As Hongjun lectured with increasing profundity, some mighty figures could not understand him at all and woke from their states of enlightenment.
Seeing that Hongjun was still lecturing continuously without the slightest intention of stopping, these mighty figures had no alternative but to utilize the abundant Innate Spiritual Qi of Zixiao Palace to practice various divine powers and secret techniques.
Although compared to listening to the Dao, this was putting the cart before the horse, when the Dao could not be comprehended, they could only do this.
This was just like Houtu during the first lecture; after all, they could not just sit here blankly and wait for three thousand years to pass.
Just like this, time drifted by, and gradually, three thousand years passed.
On the Dao platform, Hongjun stopped his lecture, and the people below the platform all regained consciousness one after another.
Many people breathed a sigh of relief, because this time listening had indeed been too agonizing.
However, there were also those who felt the lingering flavor was inexhaustible, namely the six future sages sitting on the first six meditation mats: the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.
They were sitting on the meditation mats, and those mats had the effect of assisting their listening and comprehension of the Dao.
This secretly caused their comprehension to increase greatly, imperceptibly pulling away a gap between them and the others.
"Very well."
At that moment, Hongjun spoke on the Dao platform, saying, "This lecture ends here."
"Do any of you have anything you do not understand? You may ask me."
Hongjun gave everyone an opportunity to ask questions.
Immediately, Laozi, who sat on the first meditation mat, stood up, bowed to Hongjun in salute, and asked, "May I ask Teacher, what is the Dao?"
"That which is sought yet cannot be obtained is the Dao."
Hongjun replied, "If it can be obtained, then it is not the Dao."
Laozi looked thoughtful, bowed to Hongjun once more, and then sat back down on the meditation mat.
Immediately following him, Yuanshi rose and asked, "May I ask Teacher, what is a sage? What is a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal?"
Hongjun furrowed his brows slightly and also replied, "A sage is a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, but a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal is not necessarily a sage."
"The number of sages is fixed at nine; this is the ultimate number of the Heavenly Dao and cannot be exceeded. The nascent souls of sages are pinned upon the Heavenly Dao, making them undying and indestructible, eternal with the Heavenly Dao."
"As for a Hunyuan Great Luo Golden Immortal, he self-proves his Dao fruit. This path is arduous, but if one can succeed, he can also sit on equal footing with the sages."
Yuanshi could not help becoming somewhat excited and wanted to ask further. At this time, Tongtian also rose, preempting him to ask, "May I ask Teacher, how does one become a sage?"
"The Three Thousand Great Daos can all lead to becoming a sage."
Hongjun replied, "However, to my knowledge, there are three methods to become a sage. First, like the great god Pangu, opening up heaven and earth, splitting the chaos, and evolving the cosmos; this is Dao Proving Through Strength, and it is the strongest for a sage."
"Second is the method of severing the three corpses that I previously imparted to you. After severing the three obsessions of good, evil, and self, one's cultivation can approach the ultimate extreme below the sages. On this foundation, if one can rely on great perseverance to unite the three corpses into one, one can prove the Dao through this."
"Although this method is inferior to the great god Pangu's Dao Proving Through Strength, its strength lies in its stability and gradual progression. I also proved the Dao through this method and have verified it."
"Third, Dao Proving Through Merit! Acquire Heavenly Dao merit, and prove the Dao through merit, and the sage position descends from the heavens. The sages who prove the Dao through this method are, however, the weakest among the three methods of proving the Dao."
"Yet once one proves the Dao and becomes a sage, it is still an entirely different level. You must know that beneath the sage, all are ants!"
When he reached the end, Hongjun could not help letting out a sigh and said.
Whether these words were intentional or unintentional on Hongjun's part was unknown.
When the people below the platform heard this, each and every one of them was deeply shaken, gazing at one another with eyes filled with shock.
Beneath the sage, all are ants! Wasn't this saying a bit too terrifying? Could it really be this absurd?
Yet Hongjun did not provide answers for the crowd. Suddenly, Hongjun shifted the topic and spoke again, "Several among you have an affinity with me and may become disciples of my Mystic Sect."
"What?"
As soon as the crowd heard these words from Hongjun, they instantly grew excited, raising their heads to gaze eagerly at Hongjun, all hoping they could become Hongjun's disciples.
Yet how could Hongjun pay attention to the crowd? His gaze merely looked toward the six people sitting at the front, and he said, "Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, the three of you were transformed from Pangu's Nascent Soul, possess great merit, and may be my disciples."
The three of them had already been filled with anticipation. Hearing Hongjun speak thus, they immediately stood up as one, stepped forward, and bowed, saying, "Disciple pays respects to Teacher."
Hongjun smiled faintly, made no superfluous remarks, and directly shook his large sleeve, sending three strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi flying into the nascent souls of the three.
Not only that, but Hongjun spoke again, "You three are disciples of my Mystic Sect, yet you ought to have supreme treasures to protect your bodies and suppress the fortune of my Mystic Sect."
Thus, from Hongjun's sleeves, several more treasures were shaken out.
They were precisely the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, as well as the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram.
As these treasures emerged, a terrifying aura spread forth, causing the people below the platform to be unable to open their eyes.
However, Hongjun wiped his hand across them, suppressing these treasures, restraining their divine light, and causing all kinds of wondrous portents to vanish from sight.
Hongjun bestowed the Taiji Diagram upon Laozi, saying, "Laozi, you are the eldest disciple of my Mystic Sect and ought to wield this Taiji Diagram. This is one of the supreme treasures transformed from the Sky-Opening Axe, possessing immense might. Use it with caution."
"Disciple thanks Teacher." Laozi received the Taiji Diagram, pleasantly surprised, and hurriedly bowed in gratitude.
Everyone watched with envy and jealousy that knew no bounds.
As for Yuanshi and Tongtian, they were filled with anticipation.
At that moment, sure enough, Hongjun once again bestowed the Pangu Banner upon Yuanshi, saying, "Yuanshi, this Pangu Banner and the Taiji Diagram originate from the same source, being transformed from the blade of the Sky-Opening Axe."
"Among Innate Supreme Treasures, its offensive power is the strongest. You hold this treasure and must not employ it lightly!"
"Understood, Teacher." Yuanshi was immensely thrilled and excited, hurrying to receive it as he bowed.
When Yuanshi stepped back, Tongtian could restrain himself no longer, taking the initiative to step forward and bow down.
Two consecutive Innate Supreme Treasures had been tossed out like cabbages, filling Tongtian's heart with both anticipation and trepidation.
After all, the number of Innate Supreme Treasures was limited, and the Innate Supreme Treasures transformed from the Sky-Opening Axe—the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Chaos Bell—already had their respective owners.
What else could he possibly obtain? Those four swords and the formation diagram, although they suited his tastes, he hoped they wouldn't be too shabby!
At that moment, Hongjun bestowed the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram, saying, "Tongtian, these Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the formation diagram belong to you. They can be deployed to form the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. This sword formation is unbreakable except by four sages."
As soon as Hongjun spoke these words, the entire Zixiao Palace fell instantly into absolute silence.
Everyone stared with burning gazes at the Four Swords of Zhu Xian and the Zhu Xian Formation Diagram held in Tongtian's arms.
Unbreakable except by four sages?
These four swords and the formation diagram could form a grand array that was unbreakable except by four sages?
Everyone doubted whether they had heard correctly.
You must know that at present, between heaven and earth, there was only Hongjun as a sage. If the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation was unbreakable except by four sages, then who could possibly be a match for Tongtian?
Involuntarily, deep wariness toward Tongtian arose within everyone's hearts, and they all made up their minds that even if they did not befriend Tongtian, they would keep him at a respectful distance.
Otherwise, if Tongtian deployed this sword formation, wouldn't they become soul-lost ghosts trapped within it?
Before you continue