Inside Purple Cloud Palace, there was a solemn silence.
Three thousand powerful beings sat quietly, some closing their eyes to meditate, others subtly observing their Fellow Daoists around them.
Though no one spoke, the atmosphere within the hall was fraught with undercurrents, far from peaceful.
Especially the six futons at the front, which invisibly drew everyone's gaze.
Upon the futons, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Kunpeng, and Hongyun sat calmly, their Qi condensed, subtly setting them apart from the other listeners.
Wu Ming looked at Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, who sat on the sixth futon, currently beaming, conversing in low tones with Zhenyuanzi beside him, clearly very pleased with having secured that spot.
Thinking of this good-natured old man's future fate, Wu Ming's heart stirred slightly.
He pondered for a moment, then spoke to Hongyun: "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun."
Hongyun, who was whispering something to Zhenyuanzi beside him, turned his head, his face still bearing his characteristic kind smile: "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, what is it?"
"Fellow Daoist, since you have claimed this futon, it is your Opportunity; do not easily yield it to others," Wu Ming's gaze was calm, but his tone carried a hint of solemnity.
Hongyun was startled by his words. He clearly hadn't expected Wu Ming to say this suddenly.
He lowered his head to look at the futon beneath him, then looked at the serious-faced Wu Ming. Though puzzled, he still replied: "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming. Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, this is a Saint's Dao field, and this futon is of great importance; how could I easily yield it?"
He merely thought Wu Ming saw his kind nature and feared he would be taken advantage of, and a few traces of gratitude arose in his heart.
Wu Ming nodded, said no more, and closed his eyes again to meditate.
He had given the reminder; whether Hongyun would heed it was his own choice.
The grand trend of the Heavenly Dao and individual destiny often hinge on a single thought.
...
Just then.
Outside the Purple Cloud Palace gates, two somewhat disheveled figures stumbled in.
Of these two, one was sallow-faced and emaciated, his brows tightly furrowed, as if all the suffering in the world had gathered upon him.
The other was slightly better, but also had a sorrowful expression, looking travel-worn and full of the vicissitudes of enduring hardships.
These two were none other than Jieyin and Zhunti, who had rushed from the distant Western Lands.
They were travel-worn, their Qi unstable, and their faces showed deep exhaustion, clearly having expended immense effort to Transmigrate through Chaos and reach this place.
As soon as they entered Purple Cloud Palace, their gazes were instantly drawn to the six distinctive futons at the very front!
Dao rhyme flowed upon those futons, making them exceptionally profound; one look and it was clear they were extraordinary!
This was absolutely a great Opportunity!
The two exchanged glances, both seeing desire and determination in each other's eyes!
Damn it! Still a step too late!
The six futons were already occupied!
The two exchanged glances, and years of unspoken understanding made them instantly grasp each other's intentions.
Zhunti's eyes darted around, and a plan came to mind.
"Wuwuwu…"
Daoist Zhunti suddenly burst into mournful wails without warning, his voice sorrowful and choked with sobs: "My Western lands are barren, and the journey is long! My Senior Brother and I, hearing of the Saint's sermon, yearned for the Great Dao, and thus traveled countless millions of li, day and night, without the slightest slack!"
Daoist Jieyin also wore a bitter expression, sighing in cooperation: "Yes! Indeed!"
"How perilous is that Chaos! My Senior Brother and I almost got lost within it, nearly perishing!"
"We finally found the Saint's Dao field, but…"
His voice choked, sorrow welling up: "But there isn't even a place for us to listen!"
"Are the beings of my Western lands truly so ill-fated, without a connection to the Great Dao?!"
Zhunti, beside him, was even more of a drama queen, directly sitting on the ground, beating his chest and stomping his feet, wailing loudly, his voice echoing throughout the entire Purple Cloud Palace.
"Oh Heaven! Oh Earth!"
"My Senior Brother and I, traversing mountains and rivers, crossing endless Chaos, how much hardship did we endure, how much suffering did we bear? Was it easy for us?!"
"We thought we could listen to the Saint's teachings and obtain the true inheritance of the Great Dao, but who would have thought… who would have thought…"
"There's not even a place to sit!"
"Our hearts are so sincere in seeking the Dao, why wouldn't you even leave a seat for us?!"
"Wuwuwu… The Heavenly Dao is unfair, the Heavenly Dao is unfair! Better to return, better to return!"
The two sang in harmony, weeping with such earth-shattering intensity, their pathetic appearance and sorrowful tones moved listeners to sadness and brought tears to onlookers' eyes.
The originally quiet atmosphere in the hall was instantly broken.
Many powerful beings frowned, their faces showing disdain or impatience.
Especially Dijun and Taiyi, who had just had their seats snatched by Hongyun. Seeing these two wailing now, their eyes were even colder, filled with undisguised contempt.
Yuanshi Tianzun, seated on the second futon, showed even more disgust, letting out a cold snort.
He detested and scorned such behavior—crying and throwing tantrums in a Saint's Dao field, disregarding one's status.
"Heh! These two fellows are utterly shameless!" Zhurong, having never seen such a scene, rolled up his sleeves, ready to unleash a barrage of insults.
"Quiet," Wu Ming glanced at him indifferently, his eyes signaling him to calm down.
Wu Ming's expression remained unchanged, but his gaze fell upon Hongyun.
He wanted to see if, after his reminder, Hongyun would still, as in his memory, yield his seat.
At this moment, Hongyun was indeed caught in a fierce struggle.
He was inherently soft-hearted, and seeing Jieyin and Zhunti weeping so miserably, he couldn't help but feel a touch of pity.
He recalled Fellow Daoist Wu Ming's earlier reminder and admonished himself: I cannot yield! This is my Opportunity!
"But…"
Hongyun's expression flickered uncertainly.
"Alas…"
Finally, Hongyun let out a long sigh.
He stood up, his face filled with deep helplessness and bitterness, and spoke to Jieyin and Zhunti, who were still wailing.
"Enough, enough."
"Two Fellow Daoists have come a long way, your sincerity is commendable. This poor Daoist… this poor Daoist shall yield this seat to you."
As soon as his words fell, Jieyin and Zhunti's wails ceased abruptly!
Their faces instantly showed wild joy; where was even a trace of their previous sorrowful appearance?
Zhunti reacted even faster, springing up from the ground with a carp-like flip, and before anyone could react, he plopped down on the futon Hongyun had yielded!
Jieyin also hurried forward, bowing repeatedly to Hongyun.
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist! Thank you, Fellow Daoist!"
"Fellow Daoist's compassion! Fellow Daoist's righteousness!"
"The kindness Fellow Daoist has shown today, my Senior Brother and I will never forget it and will surely repay it handsomely in the future."
Having said that, without waiting for Hongyun's reaction, he also quickly sat down in the empty seat beside Zhunti, fearing any further changes.
Hongyun looked at the futon that had been snatched away in an instant, opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a silent, bitter smile.
The sense of crisis in his heart had indeed disappeared, but he always felt… as if he had lost something important.
Seeing this, Zhenyuanzi sighed heavily, patted Hongyun's shoulder, offering comfort.
Wu Ming glanced at Jieyin and Zhunti, who were full of tearful gratitude but inwardly ecstatic, then looked at the somewhat dejected Hongyun.
Just as expected.
The grand trend of the Heavenly Dao is vast and mighty.
A mere kind reminder from him, after all, was difficult to shake.
Alas, perhaps, this was his fate.