Hot Potato

Xi He and Chang Xi stood frozen in place, as though they had become two flawless jade statues. Only the seven strands of Primordial Violet Qi drifting docilely through their hands gave off a dreamlike yet heart-pounding glow.

An icy sensation seeped through their fingertips. It was not physical coldness, but a vast and boundless pressure of law that pierced straight into their primordial spirits, along with... an immense temptation capable of driving any living being mad.

The foundation of sainthood!

Those four words boomed repeatedly through their sea of consciousness like chaos thunder, shaking their primordial spirits and nearly causing their Dao hearts to collapse.

Xi He's fingers trembled faintly. She felt as if she were holding not three strands of violet qi, but three scorching Sun Star cores capable of igniting the entire Taiyin Star and even the Primordial Chaos! The weighty karma and unimaginable sin caused even her, the mistress of the Taiyin Star, to feel dizzy.

"How... how could he dare..." Xi He's voice was unbearably hoarse, filled with incredulous fear. "This is a Heavenly Dao treasure, tied to the positions of saints. How could he... how could he treat it so lightly?!"

She tried to stuff the violet qi back into Xiao Kuang's hands, but that fellow had already slipped back beside his grill, humming an off-key tune as though he had merely tossed them a few candied hawthorn skewers.

Chang Xi's little face was even paler. She held the four strands of violet qi as though she were cradling four Chaos Divine Lightning bolts ready to explode at any moment. She did not dare move at all, and her voice carried a sob. "Sister... what do we do? We can't keep this thing! If the great powers of the Primordial Chaos learn of this, we will become everyone's target in an instant, doomed beyond redemption!"

A man's sin was possessing a treasure! They understood that principle better than anyone. If others learned that Primordial Violet Qi was in their hands, then even as Lunar Goddesses, they would never be able to withstand those red-eyed Quasi-Saint powers!

"Quick! Hide it away! We absolutely cannot let its aura leak out!" Xi He forcefully suppressed the surging waves in her heart and hastily circulated her lunar divine power, laying down layer after layer of restrictions in an attempt to conceal the fluctuations of the Primordial Violet Qi. Chang Xi hurriedly did the same.

However, Primordial Violet Qi was an embodiment of the Heavenly Dao. How profound was its aura? Even with their cultivation as Grand Unity Golden Immortals, they could only barely conceal it. Those faint yet heart-stirring violet Dao traces still lingered around them in wisps, leaving them unable to sit or stand at ease.

From then on, Xi He and Chang Xi's days in the Purple Cloud Palace became even more tormenting. They were no longer merely "captives" or "maids"; they had become two mobile "Primordial Violet Qi vaults," constantly worried about being robbed. Every time they saw Xiao Kuang acting so carefree, they gritted their teeth in anger, yet could do nothing about it. They could only become even more cautious, keeping a low profile and rarely venturing out for fear of attracting attention.

While Xi He and Chang Xi were trembling with anxiety over the Primordial Violet Qi, news of the Purple Cloud Palace's second sermon also stirred considerable waves throughout the Primordial Chaos.

Kunlun Mountain, Three Pure Ones Hall.

"The second sermon, the Quasi-Saint realm..." Laozi's expression was calm, but calculation flickered deep within his eyes. "There should not be any more unexpected complications this time, right?" The previous "team-building" experience had left far too deep an impression. Primordial Lord of Heaven snorted coldly. "If that bastard dares cause trouble again, then even if I must anger the Heavenly Dao, I will demand an explanation!" He was still bitter over his charred appearance. Sect Master Tongtian, meanwhile, looked excited. "The path of the Quasi-Saint! Are we finally getting to the real stuff? I wonder whether we'll hear something different this time..." He had the highest tolerance for Xiao Kuang's so-called crooked theories and heretical nonsense.

Sun Star, Divine Palace.

Di Jun looked at the freshly drafted "Demon Race Two-Day Weekend Trial Regulations" in his hand, then glanced at the Heavenly Realm calendar. "Ten thousand years... just enough for the Demon Race to rest and implement the new system. When the time comes, we can attend the sermon again and perhaps gain even more." He actually seemed to be considering putting the "slacking-off management method" into practice. Eastern Emperor Taiyi wiped down the Chaos Bell, its chime crisp and clear. "Brother, this sermon is of great importance. No matter what tricks that Dao Ancestor has in store, we must listen to and comprehend the path of the Quasi-Saint."

The west, Spirit Mountain in its early form.

Jieyin's sorrowful face gained several more traces of worry. "The Purple Cloud Palace's second sermon... I wonder if we need to prepare any talents this time?" He still had lingering fears over the previous "immortal gathering." Zhunti's eyes flickered. "Senior Brother, this is a fine opportunity! No matter what, we must strive for something! Perhaps... that Dao Ancestor will take pity on our sincerity..." He still could not let go of merit and opportunities.

Blood Sea Styx, Northern Darkness Peng, Zhen Yuanzi of Wuzhuang Temple, Hong Yun of Fire Cloud Cave... whether they were expectant, wary, or helpless, all the great powers had no choice but to begin preparing for their journey to the Purple Cloud Palace ten thousand years later. After all, the path of the Quasi-Saint was simply too tempting.

Yet in the hearts of nearly every great power lay a faint shadow, an unavoidable question:

Would that Dao Ancestor, who never played by the rules, truly give a "proper" sermon this time?

Would he come up with something absurd again, like a "Quasi-Saint murder mystery game" or a "Three Corpses Severing Mixer"?

Or perhaps... would he suddenly take out Heavenly Dao Merit again as a "class participation reward"?

At the thought of those possibilities, many great powers felt their Dao hearts becoming somewhat unstable.

On one hand, they yearned desperately for the Great Dao. On the other, they feared Xiao Kuang's "teaching style" to the extreme.

This conflicted state of mind left many of the Primordial Chaos's top powers restless throughout the next ten thousand years, unable to fully calm themselves even during cultivation.

The entire Primordial Chaos seemed to be waiting for the ten-thousand-year deadline amid a strange atmosphere of both anticipation and fear of being hurt.

And the culprit behind it all was currently staring at the Chaos Chicken Wings that had once again turned black on the grill, letting out a helpless sigh. "Sigh, preparing lessons is so hard... How about... when the time comes, I just read out the textbook the Heavenly Dao gave me? Let them figure it out themselves? Mm, not a bad idea! That's settled, then!"

Heavenly Dao (faint fluctuation): ...(vaguely sensing that something was wrong, yet powerless to stop it)...