Buzhou Mountain, Pangu Hall.
Thirteen figures tore through the Void Realm and landed steadily in front of the hall.
It was Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches who had returned from Purple Cloud Palace.
"Hmph… It's still comfortable at home!" Zhurong said carelessly.
"Being in Chaos for too long makes me feel stifled." Gonggong shook his head, dispelling the Chaos Qi clinging to him.
Wu Ming didn't speak, walking directly towards the depths of Pangu Hall.
In the center of the main hall, a figure was already standing still, with Dao rhyme contained within his body. It was Zhou Ming.
"Fellow Daoist." Wu Ming stepped forward and nodded slightly.
Zhou Ming nodded in response: "You've worked hard, Fellow Daoist."
Wu Ming stepped forward and shared all his experiences and insights from listening to the Dao in Purple Cloud Palace with Zhou Ming.
Zhou Ming listened quietly, his face as still as an ancient well.
He already knew most of these things through his Primordial Spirit connection with Wu Ming, but hearing Wu Ming recount them personally made the details clearer.
After listening, Zhou Ming pondered for a moment, then made a decision.
"Although Hongjun's sermon is about the Xuanmen Immortal Dao, the Three Thousand Dao ultimately lead to the same destination."
"You all should Cultivate with me."
"Combine the essence of the Immortal Dao taught by Hongjun with the Law of our Witch Tribe's Legacy, cross-referencing them to gain new insights."
"Yes, Eldest Brother!" The Twelve Ancestral Witches responded in unison.
Pangu Hall fell silent again, with only invisible Law fluctuations intertwining, colliding, and sublimating within the hall.
At the same time, the Innate mighty figures who had returned to various parts of the Primordial Land, such as the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Dijun, and Taiyi, also chose to Cultivate.
The phrase "All below Saint are ants" struck everyone's hearts like a heavy hammer, igniting an unprecedented enthusiasm for Cultivation.
For a time, the Primordial Land saw fewer conflicts and gained a rare peace.
Time flowed, and in the blink of an eye, ten thousand years passed.
Buzhou Mountain, inside Pangu Hall.
Powerful auras revived one after another, shaking the Void Realm.
Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches emerged successively from their Cultivation.
Ten thousand years of Cultivation yielded immense gains!
They combined the profoundness of Hongjun's Immortal Dao with the Law of their own control, cross-referencing them, and their cultivation made significant progress.
All Twelve Ancestral Witches had entered the Peak of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm, with Law surrounding their bodies, their aura much stronger than ten thousand years ago.
Among them, Dijiang and Zhu Jiuyin had even vaguely touched that profound threshold, only one step away from Primordial Golden Immortal.
Wu Ming's own Realm was also stable at the Peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, and his understanding of the Law of Force became even more profound.
At the same time, mighty figures cultivating in various parts of the Primordial Land also awoke one after another.
After ten thousand years of assimilation, everyone's cultivation had made significant progress, and the Primordial Land became lively again.
Some mighty figures chose to continue cultivating, striving for higher Realms; others began to travel the Primordial Land, seeking Opportunity, or visiting Fellow Daoists to discuss the Dao.
On this day, two figures crossed endless mountains and rivers, arriving at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
It was Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun.
After ten thousand years, Hongyun seemed to have emerged from the disappointment of losing his mat, and a few traces of his former easygoing nature returned to his face.
"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, how have you been?" Wu Ming personally came out to greet them, followed by the Twelve Ancestral Witches with restrained auras.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming's demeanor remains as impressive as ever, even surpassing the past." Zhenyuanzi bowed in return, his gaze sweeping over Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches.
Hongyun also smiled and cupped his hands: "We've troubled you, Fellow Daoist."
"Fellow Daoists have come a long way, please come in." Wu Ming turned sideways, leading the way.
Inside Pangu Hall, the host and guests took their seats.
After serving fragrant spiritual tea and exchanging a few simple pleasantries, they went straight to the main topic.
A discussion of the Dao thus began.
Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches expounded their understanding and application of Law.
Zhenyuanzi, based on the Earth Scroll transformed from the Earth's placenta, spoke of his Dao of profound virtue, bearing all things, and unparalleled defense.
Hongyun, on the other hand, shared his insights on being spontaneous and natural, with deep blessings.
The Xuanmen Immortal Dao and the Witch Tribe's Law of the Dao clashed, merged, and verified each other here.
At times, Law manifested, and at times, Dao rhyme permeated the air.
This discussion of the Dao lasted for a full thousand years.
After a thousand years, the discussion ended, and both sides gained a great deal.
The atmosphere in the hall also became more harmonious as a result.
Wu Ming picked up the warm spiritual tea in front of him,
Wu Ming picked up the spiritual tea in front of him, took a sip, and slowly put it down.
He looked at Hongyun, his tone calm.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, there is one thing I do not understand, which has always been hidden in my heart. Today's discussion of the Dao was enjoyable, so I boldly ask, and I hope Fellow Daoist can tell me truthfully."
Hongyun put down his teacup, a hint of confusion on his face: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, please ask without hesitation. As long as Hongyun knows, I will not conceal it."
Zhenyuanzi also looked at Wu Ming, wondering what he wanted to ask.
"Regarding the matter of that mat in Purple Cloud Palace." Wu Ming slowly began, his tone without any fluctuation, "Why did Fellow Daoist give the mat to Zhunti back then?"
The smile on Hongyun's face instantly froze, and the hand holding the teacup paused slightly.
The atmosphere in the hall seemed to suddenly grow cold.
"Fellow Daoist should remember, I reminded you at the time that the Opportunity of that mat was significant, and you should not give it away lightly." Wu Ming continued to press, giving Hongyun no chance to evade.
"I could feel that when Fellow Daoist gave up the mat, your heart was full of struggle and reluctance."
"But in the end, Fellow Daoist still chose to yield the seat."
"Why was that?"
Hongyun's expression changed, and his fingers gripping the teacup tightened slightly.
That scene in Purple Cloud Palace was an unforgettable pain in his heart.
After ten thousand years, he thought he had gradually come to terms with it, but now, being asked about it directly by Wu Ming, that regret, unwillingness, and deep confusion surged into his heart once more.
Zhenyuanzi watched his friend from the side, sighing softly, but did not speak.
He knew that this question would eventually have to be faced.
After a long silence, Hongyun raised his head, his face filled with deep bitterness and helplessness.
He put down his teacup, his voice a little hoarse.
"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming… alas…"
"I did take Fellow Daoist's warning to heart at the time. I also knew that the mat was no small matter, concerning my future Dao."
"At first, I was indeed determined not to give it up."
"But… but when Jieyin and Zhunti cried, especially when they cried so miserably, their voices full of tears and blood, saying things like the West being barren and the difficulty of seeking the Dao…"
"My… my heart just couldn't help but soften."
"I admit, my Heart-Nature is indeed… alas, I can't bear to see others suffer."
Zhenyuanzi added from the side: "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun's Heart-Nature is kind, always has been."
"That's just one reason." Hongyun shook his head, a trace of fear and deeper confusion appearing on his face, "More importantly, at that time, a strong sense of crisis inexplicably arose in my heart!"
"In the midst of it all, a voice, or rather an intuition, was frantically telling me…"
"If I didn't give up that seat, I would be seizing a great Opportunity that didn't belong to me, and in the future… in the future, a monstrous disaster would surely befall me!!"
"That feeling came without reason, yet it was incredibly clear, incredibly real! As if Heavenly Dao was warning me!"