Hongjun: Would You Be Willing to Govern the World?

The Purple Heaven Palace fell silent in an instant. Every powerful figure's gaze fixed on the brothers Di Jun and Tai Yi.

Most of them were taking pleasure in their misfortune.

Jieyin and Zhunti nearly laughed out loud.

These Golden Crows were so bold!

Had they always been this bold?

Perhaps they'd spent so long on the Sun Star that their brains had been scorched.

Hongjun's brows drew together, and an imperceptible trace of anger flashed in his eyes.

"This wretch!"

Hadn't he made himself clear enough? There were only two viable paths, and Di Jun had asked about three?

Was he hard of hearing, or was he deliberately looking for trouble?

Or was he still clinging to the idea of Proving the Dao via Law?

If he hadn't considered how important Di Jun and Tai Yi were, Hongjun might have sent these two useless fools away on the spot, just to spare himself the sight of them.

He had focused on the Way of the Three Corpses to pass down his own lineage and prepare for the future.

And in front of everyone, Di Jun had actually asked such a question.

Hongjun knew full well which of the three methods of proving the Dao was strongest. Naturally, this wasn't the time to say it.

So he smiled faintly and gave an answer all the same:

"The Dao has no precedence, and methods have no strengths or weaknesses. The only true strength is one's own!"

"So the three methods of proving the Dao are neither stronger nor weaker than one another. In the end, it all depends on oneself!"

Hongjun couldn't bring himself to bluntly praise the Way of the Three Corpses as the strongest, so he gave an ambiguous answer.

"Thank you for your explanation, Sage."

Di Jun's eyes lit up, and he said no more, sitting obediently in his place.

But in his heart, another scene was unfolding.

What Hongjun said had something in common with what Third Brother had told them.

"Only one's own strength is the greatest strength, and Proving the Dao via Law is about cultivating oneself."

Most importantly, Third Brother had once said that Proving the Dao via Law was the strongest path, free from all restraints, because it cultivated the power within oneself.

The other paths to becoming a Sage required entrusting one's soul to the Heavenly Dao. That meant being bound. How could a Sage constrained by such shackles be called strong?

Hongjun had clearly not told them the truth.

Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged a silent glance. At that moment, their thoughts were much the same.

What a Sage said wasn't necessarily right. He had claimed that the path of Proving the Dao via Law was already severed.

Little did he know, their Third Brother Ling Xiao was already close to becoming a Primordial Origin Golden Immortal.

Slowly, Hongjun's prestige in their hearts no longer seemed so lofty.

What he said simply wasn't convincing.

The brothers were both thinking of getting up and going home. They had no inclination to keep listening.

After Di Jun's little interruption, Hongjun continued with a detailed explanation of Slashing the Three Corpses.

The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin and Zhunti, Nuwa and Fuxi, Kunpeng, Duke of the East, and the other powerful figures all felt something stir within them, and tried to sever the three corpses inside themselves.

Some of them had already reached the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm. After hearing the method for attaining Quasi-Sagehood, they naturally began cultivating it.

Those who hadn't yet reached perfection could only listen for now and commit the teachings to memory.

Some rejoiced while others worried, because not every powerful figure possessed an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

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Throughout this time, Hongjun remained seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, showing no intention of leaving.

The powerful figures who hadn't begun cultivating immediately realized that the Sage still had more to say!

Sure enough.

After a long while, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes. His gaze swept across the assembled figures, and he spoke unhurriedly.

"Now, in the Primordial World, ever since the Dragon-Han Catastrophe, all living beings have found it difficult to seek the Dao, while the order of Heaven and Earth remains unsettled. I intend to select those with a destined connection to establish the Heavenly Court, govern the Celestial Sphere, oversee the world, and stabilize order in the Primordial World."

As soon as he said this, the crowd below erupted in a clamor of discussion.

Establish the Heavenly Court, govern the Celestial Sphere, oversee the world—who among the ambitious wouldn't want that position?

Such authority would be second only to the Sages. From then on, one could stride unchecked throughout the Primordial World.

Of course, some clear-headed figures weren't optimistic. Setting everything else aside, the Witch Clan alone would be a headache.

How could that bunch, with nothing but fighting and Slaughter on their minds, be easy to govern?

Nuwa's gaze shifted. Establishing the Heavenly Court was much like stepping forward to unite the Ten Thousand Races.

She now had powerful figures from the Ten Thousand Races like Baize, Jimeng, Guiche, and Jiuying supporting her. If the Dao Ancestor gave his approval as well, everything would be twice as easy.

Nuwa wasn't the only one thinking this. Baize and the others exchanged excited glances, practically itching to step forward and ask the Dao Ancestor to entrust the role to Nuwa.

Meanwhile, Kunpeng was secretly contacting powerful figures from the Ten Thousand Races. He wanted that position.

He hadn't dared before because he lacked a legitimate claim. But now that the Dao Ancestor had issued his decree, who would dare disobey?

Even the Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, and Zhunti felt tempted. The position was simply too lofty, second only to the Dao Ancestor and above all living beings.

Hongjun shifted his gaze and looked inconspicuously at Di Jun and Tai Yi.

He had no choice. These two Golden Crows were simply too unambitious, and he needed to give them a push.

At that moment, he wished more than anything that Di Jun and Tai Yi would step forward and willingly take on this great responsibility.

But the brothers were focused on getting the lecture over with so they could slip away. They had no interest in worrying about any of this.

Besides, before they came, Ling Xiao had warned them not to accept any benefits. They remembered that all too well.

Under the expectant eyes of the crowd, Hongjun pretended to survey the assembled figures. In the end, by the purest coincidence, his gaze came to rest on Di Jun and Tai Yi.

What perfect timing!

"Di Jun, Tai Yi, you are Sun Star Gods, born with the fate of emperors. Would you be willing to establish the Heavenly Court and govern the world?"

The powerful figures below nearly exploded. Anger surged into their eyes as they all turned to stare at Di Jun and Tai Yi.

How were they inferior to these two birds?

In terms of lineage or cultivation, Di Jun and Tai Yi were nowhere near the very top. Why should such a great benefit fall to them?

It made no sense. None at all!

Jieyin, Zhunti, and the Three Pure Ones looked even more displeased, since they had all had conflicts with the Golden Crows.

Kunpeng was so furious his scalp tingled, even angrier than when someone had taken his seat during the first lecture.

If top-tier figures like the Three Pure Ones had been chosen, he might have found it easier to accept. After all, they were stronger than him.

But Di Jun and Tai Yi hadn't even reached the peak of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm. What right did they have to lord it over him?

Nuwa felt a little disappointed, but she didn't grow jealous. As for Baize and the others, they had already started planning how to join her.

At that moment, Di Jun and Tai Yi finally recovered from their shock.

Was Hongjun actually serious?

Was such a great benefit really going to fall into their laps?

Had these been the Di Jun and Tai Yi of the original story, they would already have been so overjoyed that they'd forgotten themselves and dropped to their knees to thank him.

But after Ling Xiao's persuasion and warnings, they naturally weren't going to agree.

So, under the envious and jealous gazes of the gathered figures, the brothers cupped their hands. Di Jun spoke:

"Replying to the Sage, our magic power is weak and our temperaments carefree. We're truly unfit for such a great responsibility."

"Please withdraw your decree, Sage!"