Threatening the Gourd Vine: Submit or Be Dismembered

Beside a mountain stream on Buzhou Mountain.

At this moment, Hong Yun and the Twelve Ancestral Witches were standing before a smooth cliff face, discussing something.

"Brother Hongyun, this Gourd Vine is the opportunity you mentioned? What use is this thing, anyway?"

Zhurong pointed at the Innate Gourd Vine, his face full of impatience.

"If you don't understand, stand aside. Stop spouting nonsense here!"

Dijiang extended one foot and kicked Zhurong five meters away. He truly was a "good elder brother" of the Primordial Wilderness!

Zhurong was already used to being beaten. He patted the dust off his backside and came scampering back as if nothing had happened, though he did shoot Dijiang a resentful look.

"Elder Brother, could it be that you understand it? As expected of Elder Brother, your knowledge is so vast."

Gong Gong knew how to read the situation. No matter what Elder Brother said, he simply offered praise. At least he wouldn't get beaten.

No wonder Zhurong could never outwit Gong Gong.

When it came to scheming, the gap between them was enormous.

Unfortunately, this time Gong Gong's flattery had landed on the horse's leg, and what greeted him was Dijiang's familiar kick.

"Understand my ass! If you don't know how to praise someone, don't force it!"

Dijiang walked over, put an arm around Hong Yun's shoulders, and asked sheepishly, "By the way, Brother Hongyun, what use is this thing to our Wu Clan?"

Zhurong and Gong Gong, who had just crawled back, were dumbfounded when they heard this.

Hong Yun was not used to being so close to a male. He brushed Dijiang's hand away.

He replied, "Strictly speaking, this Innate Gourd Vine is useless to our Wu Clan. Other than me, none of you have a Primordial Spirit, so you can't refine these gourds."

"However, look at it from another angle. If no one besides the Wu Clan obtains these gourds, then they become very useful to our Wu Clan."

Hong Yun explained slowly, but although Dijiang's Wisdom was not lacking, he was still something of a simpleton and did not understand at all.

"What do you mean? Explain it clearly!"

Dijiang complained, but Houtu was the most clever and immediately understood.

Her willow brows furrowed slightly as she asked uncertainly, "Does Brother Hongyun mean that someone will use these gourds against our Wu Clan in the future?"

"Exactly. Younger Sister Houtu, you truly are exceptionally intelligent."

Hong Yun gave Houtu an appreciative look, making the slightly sly girl blush shyly.

Her fair, pretty face unconsciously flushed with a layer of red.

She said, seemingly annoyed yet pleased, "Brother Hongyun is too kind. My elder brothers simply didn't react in time."

"Yes, yes, yes. Little Sister is right. It's not that we couldn't figure it out; we just didn't react in time."

Zhurong, Gong Gong, and Dijiang hurriedly nodded in agreement. Their shamelessness left the other Ancestor Witches speechless.

Zhu Jiu Yin had his own ideas. He suggested, "Brother Hongyun, since you don't want this gourd to be obtained by the Wu Clan's enemies, why not transplant it into the Pangu Secret Realm..."

"No!"

Zhu Jiu Yin was interrupted by Hong Yun before he could finish.

"These gourds aren't fully mature yet. If we transplant them now, they might be ruined!"

As soon as Hong Yun finished speaking, a cold look appeared on Zhu Jiu Yin's face. "It doesn't matter if they're ruined. We just can't let our Wu Clan's enemies obtain them."

The Innate Gourd Vine had been quietly absorbing the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. How could it sit still after hearing this? It immediately extended a vine, sending it shooting toward Zhu Jiu Yin with a sharp sound of tearing through the air.

"Watch out!"

Hong Yun called out a warning. They had forgotten that, as an Innate Spiritual Root, the Gourd Vine possessed its own intelligence.

Zhu Jiu Yin's words had infuriated it!

Zhu Jiu Yin smiled disdainfully and waved his hand lightly.

The vine that had shot out like a sword seemed to slow down. In the next moment, it retracted.

The main vine of the Innate Gourd Vine trembled slightly. It raised the vine that had attacked Zhu Jiu Yin, appearing somewhat puzzled.

It had clearly controlled the vine to attack. Why had it returned against its will?

Only Hong Yun understood what had happened. He praised him, "Time Reversal. Brother Zhu Jiu Yin, what an impressive ability!"

Zhu Jiu Yin waved his hand, indicating that it was nothing special.

With Hong Yun's comprehension of the Law of Time, he could actually do the same. He simply wasn't as skilled as Zhu Jiu Yin at applying it in battle.

"How about this? Everyone, retreat a little farther first. Let This poor Daoist speak with the Gourd Vine." Hong Yun made the suggestion to the Ancestor Witches, and they naturally had no objection.

As the Twelve Ancestral Witches retreated into the distance, only Hong Yun remained where he was. The main vine of the previously aggressive Innate Gourd Vine seemed to harbor much less hostility.

However, it still raised the vine it used to attack, guarding against Hong Yun.

"Brother Gourd Vine, there's no need for this. We came to seek you out without any ill intent. On the contrary, we came to save your life." Hong Yun took two steps back to prove that he meant no harm.

Only after hearing Hong Yun's words did the Innate Gourd Vine slowly lower its vine.

Seeing that communication was possible, Hong Yun continued, "You must have sensed your future Fate, haven't you? By the decree of the Heavenly Dao, with your powerful aptitude as one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots, you cannot take human form."

"If we hadn't come looking for you, other people would probably have sensed the opportunity surrounding you in a few days. Those greedy people wouldn't merely pick the gourds you produced. They would likely pull you up by the roots as well."

"By then, your body itself would be refined into a Spiritual Treasure, let alone taking human form. Think it over yourself. Does that make sense?"

Hong Yun analyzed the situation slowly, causing the Innate Gourd Vine to completely lower its attacking vine.

Hong Yun's words caused the leaves covering the entire Spiritual Root to tremble violently, as if it had imagined its fate in the near future: being torn apart, with even its body refined into a Spiritual Treasure.

After a long while, it swayed gently and sent a wave toward Hong Yun.

From the wave, Hong Yun sensed worry, pleading, and ingratiation.

It was begging Hong Yun to save its life!

Hong Yun smiled faintly at this. "That's more like it. This poor Daoist is a virtuous cultivator renowned throughout the Primordial Wilderness, and I came to save your life. As long as you're willing to acknowledge me as your master, you'll not only be able to take human form in the future, but with me protecting you, you may even have hope of proving the Dao."

The Innate Gourd Vine slowly stopped swaying. It rocked from side to side as if refusing.

As one of the Ten Great Innate Spiritual Roots, it naturally possessed its own pride. Asking it to acknowledge a master was indeed difficult to accept.

But when it thought of the fate Hong Yun had described, it couldn't help but feel fearful.

"Take your time to consider it. This poor Daoist won't force you. But this concerns life and death. Will you acknowledge me as your master, or be dismembered? You must think it through carefully!"

Hong Yun's words sounded pleasant enough, but they were clearly a threat. He pronounced the words "be dismembered" especially loudly.

This made the Gourd Vine hesitate even more.

Hong Yun did not disturb it. He waited with interest for its choice. If it refused, he couldn't be blamed for being ruthless.

Zhu Jiu Yin's suggestion still had its merits.

Fortunately, the Innate Gourd Vine soon reached a decision. A green spiritual light emerged from its body and slowly floated toward Hong Yun.

Hong Yun extended his palm. The green light landed in his hand and then merged into his body.

This was the Innate Gourd Vine's True Spirit.

With a strand of its True Spirit in hand, Hong Yun could disperse its body and spirit with a single thought.

"Good. Brother Gourd Vine, you've made the wisest choice of your life. I admire such a wise Innate Spiritual Root."

[Ding! The host praised the Innate Gourd Vine. Congratulations, host! You have randomly received a reward: 5 fragments of Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.]

Hong Yun had merely offered a casual compliment. Who would have thought the system would actually react?

When he saw the reward, he couldn't help feeling delighted.

That's right. How could I have forgotten about the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil? It's an important raw material for Nuwa's creation of humanity in the future. I have to keep it firmly in my hands.

At this thought, Hong Yun's gaze fell upon the roots of the Innate Gourd Vine.

Faced with such a heated gaze, the Innate Gourd Vine seemed to understand what Hong Yun meant.

Just as it was about to endure the loss of its source and dig out the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil buried deep beneath its roots to present to its newly acknowledged master, Hong Yun spoke up to stop it.

"Don't rush. I know that the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil is beneath you, but taking it out now would damage your source. We'll wait until after you take human form."

In the end, Hong Yun restrained himself.

Whether it was on the Innate Gourd Vine or in his own possession, it was all the same. It couldn't run away.

Upon hearing Hong Yun's words, the leaves of the Innate Gourd Vine immediately rustled, as if expressing gratitude for his great kindness.

"Look, it's still thanking us."

Hong Yun was amused.

As expected of the number-one good person in the Primordial Wilderness!