Awakening to the Great Dao in Purple Cloud Palace, the Saint Bestows Treasures

Across the Primordial Wilderness, Hongjun's teachings had brought changes to the Heavenly Dao, and another batch of innate beings had emerged, making the world ever more lively.

Those listening to the Dao within Purple Cloud Palace still knew nothing of these changes.

There was neither sun nor moon in Purple Cloud Palace, yet many years had already passed.

Hongjun had long since stopped teaching, but everyone remained immersed in comprehending the Dao and cultivating. The mysteries of the Great Dao could never be fully grasped in a short time.

Still, everyone's realms had improved greatly. Several future Saints had already entered the Quasi-Saint Realm, though their attainments varied.

Below them were those at the perfected Golden Immortal Realm. There were quite a few at this level, including Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi. Last were those in the late Golden Immortal Realm, which was now the lowest cultivation level within Purple Cloud Palace.

Gradually, beings began awakening from their comprehension and cultivation one after another, bringing this period of enlightenment to an end.

Yet the gates of Purple Cloud Palace remained shut, and Hongjun had not departed. No one was in a hurry to leave, so they simply continued cultivating with their eyes closed within the palace.

Li Yu's state was somewhat unusual. Even after everyone else had emerged from their enlightenment, he remained immersed in the Dao, the Three Flowers above his head flickering in and out of sight.

With a wave of his hand, Hongjun enveloped Li Yu in a mass of clear light, separating him from the outside world.

"This teaching ends here. Once the gates of Purple Cloud Palace open, you may depart as you please," Hongjun said.

"Thank you, Saint!" the beings replied.

Hongjun continued, "Taishang, Yuanshi, Tongtian, you were formed from Pangu's primordial spirit. I wish to accept you as my disciples. Are you willing?"

"This disciple is willing. Greetings, Master!" the Three Pure Ones said in unison.

Seeing this, everyone was filled with envy. By now, most of them understood that those seated in the front row were all the Saint's disciples.

With the Primordial World's sole Saint behind them, would their future cultivation not proceed smoothly?

"Nüwa, you will one day perform great merits for the Primordial Wilderness. You too may enter my sect as a disciple. Are you willing?"

"This disciple is willing. Greetings, Master!" Like the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa bowed to Hongjun.

At this moment, Hongyun and Kunpeng were the most excited, while Jieyin and Zhunti were the most regretful and frustrated.

Hongjun then turned his gaze toward Hongyun and Kunpeng, but said, "Hongyun, Kunpeng, though you sit in the front row, you have no bond of master and disciple with me. I cannot accept you as disciples."

What?

Hongyun and Kunpeng were dumbfounded. They immediately kowtowed to Hongjun and pleaded, "Please show us mercy, Saint!"

"If there is no destined opportunity, it cannot be forced."

Since Hongjun had said so, Hongyun and Kunpeng could only accept the outcome. They did not have the ability to force a Saint to take disciples.

"However, since you attended this teaching and sat in the front row, it may be considered a form of fate. I will give you each something."

After speaking, Hongjun took out a red gourd. With a flick of his finger, he sent it to Hongyun. "This is an innate spiritual treasure. Today, I bestow it upon you."

Then Hongjun flicked his finger again, and a streak of clear light entered Kunpeng's brow. "This is a divine ability most suited to you. Return and practice it diligently."

Having received Hongjun's gifts, Hongyun and Kunpeng thanked him together once more.

"Jieyin, Zhunti, you two came from the western lands. You will have another opportunity in the future, so enter my sect as registered disciples."

The two had originally believed this journey would end fruitlessly, but now they felt as though fortune had fallen from the heavens. They immediately kowtowed to Hongjun.

After arranging these matters, Hongjun departed. The others who had listened to the Dao also rose and left Purple Cloud Palace one after another. Only Li Yu remained in enlightenment, protected by the clear light Hongjun had cast.

What was going on?

Hongyun looked at Zhen Yuanzi, then at Fuxi. The latter two merely shook their heads, equally confused.

"Fuxi, why don't you cast a divination?" Hongyun asked Fuxi.

Fuxi had long been eager to try.

Just as he was about to begin the divination, Haotian, Hongjun's Dao attendant, approached and said, "You should leave. Do not disturb his cultivation. This is the Saint's will." Everyone understood at once and departed one after another as the gates of Purple Cloud Palace slowly closed.

Deep within Purple Cloud Palace, Hongjun stood in the void of Chaos, looking at the Creation Jade Disc slowly repairing itself before him. His heart, unchanged for ten thousand years, finally stirred with a ripple.

The Creation Jade Disc was Hongjun's treasure for attaining the Dao. Only he knew that it was incomplete. He had never given up on restoring it, yet he had made no progress.

And yet, during this teaching, an anomaly had occurred. The Creation Jade Disc had actually begun slowly repairing itself.

Though Hongjun was now a Saint and knew that he would soon merge himself with the Dao, he still could not deduce the reason behind this.

"Is it the escaping 'One'?"

Hongjun murmured to himself. He then summoned Yaochi, the young maid at his side, and instructed her, "When he finishes cultivating, give this spiritual treasure to him. Tell him not to reveal that he obtained it."

Yaochi was the future Queen Mother of the Heavenly Court. Like Haotian, she had been enlightened by Hongjun. Both had been born with Quasi-Saint cultivation. Though they had no possibility of advancing further, they were still formidable enough.

"Yes!"

Yaochi withdrew, holding a blue gourd in her hands.

This blue gourd shared the same origin as the red gourd Hongjun had bestowed upon Hongyun. Both were among the seven gourds borne by the Primordial Gourd Vine. However, the red gourd given to Hongyun was naturally formed, while this blue gourd had already been refined by Hongjun.

Holding the blue gourd, Yaochi came to Li Yu's side and quietly waited nearby.

Many more years passed before Li Yu finally awoke from his enlightenment. The clear light surrounding him also dispersed at that moment.

Li Yu's cultivation had stopped at the perfected Golden Immortal Realm. Something had gone wrong during this enlightenment and cultivation, preventing him from taking the final step into the Quasi-Saint Realm as he had intended.

I wonder whether this is a blessing or a curse.

Li Yu felt somewhat worried. After all, he had comprehended the New Dao, which did not belong to the Great Dao Hongjun had taught.

"Fellow Daoist, you are awake!"

Only then did Li Yu notice Yaochi, the young maid who had been waiting beside him.

As a maid by the Saint's side, she could not be treated lightly. Li Yu rose and said, "Thank you for watching over me, Fellow Daoist. The Saint's teachings should have already ended, so I shall take my leave now."

"Do not be hasty, Fellow Daoist. This is the spiritual treasure the Saint has given you. However, he instructed that you must not reveal this treasure's origin to outsiders."

Li Yu accepted the blue gourd Yaochi handed over, recognizing the treasure at once. He said, "Thank you, Saint, for bestowing this treasure. I would never dare disobey the Saint's instruction!"

"In that case, Fellow Daoist, please follow me. It is time to leave Purple Cloud Palace."

Li Yu followed Yaochi out of Purple Cloud Palace, passing through endless Astral Wind before returning to the Primordial World. He then flew toward Mount Kunlun.

Only along the way did Li Yu finally have the leisure to take out the treasured gourd Hongjun had given him and study it carefully.

After being refined by Hongjun, a Saint, this gourd had become a top-grade innate spiritual treasure. It even contained Chaos Qi that only a Saint could gather, making it capable of both attack and defense.

Had he noticed my anomaly? If so, how much did he know? Only part of it, or all of it?

Looking at this precious treasure Hongjun had given him, Li Yu could not help but overthink matters. The most troublesome part was that he could not see Hongjun's true intentions. Was Hongjun plotting against him, or helping him?

A strand of Primordial Purple Qi had cost Hongyun his life. Who knew whether Hongjun would use the same scheme to get rid of him?

I must use this treasure with caution, Li Yu warned himself.