Western Region, Mount Sumeru.
When Zhunti saw the Sect Master's Edict above Tongtian's head, his expression changed slightly, lingering fear rising in his heart.
If Tongtian had brought out those two supreme treasures outside Purple Heaven Palace that day,
he would likely have been defeated long ago, losing far more than just face.
At that thought, a trace of relief inevitably rose in his heart.
Then, when he considered Tongtian's current predicament, he found himself faintly pleased.
Within the Ancestral Witch Hall.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian truly has courage! Fighting four alone—he is indeed the true orthodox lineage of Father God!"
Battle intent surged in Zhurong's eyes, and the flames around him flared higher.
As one of the Twelve Ancestral Witches, battle had seeped deep into his bones.
Seeing such a scene now, his blood could not help but boil.
"As for Laozi and Yuanshi, we have no wish to keep company with them!"
Houtu gave a cold snort, her tone brimming with disdain.
In her eyes, joining hands with outsiders to deal with one's own brother was utterly despicable!
Inside Wuzhuang Temple.
"Judging by Fellow Daoist Tongtian's current strength and treasures, if we had not yielded back then, we might have suffered greatly in the future."
Hong Yun shook his head with a bitter smile, his face full of emotion.
Forget his combat strength—even those two Innate Supreme Treasures alone were enough to make anyone wary.
After all, even if they had truly obtained a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure back then, it would merely have been considered top-tier in the Primordial Wilderness.
But before Innate Supreme Treasures, especially two appearing at once, the gap was simply too obvious.
"With Fellow Daoist Tongtian's talent and foundation, his future accomplishments will be limitless. We should build a good relationship with him as soon as possible."
Zhenyuanzi nodded in agreement, his tone carrying a measure of respect.
Within Purple Heaven Palace.
"It seems that thread of life has fallen upon Tongtian."
Hongjun sat upon his cloud bed and slowly withdrew his gaze, unable to calm his thoughts.
As a Saint, and one who controlled a heaven-defying treasure like the Jade Plate of Creation,
he had long glimpsed part of the future course of the Heavenly Dao.
That was precisely why Tongtian's rise was what he desired.
With a thought, he had already made his decision.
He raised a hand toward Buzhou Mountain and sighed softly.
"Seize a thread of life. Tongtian, whether you win this game depends on your own fortune."
With that, he slowly closed his eyes and no longer concerned himself with the outcome of this battle.
"Tongtian, he is your elder brother! How dare you attack him!"
Laozi roared, his face twisting with fury.
Yuanshi's face was pale, but his eyes burned like fire.
He was one of Pangu's Orthodox Lineage, yet a single spear strike had stripped him of all dignity. How could he not be enraged?
"I have already made it clear. From this day forth, the Three Pure Ones have no further ties."
Facing Laozi's rebuke, Tongtian answered with a cold laugh.
Then his gaze shifted toward Dijun and Taiyi, who had just joined the battle.
"You two want to interfere as well?"
"Hmph! Treasures belong to the virtuous. You act recklessly and seek to monopolize them for yourself. How can anyone tolerate that?"
Taiyi shouted coldly, holding the Chaos Bell with a stern expression.
Dijun said nothing. He merely raised the River Diagram and Luo Book above his head.
For a time, Laozi, Yuanshi, Dijun, and Taiyi surrounded Tongtian from all four directions.
Not long after,
Laozi let out a long howl.
The four of them simultaneously unleashed their respective spiritual treasures and divine abilities.
The moment their vast attacks erupted, Heaven and Earth shook, and the winds and clouds changed color.
Within the void, an immeasurable power quietly gathered.
In but an instant, all of Buzhou Mountain began to tremble violently as thunderous rumbles rose everywhere.
The multicolored radiance of magical treasures illuminated Heaven and Earth in every direction.
Wherever that terrifying power passed, even the void shattered inch by inch.
"Perfect timing!" Tongtian laughed toward the sky.
The Sect Master's Command above his head suddenly shook and trembled violently.
Blazing divine light burst forth from it.
Its brilliance was so intense that even the sun, moon, and stars dimmed before it.
At that moment, the God-Slaying Spear in his hand also stirred the Heaven and Earth spiritual energy across hundreds of millions of miles.
That incomparably domineering aura shocked countless experts and sent chills through their hearts.
"This strike... is actually so terrifying!"
"Brother Tongtian's talent is extraordinary. I am far inferior to him."
"The path of cultivation truly is vast and boundless. Who would have thought that Brother Tongtian had already stepped onto his own Great Dao?"
"After this battle, no one beneath the Saints will be able to contend with him."
"One spear sweeps across ten thousand miles of stars, ruling over all heroes beneath Heaven!"
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Heaven and Earth roared as though they were about to collapse.
An overwhelming pressure swept in every direction, whipping up a violent storm.
Vast shockwaves spread from where the five clashed, shaking everything for ten thousand miles.
Endless killing intent filled the air, like the descent of heavenly might.
Its power was so overwhelming that even the many great powers watching from afar could not help but turn pale.
As Heaven and Earth overturned, countless mountains collapsed, while birds and beasts scattered in panic.
Massive amounts of spiritual energy exploded through the air.
That terrifying aura shrouded the entire Heavenly Vault.
Pfft!
Pfft!
The light gradually faded.
Yuanshi spat out several mouthfuls of blood in succession, streaking across the sky like a falling meteor.
Laozi's face was pale as well, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
The radiance of the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda had also dimmed completely.
Dijun's face was deathly pale, blood staining his robes as his hands trembled uncontrollably.
The Daoist robe on his body was tattered beyond recognition, making him look like a beggar.
As for Taiyi, though the Chaos Bell protected his body, he was still left in a miserable state.
His hair was disheveled, and not a trace of a powerful expert's bearing remained.
Minghe swept his gaze over them, and his heart immediately trembled with fear.
Fortunately, he had prepared in advance. Taking advantage of Fuxi and Nuwa's attack, he swiftly withdrew.
Within a few flashes of thought, he had retreated a million miles away.
In the blink of an eye, he fled in panic before everyone's eyes.
Laozi and the other three seemed to have discussed it beforehand, fleeing rapidly in different directions with perfect tacit understanding.
Tongtian snorted coldly but did not give chase.
Where could they possibly run?
Unless they never came to hear the Dao again, unless they left the Primordial Wilderness forever.
Otherwise, none of them could escape this calamity!
His gaze swept across the void as he shouted coldly.
"What? Do you all want a taste of my God-Slaying Spear as well?"
Those words made the souls of countless great powers tremble, and they all withdrew their probing Spiritual Sense.
As for making threats?
Did Laozi, Dijun, and the others look as though they had the courage?
Only someone tired of living would dare open their mouth now!
"Congratulations on your victory, Sect Master." Fuxi put away the Precious Zither and bowed sincerely.
This battle had thoroughly convinced him.
Nuwa said nothing, but the look in her eyes already explained everything.
That trace of admiration was completely undisguised.
"No need for such formality." Tongtian waved a hand, his gaze falling upon the Innate Gourd Vine.
By the end of the battle, the seventh gourd had already matured.
He casually tossed the Purple-White Immortal-Slaying Gourd and the Purple-Green Demon-Summoning Gourd to the two of them.
With a sweep of his sleeve, he collected the remaining gourds, the vine, and the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.
"Now that you have obtained these treasures, do not rush to refine them. First calm yourselves and seek enlightenment. Strive to break through to the Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal as soon as possible."
"When the Dao is next expounded, I hope you will have achieved something."
He clicked his tongue and gave them the earnest advice.
The next lecture would concern the Dao of the Quasi-Saint.
If they could Sever a Corpse and step into the Quasi-Saint realm before hearing the Dao, it would be a tremendous opportunity.
"We shall obey the Sect Master's Edict."
The two gave slight bows. Without saying more, they each returned to their own cultivation grounds.
Though they did not understand Tongtian's intentions, they knew he must have his reasons.
Thus, they secretly swore in their hearts that they would break through to the peak before the next Dao lecture.
Watching the two depart, Tongtian followed the faint sensation in his heart and slowly walked toward the other side of Buzhou Mountain.
During the fierce battle just now, he had suddenly sensed something.
As a Peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal, he naturally understood that it was an Omen of the Great Dao.
Some fortuitous opportunity connected to him must have appeared.
Before long, Tongtian arrived at his destination.
Before he could begin exploring, a green light suddenly erupted in the distance, illuminating the entire Heavenly Vault in an instant.
"This... is the Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation!"
Tongtian stared at the slowly rotating Creation Green Lotus before him, his face full of astonishment.
Red flower, white lotus root, green lotus leaves—the Three Sects had originally come from the same source.
Naturally, he was well acquainted with this saying that would become widespread in later generations.
But what was going on before him?
By all reason, should this lotus not have remained intact?
Could it be because Laozi and Yuanshi had not yet appeared?
Shaking his head, Tongtian rejected that guess.
Just as he was puzzled, the green lotus floating in midair suddenly trembled lightly.
Then it flew straight toward him.
"This is... him?"
Feeling a familiar fluctuation within it, Tongtian's body shook slightly.
He then fell into deep thought.
This complete Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation had not split into three spiritual treasures as in the legends. Hongjun must have intervened.
But he had no connection with Hongjun, so why would Hongjun give him such a heaven-defying supreme treasure?
One had to know that even after splitting apart, each piece would be a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Now that it remained whole, it was comparable to an Innate Supreme Treasure!
Was Hongjun using a supreme treasure to befriend him?
Impossible!
At that thought, Tongtian immediately rejected the idea.
Hongjun was a Saint. With Tongtian's current cultivation, he was no more than an ant in Hongjun's eyes.
What was there about him worth such effort?
If that were not the reason, then why would Hongjun grant him an Innate Supreme Treasure for no reason?
Had he eaten too much and had nothing better to do?
"Forget it. I will ask him clearly the next time I hear him expound the Dao."
Unable to figure it out, Tongtian simply stopped dwelling on it.
A treasure had fallen from the heavens. Would it not be a waste not to take it?
He then began tallying his gains from this trip.
Two strands of Gengjin Origin,
Five Innate Gourds,
one Innate Gourd Vine,
a lump of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil,
and this complete Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation.
This trip had truly paid off.
With a curl of his lips, Tongtian was quite satisfied with his gains.
The Gengjin Origin was not only an excellent material for artifact refinement, but also a supreme treasure for comprehending the Law of Metal.
As for the first four Innate Gourds, Tongtian did not care much about them.
They were merely Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
With three Innate Supreme Treasures already in his possession, he no longer regarded them highly.
However, when his Spiritual Sense entered the Seventh Purple Gourd, which had only recently matured, delight immediately appeared on his face.
That was right—this gourd was the legendary Chaos Gourd!
Although it did not possess the Chaos Bead's ability to conceal heavenly secrets,
it contained a world of its own,
making it an exceptional support for those walking the path of Attaining Dao Through Strength!
Even more rare was that the Chaos Qi contained within it was gentler than the Chaos Qi beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
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