The Three Sermons of Zixiao Palace

When the war of Dao and demon had ended, Hongjun opened Zixiao Palace beyond the thirty-three heavens in the deepest part of the chaos, and word of it spread through every part of the world.

The strong who had cultivated for years in the mountains all set out — some riding cloud, some pacing the stars, some forcing their way through the void behind a treasure — and travelled together beyond the heavens.

Dijun, Taiyi, Kunpeng, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun and Minghe arrived one after another. The gate had not yet opened, and they waited in the primal vapour, holding off the wind beyond the heavens with their auspicious clouds and their treasures.

Only six mats had been set before the hall, and the Three Pure Ones, Nüwa, Hongyun and Kunpeng each took one. When Jieyin and Zhunti came from the far west there was nowhere left to sit, and Hongyun gave up his own place; Yuanshi then drove Kunpeng out, and Jieyin sat down where Kunpeng had been.

The gate opened, Hongjun took the seat, and began the first sermon, most of it on the roots of cultivation and the essentials of laying a foundation, while those in the hall gathered their minds and memorised what they heard.

The second sermon moved into the higher levels above Da Luo Golden Immortal. Some in the hall sat with closed eyes and an auspicious cloud faintly showing above their crowns, and others could no longer follow before it ended.

As the third sermon drew to a close, Hongjun settled the ranks of master and disciple before them all, and divided seven streams of Primordial Purple Qi: Taiqing, Yuqing, Shangqing, Nüwa, Jieyin, Zhunti and Hongyun each received one, and the seating in the hall came from then on to correspond faintly to the lineages each would found.

When the preaching was done, Hongjun sent them to the treasure-granting bluff. Light scattered across the rock, and the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, the four Zhuxian swords and many numinous treasures fell into the hands of those with an affinity for them; then the immortals took their leave of Zixiao Palace and scattered into the chaos.

The treasures divided, Hongjun announced that he would merge himself with the Dao. His form faded by degrees and Zixiao Palace withdrew into the depths of the chaos, while those who had heard him carried their purple qi and their treasures back into the world.