Dijun was left speechless, his face turning ashen in an instant.
"Talk to the Heavenly Dao? If he had that ability, would he be sitting here listening to you preach?"
"Pfft!"
"Hahaha! That's hilarious!"
Unrestrained laughter rang out from the Ancestral Witches' side.
Zhurong slapped his thigh and pointed at Dijun, laughing. "That feathered bird thinks he can reason with the Dao Ancestor? Did he get his head caught in a door?"
Tianhao chimed in, his voice as deep as a bell. "Exactly! If the Dao Ancestor says you are, then you are—even if you aren't! Don't like it? Swallow it!"
"You!"
Dijun seethed with rage and whipped around, True Sun Fire flickering in his eyes.
"What? Looking for a fight?"
Zhurong took a step forward, flames surging around him. He didn't back down an inch.
Just as they were about to come to blows, Hongjun Dao Ancestor gave a soft cough.
"Ahem."
With that single sound, the flames around Zhurong went out at once, and the fire in Dijun's eyes vanished.
An invisible pressure blanketed the hall, leaving everyone struggling to breathe.
The two fell silent, not daring to act out again.
From beginning to end, the six people seated on the Prayer Mats at the very front had not reacted at all.
The Three Pure Ones sat with their eyes closed, as if asleep.
Nüwa seemed lost in thought, her mind wandering far away.
Jieyin and Zunti wore expressions that said, "This has nothing to do with me."
It seemed that, to them, the position of Immortal Chief was no more than a fleeting cloud—not worth sparing even a moment's thought.
The disturbance was over.
Hongjun Dao Ancestor spoke again. "My first lecture is over. You may all leave."
With that, his figure slowly faded and disappeared from the high platform.
As soon as the Dao Ancestor left, the atmosphere inside Zixiao Palace grew lively.
"Congratulations, fellow Daoist Dongwanggong! Congratulations!"
"Lady Xi Wangmu, we hope you'll look after us in the future!"
A large crowd of immortals immediately swarmed around the newly appointed Dongwanggong and Xi Wangmu, surrounding them so completely that they were nearly trapped. One compliment after another poured from their lips.
Clutching the Dragon Head Cane, Dongwanggong beamed with pride and basked in everyone's adulation.
Watching from behind, Xuanqing could only shake his head.
That guy was probably getting carried away. Being singled out by the Dao Ancestor looked like a heaven-sent opportunity, but it also put him in the line of fire.
"Xuanqing, let's go."
Yuanshi Tianzun's calm voice sounded in his mind.
"Yes, Master."
Xuanqing answered at once and followed Yuanshi Tianzun, ready to leave this place of trouble.
The master and disciple passed through the noisy crowd without drawing much attention.
But just as they were about to walk out of Zixiao Palace, a cold gaze settled on Xuanqing's back.
Dijun stood where he was, his face dark as he watched the immortals fawn over Dongwanggong. The anger in his heart burned hotter by the moment.
"Brother, Yuanshi's disciple is leaving," Eastern Emperor Taiyi reminded him.
At that, Dijun's gaze locked onto Xuanqing's retreating figure, turning dangerously cold.
He had lost face in Zixiao Palace today.
As for that old fellow Kunpeng, he was powerful and one of the Primordial Continent's renowned strategists. If they could bind him firmly to the Yao Clan's cause, their strength would increase tremendously.
After a moment's thought, a flash of murderous intent crossed Dijun's eyes.
"Taiyi, send word. Have Baize and the others get ready."
Eastern Emperor Taiyi's heart stirred. "Brother, you mean..."
"What if he's Yuanshi? He can protect him for a time, but not forever!" Dijun said coldly. "As long as we do it cleanly, even the Three Pure Ones won't find anything to pin on us!"
Xuanqing had no idea that the two emperors of the Yao Clan had set their sights on him.
At that moment, he was following Yuanshi Tianzun through Chaos, speeding toward the Primordial Continent.
The speed of a Da Luo Golden Immortal was far beyond anything he could imagine.
The chaotic currents rushed past them, and countless shattered fragments of worlds flashed by.
Before long, the familiar aura of Honghuang washed over them.
The majestic Kunlun Mountain appeared before them once more.
Yuanshi Tianzun brought Xuanqing straight to the bamboo grove below Jade Void Palace without stopping.
"We're back."
Looking at the many Spiritual Roots flourishing before him, Yuanshi Tianzun wore a faint smile.
Xuanqing gazed at the place where his original body had once stood, his heart full of emotion.
When he had left, he had still been an Earth Immortal who had yet to take human form.
Now that he was back, he had reached the late stage of the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal realm.
"Master, this disciple..."
Xuanqing was about to express his gratitude, but Yuanshi Tianzun waved a hand.
"Your cultivation has advanced greatly this time, but your foundation is still somewhat unstable. You must go into seclusion and fully digest the Dao Ancestor's teachings to consolidate your realm."
"Yes, I understand, Master."
Xuanqing answered respectfully.
Yuanshi Tianzun nodded, then added, "Zixiao Palace is full of people, and its entanglements are complicated. Now that the Dao Ancestor's lecture is over, you needn't go back unless it's necessary."
Xuanqing's heart tightened.
His master's words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.
He thought of the hostile looks from Dijun and Kunpeng, and of the Karma that had formed between Jieyin, Zunti, and Kunpeng after Hong Yun gave up his seat.
It did seem that way.
"I'll obey your instructions, Master."
Yuanshi Tianzun gave him one last look and cautioned him, "Focus on your cultivation. With me here, no one in Kunlun Mountain can harm you."
Then his figure vanished as he returned to Jade Void Palace.
Xuanqing stood where he was, warmth welling up inside him.
Having such a powerful and protective master was truly the greatest blessing in Honghuang.
Xuanqing took a deep breath, savoring the abundant spiritual energy of Kunlun Mountain, then turned and entered his cave abode to begin another round of secluded cultivation.
He needed to turn everything he had gained from the lecture into strength as quickly as possible!
His trip to Zixiao Palace had yielded so much. Not only had his cultivation soared from Xuan Immortal Peak to the late stage of the Great Yi Mysterious Immortal realm, but, more importantly, he had heard a Sage's teachings and gained a clear understanding of the path ahead.
That was one hell of a good deal!
He sat cross-legged on a Prayer Mat, feeling the surging magical power within him. His realm had risen, but he could tell that his foundation was unstable, like fruit forced to ripen too soon—shiny on the outside, but still a little unripe within.
"I have to go into seclusion and fully digest the laws the Dao Ancestor taught."
Xuanqing steadied himself and prepared to begin his retreat. Just then, his divine sense stirred, and an object flew out of his storage space, hovering in midair.
It was golden all over, both solid and insubstantial, mysterious beyond measure.
This Innate Merit Treasure had taken the initiative to follow him at Kunlun Mountain, but he still hadn't had the chance to refine it.
Xuanqing gazed at the Innate Merit Treasure, his eyes burning with excitement. This was a Merit Supreme Treasure—one that let its wielder kill without incurring Karma and offered peerless defense.
He reached out to refine it.
But halfway there, he suddenly stopped.
His mind raced.
"This is an Innate Merit Treasure! The celestial signs triggered when I start refining it will be impossible to miss."
He recalled the ill-intentioned looks Kunpeng and Dijun had given him outside Zixiao Palace.
"Who knows how many eyes in Honghuang are watching treasures like this? If I make such a huge commotion in my cave, it'll be like writing 'I've got a treasure—come rob me!' across my forehead."
"If that draws a horde of old monsters, even if Master can protect me, I'll still be inviting countless problems."
The thought sent a shiver of dread through Xuanqing.
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