Second Sermon, Red Cloud's Invitation

The great powers of the Primordial World emerged from their seclusion, hastening toward Purple Heaven Palace.

On Mount Sumeru in the West, Jieyin and Zhun Ti, who had been meditating in cultivation, were filled with sudden, boundless joy. Ever since they had reached the perfection of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, their cultivation had not made a single inch of progress.

Now that the Dao Ancestor's sermon was finally about to begin, the Quasi-Sage realm was within reach.

"Let us go, Senior Brother. Last time we were too slow and nearly failed to secure a seat; this time, we must be the first to arrive!"

Zhun Ti spoke with a smile, unable to suppress the joy in his heart.

He had waited far too long for this day.

"Indeed, we must arrive first this time to demonstrate our divine power!" Jieyin nodded, then stood up.

The two walked side by side, rushing toward Purple Heaven Palace.

On Mount Buzhou, Nuwa's cultivation had risen to the perfection of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm after these years of diligent practice, while Fuxi lagged slightly behind, reaching only the late stage without attaining the path of perfection.

In the North Sea, Kunpeng had been cultivating bitterly ever since he was startled by the aura of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, finally reaching the perfection of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm as the sermon drew near.

Old Ancestor Minghe, the Queen Mother of the West, Duke of the East, and other renowned powers had all reached either the late stage or the perfection of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Baize, Jimeng, Yingzhao, Guiche, Jiuying, and other famous pioneers of the anti-Witch movement had also reached the mid or late stages of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, trailing the top-tier powers by only a hair's breadth.

On the Lunar Star, Xi He and Changxi also awakened from their seclusion, their cultivation having reached the late stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Ever since they returned from the first sermon, their cultivation had been at the mid stage of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm; this nearly ten-thousand-year seclusion had allowed them to advance by a small realm.

"Sister, let us go."

In the Moon Palace, Changxi said to Xi He, unable to contain her impatience.

"Mm."

Xi He nodded, though before leaving, she could not help but cast a glance toward the Sun Star.

Strange, does he still not intend to go and listen to the sermon?

She thought with some bewilderment; perhaps he had missed the first one due to insufficient cultivation, but now, there was still no movement.

Was the Dao Ancestor's sermon truly so unappealing?

Xi He could not fathom it, so she simply stopped worrying and took her sister toward Purple Heaven Palace.

This time, the Dao Ancestor would be expounding upon the path of the Quasi-Sage. Although she was still some distance away from that realm, listening was better than not listening.

Once she cultivated to the perfection of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, she would be able to practice the path of the Quasi-Sage.

At that time, it would be an entirely new domain.

She refused to believe that after listening to the Dao Ancestor preach twice, she would still be unable to surpass that Golden Crow!

In an immortal mountain in the eastern part of the Primordial World.

Three vast and magnificent auras soared into the sky, rising straight up; the pressure of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal perfection shook all living things.

Through tireless effort, the Three Pure Ones had finally made their breakthrough.

This was much later than they had anticipated, the reason being that their foundations had been injured by the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

Healing those injuries alone had consumed far too much time.

After their breakthrough, the Three Pure Ones did not linger and immediately rushed to Purple Heaven Palace.

The Witch Clan.

Pangu Temple.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches, who were in the midst of a council, also sensed the auras of the Three Pure Ones.

"Those three shameless things actually broke through to the perfection of the Zenith Heaven?"

Qiangliang roared in a rage, finding it hard to believe; even after being suppressed by them to such a degree, those three old scoundrels had still managed to reach perfection.

He himself was still a step away from perfection even now.

It had to be said that ever since they had suppressed the Three Pure Ones, their own fortune seemed to have increased significantly, even accelerating their cultivation progress.

"They have come out at just the right time. Let us intercept and kill the Three Pure Ones so they cannot reach Purple Heaven Palace and die on the road!" Zhu Jiuyin said coldly, leaving no room for negotiation.

"There is no need; it is already too late to act now!"

Dijiang said calmly, unless they could act as they had last time—catching them off guard and sealing off the Three Pure Ones' path of retreat entirely.

Without foolproof preparation, it was not so simple to finish off the Three Pure Ones.

"Big Brother, if we wait for the Three Pure Ones to return from Purple Heaven Palace having attained the Quasi-Sage realm, what shall we do then?" Xuanming asked with some concern.

Her worry drew agreement from the other Ancestral Witches.

When their realms were similar, they could naturally manipulate the situation by outnumbering their opponents, but if the opponent's realm were far higher than their own, it would be difficult to maintain an advantage.

"Do not worry, for your Big Brother is about to take that step."

Dijiang said with a smile, and immediately, a vast, boundless aura—vague yet present—emanated from him.

It seemed to have already transcended the scope of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

"Big Brother, are you about to attain the Quasi-Sage realm?"

The Ancestral Witches were overjoyed; no wonder their eldest brother was so composed—he was on the verge of reaching the Quasi-Sage realm.

"Indeed, I am only a step away and can break through at any moment," Dijiang said with confidence.

"The luck we seized by suppressing the Three Pure Ones has truly accelerated our cultivation speed."

"This upcoming sermon at Purple Heaven Palace is an opportunity for our Witch Clan. While the great powers are away, we shall rapidly expand our territory and seize resources!"

"Once that is done, you all will have the chance to reach the Quasi-Sage realm as well. When that time comes, even if the Three Pure Ones increase their cultivation, what is there to fear?"

Dijiang laid out his thoughts and his plans for the future in their entirety.

The eyes of the Ancestral Witches lit up as if they had been struck by a bolt of enlightenment, and they were instantly invigorated.

If that day truly arrived, who in the entire Primordial World could stand against the Twelve Ancestral Witches?

As Ancestral Witches, they cultivated their physical bodies and the power of laws; within the same realm, they rarely had any rivals.

As long as they continued to expand their territory, fight for resources, and strengthen their cultivation, they would remain invincible.

Just as the Ancestral Witches were discussing these matters, Houtu, who had remained silent until now, suddenly spoke up.

"Eldest Brother, I wish to go to Purple Heaven Palace to listen to the sermon."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent for a moment before erupting into an uproar, filled entirely with voices of opposition.

"Little Sister, you said yourself last time that Hongjun's sermon is useless to us. Why go and listen?"

"We are already mortal enemies with the Three Pure Ones. What if they do something to you?"

Dijiang asked with a stern face, wondering why she was running around instead of attending to proper business; if she had this much free time, she should be out conquering more territory.

Houtu braced herself and explained, "Perhaps the path to the Quasi-Sage realm might be useful to us after all. Besides listening to the sermon, I can also gain a clearer understanding of the strength of those great powers."

"Do not worry about the danger; they would not dare act recklessly at Purple Heaven Palace. Once the sermon concludes, you all can simply come to meet me."

In the end, she was still unwilling to give up and wanted to listen to the Dao once more.

"Go, then. Go."

Dijiang understood Houtu's temperament and decided not to try and persuade her further.

Sun Star.

The discussion of the Dao, which had lasted for a thousand years, finally came to an end.

Everyone had benefited immensely from this exchange.

They had originally wanted to continue, but with the sermon at Purple Heaven Palace imminent, no matter how much they discussed, they could not surpass the Dao Ancestor. They knew how to weigh the importance of things.

"Many thanks to both fellow Daoists; I have benefited greatly from this discussion!" Di Jun said gratefully.

"No need for formalities. The sermon is about to begin. Fellow Daoist Three Crows, shall we travel there together?" Red Cloud said with a smile.

As soon as these words were spoken, the gazes of Di Jun and Tai Yi turned simultaneously toward Ling Xiao.