Di Jun's gaze sharpened as his eyes swept over the Calabash Kids like blades.
"Since you bullied my people, settle this karma today."
As he spoke, a blazing mass of Solar True Fire appeared in Di Jun's hand.
Upon hearing this, the Calabash Kids' blood surged, and each of them rubbed their hands in anticipation.
Seeing this, Taiyi hurriedly grabbed Di Jun's sleeve and reminded him in a low voice, "Big Brother, don't act impulsively. This is before the Purple Cloud Palace. We must not act recklessly."
"Don't worry. I know my limits."
With a light wave of Di Jun's hand, Great Luo Golden Immortals and Taiyi Golden Immortals appeared behind him one after another. They were all people Di Jun had recruited.
In an instant, the situation underwent a complete reversal. The Calabash Kids, who had originally held the advantage in numbers, immediately fell into a disadvantage.
Xiao Teng sighed and stepped in front of the Calabash Kids. If Di Jun truly wanted to fight, he would accompany him to the end.
Just as the tension reached its peak, a voice rang out. "Wait. Do not fight."
Xiao Teng turned around and saw Fuxi and Nuwa drifting over.
Fuxi said softly to the crowd, "Before the Purple Cloud Palace is where the Sage expounds the Dao. You must not start a fight over a momentary dispute. If you delay the Purple Cloud Palace's sermon, that would be a grave offense."
Upon hearing this, Di Jun withdrew his flames. The others also put away their hostility, and the atmosphere finally eased somewhat.
"Alright, you little ones, settle down too. Don't cause any more trouble," Xiao Teng scolded.
The Calabash Kids obediently stayed behind Xiao Teng. If their father truly got angry, they would be in serious trouble.
Xiao Teng watched Fuxi and Nuwa conversing with Di Jun. It seemed they had already joined forces.
It appeared that the two of them had still joined the demon race.
Xiao Teng looked around, but he did not see White Lotus anywhere.
Where had White Lotus gone? Surely she had not missed this sermon?
"Er Wa, find Fellow Daoist White Lotus and see where she is."
"Alright."
Er Wa widened his eyes and began searching.
"Found her. Sister White Lotus is flying this way, but she's still quite far away. We may have to wait a while."
"Fine. As long as she's coming."
Over the following period, all kinds of innate beings arrived from every corner of the Primordial World and gathered here.
Xiao Teng noticed that the beings who had come this time were much stronger.
Ever since the last sermon, the Primordial World had undergone enormous changes. Countless beings had immersed themselves in cultivation, and among them, quite a few exceptionally gifted individuals had broken through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm.
In today's Primordial World, Great Luo Golden Immortals were not everywhere, but they were no longer as rare as they had once been.
Xiao Teng also noticed that the innate beings were gathered in groups of three or five, speaking quietly among themselves and roughly divided into several clearly distinct factions.
Di Jun and Taiyi had many followers clustered behind them, and they held considerable prestige among these innate beings.
Yet aside from the Golden Crow brothers, the most sought-after figure was not the renowned Three Pure Ones, but Wood Duke.
He was surrounded like the moon amid the stars, with far more beings gathered around him than around anyone else.
When the Calabash Kids saw Wood Duke encircled by so many people, their eyes filled with surprise.
The scene of their earlier fight with Wood Duke immediately surfaced in their minds. Back then, Wood Duke had been utterly miserable at their hands, yet now he seemed reborn, transformed into someone capable of rallying countless beings.
Xiao Teng was not surprised by this. It came down to just two words: luck and fate.
When fortune arrived, one could soar into the heavens; when it departed, one could plummet to the bottom.
Temporary prosperity was useless. Everlasting prosperity was the true pursuit.
Suddenly, a familiar figure entered his sight. It was Houtu.
She stood quietly there, radiating a restrained yet profound aura.
Xiao Teng was somewhat surprised by Houtu's appearance. Aside from her, none of the other Twelve Ancestral Witches had come.
"You little ones, stay here obediently. Do not wander around."
Xiao Teng softly instructed the Calabash Kids before flying toward Houtu.
Houtu sensed Xiao Teng approaching and raised her head slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through her eyes.
"Fellow Daoist Houtu, did you come alone this time?"
Houtu looked at Xiao Teng in confusion, not knowing why he recognized her.
"I am Xiao Teng. Greetings."
"So it is Fellow Daoist Xiao Teng."
Houtu said softly, "My elder brothers are occupied with many matters and could not get away, so I came alone this time."
Xiao Teng knew very well that the other Ancestral Witches did not have matters to attend to at all. They simply could not understand the sermon and did not wish to waste their time, so they had not come.
Besides, in the Primordial World, what could possibly be more important than listening to the Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace and seeking a breakthrough?
Houtu was different. The faint insight she had gained during the previous sermon had been like a seed planted in her heart, urging her to enter the Purple Cloud Palace once more.
At that moment, Wood Duke strode confidently toward the Calabash Kids.
From afar, Xiao Teng saw him and his heart tightened. He instinctively assumed Wood Duke had come to cause trouble. After all, following the last sermon, the Calabash Kids had taken his Wood Spirit Pearl.
Without giving it further thought, he swiftly flew over. To his surprise, Wood Duke had not come to make trouble, but to recruit them.
"Fellow Daoists, your strength is formidable. Would you be willing to join hands with us and plan grand undertakings for heaven and earth? If you join our camp, then with your help, I firmly believe that we can carve out an unprecedented new world in this Primordial World and achieve immortal merit."
Wood Duke said a great deal of polite nonsense, yet none of it touched on anything substantial.
Wood Duke spoke animatedly and earnestly, but Xiao Teng sneered inwardly.
Though Wood Duke's words sounded lofty and dignified, they were hollow and contained nothing substantive.
The Calabash Kids were even more direct, saying disdainfully, "We don't want to be with someone like you. One look at you tells us you're no good person."
Upon hearing such a merciless rejection, Wood Duke's face immediately darkened.
Rage blazed within him as he silently swore, You ungrateful fools, you reject me so arrogantly now. Once my power grows, even if you kneel and beg to join me, it will be impossible. Once I gather more helpers, I will settle the score with you for stealing my treasure.
With that, he flicked his sleeve and turned away in fury.
Xiao Teng did not care. Those gathered by Wood Duke were nothing more than a rabble, and he could not even name most of them.
Thus, they had most likely perished in the later calamities.
When the appointed time arrived, the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace opened once again.
At that moment, White Lotus also happened to arrive.
"Fellow Daoist White Lotus, you came at just the right time. Let's go in quickly."
White Lotus nodded slightly. The two walked side by side and entered the Purple Cloud Palace together.
Before you continue