's fourth disciple. Today, I grant you the Foundation of the Great Dao, the Primordial Violet Qi, and the Innate Supreme Treasure Universe Cauldron."

Nuwa also respectfully bowed to Hong Jun, addressing him as Disciple greeting Teacher. She then put the Universe Cauldron and Primordial Violet Qi directly into the Mountain River Society Map.

Seeing that Hong Jun had stopped speaking, the Two Sages of the West grew anxious. Could it be that only the left prayer mats had Saint positions, while the right side had nothing?

Daoist Zhun Ti immediately knelt to the ground, tears streaming down his face, and said, "Please, Dao Ancestor, have pity. The West is barren. If there is no Saint to sit in charge, it will turn into a wasteland."

"Please grant us Saint positions, so that my senior brother and I can prove Dao and become Saints. Let us better sort out the veins of the West and strive for its early restoration to Great Prosperity."