Zixiao Palace's Third Lecture

When Laozi saw Bai Jing produce so many rare spiritual materials and ores tainted with chaotic qi, along with a Nine-Turn Golden Elixir, the exchange was completed.

With a wave of his hand, Yuanshi Tianzun stored away the spiritual materials and ores, then thanked Bai Jing.

Tongtian, standing nearby, clasped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist, you're truly generous. You must come visit Kunlun someday."

Bai Jing could tell that Tongtian was genuinely happy that his elder brother had obtained materials for refining artifacts. Laozi had even directly offered three Nine-Turn Golden Elixirs in exchange with Bai Jing. At this moment, the Three Pure Ones truly embodied the saying: red flower, white lotus root, green lotus leaf—the Three Pure Ones had originally been one family.

With the trade with the Three Pure Ones concluded, the three of them treated Bai Jing even more amicably, especially Yuanshi Tianzun. In the current Primordial World, very few understood the path of artifact refinement. After casually speaking with Bai Jing for a few moments, Yuanshi Tianzun discovered that Bai Jing had an exceptionally solid grasp of artifact-refinement theory, and even he gained insights from listening.

Had they not still been in Zixiao Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun would have wanted to sit down with Bai Jing right there and discuss the Dao.

"Creak—" As the great powers of the Primordial World conversed, the doors of Zixiao Palace opened.

Haotian and Yaochi stood on either side of the entrance.

"One yuanhui has passed. Master's third lecture on the Dao is about to begin. Please enter the hall, senior brothers and sisters," Haotian said with a stern little face.

Upon hearing this, the great powers entered Zixiao Palace one after another.

"Junior Brother Haotian, Junior Sister Yaochi, you've worked hard. Your senior brother has a few tea leaves here. Take them and brew some tea," Bai Jing said as he stopped beside the two of them, giving Haotian and Yaochi three leaves each from the Enlightenment Tea Tree.

Haotian and Yaochi instinctively accepted the leaves from the Enlightenment Tea Tree.

The instant the leaves fell into their hands, both of their eyes lit up.

Though they were merely attendants, they were attendants of a Sage. They had eaten plenty of fine things in their daily lives; how could ordinary items possibly catch their eye?

Yet the leaves of the Enlightenment Tea Tree were different. The moment they held them, they sensed the dense Dao aura contained within. Brewing these leaves in water would greatly benefit their comprehension of the Dao.

Haotian and Yaochi hurriedly thanked Bai Jing.

Bai Jing smiled and nodded before entering Zixiao Palace.

Yaochi carefully put away the leaves of the Enlightenment Tea Tree and secretly glanced at Bai Jing's retreating back.

Since the Sage had begun expounding the great Dao, quite a few great powers had come and gone from Zixiao Palace. But since they were all great powers, they naturally possessed their own pride. Most ignored the two attendants of the Sage, while the occasional one or two merely nodded at them in greeting.

Someone like Bai Jing, who treated them so kindly and even gave them leaves that could aid their enlightenment, made both Haotian and Yaochi feel a measure of goodwill toward him.

"Does Fellow Daoist Bai Jing like those two attendants?" Houtu asked through voice transmission.

Bai Jing nodded. He had not given Haotian and Yaochi Enlightenment Tea leaves because he wanted to build ties with the future rulers of the Heavenly Court. He simply genuinely found the two attendants' personalities rather endearing. Neither yet possessed the majesty they would have in the future, and their natures were still as innocent as children's, which suited Bai Jing's tastes perfectly.

The great powers of the Primordial World took their seats according to where they had sat during the previous lecture. This time, the great powers attending the lecture at Zixiao Palace had changed somewhat. It seemed that quite a few people had fallen once more.

Not long after the great powers of the Primordial World sat cross-legged, everyone suddenly seemed to sense something. They looked up in unison and saw that a figure had appeared at some unknown time upon the highest meditation cushion, which had been empty only moments ago. It was none other than Sage Hongjun.

The great powers hurriedly rose and bowed. "Greetings, Sage."

Hongjun's tone was as emotionless as during his previous lecture. He lightly raised a hand, helping everyone to their feet, then said, "This will be my final lecture. It will last three thousand years."

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor," the great powers said in unison before sitting down to listen.

Hongjun flicked his whisk, and Dao sounds followed. "This lecture shall cover the Dao of Sages."

As Hongjun expounded the Dao, purple qi came from the east and golden lotuses filled the skies. The great powers listened in rapt fascination, and from time to time, someone would gain an insight and break through in cultivation.

Bai Jing was also completely absorbed in listening. Hongjun's previous three-thousand-year lecture had helped him take his first steps into the Devouring Dao. Now, Bai Jing's mastery of the Devouring Dao had reached 35%. He intended to use Hongjun's lecture this time to further deepen his comprehension of the Devouring Dao.

Houtu was no longer as lost as she had been during the previous lecture. Since the Witch Clan had decided to place its bet on the Earthly Dao, Houtu began using Hongjun's lecture to attempt to comprehend the Law of Reincarnation.

Houtu had originally thought that, lacking a primordial spirit, comprehending the Law of Reincarnation would be extremely difficult. Yet to her surprise, the Law of Reincarnation seemed as though it had been meant for her. With the Dao aura from Hongjun's lecture, Houtu easily took her first steps into the Law of Reincarnation.

Soon, Houtu entered a state of enlightenment just like Bai Jing.

Three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. Then one day, Hongjun stopped lecturing.

The great powers below were still comprehending the great Dao and had yet to awaken.

At that moment, a trace of complexity suddenly flashed through the eyes of the ever-indifferent Hongjun.

He swept his gaze across them, and in a single instant, the conditions of all the great powers of the Primordial World were laid bare before his eyes.

Hongjun's gaze first rested on Laozi, and a trace of satisfaction appeared in his eyes.

Laozi was truly highly compatible with his Immortal Dao. He was also the only person in Zixiao Palace who might be able to become a Sage by severing the three corpses as Hongjun had. Unfortunately, with the Heavenly Dao involved, Hongjun could not act as he pleased.

Hongjun then passed over Yuanshi, Tongtian, and Nuwa before looking toward the Western duo, a trace of displeasure flashing through his eyes.

These two did not possess the greatest aptitude among the innate sacred beings listening to the Dao in Zixiao Palace. Had there been any other worthy living beings in the west, he would not have chosen them.

Finally, Hongjun's gaze rested on Houtu and Bai Jing.

Hongjun naturally saw that Houtu was currently comprehending the Dao of Reincarnation, while Bai Jing had already traveled far along the Devouring Dao.

A faint smile curved Hongjun's lips, carrying a hint of satisfaction at how things were developing.

Yet in the next moment, Hongjun's smile vanished. The human-like expression on his face disappeared as well, and he returned to his aloof indifference toward all things.

Hongjun then spoke in a cold tone. "The three thousand years are up. This lecture has concluded."

The great powers below, who were still immersed in enlightenment, were instantly jolted awake.

Bai Jing opened his eyes, a trace of regret flashing through them. His comprehension of the Devouring Dao was just about to reach 40%, yet he had been awakened at this moment.

Houtu beside Bai Jing, however, was filled with excitement. In only three thousand years, her comprehension of the Dao of Reincarnation had reached 20%. The Dao of Reincarnation seemed tailor-made for her; she had found her path forward.

Hongjun's indifferent gaze swept across the great powers who were still lost in thought as he asked, "Do you have any further questions?"