Primordial Era: Reborn Kong Xuan, Steady Cultivation

As Hongjun Daozu's voice fell, it was like the imperial decree of the Great Dao, echoing endlessly throughout the palace. Each word seemed to be a solidified Dao pattern, striking the hearts and minds of all beings.

"Heaven and earth are divided into Qian and Kun, and all things are distinguished by Yin and Yang. Those who uphold order should be a man and a woman, jointly governing the path of immortality, the Eastern King Duke..."

The Dao Ancestor lowered his gaze, as if the sun and moon were shining together, "You are the innate Donghua Supreme Pure Yang Purple Qi, combined with the essence of the innate Jia wood, and transformed in the Purple Mansion Immortal Continent."

Auspicious purple clouds rise from the east; his noble character is innate, making him the foremost male immortal of the primordial world.

After speaking, a golden light flew out from his sleeve, growing longer in the wind and transforming into a gleaming purple-gold dragon-headed cane.

The dragon's head held a pearl, its eyes shone with divine light, and a vast expanse of pure yang energy spread out, causing the clouds and mist in the palace to turn gold.

At the same time, another scroll of purple jade immortal book appeared in the hands of the Dao Ancestor. The pages were neither gold nor jade, and Dao patterns flowed on them. The four innate Dao characters "Pure Yang Immortal Register" could be vaguely seen. Any male immortal whose name was recorded in it would be bound by immortal laws, and his fortune would be connected with the immortal head.

"I hereby bestow upon you the supreme innate spiritual treasure, the 'Dragon Head Cane,' and grant you the Pure Yang Immortal Register, to govern the primordial Yang and Immortal Path, and to oversee the male immortal registers and record cause and effect."

In the future, all men who attain immortality must visit the Purple Palace, pay homage to the Wood God, and have their names inscribed in the register of immortals to be considered legitimate.

As Hongjun's voice faded, a middle-aged Taoist priest dressed in a purple silk robe, with a feathered belt around his waist and cloud-patterned shoes, steadily walked out from among the immortals.

He was handsome and elegant, with a noble bearing and a wisp of innate purple energy flowing between his brows. He was none other than the Eastern King Duke.

His cultivation level at the late stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm was fully displayed, placing him among the top even within the Zixiao Palace.

It should be known that even the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti, who were on the front row of prayer cushions, were at the same level at this moment.

The Eastern King bowed deeply to the ground, raised his hands high, and respectfully accepted the dragon-headed walking stick and the purple jade immortal book:

"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"

The moment he touched it, the Immortal Book resonated with his fortune, granting him authority. His primordial spirit naturally understood the book's wondrous function of recording immortal names and regulating fortune.

His heart was filled with surging emotions. The position of the Immortal Leader, the top-grade spiritual treasure, and now the power to govern all immortals with the Immortal Register—such an opportunity was rare even for innate saints.

Looking across the vast wilderness, there are only a handful of people whose innate treasures reach the highest level of the Innate Realm.

However, undercurrents have already begun to stir within the Purple Cloud Palace.

The expressions of the powerful figures were uncertain; some had burning gazes, some had somber expressions, and some had a cold glint in their eyes.

The position of Immortal Leader is a powerful and enticing position, a top-grade spiritual treasure, and the key to the Great Dao. The Immortal Register is clearly a rightful and legitimate right to rule, bestowed by the Heavenly Dao.

All those present were born of the divine power of heaven and earth, so who would truly wish to be bound by this book in the future, with their fate controlled by others?

However, once the Daoist patriarch's decree was issued, no one dared to openly disobey it.

Dong Wanggong was either excited by the unexpected opportunity or felt that he had the endorsement of a sage and the immortal book in his hand. He did not pay attention to the complicated gazes around him. He only gripped the dragon-headed cane and the immortal book tightly, and the purple aura around him involuntarily increased by three points.

On the cloud bed, Hongjun observed everything silently, without offering a single word of advice.

This is the mandate of heaven, but also the beginning of calamity.

Whether he can hold onto this position depends entirely on the fate of the Eastern King.

Success brings hope of enlightenment; failure brings utter ruin.

After a moment of silence, the voice of the Dao Ancestor rang out again, ethereal as if descending from the heavens:

"Queen Mother of the West, you are the primordial Western Flower Supreme Mystery Pure Yin Metal Qi, combined with the primordial Xin Metal essence, and transformed into form at the Dragon Hall Golden Platform."

"Golden energy arrives from the west; her dignified bearing is unparalleled; she should be considered the foremost female immortal of the primordial world."

Another golden light appeared, transforming into a bowl of pure water, its entire body as clear as black ice, containing boundless Taiyin True Water. As the clear light flowed, it seemed as if the sounds of the tides of all worlds were faintly in harmony.

At the same time, a book of Xuan Yu Immortal Records slowly unfolded, its pages glowing with moonlight. It was inscribed with "Taiyin Immortal Records," which was in charge of the names and causes of female immortals. It was in contrast to the Pure Yang Immortal Records, forming the foundation of the Heavenly Dao and Immortal Laws.

"I hereby bestow upon you the supreme innate spiritual treasure, the 'Pure Water Bowl,' and grant you the Taiyin Immortal Register, to govern the Taiyin Immortal Path of the Primordial World and to oversee the records of cause and effect in the register of female immortals."

All women who attain immortality must visit the Golden Terrace, pay homage to the Queen Mother of the West, and have their names entered into the register of immortals to be considered legitimate.

As soon as the words were spoken, a dignified female fairy dressed in a brocade green silk jacket and a pale yellow brocade skirt slowly walked out.

She had a graceful appearance and elegant demeanor, and seemed to be surrounded by a faint golden glow; she was none other than the Queen Mother of the West.

She gracefully bowed, accepting the bowl of pure water and the Jade Immortal Book with both hands, her voice as clear as a spring striking jade.

"Thank you for the saint's grace."

Unlike the Eastern King Duke, the Western Queen Mother, though pleased in her heart, remained as calm as a deep pool on her face.

Having obtained the Immortal Book, she naturally understood the power of the Heavenly Dao. However, she became even more cautious. From receiving the treasure to expressing her gratitude, she remained calm and composed, without showing the slightest sign of losing her composure.

Her mind was as clear as a mirror.

Firstly, he himself was only at the mid-stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, which was not top-tier in the Zixiao Palace. Although holding the Immortal Register granted him power, it was also a heavy responsibility. How could he dare to be arrogant?

Secondly, she silently observed the smug look on the Eastern King's face and the various gazes that were subtly appearing around him.

The Immortal Manual is good, but it is also the target of everyone's hatred; the opportunity is good, but one must be alive to bear it.

Keeping a low profile and quietly reaping the benefits is the way to long-term success.

On a deeper level, the Queen Mother of the West's mind was clear.

Fate has its limits, fortune has its balance; the moon wanes after it is full, and prosperity inevitably declines. Throughout history, countless people who enjoyed boundless glory have ultimately met their demise.

Today, she has already exhausted her great fortune by obtaining this position, this treasure, and this book. If she does not restrain herself, she may face calamity soon.

Therefore, she lowered her eyes and carefully put away the water bowl and the book of immortals, her posture extremely humble.

This behavior, ironically, prevented the many powerful figures in the hall from harboring much hostility towards her; some even nodded in agreement.

The Queen Mother of the West glanced at the King Father of the East with the corner of her eye, thinking to herself, "A tree that stands out in the forest will surely be felled by the wind."

He holds the Pure Yang Immortal Register, which is outwardly displayed; I hold the Taiyin Immortal Record, which is inwardly concealed. This position of Immortal Leader... should be received with gentleness and guarded with stillness.

At this moment, the vast majority of eyes and thoughts in Zixiao Palace were indeed focused on the Eastern King Duke and the scroll of purple jade immortal book in his hand.

The Queen Mother of the West, the head of all female immortals, and the Xuan Yu Immortal Register seemed to be the least conspicuous presence in the hall.

And this was exactly the situation she sought.

With the Immortal Head established, the Yin-Yang Immortal Manual completed, and the first lecture at Zixiao Palace nearing its end.

On the cloud bed, the figure of Dao Ancestor Hongjun gradually became ethereal, but his voice, like the grandest of bells, grew ever more majestic:

"The lectures at Zixiao Palace, totaling three lectures, will last for 129,600 years, in order to complete the cycle of the Dao."

Today marks the completion of the first lecture, which has lasted forty-three thousand two hundred years.

Sixty-four thousand eight hundred years later, the palace gates reopened, and the second lecture began.

Those who are destined to come may return here to hear me expound the Dharma.

The sound began like a babbling brook, then surged like a mighty ocean, and finally transformed into a thunderclap from the heavens, piercing through the thirty-three layers of outer heaven restrictions and resounding throughout every corner of the primordial land.

"This disciple bows in gratitude to the Dao Ancestor for imparting the Dao, and will never forget it for all eternity."

As the resounding Daoist chant from Zixiao Palace that echoed throughout the primordial world slowly dissipated, Kong Xuan, who was in seclusion deep within the Undying Volcano, suddenly opened his eyes.

Five-colored divine light flowed behind him, with blue, yellow, red, white, and black colors rotating in turn, as if encompassing the five elements of heaven and earth, before finally slowly receding and returning to calm.