Six Great Mats, Three Thousand Years Had Arrived

Yang Mei Ancestor shook his head, gazing into the depths of endless Chaos as he sighed softly:

"During the War of Dao and Demons, this poor Daoist already died once. My karma with the Primordial World has long been repaid."

"This world was never where my Dao path lay. I wish to journey through Chaos and seek the realm beyond the Great Dao."

When the War of Dao and Demons had first begun, he had had no intention of involving himself in it.

Thus, from the very beginning, Yang Mei Ancestor had withdrawn from the world and kept clear of all conflict.

Later, Devil Ancestor Rahu used the Innate Supreme Treasure, the God-Slaying Spear, to nail Five Elements Ancestor to death, completely igniting the War of Dao and Demons. Only then did Hongjun Ancestor form alliances and invite Yin-Yang Ancestor, Heaven-Earth Ancestor, and Yang Mei to lend their strength.

Afterward, the four Ancestors joined forces, while Devil Ancestor Rahu set up the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation on western Mount Sumeru, declaring that "none but four Saints could break it."

In the end, the other three Ancestors exhausted themselves to the last drop and perished, while Hongjun, at the critical moment, used his Three Corpses and true body to make up the number of four poles, successfully breaking the formation and defeating Rahu.

Yang Mei Ancestor paused, then smiled. "As for the gaps in the laws of space, Fellow Daoist need not worry."

"The Primordial World is blessed with the essence of heaven and earth. Naturally, later generations will produce outstanding talents."

"Not long ago, young friend Lingxiao of the Sun Star established the Twelve Time Markers, completing the Temporal Order of heaven and earth and perfecting the laws of time. His merit was immeasurable."

"In the future, there will surely be figures like him to complete the laws of space. There is no need for you or me to trouble ourselves over it."

Clearly, Yang Mei Ancestor had already made up his mind to leave.

"Since old friend has made up his mind, this poor Daoist shall not detain you. I only wish that, within Chaos, old friend may ascend to the peak of the Great Dao and attain the supreme true fruit." Hearing this, Hongjun Ancestor's expression eased slightly. After a moment of silence, he finally stopped insisting and nodded faintly.

"Good. This poor Daoist is leaving. If fate permits, we shall meet again." Yang Mei Ancestor smiled and cupped his hands toward Hongjun.

Then his figure flashed, transforming into a streak of azure light that plunged into the endless Space-Time Turbulence of Chaos, vanishing in an instant.

Only his lingering voice slowly faded through Chaos: "So long as the Primordial World remains unchanged, the river of fate shall flow on. Fellow Daoist Hongjun, we shall meet again."

Hongjun Ancestor stood where he was, watching the azure light depart without speaking for a long while.

He turned back toward the Primordial Lands, his gaze sweeping over the Sun Star and Lunar Star, a trace of expectation flashing through his eyes.

The Primordial World was incomplete, and heaven and earth were imperfect. Though he had already conceived the intention of merging with the Dao to mend heaven and stabilize the operation of the Heavenly Dao,

he could not support a lone tree with a single trunk. He needed to find helpers—better yet, nurture some Heavenly Dao Sages to serve as pillars holding up the order of heaven and earth.

The Primordial World had suffered damage after enduring the Ferocious Beast Tribulation and the Dragon-Han Tribulation. It urgently needed the laws of heaven and earth completed and the foundation of the world stabilized.

Hongjun slowly turned around and stepped into Violet Firmament Palace. Its gates silently closed behind him.

Yet another thought flashed through his heart:

I only hope that, at Violet Firmament Palace's first sermon three thousand years from now, there will be more destined people like Lingxiao, capable of filling the gaps of heaven and earth.

They could bring a little more peace to this world that had endured so many calamities—and shoulder a little more of his burden as well.

For the many great cultivators intending to attend the sermon, passing through the World Womb Membrane was, in truth, only the first layer of selection.

Chaos was boundless, without up, down, east, west, past, or future. Not only could it conceal one's aura and cut off divine sense, making it difficult for those who ventured deep within to distinguish direction and easy for them to lose their way,

but it also contained dangers such as Chaos Storms, Space-Time Turbulence, Chaos Astral Winds, and the resentful thoughts of Demon Gods.

Let alone Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals—if their luck turned bad, then aside from Saints, any Innate Sacred Being who ventured deep into Chaos faced the risk of perishing!

Whoosh!

A crimson-gold rainbow wrapped around a great bell, continuously darting through the currents of Chaos. It was Lingxiao and the two Jade Rabbit sisters, hurrying through Chaos in hopes of reaching Violet Firmament Palace to hear the sermon.

"Big Brother Lingxiao, the three thousand years are almost up. Why haven't we seen Violet Firmament Palace yet? Could it be that we have no destiny with it?" Changxi pouted, curled up in Lingxiao's arms, her little face somewhat downcast.

They had already wandered through Chaos for more than two thousand seven hundred years. Less than three hundred years remained before Hongjun Ancestor's three-thousand-year deadline.

"What is meant to be yours will come in time; what is not meant to be yours cannot be forced." Xihe sighed softly, though her eyes also hid a measure of anxiety.

"Stay calm. Soon—very soon."

Lingxiao held the two women's soft waists tightly. Waves of maidenly fragrance soothed his heart, yet his eyes remained tightly shut as he followed the faint, elusive guidance and continued onward.

To find Violet Firmament Palace within boundless Chaos, unless one knew its precise spatial coordinates, whether one was a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal or a Primordial Golden Immortal, one could only rely on luck—like fishing for a needle in the sea.

Yet Hongjun Ancestor had retreated into Chaos after the War of Dao and Demons. Who in the Primordial World had ever visited Violet Firmament Palace? There was even less need to speak of remembering its rough direction or spatial coordinates!

Not everyone possessed divine abilities like Yang Mei Ancestor's.

Compared to them, Lingxiao was undoubtedly more fortunate.

First, he possessed immense merit and great fortune, making everything he did flow more smoothly;

second, he had met Hongjun Ancestor before. Though they had not met in person and he could not grasp that thread of karma, it was still better than having nothing at all.

"Hold on tight!"

In the blink of an eye, another forty-nine years passed. On this day, a torrent of chaotic Space-Time Turbulence capable of tearing apart Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals appeared ahead. Anyone else would have fled like rats with their heads in their hands, avoiding it at all costs;

but Lingxiao did not follow the beaten path. Instead, he did the opposite, tightening his embrace around the two beauties. Above his head, the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bell, cast down immeasurable treasure-light. Then, he restrained its power to suppress space and plunged straight inside, drifting with the current.

Lingxiao's actions were naturally not without reason. He had sensed an exceedingly faint guidance of karma.

With the Chaos Bell protecting him, he could completely ignore the might of the chaotic Space-Time Turbulence. Thus, relying on his great skill and bold heart, he let go and acted without restraint.

Three thousand years passed like a white colt flashing through a crack.

Violet Firmament Palace stood within Chaos. Though battered and scoured by Chaos currents, Chaos Astral Winds, and the occasional Space-Time Turbulence, it remained unmoving as a mountain.

Its gates had long been thrown open. Within the palace lay another world: white jade formed the ground, stellar cores served as lamps, and forty-nine gilded heavenly pillars supported the hall. Upon those pillars were engraved every race born since the opening of heaven and earth.

At the center of the main hall, a golden lotus platform slowly revolved.

Beneath the lotus platform sat six seemingly ordinary mats in neat arrangement.

The mats were not large, only six feet across. Yet if Lingxiao had been present, he would have known that these six mats not only represented opportunities to attain sainthood, but were themselves a set of supreme treasures.

These Six Great Mats were woven from Chaos Spirit Cotton, Innate Dao Silk, and all manner of pure qi of heaven and earth. Hongjun Ancestor had personally used the Creation Jade Slip to refine them. Favored by the Heavenly Dao, they had reversed into innateness. Each was a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, and all six shared the same origin.

Those seated upon these mats could draw near to the Dao, hear its truth, and see their comprehension soar. Used as treasures to safeguard one's Dao, they could also capture and trap others, remaining impervious to all techniques.

Beyond these shared effects, the Six Great Mats each possessed their own characteristics and distinctions.

The first was the Wind-Fire Mat. Wind and fire interwove, burning souls and refining spirits. Once activated, it could wrap up all things, trap Great Firmament cultivators, and withstand the breaking of ten thousand techniques.

The second was the Heaven-Earth Mat. It fixed heaven and earth, suppressed the universe, and trapped all living beings. It could form the Jade Void Barrier, driving away every evil.

The third was the Azure Lotus Mat. Azure lotuses protected the body, impervious to ten thousand techniques. Once activated, it could trap, refine, devour, and slaughter with unmatched might.

The fourth was the Creation Mat. It held boundless vitality, created all things, and could bring the dead back to life. It could trap, convert, and nourish all living beings.

The fifth was the Annihilation Mat. It possessed the power of annihilation, trapping through reincarnation and returning all beings to stillness. It could convert, trap, and purify all karmic force.

The sixth was the Ultimate Bliss Mat. It possessed the light of bodhi, able to convert all living beings and trap powerful foes. It could gather in, convert, and purify every attachment.

The six mats were arranged in perfect order. Purple qi coiled around them, Dao rhythms descended, and they echoed one another from afar, linking together the mysteries of three thousand laws. They were truly extraordinary.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

"Violet Firmament Palace? Hahahaha, I found it! This poor Daoist truly has destiny with it!"

"My fortune is not lacking either!"

"This old man is here!"

The gates of Violet Firmament Palace had stood open for nearly three thousand years, yet the palace had remained utterly empty and silent. But at a certain moment, on the very day the three thousand years arrived, everyone suddenly converged:

Some relied on treasures to protect themselves and forced their way through the obstructions of Chaos;

some encountered Chaos Storms and survived by sheer luck, only to discover after breaking free that they had been swept to a place not far outside Violet Firmament Palace;

some accidentally triggered restrictions left behind by Great Dao Demon Gods while traveling through Chaos, turning misfortune into fortune and being directly teleported to Violet Firmament Palace's gates...

In short, Violet Firmament Palace, which had seen little human presence throughout endless ages, became lively on this day.

The great cultivators swept their eyes over the mats within the hall. Though they did not know that they concealed opportunities for sainthood, they understood that, when the sermon began, having a seat and having no seat would certainly not be the same.

Everyone had thought of this.

However, Yuanshi was the first to react.

"Go!"

At his urging, Laozi and Tongtian came back to their senses. The three brothers transformed into Grand Pure Qi, Jade Pure Qi, and Supreme Pure Qi, supporting one another as they jointly unleashed the divine ability Earth-Traveling Golden Light. In a flash, they seized the first three mats.