Chapter 562 - 23: The Might of Purple Cloud Palace, 100 Days of Preaching, 100 Days of Kowtowing

"This person has a grand design."

A Dao Fruit spoke calmly, his expression growing serious:

"I have observed that the fate of every being who enters the Purple Cloud Palace changes dramatically. A sliver of their True Spirit is missing... Has their True Spirit been left behind in the Purple Cloud Palace?"

"What exactly does this Purple Cloud Palace Master intend?" the Ancient Bodhi Buddha asked with a frown, finding the situation deeply vexing.

As an Enlightened One, he could overlook all of Ancient History and peer into parts of the future. Logically, he should be able to glean some insight even into the schemes of other Enlightened Ones.

But now?

The number of people and things he couldn’t comprehend was only growing...

Not to mention things long past, first there was Supreme Profound Clarity, then the Profound Yellow who threw the grand course of history into disarray.

Then came the unfathomably mysterious Hongjun Daoist, and now this Profound Origin Fusheng, this Purple Cloud Palace Master, has appeared...

And especially that one who suddenly appeared at The Beginning of Ancient Times, seeking the position of Daoist Ancestor...

Amitabha Buddha slowly spoke as he turned the ruined and dying Western Pure Land in his hand:

"Perhaps it is because the end of the Great Era is approaching. I suspect that both the Hongjun Daoist and this Purple Cloud Palace Master...

...are all beings who went into hiding and began plotting at The Beginning of Ancient Times. Now that the Great Era is ending, they can no longer hold back and have all leaped out at once."

The Demon Ancestor’s brow was tightly furrowed as he stared at the Daoist Palace, wanting to speak but holding his tongue.

Meanwhile, Taiyi, who was watching the show from the sidelines, spoke leisurely:

"In fact, there are clues to be found in all of this. You all schemed endlessly with Houtu back then, ultimately causing Xuandu to get stuck at the level of ’Similar to Daluo,’

the Jade Void Twelve Immortals to halt at the Fifth Level of the Celestial Realms, and everyone in the Shangqing Sect, save for Duobao who escaped your trap, to fall into your schemes, with not a single one of them achieving the rank of Daluo..."

After a brief pause, Taiyi continued:

"But who are The Three Pristine Ones? The Great Era is divided into three ages, and each of the Pristine Ones was invincible for one of them. How could they simply let you scheme against them like this?

"Xuandu of the Taishang Lineage was shackled, and in response, Supreme Profound Clarity appeared. The entire Shangqing Lineage was ensnared, and immediately, the Profound Yellow emerged. The Twelve Immortals of the Jade Void Lineage were all fettered, none achieving Daluo, and now you have Profound Origin Fusheng, the Purple Cloud Palace Master..."

The two Enlightened Ones and the Demon Ancestor fell silent, their expressions incredibly grave.

After a long while,

the Ancient Bodhi Buddha sighed softly.

"Viewed that way, it does make a certain kind of sense... Today, although Supreme Profound Clarity has achieved Daluo, he has also entered the game and will become nourishment for you, Taiyi.

And while the Profound Yellow has nearly dismantled the Celestial Court, he is now completely under our watch and can hardly do anything more. Now, we can only see if the Buddha Mother can probe the truth of this Purple Cloud Palace Master."

Amitabha Buddha and the Demon Ancestor both nodded. They all gazed into the distance, observing quietly, never forgetting to keep a constant watch on the movements of The Three Pristine Ones...

「Meanwhile, above the Chaos, the Daoist Palace stood majestic.」

The Buddha Mother, whose massive form was comparable to an entire Ancient Realm, approached. His face was etched with sorrow as he gazed at the Purple Cloud Palace and issued a challenge:

"A Dao Fruit has arrived in person. Does the Purple Cloud Palace Master not intend to rush out and welcome me?"

Under the force of that vast sound, the Daoist Palace trembled slightly. Inside, the three thousand members of the Human Race staggered about, their eardrums aching from the vibration!

"A Dao Fruit has personally arrived at this very moment?" Zhou Gongdan’s expression grew solemn, a look of worry appearing on his face.

He could see that this Purple Cloud Palace Master intended to bestow great Cultivation upon the Human Race.

But before he could even begin, a legendary Dao Fruit had arrived in person!

Today would surely be fraught with trouble!

The other guests also looked grim, their gazes involuntarily turning to the mysterious Purple Cloud Palace Master.

But they saw the Daoist simply sitting calmly on his meditation cushion, wisps of Primordial Ancestral Qi and Innate Purple Rhyme flowing across his skin, perfectly still and unshakable.

He looked up, and the eye that had been slightly closed opened. Both of his eyes blazed in unison, like two Great Sun Golden Lamps, shining with magnificent splendor!

"When a guest arrives, one should naturally prepare a place to welcome them."

The Purple Cloud Palace Master’s voice was distant and profound, not particularly loud, yet it echoed resoundingly across the past and future, forming a continuous line that pierced through all of Ancient History!

He stated calmly:

"But if an unwelcome guest arrives, they should be met with a club."

Outside the Daoist Palace, the Buddha Mother, whose form rivaled an Ancient Realm, frowned. He extended two fingers, brought them together, and then knocked!

"I am here. Why have you not opened the gate to pay your respects?"

DONG!

His two massive, jade-like fingers struck the palace gate, producing a boom like that of a morning bell and an evening drum.

The entire Daoist Palace shook, and the gate was knocked open a crack!

The next moment, the Little Daoist Child threw the gate wide open and shouted:

"To arrive uninvited is to be a thief! Leave at once! If you disturb my master’s pleasant lecture on the Dao, I’ll cut you down!"

Xiaohuo’er stood with his hands on his hips, his cheeks puffed out in anger as he glared with wide eyes.

The Buddha Mother, however, paid him no mind. His gaze swept past the Daoist Child and fell upon the Daoist seated within the palace.

He frowned. ’This Purple Cloud Palace Master...’

Merely gazing at the Daoist gave the Buddha Mother a sense of disorientation. The man was draped in seventy-two-colored rays of light, and around him floated overlapping, dark cosmoses.

Moreover, he projected the feeling of residing at an infinite height, of being the very source of all things!

It almost made the Buddha Mother think he was facing the one from the Jade Void Palace!

His heart trembled slightly, but he did not retreat. Instead, he said in a heavy voice:

"Purple Cloud Palace Master, Profound Origin Fusheng, why do you not bow and invite me inside to take the seat of honor?"

The flat, cold voice stung the ears of the three thousand guests inside the Daoist Palace. They all stared in terror at the terrifying Buddha, who was as vast as an Ancient Realm.

Even Shennong and Xuanyuan’s expressions changed. A Dao Fruit had arrived with malicious intent; the world was about to be turned upside down!

Wu Datong shielded Wu Xiaoxu behind him. Yan Jiangxue drifted over, patted Lu Nian on the head, and pulled her behind her as well, her expression solemn.

If things went wrong today, this entire Daoist Palace might collapse. If a Dao Fruit attacked in a rage, how could anyone survive in the aftermath?

A sense of crisis welled up in everyone’s hearts, and some of the ancient kings and nobles looked toward the Purple Cloud Palace Master.

But Lu Xuan remained seated, his gaze meeting the Maitreya Buddha Mother’s, a smile on his face.

"Maitreya Buddha Mother, you wish to enter my Daoist Palace? You may come, but... do you truly dare to step inside?"

"Why would I not dare?"

The Buddha Mother smiled as the Nine Thousand Buddha Lands Great Realm rose behind him. Within each realm sat ten Buddhas, eight hundred Bodhisattvas, and three thousand Arhats.

Innumerable Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats chanted sutras in unison, accompanied by Infinite Light, Infinite Life, Infinite Purity, and Infinite Grandeur!

The Buddha Mother took a step forward and entered the Daoist Palace. As he did, the palace gates slammed shut, blocking out all prying eyes and gazes!

"I am here. So what?"

He smiled, holding the Nine Thousand Buddha Lands Great Realm aloft in his hand. He strode forward under the gazes of three thousand people, a lotus blooming with every step, Bodhi within every flower.

The Buddha Mother walked up to Lu Xuan and said with a smile:

"Purple Cloud Palace Master, you wish to provide Cultivation, which is a good deed. Now, take a seat to the side. I shall ascend to your throne, and perhaps I can offer you a pointer or two."

His words demanded that Lu Xuan give up his seat and be relegated to the side, a public humiliation in front of three thousand people. He wanted to see how this Daoist would respond.

Lu Xuan’s eyes became one yin and one yang. He did not answer, but slowly began to speak:

"All who enter my Daoist Palace are called disciples. You have seen me, so why do you not bow?"

"Insolence!" the Buddha Mother rebuked. Within the Nine Thousand Buddha Lands in his hand, the innumerable Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats all took on wrathful visages and roared in unison:

"Insolence!!"

The layered, overwhelming sound wave came crashing toward Lu Xuan. Ultimately, the Buddha Mother did not dare to deliver a killing blow, so he held back most of his power, intending mainly to probe his opponent’s true strength.

However, when the layered sound wave reached the Daoist, it dissipated into a gentle breeze that merely lifted his long hair and caused the corners of his robes to flutter. That was all.

The Maitreya Buddha Mother’s expression changed slightly.

Lu Xuan slowly raised his head. The Purple Cloud Palace was different from the Creation Jade Disc; although it was not yet completely forged, it at least had a rudimentary form.

It gathered the power of the Supreme, the sign of Yuqing, and the breath of Shangqing. Furthermore, it was infused with Primordial Ancestral Qi, a Dao Fruit Heavy Artifact, the First Purple Qi of Heaven and Earth, and more.

In terms of grade, it was only about half a step below treasures like the Qing Ping Sword...

Most importantly, Lu Xuan could not fully unleash the might of the Qing Ping Sword, but as the master of the Daoist Palace, while seated within it, he could wield its full might at will, at least within its confines.

And so...

"Across all of time, I have bestowed Cultivation, explained principles, and described the Profound Mysteries. Beings from every time and space have sought me out. Those who arrive here are all illustrious, yet every one of them has observed the etiquette of a disciple."

Lu Xuan spoke gently, showing no signs of anger:

"One being, seeking my teachings, kowtowed with every single step he took up the three thousand steps of the Chaos Ladder, kowtowing three thousand times in total. Since you, Buddha Mother, have entered my Daoist Palace, I will treat you equally despite your malicious intent. I see you as a disciple, and therefore..."

"If you kowtow three thousand times, you may be absolved of your crime and forgiven for your transgression."

As those light words drifted down, the three thousand people in the Daoist Palace were left dumbstruck. ’This Purple Cloud Palace Master wants... a Dao Fruit to kowtow??’

The Buddha Mother’s expression turned completely frigid. The Golden Wheel of Buddha light behind his head blazed as he said coldly:

"Even Primordial himself would not dare to speak such words here."

As his voice fell, he reached out his palm to seize the Purple Cloud Palace Master, his grasp encompassing the past and future, obscuring all of Time itself!

The Purple Cloud Palace Master, however, simply sighed.

"Recalcitrant, so recalcitrant."

He too brought a palm down.

Lu Xuan secretly activated the Four Immortal Slaying Swords and the Heaven-Opening Banner, operated the Creation Jade Disc, and deployed the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Profound Yellow Pagoda.

Under the amplification of the Purple Cloud Palace, these Supreme Treasures were all awakened, spontaneously unleashing their might!

A power that could not be described with words silently gathered in Lu Xuan’s palm.

As he brought his palm down, his five fingers began to glow.

One finger displayed the scene of the Creation of Heaven and Earth, another held the Innate Profound Yellow Qi, and a third revealed the might of Annihilation and Slaughter.

Of the remaining two fingers, one was suffused with a purple rhyme, within which Kunlun floated amidst a kaleidoscope of colors, while the other contained all wonders, embodying All Skills!

His five fingers spread, borrowing the characteristic of the Cause of All Fruits, sealing all possibilities and reducing the myriad to one.

The Buddha Mother’s expression changed. He tried to dodge, only to find that Cause and Effect had been locked down and all possibilities had been constricted.

He tried to counterattack, and his Nine Thousand Buddha Lands simultaneously erupted with light, booming upward, but they were completely intercepted by a single wisp of Innate Profound Yellow Qi.

He then used a Supreme Skill, trying to leave the Purple Cloud Palace, only to realize in horror that the weight of the entire River of Time was pressing down on him, making it impossible to move!

THUD!

Under countless stunned gazes,

the Purple Cloud Palace Master’s five fingers descended effortlessly, pressing down on the Buddha Mother’s head and sinking in slightly.

At that moment, the Buddha Mother’s heart shook with terror. He felt that what was pressing on his head was not five fingers, but the Supreme, the Primordial, and the Spirit Treasure.

It was also the vast Kunlun, and even six Heaven-Reaching Great Daos!

Cause and Effect rippled, Birth and Death emerged, all things manifested, Nature stirred, the Dao of Emperors followed, and the weight of the Human Race descended!

The weight of the River of Time, channeled by the Purple Cloud Palace, pressed down on the Buddha Mother’s shoulders.

The full weight of all Cause and Effect, Birth and Death, all things, Nature, and even all the ancient emperors and the entire Human Race from antiquity, pressed down upon the Buddha Mother’s head!

His expression changed drastically. He struggled frantically, but he could not break free, nor could he leave. Within the Purple Cloud Palace, even the divine powers of an Ancient One were suppressed!

Then, with a light tap of those five fingers,

the Buddha Mother was truly forced down, bowing before the Daoist as if in a kowtow.

"Next, I will preach the Dao for one hundred days."

The Purple Cloud Palace Master kept one hand pressed on the Buddha Mother while lightly tapping on a large table with the other, his smile as warm as a spring breeze.

"Those who listen to my Dao are all here by karmic affinity. Upon leaving this palace, you may all call yourselves a ’Purple Cloud Guest’."

"There are Three Celestial Books. Today, I will lecture on the first."

As his voice fell,

the Daoist began to expound on profound principles, smelting all that he had learned and comprehended in his entire life into a single forge, creating a work called the ’Celestial Book’ that narrated a myriad of Daos.

The gazes of the three thousand guests gradually shifted away from the Dao Fruit, who was still in a kowtowing posture. Though their hearts still pounded with fear, they slowly became entranced by the subtle music of the Great Dao, faint smiles appearing on their faces as their eyes gently closed.

All three thousand guests subconsciously began to cultivate this Dharma. As they did, threads of their fate, their momentum, their skills, and their power connected to Lu Xuan, feeding back into him!

It was as if they were mutually reinforcing one another.

When the lecture on Celestial Book Volume One was finished, one hundred days had passed. The gates of the Purple Cloud Palace opened once more, and countless prying gazes flooded inside.

And they all fell upon the figure of the Buddha Mother, who had been pressed to the ground by the Daoist, kowtowing for one hundred days.

The Dao Fruits were all stunned.