As Ye Feng finished his final words, a wave of commotion rippled through the crowd.
"Finished?"
"No way... Is that really the end?"
"What did he even say? I didn't understand a single word!"
Though Ye Feng had concluded his sermon, the listeners remained restless, their minds caught in the whirlwind of profound truths.
"The Dao gave birth to One. One gave birth to Two. Two gave birth to Three, and Three gave birth to all things. All things carry Yin and embrace Yang, and the collision of Qi makes them harmonious."
Some of the more studious cultivators began dissecting his words.
"I get the part about Yin and Yang... but what about the rest?"
"The way of Heaven is to reduce the excess and fill the void."
"What does that even mean? Is Heaven flawed? I've never felt that!"
While many struggled to understand the depth of Ye Feng's sermon, others were moved—visibly and spiritually.
Buzz—
"Hahaha! This old man has broken through... to the Realm of Creation!"
Buzz—
"Hahaha! I too have ascended—Nirvana, I've reached Nirvana!"
Buzz—
"HAHAHA! Do you know what realm I've just broken into? Shengxuan! The Shengxuan Realm!"
One after another, astonished voices echoed across the plaza. Practitioners who had been stuck at bottlenecks for years—some for decades—were breaking through as if the walls had simply vanished.
"I never dreamed that one day, just by listening to the Chaos Saint's sermon, I would overcome a thirty-year bottleneck! Chaos Saint, I offer you my deepest gratitude!"
Those who gained enlightenment knelt respectfully before Ye Feng's stone statue. Even those who had yet to benefit weren't discouraged. Over 99% remained. Seeing others improve, they stayed to discuss what they'd heard. For three days, endless exchanges took place. Many returned to Qingyang City to continue the dialogue, eager to unravel the mysteries left behind by the Chaos Saint.
Within ten months, Ye Feng's sermon was transcribed, compiled, and published. The books spread like wildfire across the continent. Even those who had been stagnant for years found breakthroughs after studying his teachings.
Surprisingly, no one left Qingyang City. Instead, more and more cultivators gathered. A major event had been announced—on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Ye Feng would accept disciples on Linjia Mountain.
The news of Ye Feng's sermon and the transformations it inspired spread to all corners of the continent. Influential forces—once indifferent—turned their attention toward him. Talented cultivators, the chosen ones of major sects and empires, began flocking to Qingyang City.
On Linjia Mountain, Ye Feng stood gazing into the horizon, Lin Qingtan resting comfortably in his arms.
"How many people are at the foot of the mountain?" he asked.
"Three hundred and fifteen," Lin Qingtan replied softly.
"Over three hundred?" Ye Feng raised a brow.
"Mhm."
He had underestimated the potential of the Eastern Region. Even the small Great Yan Dynasty and surrounding territories had produced so many gifted individuals.
The Dao he taught wasn't about instant gains. True cultivation wasn't about shortcuts—it was about aligning with the laws of heaven and earth. Only those who grasped these rules could walk the Dao with ease.
"Mr. Ye," Lin Qingtan asked curiously, "your teachings were too abstract. Most people don't understand. Couldn't you have made them simpler?"
"Scarcity is what gives value," Ye Feng replied calmly. "If everyone could understand the Dao and master the laws of heaven and earth, the world would collapse under their power."
"I see..." she murmured.
"What about you, Qingtan? How much did you comprehend?"
Lin Qingtan lifted her hand. Space around them trembled slightly. Snowflakes drifted down, despite the clear skies. A dim mist settled around them. It was snowing—no, the Yin energy was manifesting through her will.
She had awakened the Law of Extreme Yin.
Ye Feng's eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Not bad. My efforts in training you haven't been wasted."
He reached out and pinched her cheek playfully.
"Where's Lin Dong?"
"He's still meditating on your sermon," Lin Qingtan replied.
Ye Feng nodded. "He's a worthy candidate."
She continued, "Aside from Brother Lin Dong, those waiting at the mountain's base include Wu Yun of the Crazy Blade Martial School, Wang Yan of the Wang family, Qin Shi of the Qin family, and Huang Pujing of the Huang Pu family. There are also many chosen ones from surrounding empires."
"Oh? Where's your sister-in-law?"
"She and Brother Lin Dong are meditating too."
Then, Lin Qingtan hesitated. "Master Ye, if Wu Yun passes your test... would you really take him as a disciple?"
"Of course."
"But he's from Crazy Blade Dojo. If we accept him, things may get complicated."
Ye Feng smiled faintly. "He's clever. He knows what can be taken, and what must be earned. If he passes my test, that alone proves he's worthy."
Qingtan bit her lip, then said, "There's something else you should know."
"What is it?"
"The nine major sects of the Eastern Region have sent their people. Dao Sect and Yuan Sect are here. Most importantly—Jiutian Taiqing Palace has arrived. Ling Qingzhu... and her master."
"Oh?" Ye Feng replied lightly.
"She's here because of your teachings in the Nirvana tomb. She sensed two Supremes there. One was the origin of the Wudong Qiankun plane. The other..." Qingtan paused, "…was you."
Ye Feng remained silent.
"In a world where the strong dominate, how could Ling Qingzhu's master not be tempted?"
Ye Feng didn't answer. He had anticipated this.
Lin Qingtan changed the subject, this time on behalf of her family. "Young Master Ye, from your sermon, our Lin family earned 30 million gold coins. The elders discussed giving you 20 million, but others thought that was too tacky and proposed offering you a special gift instead. What do you think?"
Ye Feng chuckled. "I'm not short on money."
He wasn't being arrogant. As the God of Creation, with a flick of his finger, he could summon meteorites from the heavens. With the power of Chaos, he could refine gold purer than anything the world had ever seen.
To him, gold and jewels were no different from common stones. It was human belief that gave them value.
"But… this is just a token of gratitude."
"If the Lin family really wants to thank me…" Ye Feng leaned in, voice lowering to a whisper, "…why not give me a child?"
"A… a child?" Qingtan's face turned crimson. "You… you want me to give you a child as thanks?"
Embarrassed, she turned and bolted toward the room. But just before disappearing inside, she glanced over her shoulder, her face still flushed.
"Young Master Ye... you're awful!"
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