The three hurried toward the soaring radiance and found seven gourds slowly taking shape on a Seven-Colored Gourd Vine.
"Looks like they'll need a little more time to mature," Qing Xuan said.
"Hahahaha, then let's wait a while. I can sense that all seven gourds are Spiritual Treasure embryos. When the time comes, we can take two each!" Hong Yun laughed heartily, already imagining how they would divide the treasures.
"Hong Yun, don't celebrate too soon. Look over there!" Zhen Yuanzi solemnly interrupted Hong Yun and looked east.
An old man and two young men flew over. They were none other than the famed Three Pure Ones of the Primordial Wilderness.
"Greetings, fellow Daoists. I have sensed that this treasure is destined for me. I hope you will yield it to me," Laozi said as soon as he arrived. He naturally knew it was basically impossible to make the three leave empty-handed, but what if they did? There was no harm in trying.
"Heh, what a coincidence. I also think this treasure is destined for me. Why don't you leave first?" Hong Yun sneered, fury rising in his heart.
"Hmph. Since you refuse to leave, words are useless. Let's settle this with our hands!" Yuanshi snorted coldly and moved to teach Hong Yun a lesson.
"Wait!"
Just as the two were about to fight, Qing Xuan and Laozi spoke at the same time. They looked at each other, and Qing Xuan said,
"The Spiritual Treasures haven't matured yet. If we fight now, I'm afraid we'll only be making wedding clothes for others!" Qing Xuan said, pointing at the figures flying over in the distance.
"Indeed," Laozi agreed.
Everyone looked into the distance and saw Jie Yin and Zhunti, Di Jun and Tai Yi, and Nuwa and Fu Xi arriving one after another.
"Wuwuwu~ Fellow Daoists, we two brothers come from the barren lands of the west. Please have pity on us brothers and give these treasures to us, all right?"
As Zhunti approached and saw so many people while there were only seven gourds, a glint flashed through his eyes, and he began tearfully pleading with everyone.
No one paid him any attention. Treasures belonged to those capable of claiming them. With so many people here, it would ultimately come down to strength. Who cared about his nonsense?
Qing Xuan then spoke. "These treasures are treasures of the east. You people from the west should not take part."
"Correct. What do these treasures have to do with you two?" Yuanshi immediately agreed, and the others nodded as well.
"Why don't we join forces and drive the two of them away first?" Fu Xi said.
"Agreed!"
Seeing this, Jie Yin and Zhunti knew they could not obtain the Spiritual Treasures, so they left with ugly expressions.
Just when everyone thought no one else would come, six people slowly walked over from the foot of the mountain. Di Jun and Tai Yi's expressions instantly darkened at the sight.
The others, however, were delighted, because the six who had come were Zhujiuyin, Qiangliang, Gonggong, Zhurong, Xuanming, and Houtu—the six Ancestral Witches.
"Hehehe, Three-legged Birds, with us here, these treasures have nothing to do with you!" Zhurong said with a laugh as soon as they met.
The six of them had only come to see what treasure had caused such a commotion. They had originally intended merely to watch the excitement, since Spiritual Treasures were useless to them. Yet upon finding Di Jun and Tai Yi here, they immediately decided to make the two return empty-handed.
"Hmph. With only the six of you, I'm afraid you can't stop us!" Di Jun knew their chances of seizing the treasures were slim, but even if he lost, he would not lose face. He was not afraid of a fight.
At that moment, the seven-colored radiance faded, and the seven gourds had fully matured. Everyone hurriedly unleashed their methods.
Just as Di Jun and Tai Yi were about to seize the gourds, six figures closed in on them. Left with no choice, Di Jun angrily said,
"Since that's the case, then let's have a proper fight!" The eight instantly descended into battle.
Fu Xi and Nuwa, however, were smarter. Nuwa went to seize the gourds while Fu Xi blocked attacks behind her. In this way, Nuwa successfully plucked a Jade Green Gourd.
"We siblings will take only this one gourd. Farewell!" Fu Xi immediately said, pulling Nuwa away from the area.
Qing Xuan's group of three and the Three Pure Ones did not stop them. After all, the greatest enemies were still the three before them.
Laozi swung the Dust Whisk in his hand, and white threads coiled toward the gourds. Qing Xuan swept his Primordial Halberd, severing the white threads, then closed in and struck Tongtian's Qingping Sword with another slash.
Holding the Earth Book, Zhen Yuanzi unleashed waves of earth-element divine abilities at Yuanshi. Yuanshi gripped the Jade Ruyi, which flashed with azure light and blocked every attack.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Hong Yun plucked the White Gold Gourd and the Cyan Blue Gourd and stored them in his robes.
Laozi's gaze darkened as he said,
"Use your full strength and assist me!"
The Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Black Yellow Pagoda, protected Laozi's body as he struck Qing Xuan's head with his Dust Whisk.
Seeing this, Tongtian and Yuanshi hurriedly held back Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun. In their eyes, if Laozi's attack hit Qing Xuan, Qing Xuan would undoubtedly die.
"Heh, is that all?" Qing Xuan said disdainfully.
The Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud protected his body. He stood upon the World-Purifying White Lotus, with the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner and the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner above his head. He paid no heed to the Dust Whisk overhead and swung his Primordial Halberd forward.
"Primordial Tribulation!"
Boom!
Laozi's face twisted viciously. Not only had his Dust Whisk failed to achieve anything, but Qing Xuan had instead sent him flying.
"Big Brother!" Tongtian cried out, gripping the Qingping Sword as he flew toward Laozi.
Yuanshi, however, remained where he was, his expression shifting as he looked at Qing Xuan, surrounded by so many Spiritual Treasures. Envy filled his heart.
Seeing this, Hong Yun hurriedly stuffed the remaining four gourds—the Purple Gold Gourd, Crimson Red Gourd, Xuanhuang Gourd, and Black Gray Gourd—into his robes, then chuckled smugly.
When Laozi and Tongtian returned and saw the Gourd Vine completely bare, their eyes turned cold. Pale-faced, Laozi said,
"Today, we brothers were inferior in skill. Another day, we shall seek instruction from you three!" With that, the Three Pure Ones turned and departed.
"Hehehe, we made a fortune!" Seeing this, Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi came to Qing Xuan's side and took six gourds from Hong Yun's robes.
Qing Xuan was delighted. This harvest had been plentiful indeed. These six gourds were all famed treasures, yet they had all fallen into their hands. Qing Xuan said,
"Exactly six. The three of us can take two each!" Qing Xuan took the Black Gray Gourd and the White Gold Gourd. The latter would later be refined into the legendary Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife, while the Black Gray Gourd was the Chaos Gourd, the most mysterious of the seven gourds.
Seeing this, Hong Yun handed the Purple Gold Gourd and the Xuanhuang Gourd to Zhen Yuanzi, then passed the Cyan Blue Gourd to Qing Xuan.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Xuan, if not for you in this struggle for treasures, we might have returned empty-handed. So one gourd is enough for me. Take this one, and do not refuse," Hong Yun said sincerely. In his eyes, Spiritual Treasures were far less important than the friendship between the two of them.
Seeing this, Zhen Yuanzi felt greatly gratified. He had long known Hong Yun would act this way. Hong Yun was not someone greedy for petty gains; otherwise, he would not have given Zhen Yuanzi so many Ginseng Fruits back then.
Zhen Yuanzi also handed the Xuanhuang Gourd to Qing Xuan and said,
"Take it. It is only right!"
"You two! Sigh!" Qing Xuan did not know whether to laugh or cry. He accepted the two gourds, deeply moved that he had found such close friends in the Primordial Wilderness.
The three then discussed returning to Wuzhuang Temple to refine their treasures. Before leaving, Qing Xuan collected the Innate Gourd Vine and the Innate Breathing Soil from the ground, thinking, Nuwa, I hope you obtain more treasures. Otherwise, I won't give you this item for nothing.
Before you continue