At the sound of the system's voice, three options appeared in Xu Tong's mind.
Looking at the three options, Xu Tong could not help feeling a surge of excitement.
I didn't expect the second sermon to come so soon.
The system is clearly trying to tempt me.
He looked at the first and second options.
Both options required him to leave seclusion.
And the corresponding rewards, whether the Pangu Jade Marrow or the Pangu Blood Essence, were rare treasures.
If either of these treasures appeared in the Primordial World and people learned of it, they would fight until their heads split open to get their hands on it.
Great God Pangu had come within a hair's breadth of attaining the Great Dao.
Even a tiny amount of his jade marrow or blood essence could raise someone's cultivation to a terrifying level.
Xu Tong knew that obtaining either of these treasures would make his path to Prove Dao by Force much easier.
By comparison, the Sage Dao Field seemed rather paltry.
Ultimately, the Sage Dao Field only offered some protection, shielding him from a Saint's probing.
It could not increase his strength.
Looking at the options, Xu Tong cursed inwardly.
Damn system, I'm not falling for your tricks. A smaller reward is fine. It's still better than being trapped in the Purple Cloud Palace later.
"I choose option three."
As Xu Tong made his choice, the system responded.
Ding! The host has made his choice. Reward: one Sage Dao Field, available to claim at any time.
Though it took some time to describe, everything had happened in an instant.
Laozi and Yuanshi heard Hongjun's heavenly voice ringing out from the Purple Cloud Palace, and delight immediately appeared on their faces.
"Heaven truly favors us! Just as we were thinking about increasing our strength, the Dao Ancestor announced another sermon. Second Brother, Third Brother, let's set off at once!"
"Our cultivation rose tremendously during the Dao Ancestor's last sermon. This time, he will be teaching the Quasi-Saint Dao. We Three Pure Ones cannot fall behind!"
Laozi spoke excitedly.
Yuanshi nodded in agreement.
"Exactly, especially when it comes to those two birdmen, Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor."
"Once our cultivation improves, we must teach them a proper lesson and show them that the Pangu Orthodox Lineage is not to be trifled with!"
Yuanshi had yet to cool down from his hot-blooded fervor and was still fantasizing about beating Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor senseless.
Yet upon hearing their words, Xu Tong shook his head.
"Brothers, the two of you should go to this sermon without me. As I just said, I'm on the verge of a breakthrough. If I miss this chance to comprehend the Great Dao, it will be difficult to find it again."
Xu Tong casually came up with an excuse.
Laozi froze upon hearing it.
"Third Brother, you're skipping the sermon again? You must understand that this sermon concerns the Quasi-Saint Dao. You've already reached the Quasi-Saint Realm by consuming creation merit. If you attend, you might be able to save some of that merit. Creation merit is a one-time gift, not something easily obtained. You should conserve whatever you can."
"Yes, Third Brother. When you missed the last sermon, the Dao Ancestor even deliberately glanced over a couple of times."
Laozi and Yuanshi had always believed that Tongtian's rapid progress was due to his use of creation merit.
Xu Tong, however, knew perfectly well what was really going on.
Yuanshi's words put Xu Tong on his guard.
Just as I thought, that old fox Hongjun is scheming against me. All the more reason not to go.
Xu Tong silently weighed his options.
"Eldest Brother, Second Brother, my mind is made up. I won't hold you up any longer. Hurry along. If you arrive late, you might miss a fortuitous opportunity. It would be disastrous if Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor seized the prize first."
At Xu Tong's words, both Laozi and Yuanshi were startled.
He was right. If those two birdmen, Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, stole the lead, how could the two of them walk the Primordial World afterward? How could they bear the name of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage?
Laozi let out a long sigh.
"Very well. Since your mind is made up, Third Brother, the two of us will go ahead."
Xu Tong nodded and said nothing more.
With Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor pressing them, Laozi and Yuanshi dared not delay. They did not even return to their own abodes, heading straight for the Purple Cloud Palace instead.
Seeing how eager they were, Xu Tong shook his head.
"Pies don't just fall from the sky for free. Listen to his sermon today, and you'll spend countless years working under him later."
Being a Saint of Heaven and Earth sounded impressive, but before Hongjun, who had attained Dao Integration, they were no different from hired hands.
Saints were supposedly undying and indestructible, yet in the end, where could any trace of them be found between heaven and earth? They were either trapped in the chaos beyond the heavens or had swallowed a Saint-Slaying Pill.
Their lives and deaths still hung on a single thought from Hongjun.
Besides, he had already decided to follow the method of Prove Dao by Force rather than Slay Corpses to Become a Saint. Hongjun's sermon on the Quasi-Saint Dao would therefore be of no use to him.
He would be better off spending that time comprehending the laws. His gains would be greater that way.
With that thought, Xu Tong hesitated no longer.
He glanced toward the Purple Cloud Palace and murmured.
"From what Yuanshi just said, Hongjun already noticed my absence last time. If I don't go this time either, he'll probably grow suspicious. Fortunately, I just chose option three and received a Sage Dao Field. That should offer some protection."
"System, claim the Sage Dao Field."
Ding! Reward issued!
The system's voice faded.
Under the system's vast power, Xu Tong's cultivation grounds transformed as well. Their aura became elusive and inscrutable, making it difficult for even a Saint to observe what lay within.
Looking at his cultivation grounds, Xu Tong nodded in satisfaction.
"Excellent. With this Dao Field, I won't have to worry about Hongjun's probing, at least for the time being."
Xu Tong then sat cross-legged and resumed cultivating.
Beyond the heavens, the doors of the Purple Cloud Palace opened once more.
Every cultivator of note in the Three Realms heard Hongjun's voice and hurried over.
They had already tasted the benefits last time, so naturally, none were willing to miss this sermon.
Over these years, the balance of power on the Primordial Continent had also changed.
The Witch Clan and the Demon Tribe had grown increasingly powerful.
Both tribes showed signs of becoming the rulers of heaven and earth.
Neither, however, would submit to the other.
Laozi and Yuanshi had barely arrived at the Purple Cloud Palace when Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor followed on their heels.
At the sight of Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor, Laozi's and Yuanshi's expressions changed.
The Eastern Emperor and Di Jun also brightened at the sight of Laozi and Yuanshi. They were about to mock them when twelve figures shot up from the land of the Primordial World.
They were none other than the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches cultivated only their bodies, not their primordial spirits, so listening to sermons would ordinarily be useless to them.
But this was the Dao Ancestor's sermon, after all. After discussing it among themselves, they had decided to come and listen.
More importantly, they could make life unpleasant for Di Jun and the Eastern Emperor.
"Hahaha! Di Jun, you birdman! It's been ages. To think you actually dared to show your face! Aren't you afraid my brothers and I will pluck every last feather off you?"
Dijiang laughed, his booming voice carrying throughout the hall.
Di Jun's face instantly darkened.
The atmosphere inside the hall grew unbearably oppressive, swords drawn and bows bent.
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