Ao Xuan sat on the futon, letting out a silent sigh in his heart. He naturally knew Hongyun's fate: it was precisely because of giving up his seat this time that he formed karmic ties with the Two Western Sages. Later, due to possessing Hongmeng Purple Qi, he was jointly killed by Kunpeng and Ancestor Minghe after the Dragon-Han Catastrophe, meeting a fate of soul scattered and dissipated.
But at this moment, he had just entered Zixiao Palace, his foundation not yet stable. Even if he wanted to warn Hongyun, he had no way to speak up. He could only watch as Hongyun sat at the back of the hall, chatting gently with the cultivators beside him, completely unaware that he had stepped into a vortex of karmic entanglement.
Just then, a vast Dao rhythm suddenly came from outside the hall. The chaotic qi parted automatically, and a gray figure slowly walked into the main hall. The figure seemed ordinary, yet it caused the spiritual energy of the entire Zixiao Palace to congeal. It was none other than Taoist Hongjun.
All the cultivators in the hall quickly stood up to pay their respects. Even the Three Pure Ones restrained their auras, bowing their heads respectfully.
Taoist Hongjun's gaze swept over the futons at the front of the hall, lingering slightly on Zhunti, then glancing faintly at Hongyun at the back, before finally settling on Ao Xuan—there was a flash of imperceptible sharpness in his eyes. He did not speak further, but slowly walked to the high platform at the front of the hall and sat down. His voice, like the sounds of nature, echoed through the hall: "Zixiao Palace opens to preach the Great Dao. You are all destined beings. Today, we shall begin with 'Chaos generates Tai Chi, Tai Chi generates Yin and Yang'..."
As the Dao sound fell, the celestial star spirit beads on the hall ceiling lit up simultaneously. The five elements' spiritual light transformed into streams of runes, surrounding the cultivators.
Ao Xuan closed his eyes, feeling the Dao rhythm surging into his consciousness, yet he still couldn't help but glance distractedly at Hongyun at the back. The kind-hearted innate god was listening intently to Taoist Hongjun's preaching. Ao Xuan shook his head slightly—there were truly too few good people in the Primordial World. If he had the chance, he must help Hongyun...
The Dao sound of Zixiao Palace flowed like a clear spring from the dawn of chaos, echoing for countless years.
The five elements' spiritual light sprinkled by the celestial star beads on the ceiling wove layers of light cocoons around the cultivators, transforming the innate Dao preached by Taoist Hongjun into tangible Dao rhythm runes that merged into everyone's consciousness.
Ao Xuan closed his eyes and concentrated, yet his fingertips unconsciously brushed the inside of his robe. Hidden there was a conch shell, and inside the shell was the jade tablet transformed from the Hongmeng Purple Qi he had obtained in the Western Wasteland valley earlier.
At this moment, as the Dao rhythm entered his body, the jade tablet suddenly grew slightly warm in the shell, resonating faintly with the Azure Dragon origin and Pangu's blood essence in his body. Even the water fortune and wood-element laws flowing around him became more active.
After an unknown amount of time, the star spirit beads on the hall ceiling gradually dimmed, and Taoist Hongjun's voice slowly faded.
He stood up from the high platform, his gray Taoist robe fluttering without wind, surrounded by chaotic qi. His gaze swept over the 3,600 cultivators in the hall, finally fixing on the seven futons at the front—where sat the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, Fuxi, Ao Xuan, and the Two Western Sages, Jieyin and Zhunti, who had temporarily taken Hongyun's futon.
"The Great Dao has fifty principles, the Heavenly Dao manifests forty-nine, and one is left for mortal beings to seize." Taoist Hongjun's voice was gentle yet carried undeniable majesty. "All of you have gained insights from this preaching. I possess nine strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi, the foundation of the Great Dao of opening the sky. I shall bestow them upon you destined ones, to assist you in attaining Hunyuan in the future."
Before he finished speaking, the hall was filled with the sound of sharp breaths.
This was the Dao Ancestor himself speaking—attaining Hunyuan!
What did that mean?
It meant becoming a Sage! Transcending kalpas, becoming one of the top powerhouses in this world!
Taoist Hongjun raised his hand and waved. Pale purple qi streamed from his sleeves, coiling in the air like spiritual snakes.
"The Three Pure Ones are formed from Pangu's essence and blood, bearing the merit of opening the sky and creating the world. You may attain Hunyuan!" As soon as Taoist Hongjun's voice fell, three strands of purple qi separated and flew toward the Three Pure Ones.
The first strand of purple qi flew to the Supreme Old Lord first. Taiqing spiritual light surged around the Old Lord as he clasped his hands to receive it. The moment the purple qi entered his body, the Dao rhythm around him became more profound, as if he had merged with heaven and earth, his breathing even synchronizing with the Primordial spiritual energy.
The second strand of purple qi fell to Yuanshi Tianzun. A flash of sharpness crossed the Tianzun's eyes as he raised his hand to tuck the purple qi into his sleeve. Yuqing spiritual energy surged immediately after, causing the golden metal spiritual light in the hall to tremble slightly, revealing a hint of sharpness.
The third strand of purple qi drifted to Tongtian Jiaozhu. The Jiaozhu laughed loudly, waving his sleeve to wrap up the purple qi. Shangqing Dao rhythm spread like waves, stirring the chaotic qi outside the hall, filled with unrestrained freedom.
"Nüwa and Fuxi, each possesses Heavenly Dao destiny. You may attain Hunyuan!" Two more strands of purple qi separated and flew toward Nüwa and Fuxi.
As the purple qi approached Nüwa, she tapped it gently with her seven-colored stone staff. The purple qi transformed into a stream of light coiling around the staff. She smiled gently, nodding slightly to Taoist Hongjun. The innate spiritual energy around her became more intense, as if capable of stirring the vitality of all things.
The fifth strand of purple qi landed on Fuxi. Fuxi opened his eyes, and Eight Trigrams Dao runes flowed at his fingertips. The purple qi merged into the runes, causing subtle ripples in time and space within the hall, as if capable of deducing future trajectories.
"Ao Xuan the Azure Dragon, bearing the merit of opening the sky. You may attain Hunyuan!"
The sixth strand of purple qi flew straight toward Ao Xuan!
This purple qi was exactly the same as the one Taoist Hongjun had given him earlier—crystal clear, exuding the vast Dao rhythm of opening the sky. As soon as it approached him, it automatically coiled around his wrist, flowing toward his consciousness along his meridians.
Ao Xuan's eyes snapped open, his dragon pupils filled with shock. He unconsciously touched the conch shell inside his robe. The jade tablet inside was burning fiercely, resonating intensely with this complete strand of purple qi, as if it would break free from the shell's restraint and merge with the new purple qi!
"This... This is a second strand?" Ao Xuan's consciousness buzzed, and he momentarily forgot to react.
He had thought the jade tablet obtained in the Western Wasteland was already a special favor from the Dao Ancestor. He never expected that after today's preaching, he would be granted an additional strand of Hongmeng Purple Qi!
All eyes in the hall instantly focused on him.
But just as the Hongmeng Purple Qi was about to merge into Ao Xuan's consciousness, he gritted his teeth fiercely, forcefully diverting the direction of the purple qi and guiding it toward the jade tablet in the conch shell. The two strands of purple qi were already attracting each other, and with Ao Xuan's assistance, the newly entered purple qi twisted slightly, obediently merging into the jade tablet under his guidance.
The other great powers did not see through this. They only thought Ao Xuan's distorted expression was due to excessive shock.
Only Taoist Hongjun frowned slightly.
"Fellow Daoist Ao Xuan has also obtained Hongmeng Purple Qi. Truly worthy of being the innate Azure Dragon, blessed with extraordinary fortune!" Zhunti at the front of the hall whispered in admiration, a flash of envy in his eyes, but also more anticipation. He and Jieyin had traveled far from the West; if they could obtain a strand of purple qi, the revival of the West would have one more hope.
Jieyin's clasped hands also trembled slightly as he muttered softly, his gaze fixed tightly on Taoist Hongjun's sleeve, clearly anticipating the opportunity.
Ao Xuan forcibly suppressed the turbulent emotions in his heart, quickly standing up and bowing respectfully to Taoist Hongjun. "This junior Ao Xuan, thanks the Dao Ancestor for the treasure!" He deliberately slowed his tone, pretending to be overwhelmed by the unexpected favor of receiving the purple qi for the first time. No one noticed his hand hanging by his side, his fingertips pressing tightly against his robe, desperately suppressing the resonance generated by the fusion of the two strands of purple qi in the jade tablet inside the shell.
Taoist Hongjun waved his hand, his voice plain yet carrying the majesty of the Great Dao. "You are the innate Azure Dragon, controlling the eastern wood element and water fortune, and bearing the merit of Pangu opening the sky. You are destined for the Heavenly Dao. This strand of purple qi shall help you stabilize your dragon soul and comprehend the Great Dao."
To others, these words were simply the Dao Ancestor valuing Ao Xuan's Azure Dragon origin. Only Ao Xuan himself knew that he now held two strands of Hongmeng Purple Qi!
What was the Dao Ancestor's intention in doing this? He was filled with confusion, yet dared not show the slightest hint of it.
Just as everyone thought the six strands of purple qi had been bestowed, Taoist Hongjun raised his hand and waved again. The seventh and eighth strands of purple qi flew out simultaneously!
"The West suffers great hardships, with demonic flames raging. It needs those who follow the Dao to protect it." Taoist Hongjun's voice echoed through the hall. "Jieyin, Zhunti—you two care for all beings in the West. These two strands of purple qi are bestowed upon you, to assist you in converting the West and eliminating demonic energy in the future."
The two strands of purple qi flew toward Jieyin and Zhunti respectively. The hall fell silent instantly. No one had expected that the Dao Ancestor would bestow the precious Hongmeng Purple Qi on these two cultivators from the barren West!
Jieyin was stunned for a moment, then quickly knelt down to pay his respects, his prayer beads spinning rapidly in his hands, his voice tinged with sobs. "This junior Jieyin, thanks the Dao Ancestor for your great kindness! I shall not fail your trust, and will protect all beings in the West!"
Zhunti was even more excited, gripping his bodhi branch tightly, tears shining in his eyes as he bowed deeply. "This junior Zhunti, thanks the Dao Ancestor! If the West ever revives in the future, I shall spread the Dao Ancestor's kindness throughout the Primordial World!"
The moment the purple qi entered their bodies, their auras surged visibly: faint golden light emanated from Jieyin, as if capable of purifying turbid energy; Zhunti's bodhi branch bloomed with emerald green spiritual light, carrying a hint of vitality. The cultivators' gazes toward them changed from initial contempt to awe. Everyone understood that with Hongmeng Purple Qi, the Two Western Sages would surely achieve great things in the future.
At this moment, one last strand of purple qi remained in the air. All those sitting on the front futons had already received theirs—could the people sitting at the back also have a chance for this final strand?
Thinking this, the eyes of the cultivators sitting on the back futons couldn't help but light up.
The final strand of purple qi finally flew out, hovering in the air for a moment before drifting toward the back of the hall!
"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, step forward to receive the treasure."
As Taoist Hongjun's voice fell, another round of gasps echoed through the hall.
Hongyun himself was stunned. He held his large red gourd, his knuckles trembling slightly. He had never expected this opportunity to fall on him. Although he was also an innate god, he did not have the profound origin of the Three Pure Ones or Nüwa, nor did he possess Ao Xuan's Azure Dragon bloodline—he had only transformed from a wisp of red cloud. Why would the Dao Ancestor bestow the last strand of purple qi on him?
"This junior Hongyun, thanks the Dao Ancestor for your great kindness!" Hongyun quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply to Taoist Hongjun. The purple qi landed in his hand, merging into his consciousness instantly.
His aura surged, and the originally gentle Dao rhythm around him gained a hint of majesty. He looked gratefully at Taoist Hongjun, then bowed to everyone at the front of the hall. When his gaze swept over Zhunti, he even smiled gently—completely unaware of the complex flash in Zhunti's eyes, and the sudden acceleration of Jieyin's prayer beads.
Ao Xuan watched this scene, letting out a soft sigh in his heart.
He knew that it was Hongyun's kindness that earned him this strand of purple qi, but it also laid the foundation for future disasters.