He was an old Daoist with a plain, weathered face, showing neither sorrow nor joy.
His eyes seemed to contain the Three Thousand Great Daos and the rise and fall of the universe.
"I am Hongjun."
Those four simple words rang out like the resonant voice of the Great Dao, filling all of Zixiao Palace.
"Now that I have become a Sage, mindful of Pangu's virtue in creating the world and the hardship all living beings in Honghuang face in seeking the Dao, I shall expound upon the Great Dao for three thousand years."
Hongjun's gaze swept over everyone below, then settled on the two Attendants standing beside him.
"These are the Attendants at my side, Haotian and Yaochi."
They were a golden boy and a jade maiden, appearing no older than seven or eight. Yet their brows and eyes held a spiritual air, and they had already reached the Golden Immortal realm.
Hongjun continued, "I shall expound upon my Dao in three sessions, each lasting three thousand years. How much you comprehend will depend on your own affinity. Today marks the first lecture."
When he finished speaking, he said no more. He closed his eyes and began to utter the words of truth.
"...&...%#%...%￥&*(Since the lecture was so profound, it's been replaced with gibberish.)"
In an instant, wondrous visions filled all of Zixiao Palace!
Heavenly flowers rained down, and Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth. Dao Runes appeared from thin air, illustrating Earth Water Fire Wind and the Five Elements of Yin and Yang. The profound Dao sounds seemed to cross through space and time, pointing straight to the origin of the Great Dao.
The Three Pure Ones and the others seated at the very front listened as if entranced. Auspicious Clouds churned above their heads, Three Flowers gathered at their crowns, and the Five Qi returned to their origin.
Those seated farther back furrowed their brows, smiled with delight, or stared in confusion, clearly unable to understand.
But Xuanqing's experience was different.
The three lectures Hongjun would give covered all cultivation methods before the Da Luo Golden Immortal realm, the Quasi-Saint method of attaining the Dao through Slay Three Corpses, and the opportunity to become a Sage.
These unfathomably profound laws were obscure and difficult to understand to everyone else, but to Xuanqing, they were exceptionally clear.
His true form was Purifying Mystic Bamboo, a darling of the spiritual energy and merit of Heaven and Earth. By nature, he was attuned to the Great Dao.
It was as if those laws of the Great Dao weren't being heard by him, but were instead pouring into his body of their own accord, merging with him.
As he comprehended the Great Dao, Xuanqing's cultivation began to climb without his even noticing!
Five hundred years into the lecture, he broke through the bottleneck of the Xuan Immortal Peak!
A thousand years into the lecture, he reached the peak of the early stage of Great Yi Mysterious Immortal!
Two thousand years into the lecture, he reached the middle stage of Great Yi Mysterious Immortal!
Three thousand years into the lecture, he stopped at the late stage of Great Yi Mysterious Immortal!
Vast magical power surged through Xuanqing's body, but he remained immersed in the Great Dao, oblivious to both himself and the world around him.
After an unknown length of time, the profound Dao sounds came to an abrupt halt.
Hongjun Dao Ancestor's voice rang out once more. "The first lecture has ended. I shall open the lecture again in three thousand years."
His voice roused everyone from their immersion in the Dao.
Xuanqing, too, slowly came to. He felt refreshed, his primordial spirit clearer than ever, and his understanding of the Great Dao had risen by more than one level.
He instinctively examined himself inwardly, and froze.
"I... I broke through to the late stage of Great Yi Mysterious Immortal?"
Xuanqing was stunned as he looked within himself.
He could clearly feel that the magical power in his body was beyond anything the Mystic Immortal realm could match. His primordial spirit had become several times more refined, and his sense of the laws of Heaven and Earth was clearer than ever before.
He had crossed an entire major realm!
Everyone knew that the further one traveled along the path of cultivation, the more difficult it became.
Though everyone seated in Zixiao Palace had at least reached the Golden Immortal realm, hadn't they all cultivated for countless yuanhui to achieve what they had today?
Take Kunpeng, for example. He had been stuck at Perfected Grand Unity Golden Immortal for who knew how many tens of thousands of years. The Da Luo Golden Immortal realm was always just within reach, yet he had never managed to break through that final barrier.
"Is... is this the power of a Sage's lecture?"
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Xuanqing was astonished, and a surge of joy rose within him.
Double Merit Fortune, combined with a Sage's lecture—the effect was an absolute game-changer!
He quietly glanced at his master before him. Yuanshi Tianzun was still seated with his eyes closed, as though nothing had happened.
But Xuanqing could sense that the invisible Dao Rhyme around his master was no lie.
While everyone was still savoring the lingering resonance of the Great Dao and examining what they had gained, Hongjun Dao Ancestor's dispassionate voice rang out again from the high platform.
"You are all Innate Godly Beings of Honghuang. Each of you has advanced through this lecture. Good."
The Dao Ancestor's voice reached everyone's ears, lifting their spirits. They bowed in unison.
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for your lecture!"
Hongjun nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the three thousand living beings below. He continued, "Immortal cultivators are now scattered throughout Honghuang, yet they are like loose sand, without a leader. They often fight, adding needless slaughter and going against the harmony of Heaven."
Everyone's hearts stirred, and they pricked up their ears.
Was something major about to happen?
"Under the Heavenly Dao, a leader of the immortals must be appointed to govern the male and female immortals of Honghuang, harmonize Yin and Yang, and establish rules to reduce conflict."
The moment he said this, an uproar broke out in the hall.
To govern the immortals of Honghuang?
That was immense authority!
Countless powerful beings immediately began turning this over in their minds. Dijun and Taiyi in particular exchanged a glance, their eyes gleaming.
They were planning to establish the Yao Clan's Heavenly Court and rule over the Myriad Races. If they could claim the position of leader of the immortals, wouldn't their rule be justified by right?
On the high platform, Hongjun Dao Ancestor paid no heed to the commotion below.
He raised a hand and pointed. Two streaks of mysterious light shot from his fingertip, landing on a man and a woman in the crowd.
The man wore an emperor's robe and had a dignified face. His aura was pure Yang to the extreme. He was none other than Dongwanggong, a powerful independent cultivator.
The woman was noble and graceful, with the Taiyin Qi flowing around her. She was Xi Wangmu, one of the Taiyin Star Lords.
Enveloped by the mysterious light, they first froze, then broke into delighted smiles.
"Dongwanggong, I bestow upon you the Dragon Head Cane and appoint you Head of Male Immortals. I hope you will govern the male immortals of Honghuang well and urge them toward goodness."
"Xi Wangmu, I bestow upon you the Pure Water Bowl and appoint you Head of Female Immortals. I hope you will devote yourself to educating the female immortals of Honghuang and accumulating merit."
Hongjun's voice was like an edict from the Heavenly Dao, admitting no objection.
An ancient wooden staff and a sparkling bowl appeared from thin air and fell into Dongwanggong's and Xi Wangmu's hands, radiating the rich aura of Innate Spiritual Treasures.
"Your disciples, Dongwanggong and Xi Wangmu, thank you, Dao Ancestor!"
Overjoyed, the two hurriedly knelt and kowtowed, their voices trembling with excitement.
Some of the powerful beings around them were envious, others jealous, but most were unconvinced.
Why them?
In terms of cultivation, Dongwanggong and Xi Wangmu were both top-tier powerful beings, but they weren't the only ones stronger than most.
As for influence, they couldn't compare to the Yao Clan or the Witch Clan.
"Dao Ancestor!"
A voice broke the silence. Dijun stepped forward and bowed to Hongjun.
"Your disciple believes the position of leader of the immortals is of great importance. It should go to someone of both virtue and ability, with formidable strength. To decide so hastily will surely make it difficult to win the respect of the masses!"
His words were polite, but his challenge was unmistakable.
How was he, Dijun, inferior to Dongwanggong?
Hongjun Dao Ancestor's gaze fell on him without the slightest hint of emotion.
"This is the will of Heaven. It was not my decision."
Those eight simple words carried an irresistible majesty.
The meaning was clear: This is what the Heavenly Dao wants, not what I personally want. If you have a problem with it, take it up with the Heavenly Dao.
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