Hongjun Attains Sainthood and Preaches, Facing a Choice

A sudden voice swept across the Primordial Land, resounding above the clouds, vast and boundless, reaching every corner of the world.

Golden flowers fell from the heavens, and countless golden lotuses sprouted from the earth, filling the air with a refreshing fragrance and swirling mists.

Above the horizon, a figure flickered in and out of existence, enveloped by endless streams of Profound Yellow energy and golden light of merit.

Mystical sounds arose, brimming with the essence of the Dao, and all living beings under heaven were suddenly struck with a profound sense of connection.

"What the hell! Hongjun has attained sainthood?"

Hearing this voice, Ling Xiao felt a jolt of shock. As he gazed at the endless visions permeating the world and that indescribable figure, his expression grew complex.

It was... just so sudden.

Without him realizing it, Hongjun had actually attained sainthood, which also meant that the Primordial world was beginning to enter the Witch-Demon Catastrophe.

This would be the most ferocious catastrophe in the entire history of the Primordial Land, ending in the fall of the Witches and Demons, leaving few survivors, and even shattering the Primordial world into pieces.

A descent from the pinnacle into ruin.

"Who is this great power, Hongjun, and what is this 'attaining sainthood' nonsense? Still, he seems incredibly formidable; just this voice alone carries an aura of supreme divine might."

"Second Brother, Third Brother, shall we go and listen to him preach the Dao?"

Di Jun felt a stir of excitement, looking at the visions filling the heavens as he spoke aloud.

"I never imagined such a great power existed in this world!" Tai Yi said with a look of longing; if they could listen to such an existence preach, it would be of great benefit to their cultivation.

After speaking, they looked toward Ling Xiao, seeking his opinion.

Ling Xiao gave a wry smile and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, do you even know where Purple Cloud Palace is?"

"To reach Purple Cloud Palace, one must traverse the Chaos and travel beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens. Furthermore, the place where Purple Cloud Palace resides is locked in eternal time; to enter and listen to the sermon, one must step outside the River of Time."

"In other words, without the cultivation of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, even if you were lucky enough to cross the Chaos, you wouldn't be able to enter Purple Cloud Palace."

Ling Xiao explained it all, and as he spoke, he felt himself relax, his thoughts becoming clear.

Even if the Witch-Demon Catastrophe is terrifying, I just won't participate, right?

I'll take Di Jun and Tai Yi, keep a low profile, and cultivate. As for the Demon Race Heavenly Court, whoever wants to establish it can go right ahead.

Regarding that, he could only say he was sorry.

Go to Purple Cloud Palace to listen to the Dao?

Don't make me laugh; without the cultivation, it's impossible to go.

"Is that so?" Di Jun exclaimed, not having expected that entering Purple Cloud Palace required the cultivation of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. In that case, they were afraid they wouldn't make it in time.

"Third Brother, if you work hard, perhaps you can still make it," Tai Yi said with regret after a moment, as Ling Xiao was the only one among them with any hope.

Ling Xiao shook his head gently and said, "The journey to Purple Cloud Palace is vast; just crossing the Chaos would take at least a thousand years. I won't make it in time either."

Since he didn't intend to participate in the Witch-Demon Catastrophe, he could not have the slightest entanglement with Hongjun, let alone listen to his sermon.

Not to mention anything else, he was a third Golden Crow who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere; heaven knows what would happen if he showed up in front of Hongjun.

What if Hongjun saw him as an anomaly and wiped him out on the spot?

After hearing Ling Xiao's words, Di Jun and Tai Yi felt even more regretful.

"In that case, the three of us brothers are going to fall too far behind."

"That is not necessarily true," Ling Xiao said with a smile.

Hongjun's first sermon would be on the path of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

It wasn't about teaching one how to break through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, but rather the complete path of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal itself.

Ever since the Dragon-Phoenix Catastrophe, those beings who were born as Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals had seen their cultivation stagnate, lacking any direction.

Of course, this problem was nothing to the three brothers.

When the right opportunity arose, he would tell Di Jun and Tai Yi about the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm and the cultivation path that followed.

[Ding! Detected that Hongjun has attained sainthood. Living beings of the Primordial world have begun to set off for Purple Cloud Palace. Please make the following choices.]

[Choice One: Depart immediately and head to Purple Cloud Palace to listen to the sermon. Reward: Yellow Plum, one of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots.]

[Choice Two: Stay steady and remain hidden, acting like a salted fish. Reward: A fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation.]

Just as Ling Xiao made up his mind, the system's voice rang out after a long silence.

Ling Xiao was speechless. Was this system just hoping he would go out?

To get him to leave, it even brought out the Yellow Plum, the head of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots.

This thing was a treasure; a single fruit was enough to elevate one to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

It was clear the system had paid a heavy price to lure him out.

It was probably losing so much it would have to take the bus.

However, he would absolutely not go to the Purple Cloud Palace sermon.

"System, I choose two."

Ling Xiao made his choice with a firm will.

Hongjun's ascension to sainthood shook the entire Primordial Land and stunned the many mighty figures residing within it; coupled with the sermon at the Purple Cloud Palace three thousand years later, the once-tranquil Primordial world suddenly erupted into a clamor.

For a time, countless living beings across the Primordial Land began rushing toward the Purple Cloud Palace.

To them, this was a once-in-an-eternity opportunity.

On the mountainside of Mount Buzhou in the east of the Primordial Land, three Daoists sat facing one another: an elder with crane-white hair, a dignified middle-aged man, and a handsome youth.

"I never expected any living being to attain sainthood before us. This Hongjun possesses great fortune and great divine power; I am inferior to him, and so are we brothers. Should we not go to hear his sermon?"

The youth in black spoke thus.

No sooner had he finished speaking than he was rebuked by the dignified middle-aged man: "As the authentic successors of Pangu, how could we possibly listen to his sermon? Third Brother, do not speak such words that damage our reputation again."

The youth in black was immediately unconvinced, and the two began to argue.

At this moment, the elder who had remained silent until now finally spoke.

"Both of you, cease your chatter. What Tongtian says makes sense. In the pursuit of the Dao, there is no distinction of seniority; the one who achieves it first is the master. Hongjun attained the Dao first, and our cultivation has progressed slowly; it is only right that we go to listen."

Yuanshi and Tongtian said no more, having already tacitly accepted the elder's words.

On the Lunar Star, Xi He and Changxi finally broke through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm after endless years of bitter cultivation, and upon hearing that Hongjun was to preach, they naturally intended to attend.

"Sister, we must go to the Purple Cloud Palace sermon; this is a grand opportunity for us to increase our strength."

Xi He said to her sister, her gaze exceptionally firm.

Changxi nodded heavily, then suddenly cast her gaze toward the Sun Star and asked suspiciously, "Those three Star Gods on the Sun Star do not seem to have any intention of going to hear the sermon, do they?"

Up until now, there had been no movement at all; it was as calm as a stagnant pool of water.

Hearing this, Xi He smiled dumbly and said, "Perhaps they know their own strength is humble and have simply decided not to go."

"That is all the better; this is a prime opportunity for us to widen the gap."

The two sisters shared a smile and, without lingering, stepped out of the Lunar Star and rushed toward the Purple Cloud Palace.

In every corner of the Primordial world, many dormant mighty figures emerged from their caves.

Although there were still three thousand years until the sermon, the journey was long, and arriving early was always better than arriving late.

For a time, countless mighty beings took to the clouds and mist, some guided by spirit beasts, others escorted by treasure carriages, each displaying their own divine powers as they hurried toward the Purple Cloud Palace.