Chapter 2: Crystal Lantern

Under the envious gazes of numerous great beings.

Zhou Yi unleashed the Void Cloud and the Ripping Life‑Tearing Hand, broke through Chaos, tore the raging wind‑calamity thunder, and finally reached the outside of the the Zixiao Palace beyond the 33rd Heaven.

His feet stepped on the surging, unstable yet already solidified Chaos Qi, and Zhou Yi felt great joy.

Only when one's cultivation reaches the Taiyi Golden Immortal level can one reach the the Zixiao Palace.

And the many great beings of Hongjun's Great Dao have not yet been heard of; at most they are no higher than Taiyi Golden Immortal.

Moreover, ascending from the ground to this Purple Sky achievement took many years but was not arduous.

Zhou Yi felt that his martial power was only slightly weaker than that of the current Three Pure Ones.

"Hongjun is bound by the Heavenly Dao and cannot act lightly."

"If I can withstand the Three Pure Ones' assault, then the safety system for preaching outside this the Zixiao Palace will greatly increase."

Zhou Yi muttered as he surveyed his surroundings.

He saw three figures dressed as Daoist priests—an old man, a middle‑aged man, and a youth—standing beside the tightly shut gate of the the Zixiao Palace.

The elder, with kind eyebrows and gentle eyes!

The middle‑aged man, radiating heroic spirit!

The youth had sword‑like brows and star‑bright eyes, exceptionally handsome.

Needless to say, they were the famed Three Pure Ones.

Opposite the Three Pure Ones stood a pair of handsome brothers, each emanating golden light, their expressions proud.

These two must be the great beings of the Demon Race, Di Jun and Donghuang Taiyi!

A short distance away stood a man and a woman.

The man was robust and shaggy‑haired, yet his features were handsome and his eyes were strikingly bright!

The woman possessed peerless beauty, a tall and delicate figure; truly her face was like peach blossoms, her eyes like a galaxy of stars.

Zhou Yi recognized them instantly; these two were the future Saint Father and Saint Mother of the Human Race.

Nüwa, Fuxi!

Zhou Yi is of the Human Race!

He had heard countless times the story of Nüwa creating humanity before his crossing.

Seeing her now, his innate feelings and Nüwa's unparalleled beauty stirred a surge of excitement in Zhou Yi's heart.

His gaze lingered on Nüwa for an extra half‑second.

Nüwa was already looking at Zhou Yi with astonished curiosity.

Seeing Zhou Yi's stare linger, she neither blushed nor scolded, but graciously nodded and smiled at him.

That smile was as gentle as a spring breeze on the face, warm and comforting!

Zhou Yi snapped back to attention and quickly bowed his head in reverence to Nüwa.

Further back, there were two more Daoist figures.

One wore an earnest smile; need not say more, it was the hapless yet great‑hearted Hongyun of the Honghuang!

The other bore an inscrutable air; he must be Zhenyuanzi, the ancestor of Earth Immortals.

At the farthest point stood a woman.

Clad in fur, she possessed a beauty rivaling Nüwa's.

Though her figure was delicate, an indescribable wildness radiated from her entire being!

She was the ancestral witch—Houtu!

Zhou Yi's gaze fell on her; Houtu neither dodged nor avoided, but raised an eyebrow and smiled at him.

Both provocative and aggressively alluring!

"The first batch of great beings have all arrived!" He looked around, smiled, and said, "We still need to wait a bit longer!"

Later arrivals include Jieyin, Zhunti, the Kunpeng Abyssal River, and so on!

Besides those with notable names, there are thousands of unnamed Taiyi Golden Immortals within Honghuang who will also arrive.

We can preach once everyone is gathered; it's not too late.

"Casting a wide net is the hard truth!" He muttered to himself, and Zhou Yi sought a spot to wait quietly.

At that moment, a muffled boom resonated.

The gate of the the Zixiao Palace slowly opened in response.

Ten thousand rays of light, accompanied by immense authority, surged out from the doorway first.

Everyone felt a weight settle on their shoulders, and the pressure around them surged.

Zhou Yi experienced the same!

Even after flying for countless years, tearing the raging wind‑calamity thunder within Chaos, the pressure he felt was still a ten‑thousandth of this.

"Is this the aura of a Saint? In Honghuang, everyone beneath a Saint is like an ant; seems that saying holds true."

"Fortunately, aside from Saints who prove the Dao by force, all other paths to sainthood are bound by the Heavenly Dao! Otherwise I would have no chance to even scheme a little."

Convinced that Hongjun could not act, Zhou Yi was surprised by the aura emanating from the the Zixiao Palace, yet felt no fear at all.

With the gate open, the arrived crowd instinctively moved forward, eager to enter.

Suddenly, a child stepped out from the doorway.

Glancing at those wishing to enter, the child bowed and said, "Everyone, the time is not yet right; please wait patiently!"

Everyone heard this and quickly nodded.

Then the child looked up, scanning the crowd.

Finally, his gaze landed on Zhou Yi, and he stepped toward him.

This young disciple must be Hongjun's attendant boy—Haotian!

Seeing Haotian stride straight toward him, Zhou Yi furrowed his brows.

Could Hongjun have seen his extraordinary nature and have another scheme for him!

After all, he had traveled across time, and in a mortal body no less, belonging to no era.

Hongjun aligns his body with the Dao; perhaps he truly can calculate it?

Just as Zhou Yi was silently doubting, the young boy Haotian had already walked over.

He bowed his head respectfully toward Zhou Yi and performed a kowtow.

Then, in a childish, squeaky voice, he said, "The Dao Ancestor said, you are an outlier, not of Honghuang."

Indeed! Hongjun truly calculated it.

Zhou Yi's heart tightened, his fists clenched hard.

The Martial Saint Experience Card awarded by the system was also gripped in his hand, ready to act at any moment.

Haotian glanced at Zhou Yi's hand, as if not seeing it, and continued, "Your origin is unknown, your status unclear, and you have no qi fortune or footing. The Dao Ancestor says his law and the Dao are not passed to you."

"Furthermore, let me admonish you: the trembling Heavenly Dao has its own decree! If you cling to this non‑existent worldly identity and dare to corrupt the Great Dao, you will be reduced to powder! If you keep to a corner, you may still enjoy eternal freedom! I hope you will act accordingly!"

Having spoken, the young Haotian again bowed reverently to Zhou Yi, then turned and headed toward the the Zixiao Palace.

His voice was not loud.

But all the great beings present heard him clearly.

For a moment, everyone stared at Zhou Yi in surprise.

Not of Honghuang?

What is that?

A creature from Chaos? A primordial demon god?

Most people felt extreme bewilderment.

Only the middle‑aged Daoist among the Three Pure Ones, the Yuanshi Heavenly Venerable, sneered disdainfully and shook his head silently.

"Even the lowly wet‑born, egg‑hatching folk can hear the Dao Ancestor proclaim the Great Dao. He, however, lacks even the qualification to hear the Dao; he seems to be the lowest of the low."

"I even thought he was extraordinary; what a misjudgment!"

As for Zhou Yi, he was first stunned, then felt his lungs about to explode.

He laughed furiously! He sneered, "Heh, heh."

Although Hongjun did not strike him, this was clearly aimed at him!

Of course, this further confirmed Zhou Yi's suspicion that Hongjun dared not act rashly now.

Otherwise, with Hongjun's current petty demeanor, why would he merely send Haotian to deliver a message?

He probably would have slapped him away long ago.

Instantly, the cold sneer on Zhou Yi's face deepened.

He looked up toward the still‑open the Zixiao Palace.

Suddenly, Zhou Yi grinned broadly, "You won't let me listen? How funny! I never came to hear you preach the Dao!"

"Moreover, your lowly path of aligning body with the Dao has no right to be heard by me!"

Zhou Yi flung his long sleeves aside, his aura imposing!

At that moment, gasps of cold breath echoed.

The overwhelming majority stared at Zhou Yi in panic.

The Saint's might, they had just begun to perceive!

This unseen Dao Ancestor Hongjun could kill them as easily as crushing ants.

How could this man dare speak such words?

Aren't you afraid of death?

Each one stared at Zhou Yi, daring not to move.

Only the Yuanshi Daoist among the Three Pure Ones suddenly leapt forward, pointing at Zhou Yi and shouting.

"How dare you! Even lower than the wet‑born, egg‑hatching scum, you still utter such reckless words!"

"Today, I, the humble Daoist, will substitute for the Dao Ancestor and give you a proper lesson."

As the words fell, a raging wind rose, and crimson flames surged, extending for thousands of li.

A crystal lantern rose from the crimson flames, wondrous and extraordinary!!

"Yuxu Liuli Lamp?" Zhou Yi's eyes widened. "Yuan Shi Old Daoist, are you pandering to Hongjun with such effort? Is this the spirit treasure you wield?"

"You're ruthless, huh? Fine, I'll be even harsher!" With a roar, Zhou Yi didn't hesitate to crush the Martial Saint Experience Card.