For a moment, envy, jealousy, and undisguised killing intent all bore down on Hongyun.
Hongyun felt the warm Dao Rhythm within his primordial spirit, yet could only smile bitterly to himself.
He had long wanted to stay far away from disputes, but fate seemed determined to push him into the eye of the storm.
Yet he did not retreat. Spiritual energy quietly gathered in his palm as he calmly bowed toward the high platform. "Thank you, Dao Ancestor. Thank you, Purple Qi, for favoring me."
He knew that showing weakness now would only invite more covetous eyes. Only by standing firm could he remain safe within the Purple Sky Palace.
As for his safety after leaving the palace, he had already made his plans.
He was skilled in escape techniques, and his speed ranked among the very best of the great experts of the Primordial Wilderness.
Once he left the Purple Sky Palace, he would immediately head for Longevity Mountain's Wuzhuang Temple and seek the protection of his old friend Zhenyuanzi's Earth Vein Grand Array. There, he could safely refine the Purple Qi and strengthen his foundation for becoming a saint.
Hongjun watched this scene, a trace of understanding flashing through his eyes.
Though Hongyun did not belong to the Mystic Gate, he possessed Good Thought and had saved the weak many times.
Such a disposition vaguely aligned with the benevolent will of the Heavenly Dao. It was not surprising that the Purple Qi had chosen him.
But being chosen was one matter. Whether he could keep it was another.
Hongjun had no intention of interfering too much. After glancing at Hongyun, he continued.
"I am about to merge myself with the Dao. Mystic Gate disciples should possess powerful treasures to protect themselves against the future conflicts of the Primordial Wilderness."
As his words fell, Hongjun raised a hand, and three dazzling spiritual lights emerged from the void.
Within the first spiritual light, an ancient Taiji Diagram slowly unfolded.
Black and White Qi flowed across it, containing the Dao Rhythm of harmonizing yin and yang and possessing unparalleled defense. It was the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram.
"Laozi, this diagram can protect your Dao path and resist innate killing formations. I now bestow it upon you."
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure!" Laozi rose and bowed, accepting the Taiji Diagram with both hands.
The moment it entered his grasp, a cool Dao Rhythm merged into his primordial spirit, deepening his understanding of Pure and Non-Action.
Within the second spiritual light floated a pure white banner.
Faint phantoms of the creation of heaven and earth appeared upon its surface, emitting an incomparably sharp aura. It was the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner.
"Yuanshi, this banner contains the power of Pangu opening the heavens. It can break all techniques and cleave through Chaos. I now bestow it upon you."
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing this treasure!" A sharp gleam flashed through Venerable Yuanshi's eyes. After bowing, he quickly stepped forward and accepted the Pangu Banner.
The banner was heavy in his hand, yet it filled his heart with confidence.
With this supreme treasure, the dignity of the Mystic Gate's orthodox lineage could be better upheld in the future.
Within the third spiritual light, four murderous treasure swords and a formation diagram appeared at the same time.
The swords each bore one of four characters: Slay, Massacre, Trap, and Extinction.
The formation diagram was covered in runes of an innate killing formation. They were the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the Immortal Slaying Four Swords and the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation Diagram.
"Tongtian, the four swords and the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram together are called the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. It is the greatest killing formation in the Primordial Wilderness. Once deployed, it cannot be broken without four saints. Use it well."
"Thank you, Master! With such a supreme treasure, no one will dare insult Mystic Gate disciples in the future!"
Sect Master Tongtian was overjoyed. With an excited bow, he expressed his thanks.
Then he swiftly tucked the four swords and formation diagram into his robes. The killing aura of the swords perfectly matched his Dao Rhythm.
This made quite a few people suck in a breath of cold air, for it could not be broken without four saints.
How many saints even existed in the Primordial Wilderness now? Other than the Dao Ancestor, there were none.
Even in the future, there would be very few who could attain sainthood.
The Three Pure Ones had originally been one family. If they deployed the Immortal Slaying Four Swords, would they not be invincible?
For a time, many people's wariness toward the Three Pure Ones rose to the extreme.
But Hongjun paid them no mind. With another casual wave of his hand, the fourth spiritual light emerged.
A painting embroidered with mountains and rivers, along with an entirely crimson embroidered ball, slowly floated out.
The painting contained the power of creation, while the ball carried the rhythm of binding destinies. They were the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the Mountain River Society Map and the Red Embroidered Ball.
"Nuwa, these two items can help you accomplish great deeds of Merit in the future. The Mountain River Society Map can evolve into a world, while the Red Embroidered Ball can determine the affinities of living beings."
"If your opportunity is sufficient in the future, they may even advance into Innate Supreme Treasures. I now bestow them upon you."
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing these treasures!" Even Nuwa, with her calm temperament, could not help but bow gratefully before accepting the painting.
The instant the painting entered her hand, she clearly sensed the vitality contained within it. Her comprehension of the Law of Creation rose to another level.
Seeing Shan Qing and Nuwa receive treasures one after another, everyone in the hall was already green with envy.
Jieyin and Zhunti in particular stared fixedly at Hongjun, their eyes filled with expectation.
Though they were nominal disciples, they also hoped to obtain a powerful treasure and revitalize the Western Land.
Yet Hongjun's gaze fell upon Haotian and Jade Pool, and his tone softened considerably.
"Haotian, Jade Pool, you two voluntarily gave up the Primordial Violet Qi. Your Dao paths surpass even that of saints."
"Therefore, aside from the treasures that should have been bestowed upon you, you will also receive additional compensation."
As his words fell, eight spiritual lights and a spiritual root appeared at once, instantly filling the air.
As the eight spiritual lights faded, the Haotian Mirror, Haotian Sword, Haotian Pagoda, Qiankun Cauldron, Jade Pool Golden Hairpin, Jade Pool Ruyi, Jade Pool Jade Bracelet, Western Cloud Realm Banner, and Ren Water Flat Peach Tree appeared in the void.
"My heavens! That's far too much!" Everyone in the hall sucked in a breath of cold air, the envy in their eyes nearly overflowing.
Seven Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, one Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, and one Innate Supreme Treasure.
Such compensation was simply beyond imagination. Even the Three Pure Ones glanced over in surprise.
Although they possessed Innate Supreme Treasures, they still paid more attention to Haotian's Qiankun Cauldron.
Nuwa looked at the Ren Water Flat Peach Tree, and a trace of envy flashed through her eyes.
Then she remembered that her Red Embroidered Ball could advance into an Innate Supreme Treasure in the future, and she gradually calmed down.
Jieyin and Zhunti's eyes turned red outright. Their lips trembled as they wished they could immediately ask for treasures.
"Master, this..." Haotian looked at the treasures before him, feeling somewhat astonished as well.
He knew that his Master would compensate them, but he had not expected it to be so generous.
Seeing Haotian's surprise, Hongjun smiled.
"The Dao paths of you two are special, and you require powerful treasures for protection. The Qiankun Cauldron can help you refine Spiritual Treasures, while the Ren Water Flat Peach Tree can nourish Jade Pool's Dao Heart. Do not refuse."
"Even this is still somewhat unfair to you two. In the future, I will find another opportunity to compensate you."
"Thank you, Master!" Haotian and Jade Pool exchanged a glance. Filled with gratitude, they respectfully bowed to express their reverence.
But at that moment, Jieyin and Zhunti could no longer hold back. With a thud, they dropped to their knees and began wailing again.
"Dao Ancestor! The Western Land is barren, its Spirit Veins severed. Though we have obtained Purple Qi, we have no powerful treasures to protect us. We fear we will struggle to revitalize the Western Land in the future. We beg the Dao Ancestor for mercy!"
They cried so heartrendingly that they seemed even more miserable than when they had begged for Purple Qi earlier.
Hongjun watched the two wailing figures and helplessly rubbed his brow.
These two truly knew how to push their luck, but because of the karmic ties of the Western Land, he could not reject them completely.
"Very well. I shall bestow one Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure upon each of you."
With a wave of his hand, a golden lotus and a golden divine pestle floated out.
"Jieyin, this is the Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus of Merit. It can protect your primordial spirit and gather Merit."
"Zhunti, this is the Blessing Divine Pestle. It can help amplify your divine abilities and break evil arts."
The two immediately stopped crying, their faces overflowing with ecstasy as they hurriedly accepted the treasures.
"Thank you, Dao Ancestor! We disciples will certainly not disappoint the Dao Ancestor's trust and will revitalize the Western Land!"
They knew when to stop. If they continued crying, they feared they would anger the Dao Ancestor.
But when the others saw Jieyin and Zhunti cry their way into receiving treasures, they could no longer restrain themselves.
Some fell to their knees, while others forced out tears, preparing to repeat the same trick.
Before you continue