Three thousand years passed in the blink of an eye. In the Zixiao Palace, Hongjun had stopped preaching. He looked at everyone still immersed in the Daoist resonance, nodded, and closed his eyes to rest, waiting for them to awaken from the melodious Daoist sounds.
Nuwa was the first to awaken. Upon seeing Hongjun resting with his eyes closed, she understood that Hongjun was waiting for everyone else to come around. She also closed her eyes and waited.
Not long after Nuwa awoke, everyone else gradually came to. Seeing that all of them had awakened, Hongjun spoke:
"This preaching session concludes. The next one, in three thousand years, will be on the path to becoming a Saint!"
The listeners were overjoyed. They had come to hear Hongjun preach precisely to learn how to achieve Sainthood. To think that he would reveal the way to Sainthood in his third sermon!
Hongjun paid no mind to their emotional shifts and continued:
"To maintain the order of the Primordial World, I wish to select two destined individuals to manage the male and female Immortals respectively, acting as the foremost among male Immortals and the foremost among female Immortals."
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up. Managing male and female Immortals?
This was virtually being second only to a Saint, above countless others!
With the positions of the foremost among male Immortals and female Immortals, one could traverse the Primordial World unimpeded. After all, they would be acting on behalf of a Saint to govern the world. Who would dare disobey? Disobeying them would be akin to defying a Saint, and who possessed such audacity?
With this thought, their gazes became fervent, each hoping Hongjun would choose them!
This was a truly enviable position!
Everyone held their heads high, hoping that Hongjun would notice their outstanding qualities and select them.
Hongjun knew the way of things, understanding that these were divinely appointed positions. After surveying them all, his gaze fell upon Xi Wangmu.
Seeing Hongjun's gaze rest upon her, Xi Wangmu's heart rejoiced. She silently thought:
"Choose me! Choose me! Choose me!"
As if hearing Xi Wangmu's inner plea, Hongjun spoke:
"Xi Wangmu, you are the first essence of extreme Yin to take form in this world. Do you agree to be the foremost among female Immortals?"
Xi Wangmu was taken aback. Although she had sensed Hongjun's attention on her, she hadn't expected him to truly choose her. With surprise and joy, she exclaimed:
"I respectfully accept the Saint's decree!"
Hongjun nodded and continued:
"I now bestow upon you the Western Plain Colored Cloud Brocade Banner. This item is a supreme innate spiritual treasure. I hope you utilize it well and do not let my expectations down!"
After speaking, Hongjun pointed his finger, and a white brocade banner flew towards Xi Wangmu, hovering silently beside her.
The others gazed enviously at the small banner floating near Xi Wangmu. A supreme innate spiritual treasure! Many had yet to acquire one since their transformation, yet the Saint effortlessly produced one.
Xi Wangmu herself was surprised that Hongjun would bestow a treasure. Clutching the banner with excitement, she immediately said:
"Thank you, Teacher. Your disciple will do her utmost to help you manage the female Immortals of the Primordial World!"
Hongjun smiled and nodded, then his gaze began to wander through the crowd once more.
Everyone knew Hongjun was selecting the foremost among male Immortals. The male cultivators among them looked hopefully at Hongjun, their faces practically screaming "Choose me!"
The female Immortals, however, looked crestfallen, wishing they had been born male to contend for the position of foremost among male Immortals. With the position of foremost among female Immortals already given to Xi Wangmu, they held no hope.
Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes blazed with fervor upon seeing Hongjun bestow a supreme innate spiritual treasure. Since his transformation, Jieyin had not acquired a single supreme innate spiritual treasure, which was why he had fought so fiercely over the innate gourd on Buzhou Mountain.
Although Zhunti possessed the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, it was refined from his own origin. Who would ever refuse more spiritual treasures?
Both of them looked expectantly at Hongjun, hoping to be chosen as the foremost among male Immortals.
Hongjun seemed to ignore their gazes, his eyes sweeping over them.
After a brief scan, Hongjun's gaze settled on Dong Wanggong.
Dong Wanggong immediately became excited. "No way! Is it really me?"
From the moment Hongjun described Xi Wangmu's origin, Dong Wanggong had felt a strong possibility of becoming the foremost among male Immortals. Xi Wangmu was the first essence of extreme Yin to take form, while he, conversely, was the first essence of extreme Yang.
As Dong Wanggong waited with bated breath, Hongjun spoke.
Indeed, Hongjun said:
"Dong Wanggong, you are the first essence of extreme Yang to take form in this world. You shall be the foremost among male Immortals. Do you agree?"
Dong Wanggong became ecstatic. What he had hoped for had come true. Although he had suspected he had a good chance, it remained uncertain until Hongjun spoke!
Upon hearing Hongjun's voice, Dong Wanggong immediately replied:
"Your disciple is willing. Your disciple will certainly do his utmost to assist you, Teacher!"
Hongjun nodded and continued:
"Since that is the case, I now bestow upon you the Dragon Head Staff. This item is also a supreme innate spiritual treasure. You must wield it well and manage the male Immortals of the Primordial World!"
After speaking, a golden dragon head staff flew towards Dong Wanggong. Dong Wanggong, looking at the staff before him, received it with excitement and said:
"Please rest assured, Teacher. Your disciple will go all out!"
Seeing that the positions of foremost among male and female Immortals had been decided, the others looked dejected and cast envious glances at Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu.
Hongjun nodded. With the foremost among male and female Immortals decided, he declared:
"This preaching session concludes. Everyone, please return in three thousand years!"
Hearing this, everyone understood that Hongjun was about to depart. They respectfully said:
"We bid farewell to the Saint!"
After Hongjun left, those with active minds began to approach Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu, showering them with pleasantries. Dong Wanggong, for his part, relished their adulation.
Dijun had been unhappy since hearing that Hongjun intended to select leaders for the Immortals, especially since these positions were not established within the Demon Court.
Taiyi noticed Dijun's unhappiness and asked:
"Big Brother! What shall we do?"
Dijun glanced at Dong Wanggong and Xi Wangmu and said indifferently:
"What the Saint bestows is theirs?"
After speaking, Dijun left Zixiao Palace without looking back. Taiyi, Xihe, and Changxi quickly followed him.
Kunpeng glanced at Dong Wanggong, a flicker of struggle in his eyes, before also heading towards Dijun.
Seeing Dijun and Taiyi depart, Fuxi also took Nuwa's hand and left Zixiao Palace.
As for Hongyun, he clasped Zhenyuanzi's hand, exchanged a greeting with Dong Wanggong, and then departed Zixiao Palace.