Everyone's gaze fell on Chen Xuan. They had no idea who he was, that Dao Ancestor Hongjun would treat him with such regard.
Of course, this did not include those who knew Chen Xuan. Houtu, for instance, was filled with delight.
Immediately afterward, Dao Ancestor Hongjun began his lecture. His first lecture had covered the path of the Great Luo Golden Immortal. This one covered the path of the Quasi-Saint.
This finally gave those cultivators who had reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal Peak yet could not find an opportunity to break through a trace of guidance.
But to Chen Xuan, it was like listening to the Book of Heaven. He could not understand a single word.
In the end, he dozed off in a haze. Even Chen Xuan himself did not know how many years he slept.
When he awoke again, everyone seated on the prayer mats, whether the Three Pure Ones or Nüwa, had Three Flowers blossoming above their heads.
Above Taishang Laozi's Three Flowers sat two Daoists who looked much like Taishang Laozi himself.
Since Taishang Laozi had already broken through to the Quasi-Saint realm, he severed both his good and evil corpses in one stroke, becoming the first Two-Corpse Quasi-Sage in Purple Cloud Palace.
Yuanshi Tianzun, Tongtian, Goddess Nvwa, and the others likewise had Three Flowers blooming above their heads.
Though they had not severed two corpses like Taishang Laozi, they had all expelled their good corpses from their bodies, becoming One Corpse Quasi-Sages.
This did not surprise Chen Xuan. After all, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's second lecture concerned the path of the Quasi-Saint.
If even these few could not comprehend its true essence, then the others were likely no different from him.
Chen Xuan's gaze then began sweeping back and forth over those without prayer mats.
He first looked at Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi. Neither had yet managed to sever a corpse.
However, the Three Flowers above their heads had already bloomed. They would likely soon succeed in severing their corpses and becoming Quasi-Saints.
At last, Chen Xuan's gaze settled on the Twelve Ancestral Witches. Apart from Houtu, who was listening attentively, all the others were already drowsing off.
It could be said that, in the entire Purple Cloud Palace, apart from Chen Xuan, only the Eleven Ancestral Witches had their minds elsewhere rather than on Dao Ancestor Hongjun's lecture.
Another two thousand years passed like this. During those two thousand years, Chen Xuan had no idea how many times he fell asleep and woke again.
When he woke this time, he discovered that, aside from Houtu, the other Twelve Ancestral Witches had already left.
Chen Xuan could not help shaking his head helplessly. Cultivating only the body and not the primordial spirit will ultimately amount to nothing.
Just as Chen Xuan sighed, streaks of golden light shot into the sky. One person after another successfully severed a corpse, including Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi.
By then, Laozi had already successfully severed all three corpses, while Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian had each severed two.
By the time Dao Ancestor Hongjun had lectured for three thousand years, everyone in Purple Cloud Palace had become a Quasi-Saint.
Of the six with seats, aside from Goddess Nvwa, all had reached at least the realm of Two-Corpse Quasi-Sage.
Among those without seats, there were also those who had severed two corpses, including Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi.
This signified that the era of Quasi-Saints had officially begun.
At that moment, Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice abruptly ceased, and the heavenly phenomena within Purple Cloud Palace vanished as well.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun then said, "This lecture has lasted three thousand years. What I have taught is the path of the Quasi-Saint.
In another thousand years, I will give my third lecture in Purple Cloud Palace. I will teach how to become a Saint and answer your questions."
"After you leave Purple Cloud Palace, Eastern Duke shall be the foremost male immortal of the primordial world, while Western Queen Mother shall be the leader of its female immortals. They shall govern the immortals of the primordial world on my behalf."
As soon as Dao Ancestor Hongjun finished speaking, Eastern Duke stepped forward with a smile and bowed to accept the order.
Western Queen Mother, on the other hand, did not share Eastern Duke's smile. There was even a trace of worry on her face.
At last, the two bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun together. Eastern Duke directly said, "Please rest assured, Dao Ancestor. This disciple will certainly govern the primordial world well."
Dao Ancestor Hongjun nodded and waved his hand at everyone.
Everyone present rose and bid Dao Ancestor Hongjun farewell before turning to leave Purple Cloud Palace.
As they departed, they did not forget to cast varied looks at Eastern Duke and Western Queen Mother.
Some sought to curry favor, some nodded amicably, some were dismissive, and others were consumed with envy.
In the end, only a scant few remained within the great hall of Purple Cloud Palace.
"You should each return to your Dao Fields and cultivate. As for Chen Xuan, he shall remain in my palace for the time being."
Naturally, no one dared object. They hurriedly rose, bade Dao Ancestor Hongjun farewell, and left Purple Cloud Palace.
As the gates of Purple Cloud Palace closed, everyone found themselves standing outside.
There was someone else waiting outside Purple Cloud Palace: Ancestral Witch Hou Tu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Hou Tu approached the Three Pure Ones, cupped her hands in salute, and asked, "Senior Brothers Three Pure Ones, why has Chen Xuan not come out?"
Tongtian directly rolled his eyes. "Who knows what kind of luck that kid stumbled into? Master actually kept him in Purple Cloud Palace."
When Hou Tu heard that Chen Xuan had been kept in Purple Cloud Palace, disappointment immediately appeared on her face. It meant she would not be able to see him.
She nodded to Tongtian and turned to leave, only to be stopped by Goddess Nvwa.
"Sister Houtu, why are you in such a hurry to see my little brother Chen Xuan? What is it for? Perhaps I, as his elder sister, can help him accomplish it."
As Goddess Nvwa spoke, she deliberately emphasized the words "my little brother Chen Xuan."
It was as though she were declaring that she alone held exclusive claim over Chen Xuan as her younger brother.
Hou Tu refused to be outdone and smiled. "Little Brother Chen Xuan promised that, once the lecture in Purple Cloud Palace ended, he would accompany me to the Witch Race to have some fun.
I wonder whether Sister Nüwa can take Little Brother Chen Xuan's place. If not, then I shall take my leave."
With that, she spun around and vanished directly from outside Purple Cloud Palace, leaving Goddess Nvwa gritting her teeth in anger.
At that moment, Fuxi came to Goddess Nvwa's side and quietly said, "Sister, it is time for us to return to Mount Buzhou."
Goddess Nvwa nodded, then bid farewell to the Three Pure Ones and the two from the west before following Fuxi back to Mount Buzhou.
Zhunti and Daoist Jieyin also took their leave afterward, leaving only the Three Pure Ones standing outside Purple Cloud Palace.
Yuanshi Tianzun said with a worried expression, "Chen Xuan seems to have provoked the two women he should never have provoked."
Tongtian, however, burst into unconcerned laughter. "Everything is determined by fate. Who can know what will happen in the future?"
Taishang Laozi shook his head. "Junior Brothers, given Master's attitude toward Chen Xuan, do you really think there is anything for us to worry about?
There is no need to worry about him. We should return to Kunlun Mountain soon and digest the Great Dao Master has taught us."
Before you continue