A Broken Dao Heart Yields Much

As the last ripple of Heavenly Dao law, representing the three-thousand-year time limit, quietly passed through Purple霄 Palace, the brainwashing BGM, the clatter of mahjong tiles, the sizzling of skewers, the off-key singing, and the sounds of revelry in the hot springs (mainly after some powerful demons let loose)... all abruptly vanished as if paused.

All the Primordial Era powerhouses who were "actively participating" in the team-building event froze in unison.

It's over? Three thousand years of... torture (or perhaps, depravity) finally over?

An extremely complex and indescribable emotion permeated the hearts of every survivor (psychologically). There was relief, confusion, shame, absurdity, and even a hint of... wanting more?

Xiao Kuang let out a huge yawn, rolled over from a hammock (which he had added later), stretched, and his bones popped.

"Ah--so comfortable! The first team-building event is a complete success!" He picked up the microphone, his voice laced with the laziness of just waking up. "It seems everyone has gained a lot over these past three thousand years. Your camaraderie has been elevated, and your spirits are renewed! I am very pleased!"

The crowd below: "..." Gained? Gained mahjong skills and skewer-making expertise? Camaraderie? Do grudges formed over mahjong count? Spirits? Their thick skin has indeed been renewed!

"Alright, this seminar is now concluded!" Xiao Kuang waved his hand, and the heavy, riveted door boomed open, revealing the still chaotic, churning scene outside. "Fellow Daoists, you may all return to your homes and find your own mothers! The next lecture time... will be announced based on my mood! Meeting adjourned!"

The word "adjourned" sounded like heavenly music!

The powerhouses, who had long been eager to return home, could no longer maintain any pretense of dignity, etiquette, or their imposing presence. They instantly transformed into streaks of light, rushing forward in a frenzy, like refugees fleeing disaster, towards the door! They were afraid that if they were a moment late, the Dao Ancestor would drag them back for a "Second Team-Building Event"!

The scene was chaotic.

"Make way! I'm going first!" Di Jun, with the River Diagram and Luo Script on his head, shoved aside several demon saints in front of him. "Senior Brother, hurry! We shouldn't linger here!" Zhunti pulled Jieyin, squeezing through the crowd, his shoes nearly trampled off. "Tongtian! You still owe me three hundred Merit points!" Primordial Lord of Heaven, his face blackened, shouted while rushing out, not forgetting to collect his debt. "We'll settle it at the next card game!" Sect Master Tongtian, transformed into a sword light, was the fastest to escape. Empress Nuwa's skirt fluttered, appearing calm, but her speed was no less, as if a Chaos Demon God was chasing her. Houtu Ancestral Witch shook her head, sighed, and followed the crowd. Gong Gong let out a roar, partially manifested his true form, smashed a path, and was the first to rush out of the Purple Heaven Palace!

In just a few breaths, the once "lively" Purple霄 Palace became completely deserted. All that remained were scattered mahjong tiles, skewer sticks (manifested by spiritual energy, now dissipating), and the lingering strange mixed scent in the air.

The Dragon Girl, Phoenix Girl, and Kirins looked at the suddenly empty hall, exchanged glances, and felt relieved, yet also a bit... unaccustomed?

Xiao Kuang watched their fleeing backs and pouted, "Tch, a bunch of ungrateful wretches. I treated them to three thousand years of fun for nothing." He turned and slumped back into the massage chair. "Waiter, clean up the venue! Then get back to whatever you were doing!"

[Heavenly Dao: ...Detected first sermon(?) forced end...Calculating feedback from all beings...] [Feedback Data: Extreme chaos...Dao heart damage rate 87.3%...Cognitive deviation rate 99.8%...Strength improvement rate...Hmm?! (Code stutter)] [Strength improvement rate: Average 15.7%?! Karma reduction rate: Average 22.4%?!(Core code fluctuates violently)] [Conclusion:...Cannot parse...Logical conflict...Recalculating...Zzz...(Choosing to hibernate again)]

Heavenly Dao was once again crashed by the contradictory results.

Meanwhile, the Primordial Era powerhouses who had fled Purple Heaven Palace sped away until they were completely out of the chaotic region beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven and back under the familiar Primordial Era starry sky. Only then did they dare to slow down slightly, looking back at the depths of chaos with lingering fear.

Every powerhouse's face was filled with the daze of having survived a catastrophe.

"Finally... we're out..." a demon saint muttered, almost in tears. "Three thousand years... felt like a nightmare..." an ancient immortal held his forehead, feeling his Primordial Spirit tremble.

They looked at each other, noticing possible skewer oil stains on each other, un-removed paper strip imprints on their faces, or the lingering scent of sulfur from the hot springs, and felt an immense shame and absurdity.

If this were to get out, would their reputations as top Primordial Era powerhouses still matter?

However, when they calmed down and began to examine themselves, all the powerhouses were stunned.

Their cultivation... had actually improved significantly?! And it was exceptionally stable! Their Primordial Spirits... seemed even more refined and clear? Although their ways of thinking seemed a bit off? More importantly, the karma that had plagued them for so long, accumulated since the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation or even earlier, had actually been reduced by a considerable portion! Their path to the Dao seemed much brighter!

"This... why is this?" Zhen Yuanzi looked at Hong Yun incredulously. "We clearly didn't cultivate or comprehend the Dao properly in Purple Heaven Palace. We spent all day... all day playing and fooling around, yet instead..." Old Ancestor Hong Yun scratched his head and hesitantly said, "Could it be that what the Dao Ancestor said about the 'Slacking Dao' and 'Giving Up Heart Sutra'... wasn't entirely nonsense? Did they truly contain profound truths that we failed to grasp? Perhaps by relaxing, we inadvertently aligned with some natural way?"

This thought sent a shiver down the spine of every powerhouse who realized it!

Could it be that behind the Dao Ancestor's seemingly absurd and nonsensical words and actions lay an unfathomably deep plan? Guiding them in a way they couldn't understand at all?

Recalling the past three thousand years, although absurd, it seemed to have indeed made them let go of some obsessions, break some fixed mental shackles? Even with the reduction of karma, their connection with Heavenly Dao had become a bit clearer?

"Terrifying... truly terrifying!" Grand Pure One Laozi said with a grave expression, "This Dao Ancestor's actions are unpredictable, and his intentions are far-reaching. To be able to guide all beings in such... such an unbelievable manner, silently influencing them... his realm is likely far beyond our imagination."

Although Primordial Lord of Heaven's expression remained grim, he couldn't help but fall silent as he felt his improved cultivation and reduced karma. Was being struck by lightning also part of the guidance? He refused to believe it!

Di Jun and Tai Yi exchanged glances, their eyes flickering. Regardless of how bizarre the process was, the outcome was good. The overall strength of the demon race had improved, which was crucial for their future plans.

Old Ancestor Kunpeng's expression was uncertain. He felt that his schemes and tricks... no, his wisdom and strategies, might need to evolve in a more "unconventional" direction.

Empress Nuwa mused, feeling that her Dao of Creation might benefit from incorporating a bit of... "imperfection" and "spontaneity"?

The Western duo had already begun to ponder how to integrate "playing mahjong" and "singing" into the doctrines of the Western Teachings, developing them into "special activities" to attract followers...

Every powerhouse's mood was extremely complex. Towards that laid-back Dao Ancestor, they felt both fear and hatred, yet couldn't help but feel a sense of awe (a strange awe), and even a tiny bit of... gratitude?

This conflicting emotion tormented them. Their Dao hearts seemed to be forcibly torn apart and then glued back together, becoming more resilient... and also stranger.

They glanced back in the direction of the chaos, then without looking back, they transformed into streaks of light even faster than when they arrived, quickly disappearing into the Primordial Era starry sky.

They had to go into seclusion immediately! Not to digest what they had learned from the sermon. But to digest the psychological trauma and the shock to their worldview brought about by these three thousand years! And also... to consolidate the inexplicably increased cultivation.

The impact of the Purple Firmament Palace's first sermon (team-building event), like a stone cast into a lake, though the process was bizarre, the ripples it caused had quietly spread throughout the hearts of all beings in the Primordial Era, subtly changing many things.

And at this moment, within Purple Heaven Palace, Xiao Kuang was enjoying the rare peace with his feet up. "Finally, they're all gone. So noisy," he grumbled. "The next sermon... well, at least wait until I finish my new game!"