Primordial Era: Reborn as Zhen Yuanzi, taking control of the underground passage

Chapter 220 Houtu's Interest

Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, and Yin Yang, seated high above, witnessed the entire scene. Zhen Yuanzi's gaze remained calm, showing no surprise at the outcome.

Hongyun shook her head, whether with a sigh or with amusement, it was unclear. The Yin-Yang Daoist glanced at the six futons, his eyes deep, lost in thought.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Hongjun Daozu indifferently swept his gaze over the three thousand guests below.

He paused briefly on the six prayer cushions, then slowly spoke, his voice, imbued with the supreme truth of the Great Dao, beginning to echo throughout the Purple Cloud Palace: "The Great Dao is formless, yet it gives birth to heaven and earth; the Great Dao is without emotion, yet it governs the sun and moon; the Great Dao is nameless, yet it nurtures all things—"

The first sermon at Zixiao Palace officially began.

The future order of sages in the primordial world was also subtly revealed in this initial struggle for seating arrangements.

Hongjun Daozu sat upright on his cloud bed, uttering the true words of the Great Dao. His voice was not loud, but it was like the first wisp of the Dao sound at the beginning of chaos, clearly imprinted in the depths of the hearts of every listener in Zixiao Palace.

In his sermon, he did not directly expound on the lofty path of the sages, but instead began with the most fundamental practice of drawing qi into the body and refining essence into qi, systematically outlining the path from the mortal realm to the immortal realm.

Then comes the complete cultivation system and key points, from Celestial Immortal, True Immortal, Mysterious Immortal, Golden Immortal, Taiyi Golden Immortal, to finally attaining the Great Luo Golden Immortal.

What he said seemed to be the foundational knowledge passed down in the ancient cultivation world.

However, through his personal exposition as a sage of the Heavenly Dao, the essence was refined and the core of the Great Dao was revealed. Its subtlety and profundity far surpassed that of ordinary transmissions.

Many great masters, especially those who rely on their own exploration and incomplete lineage transmission.

As if he had found a treasure, he suddenly realized that many things in his past cultivation that were unclear or even led him astray were now clear. His foundation was solidified and his cultivation was growing silently.

Although Zhen Yuanzi, Hongyun, and Yin Yang were already in the late stage of Hunyuan Golden Immortal, they still found it beneficial to listen to this systematic foundation of the Heavenly Dao, and were able to verify what they had learned from another perspective.

Meanwhile, the disciples of Wuzhuang Temple who were inside that mustard seed space reaped even greater rewards.

Zhenwu and Emperor used this opportunity to refine their knowledge, making their peak Daluo realm even more perfect.

Kong Xuan gained a deeper understanding of the Five Elements' generating and restraining relationships; Nuwa comprehended the fundamental principles of creation and life; Fuxi's deductions of the secrets of heaven became clearer.

The Golden-Winged Roc also felt that the Yin-Yang Escape Technique had improved; the disciples, including the Nine-Headed Primordial Saint, were like parched land receiving sweet rain, and many accumulated doubts were easily resolved.

The Three Pure Ones, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Kunpeng, who were sitting on the six futons in front, were completely focused and dared not be distracted in the slightest, knowing that this was the key to laying the foundation for the supreme Dao.

The preaching continued for countless years. When Hongjun finished explaining the mysteries of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm and the last Great Dao rune fell, he slowly stopped preaching, and the Daoist aura permeating Zixiao Palace gradually subsided.

His indifferent gaze swept over the three thousand listeners below, each with a different expression but all having gained something from the teachings. He slowly spoke, his voice like a divine decree: "This sermon ends here. What has been taught is the foundation of cultivation, leading all the way to the Great Luo realm."

"Your seating arrangement has been determined and will remain so. The next sermon will still be held three thousand years from now, at which time the profound mysteries of the Dao realm above the Great Luo Golden Immortal will be expounded."

After speaking, he closed his eyes and remained silent, as if in harmony with the Dao, no longer paying attention to external things.

The three thousand guests of Zixiao below, regardless of their own thoughts, all rose at this moment and bowed respectfully to the Dao Ancestor on the cloud bed, expressing their gratitude: "Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for your grace in imparting the Dao!"

The sound waves converged and echoed in the empty hall.

After expressing their gratitude, the crowd began to depart one after another. The Three Pure Ones, expressionless, were the first to transform into three beams of clear light and leave, appearing unfathomable.

Di Jun and Tai Yi's eyes flickered, as if they were plotting something, and they left together with Chang Xi and Xi He.

The Styx Ancestor, exuding a bloody and murderous aura, silently merged into the void.

Kunpeng took a deep look at the six prayer mats, especially the sixth one beneath him, his gaze complex. Then he transformed into a phantom of a Peng bird and vanished with a flap of his wings.

Among the departing crowd, Houtu, one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, stood out from the crowd.

Unlike other ancestral witches, she did not completely reject the path of the primordial spirit.

On the contrary, during the process of listening to the Dao, especially when feeling the Dao Ancestor Hongjun expounding the principles of the operation of heaven and earth and the growth of all things.

She was deeply moved by the natural affinity she had for "earth," "bearing," and "nurturing" that came from the blood of the great god Pangu.

What caught her attention even more was Zhen Yuanzi, who sat high on three special futons, his aura blending seamlessly with the earth, and she even felt a kind of shared calling from the same source!

"Zhen Yuanzi—the underground passage—bearing and nurturing—" Houtu murmured to herself, a hint of curiosity and inquiry flashing in her beautiful eyes.

"His Dao seems to have something in common with my bloodline's perception of the earth, yet it is more systematic and more profound—perhaps I should pay a visit to this senior Zhen Yuanzi."

An idea quietly took root in her mind.

After deciding to return to the Wu clan and make some arrangements, she went to Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain.

Jieyin and Zhunti did not leave immediately with the crowd.

They remembered Zhen Yuanzi's kindness and knew that although they were not happy to be able to sit on the fifth and fourth prayer mats, it was all thanks to Zhen Yuanzi who brought them in advance; otherwise, they probably wouldn't have even been able to touch the edge of the prayer mats.

The two respectfully withdrew from the main hall of Zixiao Palace, but did not go far. Instead, they waited quietly outside the palace gate, intending to return with Senior Zhen Yuanzi.

After all three thousand guests had left, Zixiao Palace became empty and silent again, leaving only Hongjun Daozu, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Yinyang, and the disciples of Wuzhuang in the mustard seed space.

Zhen Yuanzi and the other two opened their eyes, their divine light contained, clearly indicating that they had gained something from listening to the teachings.

They rose and bowed to Hongjun on the cloud bed to take their leave: "Fellow Daoist Hongjun, we have benefited greatly from this discussion and lecture. We will now take our leave."

Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.

With a thought, Zhen Yuanzi quietly opened the mustard seed space, and the Emperor and Zhenwu led all the disciples out in an orderly manner.

The disciples all wore expressions of joy at their achievements and reverence for the Great Dao of the Sage. Upon seeing Zhen Yuanzi, they all bowed respectfully.

"Hmm, it seems you have all gained something. Very good." Zhen Yuanzi glanced at his disciples and nodded with satisfaction. "Come back to the mountain with me and properly digest what you have learned."

Then, he took Hongyun, Yinyang and a group of disciples to bid farewell to Hongjun and then turned and walked out of the Zixiao Palace.

Outside the palace gates, Jieyin and Zhunti saw Zhen Yuanzi and the others emerge and immediately stepped forward, respectfully bowing: "Seniors!"

Zhen Yuanzi looked at them and said with a smile, "You two are true to your word. Let's go, come back to Wuzhuang Temple with me first."

Jieyin and Zhunti were overjoyed and quickly replied, "Yes, thank you, senior!"

Zhen Yuanzi said no more and once again summoned the Earth Book, the Xuanhuang Qi enveloping everyone.

Together with Hongyun and Yinyang, they unleashed their supernatural powers, transforming into a dazzling stream of light that broke through the chaos and sped toward the direction of Wanshou Mountain in the primordial world.

On the way back, the chaotic energy was still surging, but with the protection of three powerful beings, it was naturally very safe.

Most of the disciples of Wuzhuang Temple were immersed in digesting the insights they had gained from listening to the sermon.

Jieyin and Zhunti were filled with emotion, grateful for Zhen Yuanzi's kindness and also with more thoughts and plans for their future paths.

Meanwhile, Hongjun Daozu, who sat serenely in Zixiao Palace, left after everyone had departed.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the endless chaos, landing on the group returning to Wuzhuang Temple, especially Zhen Yuanzi. A barely perceptible glimmer flashed in his indifferent eyes.

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