Fighting Over the Innate Gourd

The three hurried over to the pillar of light shooting into the sky, where they found a Seven-Colored Gourd Vine with seven gourds slowly taking shape.

"It looks like they still need a while to mature," Qing Xuan said.

"Hahaha, then let's wait a bit. I can sense that all seven gourds are still Spiritual Treasure embryos. When the time comes, we'll split them two each," Hong Yun laughed heartily, already envisioning the process of dividing the treasures.

"Hong Yun, don't celebrate too early. Look over there!" Zhen Yuanzi interrupted Hong Yun gravely, pointing eastward.

An old man and a young man flew over—none other than the infamous Three Pure Ones of the Primordial Wilderness.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoists. This poor Daoist senses that this treasure is fated for me. I hope you will yield it!" Laozi said as he approached. He knew full well that getting these three to leave empty-handed was nearly impossible, but if by some chance they did, there was no harm in trying.

"Heh, what a coincidence. I also feel this treasure is fated for me. Why don't you leave first?" Hong Yun retorted, burning with anger.

"Hmph, since you won't leave, words are useless. Let's settle this with strength!" Yuanshi snorted coldly, stepping forward to teach Hong Yun a lesson.

"Wait!"

Just as the two were about to come to blows, Qing Xuan and Laozi spoke simultaneously. They exchanged a glance, and Qing Xuan said, "The Spiritual Treasure hasn't matured yet. If we fight now, we'll only be making a wedding gown for someone else!" He pointed at the figures flying over in the distance.

"Indeed," Laozi agreed.

Everyone looked into the distance and saw Jie Yin, Zhunti, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Nuwa, and Fu Xi all approaching.

"Wah wah wah~ Fellow Daoists, we brothers come from the barren lands of the West. Please take pity on us and let us have this treasure, won't you?"

Zhunti approached, saw the crowd, and noted there were only seven gourds. A gleam flashed in his eyes as he began to weep and plead.

No one paid him any mind. Treasures go to the capable. With so many people here, it would ultimately come down to strength. Who cared about his sob story?

Then Qing Xuan spoke. "This treasure belongs to the East. You Westerners should not meddle."

"Indeed, what business is this of yours two?" Yuanshi immediately agreed, and the others nodded in turn.

"How about we join forces and drive them away first?" Fu Xi suggested.

"Agreed!"

Seeing the situation, Jie Yin and Zhunti knew they couldn't snatch the Spiritual Treasure and left with grim faces.

Just as everyone thought no one else would come, six figures slowly walked up from the foot of the mountain. Di Jun and Tai Yi's faces instantly darkened.

The others, however, were secretly pleased, for the six arrivals were none other than the Ancestral Witches: Zhujiuyin, Qiangliang, Gonggong, Zhurong, Xuanming, and Houtu.

"Hehe, Three-legged Bird, with us here, this treasure has nothing to do with you!" Zhurong laughed as soon as he saw them.

The six had only come to see what treasure had caused such a commotion. They had intended to just watch the fun, since Spiritual Treasures were useless to them. But upon seeing Di Jun and Tai Yi, they immediately decided to make sure the two left empty-handed.

"Hmph, just the six of you? I doubt you can stop us!" Di Jun knew their chances of grabbing the treasure were slim, but losing face was worse than losing a fight. He wasn't afraid to throw down.

Just then, the seven-colored light dissipated. The seven gourds had ripened. Everyone immediately made their move.

Di Jun and Tai Yi tried to rush for the gourds, but six figures blocked their path. Forced to back off, Di Jun roared in fury, "Fine then! Let's have a proper fight!" The eight of them clashed instantly.

Fu Xi and Nuwa were cleverer. Nuwa went for the gourds while Fu Xi blocked attacks behind her. This allowed Nuwa to successfully pluck a Jade Green Gourd.

"We siblings will take only this one gourd. Farewell!" Fu Xi said quickly, pulling Nuwa away from the scene.

Qing Xuan's group and the Three Pure Ones did not stop them. After all, the biggest threats were still the three before them.

Laozi swung his Dust Whisk, white threads shooting toward the gourds. Qing Xuan swung his Primordial Halberd, severing the threads, then closed in and struck at Tongtian's Qingping Sword.

Zhen Yuanzi held the Earth Book, unleashing wave after wave of earth-element divine abilities at Yuanshi. Yuanshi gripped his Jade Ruyi, green light flashing as he blocked every attack.

Meanwhile, Hong Yun seized the opportunity to pluck the White Gold Gourd and the Cyan Blue Gourd, tucking them into his robes.

Seeing this, Laozi's eyes darkened. "Use full strength. Help me!"

The Postnatal Merit Supreme Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Exquisite Black Yellow Pagoda, shielded Laozi's body as he swung his Dust Whist at Qing Xuan's head.

Tongtian and Yuanshi immediately moved to block Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun. In their eyes, if Laozi struck Qing Xuan, Qing Xuan was as good as dead.

"Heh, is that all?" Qing Xuan said disdainfully.

The Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud protected his body, the World-Purifying White Lotus beneath his feet, the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner and Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner above his head. He paid no heed to the Dust Whist descending on him and swung his Primordial Halberd forward.

"Primordial Tribulation!"

Boom!

Laozi's face twisted in fury. His Dust Whist had accomplished nothing, and instead, Qing Xuan sent him flying.

"Big Brother!" Tongtian cried out, gripping his Qingping Sword as he flew toward Laozi.

Yuanshi, however, stood rooted to the spot, his expression shifting as he gazed at Qing Xuan, protected by so many Spiritual Treasures. Envy churned in his heart.

Seeing this, Hong Yun quickly scooped up the remaining four gourds—Purple Gold, Crimson Red, Black Yellow, and Dark Gray—and stuffed them into his robes, grinning slyly.

Laozi and Tongtian returned to find the gourd vine completely bare. Their eyes turned icy, and Laozi said, pale-faced, "Today, we brothers were outmatched. Another day, we will seek your instruction again!" With that, the Three Pure Ones turned and left.

"Hehehe, we hit the jackpot!" Hong Yun said, walking over to Qing Xuan with Zhen Yuanzi and pulling six gourds from his robes.

Qing Xuan was overjoyed inwardly—this haul was substantial. These six gourds were all renowned, yet now they had all fallen into his hands. He spoke.

"Exactly six gourds. Let's split them three ways, two each!" Qing Xuan took the Black Gray Gourd and the White Gold Gourd. The latter had already been 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 during this treasure grab, we might have returned empty-handed. So I'll take just one gourd. This one is for you—please don't refuse." Hong Yun spoke sincerely. In his eyes, spiritual treasures were far less important than the friendship between them.

Zhen Yuanzi, watching from the side, felt quite gratified. He had long known Hong Yun would act this way, for Hong Yun was no one to take advantage of others—otherwise, back then, he wouldn't have given him so many Ginseng Fruits to eat.

Zhen Yuanzi also handed the Xuanhuang Gourd to Qing Xuan and spoke.

"Take it. It's only right!"

"You two! Ah!" Qing Xuan laughed helplessly as he accepted the two gourds, deeply moved that he had found such close friends in the Primordial Wilderness.

Afterward, the three discussed returning to Wuzhuang Temple to refine their treasures. Before leaving, Qing Xuan collected the Innate Gourd Vine and the Innate Breathing Soil on the ground, thinking to himself.

"Nuwa, I hope you gain more treasures. Otherwise, I won't just hand this over to you for nothing."