Forty-five, wanting to hear sacred secrets

  Several days later, Xun Daozi woke up from his meditation and still hadn't broken through that last barrier. It seemed he needed a bit more time or some kind of opportunity.

  Xun Daozi was unable to break through and wake up, but Yuan Shi and the others did not lose hope. They also sought Xun Daozi's current state, and the three of them were already very satisfied. As for when he would attain the 'Taiyi Golden Immortal Fruit', the three of them were not anxious at all.

  Compared with whether Xun Daozi broke through to the 'Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm', Yuan Shi Sanren was more interested in talking to Xun Daozi about his gains from listening to the Tao in the Zi Xuan Palace.

  Zi Xuan Palace returned, and the three Yuanshi were busy contemplating the sacrifices they had made in Zi Xuan Palace. They had just gained some insights when Ji Yong, Nü Wa, and others arrived to discuss the Tao for over a hundred years, and even after more than two hundred years, they still couldn't understand what Xun Daozi had gained. Now that there was nothing else going on, it was a good opportunity to ask Xun Daozi about his experiences in Zi Xuan Palace.

  Xun Daozi woke up and saw his master Yuanshi, his uncle Laozi, and his uncle Tongtian all smiling at him with a smile on their faces. He quickly kowtowed to apologize.

  Yuanshi waved his hand and let him get up, smiling: "What crime do you have?"

  Xun Daozi smiled slightly and scratched his ear, but didn't say a word.

  Yuanshi smiled and said, "Tell your masters and elders about the experience of listening to the Dao in Zixiao Palace. This time, you gained a lot from listening to the Dao!" Yuanshi was genuinely interested in hearing XunDaozi's experience, as he had made great progress in his cultivation after just one session of listening to the Dao, almost advancing two levels at once, which was an unprecedented miracle. Therefore, Yuanshi and the other two also wanted to hear about XunDaozi's feelings at that time, perhaps they could gain some inspiration from it.

  Xun Daozi saw his expectant master, aunt and uncle. For a moment he didn't know what to say, opened his mouth, then closed it again and thought for a while.

  The three of them didn't urge Lao Zi at all and quietly waited for him to finish thinking.

  After thinking for a while, Xun Daozi decided to tell the truth. So, he told how he was confused when he listened to the Tao, and had no choice but to practice and cultivate in order to further perfect his skills. As a result, he entered a state that even he didn't understand during continuous cultivation, until Hongjun Da Zu finished speaking and woke him up with his voice. He found himself inexplicably reaching such a realm. At the same time, he also described some of his feelings about that mysterious state.

  The three old men listened, and for a moment they didn't know what expression to make. They looked at each other in dismay, temporarily speechless. The person who couldn't understand the Daoist teachings had become the greatest beneficiary among the listeners. How could this be explained? According to his description, he should have entered the state of "zuò wàng" (sitting forgetfulness), which is the most desirable state for cultivators. Unexpectedly, he didn't achieve enlightenment but instead entered the coveted state of "zuò wàng", and sat there for nearly a thousand years. Who knows how many benefits this will bring him in the future? The three old men thought about it and decided not to think about it anymore. Anyway, they couldn't treat this young man as a normal cultivator. As long as he gained benefits, that was enough. Didn't even the Daoist ancestor say that he had great luck and good fortune?

  Yuanshi took out a stone and asked, "Why did you want me to help you collect this 'Divided Treasure Rock'?" The stone in Yuanshi's hand was clearly a miniature version of the 'Divided Treasure Rock'. "At that time, no one wanted this Divided Treasure Rock, so why did you take it? Did you know it was a treasure?"

  Laozi looked at him with a curious expression, wondering what he would say next.

  This rock was ignored by the three of them until Xun Daozi asked Yuan Shi to take it, and even then, he only had a hint of curiosity but didn't investigate further. After returning, they were busy contemplating what they had learned from Laozi, refining their newly acquired pre-heavenly treasures, and later discussing the Tao with Ji Yong, Nüwa, and others. As a result, Yuan Shi kept it in his sleeve without examining it until Ji Yong, Nüwa, and others left, and Xun Daozi became immersed in contemplation. It wasn't until Laozi woke up from his meditation in the thatched cottage and went to look for Xun Daozi that he casually took out this rock, which had been overlooked by the crowd at Ziwei Palace, to examine it.

  As the three of them, Laozi, Yuanshi and Tongtian, carefully examined this rock, they discovered its extraordinary properties. This rock was actually a product of the chaotic energy that had collided with the primordial heaven and earth, and was used by Hongjun Daozu to store various pre-heavenly treasures. Many of these treasures were of the highest quality, reaching the level of pre-heavenly spiritual treasures. This rock was called "Fenbao Rock" by Hongjun Daozu. Every pre-heavenly treasure placed on this rock left behind a trace of its aura, which merged with the rock itself and eventually gave rise to the ability to restrain these pre-heavenly treasures. When Laozi, Yuanshi and Tongtian discovered this ability of Fenbao Rock, they were extremely shocked: this ability was too powerful! If one could grasp Fenbao Rock, those cultivators who used the pre-heavenly treasures obtained from it to fight would be doomed. They were eager to know why Daozu wanted to take away Fenbao Rock.

  Xun Daozi saw Yuan Shi and asked, somewhat embarrassed: "At the time, I saw that everyone had obtained pre-heavenly treasures on that rock, including me, who got a moon-white Taoist robe and a small bell. I thought to myself, these pre-heavenly treasures are all extraordinary objects, if they were gathered together, what immense power would be produced? And yet this rock was able to withstand such immense power. I suspected that the rock itself wasn't an ordinary object either, perhaps it was also a treasure. I wanted to collect it, but didn't know how to do so, and thus asked Master to collect it for me."

  The three of them listened, and were shocked. It was indeed that simple. This Daoist had just casually thought about it, and yet he was able to obtain such a powerful treasure. Such good fortune wasn't something an ordinary cultivator could have!

  Yuanshi shook his head and sighed, "You really know how to think, you've thought of something and obtained an incredible treasure." After a pause, he said to Xun Daozi, "Be careful when using this treasure, don't let other cultivators know about it, or else it will bring trouble." He handed the rock in his hand to Xun Daozi, but then seemed to think of something and pulled his hand back, saying, "Giving it to you like this might not be convenient. Fortunately, you have the pre-heavenly top-grade spiritual treasure 'Qiankun Ding'. You can lend Qiankun Ding to me, and after I ask your Shibo to help us refine it together, I'll return it to you, and it will be more convenient for you to use."

  Xun Daozi listened and handed over the 'Qian Kun Ding' to Yuan Shi without hesitation.

  Yuanshi took over the 'Qiankun Ding' and looked at it, saying: "It's okay, with this 'Qiankun Ding', otherwise there would be no way to refine this 'Fenbao Yan'."

  Yuanshi asked Xun Daozi: "What kind of treasure do you hope your master will refine for him?"

  Xun Daozi thought for a moment and said, "Then please, Master, refine it into an seal, how about that?" This was Xun Daozi thinking of the powerful 'Fan Tian Seal' in the Investiture of the Gods, also wanting to refine one to smash people with.

  Yuanshi thought for a moment and said, "Alright!" He then put away 'Fen Bao Yan' and 'Qian Kun Ding' together.

  Next to Tongtian, Xun Daozi chuckled and said: "This time, the Purple Cloud Palace obtained a lot of treasures. Originally, I wanted to give you two items to play with, but now it seems that you have so many good things, there's no need to give you any. Giving them to you would only make you disdainful. I'd better keep them for when I take on apprentices in the future."

  Xun Daozi hastily said, "Shifu, how could I possibly dislike the things you've given me? Besides, I don't have many precious items myself, so even if Shifu gave me ten or eight of them, it wouldn't be too many. Just casually give a few pieces of Xiantian Lingbao to me to play with, and I'll definitely remember your kindness!"

  Laozi, Yuan Shi couldn't help but burst out laughing. Tongtian's face suddenly turned green with rage: "You little brat still dares to ask for it? You think the Primordial Spirit Treasure is something to be given away casually? This time, I'm not giving it to you! Go find someone else if you want it!" Tongtian was furious.

  Xun Daozi didn't really want to ask Tongtian for treasures, and he himself had a lot of treasures that weren't ordinary. He had the Protecting Dao Treasure - Heart Cleansing Dust Sweeper, the Heart Protecting Sword; the Supreme Treasure that could suppress Qi Luck - Hunyuan Furnace; the waistband made from the Pre-Heavenly Spirit Root Gourd Vine; the Purple Golden Gourd made from the Pre-Heavenly Gourd; the Pre-Heavenly Moon White Dao Robe obtained from the Treasure Rock of Ziyu Palace; the Pre-Heavenly Treasure - Soul Stunning Bell, also obtained from the Treasure Rock; and the Supreme Quality Spirit Treasure given by Hongjun Daozu - Qiankun Ding. And there was still more. Calculating all this, his family's wealth wasn't shallow at all. Many powerful beings in the Hongyuan might not even have such a foundation. Just the treasures that could suppress Qi Luck alone were already two items.

  He looked up and saw Tong Tian making a huffy face, knowing it was fake, not really angry. He also cooperated and made an honest and fearful appearance, saying: "Disciple knows wrong, please Master uncle to calm down, disciple doesn't want ten or eight pieces anymore, Master uncle just gives one piece of the pre-heavenly extreme treasure, pre-heavenly ultimate treasure, that's enough!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, Laozi and Yuanshi couldn't help but burst out laughing, while Tongtian rolled his eyes.

  Ban Rong, Tong Tiancai glared at Xun Daozi and said: "It seems like you're asking for a beating!"

  Laozi also smiled and said to Xun Daozi: "Shibo originally wanted to give you a treasure for protection, but later saw that you have many treasures, all of which are extraordinary, so decided not to give it. How about Shibo refining a few furnaces of elixir as compensation for you in the future?"

  Xun Daozi was overjoyed, an ordinary treasure was nothing to him now, but if he waited until Laozi refined the Nine-Turn Golden Elixir and then asked Laozi to refine a few more furnaces, that would be a huge profit. Xun Daozi, who was overjoyed, hurriedly thanked Laozi.

  "The master also said, 'I'm not going to give you any treasure either. I don't have anything worthy of giving you right now. Let's just focus on refining this Treasure Rock instead.'"

  Xun Daozi also hastily thanked him, but in his heart he muttered: What's going on today? One after another, they say they won't give me their treasures. What kind of logic is this? But it's not good to ask either.

  Then the three of us, Laozi and Xun Daozi, talked about some stories from the vast wilderness. As we spoke, we also mentioned listening to the Dao at Ziwei Palace, and brought up the three methods of verifying the Dao and mixing with the origin that Hongjun Da Zu said.

  Xun Daozi met Laozi and three others, and his heart was extremely curious about the methods of proving the Tao and the original yuan that Hongjun Daozu said. He wondered if there were any differences between this method and the legendary method of becoming a saint in his previous life. In the legend of his previous life, there was a method to prove the Tao with power, Pangu Daren used this method to prove the Tao, but unfortunately failed; by relying on the pre-heavenly Lingbao to entrust himself with evil thoughts, good thoughts, and self-execution, he transformed into three bodies and finally merged into one to prove the Tao and become a saint. This is called beheading the three corpses, and Hongjun Daozu used this method to prove the Tao and become a saint; by accumulating merit and virtue to become a saint, it seems that several saints in the legend later became saints through merit and virtue. I don't know if the current Honghuang world is different from the legend of my previous life. If it's the same, I can also make plans early on. This time at Zixuan Palace, Hongjun Daozu didn't say who could prove the Tao, but only said that there are only nine people in this Honghuang world who can prove the mixed yuan. The given Hongmeng purple energy is not a foundation for the great Tao, but it helps to prove the mixed yuan. It seems that it's still very different from the legend. Given this opportunity, why not ask Master, Shibo, and Shishu about the situation, and also calculate whether the Honghuang world will develop as I previously thought, and respond accordingly.

  Thinking of this, Xun Daozi asked: "Master, Master's brother, Master's uncle, the disciple dares to ask, the Taoist ancestor said that there are nine saints in the Honghuang heaven and earth. Masters, Master's brother, Master's uncle have already attained the 'Dà Luó Jīn Xiān Guǒ Wèi' (Great Luo Golden Immortal Fruit Position), do you have any idea about attaining the Mixed Yuan?"

  The three of them looked at each other and simultaneously raised their hands, casting out a series of mystical gestures that conjured up an enigmatic trajectory which vanished into the void above the thatched hut.

  PS: Speechless, I can only give you a like and a collection!