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

Everyone's pupils constricted, their faces filled with horror, as they looked at Hongjun in disbelief, then at the black-robed figure who still stood silently with his eyes closed.

The Dao Ancestor Hongjun... was actually so polite to that figure in black robes?

Not only did he address him as "fellow Daoist," but he also took the initiative to invite him to the palace to listen to his teachings.

This was even more devastating to them than when the Chaos Bell was destroyed in a single glance!

That's the Sage Hongjun!

The first sage since the beginning of time, an unparalleled being who will soon unite with the Dao of Heaven and Earth!

Even the Three Pure Ones, who were transformed from the primordial spirit of Pangu, and even Emperor Jun and Taiyi, who were born from the Sun Star, were nothing more than juniors in front of him and had to show him the respect due to a disciple.

But now...

Hongjun treated him with the courtesy due to an equal, and his words even carried a hint of...caution that was barely perceptible?

All eyes were fixed on Kong Xuan.

The black robe still fluttered gently, and the black hair still fell down.

The glimpse of the collapsed Chaos Bell just now was as casual as brushing away dust from a sleeve.

Faced with Hongjun's invitation, Kong Xuan finally... slowly raised his eyes.

His gaze was calm, like a deep pool in an ancient well, reflecting Hongjun's figure, his purple robes fluttering and his Daoist aura flowing.

Eyes facing each other.

Time and space seemed to freeze completely at this moment.

The three thousand mortals held their breath, feeling two terrifying wills that were above everything colliding and clashing silently in the void!

It wasn't intimidation, nor was it murderous intent.

Rather, it is... the resonance and... confrontation of the fundamental principles of the Great Dao!

a long time.

Kong Xuan's lips curled slightly, revealing a very faint arc.

"good."

The word was uttered calmly, without a ripple.

But to the ears of the crowd, it sounded like a thunderclap from the heavens!

He... agreed?!

A hint of purple flashed deep within Hongjun's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged as he stepped aside to make way for him.

"Fellow Daoist, please."

Kong Xuan nodded slightly.

Step out.

With a light sway of his black robe, he arrived at the palace gate.

He didn't glance at Di Jun, who was frozen on the threshold, nor at Donghuang Taiyi, whose face was pale and whose breath was weak.

He didn't even look at the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa and Fuxi, or anyone else present.

He simply walked calmly, as if strolling leisurely, into the Purple Cloud Palace.

The figure disappeared into the misty purple aura within the palace.

Until this point.

Di Juncai seemed to have been freed from the spell, staggering backward and almost falling to the ground.

His face was deathly pale, his forehead was covered in cold sweat, and his eyes held a deep-seated fear.

Just a moment ago... he truly felt the breath of death!

If it weren't for the appearance of the Sage Hongjun... he had no doubt that he would have turned to ashes by now!

Donghuang Taiyi let out a muffled groan and spat out another mouthful of blood essence, his aura weakening further.

His natal treasure was destroyed, his origin suffered a backlash, and his foundation for cultivation was damaged.

Even if one is born from the Sun Star, without a tremendous opportunity, in this lifetime... it may be difficult to ever reach the threshold of Hunyuan!

The two exchanged a glance, and in each other's eyes they saw a trace of... unprecedented fear and... regret.

If I had known this would happen... why did I insist on standing up for myself?!

Sanqing's expression was solemn.

Lao Tzu gently tapped his pine-patterned wooden staff, and the Daoist aura of non-action quietly flowed, protecting his entire body completely.

The Primordial Jade Purity Immortal Light completely subsided, the Xuanhuang Daoist robe fluttered without wind, and his gaze was fixed on the direction where Kong Xuan had disappeared, his heart surging with turbulent waves.

Who exactly is this person?

His cultivation was unfathomable, and even the Sage Hongjun treated him with respect.

When did such a being appear in this primordial world?!

Tongtian's hand, which was resting on his sword, had knuckles that had turned white.

It's not fear.

Yes...excitement!

The step Kong Xuan took into the palace gate just now seemed casual, but in the eyes of a master swordsman like him... it contained a supreme charm of returning to simplicity and the ultimate truth!

Every step he took was perfectly in harmony with the rules of heaven and earth, as if he were a part of the Great Dao himself!

Such a realm... such a level of cultivation...

He possesses extraordinary abilities... I must discuss the Dao with him! I will have no regrets even if it means death!

Nuwa and Fuxi exchanged a glance, both of them showing surprise.

The phantom images of the Mountain and River Map and the Bagua Plate quietly disappeared, and the two figures floated back half a step, completely clearing the space in front of the palace gate.

The smile of the Crimson Cloud Ancestor had long since vanished. He rode his crimson cloud and quietly retreated to the edge of the crowd, his eyes filled with surprise and uncertainty.

Zhen Yuanzi's sleeves fell loose, and the illusory image of the Earth Book sank behind him. His aura was as steady as a mountain, but deep in his eyes... a trace of unprecedented solemnity flashed.

Kunpeng slightly folded its wings, its eyes flashing with a sinister light, and quietly moved three steps back, disappearing into the crowd.

The twelve ancestral witches all paled.

The spatial energy around Di Jiang became chaotic, his figure swayed slightly, and he whispered:

"retreat!"

Upon hearing this, the ancestral witches did not hesitate and retreated ten feet in unison, completely clearing the area in front of the palace gate.

Even Gonggong and Zhurong, who were known for their fiery tempers, remained silent, their eyes filled with deep apprehension.

Even the Sage Hongjun had to treat him with respect... How could they dare to show the slightest disrespect?

In a short time.

Silence fell once again in front of the palace gates.

This time, however, in the deathly silence... there was an indescribable sense of oppression and... awe.

Hongjun stood inside the gate, his purple robe fluttering lightly in the misty purple aura.

His gaze swept over the crowd outside the door, his voice calm yet clear to everyone:

"The time has come, everyone... please enter the palace."

The words fell.

He turned and stepped forward, his figure disappearing into the depths of the purple aura.

Outside the palace gates, three thousand worldly travelers looked at each other in bewilderment.

No one dared to make a move.

The scene of Kong Xuan entering the palace just now is etched in everyone's mind like a brand.

Even the Sage Hongjun had to show deference to such a being... how dare they follow closely behind?

For a moment, they froze again.

Lao Tzu's eyes flickered slightly, and he gently paused with his pine-patterned wooden staff.

The Daoist principle of non-action flowed through him; he took a step forward, his voice calm:

"Second brother, third brother, come with me to the palace."

Yuanshi and Tongtian exchanged a glance and nodded in unison.

The three of them walked side by side into the palace gate.

This time, no one dared to stop them.

In fact... no one dared to follow closely.

After the figures of the Three Pure Ones disappeared into the purple aura, three more breaths passed.

Di Jun gritted his teeth, helped the weak Donghuang Taiyi to his feet, and whispered:

"Walk!"

The true fire of the sun swirled, engulfing the two as they staggered into the palace gates.

Nuwa and Fuxi followed closely behind, their figures ethereal.

Hongyun, Zhen Yuanzi, Kunpeng... Only then did everyone awaken from their dream, transforming into streaks of light and rushing into the palace gate.

This time, however, no one dared to compete for those six prayer cushions.

Even... no one dared to approach the very front of the palace gate.

Everyone tacitly... cleared out the area at the very front.

Purple mist wafted, and the Taoist spirit flowed.

Inside the palace gates, the scene gradually became clear.

A high platform stands in the center, empty except for six futons quietly arranged on it.

Before the prayer mat, a figure in a black robe stood with his hands behind his back, facing away from the crowd, looking up at the cloud platform suspended in the air above the high platform.

That place... should have been the spot where the Sage Hongjun preached.

But at this moment, Kong Xuan stood there quietly, as if... waiting.

When everyone entered the palace and saw this scene, they were all stunned.

Immediately... they all stopped!

No one dared to step forward, no one dared to make a sound, and... no one dared to breathe too heavily.

Everyone held their breath, bowed their heads and stood solemnly, like devout pilgrims on a pilgrimage.

Even the Three Pure Ones stopped in their tracks, standing three zhang behind Kong Xuan with solemn expressions.