Arrival Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens; Discussing Karma in the Purple Heaven Palace

"Humm—!"

An indescribably supreme sound of the Dao exploded deep in the souls of Lin Qiye, Ji Changkong, Supreme Mystery True Lord, and the other four holders of the Dao-Hearing Edicts.

At that moment, Lin Qiye on Falling Geese Peak in the Canglan Realm, Ji Changkong on Primeval Main Peak, Supreme Mystery True Lord in the Ziwei Star Domain, Tu Shanye in the Primordial Demon Realm, the Netherworld Blood Emperor in the Nine Nether Blood Sea, Canghai Old Daoist amid the ruins of the starry sky, and the trembling young nobody Ye Chen...

These seven beings, scattered across different worlds and star domains and standing at different levels of cultivation, saw the Purple-Gold Lotus Seals in their palms erupt with dazzling light that shot into the heavens!

"Boom!"

Their bodies remained in their respective worlds, sealed and protected by supreme immortal light.

Their souls, however, were seized in an instant by a power above the Heavenly Daos of all realms. It tore through dimensions and space, carrying them across endless ages!

Through the galaxies!

Across the dimensions!

The sensation was strange beyond measure. Lin Qiye felt his awareness rising without end, past the atmosphere of the Canglan Realm, past the galaxy formed by stars beyond counting, and even past the cosmic barrier made up of countless great worlds!

Everything around him vanished. There was no light, no darkness—only a pitch-black void of utter violence, filled with endless Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind and Chaos Lightning.

Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens—the Chaos Forbidden Zone!

"Is... is this the chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens?!"

Ji Changkong's soul projection took solid form. He stood frozen in the void, staring at the violent Chaos Qi around them. Even a trace of it leaking out could pulverize a mighty Dao-Slaying cultivator, and cold sweat broke out across his body.

Yet deep within that terrifying Chaos Qi, a gentle, regal purple-gold barrier held all seven souls safely inside.

Ahead of the barrier, a towering Daoist temple hung silently at the center of the chaos. It blotted out the heavens, ancient and solemn beyond description.

Above the temple, three ancient characters shone with an eternal aura, illuminating the black void—

Zixiao Palace!

"We're here... We've really reached Zixiao Palace?!"

Supreme Mystery True Lord's soul projection manifested, trembling. The leader whose might usually shook the Ziwei Star Domain stared at Zixiao Palace, then dropped to his knees in the void and began kowtowing.

"Awoo—!"

A low fox cry rang out. A stunning woman appeared in a Nine-Color Immortal Garment, her beauty enough to topple kingdoms and her demonic aura vast enough to fill the skies. She was Tu Shanye, the elder of the Primordial Demon Realm. Her nine-colored eyes brimmed with fear and devotion. She suppressed every trace of her wild nature and bowed her head to the ground.

On the other side, blood-red light surged as the Netherworld Blood Emperor appeared in his Blood-Red Emperor Robe, his face fierce. This Primordial Demon Emperor, who had slaughtered countless people, stared at the Chaos Qi flowing before Zixiao Palace's gates and was so frightened he held his breath. Not a trace of his fearsome authority remained.

The sight of True Lord Kurong having his soul forcibly dragged away by Black and White Impermanence was still fresh in their minds. Before this supreme Daoist sanctuary, arrogance and recklessness were nothing but ways to court death.

Canghai Old Daoist, an independent cultivator who had lived for eight thousand years, and Ye Chen, a youth barely beginning his journey, manifested their soul forms as well.

Canghai Old Daoist wore a tattered Daoist robe, his gaze deep and steady. He glanced at the trembling Ye Chen beside him, a boy only at the Qi Condensation Stage. There was no contempt or greed in his eyes—only profound wariness and respect.

Across the vast realms, the Zixiao Dao-Hearing Edict had passed over countless mighty Tribulation Transcendence cultivators to choose this seemingly insignificant boy. How terrifying must the fortune and karma upon him be?

Before Zixiao Palace, harboring murderous intent would disrespect the Dao Ancestor; trying to seize another's karma would mean opposing the Heavenly Dao!

"Creak—"

While the seven stood in stunned silence, each occupied with their own thoughts...

The towering gates of Zixiao Palace, forged from some unknown Immortal Gold, slowly opened a crack with a heavy rumble!

Endless Purple Qi and Creation Immortal Light poured through the opening, engulfing their souls completely.

A vast Immortal Sound of the Great Dao came from within the palace:

"The gates are open. Dao Listeners may enter."

All seven souls shuddered at the voice. Without further hesitation, they filed inside, crossed the high threshold, and entered that legendary supreme holy ground!

The interior of Zixiao Palace was as vast as a universe unto itself.

The space was empty, without a single elaborate decoration. Only high above hung a mass of supreme immortal light whose face could not be discerned, manifesting the Laws of the three thousand Great Daos—the avatar of Dao Ancestor Hongjun!

Directly beneath the light at the seat of honor floated... six Chaos Prayer Mats glowing with a gentle purple light!

"Prayer mats? Only six?!"

Supreme Mystery True Lord and the others stopped short, their expressions changing.

There were... seven of them!

Seven people, but only six mats for hearing the Dao?!

For one brief moment, solemn silence fell over the vast Zixiao Palace.

No one shouted a crude challenge. No one made a foolish threat.

Those standing here were among the wisest and strongest beings in all the realms. The instant they saw the six mats, their minds began racing to unravel the profound meaning and karmic Laws behind them!

"Seven enter, yet only six seats are set..."

The Netherworld Blood Emperor narrowed his eyes. The Dao Ancestor manifests three thousand Great Daos. These six mats can't merely be seats. They represent the six supreme pillars of the world's workings! The Dao Ancestor is testing our insight and self-awareness!

Ji Changkong studied them too, a glint of understanding in his eyes. The first seat radiates endless slaughter and guardianship. It belongs to a war god. The second manifests the fortune of humanity and belongs to its rightful order. The third sends Purple Qi soaring into the heavens and belongs to the Immortal Dao tradition...

Each of the six mats corresponded to a supreme order of the universe!

Lin Qiye remained calm. With Broken Sword on his back, he strode openly toward the first mat on the far left.

The Eight-Nine Profound Art circulated naturally within him, and the ancient war-god phantom of Erlang Manifesting Sage True Lord flashed behind his back. This seat represented the guardianship of the Heavenly Court and the will of a war god. Who else could claim it?

Lin Qiye took his place on the first Purple-Gold Meditation Cushion as though it had always been his.

Next, supported by the might of the Primeval Holy Land and humanity's rightful order, Ji Changkong walked to the second mat with his head held high and sat cross-legged.

Supreme Mystery True Lord straightened his Daoist robe. Drawing on his formidable standing as leader of the Immortal Dao in the Ziwei Star Domain, he solemnly took the third mat.

Tu Shanye's Nine-Color Immortal Garment fluttered as the elder of the Primordial Demon Realm took the fourth mat, representing the fortune of demonkind throughout the heavens.

The Netherworld Blood Emperor grew solemn and restrained his demonic aura. Representing the deepest yin within heaven and earth, he claimed the fifth mat!

In an instant, five mats had found their occupants!

Only the last remained... the sixth mat!

That sixth mat radiated the most primal, pure, uncarved aura, like a seed from which new life would spring.

Two people had yet to sit—Canghai Old Daoist, an independent cultivator at the Tribulation Transcendence Stage who had lived eight thousand years, and Ye Chen, a boy only at the Qi Condensation Stage!

Every gaze turned toward Canghai Old Daoist and Ye Chen.

Canghai Old Daoist looked at the final mat, then at the uneasy boy beside him.

The old independent cultivator's gaze deepened as his thoughts reached their conclusion:

I have cultivated for eight thousand years, with neither sect nor school. I am an unbound piece in heaven and earth. This sixth mat carries the promise of new life and unknown creation. Clearly, it is the variable the Dao Ancestor has reserved for this universe's unknown future!

Canghai Old Daoist lowered his gaze to the gentle Purple-Gold Lotus Seal in Ye Chen's palm, and his doubts vanished.

This boy's cultivation is weak, yet the Zixiao Dao-Hearing Edict chose him of its own accord, and the slaughter along the way never stained him. He embodies the truth that the Heavenly Dao shows no favoritism, yet always favors the good!

If I use my vast cultivation to force my way into this seat of new life and uncarved jade, I will betray my own Dao—and the Dao Ancestor's purpose in setting out these seats!

Having understood this, Canghai Old Daoist smiled with openhearted clarity.

He straightened his worn Daoist robe, stepped back, and bowed gently to the trembling Ye Chen:

"Young friend, each of us must find our place in the struggle for the Great Dao. This sixth seat manifests the seed of new life. I am old wood covered in moss; it is not my path."

"This seat belongs to you. Please, sit."

Ye Chen, already nervous, stood stunned by Canghai Old Daoist's words and the wisdom behind them.

Beside him, sincere admiration appeared in the eyes of Supreme Mystery True Lord, the Netherworld Blood Emperor, and the others.

Canghai Old Daoist had not let his cultivation make him arrogant, nor had he let greed drive him to grasp for more! Faced with such a supreme opportunity, he had understood his own place and followed the Great Dao's arrangement. His Dao heart and insight were extraordinary!

Ye Chen's eyes reddened. He gave Canghai Old Daoist a deep bow, as a junior to a senior:

"I, Ye Chen, thank you for your guidance, senior!"

With that, the boy hesitated no longer. He walked forward with steady steps and sat upon the sixth mat!

[Six seats filled. Zixiao is settled!]

Canghai Old Daoist stood calmly behind the six mats. His face was composed, his eyes still as an ancient well.

And at that very moment—

"Humm—!!"

High above, the once-quiet mass of supreme Creation Immortal Light burst forth with boundless radiance that illuminated the entire chaos!

At the seat of honor, a towering figure in a dark Daoist robe slowly took solid form. His face was as unfathomable as mountains and seas!

It was Dao Ancestor Hongjun—Su Chen Soul Avatar!

The Dao Ancestor sat amid the Creation Immortal Light. His deep eyes, which seemed to pierce past and future alike, slowly swept over the seven below.

At last, his gaze paused on Canghai Old Daoist at the back, and a vast voice echoed through the hall:

"To know your lot and keep your place; to understand your heart and see your nature."

"To neither grasp nor act recklessly—there lies the true essence of an independent cultivator in the mortal world."

"Canghai, though you have no place upon a mat, your Dao heart is clear. I grant you a Zixiao Dao-Hearing Near Seat."

"Boom!"

As the Dao Ancestor's words fell, a prayer mat formed from a pure cloud of Creation Purple Qi rose into being beside the six mats, coming to rest at Canghai Old Daoist's feet!

Canghai Old Daoist's body shook violently, and unprecedented joy and astonishment blazed in his eyes!

He had followed the Heavenly Dao and stepped aside. Far from losing his opportunity, he had won the Dao Ancestor's praise and a seat bestowed upon him alone!

"I, Canghai Old Daoist... thank the Dao Ancestor for this supreme grace!"

Tears streamed down Canghai Old Daoist's face as he dropped to his knees and kowtowed reverently. Then he rose and took his place upon the Purple Qi Auspicious Cloud.

At that moment, six seats and one near seat were filled. All seven had found their places, and the greater order of heaven and earth was complete!

The seven beings below, among the foremost powers of all realms, trembled in their souls. Together, they kowtowed to the supreme avatar high above:

"We pay our respects to the Dao Ancestor! May the Dao Ancestor live forever!"

From the highest seat, Su Chen's avatar looked down upon the seven powerful beings, each with a clear Dao heart and a destiny of his own. An inscrutable smile touched his lips.

The first lesson in a true myth spanning all realms...

Had finally begun!