Hongjun Bestows Treasures, The Envious and Jealous Crowd

For a moment, envy, jealousy, and undisguised killing intent all converged on Hongyun.

Feeling the warm Dao rhythm within his Primordial Spirit, Hongyun could only smile bitterly in his heart.

He had long wished to distance himself from conflict, yet fate seemed determined to thrust him into the storm's eye.

Still, he did not retreat. Spiritual energy quietly gathered in his palm as he maintained a calm facade, bowing respectfully toward the high platform: "Thank you, Dao Ancestor, for the favor of the Purple Qi."

He knew that showing weakness now would only invite more covetousness. Only by standing firm could he ensure his safety within the Purple Xiao Palace.

As for his safety once outside the palace, he had already planned it out.

He was a master of escape arts, unrivaled in speed among the great powers of the Primordial Wilderness.

The moment he left the Purple Xiao Palace, he would head straight for Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, seeking refuge under the Earth Vein grand formation of his old friend Zhenyuanzi. There, he could safely refine the Purple Qi and solidify his foundation for sainthood.

Hongjun watched this scene, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

Though Hongyun held no status within the Mystic Gate, he harbored a Good Thought and had often aided the weak.

Such a character subtly aligned with the Heavenly Dao's benevolent will. It was hardly surprising that the Purple Qi had chosen him.

But choosing was one thing; keeping it was another.

He had no intention of interfering too much, so after a glance at Hongyun, he continued.

"I am about to merge with the Dao. Disciples of the Mystic Gate must possess heavy treasures to protect themselves amid the coming conflicts of the Primordial Wilderness."

With those words, Hongjun raised his hand and waved. Three beams of dazzling spiritual light emerged from the void.

Within the first beam of light, an ancient Taiji Diagram slowly unfurled.

Black and white qi swirled across the diagram, embodying the Dao rhythm of balanced yin-yang and peerless defense. It was the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram.

"Laozi, this diagram shall guard your Dao path and withstand innate killing formations. I now bestow it upon you."

"Disciple thanks Master for the treasure!" Laozi rose and bowed, accepting the Taiji Diagram with both hands.

The moment it touched his hands, a cool Dao rhythm merged into his Primordial Spirit, deepening his insight into Pure and Non-Action.

Within the second beam of light, a pure white banner floated suspended.

Faint images of the primordial creation flickered across its surface, radiating an unmatched, sharp aura. This was the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner.

"Yuanshi, this banner contains Pangu's power to split heaven and earth. It can break all laws and cleave through chaos. I now bestow it upon you."

"Thank you, Master, for the treasure!" A sharp gleam flashed in Venerable Yuanshi's eyes. After bowing, he strode forward quickly and received the Pangu Banner.

The banner was heavy in his hands, but it filled his heart with confidence. With such a supreme treasure, the authority of the Mystic Gate's orthodox lineage would be far better upheld.

Within the third beam of light, four murderous swords and a formation diagram appeared together.

The swords bore the characters: Slay, Kill, Trap, and Sever.

The formation diagram was covered in innate killing formation runes. These 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 form the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, the foremost killing formation of the Primordial Wilderness. Once deployed, it cannot be broken by fewer than four sages. Use it well."

"Thank you, Master! With this supreme treasure, no one will dare insult the disciples of the Mystic Gate!"

Sect Master Tongtian was overjoyed. After bowing with an excited expression, he swept the four swords and the formation diagram into his embrace. The killing aura on the blades perfectly resonated with his own Dao rhythm.

But this made many draw in sharp breaths. After all, this was something that could not be broken by fewer than four sages.

How many sages existed in the Primordial Wilderness at this moment? Aside from the Dao Ancestor, not a single one.

Even in the future, those who could attain sagehood would be exceedingly rare.

The Three Pure Ones were already one family. If they deployed the Immortal Slaying Four Swords, wouldn't they be invincible?

For a moment, many people's wariness of the Three Pure Ones reached its peak.

But Hongjun paid no heed to this. With a casual wave, a fourth beam of spiritual light emerged.

A scroll embroidered with mountains and rivers, and a crimson red embroidered ball, floated out slowly.

The scroll contained the power of creation, while the ball carried the rhythm of binding fate.

These were the Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures: the Mountain River Society Map and the Red Embroidered Ball.

"Nuwa, these two items will aid you in accomplishing great meritorious deeds in the future. The Mountain River Society Map can evolve an entire world, and the Red Embroidered Ball can bind the fates of living beings."

"If your fortune is sufficient in the future, they may even have the chance to ascend to Innate Supreme Treasures. I now bestow them upon you."

"Thank you, Master, for granting these treasures!" Even Nuwa, with her calm temperament, could not help but bow gratefully at this moment before accepting the scroll.

The moment the scroll entered her hands, she clearly felt the life force within it, and her comprehension of the Law of Creation advanced to a higher level.

Seeing Mount Sanqing and Nuwa receive treasures one after another, everyone in the hall was already burning with envy.

Especially Jieyin and Zhunti. The two stared fixedly at Hongjun, their eyes full of anticipation.

Though they were only nominal disciples, they still hoped to receive a heavy treasure to revitalize the West.

But Hongjun's gaze fell upon Haotian and Jade Pool instead, and his tone softened considerably.

"Haotian, my disciple; Yaochi, my disciple. The two of you voluntarily relinquished the Primordial Violet Qi, and your Dao paths now far surpass those of the Saints."

"Therefore, in addition to the treasures that were originally meant to be bestowed, there will be extra compensation."

As the words fell, eight beams of spiritual light and one spiritual root appeared simultaneously, instantly filling half the sky.

Along with the fading of the eight beams of light, 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 the Ren Water Flat Peach Tree materialized in the void.

"My heavens! That's far too much!" Everyone in the hall gasped sharply, envy practically spilling from their eyes.

Seven Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, one Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, and one Innate Supreme Treasure.

Such compensation was beyond imagination; even the Three Pure Ones cast sidelong glances.

Though they possessed Innate Supreme Treasures themselves, they now paid extra attention to Haotian's Qiankun Cauldron.

Nuwa looked at the Ren Water Flat Peach Tree, a flicker of envy passing through her eyes.

Then she recalled that her own Red Embroidered Ball could one day advance to an Innate Supreme Treasure, and only then did she calm down slightly.

Jieyin and Zhunti, however, had reddened eyes, their lips trembling as they yearned to beg for treasures on the spot.

"Master, this..." Haotian stared at the treasures before him, a hint of shock in his heart.

He knew his Master would compensate them, but he had never expected such generosity.

Seeing Haotian's astonishment, Hongjun spoke with a chuckle.

"Your Dao paths are unique and require heavy treasures for protection. The Qiankun Cauldron can aid you in refining spiritual treasures; the Ren Water Flat Peach Tree can nourish Yaochi's Dao Heart. Do not refuse."

"Even so, this still falls short of what you deserve. In the future, I will find another opportunity to compensate you."

"Thank you, Master!" Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance, their hearts filled with gratitude, and they bowed respectfully to express their reverence.

But at that moment, Jieyin and Zhunti could no longer hold back. With a thud, they knelt on the ground and began wailing loudly once more.

"Dao Ancestor! The West is barren, its spiritual veins severed. Though we have obtained the Violet Qi, we lack heavy treasures for protection. In the future, we fear we cannot revive the West. We implore the Dao Ancestor to show mercy!"

They wept heart-wrenchingly, even more miserably than when they had begged for the Violet Qi.

Hongjun looked at the two wailing figures and rubbed his brow in exasperation.

These two certainly knew how to push their luck, yet because of the Western karmic ties, he could not refuse them outright.

"Enough. I bestow upon each of you one Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure."

He raised his hand and waved, and 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 condense merit."

"Zhunti, this is the Blessing Divine Pestle. It can amplify your divine powers and break evil techniques."

The two instantly stopped crying, their faces brimming with wild joy as they hurriedly accepted the treasures.

"Thank you, Dao Ancestor! Your disciple will not fail your trust; we shall revive the West!"

They knew when to stop; crying any longer would likely annoy the Dao Ancestor.

But when the others saw Jieyin and Zhunti obtain treasures by weeping again, they could no longer restrain themselves.

Some knelt down, others forced out tears, ready to repeat the same trick.