Primordial Era: Starting with the repair of Penglai Immortal Island

Before the Purple Cloud Palace, the gaze of the Primordial Celestial Venerable pierced through the chaos and fell upon the earth.

Looking at the scene of all races vying for supremacy, he nodded slightly: "The world has regained its vitality, good."

However, the Grand Master of Heaven noticed something else: "The situation of the human race seems to be not good...!"

Upon hearing this, Nuwa's eyes flashed with a hint of reluctance.

She created the human race, which was then slaughtered by the demon race and is now being devoured by all the races of the prehistoric world. Naturally, she felt terrible about it.

"This is humanity's calamity, but also their opportunity."

The Sage of Taiqing said calmly, "Only through trials and tribulations can one become a useful person."

As the sages conversed, they landed in front of the Zixiao Palace.

The Purple Cloud Palace floats at the boundary between chaos and the primordial world, exuding endless aura of the Heavenly Dao.

The palace is not large, but it gives people a sense of grandeur and vastness, as if it were not a palace, but a world in itself.

Two boys stood on either side of the palace gate.

There was a boy and a girl. The boy was handsome with exquisite features, while the girl had bright eyes and white teeth and a graceful demeanor. They looked to be no more than twelve or thirteen years old.

It was Haotian and Yaochi.

Upon seeing the figures of the six sages, Haotian and Yaochi immediately bowed in respect.

"Your Majesties, the Lord is currently inside the palace."

Taiqing and the others' gazes swept over Haotian Yaochi, their eyes filled with a condescending scrutiny...!

The Sage Taiqing nodded slightly in response, and then stepped into Zixiao Palace first.

Yuanshi Tianzun followed closely behind, his gaze not lingering on Haotian and Yaochi for even a moment.

The Tongtian Sect Leader glanced at the two of them briefly, but that was all; he then strode into the palace.

Nuwa nodded slightly to the two of them as a greeting, and then entered Zixiao Palace.

Jieyin and Zhunti walked past the two without expression, their gazes indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

Haotian watched the six saints disappear into the distance, a hint of envy flashing in his eyes.

"Yaochi, when will we be able to be revered and worshipped by all living beings like the saints?"

Haotian's voice carried a hint of longing, "Sage! Indestructible through countless eons, eternally free."

Yaochi said softly, "Stop dreaming. The important thing is to guard Zixiao Palace for the master."

"How long will we have to wait?" Haotian smiled bitterly. "You and I have been enlightened by the Master for countless years, and have always been in this Zixiao Palace. We've only been to the Primordial World once, and that was a mission assigned by the Master...!"

Yaochi was silent for a moment, then said, "Being able to serve my teacher is already an immense blessing. As for everything else... let fate decide!"

Haotian nodded and said nothing more, but the envy in his eyes was impossible to hide.

Looking at the tightly closed gates of Zixiao Palace, he secretly vowed, "One day, I too will become a being worshipped by all beings, just like the saints."

Inside the Zixiao Palace, the scene remained exactly as it had been when the Dao Ancestor preached.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun remained seated cross-legged on the futon, his eyes slightly closed, surrounded by the aura of the Heavenly Dao.

The six sages entered the palace and saw the Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the futon. They immediately felt the vast and boundless pressure of the Heavenly Dao.

The oppressive aura was different from that of Hongjun Daozu during the Lich War.

More pure, more intense, and also more... indifferent!

Looking at Dao Ancestor Hongjun, it was as if he were facing the Dao itself.

The Supreme Sage took the lead, and the six sages bowed in unison.

"Greetings, teacher."

The sound echoed in the empty hall for a long time before finally subsiding.

Hongjun Daozu slowly opened his eyes.

In that instant, all six saints saw those eyes.

There was no emotion in his eyes, only endless rules flowing through them.

Lines of great paths intertwine and intertwine, while beams of light of laws flicker and fade.

Those eyes were looking at them, yet it was as if they weren't looking at them at all, but rather at the great Dao of Heaven and Earth that they represented.

The six sages felt a chill run down their spines, as if they were facing the endless rules of heaven and earth!

Even though they were saints, they still felt as if they were seen through!

Fortunately, this feeling only lasted for a moment.

The next moment, the rules in Hongjun's eyes slowly faded, revealing a trace of emotion.

Although it remains indifferent, at least it is no longer that pure "Way of Heaven".

The six sages breathed a sigh of relief in unison.

"Teacher!" Liu Sheng called out again, this time with a touch more affection in his voice.

Hongjun Daozu nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the six saints one by one.

"sit!"

The six sages took their seats in the same order in which they had listened to the teachings in the Zixiao Palace.

"There is indeed a matter I have summoned you all here for," Hongjun said as soon as the six sages sat down.

"After the Lich War, Mount Buzhou collapsed, the celestial realm was overturned, most of the stars in the heavens were extinguished, the laws of the primordial world were disordered, yin and yang were out of balance, and the five elements were in chaos."

Hongjun Daozu's voice was calm, yet it made all the saints look solemn.

"The Heavenly Court was originally created to regulate and harmonize the laws of the primordial world, and it should regulate the laws of the world for all living beings and maintain the balance of the world."

He paused, his tone remaining calm.

"However, Di Jun treated the Heavenly Court as the Heavenly Court of the demon race, and fought with the Wu race for supremacy, which led to the devastation of the prehistoric world, the loss of the origin of heaven and earth, and the further disorder of the laws."

The six sages remained silent, but in their hearts they were pondering the meaning behind the Dao Ancestor's words.

Hongjun ignored the silence of the assembled saints and continued speaking.

"The Heavenly Court has been without a ruler for ten thousand years, and the laws of heaven and earth are not being governed." Hongjun's gaze swept over the six sages.

"Heaven and earth cannot be without order, and the Heavenly Court cannot be without a ruler. The reason I have summoned you here today is to appoint a new Heavenly Emperor."

Hongjun's voice echoed within the palace, without rise and fall, without pause, just like the laws governing the operation of heaven and earth.

"As sages of the primordial world, you should recommend virtuous and capable individuals and discuss the selection of the Heavenly Emperor."

Upon hearing this, all six sages showed interest in their eyes.

The throne of the Heavenly Emperor!

This position is both important and unimportant.

Although the Heavenly Emperor nominally ruled over all the saints of the primordial world, he was nothing more than a slightly stronger ant in front of the saints.

They had witnessed Di Jun's fate firsthand.

The six of them naturally wouldn't sit in that seat; that would be too beneath them.

However, making it for one's disciples would be a good choice.

The position of Heavenly Emperor allows one to legitimately mobilize the power of Heaven, openly and honestly gather fortune, and naturally spread the Daoist tradition.

If a disciple were to ascend to the position of Heavenly Emperor, it would be of immense benefit to the development of the sect.

With each of the six sages harboring different thoughts, the atmosphere in Zixiao Palace became subtly tense.

After a moment of silence, Zhunti spoke first.

"Master, you are wise enough to know that I have Mahasthamaprapta and Bhaisajyaguru as my disciples. Both have accumulated great merit and blessings!"

"Mahasthamaprapta is wise and insightful, able to perceive the laws of heaven and earth and their operation. Bhaisajyaguru is compassionate and can relieve the suffering of all beings."

"Both of these two were chosen by the Heavenly Emperor."