107: The value of the first saint
"High atop the nine layers of clouds, sitting on a prayer mat to realize the true Dao. Beyond the Heaven and Earth’s Black and Yellow, I shall be the Supreme Teacher."
"I am Hongjun. Having comprehended the Supreme Dao, I have today attained Sainthood. In ten thousand years, following the Heavenly Dao, I shall preach the Great Dao to all living beings at Zixiao Palace within the Chaos beyond the heavens. All who are destined may come to listen!"
The Saint's manifestation glanced at the Primordial World, but the living beings could not see him clearly.
They saw that within the opening and closing of his eyes, the sun and moon seemed to rotate; in his breathing, he moved the Zhou Tian Star Dou. With every movement, the Laws of the Primordial World resonated with him, as if he were the Incarnation of the Heavenly Dao.
As the Saint's voice fell, a lingering spiritual echo reverberated millions of times in the minds of all creatures.
Instantly, the news of the Saint's upcoming sermon made everyone flock toward the Opportunity.
At Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones opened their eyes and looked up simultaneously.
"Eldest Brother, Third Brother, did you hear the Saint's voice?" Yuanshi's expression was solemn, and the three treasures jade ruyi in his hand trembled slightly.
Taishang Laozi slowly opened his eyes and gently swayed his whisk. "The Heavenly Dao reveals a Saint, and a sermon is held at Zixiao Palace; this is a great Opportunity never before seen in the Primordial World."
Tongtian's sword-like eyebrows arched. "In that case, what are we waiting for? Let us depart immediately!"
Yuanshi pondered for a moment. "Zixiao Palace is located within the Chaos; this journey is perilous..."
"Second Brother, you worry too much!" Tongtian laughed loudly. "Since the Saint is preaching, how could there be no path to find? Opportunities are fleeting; hesitation will only cause us to lose the initiative."
Taishang, who had always been pure and inactive, also nodded. "Third Brother is absolutely right. The Saint's Dao concerns the Great Dao. Even with ten thousand perils, we must go."
A sharp light flashed in Yuanshi's eyes. "Good! Then the three of us shall go together."
"Go!"
Before the words finished, three streaks of clear light soared into the sky.
Taishang Laozi held the Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Pagoda over his head, shielding the three of them as they headed toward Zixiao Palace in the Chaos... At Phoenix Perch Valley, Fuxi was observing the stars and comprehending the heavenly secrets when he suddenly faced the Saint's manifestation and was pressed directly to the ground by the pressure.
The Saint's mighty power was truly earth-shaking.
"Brother, the Saint is preaching, let's hurry and listen."
"I wonder if we can see Phoenix Sister on this trip..."
Nuwa walked over quickly, pulling Fuxi along to escape.
Fuxi finally scrambled up from the ground, slightly stabilizing his Dao Heart which had been shaken by the Saint's manifestation, and flew off with Nuwa... At Mount Buzhou, in the Pangu Shrine.
The Ancestral Witches also saw Hongjun's Saint manifestation. That majestic presence, which weighed down upon heaven and earth, forced them to temporarily avoid its edge.
"Hongjun? Saint? Is he that powerful? Do we need to listen to his sermon?" Zhu Rong said with his eyes closed, clearly unconvinced.
Gonggong poured cold water on him again. "You have the nerve to say that? When the Saint's manifestation appeared just now, even your fiery temper was extinguished."
The other Ancestral Witches also chattered amongst themselves, but they did not fully acknowledge this 'Saint' or whatever.
Only Houtu, standing to the side, truly realized the Saint's power.
That feeling, which went straight to her heart and was etched deep within her Primordial Spirit, made her feel that she should go and listen to the sermon.
"Second Brother, what do you think?" Di Jiang still asked for Zhu Jiuyin's opinion.
Zhu Jiuyin's eyes rolled. "The Saint's sermon might concern the great trend of the Primordial World. I reckon it's better for us to go and listen."
"Good!" Di Jiang made the final decision again, and the Ancestral Witches headed toward Zixiao Palace in the Chaos together... Meanwhile,
On the Sun Star, two streaks of Golden Crow rainbow light streaked past numerous stars.
From Wanshou Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun also set off together.
In the Blood Sea, the Styx Old Ancestor, covered in blood-colored Qi, turned into a streak of bloody light and soared into the sky... In the North Sea, a giant Kun leaped out of the water, transforming into a Peng bird that blotted out the sun and soared up ninety thousand miles... For a time, divine lights lit up everywhere in the Primordial World, as all living beings thought of obtaining their own Opportunity in this Saint's sermon... Above the Nine Heavens, Qing Wu and Yuan Feng stood temporarily.
Although he had anticipated Hongjun's attainment of Sainthood many times, seeing this scene where all living beings rushed toward him still left Qing Wu somewhat shocked.
This show-off was executed perfectly!
This is the true weight of the Primordial World's first Saint!
Yuan Feng was much more composed.
Compared to Hongjun's declaration of Sainthood, she was instead drawn to the vast, boundless starry sky around her.
Sitting and watching the sky, one only sees a single facet; the Zhou Tian Starry Sky within it is but a drop in the ocean.
Furthermore, with the Nine Heavens Astral Layer blocking the way between the Primordial Land and the starry sky, the stars appeared even more blurred and elusive.
Now, truly immersed within this Zhou Tian Starry Sky, she realized that as an inseparable part of the Primordial World, it also held its own unique splendor.
The Nine Heavens' Star Domain was vast and boundless, with billions of stars embedded like pearls, each shining with its own light.
Qing Wu and Yuan Feng stood side by side, with a flowing river of stars beneath their feet and a brilliant nebula above their heads.
At this highest point, far from the Primordial Land, even time seemed to slow down.
Yuan Feng's gaze was suddenly drawn to the Southern Heavens, and she gradually drew closer.
In that direction, seven crimson constellations were orbiting in a unique trajectory, each burning with the never-extinguishing essence of Fire Virtue.
Being in their midst, Yuan Feng briefly captured the seven stars using her own Qi.
The Fire Virtue Qi emitted by the Seven Mansions contained the purest Fire Dao, creating a subtle resonance with the Innate Li Fire Origin within her body.
Yuan Feng unconsciously reached out, and a wisp of pure Nanmingli Fire separated from the constellations, winding around her fingertips like a ribbon.
Immediately, she used the brief embrace of the Seven Mansions to begin her comprehension.
Under the reflection of the starlight, Yuan Feng's brilliance seemed to change in a thousand ways.
The dancing flames in her eyes and the light of the constellations complemented each other, and she seemed to merge as one with this Star Domain.
Her vermilion skirt moved slowly, and the Phoenix mark on her brow gradually lit up with a red-gold glow.
The Southern Mansions seemed to sense her presence and suddenly shone brightly. Seven lines of fire interlaced in the Void Realm, faintly transforming into the phantom of a Phoenix spreading its wings and soaring.
Qing Wu looked at this scene thoughtfully.
There was some kind of wonderful connection between the Southern Fire Virtue and Yuan Feng.
Qing Wu stood quietly to the side, not disturbing this rare moment of insight.
He knew that for Yuan Feng at this time, such resonance with the Origin of the world was often something that could be sought but not easily found, making it most precious.
After a long time, Yuan Feng withdrew her gaze, but the starlight on her fingertips did not dissipate; instead, it turned into a red crystal and merged into her Phoenix Hairpin.
"This Star Domain is much more interesting than I imagined."
The corners of her lips curled up slightly, and the fire in her eyes had not yet faded.
Looking up, what came into view was a handsome face.
Behind him, Wutong's true form was manifest, capturing more Fire Virtue Qi for her.
Yuan Feng then leaned a bit closer into his arms, closed her eyes, and continued her comprehension.