Chapter 158: The Second Lecture Concludes

"My re..."

Hao Tian made a motion to kneel, but before the words could fully escape his lips, they were abruptly choked back, and his entire body stiffened straight in place.

Could it be... that I misheard?

Hao Tian thought to himself, intending to ask Senior Sister Yao Chi, who was already prostrate on the ground.

However, the very thought of sending a voice transmission vanished as soon as it arose.

He understood well enough that this was merely a fleeting delusion of his own. Since his master had already spoken, there was definitely no room for negotiation.

Unless the Eastern Wang Gong, whom his master had just personally appointed, were to perish utterly, there would be no possibility of change.

Yet... why did Master not choose me?

Why not choose me?

Why?

For a moment, he stood there in a daze, entirely at a loss for what to think.

......

As for the Eastern Wang Gong down below, he was still prostrate on the ground, digesting the insights gained from the sermon.

Originally, he had intended to immediately use an object to entrust his corpse and attain sagehood. But recalling what the Saint Hongjun had previously said—that "the stronger the magical treasure, the more it might affect one's strength at the Quasi-Sage realm"—he suppressed the impulse in his heart.

After all, as a Great Luo Golden Immortal already at the peak realm, he naturally had his own aspirations and pride.

What did Ancestor River Styx use to entrust his corpse for the slaying?
He used the Supreme Treasures of the Killing Dao, A-Bi and Yuan-Tu.
If someone were to fight him with such supreme treasures, the most likely outcome would be being chased and hacked to pieces everywhere.

What did Zhen Yuanzi use to entrust his corpse?
He used the Earth Book Jade Scroll, one of the premier defensive supreme treasures under heaven.
If that were used in a fight against him... the opponent might just chat casually until he was exhausted enough to call a truce.

And what about Eastern Emperor Taiyi, Emperor Jun, the Three Pure Ones......
Pieces of supreme treasures flashed through his mind, filling him with deep envy: he did not wish to fall behind others, and naturally, he was unwilling to use merely top-grade innate spiritual treasures from his own hands to entrust his corpse.

And now, he was even more dumbfounded.

"What did the Saint say just now?!"

Shock gripped the heart of the Eastern Wang Gong, his spiritual platform clearing in an instant, only to be replaced by wild elation: I, the Eastern Wang Gong, am actually to be the head of the male immortals?

In an instant, he envisioned the Three Pure Ones, Ancestor River Styx, and other great supernatural beings of the primordial world bowing before him in salute.

......

"Eastern Wang Gong, transformed from the very first wisps of pure yang energy between heaven and earth, blessed by nature with exceptional fortune.
Today, I bestow upon you the Dragon-Head Walking Stick, wielding the authority of the head of the male immortals."

As Hongjun's voice faded, a dragon-head walking stick materialized before the Eastern Wang Gong.

With trembling hands, he reached out and received it, feeling it naturally and irresistibly acknowledge him as its master.
Sensing the restrictions within it, he felt his three flowers leap, and his evil corpse seemed on the verge of being entrusted and slain.

Yet, knowing he had reached a critical juncture and understanding the weight of priorities, the Eastern Wang Gong immediately kowtowed once more:

"Eastern Wang Gong respectfully obeys the decree of the Saint."

Hearing this, Hongjun wore an expression upon his face that none dared to gaze upon and none could truly fathom, before softly uttering:

"Since I have granted you the authority of the heads of male and female immortals, there must be a witness to cement it. For a thousand years following this day, you shall undergo the Heavenly Marriage!
You shall not be husband and wife, nor dao companions, yet you shall possess the full reality of the sovereigns of male and female immortals!"

As the words fell, Hongjun's figure gradually faded until he became completely invisible.

"Disperse. The third sermon shall take place one chaos cycle from now."

These words were addressed to the gathered great supernatural beings, while a single voice drifted directly into Yao Chi's ears:

"From this moment forth, you are the head of the female immortals of the primordial world. Your destiny is ordained by heaven, so you need not vex yourself over a dwelling or spiritual treasures.
Once you step out of the Purple Cloud Palace, address me no longer as 'Master'. If you truly wish to offer devotion, honor me henceforth as 'Teacher'."

......

"Tea... cher--"

Yao Chi murmured the title softly, feeling a wisp of divine will 'look' toward her, which startled her slightly.

Knowing this to be the will of her master Hongjun, she did not overthink it, merely lowering her head even lower, bowing with utmost reverence while silently contemplating in her heart.

After a moment, Yao Chi recovered her composure and stood up, looking toward Hao Tian, who stood nearby looking utterly desolate and heartbroken.

Seeing his expression, she—who had spent countless ages by his side—felt a faint stir of understanding and sympathy.

"Hao Tian, I am going to leave the Purple Cloud Palace now."

Ah?

Hao Tian stood there in a daze, snapping back to reality a moment later, resembling a dejected puppy:

"Senior Sister, I know."

Yao Chi watched his expression, wishing to offer comfort, yet knowing not how: for she felt that whatever she might say would inevitably carry a faint hint of schadenfreude.

"Senior Sister, I know you wish to console me, but truly, there is no need."

Having spent countless chaos cycles together, the two little attendants had long since developed a telepathic rapport.

Seeing Yao Chi's expression, Hao Tian forced a faint smile onto his face.

"Since Master has made this arrangement, he naturally has his reasons. Hao Tian will obey obediently, and when the time comes, I will naturally be able to go out and see Senior Sister."

Hearing this, Yao Chi fell silent as well.

Her thoughts were already gradually drifting beyond the gates of the Purple Cloud Palace.

......

Inside the Purple Cloud Palace, the gathered great supernatural beings bowed. As Hongjun's voice ceased, they all rose to their feet.

Many female supernatural beings cast glances at the tiny figure of Yao Chi beside the cloud dais, then looked at themselves, their minds churning with myriad thoughts. Finally, with flickering eyes, they walked toward the newly opened doors of the Purple Cloud Palace.

They had gained immensely from this sermon.

Toward the so-called 'head of the female immortals' placed above them, most held a wait-and-see attitude.

The Saint's attendant—that meant she had backing!

If her cultivation were lacking, they wouldn't even deign to glance at her; but since the Saint had spoken, and this girl was at the peak of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm...
Among the female cultivators, perhaps only Nuwa could steadily suppress her.

In ordinary times, it wouldn't hurt to humor this title of head of the female immortals.
But if she truly expected them to submit as subordinates—哼哼 (humph), the great supernatural beings had their pride, and the female supernatural beings among them possessed more than a little aloofness and haughtiness!

As for the male side, it was far more interesting.

The Three Pure Ones nodded slightly toward the Eastern Wang Gong, offering a brief "Congratulations, fellow Daoist," before departing together upon beams of escaping light.

Ancestor River Styx stared at the Eastern Wang Gong for a moment, emitted a series of chilling, ghastly laughs (*jie-jie-jie-jie*), and then, with A-Bi and Yuan-Tu clearing the path, transformed into a streak of bloody light and vanished without speaking a single word.

Emperor Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi, accompanied by a host of demon race supernatural beings, didn't even bother to sneer; they simply ignored him and left.

Most of the remaining rogue immortals who were single-corpse Quasi-Sages, or great supernatural beings at the late or peak stages of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, departed directly as well.

Only a sparse few who had just broken through to the mid-Great Luo stage approached him, their expressions carrying a degree of respect.
After all, the gap in cultivation was still vast, and there might come a time when they would genuinely need assistance.

"This Eastern Wang Gong is in for a thoroughly suffocating time."

Hong Yun smiled warmly as he sent a voice transmission to Zhen Yuanzi. The two daoists exchanged a nod, then made as if to walk out before suddenly pausing.

For just a moment prior, they had received a voice transmission from Yao Chi.