No Comparison, No Harm

Zhunti Daoist's actions thoroughly enraged Tongtian. A flash of azure light flickered in Tongtian's hand, and the Green Duckweed Sword shot straight toward Zhunti Daoist.

Before making his move, Zhunti Daoist had already anticipated Tongtian's retaliation. Thus, he had long since grasped the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree in his hand.

The instant Tongtian thrust out the Green Duckweed Sword, the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree swept directly toward him as well.

Zhunti Daoist had originally believed that their cultivation levels should be evenly matched. Even if his Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree could not brush away the Green Duckweed Sword, it should at least have been able to neutralize Tongtian's attack.

Unfortunately, he had overestimated himself and underestimated Tongtian. He did not know that Tongtian's cultivation had already reached the early stage of the Primordial Golden Immortal realm.

Thus, Zhunti Daoist, wielding the Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree, was like a three-year-old child holding an innate spiritual treasure before Tongtian.

Not only had he failed to take away Tongtian's Green Duckweed Sword, he had not even managed to neutralize its attack. Tongtian's sword pierced straight through his shoulder.

Then Tongtian flicked the Green Duckweed Sword upward, severing Zhunti Daoist's right arm outright. The Seven-Treasure Wonderful Tree fell to the ground along with it.

Even so, Tongtian had no intention of letting the matter rest. Azure radiance blazed from the Green Duckweed Sword in his hand as it stabbed toward Zhunti Daoist's chest once more.

Jieyin Daoist, standing nearby, was greatly alarmed. He hurriedly summoned the Jieyin Treasure Banner and blocked Tongtian's attack.

Unfortunately, Jieyin Daoist's cultivation was only that of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. How could he possibly withstand Tongtian?

In the next moment, Tongtian sent Jieyin Daoist's Jieyin Treasure Banner flying with a single strike. The Green Duckweed Sword then slashed directly toward Jieyin Daoist's throat.

If Tongtian's strike truly landed, Jieyin Daoist's head would surely be leaving his shoulders. Yet at this moment, Jieyin Daoist was already unable to dodge.

Just as Jieyin Daoist was about to die beneath Tongtian's hand, a streak of golden light appeared out of thin air and directly blocked the Green Duckweed Sword.

At the same time, Zhunti Daoist's severed right arm was enveloped by the golden light and reattached to his body.

Tongtian was immediately furious. He was about to take out the Four Swords of Execution and set up the Immortal-Slaying Formation.

Fortunately, Laozi stopped Tongtian in time. Shaking his head at him, he said, "Third Brother, do not act recklessly."

Seeing Laozi shake his head, Tongtian recalled his master's instructions. He immediately abandoned the idea of setting up the Immortal-Slaying Formation.

However, he turned his gaze toward the Western Two Sages. "Do you truly think I am so easily bullied, daring to snatch my seat? You should first weigh whether you have what it takes."

"Consider today a lesson for you. If there is a next time, I, Tongtian, will not mind making your souls and spirits perish together."

As he spoke, the aura of a Primordial Golden Immortal erupted from Tongtian and pressed down upon the Western Two Sages.

The Western Two Sages instantly felt an immense pressure bearing down on them head-on. Instinctively, they nearly fell to their knees before Tongtian.

Fortunately, Hongjun had already appeared within Purple Cloud Palace. He directly pulled the Western Two Sages to his side.

With a sweep of his hand, two meditation cushions appeared out of thin air before him. "No insolence is permitted within Purple Cloud Palace. If there is a next time, I will certainly not spare you."

As he spoke, Hongjun gestured for the Western Two Sages to sit upon the two cushions he had just added.

Once the Western Two Sages had taken their seats, Hongjun spoke again. "I have attained the Primordial Dao. I will preach the Dao in Purple Cloud Palace for ten thousand years, divided into three sessions."

"When you return to hear the Dao next time, you shall take your seats according to today's arrangement. Do not fight over them again. Otherwise, do not blame me for expelling you from Purple Cloud Palace."

Everyone answered Hongjun in unison, then quietly waited for him to begin expounding the Dao.

Hongjun did not keep them waiting long. Before long, he began to preach the Dao. For a time, heavenly flowers rained down in profusion, while golden lotuses surged from the earth within Purple Cloud Palace.

Every word Hongjun spoke transformed into a golden lotus. It then multiplied into three thousand lotuses within Purple Cloud Palace, flying into the ears of every cultivator listening to the Dao.

Chen Xuan could not help secretly giving Hongjun a thumbs-up. How had I never thought of this method of turning the Dao into lotuses?

When it comes to teaching disciples, it seems I am still inferior to Hongjun. This fellow truly counts as a master teacher.

Unfortunately, what he is teaching has been castrated far too severely. How is this educating people? This is plainly leading disciples astray.

What Hongjun was teaching now was likewise the Primordial Dao Scripture. However, compared to what Chen Xuan had taught the Three Pure Ones, it was missing far more than a little.

Thus, not only had Chen Xuan noticed it, but even the Three Pure Ones sensed that something was off. This caused them to look down on Hongjun even more.

Tongtian even began to feel that listening to Hongjun preach here was simply a waste of time. He might as well use that time to comprehend the Dao himself.

At the same time, Fuxi and Nuwa, who had also heard Chen Xuan expound the Dao, began to entertain other thoughts.

Nuwa even secretly said to herself, Is he the master destined for me that Senior mentioned? If it truly is him, should I really take him as my master?

It was no wonder Nuwa had such thoughts. After all, without comparison, there was no harm. With Chen Xuan's previous sermon laid out before them, Hongjun's Dao was difficult to bear listening to.

Yet to the other cultivators, the Dao Hongjun preached was absolutely like heavenly music. Questions that had long gone unanswered in their hearts were all resolved as easily as a blade slicing through bamboo at that moment.

For a time, everyone listened as if intoxicated and entranced. In the blink of an eye, three thousand years had passed.

As soon as the three thousand years were up, Hongjun stopped preaching the Dao. He then said directly, "The first sermon ends here."

"What I taught today was the Dao of the Zenith Heaven realm. After returning to your dwellings, you must study and comprehend it carefully. Purple Cloud Palace will open again in three thousand years, and I shall preach to you the Dao of the quasi-sage."

After speaking, Hongjun vanished directly from Purple Cloud Palace. The gates of Purple Cloud Palace were also opened by Haotian and Yaochi.

Seeing Haotian and Yaochi standing on either side of the gates, no one could bring themselves to linger any longer. They immediately rose one after another, offered their farewells, and departed.

This scene made Fuxi shake his head. After all, Hongjun driving everyone away now was tantamount to interrupting their moments of enlightenment.

When Chen Xuan had preached the Dao to them, he had not driven them away. Instead, he allowed them to awaken from their enlightenment on their own.

He had even instructed those who awoke first not to disturb the others, telling them to leave silently.

Comparing the two, Hongjun's standing in Fuxi's heart plummeted by a thousand zhang. Moreover, the Dao Hongjun had preached today had been cut down far too much compared to Chen Xuan's teachings.

This made Fuxi all the more begin to consider whether letting his sister take Hongjun as her master was right or wrong.

While Fuxi was deep in thought, Tongtian coldly called out to the Western Two Sages.

"You two bald donkeys, stop right there. We cannot fight in Purple Cloud Palace, so let us settle this in the chaos. Let's see whether I beat the hell out of you today or not."