Primordial Era: From the Creation Lotus to the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones

After an unknown amount of time, the voice of the Great Dao abruptly ceased.

"This sermon is now complete." The Dao Ancestor Hongjun's indifferent voice rang out, and the lingering aura of the Great Dao that permeated the hall slowly dissipated. Just when the powerful beings thought that the Dao Ancestor was about to disappear, his gaze fell upon the crowd.

"The Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother," Hongjun's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable tone.

As Hongjun called their names, under the scrutinizing gazes of many powerful beings, a male and a female innate deity—the Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother—rose with a hint of bewilderment and respectfully bowed to Hongjun on the platform.

"You all come forward," Hongjun said.

The Eastern King and the Western Queen Mother stepped forward as instructed, bowing their heads and standing quietly.

Hongjun's gaze swept over the two, and he slowly spoke, his voice like the laws of the Great Dao, echoing throughout the Zixiao Palace: "Eastern King Duke and Western Queen Mother, you two are transformed from the pure Yang and pure Yin origins at the beginning of heaven and earth, your natures are in harmony. Today, I appoint you as the leaders of all immortals. Eastern King Duke will govern all male immortals, and Western Queen Mother will govern all female immortals. Are you willing to accept this mandate from heaven?"

Before he finished speaking, two dazzling beams of light flew out from Hongjun's sleeves and hung in the hall.

One is a dragon-headed walking stick, golden in color, with a majestic dragon head, containing the supreme Taoist charm of ruling over masculinity and commanding all beings;

One is a water bowl, crystal clear, with rippling water that exudes a gentle aura that nourishes all things and harmonizes yin and yang.

The two innate spiritual treasures shone brightly, and their powerful magical aura spread out instantly, subtly resonating with the origins of the Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother.

The Eastern King felt that the dragon-headed cane was connected to his own origin, as if it were a destined object, and an unprecedented sense of power and ambition instantly filled his heart.

Hongjun personally bestowed upon him the title of head of all immortals, and he was also granted such a perfectly matched innate spiritual treasure—this was an immense opportunity and honor! Unable to contain his elation, he responded almost without hesitation, loudly proclaiming, "Dao Ancestor, have mercy! Dongwanggong accepts the command and is willing to bear this responsibility!"

Hongjun nodded slightly, and the dragon-headed cane transformed into a golden light, landing steadily in the hands of Dongwanggong. With the cane in his grasp, a vast power surged through his body, and Dongwanggong felt instantly invigorated, as if he held the reins of heaven and earth in his hands, a sense of dominance over all heroes welling up within him.

The Queen Mother of the West appeared more composed.

She sensed that the pure water bowl was perfectly aligned with her pure Yin essence, and knew that this was an extraordinary opportunity. However, the power of the "head of all immortals" was too great, and the karmic consequences involved were enormous.

She frowned slightly, paused for a moment, and then respectfully replied, "The Queen Mother of the West... respectfully obeys the decree of the Dao Ancestor and is willing to take charge of the affairs of female immortals." Although her tone was respectful, it lacked some of the arrogance of the Eastern King Duke and instead showed more calmness and contemplation.

Hongjun also bestowed upon her a bowl of pure water. The Queen Mother of the West accepted it with both hands, feeling the gentle and pure power contained within the bowl. She felt both the joy of obtaining a treasure and a sense of solemnity about her future responsibilities.

After the imperial edict was issued, Hongjun said no more and signaled Haotian and Yaochi to open the palace gates.

Many powerful beings witnessed this scene, each with their own thoughts: Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi had cold eyes, which concealed their displeasure;

Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes flickered, as if they were deep in thought;

Styx, Kunpeng, and others, however, showed mockery or indifference.

The Three Pure Ones, however, did not take it to heart.

The title of "Head of the Immortals" is prestigious, but in the primordial world, strength ultimately reigns supreme. Whether this decree is a blessing or a curse remains to be seen. However, since the Dao Ancestor's decree has been issued, no one dares to voice their opinions openly, and they can only suppress their thoughts.

Standing behind her master, Qinglian took in the entire scene of the "First Immortal Conferment" in Zixiao Palace.

The Taoist patriarch's decree was like a divine law; the dragon-headed walking stick and the bowl of pure water shone with divine light; the Eastern King Duke was full of vigor, while the Western Queen Mother was calm and composed.

The powerful figures inside the hall displayed a variety of expressions: envy, scrutiny, coldness, disdain... a mix of emotions intertwined in this solemn space where the lingering influence of the Great Dao still resonated.

However, deep within Qinglian's heart, this "destined" scene quietly stirred a layer of cold yet clear ripples.

The "prophet's" perspective belonging to the time traveler emerged uncontrollably at this moment.

"The position of Immortal Leader, seemingly infinitely glorious, is in reality a position where one is consumed by calamity..."

Qinglian sighed silently in her heart.

He "saw" the future of the Eastern King Duke: how this pure yang master, instantly ignited by power and ambition, would rely on his status personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor to recruit immortals and gods on a large scale, and even attempt to command all the heavens and establish the so-called "male immortal order".

Its sharp edge is fully revealed, and it will surely be aimed directly at Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi, who also have the ambition to rule the prehistoric wilderness.

Those two demon emperors on the Sun Star are not content to be subservient to humans. A fierce conflict that will sweep across the prehistoric world is inevitable.

Ultimately, the seemingly illustrious power of the Eastern King Duke will crumble under the swift and decisive measures of the Demon Court.

The dragon-headed cane might protect him for a while, but it couldn't stop the backlash of his luck and the deadly calamity of being hunted by a mob of heroes.

The ending was already predetermined—his body perished, his soul shattered, and only a trace of his true spirit remained, struggling and drifting in the long river of reincarnation. He endured countless tribulations before finally earning the name "Lü Dongbin" in later generations.

That supreme glory, born from the pure Yang essence, ultimately turned into a grand dream, leaving only legends for future generations to lament.

His gaze then turned to the Queen Mother of the West.

The solemnity and prudence between the brows of the female immortal leader holding the water bowl was particularly precious in Qinglian's eyes.

She clearly understood the weight and danger of this position.

The Queen Mother of the West's choice was completely different from that of the King Father of the East. She was not blinded by the empty title of "the head of all female immortals in the world," nor was she in a hurry to expand her power and assert her authority.

In the future that Qinglian "foresaw," this wise goddess chose another path—to bide her time and uphold her original principles.

Relying on the profound heritage of Kunlun Wonderland, and taking the characteristics of the pure water bowl in harmonizing yin and yang and nourishing all things as the foundation, she focuses on sorting out the pure yin path and harmonizing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

She governs female immortals, but not through forceful rule. Instead, she wins people over with virtue and gathers people through the Tao, practicing the wonderful method of "governing by non-action".

She skillfully avoided the most intense power struggles of the primordial world, refusing to vie for momentary glory or become entangled in excessive karma.

Ultimately, she managed to preserve her Dao fruit amidst the countless cataclysmic events that swept across the heavens and earth, living freely beyond the Three Realms, and becoming the legendary "Queen Mother of the West," a figure of transcendent status and mysterious nobility, watching the world change and time pass by.

The two outcomes are worlds apart.

The defeat of the Eastern King Duke was due to his premature display of brilliance before his foundation was solid, his failure to recognize the will of Heaven, and his forceful struggle for power, ultimately making him a stepping stone for others on their path to success.

The Queen Mother of the West's success lay in her ability to assess the situation, protect herself wisely, overcome strength with gentleness, and truly internalize the opportunities bestowed upon her by the Dao Ancestor into the foundation for her own transcendence.

This great wisdom—the ability to remain clear-headed, discerning the advantages and disadvantages, and choosing to "abandon empty fame for longevity" in the face of overwhelming power—filled Qinglian with a sense of respect.

The primordial path is indeed fraught with peril at every step; only those with great wisdom, perseverance, and extraordinary opportunities can glimpse the end of the Great Dao.

This seemingly glorious imperial decree is a death warrant for the Eastern King Duke, but a whetstone and a ladder to the clouds for the Western Queen Mother. Fortune and misfortune are intertwined, depending on one's own mind.

Qinglian imprinted this heavy premonition and profound lesson deep into the depths of her Dao heart, reminding herself that every step she would take in the future must be taken with utmost caution and utmost care.

The teachings of our masters echoed once more: The path to the Great Way is based on a solid foundation; steady progress is the right way. Temporary glory and power are but fleeting clouds before immeasurable eons.

Seeing that the Dao Ancestor had disappeared, all the powerful figures rose and walked toward the palace gate, leaving the sacred site in single file.

The Three Pure Ones rose.

Laozi calmly swept his gaze over the now more refined Qinglian behind him and nodded slightly. Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu also looked at Qinglian, their eyes containing a hint of testing. Qinglian immediately composed herself and stood respectfully in attendance.

Leaving Zixiao Palace, they traversed the chaotic currents and returned to the primordial world.

As soon as he stepped into the primordial land, Yuanshi Tianzun looked at Laozi and asked in a deep voice, "Elder brother, why were you in Zixiao Palace just now...?" He didn't finish his sentence, but his meaning was clear.

The Tongtian Sect Leader also looked intently at Laozi.

Laozi remained calm, lightly waving his whisk. His voice was gentle, yet each word struck the hearts of Yuanshi, Tongtian, and the attentively listening Qinglian like a heavy hammer: "Severing the three corpses is easy, but reuniting them is difficult. Spiritual treasures are not of the same origin, and the Great Dao will eventually have its flaws. If the foundation is unstable, the path to sainthood will be severed. This matter requires careful consideration and deliberation before taking action."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Jiaozhu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, instantly understanding the earth-shattering secret contained in Laozi's pause and his current words! If their elder brother had not enlightened them, the consequences of their hasty severing of the corpse would have been unimaginable! Their respect for Laozi deepened even further.

Qinglian was very happy; his words had indeed worked.