"The sermon is about to begin! If you’re not in yet, hurry up!"

"Stop pushing, stop pushing! There’s really no more room!"

"The Array is about to close! Oh, come on!"

"You bastard, don’t climb on my shoulders! Get down!"

"Fellow Daoist, let’s just squeeze in. The Golden Core True Master will be here any second. Don’t get angry. If we get kicked out, we’ll have wasted those twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones. It’s not worth it."

A Loose Cultivator chuckled, then climbed onto the other man’s shoulders, getting a much better view.

Yu Changsheng had arrived early, and because he was wearing the robes of the Wanxiang Sect, he had secured a good spot.

’There are so many people. This place can hold ten thousand people, but right now it must be packed with at least twenty thousand, right?’

Yu Changsheng scanned the sea of heads. Aside from the Loose Cultivators from the Fish Market, there were also servant disciples from the Wanxiang Sect. It seemed like more than half of all the Qi Refining Cultivators in the area had rushed over to join the spectacle.

After all, this was a Golden Core True Master. Normally, they couldn’t even catch a glimpse of a Foundation Establishment Great Power. To see a Golden Core True Master, no amount of crowding was too much.

"Silence!"

On the jade platform, a disciple from the Magic Peak shouted a reprimand. He then cast a spell to close the Array, sealing the area off from the outside. Those outside could no longer hear any sounds from within.

He then bowed respectfully to the side and announced, "We respectfully welcome the Golden Core True Master!"

WHOOSH!

A giant Cyan Lotus bloomed on the jade platform. Its cyan radiance illuminated the entire square, casting a dreamlike glow over everything.

A tall, stately man dressed in robes whiter than snow, an air of arrogance in his features, slowly walked out from the Cyan Lotus.

A powerful pressure emanated from him, weighing down on the hearts of the Loose Cultivators as if it were a physical substance.

His indifferent gaze seemed to hold nothing in the mortal world in any regard.

"Greetings, True Master!"

At the front, the crowd bowed as one, their voices booming.

Even Yu Changsheng was swept up in the atmosphere and bowed along with them, sighing inwardly with admiration.

’As expected of a Golden Core True Master. What a grand entrance!’

The Golden Core True Master glanced at the crowd, then sat cross-legged on the jade platform and began to speak. "I am Mu Chengping of the Magic Peak. Not long ago, I broke through to the Golden Core Realm. Having gained some insight into the magnificence of the Great Dao of heaven and earth, I am holding this sermon in the hopes that all of you may gain something from it."

When Mu Chengping finished speaking, looks of ecstasy appeared on the faces of all the Loose Cultivators.

The Great Dao of heaven and earth!

This was more precious than any treasure!

Legend had it that a Loose Cultivator once heard a sermon by a Divinity Transformation Venerable. After sitting under a Bodhi Tree for a single night, he achieved enlightenment, and his Cultivation soared from then on!

For Cultivators like them, most of whom had Mixed Spirit Roots, they could die without regret if they could just achieve enlightenment once!

Yu Changsheng watched the fanatical Loose Cultivators around him and secretly shook his head.

’Enlightenment isn’t that easy. An ordinary Loose Cultivator wouldn’t be able to understand it anyway. Not everyone is some legendary protagonist. It would be better to teach something practical.’

"I will only speak for one hour. During this time, no one is permitted to record with a Recording Stone, nor is anyone to cause a disturbance. Otherwise, do not blame me for expelling you."

As he spoke, Mu Chengping pointed a finger into the air. Instantly, a series of Runes flew out and formed a Restriction. Anyone who made a loud noise would be teleported out of the Array, and any recording treasures would be rendered useless.

Yu Changsheng tried it himself. He found it difficult to even open his Hundred Treasures Pouch. The only thing unaffected was his System Space.

"Very well. Let us begin."

Mu Chengping waved his hand lightly. His voice echoed across the square like the great bell of the Dao.

Everyone pricked up their ears, listening intently, not wanting to miss a single word.

"There are ten thousand Daoist Skills, and every Dao is as vast as the ocean. All things in heaven and earth have a reason for their existence, including Cultivators. Any sentient being that can grasp even a fraction of this mystery can understand the truth of Cultivation."

"Cultivation is like rowing a boat upstream; if you don’t advance, you fall back. The struggle for the Great Dao is incredibly cruel. To stand out, you must perceive its substance, not just gaze at its surface like looking at a mountain through the clouds and mist."

"We who study the Dao have only learned some Daoist Skills. We must hold the Great Dao in reverence and often observe and comprehend the mysteries of the ’Dao’ from ’nothingness’. Therefore, meditation and calming the mind are the foundation of enlightenment. You must wash away your violent tendencies..."

Yu Changsheng hadn’t expected Mu Chengping’s sermon to be so simple and easy to understand. It was nothing like the abstruse, incomprehensible truths he had imagined.

The content was mainly about the fundamentals of cultivating Daoist Skills, which was precisely what the Loose Cultivators lacked. They fought and killed for resources every day and had, without realizing it, long since lost their original intentions.

So, while the content was basic, it was enough to help the Loose Cultivators in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Stages avoid many detours and overcome the Heart Demons that created their bottlenecks.

"So that’s how it is... I’m so sorry, Brother Wan!"

"I’m a coward who clings to life and fears death! I never wanted to betray anyone! I was forced into it! The blame isn’t on me!"

"I’m afraid I’ll be stuck at the Qi Refining Peak for the rest of my life."

"I’m going to the mortal world! I’m going to walk my path all over again!"

"My Immortal Path is already crooked, but a heretical path is still a path! The True Master didn’t say it was wrong. Living in this world without the protection of a sect or the guidance of a senior expert, how can anyone cultivate in peace!"

"Since I’ve already developed the intent to kill, I’ll just kill my way to the very end and prove a Great Dao through slaughter!"

In the square, there were remorseful Loose Cultivators and unrepentant Tribulation Cultivators. The voices of their hearts seemed to reach the ears of the Golden Core True Master on the jade platform.

Mu Chengping stood up and sighed.

"This sermon ends here. If anyone has a question, you may raise your hand. I will randomly select one person to answer."

As he finished speaking, the Cultivators who were still pondering his words were startled awake and eagerly raised their hands high. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

"You, then. What is your question?" Mu Chengping casually pointed to a Cultivator.

"I... I would like to ask the True Master, we Loose Cultivators have no Cultivation Techniques and no heritage. All we know are a few simple Magic spells. How can we achieve the Dao like the True Master?" the Cultivator asked nervously.

Mu Chengping pondered for a moment, then raised his hand, palm up, fingers pointing to the sky.

"I, too, was once a Loose Cultivator. It was only by being favored by a senior from the Magic Peak that I was able to transform. But who says a Loose Cultivator cannot attain the Dao?"

"Even the simplest Magic contains an understanding of the Dao. Do not look down on the ancestors who created these spells. As long as you master one, focusing on it single-mindedly, that Magic will become your Dao. This is also why I was valued by the senior from the Magic Peak."

"Take this Fireball Skill, for example. When I was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, I practiced it diligently until I reached Minor Achievement and understood its underlying truth. Now, even using just a sliver of Qi Refining Stage Magical Power, I can achieve this!"

With that, flames erupted from Mu Chengping’s five fingertips. The flames then magnified before everyone’s eyes, rising up to loom over the entire crowd like five great suns!

The scorching, suffocating, rolling Flames left everyone horrified.

Yu Changsheng was drenched in sweat, his eyes fixed on the five fireballs high above, utterly shocked.

’This is the Fireball Skill? You could call it the Sun Skill and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration!’

Just as the crowd was beginning to feel overwhelmed, Mu Chengping retracted the fireballs and said solemnly, "The Dao is something you must find for yourself. It is fused within all things. If you can find a Dao that suits you, you can become invincible even with a mere fireball."

"Alright. Out of pity for the world, for those who wish to hear another sermon, you may come here next month to purchase a ticket."

After speaking, Mu Chengping flicked his sleeve. The Array lit up, and with a shift of the stars,

everyone vanished from the square. In an instant, they were all back on the streets of the Fish Market, utterly astonished.

"Thank you, Golden Core True Master!" Someone fell to their knees and kowtowed toward the distant platform, then walked away with tears streaming down their face, their thoughts unknown.

"That Golden Core True Master’s sermon was amazing! I’m definitely coming again next month!"

"I’m heading back to Bright Moon City right now to tell my friends and family to come listen to the True Master’s sermon!"

"You all had some kind of epiphany? Why do I feel like I didn’t learn anything...?"

"That’s because your Comprehension is poor!"

"That’s right, that’s right. How could you and I be compared?"

Yu Changsheng watched them leave. He raised a finger, and a tiny spark of fire appeared at its tip.

Mu Chengping’s words echoed in his mind.

’Can the Fireball Skill really be that powerful?’