The Way of the Sage, Primordial Chaos Purple Qi

Just as the doors of Purple Cloud Palace were about to open, White Lotus hurried over. Dressed in a plain white robe, she arrived with an anxious expression.

Xiao Teng spotted her and instantly turned into a streak of light, flashing over and landing steadily before her. He asked with concern, "White Lotus, you finally made it. Did you run into some trouble?"

White Lotus shook her head and sighed softly. "Those two, Jie Yin and Zhunti, learned that I was also repairing the earth veins and became competitive. They insisted on competing with me."

"Those two are slippery as eels. You didn't suffer any losses, did you?"

White Lotus smiled. "We weren't deciding victory through force. We were competing to see who could repair the earth veins faster."

"Though I cultivate the Grand Dao of Healing and am naturally adept at restoration, facing the two of them working together, my progress truly could not keep up."

"Left with no choice, I traveled day and night without daring to rest for even a moment. Only after putting in much more effort did I barely manage to avoid falling behind."

Xiao Teng's gaze drifted over White Lotus's body. Seeing the radiant light of Merit circling her, he could not help feeling a trace of envy.

In this Primordial World, Merit was a true cure-all. Anyone with deep Merit made even those harboring malicious intentions weigh their options carefully, hardly daring to act rashly.

Moreover, one could not become a Sage without the power of Merit.

At the thought of becoming a Sage, however, Xiao Teng shook his head again.

Although White Lotus already possessed quite a bit of Merit, it was still far from enough if she wished to become a Sage through it.

Take Jie Yin and Zhunti, for instance. They had repaired the Western Religion's earth veins and established the Western Religion. Yet even so, they still lacked Merit and would need to borrow Merit from the Heavenly Dao, becoming the "loan Sages" secretly mocked by others.

Now that White Lotus was also sharing in the Merit from repairing the earth veins, the three of them dividing it together, accumulating enough Merit to become Sages would undoubtedly be like climbing a mountain of knives and crossing a sea of fire.

Just then, as though muffled thunder had exploded beside their ears, the two great doors of Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened, releasing deep, heavy hums.

The living beings of the Primordial World instantly stirred. One after another, they rushed toward the palace gates like a surging tide.

After entering Purple Cloud Palace and finding their places, everyone held their breath and waited quietly for Dao Ancestor Hongjun to arrive.

Xiao Teng and White Lotus also took their seats upon their respective prayer mats.

Xiao Teng glanced at the prayer mat beneath him and thought to himself, This is the last time I'll hear the Dao. Once it's over, I must find a way to take this prayer mat with me. It might come in handy someday.

While Xiao Teng was lost in his fantasies, Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared upon the foremost prayer mat.

Everyone's gaze immediately focused on him, their hearts filled with anticipation for this sermon.

This time, Hongjun spoke of the Way of the Sage.

At present, only Tai Qing had become a Quasi-Saint. Thus, to the others, who were still Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals, the Way of the Sage was obscure and difficult to comprehend.

Very few could understand it, and even those who could only grasped a portion of it.

Xiao Teng too furrowed his brows tightly, utterly perplexed. Those words entered his ears like tangled threads, impossible to sort into clarity.

Yet no one deluded themselves into thinking they could comprehend the Way of the Sage in one go. They first memorized everything Hongjun said, intending to slowly recall and comprehend it after returning.

As he listened, Xiao Teng unexpectedly discovered that whether one could understand Hongjun's Dao seemed unrelated to one's cultivation realm.

Many people with low realms had Dao Rhythms circulating around them, while some with high realms still failed to grasp its meaning.

Taiyi and Di Jun were examples. Both were about to reach the Quasi-Saint realm, yet their compatibility with the Great Dao was not even as great as that of the Calabash Kids.

Although the Calabash Kids did not understand much either, the seven of them were connected in heart and mind. Together, their efficiency surpassed everyone else's.

Especially when deciphering such difficult content, the seven working together were far stronger than one person alone.

Even Xiao Teng could not help thinking that perhaps these little fellows might become Sages before everyone else.

At the same time, from the corner of his eye, Xiao Teng saw that Houtu had also entered a state of comprehending the Dao, greatly astonishing him.

During the previous two sermons, Houtu had listened in a muddle, able to comprehend only a tiny fragment. Yet this time, she understood more than before.

Seeing the Dao Rhythms flowing around Houtu, Xiao Teng thought that it was no wonder she would later become a Sage.

This sermon lasted longer than either of the previous two, continuing for a full nine thousand years.

Everyone felt that this sermon was far too long, that time passed much, much more slowly than before. This was probably the difference between understanding and not understanding.

Once the vast majority of living beings had regained clarity, Hongjun's voice resounded through the hall:

"Under the Heavenly Dao, there are nine Sage positions. Yet I have presently found only seven. The remaining two hide themselves within heaven and earth of the Primordial World. Only those fated may obtain them; they are not destiny decreed by Heaven."

After speaking, Hongjun gently waved his hand. Seven strands of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, containing boundless creation, instantly hovered before the crowd.

Everyone's eyes immediately burned like torches as they stared fixedly at the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, their hearts and eyes filled with longing.

Obtaining Primordial Chaos Purple Qi did not mean one would certainly become a Sage, but it undoubtedly meant grasping the crucial opportunity to do so. Everyone wished to be that lucky person.

Hongjun's expression remained calm as he first distributed three strands, which respectively fell into the hands of the Three Pure Ones.

Immediately afterward, Hongjun said, "The Three Pure Ones were formed from Pangu's pure qi and were born close to the Great Dao. They ought to receive Primordial Chaos Purple Qi."

It was fortunate that the Twelve Ancestral Witches were not here. Otherwise, they would surely have shouted, "We were formed from Pangu's turbid qi too!"

The three hurriedly rose, bowed respectfully, and cried out in unison, "Many thanks, Dao Ancestor Hongjun."

Hongjun nodded slightly, his gaze full of expectation. Among all the living beings in Purple Cloud Palace, the Three Pure Ones were the ones he thought most highly of.

Next, Hongjun raised his hand again. A strand of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi drifted forth and landed before Nuwa.

"I have calculated that you will possess towering Merit in the Primordial World in the future. Therefore, you may receive this strand of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi."

Nuwa was first startled, then her face filled with delight. She bowed gracefully and said, "Many thanks, Dao Ancestor."

Seeing another strand of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi distributed, everyone watched Dao Ancestor Hongjun nervously.

More than half of the Primordial Chaos Purple Qi had now been handed out. They did not know whether there would be a share for them next.

Hongjun took out another two strands of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi.

Everyone understood that these two strands should belong to Xiao Teng and White Lotus. Everyone had realized that only those seated on the prayer mats could possess Primordial Chaos Purple Qi.

At once, many people regretted bitterly, secretly hating themselves for being so cowardly when fighting for seats. If they had only fought a little harder, would they not now also have hope of becoming Sages?

However, to everyone's jaw-dropping shock, those two strands of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi did not fly toward Xiao Teng and White Lotus as they had expected. Instead, they floated down and fell straight into Zhunti and Jie Yin's hands.

Hongjun explained, "You two repaired the Western Religion's earth veins, your Merit immeasurable. Moreover, I have deduced the heavenly secrets and learned that you two share a profound affinity with the Great Dao. Therefore, you may obtain this Primordial Chaos Purple Qi."

Zhunti and Jie Yin were equally stunned, standing frozen on the spot. They had truly never expected that there would be a share for them.