Primordial Era: Starting by overwhelming the Sages, Hongjun was stunned!

The gates of Zixiao Palace slowly opened inward.

All eyes were fixed on the widening crack in the door.

The scene inside the gate was not yet visible; only the ever-expanding Daoist aura, like an invisible tide, washed over the souls of every living being present.

at last.

The palace gates were completely opened.

The interior was not the magnificent palace one might imagine; instead, it was extremely simple.

A hazy purple aura filled the field of vision. Deep within the purple aura, a high platform could be vaguely seen. The platform was empty except for six futons that emitted a warm glow, arranged in a semi-circle around the platform.

The prayer cushions were of different colors: purple, red, gold, cyan, white, and black, each exuding a different Daoist aura, as if corresponding to some fundamental rule of the universe.

"Six meditation cushions..."

"It must have been set up by the Dao Ancestor for his personal disciples!"

"An incredible opportunity! A truly extraordinary opportunity!"

In an instant, countless burning gazes were fixed on the six prayer cushions, and greed, desire, calculation, excitement... all sorts of emotions spread silently among the crowd.

To be able to sit on a prayer mat and listen to the Dao Ancestor personally transmit the Great Dao—what an incredible blessing that would be!

Almost everyone instinctively took a step forward.

But just then...

A slight movement of purple energy rippled within the gate, and two figures slowly emerged from the depths of the purple energy.

A boy and a girl, both dressed as children.

The boy was about seven or eight years old, dressed in a light yellow Taoist robe, with his hair tied in two buns. He had a handsome face, but his eyes were clear and calm, carrying a composure that was not in line with his age.

The little girl was slightly younger, dressed in a pink and white dress, with her hair in a bun. She was exquisitely beautiful, with lively eyes and a smile on her lips, exuding a natural charm.

It is the future Haotian and Yaochi!

At this moment, the two of them did not possess even a trace of the majesty of the Heavenly Emperor and Empress of later generations. Their auras were pure, and their cultivation was only at the Golden Immortal level. In front of the Zixiao Palace, where powerful beings gathered, they were insignificant.

But no one dared to underestimate them.

This is because they possess the same aura of the Heavenly Dao as the Purple Cloud Palace and the Dao Ancestor Hongjun!

"By the decree of the Daoist Ancestor."

The boy, Haotian, stepped forward, his voice clear and crisp, reaching the ears of everyone present:

"The Zixiao Palace is open; those with affinity may enter and listen to the teachings."

"There are six futons in the palace, which were formed by the Dao Ancestor from the primordial creation. Those who are destined to live in them can not force those who are not destined to live in them."

"Please, everyone."

As soon as he finished speaking, he stepped aside to make way for Yaochi, standing on either side of the palace gate, eyes lowered, silent.

In an instant.

Several auras suddenly erupted from the crowd!

"A meditation cushion! I deserve a seat here!"

A crimson figure rushed out first, exuding a demonic aura that soared into the sky. It was none other than Di Jun, born from the Sun Star!

His body was engulfed in the true fire of the sun, shining brightly like the sun in the sky. With one step, he charged fiercely toward the six futons inside the palace gate!

Almost simultaneously.

"Brother, wait for me!"

Another figure in golden robes followed closely behind, his aura even more violent—it was none other than Donghuang Taiyi!

A illusory image of a small, chaotic bell floated above his head, surrounded by the sun, moon, stars, earth, water, fire, and wind—it was the innate treasure, the Chaos Bell!

Before the bell rang, the terrifying Daoist aura that suppressed the primordial chaos and imprisoned time and space had already spread out, causing several powerful figures who were about to compete for it to freeze in place!

Several other figures, not wanting to be left behind, each used their unique abilities, transforming into streams of light and surging in!

Nuwa stood on the illusory image of the Mountain and River Map, her body radiating the energy of creation. Pure and effortless, she arrived first despite being late, quietly approaching the palace gate.

Fuxi held the Bagua compass in his hand, deducing the secrets of heaven, his steps leisurely, seemingly slow but actually fast.

The Old Ancestor of Red Cloud rode on a red cloud, his smile warm, but his speed was unpredictable and strange.

Zhen Yuanzi's sleeves fluttered, and the illusory image of the Earth Book unfolded behind him, heavy and steady.

The Kunpeng manifested its true form as a phantom, its wings reaching the sky, its eyes filled with malice, and its speed was the fastest, seemingly about to surpass that of Di Jun and Tai Yi!

The Three Pure Ones stood at the very front, no more than ten feet from the palace gate.

At the moment the palace gates opened and the boy's voice faded, a glint of light flashed in the eyes of both Laozi and Yuanshi.

futon!

Six!

With their origins as Pangu's primordial spirit, their cultivation at the late stage of the Great Luo realm, and their emphasis on this sermon... this futon deserves a place for them!

Even...more than one seat!

Lao Tzu paused slightly in his pine-patterned wooden staff, and a Daoist aura of non-action quietly flowed around him as he prepared to take a step.

The primordial Jade Purity Immortal Light had already shone brightly, and the Xuanhuang Daoist robes fluttered without wind, displaying their majesty. They were also eager to step into the palace gates as soon as possible and occupy the most advantageous positions.

But just as the two were about to move, they...

"Eldest brother, second brother."

A long, strong hand gently pressed down on Yuanshi's arm.

Reaching the heavens.

He still held the hilt of his sword at his waist, but his gaze did not fall on the prayer mat inside the palace gate. Instead, he slowly turned to his side.

They turned to the figure in the black robe who had stood still with his eyes closed the whole time, like a sculpture.

Laozi and Yuanshi both froze at the same time.

Following Tongtian's gaze...

Kong Xuan kept his eyes closed, his black robes remaining motionless amidst the Daoist energy emanating from the gates of Zixiao Palace, his black hair hanging down, his face calm and expressionless.

It was as if all the strife, greed, and surging crowds around him had nothing to do with him.

He was like a piece of ancient ice thrown into boiling water, remaining silent and cold no matter how noisy and hot the outside world was.

But it is precisely this absolute "stillness" that appears particularly... glaring in this moment of restlessness.

Lao Tzu's pupils contracted almost imperceptibly.

Yuan Shi's fingers, which were pressed into his sleeve, tightened subtly.

They finally remembered.

This person was already here before they arrived at Zixiao Palace.

Before everyone else.

Standing quietly at the closest point to the palace gate.

Throughout the entire process, he showed no signs of life, did not communicate with anyone, and did not even lift his eyelids.

It was as if the prayer mat inside the palace gate, the great Dao that was about to be expounded, and the opportunity to attain sainthood that was enough to change the primordial world... were all just fleeting clouds to him.

Who is he?

What does he want to do?

Why is he... not moving?

Countless thoughts flashed through Lao Tzu and Yuan Shi's minds.

To arrive here before everyone else, to make even their Pangu primordial spirit feel its unfathomable depths, to maintain such absolute calm amidst the restless scrambling of three thousand mortal travelers...

Just how advanced is this person's cultivation?

If he also wants that prayer mat... who among those present can stop him?

In an instant.

The Daoist aura of non-action flowing through Lao Tzu's body quietly subsided.

The celestial light of Yuqing that Yuanshi had been illuminating slowly receded.

The two exchanged a glance, and both saw an unprecedented sense of solemnity and apprehension in each other's eyes.

Do not move.

At least... we can't be the first to move.

Before ascertaining this person's intentions, taking rash action may lead to unforeseen circumstances.

The three immortals stopped in unison, like three statues suddenly frozen in time, standing silently before the palace gate, side by side with the figure in black robes.

Their stop was no small matter.

Behind them, Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi had already rushed to within three zhang of the palace gate and were about to step inside!

Nuwa and Fuxi followed closely behind, while Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi, and Kunpeng were not to be outdone.

But just as they were about to pass by the Three Pure Ones and rush into the palace gates...

Di Jun suddenly caught a glimpse of three still figures in front of him out of the corner of his eye.

His heart skipped a beat!

The Three Pure Ones...didn't move?

The true descendants of Pangu, possessing unparalleled cultivation, and closest to the palace gate... why are they not moving?!

Almost instinctively, Di Jun's momentum suddenly decreased!

The true fire of the sun paused slightly.

Donghuang Taiyi, who was beside him, also noticed the abnormality. The illusory image of the Chaos Bell hovered above his head, and the bell trembled slightly, spreading out an invisible ripple that forcefully stopped his forward momentum!

The two of them stopping was like a boulder being thrown into a surging tide.

Nuwa's eyes flashed, and the illusory image of the Mountain and River Map beneath her feet quietly shifted. She gracefully moved to the side, not rushing straight towards the palace gate.

Fuxi spun the Bagua disc in his hand rapidly, deducing that there was something unusual about the energy ahead. He immediately paused and stood still to observe.

The smile of the Old Ancestor Hongyun froze slightly. He rode his red cloud, drawing an arc in the air, and stopped beside the palace gate.

Zhen Yuanzi gathered his sleeves, and the illusory image of the Earth Book sank behind him, his aura as steady as a mountain.

The Kunpeng flapped its wings rapidly, stirring up a violent gust of air. However, when its gaze swept over the three Qings who stood still and the figure in black robes, a sinister light flashed in its eyes. Finally, it let out a cold snort and hovered in mid-air, not taking the first step in.

In a short time.

A bizarre scene unfolded.

The palace gates were wide open, a prayer mat lay before me, and the path to enlightenment was right before my eyes.

Yet, none of the most powerful beings who arrived first stepped inside!

The three pure ones stand still like pine trees.

The figure in the black robe closed his eyes, as deep as an abyss.

Emperor Jun and Taiyi hovered in the air.

Nuwa and Fuxi stood to one side.

Yuanzi from Hongyun Town stopped and watched.

The Kunpeng's wings folded slightly, its eyes gleaming.

Those prehistoric beings with slightly weaker cultivation levels who also wanted to try their luck were even more surprised and uncertain when they saw that these top beings in front of them were all holding back. They all stopped in their tracks, not daring to cross the line.

The crowd in front of Zixiao Palace, which had been noisy and restless just moments before, with a palpable air of murderous intent, suddenly fell into a deathly silence.

Only the purple Daoist aura flowing from within the palace gates remained silently pervasive, enveloping the six quietly placed prayer cushions.

Haotian and Yaochi stood on either side of the gate, their eyes lowered, seemingly oblivious to the strange scene before them.