Once More to Purple Cloud Palace

"Looks like quite a few major events have taken place in the Primordial World during my thirty thousand years of seclusion. But Third Brother, how has Red Cloud been lately? He obtained the last wisp of Primordial Violet Qi—has no one made a move against him?"

"How could no one have? Not long after you entered seclusion, Red Cloud was attacked by a group of Rogue Cultivators. Their cultivation was generally not very high—only a dozen or so Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals. Zhenyuanzi arrived in time, and after the two of them killed several men, they drove the rest back."

Tongtian thought for a moment before speaking.

"Mm. Kunpeng actually didn't make a move? I thought Kunpeng would be the first to attack Red Cloud." After hearing Tongtian's words, Xuan Heng nodded and spoke.

"Hehe, Kunpeng is an exceedingly shrewd fellow. If he directly attacked and killed Red Cloud after Purple Cloud Palace's third lecture, wouldn't everyone know perfectly well who had killed him? These days, Red Cloud stays in Five Villages Temple every day. Even when he goes out, he travels with Zhenyuanzi. And ever since Kunpeng latched onto Di Jun and Taiyi, he has rarely shown his face in the Primordial World. He's been rather quiet."

At this, Tongtian sneered and continued, "But quiet may not necessarily be a good thing. Perhaps an even greater conspiracy is brewing behind the scenes."

"Third Brother sees things clearly." Xuan Heng nodded.

Tongtian waved a hand. "I simply don't think Kunpeng is the sort of person who can swallow this insult."

He paused, then added, "And there's the Witch Clan. After the Demon Race began expanding on a grand scale, the Witch Clan also started making frequent moves. Hunting grounds, mountain ranges, and marshlands near Mount Imperfection—conflicts break out there almost every so often. Six Ears wandering into Witch Clan territory was like walking straight into the fire."

"Mm. I'll certainly discipline him more strictly in the future." Xuan Heng nodded. Six Ears had only returned alive this time because Xuan Heng had happened to emerge from seclusion. Otherwise, he might have met his end there.

Just then, Taiqing and Yuanshi also walked over.

Yuanshi looked at Xuan Heng. "You just emerged from seclusion. What are your plans?"

Xuan Heng rose to his feet. "I want to take a trip and see the current state of the Primordial World."

Yuanshi's brows furrowed slightly. "The conflict between the Witch Clan and Demon Race is beginning to rise. If you travel through the Primordial World, do not rashly enter the core territories of either race."

"Rest assured, Second Brother. I have the Profound Pure Treasure Robe to conceal my aura, and the Calamity-Suppressing Gourd to protect me. I will not easily put myself in danger."

Tongtian smiled. "Second Brother, just let him go. If Fourth Brother could truly sit still, he wouldn't have taken in that little monkey in the first place."

Yuanshi shot Tongtian a glance but said nothing.

Taiqing looked toward Xuan Heng. "When will you leave?"

"I'll leave today."

Taiqing nodded without asking further. With a wave of his hand, the Taiji Diagram appeared in his grasp, and he sent it before Xuan Heng. "When traveling the Primordial World, always leave yourself some room to maneuver. Be careful in all things. Keep the Taiji Diagram for protection."

Xuan Heng accepted the Taiji Diagram, warmth stirring in his heart. He nodded. "Xuan Heng will remember."

He went to see Six Ears once more. Six Ears's injuries had already stabilized, and he was sitting there in a daze, clutching the Six Pure Roots Bamboo.

"Recover properly. When I return, I'll inspect your studies again."

Six Ears hurriedly nodded. "This disciple will await Master's return."

Xuan Heng did not linger any longer. The Profound Pure Treasure Robe flashed, and his figure transformed into a streak of profound-blue clear light as he left Kunlun Mountain.

The clouds outside the mountain parted, and Kunlun Mountain gradually receded into the distance.

Xuan Heng did not head toward the heartland of the Primordial World. His so-called travels were merely an excuse for leaving. The true purpose of this journey was Purple Cloud Palace beyond the Chaos.

Xuan Heng flew straight toward the heavens beyond. The instant he entered the Chaos, chaotic gale winds blew head-on. Raising a hand, Xuan Heng summoned the Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag, its blue lotus treasure light shielding his entire body.

Deep within his brow, the Beyond-the-Dao Mark stirred faintly. In the distant Chaos, the Purple Cloud Palace that had long vanished seemed to open a path for him once more.

Xuan Heng stepped into the depths of Chaos, and his figure swiftly vanished from sight.

Chaos was boundless and limitless.

All around him surged gray currents of air. At times, chaotic gale winds swept past, instantly shredding the floating meteors in the distance.

Xuan Heng pressed onward. As he ventured ever deeper into Chaos, the response from the Beyond-the-Dao Mark within his brow grew increasingly distinct.

With his current peak Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal cultivation, combined with the Profound Pure Treasure Robe and the Eastern Blue Lotus Treasure-Color Flag, ordinary chaotic gale winds could no longer harm him.

After an unknown length of time, Xuan Heng found that there was still no sign of Purple Cloud Palace. His brows creased slightly, and he stopped.

The Heaven and Earth Ruler appeared in his hand. Xuan Heng lightly tossed it, intending to use it to determine his direction.

But at that moment, ripples suddenly spread through the distant Chaos. The next instant, a strand of violet qi appeared out of thin air. It was not dense, yet it carried an indescribable aura of the Great Dao.

The violet qi circled him once, then drifted ahead, as though guiding Xuan Heng onward.

Xuan Heng's eyes shifted slightly. It seemed Hongjun had been waiting for him all along. Recalling the Heaven and Earth Ruler, Xuan Heng followed after it.

After some more time passed, the violent chaotic currents around him gradually calmed. A magnificent palace appeared before Xuan Heng—it was Purple Cloud Palace, which Xuan Heng had visited three times before.

As Purple Cloud Palace appeared, the strand of violet qi that had guided Xuan Heng here also vanished.

Xuan Heng looked at the Purple Cloud Palace before him. Compared to the grand spectacle during the previous three lectures, Purple Cloud Palace now seemed far quieter.

The palace gates were tightly shut, and there was no longer a trace of those who had come to hear the Dao.

The moment Xuan Heng approached, the palace gates opened on their own. A voice drifted out from within the hall.

"Xuan Heng has arrived. Come in." The voice was calm. It was Hongjun.

Xuan Heng took a deep breath and stepped into Purple Cloud Palace. The instant he crossed the gates, he discovered that the entire hall was empty. Within the vast Purple Cloud Palace, only Hongjun remained, seated upon the Dao platform.

Hongjun still sat upon the Dao platform, but Xuan Heng discovered that he was somewhat different from before. Hongjun's aura had become even more ethereal, as though he was no longer a cultivator, but rather a part of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth.

Xuan Heng stepped forward and bowed.

"This disciple, Xuan Heng, greets Teacher."

Hongjun slowly opened his eyes. Within them, countless worlds seemed to be born and perish.

Hongjun merely glanced at him, yet Xuan Heng felt the Great Luo Dao Fruit within his body tremble faintly.

"It seems that over these thirty thousand years, you have not slackened."

Xuan Heng respectfully replied, "This disciple would not dare."

Hongjun looked at him in silence for a moment, then suddenly said, "Do you know why I summoned you here alone?"

Xuan Heng's heart jolted. This question had finally come. Ever since the first little prayer cushion had appeared in Purple Cloud Palace, he had known this day would arrive. Yet even now, he still did not know how much Hongjun truly knew about what lay upon him.

Xuan Heng lowered his head slightly.

"This disciple does not know."

Hongjun did not answer. He merely raised a hand and lightly pointed. The next moment, A streak of purple light flew out from between Xuan Heng's brows—the violet Dao mark that had been hidden for so long.

The purple light hovered between the two of them. Hongjun quietly watched that strand of Dao mark, and only after a long while did he slowly speak.

"This Dao mark was not given to you by me. Perhaps even you yourself did not know of its existence at first; I fear you only discovered it after I marked you. Upon this Dao mark is the aura of another world. In other words, neither your soul nor your physical body should have appeared in the prehistoric world. You are not a person of this world. Am I right, Xuan Heng? Oh, no—that is not right. Perhaps I should call you Zhou Heng?"