Merging with the Heavenly Dao

"Holy crap, what's this? The Dao Ancestor himself has stepped in and flipped the table?"

Well, that settles it. Ancestor Hong Yun's death tribulation is gone!

So the Dao Ancestor means to let the one destined to receive it obtain that Primordial Purple Qi.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor paid no heed to what the crowd was thinking. He continued, and his next words rang out beside every person's ears like a thunderclap.

"My lecture is now concluded. I shall merge with the Heavenly Dao to complete the work of creation. From this day forth, the Heavenly Dao is me, yet I am not the Heavenly Dao. Unless a great tribulation befalls Honghuang, Hongjun shall not appear."

Merge with Dao!

Everyone was deeply shaken.

"Teacher, your mercy is boundless!" The Three Thousand Guests of the Red Dust bowed as one.

They were all beings who had existed for countless eras. How could they not know what merging with Dao meant?

It meant that, from then on, the Primordial World would operate under the Heavenly Dao's own power. Hongjun Dao Ancestor, the supreme being who had personally intervened, would no longer do so. He would only favor the Mysterious Gate, openly or otherwise.

Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi exchanged a glance, seeing the same fervor in each other's eyes.

With the Dao Ancestor no longer looming over them, the Yao Clan could finally rise to greatness!

On the other side, the Twelve Ancestral Mages all wore solemn expressions. Though they neither revered Heaven and Earth nor paid their respects to the Dao Ancestor, Hongjun's very existence had been an invisible deterrent. Now that deterrent was gone, their ambition to rule Honghuang burned all the more fiercely.

For a moment, undercurrents stirred in Zixiao Palace as countless veiled divine thoughts crisscrossed the void.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor seemed not to notice the shift in the hall's atmosphere. His gaze swept over the six people below him.

"Taishang."

"This disciple is here." Taishang Laojun rose and bowed.

Hongjun waved his hand, and an incomparably profound scroll and a dainty, exquisite pagoda flew before Taishang.

Yin-Yang Dual Qi flowed across the scroll, as though it were unfolding the creation and destruction of the entire world. The pagoda was entirely dark yellow, and streams of merit aura hung from it, making it indestructible.

"This is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram. This is the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda. I bestow them upon you."

"Thank you, Teacher." Taishang Laojun calmly accepted the two treasures.

"Yuanshi."

"This disciple is here." Yuanshi Tianzun also rose.

An ancient, unadorned banner appeared in Hongjun's hand. He gave it a gentle shake, and all of Chaos trembled. Boundless chaotic sword qi burst forth, as if it would tear everything apart.

Standing behind them, Xuanqing felt a razor-sharp force sweep over him, making his soul sting.

Good heavens, so this is the Pangu Banner? The Primordial World's greatest offensive treasure truly lives up to its reputation! he marveled inwardly.

"This is the Pangu Banner. I bestow it upon you."

"Thank you, Teacher." Yuanshi Tianzun accepted it solemnly.

"Tongtian."

"This disciple is here!" Tongtian Cult Leader looked somewhat excited.

Four immortal swords brimming with murderous intent, along with a formation diagram, flew before him.

"This is the Zhuxian Sword Formation. It cannot be broken without four Sages. I bestow it upon you."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Tongtian Cult Leader was overjoyed. He was combative by nature, and this Slaughter Array suited him perfectly.

Next, Hongjun bestowed the Red Silk Ball and the Mountains and Rivers Sheji Chart upon Nüwa, the Twelve Grade Merit Golden Lotus upon Jieyin, and the Reinforcement Divine Pestle upon Zunti.

The six future Sages now all possessed treasures with which to suppress their fortunes.

The other mighty figures in the hall watched with burning envy. Kunpeng and Ancestor Minghe were especially jealous.

After distributing the treasures, Hongjun Dao Ancestor spoke again.

"In my travels through Honghuang, I once collected many spiritual treasures. Now that I am to merge with Dao, these worldly possessions are of no use to me."

He pointed toward the palace gates.

"Outside Zixiao Palace lies Treasure Distribution Cliff. All the treasures I collected are there. You may go and take them for yourselves. What treasures you obtain will depend on your own fate."

As soon as he finished speaking, most of the people in the hall, with only a few exceptions such as the Three Pure Ones, could no longer sit still.

The Dao Ancestor's collection! What grade of treasures must it contain?

"Whoosh!"

Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were the first to rush out, turning into two streaks of golden light as they sped toward Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Next came the Twelve Ancestral Mages, Kunpeng, Minghe, Zhenyuanzi... All the mighty figures surged out of Zixiao Palace, each trying to get ahead of the others.

And so, a grand treasure hunt began.

Yuanshi Tianzun turned to Xuanqing and asked, "Xuanqing, would you like to try your luck at Treasure Distribution Cliff?"

Xuanqing bowed and answered without hesitation, "In reply to Master, this disciple will not go."

"Oh? Why not?" Yuanshi Tianzun asked, somewhat surprised.

"Master has already obtained a supreme treasure like the Pangu Banner. As your First Disciple, I share in the honor. Though there are treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff, they also carry heavy Karma. My cultivation is still shallow. Rather than chase after worldly possessions, I would rather return to Kunlun Mountain to cultivate in peace and strengthen my foundation, so that I do not disappoint Master's high expectations."

Yuanshi Tianzun smiled when he heard this.

"Good! Well said! Not being swayed by worldly possessions is the very heart of the pursuit of the Dao."

Taishang Laojun, standing nearby, nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes. Tongtian Cult Leader laughed heartily. "Second Brother, your disciple truly has an admirable temperament!"

Soon, only Hongjun Dao Ancestor and the two Attendants at his side—Haotian and Yaochi—remained in Zixiao Palace.

The great hall stood empty and quiet.

Haotian and Yaochi watched Hongjun Dao Ancestor's figure, soon to merge with the Heavenly Dao and grow ever more detached. Their hearts were filled with confusion and unease.

They had served the Dao Ancestor for as long as they could remember, and Zixiao Palace had been their home. But now the Dao Ancestor was to merge with Dao, and the Three Thousand Guests of the Red Dust had dispersed. What were they to do?

Haotian summoned his courage, stepped forward, and knelt.

"Master, you're going to merge with Dao, so... what will Yaochi and I do afterward?" His voice trembled slightly.

Yaochi knelt beside him, her eyes reddening.

Hongjun Dao Ancestor looked down at the two Attendants who had followed him since the beginning of creation. At last, a hint of emotion stirred in his detached gaze.

"You foolish children, rise."

A gentle force lifted them to their feet.

"No feast lasts forever. My merging with the Heavenly Dao is inevitable. You cannot remain in Zixiao Palace forever, either."

"Then where can we go?" Yaochi asked softly.

"Go to Honghuang," Hongjun said slowly. "You have stayed by my side for too long. You have remained untouched by the world, but you also lack experience. Go. Walk the lands of Honghuang."

Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance, both at a loss.

Their cultivation was not weak, but they had never truly ventured into the world beyond.

Seeing their concern, Hongjun added, "If you encounter a life-threatening crisis beyond your ability to resolve, you may return to the palace for refuge."

Only then did Haotian and Yaochi feel somewhat reassured.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!"

Just as they were about to take their leave, Hongjun suddenly called out to Haotian.

"Haotian."

"What else do you command, Master?" Haotian hurriedly turned back.

"When you go to the mainland, pay close attention to one person."

"May I ask who you mean, Master?" Haotian was curious. Anyone the Dao Ancestor singled out personally was no ordinary person.

"The disciple who stood behind Yuanshi just now."

"Xuanqing?" Haotian recalled the young man, who looked refined and gentle, yet had already reached the Golden Immortal realm. He seemed vaguely familiar.

He asked, puzzled, "Master, why should I watch him? He is only one of Yuanshi's disciples."

Hongjun shook his head, his voice turning ethereal.