Xiao Teng Attains Great Luo, Lecture at Purple Cloud Palace

Zhunti and Jie Yin were roughly equal in strength to the Calabash Kids, so there should have been no issue in terms of numbers.

However, the two of them were quite sinister. Xiao Teng solemnly warned them to be extremely careful.

To guard against any mishap, Xiao Teng also had them bring the Earth-Leaving Flame-Light Banner and the Wuji Apricot-Yellow Banner. With those two banners, they should not be left without any chance of victory against them.

Xiao Teng, meanwhile, returned to Mount Kongtong to enter seclusion. He had reaped abundant gains from this journey, and his insights surged forth like a spring. It was the perfect time to break through to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm.

Those who attained Great Luo would neither age, die, nor perish. Only by attaining a Great Luo Dao Fruit could one truly be considered to have entered the Dao.

If Xiao Teng wished to break through to Great Luo, he had to clarify his own Dao.

The Calabash Kids each had their own Dao, and Xiao Teng likewise needed to seek out the path that belonged to him.

Dao rhythms continuously circulated around Xiao Teng, spreading powerful vitality.

Ever since becoming the Innate Gourd Vine, Xiao Teng had nurtured seven Calabash Kids.

Thus, he resolutely chose the Nurturing Great Dao.

All things in the world were born through nurturing. Every material form, every flow of energy, the rise and decline of living beings, the cultivation systems they followed, their spells and divine abilities—all were derived from the Nurturing Great Dao.

It was an invisible yet omnipresent force. The process of development from nothing to something, from simplicity to complexity, was the reason behind all existence.

Three flowers gathered atop his head, five qi converged within his chest. The radiance of his Dao Fruit shone upon the river of time as he attained Great Luo.

After Xiao Teng attained the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, all kinds of wondrous phenomena appeared above Mount Kongtong.

A long whip suddenly emerged, like an agile flood dragon, whistling as it lashed toward the phenomena in the sky. With a thunderous crack, the phenomena were scattered without a trace.

By now, quite a few beings in the Primordial World had attained Great Luo, so few people paid attention to Xiao Teng.

Just as Xiao Teng stabilized his realm, a voice suddenly echoed through the heavens and earth of the Primordial World:

"I am Hongjun. By the grace of the Heavenly Dao's will, I have already attained the station of Sage. Ten thousand years hence, I shall lecture on the Dao in Purple Cloud Palace and enlighten all living beings. Any who are fated may come and listen."

The voice seemed to traverse endless dimensions of time and space, reverberating in the depths of every living being's soul.

Upon hearing it, Xiao Teng was shaken to the core, yet his heart was also filled with anticipation.

Living beings raised their heads toward Heaven Beyond Heaven. Though they could not see Purple Cloud Palace, they could sense a powerful force, its majesty pressing down from the lofty sky.

Xiao Teng had never expected the day of Purple Cloud Palace's lecture to arrive so soon. Fortunately, he had successfully taken human form now and no longer needed to worry about being divided up by mighty cultivators.

Ten thousand years seemed like a long time, but for living beings, if they did not set out promptly, they feared they would not arrive in time.

The realm of a Sage was one that the living beings of the Primordial World could never hope to reach.

A Sage lecturing on the Dao was the foremost grand event of the Primordial World. Every living being, regardless of birth or status, regardless of cultivation level, knew that this was an unrivaled opportunity to change their fate and touch the edge of the Great Dao. Naturally, no one wished to miss it lightly.

Xiao Teng hurriedly sent a voice transmission to the seven Calabash Kids. Then his body transformed into a streak of light, racing toward Heaven Beyond Heaven.

After attaining Great Luo, Xiao Teng's speed underwent a qualitative leap.

He successfully arrived at Heaven Beyond Heaven just before the lecture was about to begin.

Outside Purple Cloud Palace, a dense layer of Primal Chaos Qi blocked the way.

Primal Chaos Qi contained the destructive and creative power of the universe's beginning, so powerful that it was enough to make the vast majority of living beings recoil at the sight of it.

Yet it could not stop the current Xiao Teng.

Spiritual light flickered around him, gathering into a protective barrier before he charged into the Primal Chaos Qi.

Amid a series of roars like thunder, he successfully passed through the Primal Chaos Qi and arrived safely at Purple Cloud Palace.

For beings below Great Luo, entering this place was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

Those in the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm could only possibly break through if they possessed a supreme treasure or were fortunate ones blessed with heaven-defying luck.

Xiao Teng raised his eyes toward the magnificent and majestic palace before him, which radiated boundless authority. Spiritual qi flowed across it in dazzling colors, while rumbling thunderous sounds of Dao rhythms rang out from time to time.

The entire palace was like a slumbering ancient behemoth, exuding an awe-inspiring and inviolable majesty.

Xiao Teng discovered in surprise that Purple Cloud Palace itself was actually a powerful spiritual treasure. It would be wonderful if he could possess such a palace himself.

Xiao Teng flew before Purple Cloud Palace's tightly shut gates. Seeing that the time for the lecture had not yet come, he looked around.

Quite a few innate beings had already gathered nearby. They came in all forms, and most emanated the aura of Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals.

With a sweep of his gaze, Xiao Teng spotted the Three Pure Ones brothers, whom he had met once before.

Clear qi swirled around Yu Qing, spiritual treasure light flickered around Shang Qing Ling, while Tai Qing concealed his aura, making him impossible to fathom.

Not far away were also the two Golden Crow brothers. Blazing Solar True Fire radiated from their bodies, as though they were two scorching suns walking the world.

Suddenly, Xiao Teng's eyes lit up as he saw an exceptionally familiar figure.

Without hesitation, Xiao Teng flashed forward and instantly flew before her. He said joyfully, "Fellow Daoist White Lotus, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"

The person Xiao Teng saw was none other than White Lotus.

White Lotus had now also successfully attained Great Luo. Her aura was deep and enduring, even somewhat stronger than Xiao Teng's. It seemed that she had obtained quite a few fortuitous opportunities while training in the Primordial World.

White Lotus smiled faintly and said, "I traveled through the Primordial World for a while and was fortunate enough to encounter an opportunity, allowing me to attain Great Luo. What about you, Fellow Daoist Xiao Teng? Haven't those children caused you any trouble?"

Xiao Teng gently shook his head. "Ah, what trouble could there be? Those children are quite obedient and sensible. They have not caused any disturbances."

However, before Xiao Teng's words had faded, he heard a frantic cry: "Daddy, Daddy, those two old men have caught up!"

The seven Calabash Kids came flying over like seven brilliant rainbows, tearing across the sky with the speed of wind and lightning before landing steadily at Xiao Teng's side.

Behind them, two figures pursued relentlessly. They were none other than Zhunti and Jie Yin from the west.

Zhunti's face was full of fury as he shouted, "Shameless little thieves, hand back our treasure at once!"

White Lotus smiled softly at the side. "Fellow Daoist Xiao Teng, is this what you meant by obedient and sensible?"

Xiao Teng looked somewhat embarrassed as he asked, "You really snatched the Azure Lotus Treasure-Colored Banner?"

Liu Wa grinned mischievously. "Hehe, of course. When we make a move, how could we possibly return empty-handed?"

"Don't worry, Daddy. We certainly will not disgrace you," Er Wa said.

Zhunti stepped forward, brimming with aggression. "Are you their father?"

"That is correct," Xiao Teng replied calmly.

"Your children stole our spiritual treasure. Return it immediately, or do not blame us for being discourteous."

Si Wa showed no fear. Puffing out his chest, he said, "Hmph, old man, if you have the ability, come at us."