Anomaly Arises at the Horizon Again!

"This gourd is a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure I obtained by chance at Buzhou Mountain years ago. You may choose any one of them."

Tongtian smiled faintly and flicked his sleeve. Four gourds appeared in his palm—the Chaos Gourd aside, all the others were revealed.

"Thank you, Master, for the treasure."

He bowed again, utterly respectful.

Under the burning gazes of the many disciples, Kong Xuan stepped forward and took the purple-and-green gourd.

"Not a bad eye.

"This item has only one function, but it is exceedingly rare—it can nurture magical treasures and help them advance by one grade."

"However, limited by its own grade, the treasures it refines can at most reach the Supreme Grade Innate level."

Tongtian commented with a smile, his tone casual, as though he were discussing some ordinary object.

Yet when those words fell on everyone's ears, the elders and disciples felt waves crashing through their hearts.

Even their breathing grew heavier.

What was this? It was a supreme treasure capable of pushing an ordinary spiritual treasure to its pinnacle! How could it possibly be compared to mundane things?

Let alone the entire Heavenly Court, even Dijun, as the Heavenly Emperor, possessed only two or three treasures of this level.

How could they not be moved?

"Six-Eared, Yunxiao, Qiongxiao, are you willing to enter my sect and become my True Inheritor Disciples?"

Tongtian's gaze slowly swept across the remaining seventeen people as he spoke again.

"This disciple is willing! Greetings, Master!"

Though they had long anticipated it, when those words truly came, Six-Eared and the two Xiao sisters were still overwhelmed, their bodies trembling slightly.

They immediately followed Kong Xuan's example and bent down in a formal bow.

"No need for such ceremony."

"This Sky-Breaking Cudgel is a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Today, I bestow it upon you for use in battle."

Before his words had even faded, a pitch-black iron staff appeared out of thin air.

At a single glance, the Six-Eared Macaque's heart jolted, and blazing light immediately ignited in his eyes.

He hurriedly kowtowed in thanks, grabbed the iron staff, and held it in his hand, grinning from ear to ear.

"Thank you, Master, for your generous gift!"

After accepting his bow, Tongtian turned to Yunxiao and Qiongxiao.

Among this batch of True Inheritor Disciples, Six-Eared ranked first, followed by the two sisters.

If not for Six-Eared's strange luck in repeatedly running into powerful opponents such as Duobao and Wudang, the sisters might not have risen so high.

"The Golden Flood Dragon Scissors and the Primordial Golden Dou are both Supreme Grade Innate treasures. Today, I grant them to you for protection."

With that, he raised his hand and retrieved two divine weapons from the treasure vault.

Though they already possessed several magical artifacts, without these two sect-defending treasures, how could the Three Xiao Sisters' name intimidate the Primordial Wilderness?

Naturally, this was also meant in part to encourage the others.

There was no benefit in leaving treasures unused. It was better to use them to inspire his disciples to cultivate diligently without pause.

He could also take the opportunity to accumulate some fortune and merit.

With the disciple-taking finished, Tongtian looked toward the remaining fourteen people.

Other than Xuan Du, all of them were unfamiliar faces.

If Fuxi knew of this, he would probably be unable to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

That's it?

He did not even recognize all of his own disciples, yet this Sect Master certainly had plenty of leisure!

"You have entered the top three, so I naturally will not treat you poorly."

"Speak. Whatever you desire, so long as it is reasonable, it can be granted."

The fourteen people, who had felt slightly disappointed at not being accepted as direct disciples, immediately brightened.

They exchanged glances and began speaking one after another.

"Reporting to Sect Master... this disciple wishes for an offensive High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure."

"This disciple respectfully requests a defensive High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure."

"This disciple... wants ten Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs."

"This disciple..."

The thirteen people each stated their wishes, all of them seeking magical treasures, pills, and the like.

After hearing them, Tongtian did not become angry and granted every request.

At last, everyone's gazes fell upon Xuan Du, who had remained silent all along.

They secretly wondered: What request would he make?

Suddenly, Xuan Du dropped to both knees, pressed his forehead to the ground, and spoke with utmost sincerity.

"Reporting to Sect Master, this disciple seeks nothing else. I only wish to become a True Inheritor Disciple under Master. I beg you to take pity and accept me!"

Nuwa's eyes flickered, her expression strange.

Had the joke she casually made earlier actually come true?

After a brief daze, the corners of her lips rose slightly. She secretly glanced at Tongtian, her eyes carrying a trace of schadenfreude.

In an instant, gasps rang out one after another, resounding through the air.

The countless disciples looking at Xuan Du now held a little more heartfelt admiration.

Meanwhile, the thirteen disciples who had chosen magical treasures and pills became objects of pity in everyone's eyes.

This was not merely one wrong step—it was a total loss!

Forget those magical treasures and elixirs. Even if there had been dozens or hundreds of times more, they still would not compare to this opportunity!

It was not that they did not understand; greed had simply clouded their minds at the time.

Now that they had come to their senses, their faces were already pale as paper, their eyes filled with fear and regret.

If there truly were a medicine called regret, they would definitely swallow ten or eight pills without hesitation!

Tongtian shot Nuwa a cold glance, inwardly cursing her cunningness, yet he could do nothing about it.

When he turned to Xuan Du, however, an extra hint of approval unconsciously appeared in his eyes.

He had originally thought Xuan Du was merely a man of steadfast will. Now it seemed that he was not foolish either.

After a moment of silence, the surroundings became utterly quiet. Everyone's hearts tightened, while Xuan Du alone looked on with eager expectation.

Tongtian finally sighed softly.

"Very well. Since your heart in seeking the Dao is so sincere, I shall make an exception and accept you as my fifth True Inheritor Disciple."

"Thank you, Sect Master—no, thank you, Master! Thank you, Master!"

Xuan Du was so excited that he nearly became incoherent, repeatedly kowtowing until his forehead almost touched the ground.

Tongtian waved his hand, and a gentle force lifted him up. Then he said,

"This is a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Primordial Yang Cauldron.

"You possess considerable talent in alchemy, so I shall also grant you a secret alchemy manual." Before his words fell, he lightly tapped Xuan Du's brow with one finger. A vast torrent of information surged into his mind—it was a supreme alchemy art.

Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, a crimson little cauldron appeared out of thin air and silently hovered before Xuan Du.

"Master's great kindness will never be forgotten by this disciple!"

Xuan Du's eyes grew warm, and even his voice trembled slightly.

He knew that his innate foundation and aptitude were ordinary. Even after taking the Bone-Changing Pill, he was still not particularly outstanding among the Interception Sect's many disciples.

But why had Master singled him out?

Master must have intended to use the Pill Dao to help him make up for the gap, so that he would not be left far behind by his fellow disciples...

If Tongtian knew what he was thinking, he would probably be unable to keep from laughing.

The true reason was simple enough—the alchemy hall was desperately short-handed!

Spiritual treasures could be used for a long time. A single magical treasure could often last several kalpas without issue; pills were different. They were consumed quickly, and no matter how many were refined, there were never enough. It was like a bottomless pit that could never be filled.

Now that he had discovered Xuan Du's talent in this area, Tongtian naturally went with the flow. Dragging him in to help later and increase production was the proper business.

Once everything had been arranged, Tongtian looked at the group of disciples below, all eagerly waiting for benefits, and composed himself before announcing in a clear voice,

"This ceremony is now complete. I shall take this opportunity to expound the Dao for you all for a thousand years.

"How much you comprehend will depend entirely on your own opportunities."

"Thank you for Sect Master's great grace!"

Everyone shouted in unison, sitting upright and focusing their minds, unable to suppress the joy on their faces.

Deep within the Heavenly Court, a suffocatingly powerful aura suddenly erupted from a secret chamber.

Fortunately, formation restrictions had been laid around it. Otherwise, that pressure would have instantly swept through the entire heavenly palace from the chamber's center.

After a long while, the aura withdrew. Dijun slowly opened his eyes, the laws within his body circulating in flawless completion.

The corners of his mouth could not help rising, his delight impossible to conceal.

He had finally broken through to the peak of the Quasi-Saint realm!

"After years of Closed Door Meditation, my arduous cultivation has not been in vain."

He murmured to himself, his smile radiant.

Entering this realm meant that his hope of using the merit of the heavenly marriage to charge toward the Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal realm had increased by another measure.

Though the increase was limited, every step forward was crucial.

After all, while the difference between the late Quasi-Saint realm and its peak was only a minor realm, it could be an impassable chasm between attaining the Dao and perishing.

If he failed at the final moment merely because his cultivation fell short by this little, he would truly have no one to blame but himself.

Walking out of the secret chamber, Dijun swept the area with his Divine Sense and revealed a satisfied expression.

Today, the Heavenly Court was festooned with lanterns and decorations. Pavilions and halls were draped in splendid finery, immortal maidens carried fruit, jade maidens played music, and joyous celebration filled every corner.

Even the heavenly soldiers and generals guarding outside the South Heaven Gate looked spirited and imposing.

Just then, Eastern Emperor Taiyi hurried over.

He had originally worn an anxious expression, but upon sensing that unfathomable aura, he abruptly stopped, shock flashing through his eyes.

Then wild delight surged into his heart.

"Brother... Brother, you broke through?"

There was still a trace of uncertainty in his voice, as though he feared his senses had deceived him.

When he saw Dijun nod with a smile, Taiyi immediately threw back his head and laughed, his laughter shaking the skies.

He was so delighted that it seemed as though he himself had broken through.

"Heavenly Emperor, you have finally emerged from Closed Door Meditation! The auspicious hour is approaching, and the wedding ceremony is about to begin!"

Kunpeng also arrived at that moment and hurriedly stepped forward to report.

Hearing this, Taiyi immediately understood.

"Right, right. I came under orders just now, intending to forcibly wake you from your Closed Door Meditation."

"If we missed the auspicious hour, would we not become the laughingstock of the Primordial Wilderness?"

Dijun nodded slightly, his bearing high and his spirits soaring.

"Come. Follow me to the main hall."

Before his words faded, he had already strode forward, heading toward the Hall of Supreme Harmony with the force of a soaring dragon and leaping tiger.

Taiyi and Kunpeng hurriedly followed behind him.

Immediately afterward, three vast and majestic proclamations echoed across heaven and earth.

"Today, I, the Heavenly Emperor, wed. All those fated may come witness it."

"Today, I, the Heavenly Emperor, wed. All those fated may come witness it."

"Today, I, the Heavenly Emperor, wed. All those fated may come witness it."

In an instant, the Great Desolation Continent shook.

Countless cultivators who had long been eagerly awaiting this moment instantly erupted into excitement.

Those capable of attending immediately set off, racing to the Heavenly Court.

Those unable to go could only raise their heads and watch the flying figures that blotted out the sky, their hearts full of envy as they whispered among themselves.

Before long, cultivators arriving to offer congratulations came in an endless stream, their auras growing ever more powerful.

The ceremony was about to begin.

Yet Kunlun remained silent and still, no figures could be seen from Spirit Mountain in the west, and even the Three Immortal Islands showed no movement.

Dijun's expression gradually darkened.

Just then, an anomaly appeared in the eastern sky—rolling purple qi stretched for a million li, auspicious mists surged, and lucky clouds curled through the heavens.

Sanskrit chants softly resounded, heavenly flowers drifted down, golden lotuses bloomed from the splitting earth, and a pure fragrance spread everywhere.

Everyone's eyes were instantly drawn toward it.

Within the depths of the auspicious clouds, a grand carriage slowly approached from the direction of Mount Sumeru.

Two figures sat within the carriage: Laozi and Yuanshi.

"They really know how to put on airs!"

Someone muttered inwardly, yet no one dared show disrespect. They all bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Grand Pure Saint and Primordial Pure Saint!"

The corners of Yuanshi's mouth lifted. That grand display had finally eased his heart.

With a light sweep of his sleeve, he raised everyone up.

"There is no need for such ceremony."

With that, he entered the main hall side by side with Laozi, carrying an imposing presence.

Before everyone could recover, another anomaly arose at the horizon.

Two figures descended soundlessly—it was Jieyin and Zhunti, arriving from the west.

Seeing every entrance made with such fanfare, everyone could not help but wonder: How would Sect Master Tongtian make his appearance?