Hongjun Ponders and Reshapes the Grand Design, Three Thousand Years Later the Zixiao Palace Opens

In truth, within Hongjun's initial calculations and layouts, the Three Pure Ones were always destined to split up.

After all, if the Three Pure Ones remained united, they would pose a threat to Hongjun, who represented the Heavenly Dao.

In the eyes of the Heavenly Dao Hongjun, possessing the ability to defy the heavens was a crime in itself.

However, the situation was different now.

It was visibly apparent that Hongjun's layout regarding the Ancestral Witches had completely collapsed, in fact, due to the variable that was Zhu Jiuyin.

More importantly, after the Great Dao descended in person and bestowed merits, the strength of the Ancestral Witches had undergone an explosive increase, and they would continue to break through in the near future.

Regardless, Hongjun felt that even at their current stage, if he were to encounter the True Form of Pangu condensed by the Twelve Capital Divine Gods and Demons Formation again, winning would likely be very difficult.

Thus, Hongjun subconsciously began to contemplate how to balance the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race.

Yes, Hongjun was furious, Hongjun was jealous, and Hongjun wished he could trade places with Zhu Jiuyin.

But Hongjun was a being of such stature and temperament, having experienced countless grand events, that while emotional fluctuations were one thing, they would not interfere with his cold, calculating mind.

When it came to how to balance the Ancestral Witches, Hongjun thought of another existence known as the Orthodox Pangu Lineage in less than a billionth of a second: the Three Pure Ones.

The Ancestral Witches were so formidable precisely because they were the Orthodox Pangu Lineage, formed from the essence blood of Pangu.

Yet, the Three Pure Ones were formed from the Primordial Spirit of Pangu.

To Hongjun and the vast majority of living beings, the Primordial Spirit was far more important than essence blood.

Furthermore, ever since the True Form of Pangu first appeared, Hongjun—who had navigated countless schemes and deceptions—had keenly captured the contradictions between the Three Pure Ones and the Ancestral Witches.

To be precise, it was the contradiction between Laozi, Yuanshi, and the Ancestral Witches.

Hongjun was also very clear that among the Three Pure Ones, Tongtian was actually the most inclined toward the Ancestral Witches, as his personality shared great similarities with them.

Most importantly, Tongtian actually envied the pure, blood-bound camaraderie shared among the Ancestral Witches.

But inclination aside, and envy aside, Tongtian's stance had always been firm, standing unconditionally on the side of Laozi and Yuanshi.

Even though Tongtian himself knew that the affection Laozi and Yuanshi—especially Yuanshi—held for him was not entirely pure, and that he was always the one on the losing end.

Hongjun saw the problem, but he never pointed it out or helped the Three Pure Ones resolve it.

Because Hongjun had already laid out the plot for the Three Pure Ones to eventually split up, he was naturally happy to see the rift between them grow deeper.

But now, the situation had changed again.

The problems of the Three Pure Ones could be resolved later; the problem of the Ancestral Witches was the urgent priority.

Yet, just as Hongjun was thinking of relying on the Three Pure Ones to balance the Ancestral Witches, the Heavenly Dao warned him that the Three Pure Ones had split up.

How could this not enrage Hongjun?

Losing face was one thing, but now his entire layout had suffered a major setback before it had even begun.

"Calm! Suppress your anger!"

Hongjun took a deep breath, adjusted his emotions, and then slowly closed his eyes, falling into deep contemplation.

"Since the previous layout has fallen to pieces, I can no longer follow the original plan."

"Originally, I was to continue preaching once every three epochs, for a total of three sermons. Under the Heavenly Dao, nine is the number of perfection, but it seems I cannot wait any longer."

"Three epochs is too long. If I drag this out, who knows to what extent the strength of the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race will grow?"

"It is decided: in three thousand years, the third sermon at Purple Heaven Palace."

"This time, the cultivation of the gods must be strengthened, especially the strength of the high-level members of the Demon Race such as Di Jun, Tai Yi, Fuxi, and Nuwa. By the way, Penglai Island, where the Eastern Duke resides, is also a significant force that can be further strengthened."

"It is not enough; the Demon Race alone is not enough."

"Right, the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao. The Three Pure Ones, as well as Nuwa, and those two fellows Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, are the Sages appointed by the Heavenly Dao."

"Originally, they were not supposed to become Sages until after five epochs, but why should I make them wait until then now?"

"Yes, I must have all the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao emerge in the shortest possible time."

"With the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao, I will not need to personally intervene to deal with the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race in the future."

"For a Sage, the most important thing is providence."

"But as it happens, the two races of Witch and Demon currently occupy the vast majority of the providence in the Primordial World."

"The Demon Race has Nuwa, and with my support, I imagine that neither the Three Pure Ones nor those two fellows in the West would dare to take action against the Demon Race."

"At that time, it will be a situation where the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao and the Demon Race join forces to suppress and target the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race."

"Six Sages—let's see how you, Zhu Jiuyin, withstand that!"

"Most importantly, once the Six Sages of the Heavenly Dao take their positions, it will be time for me to be certified as the spokesperson for the Heavenly Dao."

"With the blessing of that status and the infusion of the power of the Heavenly Dao, my cultivation will leap to the Seventh Heaven of the Sage realm. If I add the power of the Heavenly Dao to the mix, I will be able to erupt with the strength of the Eighth Heaven of the Sage realm in a short time."

"Zhu Jiuyin, oh Zhu Jiuyin, do you think a small victory has completely changed the fate of your Witch Race?"

"No, the fate of the Witch Race was already determined, and the one who determined it is I, Hongjun!"

"Heh heh heh..."

At this moment, Hongjun laughed sinisterly; he did not look like a Dao Ancestor, but rather like a Devil Ancestor.

Perhaps, are the Dao and the Demonic fundamentally one?

Clang, clang, clang...

A series of bell tolls suddenly rang out in the ears of countless living beings across the Primordial World, as if etched deep into the depths of their very souls.

"I am Hongjun. Observing that the Heavenly Dao has shifted and the fortune of the Primordial World is in disarray, a great tribulation is imminent. Originally scheduled for three yuanhui from now, the third lecture at Purple Heaven Palace is hereby moved forward to three thousand years hence. All living beings of the Primordial World with the affinity may come to my Purple Heaven Palace to listen to the ultimate principles of the Great Dao and comprehend the secrets of Heaven together. This is my decree!"

At this moment, a voice, ethereal and profound yet filled with majesty, swept across the entire Primordial World.

Everyone understood that the master of this voice was none other than the Dao Ancestor who "lies high upon the nine-fold clouds," Hongjun!

The Teacher/Dao Ancestor is moving the lecture forward, and it's only three thousand years away?!

At this instant, every great power in the Primordial World who heard Hongjun's voice felt a jolt in their hearts.

Three thousand years might sound like a long time, but when it came to traveling from the Primordial World to Purple Heaven Palace, it felt rather urgent.

For the first two trips to Purple Heaven Palace, even the Three Pure Ones had spent a full thousand years on the journey, and among the Innate Demon Gods, there was basically no one whose cultivation could rival theirs.

So, have the powerful changes in the Ancestral Witches and the Witch Race already made the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor feel uneasy?

This was a thought buried deep in the hearts of many great powers, though, of course, they would never dare to speak it aloud.

"Regardless, the third lecture must not be missed!"

Without a second thought, many great powers began to channel various divine abilities and spells, speeding off toward Purple Heaven Palace.

The early bird catches the worm; since their strength was lacking, if they didn't hurry off now, they might arrive late to Purple Heaven Palace. They certainly didn't think they had the qualifications to make Hongjun wait for them.