The seven-colored gourds had drawn in their radiant glow, brimming with Dao resonance. Clearly, the time had come for the fruit to ripen and fall. Beneath the vine, the atmosphere was exquisitely tense.
The Three Pure Ones were overwhelmingly powerful, standing there like pillars stabilizing the sea; Nuwa and Fuxi—one a future saint, the other a grandmaster of formations—were not to be provoked;
Di Jun and Taiyi stood with the Chaos Bell in their arms, their gazes imperious;
Ancestor Hong Yun and Zhenyuanzi were one sweet, foolishly good-hearted man and one honest fellow with the thickest land deeds—books—in existence;
The two from the West had shifty eyes, and their faces practically bore the words, "Please form a karmic bond with us";
In the distance, Kunpeng lurked with a sinister gaze, like a vulture poised to snatch scraps at any moment.
Oh, right—there was also a bizarrely styled group: the Twelve Ancestral Witches, led by Dijiang, Gonggong, and Zhurong!
They did not stand too close, instead crossing their arms at the outskirts. Every one of them was rippling with muscle and surging with blood qi, like a group of bodybuilders who had somehow wandered into a high-end academic symposium.
They said nothing, merely staring with expressions that said, "What are you looking at?" "Looking at you, so what?" Their main firepower was focused on Di Jun and Taiyi, their intentions glaringly obvious: We are not here for the gourds. We are here to make trouble for you two!
Di Jun and Taiyi felt utterly uncomfortable under the barbarians' stares, as though chills were running down the backs of their necks.
How were these gourds supposed to be divided? Were they meant to first hold the "Primordial World's First Gourd Allocation and Witch-Demon Friendly (?) Exchange Conference"?
As the First Senior Brother of the Mystic Sect and a future saint, Laozi naturally stepped forward first. His voice was calm, yet carried an indisputable steadiness. "This Innate Gourd Vine is a Spiritual Root of Heaven and Earth. It has borne seven treasures, each with its own profound mysteries. Those fated to possess them should claim them."
His tranquil gaze swept across the crowd before finally settling on the Purple-Gold Gourd. "I see that this Purple-Gold Gourd aligns with my Path of Alchemy. I shall take it."
The moment he spoke, the entirely purple-gold gourd, which contained the wondrous power to store and refine, detached itself from the vine. It transformed into a streak of light and obediently flew into Laozi's sleeve. The process was smooth and effortless. No one objected; not even a cough could be heard. Laozi took it as though it were only natural, his presence completely overwhelming.
Seeing this, Yuanshi also stepped forward. His expression was reserved, carrying Yuqing's distinctive air of nobility. "This Purple-White Gourd is perfectly suited to my Yuqing Dao Method." The Purple-White Gourd swayed, then obediently flew toward him. With a sweep of his sleeve, Yuanshi took it into his possession. Again, no one objected. After all, Yuanshi's origin and strength spoke for themselves.
Tongtian had long been unable to restrain himself. He laughed heartily, his voice ringing like a great bell. "My turn, my turn! I like the look of this Purple-Black Gourd, so it's mine! Hahaha!" The Purple-Black Gourd shot out with a whoosh and landed in Tongtian's hand. He fondled it lovingly, then cast a provocative glance at Di Jun, Taiyi, and the two from the West.
The Three Pure Ones acted with effortless fluidity, taking three gourds in an instant. Their Big Boss bearing was fully displayed.
Four gourds still hung from the vine, and the atmosphere grew even more delicate.
Empress Nuwa moved forward with graceful steps, creation qi flowing around her. In a gentle voice, she said, "I wish to perform the Merit of Creation. This Purple-Green Gourd contains the power to draw living beings and will be useful to me." She pointed at the Purple-Green Gourd—the embryonic Monster Summoning Gourd. Sensing her aura, it trembled lightly before flying toward Nuwa, where she caught it in her delicate hand. Fuxi smiled and nodded beside her, as always faithfully serving as his sister's guardian.
Next, encouraged by Zhenyuanzi's gaze, Ancestor Hong Yun scratched his head somewhat sheepishly and pointed at the scarlet-red gourd. "This humble Daoist... this humble Daoist feels that this gourd is rather compatible with my spirit..."
It was the future famed Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd! The gourd flashed red and flew voluntarily into Hong Yun's embrace. Holding the gourd, Hong Yun grinned from ear to ear, feeling that this trip had truly been worthwhile! Zhenyuanzi also breathed a sigh of relief. Secretly, he strengthened the Earth Book's defenses several times over and warily scanned the surroundings, especially Kunpeng and the two from the West.
In the blink of an eye, five gourds had found their owners. Only the final two remained: gourds with purple-white bodies, faintly interwoven with Yin-Yang Energies and Water and Fire Power—the suspected future Water-Fire Gourd and the container of the Immortal Slaying Flying Knife.
Everyone's gazes snapped onto those final two gourds! The air itself seemed to freeze.
Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's determination to claim them.
Taiyi took a step forward, cradling the Chaos Bell. True Sun Fire remained hidden around him, yet it brought scorching pressure. His sharp gaze stabbed toward the Purple Yellow Gourd as he said in a deep voice, "This gourd contains Innate Geng Metal Killing Qi. Its edge is unparalleled, perfectly fitting the Supreme Yang and Supreme Hardness Dao of my Sun Star. It should belong to me!"
Just as Taiyi's magic power was about to touch the Purple Yellow Gourd—
"Oh my! This shiny golden one matches the feather color of you two mangy birds pretty well!" Ancestor Witch Gonggong cried out, his booming voice instantly shattering the tense spellcasting atmosphere. "Take it home and hang it in your nest as a lightbulb! It'll save you from coming out at night to scare people!"
Zhurong immediately chimed in, flames scattering in all directions. "Exactly! Take it and hurry back to the Sun Star to hatch eggs! Stop being such an eyesore here!" He even imitated a Golden Crow's cry. "Caw—! Do your eggs hurt?"
Dijiang and the other Ancestral Witches once again raised that universally understood gesture at Taiyi in perfect unison, shouting together, "Fuck you! Mangy bird, grab your chamber pot and get lost!"
"Pfft—" Chen Song, who had been trying desperately to make himself inconspicuous, could not hold it in any longer and burst out laughing. He hurriedly covered his mouth, his shoulders shaking like a sieve. This bunch of living treasures from the Witch Clan were practically dedicated taunt machines for Di Jun and Taiyi—little actual damage, but devastating humiliation!
"Hmph!" Taiyi snorted coldly, increasing the output of his magic power. At the same time, he summoned the Chaos Bell and forcibly suppressed the Purple Yellow Gourd, taking it into his possession.
Oh my, just as expected—Taiyi really was a tsundere!
Only the final gourd remained. Its entire body was chaos-colored, its aura deep and unfathomable, as though it contained traces of unknown pressure.
Di Jun took a deep breath, imperial qi bursting forth around him. He stepped forward and declared in a clear voice, "This treasure contains Yin-Yang Imperial Dao Qi, perfectly suited for my Demon Clan to Rule the Heavens..." Before he could finish—
"Alas! Such suffering—!" A drawn-out, mournful sigh pierced everyone's ears like demonic music, forcibly cutting Di Jun off.
Zhunti stepped forward with a face full of sorrow, beating his chest and stamping his feet as though his closest relative had just died.
"Think of the lands of the West: barren and desolate, with broken spiritual veins and ignorant beings. It is rare indeed to encounter such a spirit treasure containing the profound mysteries of Yin-Yang harmony! This treasure perfectly accords with our Western Teachings. It may be used to Enlighten Stubborn Stones, Inspire Wisdom, and Deliver All Beings from the Sea of Suffering. This is truly the Will of Heaven! I implore Fellow Daoist Di Jun, and all fellow Daoists, to grant this request for the sake of the countless beings of the West! This humble Daoist and my senior brother will be endlessly grateful, and the Beings of the West will forever remember your great virtue!"
Jieyin cooperatively nodded beside him, the grief on his face even deeper, as though if they were not given this gourd, the West would immediately sink beneath the land and all life there would perish.
Di Jun and Taiyi's faces instantly darkened like the bottoms of pots. The veins on Taiyi's forehead throbbed with rage, and even the Chaos Bell in his arms began to hum. These two from the West were utterly shameless! They used this trick every single time!
Just as the tension reached a breaking point and an all-out brawl was about to erupt—
Before you continue