After bringing the Congenital Gourd Vine back from Buzhou Mountain, Wu Ming resided deep within Pangu Hall, rarely venturing out.
In a corner of the hall, the Congenital Gourd Vine was carefully planted. Wu Ming meticulously nourished it with the Karma accumulated by the Wu Clan, carefully watering the Gourd Vine, attempting to ripen the last fruit.
The vine was verdant, but there was no sign of the blue gourd ripening.
Wu Ming sat cross-legged, his mind immersed in the Sea of Law.
Wu Ming was not impatient.
He knew this would take time and more Karma.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches were not idle either.
Dijiang, Zhu Jiuyin, and Houtu, the three newly promoted Primordial Golden Immortals, were either in seclusion to stabilize their Realm and comprehend Law, or the other Ancestral Witches continued to fulfill the Wu Clan's oath, traversing the Primordial Land, clearing residual Evil Qi, sorting out chaotic Spiritual Veins, accumulating Karma, and tempering their Physical Body.
The entire Wu Clan, following the direction set by Wu Ming, accumulated strength and fulfilled their oath, presenting a busy scene.
Time flew by, and for the Primordial mighty beings, a thousand or ten thousand years were but a flick of a finger.
The day of Hongjun's third sermon in Purple Cloud Palace quietly arrived.
On this day, the gate of Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain opened.
Wu Ming stepped out, and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were already waiting outside.
"Big Brother!"
"Let's go." Wu Ming nodded.
Thirteen figures soared into the sky, streaking across the firmament, flying towards Purple Cloud Palace beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
The Chaos currents surged, and the ancient gate of Purple Cloud Palace was open.
Inside the palace, many figures had already gathered.
Wu Ming descended with the Twelve Ancestral Witches, attracting many gazes.
Wu Ming's expression remained unchanged as he led the Ancestral Witches into the palace.
Inside Purple Cloud Palace, the cushions remained.
On the six cushions in the front row, Sanqing, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti sat steadily.
Soon, the three thousand Mortal World Guests were mostly present.
Hum—
The gate of Purple Cloud Palace silently closed.
Above the high platform, the figure of Hongjun Dao Ancestor appeared silently, as if he had been there since eternity.
Dao rhythm flowed, profound and unpredictable.
"We respectfully greet Dao Ancestor!" Everyone rose in unison and bowed.
Hongjun's face was expressionless, his voice calm, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears: "Sit."
After everyone was seated, Hongjun's calm voice resounded:
"This is the third lecture, and also the last one."
"I will expound the Dao of the Saint for you."
The Dao of the Saint!
As soon as these words came out, everyone in the hall held their breath slightly.
Even top mighty beings like Sanqing and Nuwa showed solemnity and anticipation in their eyes.
Hongjun ignored the commotion below and began to speak slowly.
"A Saint is one whose Primordial Spirit is entrusted to the Heavenly Dao, a Hun Yuan Great Overarching Golden Immortal, who endures myriad tribulations without being worn down, and is untainted by Karma..."
The sound of the Great Dao permeated, heavenly flowers fell, and golden lotuses gushed from the ground.
Inside Purple Cloud Palace, Law manifested, incredibly profound.
Everyone was intoxicated, immersed in the profoundness of the Dao of the Saint.
Time slowly flowed by during this profound and difficult-to-understand sermon.
Who knows how long passed, perhaps a thousand years, perhaps ten thousand years.
Above the high platform, Hongjun's voice suddenly stopped.
The heavenly flowers vanished, and the golden lotuses dissipated.
The sound of the Great Dao faded, and Purple Cloud Palace returned to silence.
Below the high platform, everyone was still immersed in the profoundness of the Dao of the Saint, with various expressions.
Some frowned, clearly confused and unable to grasp the essence.
Some closed their eyes and concentrated, seemingly having gained something and working hard to digest it.
Even more, looked bewildered, as if they had never heard such abstruse and difficult-to-understand principles.
Hongjun Dao Ancestor opened his eyes and calmly scanned the area below.
A moment later, everyone successively broke free from the profound Dao Realm and gradually sobered up.
Above the high platform, Hongjun Dao Ancestor's gaze swept over the area below.
He looked at the three figures in front of the cushions.
"Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian."
"You three are transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, bear the Karma of Heaven-Opening, have profound blessings, and are destined with my Dao Sect."
"Are you willing to become my Disciples?"
As soon as these words came out, many mighty beings in the hall felt a jolt in their hearts.
Becoming Hongjun's Disciple?
This was a huge Opportunity!
Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian exchanged glances, and without any hesitation, immediately prostrated themselves and performed the Disciple's present.
"Disciple Taiqing, Yuanshi, Tongtian, greet Master!"
Their voices were loud, filled with excitement.
"Good."
Hongjun nodded slightly, acknowledging them.
He then turned his gaze to Nuwa at the side.
"Nuwa."
"You will have great fortune and great Opportunity in the future. Are you willing to be my Personal Disciple?"
Nuwa was stunned for a moment, then reacted and quickly bowed.
"Disciple Nuwa, greets Master!"
Her voice was clear, with joy.
Hongjun looked at the four people kneeling below and waved his hand.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four streams of Hongmeng Purple Energy shot out, as if possessing sentience, and instantly entered the foreheads of Sanqing and Nuwa.
"This is Hongmeng Purple Energy."
Hongjun explained.
"It contains the Law of Heaven and Earth, and is the Foundation for Enlightenment to become a Saint. Today I bestow it upon you."
"Thank you, Master!" Sanqing and Nuwa kowtowed again.
Foundation for Enlightenment to become a Saint!
These four words, like a clap of thunder, exploded in Purple Cloud Palace!
Everyone's eyes turned red!
Envy!
Jealousy!
Hatred!
Why?
Why could they obtain this Foundation for Enlightenment to become a Saint?
Especially those mighty beings who considered themselves no weaker than Sanqing and Nuwa, their hearts were even more turbulent.
Just then, an unexpected change occurred.
"Wuwuwu... Teacher is merciful!"
"Please have pity, Teacher!"
Just then, an unexpected change occurred!
Zhunti Daoist next to him suddenly stood up from his cushion, knelt before Hongjun, and burst into tears.
"Teacher is merciful! Please have pity on my Western Land!"
"My Senior Brother and I have traveled countless miles from that barren Western Land, just to seek the true pass of the Great Dao!"
"Alas, the Western Land suffered a calamity, its Spiritual Veins were destroyed, resources are scarce, and our cultivation is difficult!"
"Please have pity, Teacher, accept us as Disciples, and leave a glimmer of hope for our Western Land!"
The two sang in harmony, crying to the heavens and the earth, with genuine emotion, making listeners grieve and onlookers shed tears.
The mighty beings in Purple Cloud Palace were stunned.
Is this even possible?
Can you even do this?
This audacity... incredible!
Even Sanqing and Nuwa couldn't help but glance sideways.
Yuanshi Tianzun's mouth twitched, revealing a hint of disdain.
Tongtian Cult Master raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming to find it somewhat amusing.
Laozi remained motionless, still with his eyes closed.
Wu Ming watched this classic scene with no ripples in his heart.
Zhurong behind him pouted and whispered to Gonggong next to him: "These two shameless ones, they can really act!"
Gonggong snorted: "They're really good at crying poor!"
On the high platform, Hongjun looked at the two crying below, his expression unchanged, but a hint of helplessness flashed in his eyes.
The Dao-Demon Tribulation conflict, Rahu's self-destruction, destroyed the Western Spiritual Veins.
This matter was indeed related to him, and he owed the Western Land a debt of Karma.
"Alas..."
Hongjun sighed imperceptibly.
"So be it."
"Jieyin, Zhunti."
"Although you two have no Master-Disciple relationship with me, your sincerity is commendable, and you are also destined with the Dao Sect."
"I will accept you as Named Disciples."
Saying that, Hongjun raised his hand again.
Another two streams of Hongmeng Purple Energy flew out, landing inside Jieyin and Zhunti.
"Teacher is merciful! Teacher is merciful!"
Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and immediately kowtowed in gratitude.