Volume 1 Chapter 34 First Sermon

  But just as Zhuang Xiong was trying to coax Nüwa into a good mood, she simply blushed and ignored him, vaguely feeling that he seemed to have heard the words "fur and horns" and "no virtue, no ability", and was still wondering, when suddenly he felt a gust of evil wind coming from behind, and quickly turned his head to see that the seven-treasured wondrous tree had arrived, already almost reaching the top of his head, leaving him staring blankly in shock. How big is this Zhunti's heart? Dare to provoke me like this? Does he think I'm as easy to bully as Kunpeng?

  As the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree descended, Zong Xiong's eyes widened in shock and he turned his head to look over, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes. The Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree seemed to have accelerated by several degrees, and was about to brush against Zong Xiong's head when suddenly a surge of mysterious yellow energy burst forth from the top of Zong Xiong's head, propelling a small cauldron into the air. The small cauldron barely blocked the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree, and all that could be heard was a faint "ting" sound. Neither the mysterious yellow energy nor the small cauldron seemed to have moved, and the small cauldron continued to jump about happily. Zhun Ti retreated several large steps, stopping only when he raised the Seven Treasures Marvelous Tree to examine it, discovering that it now had a small crack on its surface. His eyes widened in shock and anger as his gaze locked onto Zong Xiong, filling with an ominous light.

  Zhuang Xiong was still bewildered at this time, and didn't know why Zhuanti suddenly became hostile towards him. What reason could he have? Fuxi saw the situation and hastily went up to mediate, recounting what Zhuanti had just said, while also fearing that Zhuang Xiong would make a big deal out of it, so he reminded him that this was a sacred place for cultivating the Tao. Zhuang Xiong's anger flared up, his ferocious appearance fully revealed, but he still wanted to give Hongjun face, so he coldly gazed at Zhuanti with eyes full of murderous intent and said: "Zhuanti, my fellow Daoist, says that I beat him up without reason, snatched the seat by force, but does he know what he's doing right now? He says I'm devoid of virtue and ability, has he seen the aura of merit on top of my head? Has he seen the gap in his broken tree branch? If I don't have the qualifications to sit in this seat, then who has the moral standing to sit here? Fellow Daoist? A thief shouting 'stop thief', a shameless and black-hearted person also dares to snatch my seat? Doesn't he fear the consequences of cause and effect?"

  Zhun Ti looked at the surging aura of merit, but didn't know that it was just a small part of Zhuang Xiong's automatic defense mechanism. However, this was still an extraordinary feat, and Zhun Ti couldn't help but feel his intestines turn green with rage. His face stern, he shouted: "I won't stand for you recklessly flirting with female Daoist friends in the sacred grounds! Return the sacred grounds to their former tranquility!"

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but sneer, disdainfully saying: "You ask the people sitting in the front row, and also Hongyun who gave up her seat to you just now, who doesn't know about my relationship with Nüwa's sister? I haven't seen Nüwa's sister for a thousand years, what business is it of yours that we're chatting? What's wrong with my sister being a bit shy? Don't you think you're interfering too much?"

  Zhun Ti was as if he had swallowed a fly, his mouth choked and speechless. The other quickly intervened, "My junior brother is just a bit straightforward and hasty with his words, but he has no ill intentions. There must be some misunderstanding in between. I hope you won't take offense, fellow Taoist."

  Zhuang Xiong coldly smiled and said: "Whether he has malicious intentions or not, he himself knows, and I'm also clear about it. However, this is after all a sacred place of the Daoist sect, not a place to understand cause and effect. When we meet again in the vast wilderness, I will settle today's cause and effect." After finishing speaking, he didn't bother with the two of them anymore, and turned back to chat and laugh with Nüwa.

  Nüwa heard what he said about their relationship, and she couldn't help but feel even more embarrassed, her red face buried in her chest. Zhuang Xiong, on the other hand, liked it even more, smiling and pulling Nüwa's small hand, talking about the interesting things they encountered in the vast wilderness of Honghuang, completely ignoring Fuxi who was about to lose his voice from coughing on the side.

  Then the Three Pure Ones closed their eyes to meditate, Zhuang Xiong spoke non-stop, Nüwa blushed and occasionally nodded slightly, Fuxi coughed non-stop, Ji Tian and others all had bitter faces, and time passed bit by bit.

  A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye, and all who were supposed to come had arrived. There was Zhenyuanzi, Emperor Jun, Donghuang Taiyi, Minghe, and a full three thousand guests in the Purple Mansion. Fortunately, the Purple Mansion was also incredibly spacious, able to accommodate so many people. Zhuang Xiong tried to guess the identities of these powerful gods one by one, but after all, it had been a long time, and he didn't actually know many of them. So he gave up trying too hard and instead racked his brains for ideas, holding onto Nüwa's hand tightly.

  On this day, Zhuang Xiong really couldn't think of any jokes and didn't dare to make a scene. As he was thinking, he saw two small children, one boy and one girl, standing on either side of the back hall of the Purple Palace. Zhuang Xiong thought to himself: "This must be the lecture by the Saint." Then he heard Huang Tian say: "Silence, the Saint is about to give a sermon, no noise is allowed." And then stepped aside.

  Everyone was busy taking their positions, not making a single sound. Suddenly, on the platform in front of them, an extra person appeared out of thin air. He had white hair, white eyebrows, and a white beard, without any aura or breath visible, just like an ordinary person. However, his whole body emitted an air of wisdom. Everyone knew that this was Hong Jun. Although he didn't have any aura leaking out, people couldn't dare treat him as an ordinary person. Just the method he used to appear out of thin air wasn't something anyone present could do. They all bowed and said: "Teacher."

  Zhuang Xiong's heart said, "This time it seems to have some meaning. The appearance of that young man last time was really not possible for people to take you as the ancestor of Taoism. Or, in fact, that young man is just a three-corpse split body of Hong Jun?"

  Hong Jun didn't know what Zhuang Xiong was thinking at this moment, calmly swept his gaze over the crowd, and when he saw Zhuang Xiong, his eyes narrowed slightly, but didn't linger. He quickly scanned past and opened his mouth to say: "From now on, sit according to this arrangement, don't move or argue." After finishing speaking, he ignored the reactions of the crowd, lowered his eyebrows and began to speak in a low tone: "There is a thing that was mixed together, born before heaven and earth..."

  The sages' teachings are different, as the great Tao is formless. Although the sages teach the same words, each person can only hear the part that resonates with themselves or relates to their own path. The same words, but when they reach different people's ears, have different meanings. If one follows their own path in pursuit of understanding, it will suddenly become clear and there will be great gains; comprehension is also very easy. Many problems that were unclear before seem to be resolved at once. However, if one tries too hard to gain more, the understanding becomes dry and even risks leading to obsession.

  Zhuang Xiong has three major Daoist paths to his credit, and naturally he has gained a lot. However, Hong Jun's lecture this time is about the cultivation experience from the birth of spiritual intelligence to the attainment of Da Luo Jin Xian. Zhuang Xiong can only solidify his own cultivation more firmly.

  Hong Jun holds the Jade Disc of Creation, and it turns out that each major Daoist path has its own insights. Each path's cultivation will encounter certain problems, neglecting certain issues, all of which he explained one by one. Everyone gained a lot, busily recording their own shortcomings, then seeking solutions in Hong Jun's lectures, finding them and immediately starting to comprehend, cultivating and supplementing their own deficiencies, solidifying their own accomplishments.

  Zhuang Xiong felt that Hong Jun's lecture this time was like holding an enlightenment conference, laying a solid foundation for the many powerful gods gathered in the Purple Cloud Palace, elevating them to a considerable height, and only then would he begin his formal lecture next time.

  It has been three thousand years, and on this day, Hongyuan suddenly stopped his lecture. After everyone came back to their senses, he said: "I hold the Jade Disc of Creation, and I have taken the place of Heaven's Way to teach all living things. The Tao gives birth to one, one gives birth to two, two gives birth to three, and three give birth to all things. As for me, I should lecture three times. Three thousand years have passed, this lecture has come to an end, you can leave now. In thirty thousand years, the lecture will begin again, those who are destined will come.

  Everyone bowed and paid their respects, saying: "Thank you, Master, for explaining the truth." When they looked up again, Hongyuan had already disappeared. Haotian said: "The master has left, you can all go back on your own." Everyone nodded and hurriedly left to return home and reflect. Zhenyuanzi also followed Hongyun and left together. Only Sanqing, Nüwa, Fuxi, and Zhuanggong had not yet departed.

  Zhuang Xiong saw that the lips of the child born from the Jade Pool were red and his teeth were white, a typical young boy with a Lolita face, looking very cute. He glanced at San Qing and gave him a slight waiting signal, then turned to Nüwa and smiled: "Nüwa sister, don't you think that teacher's child is lovely?"

  Nüwa suddenly let out an "ah" and only then reacted, turning her head to say: "Indeed, it's lovely. When I return, I will definitely create a child like this one too. Ah, yes! Let's use that spiritual pearl we found back then. He already has some spiritual intelligence, so even if my cultivation isn't as high as the teacher's, I can still create a lovely and sensible child."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but roll his eyes, thinking to himself: "Cheap mouth, one careless remark and the Lingzhu child is born prematurely?" Zhuang Xiong's superior, however, teased Nüwa, saying: "Why bother with such trouble? Why don't we create one together instead? It'll be lovely and intimate."

  Nüwa couldn't help but exclaim in surprise, instantly blushing bright red and burying her face into her chest. Zhuang Xiong also roughly understood the rules by now; if they were in an unfamiliar setting or in front of strangers, Nüwa's teasing was usually just playful and flirtatious, but if Zhuang Xiong took advantage of the situation, things might not end well. In private settings, they needed to be mindful of their boundaries, as Nüwa was also prone to losing control.

  Fuxi glared at him, but Zhuang Xiong pretended not to see and was about to tease him a few more times when he saw Huang Tian walking over from the Jade Pool. Huang Tian said, "What are you all still doing here? We need to close up."

  Zhuang Xiong's face was full of smiles, and he squatted down to say: "We were just saying that you two look really good, with a clear and unusual talent. You will definitely achieve great things in the future. If you weren't the teacher's disciples, we would have wanted to take you back to our homes. What are your names?"

  Hao Tian Yao Chi at this time still had a childlike heart, and after hearing Zhuang Xiong's words, he couldn't help but feel happy, smiling: "I am Hao Tian, and this is my junior sister Yao Chi."

  Zhuang Xiong casually took out two spiritual treasures, which were a small sword and a golden hairpin. He said, "The precious sword is for the hero, and the golden hairpin is for the beauty. You two will become great heroes and beauties in the future, and you won't think much of these small trinkets. However, since you haven't yet emerged from your seclusion, I'll let you use them to practice for now. Please don't decline."

  Haotian Yaochi felt a bit embarrassed, but the two of them really wanted it. Although Hongjun had many treasures, they weren't theirs after all. Now that Zhuang Xiong was offering them the treasure, should they accept? They were afraid that Daozu would blame them if they did, but not accepting would also be ungrateful to Zhuang Xiong's kind intentions. Nüwa saw that Zhuang Xiong was still there like a child and couldn't help but laugh and cry at the same time. She said to the two children: "Since he's giving it to you, just accept it. I'm sure the teacher won't blame you." Only then did the two of them thank Zhuang Xiong and take the treasure.

  Nüwa saw that Zhuang Xiong was still staring at the two little children with sparkling eyes, as if he wanted to tease them some more. She quickly pulled him away, saying: "Dumb brother, let's go out first, don't delay the two's closed palace time."

  San Qing Fu Xi was busy on one side replenishing, Zhuang Xiong only reluctantly was pulled out by several people.

  The Zi Xiao Palace slowly closed, also announcing the complete end of the first sermon. With the end of this sermon, the Hong Huang Continent had a batch of solid foundation and comprehensive development of Da Luo Jinxian, and the title of Hong Jun Daozu was also slowly spread throughout the Hong Huang with the end of the sermon.

  Nüwa saw Zhuangyong coming out of the door, and he still seemed to be reluctant to part with them. She couldn't help but scold him, "You foolish child, you like children so much, it's enough to enlighten two of them, why are you still staring at those two disciples of mine? Even if you see some special talent in them, I won't give them to you. Or is it that you've taken a liking to that little girl?"

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but smile wryly and said, "Nüwa's sister, I only like you, don't you know? It's just that those two children, although they're not famous now, after serving the teacher for a million years, they'll definitely have feelings for the teacher, just like the teacher's own children. The teacher will definitely arrange a good place for them, so it's not wrong to pull strings and build a good relationship with them at this time."

  Fuxi didn't take it seriously and laughed, saying: "You're just a silly bear, looking like a foolish face, but actually you're the most cunning. You can think of so many ways. If someone believes in your foolish appearance, they will definitely be deceived by you and even help you count the money. I'm not at ease to let my sister marry you."

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said, "Actually, I had another meaning when I coaxed those two earlier. It's not only that I like kids, but also that I'm good at coaxing them. If I have a child of my own in the future, I'll definitely be able to take care of it well. Nüwa, little sister, what do you think?"

  Nüwa looked at Zhuang Xiong and said, "Child, what's there to like?" But she couldn't help feeling happy in her heart, yet still looked embarrassed, and her face turned red again. She whispered, "How would I know? You figure it out yourself."

  Fuxi was furious and shouted: "Dumb bear, you also need to restrain yourself. You dare to bully my sister in front of me? Do you think I'm just a decoration?"

  Zhuang Xiong disdainfully glanced at him, just about to speak, but Laozi couldn't hold back anymore. Who knew they would still be making a ruckus like this? So he opened his mouth and said: "Brother Xiong, please, it's been thousands of years since we last met, and you're even more interesting now."

  Zhuang Xiong hastily waved his hand and said, "You three fellow Taoists don't have to be polite with me either. If you have something to say, just speak directly. With our relationship, as long as it doesn't involve Nüwa's sister, I definitely won't have a problem."

  The old man's face turned black with rage, his veins bulging out, and it took him a while to calm down. He said, "Teacher, what you taught us only reached the level of the Mahāyāna realm. My three brothers and I have been trapped in this realm for tens of thousands of years, but we haven't gained much. Thinking that Mount Buzhou is where our father god was transformed, we want to go there to pay our respects. As the masters of this land, you can't just ignore us, or else you'll blame us later."