Lin Fan stood by and watched coldly, like a young man from the twenty-first century who had been battered by society.
In Lin Fan's eyes, Taoist Zhunti's acting was truly as clumsy and crude as a child playing house. Even most of the people in Zixiao Palace looked at the Western duo with disdain. Only the good-natured Taoist Hongyun sat there stroking his beard and smiling, completely unconcerned about the matter of giving up his seat, looking just like a carefree, big-bellied Buddha Maitreya.
Lin Fan actually felt quite well-disposed toward Taoist Hongyun and originally wanted to give him a hint. Yet Hongyun was courting his own doom: not only did he give away his own holy seat with both hands, but he also dragged Ancestor Kunpeng down with him so that he lost his holy seat as well.
This was a colossal karma. If Ancestor Kunpeng ever found out about this, it would undoubtedly end in a fight to the death. After all, to the living beings of the Primordial World, blocking someone's path to the Dao was far more serious than killing their parents, let alone incurring the karma of a Heavenly Dao Saint. From the very moment Ancestor Hongyun gave up his seat, his doom had been sealed, flawless and inescapable.
With the seats decided, the gates of Zixiao Palace closed, and Hongjun's figure appeared silently upon the cattail hassock on the high platform.
The thousands present failed to notice it in the slightest. Even the front six people, along with Lin Fan, detected no trace of Hongjun's arrival. It was as if Hongjun had always been right there—profound and mysterious beyond words. This made everyone even more eager for the upcoming sermon, and they looked at Hongjun with heightened enthusiasm and reverence.
"We pay respects to Teacher Hongjun." The assembly performed the highest Daoist ritual, prostrating themselves fully on the ground, their voices filled with the utmost respect. After all, Hongjun was propagating the Dao throughout the Primordial World with great benevolence, compassion, and selflessness, and he richly deserved such reverence.
Gazing down at the crowd below, Hongjun cast a subtle glance toward the Western duo. His brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of displeasure toward Taoist Hongyun crossed his eyes. He never expected that right in his own home, two outsiders would manage to take advantage. Truly, the will of Heaven was like a blade, unalterable. Since Taoist Hongyun was the instigator, if he didn't scheme against him, who else was there to scheme against?
"Let it remain as it is seated henceforth! It shall not be changed," Hongjun said expressionlessly. Without waiting for anyone to reply, he began preaching the Great Dao of his own accord. Instantly, the rhythm of the Dao circulated throughout Zixiao Palace, the Great Dao flickered in and out of view, heavenly maidens scattered blossoms, and clusters of golden lotuses sprouted from the void amidst one auspicious sign after another.
In a single instant, everyone was drawn into the wondrous rhythm of the Dao, unable to extricate themselves. The various beings listened to the Dao in myriad states: some prostrated themselves and wept bitterly, some furrowed their brows tightly, some wore compassionate expressions, while others looked serene and content—each one different.
Lin Fan was also drawn into the Dao rhythm by the Saint's sermon at the very first moment. Combining it with the fortuitous encounter he had obtained at Mount Buzhou within his sea of consciousness, Lin Fan's spiritual attainment and magical power leaped forward by leaps and bounds, losing nothing to the Three Pure Ones and the others sitting in the front rows.
Sensing something, Hongjun opened his eyes, looked at Lin Fan with a smile, and nodded in satisfaction.
Thus, three thousand years flashed by in an instant. Hongjun stopped his sermon, and just as the assembly was listening intently, the sound of the Dao vanished, leaving everyone to open their eyes in bewilderment.
Only then did Hongjun speak: "Three thousand years have passed, and this sermon is concluded. A millennium from now, Zixiao Palace will open once more. All of you, return to whence you came!"
Without waiting for anyone to react, his figure instantly vanished from within Zixiao Palace. Left with no other choice, the crowd bowed toward the cattail hassock Hongjun had occupied and said, "We obey the Teacher's decree."
With that, the assembly left Zixiao Palace in twos and threes, heading back toward the Primordial World into seclusion to consolidate what they had gained from listening to the Dao.
Lin Fan returned to Kunlun along with the Three Pure Ones. Looking at Mount Kunlun, which he had not seen for hundreds of thousands of years, Lin Fan could not help feeling deeply emotional. Yet before Lin Fan could even speak, his master, Master Shangqing, said, "You brat, as Master is going into seclusion with your two uncles, you are to keep watch over the gates."
Without waiting for Lin Fan to react, he vanished, leaving Lin Fan standing alone in the wind, utterly bewildered, the corners of his mouth twitching.
For cultivators, a millennium passed in the blink of an eye, and the second sermon began. The faces were still the same, but the aura about quite a few of them had grown profound—it seemed they had reaped immense benefits from the previous sermon.
The sermon proceeded as before, except that this time it was even more profound than the last, and those who could understand it were vanishingly few.
Once three thousand years had passed, Daoist Hongjun uttered merely a single sentence—that he would lecture again a millennium later—and vanished once more.
During the third sermon, the Dao Ancestor spoke of the path to becoming a saint. This time, the confusion in everyone's eyes was even greater; even among those capable of understanding, there were no more than two or three individuals, and even they could only grasp the general outline.
Amidst the sorrowful expressions of the crowd, the Dao Ancestor stopped his preaching. This time, instead of disappearing the moment he finished as he had the previous two times, the Dao Ancestor looked at the assembly and said, "I obtained the Creation Jade Disc, and in compliance with the Heavenly Dao, I have instructed all living beings of the Primordial World. Having now lectured for nine thousand years, I shall lecture no more. Now, a little time remains; if any of you have doubts, you may voice them to me, and I shall answer."
The moment his voice fell, Laozi, the head of the Three Pure Ones, knelt and asked, "This disciple dares to ask Teacher, what is a saint?"
Daoist Hongjun replied without sorrow or joy, "A saint is a Hunyuan Daluo Golden Immortal, untouched by reincarnation, untainted by karma, enduring through myriad kalpas without perishing. The saint acts through non-action, hence never fails, hence never loses."
"I dare ask Teacher, is there a set number of saints?" It was Yuanshi who could not help asking.
After all, a saint endured through myriad kalpas without perishing, transcended the cycle of life and death, stood high above to look down upon all living beings, controlled the Heavenly Dao, and regarded living beings as mere ants. Who could fail to be moved by the prospect of becoming a saint?
Daoist Hongjun's expression remained as calm as an ancient well: "Beneath the Heavenly Dao, nine is the limit of numbers, hence there should be nine saints beneath the Heavenly Dao, and eight shall attain sainthood under my seat."
"Teacher, Teacher, who may become a saint?" Master Shangqing asked eagerly.
Instantly, everyone in Zixiao Palace looked at Daoist Hongjun with burning gazes, resembling a pack of starving wolves.
With a flip of his hand, Daoist Hongjun made a mass of purple qi radiating a faint purple glow hover in his palm.
Daoist Hongjun declared, "This is the opportunity of the Great Dao—the Primordial Purple Qi. Those who obtain it may become saints."
Disregarding the sea of burning gazes below, Daoist Hongjun continued of his own accord: "The Three Pure Ones are transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit, possessing the merit of opening the heavens. They may be my direct disciples and can become saints."
With a wave of his hand, three strands of Primordial Purple Qi merged into the primordial spirits of the Three Pure Ones. The three were overjoyed and hastily bowed in gratitude.
Hongjun continued, "Nuwa shall perform a great deed of merit in days to come; she may be my closing disciple and can also become a saint."
With that, another strand of Primordial Purple Qi was bestowed, sinking into the center of Nuwa's brow.
"Many thanks, Master." Nuwa likewise hastily bowed in thanks.
Having spoken thus, Hongjun said no more.
This drove the two Westerners in the back into a frantic spin. Anyone could see by now that the cattail hassocks represented the status of Saint disciples and the position of sainthood; yet when it came to Nuwa, she was directly made a closing disciple, and no more would be taken. Where were Jieyin and Zhunti supposed to go to argue their case? Seeing that Daoist Hongjun remained silent, Zhunti was driven to panic—he could not let a hard-earned holy seat slip away!
Disregarding the gazes of the crowd, he threw himself into a full prostration and tearfully pleaded, "I beg the Teacher to show mercy and bestow a holy seat, that you may deliver the hundreds of millions of living beings in our West."
He went on to recount the immense hardships he and his senior brother Jieyin had endured in traveling from countless millions of miles away to seek the Dao.
Daoist Hongjun quietly watched Zhunti, and after a long time, he sighed softly, "Very well. Though the two of you have shallow affinity with the old man, you excel in having great perseverance, great compassion, and great wisdom. You may be my nominal disciples, and you can become saints."
With that, two strands of purple qi merged into the brows of Jieyin and Zhunti. The two hastily bowed in gratitude.
Seeing this, and realizing that such behavior could actually win two strands of Primordial Purple Qi, the rest of the crowd cast their pride to the winds and rushed to plead tearfully with Hongjun, each hoping to secure a strand of Primordial Purple Qi.
For a moment, as Lin Fan watched Zixiao Palace, it felt just like market women arguing in a vegetable market from his past life.
Yet Daoist Hongjun, as the first saint between heaven and earth, remained unmoved. With just a single sentence—"You have no affinity with me"—he shattered everyone's hopes.
Finally, seeing the anticipation in everyone's eyes, he added, "Very well. The Heavenly Dao leaves a sliver of hope; this final strand of purple qi shall be given to you all."
With that, he cast out the last strand of Primordial Purple Qi. The purple qi circled above the crowd's heads a few times before plunging straight into the brow of Ancestor Hongyun amidst everyone's eager gazes.
Having suddenly obtained the Primordial Purple Qi, Ancestor Hongyun was overcome with joy. He actually forgot even to bow in thanks, and rushed out of Zixiao Palace in high spirits, heading back toward the Primordial World.
Standing in the back, Lin Fan watched the way the others were looking at Hongyun and could not help silently sighing that Hongyun's deathly doom had arrived.
Ignoring the rest, Hongjun turned back to the assembly and continued, "The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao operates at forty-nine, leaving one escape route; hence the Heavenly Dao is incomplete. I have obtained the Creation Jade Disc and must embody the Dao to complete the Heavenly Dao. From this moment on, I am the Heavenly Dao, no longer Hongjun."
The assembly was greatly startled and hastily prostrated themselves, crying, "Teacher is merciful." Yet in their hearts, they felt a certain thrill—after all, once they all became saints in the future, having a supreme overlord hanging over their heads was bound to feel uncomfortable for anyone.
Daoist Hongjun spoke once more: "As I am the Heavenly Dao, I shall concern myself only with the grand trends of the Heavenly Dao. From now on, barring a kalpa calamity, Zixiao Palace shall not open."
"As I am about to embody the Dao, I acquired certain magical treasures from the Primordial World prior to my enlightenment. Now that they are of no further use to me, I shall distribute them among you."
Hearing this, the crowd was overjoyed, every single one of them opening their eyes wide as they waited for Hongjun to distribute the treasures.
Hongjun turned to Master Taiqing and said, "Lier, you are transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit, the first of the Three Pure Ones, and my chief Xuanmen disciple. You shall transmit my orthodox teachings, glorify my Xuanmen, and govern the great religion in days to come. I now bestow upon you the Xiantian supreme treasure, the Taiji Diagram, to suppress Qi Fortune!"
Master Taiqing was overjoyed; he accepted the treasure and bowed in thanks.
Hongjun then said to Master Yuanshi, "Yuanshi, you are Pangu's Yuqing, and you shall govern a great religion in days to come. I now bestow upon you the Xiantian supreme treasure, the Pangu Banner, to suppress Qi Fortune!"
Master Yuanshi was likewise overjoyed and bowed in thanks.
Hongjun next said to Master Shangqing, "Though you are likewise transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit, your temperament is unyielding and straight, refusing to bend. Therefore, Master bestows upon you the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram. You shall be in charge of Xuanmen's killing power; it requires four saints to deploy them before they can be broken."
Hearing this, the crowd was greatly startled. Never had they imagined Hongjun would give such a lethal weapon of slaughter to Master Shangqing. It seemed that in the future, they would all have to yield to him somewhat, lest they become immortals slain beneath the Immortal-Slaying Formation.
"Nuwa, as a woman, you are unsuited for fighting. I bestow upon you the top-grade Xiantian Spirit Treasures, the Mountain and River State Diagram and the Red Hydrangea, for self-protection."
Nuwa rose, bowed in thanks, and accepted them.
After that, he took the Twelfth-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and gave it to Jieyin as the foundation for establishing his religion, and gave the pestle of subjugation to Zhunti.
Once the primary spiritual treasures had all found their rightful owners, Daoist Hongjun spoke no more.
Lin Fan looked on and realized there was no share for him in this! This would not do! No matter what, he was still the eldest second-generation disciple of Xuanmen, and possessed Pangu's bloodline to boot. Even if everyone else got nothing, he could not be left empty-handed!
The Primordial Purple Qi could be forgotten; if there was none, so be it, but he couldn't possibly not get a treasure either!
Right then and there, he dropped to his knees before Daoist Hongjun and declared, "Disciple Lin Fan, pupil of Master Shangqing, pays his respects to you, Grandteacher—the one and only unique eldest second-generation scorpion's stinger of a disciple in the entire Xuanmen!"
"This disciple has suffered so! This disciple's cultivation is low, and without a spiritual treasure to protect his body, anyone in the Primordial World can bully him a little. I hope Grandteacher will show great mercy and bestow upon this disciple ten or eight offensive-and-defensive Xiantian Spirit Treasures for self-protection, so that this disciple won't end up bullied by others and disgrace Xuanmen's reputation."
As soon as he finished speaking, the three thousand guests of Zixiao Palace could not help looking at Lin Fan, every single one of them thinking to themselves: *Damn it, I've seen shameless people, but never anyone this shameless! Ten or eight Xiantian Spirit Treasures?*
*Offensive and defensive combined, no less?*
*Your cultivation is low?*
*Damn it! Where is your face, man?*
*Your strength and spiritual attainment could thrash most of us here!*
*How can you call that low strength?*
Even Taoist Zhunti beside him looked at Lin Fan with a trace of shame in his eyes.
He thought to himself: *Ah, compared to this fellow Daoist's level of shamelessness, this poor Daoist still isn't qualified! I still need to practice more.*
The Three Pure Ones simultaneously slapped their hands to their foreheads, their faces carrying expressions of shame as they thought: *As expected, this brat has now gone and made a fool of himself right in front of Teacher. Ah! I so want to purge the sect!*
Looking at Lin Fan, who was acting like a priceless clown, Daoist Hongjun finally ceased to act as the aloof and elevated Saint, and burst into a hearty laugh. "What a lazy rascal! The old man knew you wouldn't be able to hold back!"
"Hahaha..."
The laughter echoed through the Chaos.