Gourd Babies, Gourd Babies, Seven Flowers on One Vine

The clamor of Treasure Distribution Cliff subsided, and the great powers, with feelings of joy or worry, prepared to return to their respective homes to digest what they had gained from listening to the Dao, especially the method to achieve sainthood and the newly acquired Spiritual Treasures.

Just then, amidst the still-dispersing chaos, the indifferent yet grand voice of Dao Ancestor Hongjun once again echoed through every corner of the Great Wilderness. Whether it was the chaos beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens or the barren lands of the Great Wilderness, all living beings could hear it clearly:

"High reclined in the ninefold clouds, the meditation cushion revealed the true Dao. Beyond the Xuan and Huang of Heaven and Earth, I shall be the honored master. Pangu gave birth to Taiji, the two principles and four images followed. The Mystic Gate's supreme leader, a single breath transformed into Hongjun."

As the verse concluded, an indescribable, vast heavenly might emanated from the direction of Purple Heaven Palace, instantly enveloping the entire Great Wilderness! The laws of heaven and earth trembled and resonated, and all living beings felt awe, involuntarily bowing their heads.

"I am Hongjun, and I have now attained the Dao. Sensing the incompleteness of the Heavenly Dao, and the endless strife and entanglement of karma among all beings, great tribulations are imminent. I now merge myself with the Dao, to perfect the Heavenly Dao, and to govern the order of the universe. Unless the great momentum of heaven and earth changes, or immeasurable tribulations arise, I shall not act. From this day forth, the Heavenly Dao is Hongjun, and Hongjun is not the Heavenly Dao."

"Buzz—"

The entire Great Wilderness seemed like a lake into which a stone had been thrown, creating invisible ripples. All the great powers could clearly feel that the Heavenly Dao in the distant heavens had become clearer, and more "possessed." An invisible chain of order seemed to have quietly descended, or perhaps it was a more perfect form of protection.

"Merge with the Dao!"

The last two words struck the hearts of every living being like the bell of the Great Dao. Immediately, the light from the Violet Firmament Palace completely receded, hidden deep within the chaos, and not a trace of its aura could be sensed.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun, having merged with the Heavenly Dao, became the "background administrator" and "ultimate rule-maker" of the Great Wilderness, commonly known as the Chairman going into seclusion, leaving the company to be managed by a few "Saintly CEOs." However, the system (Heavenly Dao) itself had been upgraded, gaining higher intelligence and authority.

All beings in the Great Wilderness, from the ignorant little demons to the guests in Purple Heaven Palace, understood this at that moment. Instantly, across the Great Wilderness, all beings prostrated themselves, chanting: "Merciful Dao Ancestor!"

The Three Pure Ones looked solemn and bowed towards the direction of Purple Heaven Palace. Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti did the same.

Chen Song scratched his head and muttered to himself, "Good heavens, the Chairman has directly transformed into a system AI? So now, whatever I do will be under the surveillance of the 'Hongjun System'? It feels like we've gone from a 'Free Great Wilderness' to a 'Heavenly Dao Era'... But with a strong backing, if I say 'My grandpa is the Heavenly Dao' when I go out... Ptooey, I mean 'My grand-master is the Heavenly Dao,' won't I be even more formidable?"

He patted Big White, who was still drooling over a shiny piece of ore next to him, "Stupid dog, stop looking. The Chairman has gone into seclusion, the system has had a major update, and there will be more rules from now on. Be careful when you're stealing chickens and dogs, don't get banned by the administrator."

Big White looked up blankly, "Woof? What's a ban? Can I eat it?"

Chen Song: "...Never mind."

With Hongjun merging with the Dao, the Great Wilderness entered a brief, delicate period where "saints had not yet appeared, but the Heavenly Dao was already established." The great powers returned to their respective dojos, went into seclusion to digest their gains, and refine the newly acquired Spiritual Treasures. Especially those who had obtained the Primordial Violet Qi were determined to achieve sainthood as soon as possible.

Chen Song followed the Three Pure Ones back to Kunlun Mountain. Perhaps it was the pressure of the Heavenly Dao brought about by Hongjun's merger, or perhaps he had gained a little "motivation" after being caught last time, but he was unusually quiet for a while, mainly studying the "proto-Eight Trigram Furnace" and organizing the miscellaneous items he had scraped from Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Laozi was slightly pleased to see him finally stop teasing the dog and herding cattle all day, occasionally offering guidance.

Yuanshi's expression improved considerably upon seeing that he seemed to have become "calmer."

Tongtian, however, felt that his senior disciple nephew was too quiet, unlike his usual self. He frequently came to ask if Chen Song was feeling unwell and even wanted to drag him out to "stretch his muscles," which Chen Song sternly refused. It's a joke, with so many envious eyes watching right now, even though I gave away the Primordial Violet Qi, who knows if someone thinks I gained too much at Treasure Distribution Cliff and wants to ambush me?

Thus, peaceful days (for Chen Song) passed for a while.

Until one day, a strange spiritual energy fluctuation came from the direction of Buzhou Mountain. The spiritual energy was harmonious and peaceful, yet it carried the vigorous vitality of innate Yi Wood and a unique pulling force, as if some incredible innate spiritual treasure was about to mature.

Inside the thatched hut on Kunlun Mountain, the Three Pure Ones opened their eyes simultaneously.

"Eh? This aura... is it that Innate Gourd Vine?" Lord of the Beginning calculated with his fingers, a hint of understanding flashing in his eyes.

Sect Master Tongtian stood up directly, his interest piqued, "Haha, it's those seven gourds about to ripen! We discovered its extraordinary spiritual energy back then, but it wasn't time for it to mature. It seems the time has come! Eldest Brother, Second Brother, shall we go take a look? Perhaps there's a treasure fated for us!"

Laozi nodded slightly, "What is born from an innate spiritual root has its own destiny. It's good to go and see."

Chen Song's ears perked up upon hearing this!

Innate Gourd Vine! Seven gourds! The second famous treasure distribution site in the Great Wilderness! (The first was Treasure Distribution Cliff).

This was a famous scene! He absolutely had to go join the fun!

Gourd babies, gourd babies, seven flowers on one vine! Wind and rain! Not afraid! Cough, wrong show.

"Master! Martial Uncle! Take me with you!" Chen Song immediately jumped up, his face filled with the desire to "watch the show."

Laozi glanced at him, remembering that he had been relatively well-behaved recently, and that this was not a solemn occasion like the Dao Ancestor's sermon. He nodded, "You may. But you must remember that spiritual treasures have their owners. Do not force them, nor cause further trouble."

"Understood, understood! I'll just watch, I won't speak!" Chen Song thumped his chest, and then kicked Big White, who wanted to follow, "You guard the house! And watch the two cows! If even one pill is missing from the house, I'll stew you when I get back!"

Buzhou Mountain. The Innate Gourd Vine, growing on the cliff face, was now bathed in myriad rays of divine light and auspicious colors. The vines were like coiled dragons, lush green, bearing seven gourds of different colors, radiating supreme treasure light, fully mature and emitting alluring Dao Charm.

Below the gourd vine, many figures had already gathered.

Empress Nuwa and Fuxi arrived together, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun stood nearby, Di Jun and Taiyi transformed into human form, their eyes burning, and even the usually gloomy Kunpeng hid in the distant void, his gaze flickering.

What made Chen Song's eyelids twitch even more was that the two "fated ones" from the West—Jieyin and Zhunti—had also appeared on the scene on time, pointing at the seven gourds and revealing an unconcealable desire on their faces, "This treasure is fated for my West."

Good heavens, all the prominent figures in the Great Wilderness, even those who cultivated only their physical bodies and not their Primordial Spirits, had come. After all, the Witch Race's tribe was at the foot of Buzhou Mountain. With so many people here, wouldn't they join in the fun? And perhaps cause trouble for someone, wouldn't that be satisfying!

Almost all the great powers of the Great Wilderness were present! Under the gourd vine, stars gathered, no, great powers were assembled!

The arrival of the Three Pure Ones naturally drew everyone's attention. They exchanged greetings, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious, yet undercurrents were surging. Everyone's gaze occasionally flickered towards the seven treasure gourds emitting different Dao Charms.

The Purple Gold Red Gourd (later used by Laozi to store elixirs), the Purple Red Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd (Hongyun's), the Purple Green Demon Summoning Gourd (raw material for Nuwa's Demon Summoning Banner), the Purple Yellow Gourd (Lu Ya's Immortal Slaying Flying Knife?), the Chaos Gourd (??), one was taken by Yuanshi for unknown reasons, and the last one seemed to have been taken by Tongtian without explicit mention?