Chapter 4: The Sermon Ends, Opportunity Arrives

Dong—

As the bell tolled once more, the Sage Hongjun, reclining upon the high dais, drew back the Creation Jade Butterfly, straightened himself, and gazed down at the assembled gods and immortals with an expression of tranquil indifference.

Within the Purple Cloud Palace, the three thousand guests, awakened by the chime from their deep states of enlightenment, now wore more or less troubled expressions. The Dao had seemed so close, almost within their grasp, only to be snatched away by the bell’s interruption. Were it not for their keen awareness that this was the sanctum of a Sage, a place where none dared behave recklessly, the host of mighty beings might already have erupted in curses, overturning the palace itself.

Hongjun paid them no heed. His gaze passed over the six seated upon the foremost meditation mats; his form faded from substance to shadow, and then vanished entirely.

“This session is concluded. When you depart, take the time to reflect well; do not let your fated opportunity slip away.”

With the final word “opportunity,” the grand doors of Purple Cloud Palace swung open with a thunderous sound. The great assembly of immortals and deities came to themselves. Emerging from their regret and disappointment, they exchanged a few brief messages with close acquaintances, and then, without further words, surged out into the tumultuous sea of earth-fire, wind, and water that raged beyond the palace.

One by one, their figures departed, until at last only the figure of Redcloud remained, standing there with an air of detachment, his eyes tightly shut as he gazed unmoving toward the distant dais where Hongjun had just preached.

“Redcloud, Redcloud…” came an urgent whisper, calling him back from his reverie, as though his consciousness were being gently peeled away from the image he had been contemplating. With a slight effort, he realized the vast palace was now deserted, save for himself and his old friend Zhenyuanzi, who had been calling his name.

“Zhenyuanzi, what is it?” Redcloud asked, sensing the auras around them had faded, leaving only traces lingering between himself and his companion. Deducing what had happened, his tone was gentle and apologetic: “Forgive me, friend. I was momentarily lost in insight and thus delayed.”

Zhenyuanzi stroked his long beard and laughed, exuding the air of an immortal sage. “It’s no matter, no matter. If you have gained enlightenment, I am glad! But we should hurry— I sense that our opportunity awaits, and if we tarry, something may change.”

“You are too cautious,” Redcloud replied, shaking his head slightly. As they reached the palace gates, he paused, as if remembering something, turned back, and with a wave of his hand sent two beams of spiritual light drifting toward the distant figures of the two young attendants, Haotian and Yaochi.

Before their eyes, the light transformed into two rainbow-hued garments.

“I delayed you two from closing the doors earlier. Please accept these Rainbow Flowing Robes as a gift,” Redcloud said.

“Thank you, thank you… Farewell, Ancestor,” the two replied respectfully.

Haotian and Yaochi themselves had been awakened by the Sage Hongjun and knew nothing yet of cultivation or its mysteries. Receiving such treasures for the first time, they were delighted beyond measure. Smiling, they watched as Redcloud and Zhenyuanzi departed, then quickly closed the doors and began to try on their new robes with childish glee. They admired themselves and each other, laughter ringing through the great hall, echoing on and on.

…

Redcloud and Zhenyuanzi left the Purple Cloud Palace and stood above the chaos. After a moment’s silent contemplation, Redcloud opened his eyes for the first time since the sermon and gazed into the primordial expanse.

Boom!

In his perception, it felt as if his sea of consciousness had been struck a heavy blow and shattered. It was as though a tendril stretched out, gently stirring the distant void, bathing in the depths of chaos.

Yet this touch left only faint ripples on the illusory canvas before his eyes, leaving no mark behind. For a moment, the strain was too great; blood streamed slowly down his cheeks.

“Are you all right, my friend?” Zhenyuanzi’s voice was filled with concern.

“It’s nothing…” Redcloud replied, warmed by his companion’s care. As a Golden Immortal of the Grand Dao, he was long beyond the reach of ordinary harm; the wounds upon his eyes healed in a blink. He did not open his eyes again, but instead lifted his hand before him.

Golden light shimmered faintly around him as all his power was drawn forth. From his sleeve floated a beam of primordial, undying spiritual light. As he grasped, the distant chaos twisted, and a swath of starlit river was forcibly drawn toward him. The spiritual light entered it and, in an instant, was refined into a jade belt flowing with starlight.

He tied it over his eyes, covering his vision, then transformed into a streak of crimson light and sped away: “Are you still worrying over that opportunity? Be at ease—fate such as ours can be taken by none.”

Zhenyuanzi watched as Redcloud vanished, a smile flickering in his eyes. He, too, became a brown flash and followed close behind. For some reason, he thought his friend had changed, though he could not say how.

“You are right, friend. If our destined fortune is seized, we need only seek it out and reclaim it. But what a generous display that was—using primordial undying spiritual light, the key to the birth of innate treasures, so freely!”

……

Though the primordial world was vast beyond comprehension, it had a central core. At the very heart stood Mount Buzhou, the great mountain formed from the spine of the primordial deity Pangu at the moment of creation.

Heaven has its boundaries, but the Dao is infinite; earth is bounded, but the primordial wilds know no end.

It would be more accurate to call it “Buzhou Mountain.” It was one of the most powerfully spiritual places in all the wilderness. The mountain soared to unknowable heights, piercing the heavens—its peak nearly touching the thirty-three layers of the outer heavens. Gazing upward, one could sometimes glimpse the swirling chaos and the eternal interplay of earth-fire, wind, and water.

Vast and unending, Buzhou Mountain stretched for leagues upon leagues, winding like a celestial dragon. Unless one’s cultivation reached the Celestial Immortal realm, a lifetime would not suffice to see the mountain entire. Even the Divine Aura radiating outward from its very stones inspired awe and reverence, even in the hearts of Golden Immortals of the Grand Dao.

Upon a fragment of Buzhou Mountain, five of the mightiest gathered: the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Dijun—five Grand Dao Golden Immortals. Standing amidst the clouds, they gazed solemnly at the radiant wonder below, whose boundless spiritual light marked the critical moment of a treasure’s emergence.

Dijun had already begun to recruit followers to his cause, gathering the demon race beneath his banner. Already, more than ten of the Golden Immortals present at the Purple Cloud Palace had joined him. Surrounded by a faint imperial aura, he fixed his gaze on the spiritual light below. “If I am not mistaken, the object below is extraordinary indeed. Now that five of us are here, how do you propose we divide it?”

The Elder of Supreme Purity kept his eyes closed, as if sensing something afar. “Patience, friend. I assure you, you will be satisfied.”

No sooner had he spoken than Redcloud’s voice rang out: “Divide it? Dijun, you may be overthinking things.”

Since leaving the Purple Cloud Palace, Redcloud had felt a strange attraction drawing him here. Even before he arrived, he had heard their words and, with a soft laugh, revealed himself, appearing not far from the others.

The assembly was surprised by Redcloud’s new appearance, but said nothing—after all, anything was possible after a Sage’s sermon.

Zhenyuanzi appeared close behind, turning his gaze to the radiant light and immortal mist below.

Their arrival dashed Dijun’s calculations, and his expression darkened slightly.

So this is to be one of my signature treasures in days to come. I never thought it would come into my hands so quickly.

Redcloud, eyes closed, sensed the brilliance below. Even without looking, he could faintly discern a vine twining around Buzhou Mountain, bearing seven gourds of identical size, swaying gently.

The Innate Gourd Vine—one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots!