The Guiding Sage's Late Ascent

The first treasure on the right was the Azure Lotus Treasure Flag.

["Eastern Azure Lotus Treasure Flag, one of the Innate Five Elements Banners, a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. When unfurled, it possesses boundless wood-controlling ability and embodies the Grand Dao of Wood. A canopy of white mist hangs in the sky, with ten thousand golden rays shining forth. It can drop enemy treasures or bind them with light, its power limitless. Master: Jie Yin!"]

The crowd burst into exclamations.

They never imagined this Azure Lotus Treasure Flag would be in the hands of the Western Sage, Guiding!

Guiding had just had the Yin-Yang Sun-Moon Lamp listed.

Now another treasure, the Azure Lotus Treasure Flag, was listed.

He truly could not be underestimated.

Rumors always said the West was barren.

But now, that didn't seem entirely true.

The Eastern Banner of the Five Elements Banners had fallen into the hands of a Western Sage.

One had to admit it was a great irony.

The crowd followed their gaze to the second treasure.

["Northern Mysterious Control Water Banner, one of the Innate Five Elements Banners. It possesses boundless water-controlling power and embodies the Grand Dao of Water. It can shroud heaven and earth, blot out the sun, repel all evils, and render all laws ineffective. Master: Minghe!"]

Seeing the name Minghe, many were greatly shocked.

The Northern Mysterious Control Water Banner had been lost for a long time.

It had not appeared in the Primordial Land for ages.

Unexpectedly, Ancestor Minghe had obtained it.

Ancestor Minghe already possessed the killing treasures Yuantu and Abi Swords.

Now he had also acquired the Mysterious Control Water Banner.

It truly added wings to a tiger.

As the crowd marveled, they turned to the third treasure.

["Western Plain Cloud Banner, one of the Innate Five Elements Banners, a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, also called the Gathering Immortal Banner. It innately possesses the Grand Dao of Western Geng Metal. When used, it covers the sky and hides the sun, unleashing countless rays of Western Geng Metal power like flowers falling from heaven, its power boundless. Master: Queen Mother of the West!"]

This treasure was more familiar to the crowd.

Because the Queen Mother of the West often used it.

The crowd quickly turned their gaze to the fourth treasure.

["Southern Departure Fire Banner, one of the Innate Five Elements Banners, a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. It possesses fire-controlling power and embodies the Grand Dao of Fire. When used, all fires of heaven and earth obey its command. Master: Taishang!"]

After this crimson banner appeared, many eyes showed envy.

The Departure Fire Banner, with its fire-controlling ability.

Who wouldn't envy it?

The crowd then looked at the final banner.

["Central Earth Apricot Yellow Banner: one of the Innate Five Elements Banners, a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. It embodies the Grand Dao of Earth. Standing on the Primordial Land, suspending this banner above one's head ensures invincibility. When deployed, ten thousand golden lotuses bloom, nothing can break it, all evils retreat, and all laws are rendered ineffective. Master: Origin!"]

Finally, the five banners of east, west, south, north, and center revealed their true forms.

They fluttered in the air with a fierce sound.

A majestic sight.

Countless great beings of the Primordial Land gazed at the banners in the sky with envy...

Moments later, Grand Dao Script appeared again.

["Twenty-sixth on the Mystic Treasure Chart: Innate Five Elements Banners. Each banner is a Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. When the five banners converge, they can form the Innate Five Elements Grand Formation, cycling through five formations: Eastern Azure Wood Formation, Northern Netherwater Formation, Western Geng Metal Formation, Southern Flame Fire Formation, and Central Mysterious Earth Formation."]

"So when the Five Elements Banners converge, they can form the Innate Five Elements Grand Formation..."

"This is the first I've heard of it..."

"Although the chances of gathering all Five Elements Banners are slim, if they do come together, it's another formation capable of killing a Sage... truly not to be underestimated..."

"I never expected the Azure Lotus Treasure Flag to be in Jie Yin Daoist's hands... An Eastern Banner, yet it fell to a Western Sage... one has to admit it's ironic..."

"Why bring that up? Didn't the Northern Mysterious Control Water Banner also fall into Minghe's hands?"

"Do you think the Seven-Colored Gourds, the Six Spirit Divine Lamps, and the Innate Five Elements Banners can all be gathered?"

"I think the chances are slim, right?"

Everyone looked at the sky, discussing among themselves.

"Do you think the next-ranked treasure will also be a set?"

"Who knows? Anyway, this Hongmeng Purple Gold List is truly impressive—everyone admires this ranking..."

Hearing this, countless people nodded in agreement.

Indeed...

Just this Treasure Ranking...

Not a single error.

Who could possibly object?

Just then, four more golden beams shot down from the sky.

As soon as these four beams appeared, everyone was stirred once again.

"Indeed... four more treasures appearing together?"

"First the Seven Gourds, then the Six Spirit Lamps, then the Five Elements Banners, and now four beams again? What kind of treasures are these four?"

"I didn't notice before, but now that you mention it, it really is like that..."

"Could it be that the higher-ranked treasures all come in sets?"

Everyone grew excited.

The four golden beams in the sky began to manifest.

Four treasures that blotted out the sky and sun finally revealed themselves.

"Is that... a lotus?"

"No, not a lotus—these are four lotus thrones!"

"This is the Supreme Lotus Throne..."

Everyone stared into the void, a fervent gleam gradually appearing in their eyes.

At last, Grand Dao Script began to emerge.

On the far left, the Grand Dao Script read:

[Twelfth-Grade Golden Lotus of Merit. A Top-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, formed from an unripe seed of the World-Creating Pure Lotus. It possesses the Golden Flame of Merit and endless Merit Power. When seated upon this lotus throne, as long as one's merit is not exhausted, one will stand undefeated. Master: Jie Yin!]

"Boom..."

The entire Primordial World erupted into fervor.

The atmosphere steadily climbed toward its climax.

This Twelfth Grade Lotus of Merit was actually in the hands of Jie Yin Daoist.

This Western Sage truly had some means...

So many treasures of the East had been claimed by this sage!

Thinking about it was truly infuriating.

Within the Heavenly Court, the two majestic figures grew increasingly displeased at the sight of this golden lotus throne.

"Elder Brother, those two Western Sages are truly despicable. The Eastern Azure Lotus Treasure Flag and this Twelfth Grade Lotus of Merit have both been snatched up by those two wretches—it makes one furious..."

Heavenly Emperor Dijun's expression was also somewhat grim.

He was the exalted Demon Emperor of the Heavenly Court.

His status was incomparably noble, yet he only had two treasures on the ranking.

To think so many fine things had fallen into Western hands—how could he not be enraged?

Within Golden Turtle Island's Biyou Palace, Master Tongtian was also somewhat furious.

The Treasure Ranking had progressed this far.

He, Sage Tongtian, only had three treasures on the list.

What virtue or ability did that Western Jie Yin possess?

To already have four treasures on the ranking?

How could this not infuriate him?

Master Tongtian, always heavy with the aura of slaughter, now felt a killing intent toward Jie Yin Daoist.

Within the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi Tianzun was equally displeased.

A treasure like the Twelfth Grade Lotus Throne—he did not possess it.

What merit did that Western Jie Yin have?

To actually own the Twelfth Grade Lotus of Merit?

Yuanshi Tianzun, always supremely proud, turned his gaze westward.

A grave look appeared in his eyes.

It seemed he could no longer underestimate the West.

Those two Western fellows had already stretched their hands into the East.

If this continued, who knew how much they would have leeched and grown?

The Zhunti Daoist of Mount Sumeru in the Western Sect saw Guiding's name once more and was immediately delighted.

"Elder Brother, your lotus throne has made the list as well. That means you now have four treasures on the list... congratulations!"

The bald Guiding Sage of the West nodded slightly:

"I didn't expect to come from behind and overtake—it's an unexpected joy... at least I haven't lost too much face..."

Having said this, he paused briefly, then spoke again:

"But this way, my foundation is mostly exposed... I wonder if this is a blessing or a curse..."

As he spoke, his expression shifted, and he once again wore a worried, furrowed brow.

Sage Zhunti saw this change in Guiding Sage and couldn't help but cast a sidelong glance.

At the same time, he grumbled inwardly.

Be content...

I only have three treasures on the list so far... I've already earned the title of the weakest sage...

His gaze turned slightly cold as he spoke, clearly displeased.

At that moment, Grand Dao Script manifested in the sky once more.

When the Primordial Beings saw the words in the heavens, every one of them changed color in shock.

The faces of all the great powers turned extremely grim.

Some even collapsed to the ground.

Each great power wore an expression of utter terror.

"How can this be? How did that guy's name appear again?"

"Wasn't that fellow dead?"

"Could it be... that he's not dead? Is he still alive?"

The faces of the many great powers among the Primordial Beings all turned ashen.

Their pupils also revealed a deep, abiding fear.