Chapter 106: Dividing the Treasure

Hearing Hongjun’s words, the crowd was slightly stunned before their minds began to race. What did he mean by "striving for a share of destiny"? What was this destiny? To them, it was clearly the Grandmist Violet Qi! Possessing great perseverance and wisdom—who among them did not believe they had these qualities? They felt they lacked only that foundation for enlightenment: the Grandmist Violet Qi. Suddenly, many cultivators who had abandoned the thought of contention felt the stirrings of killing intent once more.

Even those with weaker cultivation, considering that Ancestor Minghe would become a target for all, wanted to crowd in to see if they might be lucky enough to pick up a bargain. Once the Grandmist Violet Qi was obtained, one would ascend to the heavens in a single step! As for whether they could hold onto it if they did get it, these red-eyed fellows could no longer bring themselves to consider such things.

Sitting high upon the cloud bed, Hongjun continued: "There is much strife in the Primordial World now, and you lack suitable implements. Since you are my disciples, you ought to have some treasures for self-protection. In my early years of wandering the Primordial World, I found some treasures. As I have realized the Great Dao and am about to merge with the Heavenly Dao, these items will be of little use to me. Today, I shall distribute them to those with affinity, to serve as your protection and to help you stabilize your fortune once you attain the Dao."

The crowd was overjoyed, their eyes burning with intensity as they stared at Hongjun, much like children waiting for a kindergarten teacher to hand out candy.

As he spoke, Hongjun flipped his hand to reveal a scroll. The scroll was surrounded by ten thousand rays of auspicious light and colorful mists. The true words of the Great Dao circled outside it, while the talismans of the Heavenly Dao flickered within. He said to Laozi, the leader of the Three Pure Ones: "Laozi, you were born from the primordial spirit of Pangu, the eldest of the Pangu Three Pure Ones, my first disciple, and the senior brother to all here. It is destined by the heavens that you shall wield this Taiji Diagram."

The crowd was stunned. What was the Taiji Diagram? It was one of the three treasures of creation. None present were ignorant; how could they not know of such a supreme innate treasure? The Taiji Diagram possessed the power to stabilize the earth, wind, water, and fire; to transform the forces of Yin, Yang, and the Five Elements; to order the mysterious mechanisms of the Heavenly Dao; and to encompass all phenomena. It was precisely by relying on this treasure for protection that Dao Ancestor Hongjun was able to battle the Demon Ancestor Luohu.

"Thank you, Master!" Even a man as detached and inactive as Laozi could not hide his surprise as he received the Taiji Diagram from Hongjun’s hands. Laozi, who already possessed the exquisite innate treasure known as the Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow Pagoda, naturally understood how formidable the power of such a supreme innate treasure truly was.

Immediately following this, Hongjun produced a banner. As soon as it appeared, it radiated ten thousand rays of light that pierced the sky, with auspicious colors illuminating the firmament, exuding an arrogant dominance and an unmatchable majesty.

Hongjun said to Yuanshi: "Yuanshi, you too were born from the primordial spirit of Pangu. This Pangu Banner has the power to cleave through chaos. I hope you will use it well. In the future, as you lead your great sect, it can also be used to stabilize your fortune."

Upon hearing this, Yuanshi was overjoyed. He could hardly wait to reach out and take the Pangu Banner, looking as happy as could be.

Watching Laozi and Yuanshi both receive such powerful treasures, the others could not help but feel envious. This was another of the three treasures of creation; Hongjun had relied on it to break Luohu’s Immortal-Slaying Sword Array. The Pangu Banner possessed the power to tear through grandmist chaos, shatter the heavens and space-time, command the mysteries of all laws, and open up the universe itself!

When it came to the last of the Three Pure Ones, Tongtian, Hongjun seemed to hesitate for a moment before producing a formation map. Within the map, four sharp swords were clearly visible, emitting piercing sword energy. Although suppressed by Hongjun, the baleful and murderous aura emanating from the formation still made the crowd tremble in fear. Many cultivators recognized this treasure, and their feelings could no longer be described merely as envy.

"Tongtian, you are decisive in killing and possess a firm character. I bestow upon you the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array. However, you must use it with caution. This array’s power is too great and its murderous aura too heavy; once a Saint deploys it, it cannot be broken without four Saints," Hongjun warned Tongtian solemnly.

Tongtian took it with great joy, failing to notice the sudden change in Yuanshi’s expression, or even the momentary unnaturalness in the demeanor of the usually detached Laozi.

Seeing the Three Pure Ones receive such powerful treasures, it would be impossible for Nuwa not to feel envious. She was next, and she looked toward Hongjun with anticipation. As of now, besides her body of a Chaos God-Demon, she truly possessed no innate treasure worth showing off.

Hongjun looked at Nuwa and produced two treasures: a map and a red embroidered ball. "Nuwa, your nature is kind, and you do not care for strife. In the future, you have a great merit to perform. I bestow upon you the Mountain and River Map of Social Prosperity and the Red Embroidered Ball. One for defense and one for offense, they will protect you in the days to come."

Nuwa hurriedly and respectfully accepted them. Although she felt a slight disappointment at not receiving a supreme innate treasure, she was still pleased to receive two such top-tier innate spiritual treasures.

The Red Embroidered Ball was a top-tier innate spiritual treasure and a holy instrument of merit. It could establish the three marriages of heaven, earth, and man, and govern the marriages of the three realms. Its power was immense; no matter how high one's cultivation or how strong one's physical body, once struck by it, neither the body nor the primordial spirit could be preserved. Of course, it would be less effective against great powers of the same level.

The Mountain and River Map of Social Prosperity was also a top-tier innate spiritual treasure of immense power, only slightly inferior to the supreme innate treasures. It was a map of the Primordial World, recording the flow of mountains, rivers, and ley lines. Inside, it contained a vast universe capable of nurturing billions of living beings, all within the cycle of life and death. It was as if a real world existed within the scroll.

After bestowing these upon Nuwa, Hongjun fell silent, clearly having no intention of giving out more. The people in Zixiao Palace were stunned, then grew anxious. What about the promised treasures?

Zhun Ti was the first to fall to his knees, weeping and pleading: "Our West is barren and lacks treasures. We beg for the Master’s mercy to bestow spiritual treasures for our protection."

Jie Yin, beside him, quickly knelt and joined in the entreaties.

Hongjun looked at the two. Although he had not intended to give them treasures, he had destroyed the ley lines of the West during his battle with Luohu, effectively owing the West a significant karmic debt. It was for this reason he had reluctantly taken them as disciples earlier. Seeing their desperate pleas, he had no choice but to bestow a treasure or two.

"You two possess great perseverance and wisdom, realizing three thousand side-door paths—that is also a destiny. However, you are guests of the West and have no affinity for the great treasures of the East. Very well, I shall bestow upon you the Twelve-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit and the Green Lotus Treasure Flag, one of the Five Directional Flags, to use for your protection." Hongjun mused for a moment before flipping his hand to reveal a twelve-grade golden lotus pedestal and a small green flag.

When the others saw that even Zhun Ti and Jie Yin had received treasures, they immediately knelt and pleaded. Zixiao Palace became noisy and chaotic, everyone acting as if they had suffered an infinite injustice. Hongjun could not help but frown slightly before saying: "Treasures of affinity have already found their owners. I have placed the remainder on the Treasure Distribution Rock outside Zixiao Palace. You may all go and take them, according to your own fate!"

The crowd was overjoyed. The cultivators sitting near the door of Zixiao Palace were the first to fly out. The others, including the Three Pure Ones, scrambled out in a swarm. Naturally, Daoist Yutu would not miss this chance to obtain spiritual treasures.

Daoist Yutu’s speed was almost the fastest; before Hongjun had even finished speaking, he had already transformed into a streak of light and dashed out of the Zixiao Palace gates.

Following closely behind were the other great Semi-Saint powers, including the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jie Yin, Zhun Ti, Di Jun, Donghuang Taiyi, Kunpeng, and Zhenyuanzi, none of whom were slow.

Daoist Yutu reached the Treasure Distribution Rock first. It did not look very large—just a massive boulder—but it radiated treasure light, clearly containing a multitude of items. However, Hongjun had laid layers of restrictions and formations upon it; otherwise, these sentient spiritual treasures would have long since flown away, rather than waiting for the crowd to snatch them.

Minghe, Kunpeng, the Three Pure Ones, and others who were fast rushed to the rock, only to feel the space before them shift, each of them falling into a formation space. Layer upon layer of formation spaces existed, with almost every space containing one or two innate spiritual treasures of varying grades.