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

A century of trial and error, a century of deduction.

Hongjun mobilized the power of the Heavenly Dao's origin, using his saintly status and the authority of his impending union with the Dao to repeatedly deduce the origins, cultivation level, and even causal relationships of that figure in black robes.

But every time...

They all vanished without a trace, like clay oxen sinking into the sea.

It was as if this person was not under the jurisdiction of the Heavenly Dao, nor existed in this primordial world.

Even... it's not within the river of time and space!

The doubt in Hongjun's heart quietly transformed into an unprecedented solemnity.

This person's cultivation level far surpasses mine.

Even... far surpassing saints.

Who exactly is he?

Why did you come?

And why... do you just sit there silently, without saying a word?

These questions, like vines, entangled his heart, causing even Hongjun's Dao heart to ripple with a faint ripple.

Yet his expression remained calm, and his voice remained composed as he preached.

He gambled.

I'm betting this person has no hostile intentions.

I'm betting this person won't make a move in Zixiao Palace.

I'm betting this sermon will end peacefully.

And this moment.

Among the three masters in the audience, one person was unable to calm his mind.

Reaching the heavens.

He sat cross-legged beside Laozi and Yuanshi, his sword intent like a giant beast poised to pounce, dormant in its sheath, ready to burst forth at any moment.

He wasn't trying to comprehend the Way of Heaven.

He was... looking at Kong Xuan.

For a century, his gaze almost never left that figure in black robes.

Look at that posture of sitting still as if in an abyss, look at that unwavering composure throughout the ages, look at that as if one with the lotus platform of chaos... The Great Dao is simple.

The more he looked, the stronger the fire in his heart burned.

That wasn't fear, nor was it reverence.

It is longing.

It is an unparalleled, all-consuming... fighting spirit!

He possessed extraordinary abilities and had devoted himself solely to the sword since the birth of Pangu's primordial spirit.

He believed that the Four Swords of Zhuxian represented the pinnacle of swordsmanship.

He believed that the peak of the Great Luo realm was the end of cultivation.

But the person before me...

A single glance shattered the Chaos Bell!

What kind of sword intent was that?!

It's not drawing the sword, nor raising its edge.

With just a slight shift of his gaze, he annihilated the innate treasure into nothingness!

Such swordsmanship...

He has connections to the heavens; even if it kills me, I must get a glimpse of him!

But he held it down.

It's not that I'm afraid, but rather... I don't want to.

At this moment, the Dao Ancestor Hongjun is giving a sermon at the important Zixiao Palace.

If he rashly requests a battle, it would be disrespectful to the Dao Ancestor and to the three thousand fellow Daoists present.

More importantly...

He didn't want to offend that person.

It's not that I'm afraid of losing.

They were afraid that the person might get angry and leave in a huff.

At that time, Tongtian would probably never have the chance in his life to discuss even half a word with such a supreme swordsman!

So he's waiting.

After the sermon ends.

After everyone dispersed.

Waiting for an opportunity... to be alone with that person.

now.

He has been preaching for over 1,200 years.

The crowd below the stage grew even more intense.

Emperor Jun's solar true fire had solidified into a tangible form, and it seemed poised to incinerate the void.

Although Donghuang Taiyi's natal treasure was destroyed, his thousand years of listening to the Dao allowed him to touch the threshold of Hunyuan, and his aura became even more profound.

Nuwa's body was enveloped in the energy of creation, and the illusory image of the Mountain and River Map became increasingly solid, showing faint signs of self-evolution.

Fuxi's Bagua disc spun rapidly, and his divination of heavenly secrets had reached the peak of the Great Luo realm.

Ancestor Hongyun had a rosy complexion, his body radiated immortal light, and his aura was pure.

Within Zhen Yuanzi's large sleeve, the illusory image of the Earth Script was almost substantial.

The Kunpeng slightly folded its wings, and the gloom in its eyes gradually faded, replaced by a profound understanding.

Each of the twelve Ancestral Witches also gained something, and their blood and energy became more refined, showing signs of approaching the threshold of Quasi-Saint.

The two Westerners were even more eager, desperately absorbing every wisp of the Dao's essence, their golden light growing ever stronger.

Among the Three Pure Ones, Lao Tzu's Daoist essence of non-action has reached perfection, subtly touching the edge of the Primordial Chaos.

The primordial Jade Purity radiated divine light, and its majesty grew ever stronger in its countenance.

Reaching the Heavens...

I'm still watching Kong Xuan.

And this moment.

On the high platform.

Hongjun's sermon suddenly stopped.

Only for a moment.

Extremely short and extremely light.

Ordinary people would never notice it.

But Kong Xuan, at that very moment...

Slowly opened his eyes.

His gaze was calm as he looked up at the high platform.

Their eyes met again.

Hongjun's pupils contracted slightly.

Kong Xuan's lips curled slightly.

That glance lasted no more than half a breath.

Immediately, Kong Xuan closed his eyes again, as if an old monk had entered meditation.

It was as if that fleeting eye contact just moments before was merely an illusion.

But Hongjun knew that it wasn't an illusion.

That one glance...

It's clearly saying: I know you're watching me.

It's clearly saying: It's alright, you can talk.

Hongjun took a deep breath, suppressing the surging ripples of his Dao heart.

He continued preaching.

The voice remained calm, and each word still blossomed like a golden lotus.

But the hand hidden in the purple sleeve gripped even tighter.

Twelve hundred years.

Fifteen hundred years.

Two thousand years ago.

The preaching never ceased.

Among the crowd below the stage, dozens of people have already undergone a transformation in their aura, faintly touching the threshold of Quasi-Saint.

Among the Three Pure Ones, Laozi and Yuanshi have reached the Great Luo Perfection, only half a step away from Hunyuan.

Tongtian still held his sword, still staring intently at Kong Xuan.

And Kong Xuan...

Still seated on the lotus throne, unmoved through the ages.

Hongjun's heart was stretched to its limit.

It's been two thousand years.

For two thousand years, this person has not uttered a single word, nor moved a single finger, nor even let out a trace of his breath.

What exactly is he waiting for?

There is still a thousand years left to preach.

Will he be able to finish telling this story safely over the course of a thousand years?

Hongjun was unaware.

The only thing he knew was...

Regardless of the person's purpose in coming, he must complete this sermon.

This was his first sermon after his canonization.

It marks the beginning of the Xuanmen (Taoist) lineage.

It is the arrangement of Heaven.

He can't retreat.

We must not act rashly.

The sermon continued.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, the Daoist aura surged like a tide.

Two thousand years and three hundred years.

Two thousand years and five hundred years.

Two thousand years and eight hundred years.

at last.

The three thousand-year period has ended.

Hongjun slowly fell silent.

As if summoned, countless purple-gold runes disappeared into his body and vanished without a trace.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, the Daoist aura gradually subsided, returning to silence.

The audience below seemed to awaken from a dream.

Many people exhaled a long breath, their eyes flashed with a sharp light, and their aura was more than ten times stronger than before they entered the palace!

More than a dozen people, their bodies radiating Daoist energy, were already showing signs of entering the Quasi-Saint realm!

The three Pure Ones opened their eyes simultaneously.

Lao Tzu's philosophy of non-action is naturally harmonious, and his gaze is as deep as an abyss.

The primordial jade-pure immortal light was condensed and solidified, displaying its majesty.

Reaching the Heavens...

Sword intent soars to the heavens!

He waited for three thousand years.

We've waited for a full three thousand years!

Now, the sermon is over, and the crowd will disperse.

He could no longer contain himself!

"saint!"

Tongtian suddenly stood up, and the Zhuxian Sword Intent around him erupted, transforming into four illusory sword marks that floated and disappeared behind him!

His gaze was like lightning, fixed intently on the figure in black robes below the stage:

"This disciple dares to ask the Sage..."

"Who...is this senior?!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the entire room was stunned!