Ling Xiao Palace, Steady and Staying Put

Sun Star.

Three thousand years passed, and Di Jun and Tai Yi finally broke through to the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

As the eldest brother, Di Jun had thought his cultivation was already ahead of his two younger brothers. He hadn't expected Tai Yi's cultivation to match his own, while Ling Xiao's was even higher.

Over those three thousand years, Ling Xiao had comprehended the Law of Yang and the Law of Fire, and his cultivation had already advanced to the middle stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm.

Just as he'd expected, once he entered the Daluo realm, his advantages began to show.

With the Chaos Bead and a Fragment of the Jade Plate of Creation, comprehending the laws was as easy as a fish swimming in water, as comfortable as sitting in a spring breeze.

"Third Brother, now that we've all become Daluo Golden Immortals, we can be considered experts in the Primordial World. Why don't we go out and explore? Even cultivation calls for a balance between work and rest."

One day, Di Jun and Tai Yi came to Ling Xiao and said this.

Ever since he'd taken form, Ling Xiao had told them that the Primordial World was too dangerous, and that they needed to reach at least the Daluo Golden Immortal realm to protect themselves.

Now that they'd finally made it to Daluo, it was time to go out and have a look around.

It was no exaggeration to say that, since taking form, the farthest they'd gone was the Lunar Star. They were practically going stir-crazy.

Hearing Di Jun's suggestion, Ling Xiao smiled helplessly. "Big Brother, Second Brother, times have changed. In the Primordial World as it is now, just entering the Daluo Golden Immortal realm isn't enough to cut it."

By his reckoning, Hongjun's first lecture had already ended. Those ancient powers from the Three Pure Ones' generation should have reached the late stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm by now.

When they'd taken form, even the early stage of the Daluo Golden Immortal realm had been enough to hold their own. But now, they were far behind.

How many had gone to Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao?

The Three Thousand Guests was merely a figure of speech. The real number was probably far greater.

Hongjun's lecture had directly raised the cultivation of the Primordial World's great powers by an entire level.

"Is it really that terrifying?" Tai Yi asked in surprise. He didn't doubt Ling Xiao's words. In his eyes, Third Brother had the divine ability to foresee the future; there was no reason for him to deceive his own family.

"There's nothing to be afraid of. We're not going out to pick a fight. Even if trouble finds us, we don't have to worry. The three of us can stick together. If we can't win, we can still run."

"Growing through experience is the fastest way to improve!"

Di Jun waved a hand grandly, his words brimming with bold confidence.

Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment. Di Jun did make a good point. More importantly, Hongjun had only just finished lecturing, and those who'd attended probably hadn't returned yet.

The Primordial World was in a lull. They could go out and make a little trouble.

At the thought, Ling Xiao grew eager and was about to nod in agreement when the long-silent system spoke again.

[Detected that Hongjun's first lecture has ended and the Witch-Demon Catastrophe has officially begun. Please make the following choice.]

[Option One: Leave the Sun Star and make a name for yourself. Reward: one strand of Primordial Violet Qi.]

[Option Two: Stay put and keep hiding. Reward: Ling Xiao Palace.]

Ling Xiao had been about to set out, but when he saw the options, he immediately sat back down.

"Ling Xiao Palace?"

Was it made specifically for him, or was it the same one that belonged to the Jade Emperor in later generations?

Ling Xiao grew interested. He felt a special affinity for the palace that shared his name, and he liked it very much.

"Let's open it and have a look..."

Ling Xiao didn't rush to choose. Instead, he opened the description of Ling Xiao Palace.

Ling Xiao Palace: A postnatal treasure of unusual quality that can grow alongside its master. A defensive magical treasure with a domain of its own. Any living being who enters the palace will have their cultivation suppressed to some degree; in severe cases, their cultivation can even be stripped away.

Flight is restricted. Aside from the master, outsiders may only travel on foot, thereby displaying the master's authority.

"What a treasure!"

Ling Xiao's eyes lit up. It seemed this Ling Xiao Palace was somewhat different from the Jade Emperor's.

This thing could actually grow alongside its master, eventually becoming a magical treasure on par with those of the Chaos level.

At that moment, Ling Xiao had already made his choice. He'd originally wanted to go out for a stroll, but now he'd changed his mind.

Staying tucked away was still the best!

"System, I choose option two."

Ling Xiao made his choice at once. How could he give up a treasure named after him so easily?

He didn't even want to look at the Primordial Violet Qi.

"Third Brother, let's go. I can hardly wait," Di Jun urged when he saw Ling Xiao suddenly stop.

"Third Brother's getting homesick. He should refine the Sun Star and carry it around with him. Then he can make anywhere his home," Tai Yi teased. He either kept quiet or said something startling. He had a wickedly sharp tongue.

Ling Xiao came back to himself and smiled helplessly. "Big Brother, Second Brother, I'm afraid I can't go."

"Just now, I suddenly had an insight. I need to stay home and enter seclusion."

With no other choice, Ling Xiao came up with an excuse on the spot.

"Oh, I see! Your talent really is monstrous."

"In that case, stay home and cultivate. Tai Yi and I will go."

Di Jun's face showed a mixture of delight and envy. He knew what mattered, and at a time like this, they naturally couldn't go out exploring.

Ling Xiao nodded and reminded them, "Don't go too far. Avoid dangerous places as much as you can, and come back within a thousand years at most."

He didn't try to persuade Di Jun and Tai Yi to stay and hide with him. Since they wanted to go out, it wouldn't do to keep stopping them.

Besides, the great powers who'd gone to Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao hadn't returned yet. With their cultivation, Di Jun and Tai Yi could handle themselves.

"Don't worry, Third Brother. We know what we're doing. Stay home and cultivate in peace. If Big Brother finds any treasures, I'll make sure you get your share."

Di Jun said with a smile.

Soon after, the two eagerly left the Sun Star.

Once they were gone, Ling Xiao summoned Ling Xiao Palace with a thought and began refining it.

He divided his attention, refining the palace while continuing to comprehend the laws and cultivate.

However much one said, the Primordial World was a place where the strong ruled.

Without great strength, disaster might come knocking at any moment.

Take the North Sea Black Turtle, for instance.

Its four limbs were cut off to prop up the heavens. It lost them for no reason, and the merit went to someone else.

Clearly, without strength, everything else was empty talk.

In the blink of an eye,

a thousand years passed.

The great powers who'd gone to Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao gradually returned to the Primordial World.

Some went into seclusion to digest what they'd learned; others went looking for opportunities all over the world.

Among them, Houtu, the only Ancestral Witch to return empty-handed, also made it back to the Witch Clan.

The Twelve Ancestral Witches then gathered in Pangu Temple to listen to Houtu recount what she'd learned from the lecture.

Houtu tried to make something up, though she was painfully aware of it. But she was naturally honest and straightforward, and simply didn't have it in her.

In the end, she could only tell them the truth.

Four words.

Nothing at all.

When the Ancestral Witches heard this, they burst out laughing. They didn't mean to blame Houtu.

"Ha ha! Little Sister, I told you long ago. We Ancestral Witches are of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Father God's legacy is the most suitable for us. Why would we need to listen to anyone else's lectures?"

Dijiang, eldest of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, laughed heartily. He'd said this long ago, but Houtu hadn't listened and had insisted on going to hear the lecture.

She'd wasted several thousand years for nothing.