Wu Ming led the Twelve Ancestral Witches towards Purple Cloud Palace.
The closer they got, the more profound and vast the Dao rhythm emanating from Purple Cloud Palace became.
The Purple Cloud Palace before their eyes floated silently, shrouded in purple Qi, as if independent of time and space, unchanging through eternity.
"Good heavens... this place has something to it," Zhurong muttered, stroking his chin, his eyes wide.
"It is indeed extraordinarily grand," Dijang also said with a solemn expression, surveying this legendary Saint's Dao field.
When they reached the palace gates, they found the enormous gates of Purple Cloud Palace tightly shut, indicating that the time for the Saint's sermon had not yet arrived.
"Heh, are we just going to wait here?" Gonggong stiffened his neck, a little displeased.
Wu Ming's expression was calm; he gestured for everyone to be patient, then found an open space outside the palace gates, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to rest.
Seeing this, the Twelve Ancestral Witches had no choice but to suppress their impatience, imitating Wu Ming, and found places to sit.
However, they were not as composed as Wu Ming; their eyes darted around, surveying the Saint's Dao field in the Chaos, as well as the "neighbors" who had already arrived.
They were not the first to arrive; several figures were already seated there before them.
Not far away, three figures shrouded in clear Qi sat side by side, precisely the Three Pure Ones transformed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit—Grand Pure One, Yuanshi Tianzun, and Shangqing Tongtian.
Nearby, there were also two domineering figures; two enormous phantom Three-legged Golden Crows flickered behind them, their bodies faintly shimmering with Sun True Fire, their eyes full of disdain, these were the future emperors of the Yao Race, Dijun and Taiyi.
These few were the most top-tier Innate Great Gods in the Great Desolation!
An invisible aura collided between these great figures, making the atmosphere somewhat subtle.
Everyone present had profound origins, and none submitted to another, but out of respect for this being a Saint's Dao field, they did not act out on the spot.
As time passed, within the Chaos, streams of light continuously flashed, and powerful auras arrived one after another.
Amidst auspicious clouds and brilliant Immortal Qi, Nuwa and Fuxi, siblings, arrived together, one of unparalleled grace, the other refined and amiable.
They glanced at the situation in the hall, their gazes lingering briefly on the group from the Wu Race, then sat down not far from the Three Pure Ones.
Next, Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West arrived together, one brimming with Immortal Qi, the other dignified and noble.
Subsequently, a blood-red long rainbow streaked across the Void Realm, and Old Ancestor Minghe, stepping on the Twelfth-Grade Karma Red Lotus and wielding Yuan Tu and Abi, landed in a corner slightly further from the crowd, his Killing Intent hidden but ready.
...
One by one, the Innate Great Gods of the Great Desolation gathered here at this moment.
For a time, before the gates of Purple Cloud Palace, the most top-tier forces of the entire Great Desolation converged, and the atmosphere imperceptibly became solemn.
Just then, two figures arrived together.
One had the air of an Immortal Daoist, holding the Earth Scroll, precisely Zhenyuanzi of Wuzhuang Temple.
The other had a gentle smile, with red light faintly visible around him, appearing extremely benevolent; he was the famous good-natured person of the Great Desolation, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun.
When the two saw Wu Ming sitting there, their eyes lit up, and they walked directly towards the direction where the Wu Race was located.
"Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I didn't expect you to arrive so early!" Fellow Daoist Hong Yun had a frank personality; his voice arrived before he did.
Zhenyuanzi also bowed in greeting: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, I trust you have been well."
Wu Ming rose to return the greeting, smiling gently: "Greetings, Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun. The Saint's sermon, such a rare event in eons, our Wu Race naturally had to be proactive."
"Haha, precisely, precisely!" Hongyun laughed, his gaze curiously sweeping over the Twelve Ancestral Witches behind Wu Ming. "May I ask how the Ancestral Witches are addressed?"
Seeing this, Dijang, Zhu Jiuyin, and the others also rose to greet the two and briefly introduced themselves.
The two sides exchanged a few simple pleasantries, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
Subsequently, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun sat down next to the Wu Race, waiting for the palace gates to open.
And this scene naturally fell into the eyes of the other Great Gods around them.
The Three Pure Ones merely cast a faint glance, then withdrew their gazes, still closing their eyes to rest.
Dijun and Taiyi exchanged glances, a hint of surprise flashing in their eyes. When did the Wu Race form a friendship with Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun?
...
Deep within Purple Cloud Palace.
Upon the cloud bed, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes, his gaze penetrating the palace and falling upon the living beings outside the gates.
His gaze swept over the Three Pure Ones, Dijun, Taiyi, Nuwa, Fuxi, one by one...
When his gaze swept over Wu Ming and the Twelve Ancestral Witches, even with his Saint-level state of mind, he couldn't help but pause slightly.
"The Wu Race... thirteen of them?
"And... these thirteen people, surprisingly... all have Primordial Spirits?!"
Hongjun was utterly astonished. This... how was this possible?
The Wu Race was born from Pangu's Evil Qi, inherently possessing powerful Physical Bodies and controlling Laws, but they did not cultivate Primordial Spirits and were ignorant of the Heavenly Dao, this was their destiny!
But these thirteen Wu Race members before him, not only was there one extra, but each one clearly emanated Primordial Spirit fluctuations!
Although compared to Immortal Dao Cultivators of the same rank, their Primordial Spirits still seemed somewhat immature, they were indeed Primordial Spirits!
How could this have happened?
Who was that extra Wu Race member? And how did they manage to condense Primordial Spirits?
Hongjun performed a divination, but only felt the Heavenly Mystery was a chaotic mess; regarding this sudden change in the Wu Race, he couldn't deduce anything at all!
It was as if an invisible force was interfering with the Heavenly Mystery!
Was it a remnant of Pangu Will? Hongjun frowned, then relaxed his brow.
Never mind, as long as the general trend of the Heavenly Dao remains unchanged, minor variables are harmless.
Perhaps, this anomaly of the Wu Race was another possibility under the operation of the Heavenly Dao?
He glanced at Haotian and Yaochi, the two child attendants beside him, and calmly instructed: "The time has come, open the palace gates."
"Yes, Master," Haotian and Yaochi bowed in response.
Creak—
The heavy, ancient gates of Purple Cloud Palace slowly opened to both sides.
An indescribable aura permeated from within the palace gates, invigorating all the Great Gods waiting outside!
"It's open! The palace gates are open!"
"Quick! Seize the front row seats!"
Almost at the moment the palace gates opened, numerous Great Desolation powers, who had long been unable to restrain themselves, transformed into streaks of light and rushed into the palace!
Their target was precisely the six futons at the very front of the palace, emitting mysterious auras!
Everyone could tell that these six futons were by no means simple; they must contain great Opportunity!
For a time, Divine Abilities collided, and magical power surged!
Although no one dared to strike with lethal force due to it being a Saint's Dao field, the hidden struggle was incredibly fierce!
"Get out of the way!"
"This seat is mine!"
"Dream on!"
The Three Pure Ones exerted their power almost simultaneously; Grand Pure One's head was adorned with the Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda, from which tens of thousands of golden Karma lights descended, rendering him immune to all Laws, and he firmly occupied the first futon.
Yuanshi Tianzun and Tongtian Cult Master followed closely, occupying the second and third futons.
Nuwa, under the full protection of her elder brother Fuxi, sat steadily on the fourth futon.
Kunpeng, with unparalleled speed, transformed into a streak of light and seized the fifth.
The struggle for the last futon was the most intense!
Just as Dijun and Taiyi were about to succeed, Zhenyuanzi let out a low cry, and the Earth Scroll shone brightly, forcefully blocking them for an instant!
Seizing this Opportunity, Fellow Daoist Hong Yun transformed into a red light, and under Zhenyuanzi's cover, he narrowly managed to sit down!
In a flash, the six futons already had their occupants!
Those Great Gods who were a step too slow or lost in the struggle, such as Dijun, Taiyi, and Eastern King Duke, showed unwilling expressions on their faces but could do nothing, only finding other places to sit down.
"Hmph, a bunch of boors," Zhurong scoffed, looking at the chaotic scene in front.
Gonggong also echoed: "Exactly, is it really worth it for a broken mat?"
Wu Ming did not participate in the scramble, merely watching it all calmly.
He was well aware of the meaning of these futons; they were the positions for future Saint's Disciples.
But his Wu Race did not follow the Xuanmen Immortal Dao; these futons were useless to them.
Moreover, even if he wanted to snatch them, Hongjun and the Heavenly Dao would not allow the Wu Race to sit on these futons, which represented the Luck of the Xuanmen.
Once the hall quieted down slightly, Wu Ming, along with the Twelve Ancestral Witches, unhurriedly walked forward, found a spot behind Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun, and sat down cross-legged.
Zhenyuanzi turned and glanced at Wu Ming, nodding to him kindly.
Hongyun also smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.
Wu Ming subtly nodded in return, then closed his eyes, composed his mind, and quietly awaited Hongjun's appearance.
The Twelve Ancestral Witches followed suit, putting away their usual flamboyance, and sat quietly behind Wu Ming.
Within the vast Purple Cloud Palace, three thousand Mortal World guests gathered, awaiting the legendary Saint to expound the Great Dao!