The hall erupted once more!
"This... this works too?"
"Crying and making a fuss, and you get Hongmeng Purple Energy?"
"If only I had known, I would have cried too!"
"Why them?! What virtue or ability do these two Western barbarians possess?!"
Envy, jealousy, and hatred almost solidified into a tangible form.
With Jie Yin and Zhun Ti's "success story," how could anyone else sit still?
Whoosh!
A large group of people knelt down.
"Please, Master, have mercy and accept me as your Disciple!"
"Master, Disciple is willing to serve by your side!"
"Master, look at me! My bone structure is excellent!"
For a time, Zixiao Palace was like a bustling market, with various pleas and declarations of loyalty rising and falling.
Hongjun's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, then returned to its indifferent state.
"You and I have no Master-Disciple 緣."
His voice was not loud, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears, like a splash of cold water.
Everyone immediately quieted down, their faces filled with disappointment and unwillingness.
Hongjun continued, "Under the Heavenly Dao, there are nine Saint positions."
"The ninth Saint will not appear until the Immeasurable Tribulation."
"I control the Jade Plate of Creation and am destined to manage seven strands of Hongmeng Purple Energy."
"Currently, six strands of Hongmeng Purple Energy have been bestowed."
Everyone's hearts were in their throats.
Six strands?
Doesn't that mean there's still one more?
Instantly, everyone's eyes became fervent, staring intently at Hongjun.
"Master! There is still one strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy, please bestow it!"
"Master, have mercy, give us a chance!"
"Please, Master, grant us this!"
Hongjun looked at the myriad expressions of the beings below, remaining silent for a long time.
Finally, he seemed to let out a faint sigh.
"So be it."
"This last strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy shall depend on your individual Karma."
As his voice fell, he raised his hand and waved.
Whoosh!
The last purple stream of light flew out, like a swimming fish, circling within Zixiao Palace.
Everyone's hearts rose and fell with that purple light, reaching the peak of tension.
"Give it to me!"
"It's mine!"
"Come here!"
Countless people shouted and prayed in their hearts.
That strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy seemed to hesitate, circling a few times in the air.
Finally, under everyone's astonished gaze, it suddenly accelerated and flew directly towards one direction.
Target — Old Ancestor Hongyun!
Puff!
The Hongmeng Purple Energy instantly merged into Hongyun's body.
The entire Zixiao Palace fell into a dead silence.
Everyone was dumbfounded.
How could it be him?
Hongyun himself was bewildered, standing there blankly, feeling the profound and vast Qi within his body, unable to react for a moment.
Who am I?
Where am I?
Am I... about to become a Saint?
After a brief moment of confusion, a surge of immense ecstasy welled up in his heart!
Hongmeng Purple Energy!
The foundation of becoming a Saint!
I, Hongyun, also have a day to become a Saint?
Haha!
However, the joy did not last long.
He suddenly remembered what Wu Ming had said to him in Pangu Hall.
The smile on Hongyun's face froze.
He subconsciously looked towards a certain corner of the hall.
There, Kunpeng was staring fixedly at him with eyes that seemed to want to devour him.
The malevolence, anger, and killing intent in his eyes were undisguised, chilling to the bone.
Hongyun's heart immediately sank.
He understood.
This strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy was the key to resolving the Karma with Kunpeng.
Hongyun's face alternated between green and pale, his mind in a chaotic mess.
Ultimately, all emotions transformed into a heavy sigh.
...
"Ah—! Hongyun!"
Kunpeng roared madly in his heart, "Damn Hongyun, it's you again."
If you hadn't given up your seat, that cushion would have been mine!
Now, the cushion is gone, and even the last strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy has been snatched by you!
You severed my Dao path! You ruined my future!
This enmity is irreconcilable!
Hongyun, you just wait for me!
From now on, I, Kunpeng, and you will be in an endless struggle!
Anyone could feel the monstrous killing intent emanating from Kunpeng, an intent that seemed capable of incinerating everything.
The atmosphere within Zixiao Palace became incredibly oppressive and eerie due to the ownership of this last strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy.
Some were envious, some were jealous, some were resentful, and some even gloated.
Above the high platform, Hongjun seemed oblivious to the undercurrents below.
Once the last strand of Hongmeng Purple Energy had settled, he scanned his six Disciples.
"Taiqing."
"As my foremost Disciple of the Xuanmen, you bear the responsibility of enlightening all beings and overseeing the Xuanmen's Luck. Today, I bestow upon you the Innate Spirit Treasure, the Taiji Diagram, which can suppress Luck."
"Disciple, thanks Master!" Laozi bowed in salute.
"Yuanshi."
"The Pangu Banner was formed from the axe blade of the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe, containing endless Heaven-Opening Evil Qi. It can break Chaos and re-enact earth, water, wind, and fire. It is also an Innate Spirit Treasure, so I bestow it upon you."
"Disciple, thanks Master!" Yuanshi Tianzun received the Pangu Banner, a rare hint of excitement on his face.
"Tongtian."
"I bestow upon you the Four Immortal Slaying Swords and the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram."
"Once this sword formation is set up, it cannot be broken unless four Saints join forces. Its killing power is unparalleled; I hope you use it well."
"Disciple, thanks Master!" Tongtian was overjoyed and quickly put them away.
Hongjun then looked at Nüwa.
"Nüwa, you bear great Karma. I bestow upon you the Mountain and River Map, the red bridal ball, and the creation cauldron. I hope you use them well."
"Disciple, thanks Master!" Nüwa received them with joy.
After distributing to his four Personal Disciples, Hongjun's movements paused.
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti, standing nearby, exchanged glances, their faces immediately filled with expressions of "grievance" and "eagerness," looking expectantly at Hongjun.
Their meaning was clear: Master, what about ours?
The corners of the mouths of the people in the hall twitched.
These two from the West truly had cultivated their thick skin to perfection.
Hongjun seemed somewhat helpless, but he said no more. With a wave of his hand, three more treasures flew out.
He casually waved his hand.
"This is the twelve-petal golden lotus of merit, unparalleled in defense. This is the Azure Lotus Colored Banner, also one of the Five Innate Banners. This is the Divine Bludgeon of Empowerment, which can subdue demons and monsters. I bestow them upon you."
"Thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"
Jie Yin and Zhun Ti were overjoyed, quickly kowtowing in thanks, putting away their treasures, their faces beaming with happiness.
Now, the other powerful beings in the hall who had not received treasures could no longer sit still.
Why them?
Personal Disciples got them, Named Disciples also got them!
What about us, who listened to the Dao three times and painstakingly came all the way to Chaos, getting nothing?
"Please, Master, have mercy and bestow one or two protective treasures upon us too!"
"Master, Disciple's Cultivation is not easy!"
"Master..."
Another chorus of pleas arose.
Hongjun waved his hand, interrupting their pleas.
"I have placed all the Spirit Treasures I obtained in the past on the Treasure Dividing Rock beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens."
"After the sermon, you may go there yourselves and take them according to your Karma."
Upon hearing this, everyone quieted down, their faces showing anticipation.
Treasure Dividing Rock! That was where Dao Old Ancestor stored his treasures!
Although they couldn't compare to Innate Spirit Treasures, there must still be many good things!
Hongjun looked at the crowd below and spoke for the last time.
"The three sermons are complete."
"I shall merge with the Dao."
"The Heavenly Dao is incomplete; I shall use my body to mend it, operate creation, and bring order to the Grandmist."
"From now on, the operation of the Grandmist will have its own destiny."
"Unless a Heaven and Earth Tribulation descends, Hongjun will not appear."
"You may all depart."
"From now on, unless a Heaven and Earth Tribulation descends, Hongjun will not appear."
"You may all depart."
Above the high platform, the figure of Hongjun Dao Old Ancestor gradually became ethereal and transparent, finally disappearing completely, as if he had never appeared.
Only an empty high platform remained, and a group of Grandmist powerful beings who had not yet fully digested this shocking news.
Rumble—
The ancient and heavy gates of Zixiao Palace slowly opened at this moment.