Hongjun paid no heed to everyone's reaction and continued, "Heaven has decreed that I take disciples today. There shall be six!"
At those words, the great powers below were instantly dumbstruck. It was as if they saw their own hopes shattering one by one.
So the so-called "first batch" of disciples numbered only six?
There were three thousand of them here, and Hongjun would take only six disciples. How were they supposed to divide the spots?
They had assumed the first batch would include many disciples, giving them a chance. But with only six spots, their hopes looked bleak.
For a moment, all the great powers felt uneasy. That number was far too sensitive—so sensitive they hardly dared to contemplate it.
Hongjun took in the commotion below without a ripple of emotion. Then he turned his gaze to the Three Pure Ones seated before him.
"Three Pure Ones, you are incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, endowed with immense merit for creating the world. You have the potential to become Sages, and shall be my personal disciples."
At his words, the Three Pure Ones' expressions shifted, their gazes growing complicated. Yuanshi in particular was so proud that the thought of becoming another's disciple filled him with deep reluctance.
Hongjun glanced at the Three Pure Ones, naturally understanding what was on their minds. Then he raised a hand and turned it over. Seven streams of purple qi appeared in his palm, twisting and swirling.
"This is Primordial Violet Qi, the foundation of the Great Dao. If you obtain it and cultivate diligently, you may become Sages. I grant it to you today."
With that, he separated out three streams of Primordial Violet Qi and sent them before the Three Pure Ones.
The expressions of Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian shifted in an instant.