Chapter 20: The Three Lectures at Zixiao Palace

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Laozi saw that Bai Jing had brought out so many rare spirit materials and ores infused with the energy of chaos, along with a Ninth-turn Golden Pill. Thus, the exchange was completed.

The Primordial Supreme Lord waved his hand and gathered the spirit materials and ores, then expressed his thanks to Bai Jing.

Beside him, Tongtian cupped his hands and said, “Fellow Daoist, your generosity is remarkable. You must visit Kunlun sometime.”

Bai Jing could tell that Tongtian was genuinely pleased that his elder brother had obtained materials for forging, and Laozi himself had offered three Ninth-turn Golden Pills to trade with Bai Jing. At this moment, the saying was truly embodied: “Red flowers, white lotus roots, and green lotus leaves—the Three Pure Ones were originally one family.”

With the transaction with the Three Pure Ones concluded, the three of them treated Bai Jing with even greater kindness, especially the Primordial Supreme Lord. In the current Great Wilderness, few understood the Dao of forging. After a brief conversation, he discovered Bai Jing’s profound theoretical grasp of forging, which moved him deeply.

If they were not still inside the Zi Xiao Palace, the Primordial Supreme Lord would have gladly sat down with Bai Jing to discuss the Dao.

“Creak~” As the great beings of the Great Wilderness conversed, the grand doors of the Zi Xiao Palace swung open.

Hao Tian and Yaochi stood on either side of the entrance.

“The First Yuan Assembly has begun. The master’s third lecture is about to start. Fellow senior brothers and sisters, please enter the hall,” Hao Tian said, his face stern and voice serious.

At his words, the great beings filed into the Zi Xiao Palace.

“Junior brothers Hao Tian and Yaochi, you’ve worked hard. I have some tea leaves here—use them to brew tea,” Bai Jing said as he passed the two, stopping to give each three leaves from the Enlightenment Tea Tree.

Hao Tian and Yaochi instinctively accepted the leaves from Bai Jing’s hand.

The moment they touched the leaves, their eyes instantly brightened.

Though they were only novices, they were novices of saints, accustomed to fine things—ordinary items rarely caught their eye.

But these leaves from the Enlightenment Tea Tree were different; from the moment they held them, they sensed the strong Dao aura imbued in the leaves. Brewing tea with these would greatly aid their comprehension of the Dao.

Hao Tian and Yaochi quickly expressed their gratitude to Bai Jing.

Bai Jing smiled and nodded before stepping into the Zi Xiao Palace.

Yaochi carefully put away the Enlightenment Tea leaves, stealing a glance at Bai Jing’s retreating figure.

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Since the saint began expounding the great Dao, many powerful beings had come and gone at the Zi Xiao Palace. Though all were mighty, they carried their own pride, often ignoring the saint novices, occasionally nodding in acknowledgment.

But Bai Jing’s kind approach, along with the gift of the Dao-enlightening leaves, won Hao Tian and Yaochi’s favor.

“Does Brother Bai Jing favor these two novices?” Hou Tu asked through spiritual transmission.

Bai Jing nodded. His gift of the Enlightenment Tea leaves wasn’t meant to curry favor with the future rulers of the Heavenly Court. He genuinely found the novices’ personalities charming. At this stage, before their later imposing aura emerged, their minds remained as pure as children’s, which suited Bai Jing’s taste.

The great beings of the Great Wilderness took their seats according to their places from the previous lecture. This time, there were some changes among the attendees, indicating several had perished.

No sooner had the powerful beings settled into meditation than they all suddenly looked up simultaneously, sensing a presence. On the highest cushion, where moments before there had been no one, now stood the figure of the Honored Patriarch Hongjun.

All rose quickly and saluted. “Greetings, Honored Patriarch.”

Hongjun’s tone was as emotionless as during the previous lecture. With a gentle lift of his hand, he helped the others to their feet and said, “This shall be my final lecture, lasting three thousand years.”

“Thank you, Dao Ancestor,” the great beings said in unison, then sat down to listen.

Hongjun flicked away the floating dust, and his voice resonated: “Today’s teaching shall be on the Saint’s Dao...”

As Hongjun spoke, purple qi flowed from the east and golden lotuses filled the sky. The great beings listened entranced, occasionally achieving enlightenment and breaking through their realms.

Bai Jing was deeply engrossed. The last three-thousand-year lecture from Hongjun had helped him begin his path with the Devouring Dao. Now, he had mastered 35% of it and planned to seize this lecture’s opportunity to advance further.

Hou Tu no longer felt as lost as during the last lecture. Since the Wū clan had decided to bet on the Earth Dao, she began using Hongjun’s teachings to comprehend the Wheel of Reincarnation.

Although Hou Tu believed that without a primordial spirit, understanding the reincarnation law would be difficult, to her surprise, the Wheel of Reincarnation felt tailor-made for her. Riding the Dao resonance during Hongjun’s lecture, she easily grasped the basics.

Soon, Hou Tu too was immersed in Dao comprehension alongside Bai Jing.

Three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. One day, Hongjun ceased lecturing.

Below, the great beings of the Great Wilderness were still immersed in their Dao understanding, not yet awakened.

At that moment, the usually indifferent Hongjun’s eyes flickered with a trace of complexity.

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With a single glance, Hongjun swiftly took in the state of all the great beings below.

His gaze first rested on Laozi, revealing a hint of satisfaction.

Laozi truly resonated with his immortal Dao. He was also the only one in the Zi Xiao Palace who might, like Hongjun, transcend mortality and become a saint. Unfortunately, with the Heavenly Dao present, he dared not take such a step.

Hongjun then moved his gaze past the Primordial Supreme Lord, Tongtian, and Nuwa, settling on the duo from the West. His eyes darkened with displeasure.

Among the innate saints listening in the Zi Xiao Palace, these two were not the most gifted. If there had been other outstanding beings from the West, he would not have chosen them.

Finally, Hongjun’s gaze lingered on Hou Tu and Bai Jing.

He naturally noticed that Hou Tu was currently cultivating the Wheel of Reincarnation Dao, while Bai Jing had traveled far along the Devouring Dao.

A faint smile curved Hongjun’s lips, revealing a certain pleasure in their progress.

Yet in the next moment, the smile vanished, and the humanlike expression faded, replaced once more by his usual detached demeanor.

Then Hongjun spoke coldly, “Three thousand years have passed. This lecture is concluded.”

The great beings, still immersed in Dao comprehension, were instantly awakened.

Bai Jing opened his eyes, a flicker of regret in them. He was about to reach 40% mastery of the Devouring Dao but was abruptly roused.

Beside him, Hou Tu’s face was alight with excitement. After three thousand years, she had reached 20% understanding of the Wheel of Reincarnation Dao. It seemed as though the Dao had been tailored for her; she had found her path.

Hongjun’s indifferent gaze swept over the still-confused great beings below. “Do any of you have questions?”