Three Sermons, Saint Seats Assigned in the Purple Cloud Palace

The Primordial Wilderness, because of the conflict between the witch and demon races, once again descended into chaos.

The many great powers of the Primordial World who had survived the previous calamity seemed to glimpse once more those bygone days when the dragon, phoenix, and qilin clans had fought for supremacy over the Primordial World.

The witch and demon races were now no weaker than those three clans had been in their prime. Thus, the great powers of the Primordial World retreated into secluded cultivation, hoping to evade this calamity.

This was the saying that those within the game were lost while onlookers saw clearly. While the other cultivators withdrew from the world to cultivate in seclusion, the witch and demon races only traveled farther and farther down the road of contending for the Primordial Wilderness, with no intention whatsoever of stopping or turning back.

It was the working of calamity fate!

Compared with the turmoil of the Primordial Wilderness, Five Villages Temple was like an immortal paradise—free of strife and especially tranquil.

One day, as Li Yu cultivated in seclusion, he felt something stir in his heart. It was time for the third sermon at the Purple Cloud Palace. Li Yu emerged from his quiet chamber, as did Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun.

After Zhen Yuanzi arranged the affairs of Five Villages Temple and gave his instructions, the three of them set off together for the Purple Cloud Palace.

Li Yu had actually wanted to persuade Hongyun to simply give up and not go to this sermon, but he could not find a suitable reason. After all, even foreknowledge had to have its limits.

After turning it over and over in his mind, he ultimately gave up. He would simply meet soldiers with generals and water with earth!

Besides, Hongyun's circumstances had already changed. Perhaps Hongjun would no longer give that strand of Primordial Purple Qi to Hongyun.

This was the first time Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, and Li Yu had traveled to the Purple Cloud Palace together for the three sermons, so they chatted and laughed all along the way, making the journey much livelier.

When they arrived at the Purple Cloud Palace, the first six prayer mats were already occupied as before: the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, and the two from the west.

Compared with the previous two occasions—especially the first time they had listened to the Dao—the Purple Cloud Palace was far more desolate. Li Yu swept his gaze around. Everyone who had managed to come this time was someone whose name could be called, a great power renowned throughout the Primordial World.

It seemed that over these years, the conflicts in the Primordial World had been far from limited to the witch and demon races. Even those who had listened to the Dao in the Purple Cloud Palace had fought one another. Those whose foundations were damaged and who could never advance again in cultivation for the rest of their lives had gotten off lightly; there were no few whose bodies perished and Dao vanished.

Li Yu suddenly gained an understanding. This was the operation of the Heavenly Dao—everything was to choose the living beings most suited to rule the Primordial Wilderness.

After everyone waited quietly for a while, the Saint Hongjun appeared once more.

According to custom, the Dao would be expounded first. Other matters would be arranged after the sermon ended.

Li Yu entered a state of comprehending the Dao and cultivating. The so-called Great Dao was the road to sainthood, and at the end of the Great Dao lay the rank of Saint.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Yu vaguely saw that someone had already gotten there first at the end of the Great Dao Hongjun taught. Something stirred within him; he could go no farther.

The Dao Hongjun taught had its heavenly number fixed. It had no affinity with him!

At this point, Li Yu's cultivation of the Primordial World's Dao had reached its end. If measured by realms, he had reached Quasi-Saint Perfection. To go a step further, one of the pioneers on this Great Dao would have to yield their seat; otherwise, this was as far as he could go.

However, Li Yu was not worried. The Dao he had comprehended himself differed from the Dao Hongjun taught. He could continue cultivating it, and it was still far from its end.

Finishing his cultivation, Li Yu awoke from martial cultivation. This time, among everyone present, he was second only to Taiqing. Of course, Li Yu even suspected that Taiqing had long since reached Quasi-Saint Perfection, so Hongjun's sermon meant little to him.

After Li Yu awoke, the other cultivators also gradually withdrew from their Dao-comprehension cultivation. Apart from the future Saints, no one besides Li Yu possessed Quasi-Saint Perfection cultivation. All remained at the realm of Late Quasi-Saint.

"The three sermons have ended, and the vow I made when becoming a Saint has been fulfilled. Before long, I shall merge with the Heavenly Dao and attain the position of Heavenly Dao Saint. From then on, so long as the Primordial Wilderness faces no danger of extinction, I shall no longer appear."

Upon hearing this,

everyone was utterly shocked. So there was a realm above Saint! Hongjun continued, "However, heaven and earth cannot be without Saints. Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian, you three were transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and may attain the rank of Saint in the future. These three strands of Primordial Purple Qi are the opportunity for becoming Saints. After returning, comprehend them well."

With that, Hongjun sent out three strands of Primordial Purple Qi, which fell into the hands of the Three Pure Ones.

"Thank you, Teacher!"

Yuanshi and Tongtian were naturally overjoyed, their delight impossible to conceal. Only Taiqing's expression remained unchanged, revealing neither joy nor anger.

"Nüwa, you shall complete the operation of the Primordial Wilderness's Heavenly Dao in the future and are destined to attain the Saint position. Accept this strand of Primordial Purple Qi."

Nüwa accepted the Primordial Purple Qi and bowed in thanks!

Kunpeng, seated in the back, saw this scene and felt an indescribable terror rise in his heart!

He had already deeply experienced the might of Saints through these three sermons, yet he had never imagined that Nüwa would also become a Saint in the future. Then the matter of his secretly harming Fuxi was likely impossible to hide.

"Teacher, please take pity on your disciples and bestow Primordial Purple Qi upon us as well!"

While Kunpeng was consumed by fear, Jieyin and Zhunti had already prostrated themselves and tearfully begged Hongjun.

"You two need not be so. The Saint seats of the Primordial Wilderness shall have a place for you. You must cherish it well!"

With that, Hongjun gave Jieyin and Zhunti one strand of Primordial Purple Qi each.

After doing all this, Hongjun said, "If Saints have no virtue, the Primordial Wilderness shall descend into great chaos. When you attain the Saint positions in the future, you will all have rendered great merit to the Primordial Wilderness and become Merit Saints. You must follow the Heavenly Dao and must not act against heaven, or I shall certainly punish you!"

The few who had just obtained the opportunity to become Saints felt their hearts turn solemn. They hurriedly listened to Hongjun's instruction.

Thus, the Saint seats of the Primordial Wilderness had been determined. They need only wait quietly for the proper time. Once the six Saints took their places, the Primordial Wilderness would enter a true age of Saints.

Seeing this, Li Yu knew Hongjun likely would not bring out another strand of Primordial Purple Qi. In other words, Hongyun's fate had changed because of Li Yu's deliberate actions, and so far, the operation of the Heavenly Dao showed no sign of wishing to correct this variable.

The secrets of heaven were unfathomable!

Even after becoming Saints, they could not clearly deduce the workings of heavenly secrets. Otherwise, during the Investiture of the Gods war, how could Tongtian, himself a Saint, have allowed the Truncated Teaching he had built with his own hands—said to have ten thousand immortals coming to pay homage—to vanish into ashes and smoke?

Li Yu had even less inclination to ponder the workings of heavenly secrets and fate now. So long as the outcome was good, he would accept it for the time being.

"From this day forth, the Purple Cloud Palace shall close and hide beyond the heavens. You may all depart!"

After Hongjun spoke, his figure vanished before everyone.

Yet the proper etiquette could not be broken. Everyone still prostrated themselves in thanks before rising to depart. Among them, Kunpeng left the fastest, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Li Yu drew Zhen Yuanzi and Hongyun along and went to meet Nüwa.

"Fellow Daoist Nüwa, it has been a long time!"

For Li Yu to come and exchange pleasantries, Nüwa unusually revealed a breathtaking smile. "It has indeed been a long time. Has Fellow Daoist been well?"

"I am currently cultivating at Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi's Dao field, hoping to avoid being tainted by the troubles of the witch-demon conflict."

Nüwa nodded lightly. "Then, should you have leisure, you may visit Wa Palace and see my elder brother, lest he become too lonely."

"Very well. If I have the opportunity, I hope you will forgive any disturbance!"

As they spoke, the group left the Purple Cloud Palace. Behind them, the ancient Dao gate slowly closed.