Chapter Thirty-Eight: Azure Lotus, Bestowing Treasures

Within the vastness of the Primordial World, both the Buddhist and Daoist sects possessed treasures of the lotus variety. Among these, lotus platforms were the most numerous. Especially those lotuses born of innate origin; the number of petals they bore often revealed their grade. For instance, the Azure Lotus of Creation, the Red Lotus of Karmic Fire, and the Golden Lotus of Merit—all were twelve-petal lotus platforms, representing the pinnacle of innate spiritual treasures, second only to the supreme innate treasures.

The Nine-Petal Azure Lotus was likewise among the finest of upper-grade spiritual treasures, just below the highest grade of innate spiritual treasures. In the Primordial World, aside from the few supreme innate treasures and equally rare highest-grade innate treasures, the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus marked the next echelon among upper-grade innate spiritual treasures.

Even among the three thousand guests of the Zixiao Palace, few possessed treasures of this caliber. Most had only two or three middle-grade innate spiritual treasures or even lower-grade ones.

Such a treasure could not possibly escape the attention of Ancestor Qiankun. If fate allowed him to encounter one, it would not be unusual for him to fight other mighty beings to obtain it. Consider the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus of Merit belonging to the Western Buddhist sect—three petals were devoured by Mosquito Daoist, reducing it to the Nine-Petal Golden Lotus of Merit, yet it remained one of the Western sect’s few top treasures, a token to suppress their fortune.

Even for the disciples of the Sages, a spiritual treasure like the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus would not be granted lightly, except to the most favored and gifted.

Now that the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus had developed spiritual intelligence, Ancestor Qiankun could not help but feel regret. However, to erase its intelligence or refine it into the spirit of the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus—he found himself unable to make such a ruthless decision.

After all, once the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus gained spirituality, it became a living being. In time, it could take human form. With the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus as its foundation, its origins would be extraordinary.

Reflecting on this, Ancestor Qiankun felt a fondness for talent. After all, his fate was deeply intertwined with the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus. By chance, it had gained intelligence—though it might seem like a trick of destiny, was it not another form of fate?

In the Primordial World, decisive killing for treasures was commonplace. Yet for Ancestor Qiankun, firstly, he did not lack a fine spiritual treasure; secondly, he did not wish to act against his conscience. Though the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus was exceptional, for him it was merely another fine addition. But if it could take form, and he then took it as a disciple to teach, would that not be more interesting?

Having made up his mind, Ancestor Qiankun still felt it wasteful for the being to take the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus as its body.

Page (1/3)

Upon pondering further, Ancestor Qiankun devised a plan: he extracted the spirit of the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus and embedded it into one of its lotus seeds, then used the Three-Light Divine Water to nurture the seed. This approach had another benefit—the spirit within the lotus seed would grow alongside its incubation, thus shortening the time needed for it to eventually take form.

The lotus seeds of the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus were extraordinary, containing the essence of creation itself; if used for alchemy, they could certainly produce supreme immortal pills. The other three Eight-Petal Azure Lotuses encircling the main lotus were in fact lotus seeds nurtured by the Three-Light Divine Water. The seeds of the Eight-Petal Azure Lotus were inferior, yielding five Six-Petal Azure Lotuses and six Five-Petal Azure Lotuses. As for the remaining nine Three-Petal Azure Lotuses, they came from the seeds of the Six-Petal and Five-Petal Azure Lotuses.

The lotus seed into which Ancestor Qiankun infused the spirit of the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus, nurtured by the Three-Light Divine Water, soon transformed into a Three-Petal Azure Lotus. Within it, the spirit flourished, receiving guidance from Ancestor Qiankun, actively absorbing the energy of the Three-Light Divine Water, and growing rapidly—within less than two thousand years, it became a Six-Petal Azure Lotus. However, to further elevate its grade would be much more difficult.

While nurturing the spirit of the Nine-Petal Azure Lotus, Ancestor Qiankun also diligently instructed Kong Xuan. Kong Xuan, child of the Heavenly Phoenix, was indeed extraordinary. From birth, he possessed the cultivation of a celestial immortal; under Ancestor Qiankun’s guidance, his progress was swift, and he broke through to the Golden Immortal realm in less than three thousand years, enabling him to take on human form. That he could take form at the Golden Immortal level testified to Kong Xuan’s remarkable talent.

As the time for the second lecture at Zixiao Palace approached, on Fangzhang Island, beside the lake of Three-Light Divine Water, a flash of five-colored light transformed into a vibrant young man clad in a multicolored brocade robe—it was Kong Xuan.

“Azure Lotus, where is Master?” Kong Xuan called out directly to the Six-Petal Azure Lotus shrouded in three-colored mist above the lake.

A flash of light appeared atop the Six-Petal Azure Lotus, turning into an ethereal figure dressed in a graceful azure robe. Though only an incarnation of the primordial spirit, she emanated a faintly mysterious aura, her cultivation already at the Profound Immortal level.

The woman in azure, Azure Lotus, smiled gently at Kong Xuan and said, “Senior Kong Xuan, Master has returned to Qiankun Hall to meditate. Unless it’s urgent, it’s best not to disturb him.”

“So coincidental? I just finished my seclusion and now Master is meditating,” Kong Xuan muttered in annoyance, then added, “But Master promised me that once I broke through to Golden Immortal, I’d be allowed to venture out. Now that I’ve stabilized my realm, I don’t want to stay on Fangzhang Island any longer—it’s suffocating.”

“Azure Lotus, you continue to cultivate here and wait to take form. I’m going to see Master,” Kong Xuan said, and with a flick of his figure, transformed into a stream of five-colored light heading toward the Green Dragon Mountains in the distant Gourd Valley, where Ancestor Qiankun’s Qiankun Hall was situated halfway up the mountain.

Page (2/3)

Qiankun Hall was crafted by Ancestor Qiankun himself. With his skill in artifact refining, the rare minerals and spiritual materials he gathered from the Primordial World, and the Qiankun Cauldron’s transformation from acquired to innate, the hall reached the level of a supreme innate spiritual treasure.

Kong Xuan arrived at the entrance of Qiankun Hall, hesitating whether to enter, when a cute young Daoist boy in green robes emerged and greeted him, “Senior Kong Xuan, Master requests your presence.”

“Oh, Qingya Boy, is Master not meditating?” Kong Xuan asked, somewhat surprised.

“Master was meditating, but he foresaw your arrival and asked me to invite you in,” Qingya Boy replied. Originally a spiritual stone on the Green Dragon Mountains, he gained intelligence and was enlightened by Ancestor Qiankun to serve as a boy attendant; though merely a boy, he possessed Profound Immortal cultivation.

A bit embarrassed, Kong Xuan quickly followed Qingya Boy into Qiankun Hall, respectfully saluting Ancestor Qiankun seated high upon his cloud-bed, “Disciple greets Master, and apologizes for disturbing your meditation.”

“Your purpose is already known to me. Very well, now that you have attained the Golden Immortal realm, it is time for you to go and temper yourself. With you gone, I may also enjoy some tranquility,” Ancestor Qiankun gently shook his head. With a wave of his hand, several items appeared in midair, radiating surging energy.

Hearing Ancestor Qiankun speak as if eager for his departure, Kong Xuan felt awkward, but his eyes lit up with delight at the treasures presented, and he eagerly asked, “Master, are these the magical treasures you’re bestowing upon your disciple?”

“You have cultivated with me for nearly three thousand years, achieving modest success and barely qualifying to graduate. Now that you are leaving to venture into the Primordial World, I must grant you a few treasures for your protection,” Ancestor Qiankun smiled calmly, introducing the treasures: “Azure Dragon Spear, refined from the horn of a Da Luo Golden Immortal Azure Dragon—an upper-grade innate spiritual treasure; Azure Dragon Armor, forged from its scales—an upper-grade innate spiritual treasure; Dragon Bone Chain, crafted from its spine—an upper-grade innate spiritual treasure; Azure Dragon Bow and Dragon Bone Arrows, made from its bones and sinews—a middle-grade innate spiritual treasure.”

Page (3/3)