Gifting Treasures to Nuwa and Distributing Gourds to Everyone

Though the Twelve Ancestral Witches felt some doubt in their hearts regarding Hong Yun's decision, they ultimately said nothing.

After all, the Innate Gourd Vine was intercepted by Hong Yun in the first place, and furthermore, it was of no use to them.

Besides, based on their understanding of Hong Yun, he would never do a losing business.

How could the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Eastern Emperor, and Fuxi and Nuwa have ever seen someone as "chivalrous and generous with wealth" as Hong Yun?

A look of being moved appeared on Nuwa's delicate face, and within the pair of beautiful eyes she cast toward Hong Yun, it was as if a pool of autumn water was contained.

She bit her lower lip gently, pursing it as she expressed her gratitude: "Nuwa thanks Daoist Brother Hong Yun for the grace of gifting these treasures! After today, whenever Daoist Brother has any commands, even should Nuwa face fire and boiling water, I will die without regret!"

Driven by gratitude and guilt, Nuwa made a heavy vow, even changing her address for him to "Daoist Brother"!

In Nuwa's view, this action of Hong Yun's was entirely for the sake of harmony between their brother and sister.

A complete set of spiritual treasures with might no less than an Innate Supreme Treasure—such a monstrous amount of karma, how could it ever be repaid in just once or twice?

"There is no need for this. Daoist Fellow Nuwa speaks too seriously!"

The more indifferent Hong Yun acted, the more guilty Nuwa felt, to the point that the gaze she cast at him for a moment carried a hint of infatuation.

"What my younger sister said is also what Fuxi thinks. If there is anything in the future, Daoist Fellow Hong Yun, just give the order!"

Fuxi patted Nuwa's back reassuringly, and only then did the latter snap out of her daze.

A flush of red appeared involuntarily on her face, though she quickly dispersed it with her mana, so no one noticed.

"Daoist Fellow Nuwa, go on. See which gourd shares an affinity with you, and pluck it as you please."

Hong Yun stretched out a hand toward Nuwa, inviting her to go forward and select a gourd.

Hong Yun seemed generous, but only he knew that what concerned Nuwa's Dao path was not any of the gourds, but rather the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil hidden at the roots of the Gourd Vine.

This thing was something Hong Yun had to keep safe and sound, to make calculations with later on.

This wave could be described as a win-win move!

That's right, Hong Yun wins twice!

After taking a deep breath, Nuwa stepped forward and stood side by side with Hong Yun, closing her eyes slightly as she sensed the gourd that was calling to her.

"Daoist Brother Hong Yun, Nuwa has chosen!"

Following her feeling, she reached out her hand, and upon opening her eyes, she realized she was touching a yellow gourd.

"Very well, then it shall belong to Daoist Fellow!"

"Many thanks, Daoist Brother Hong Yun!"

Hong Yun smiled at her, and Nuwa nodded obediently, retreating to the place where Fuxi was.

Seeing that Nuwa had gained something from this trip, the others who had also sensed their opportunity and come to Buzhou Mountain couldn't help but experience complex emotions.

Seeing this, the corners of Hong Yun's mouth curled up slightly.

Just when everyone thought Hong Yun was going to pluck the remaining mature gourds one by one, Hong Yun didn't make a single move; instead, he looked at everyone with a smiling expression.

"Since you fellow Daoists were able to come and be guests of my Wu Clan this time, how could I, Hong Yun, let you all return empty-handed!"

"I wonder which fellow Daoists have sensed an opportunity with these gourds? Might as well step up and pluck one just like Daoist Fellow Nuwa, consider it not having made this trip in vain."

As soon as these words were spoken, the rest of the Great Powers felt another shock to their hearts.

They didn't know how many times they had been shocked upon coming to the Wu Clan this time!

They were numb to it by now!

It was fortunate that everyone present had the foundation of Innate Demon Gods; if this were replaced by mortals with heart conditions, the grass on their graves would already be three meters tall.

"Daoist Fellow Hong Yun needn't go this far, we..."

Tongtian was still that same Tongtian, an honest person who felt too embarrassed, but as a result, he was interrupted by Yuanshi.

"Third Brother, since Daoist Fellow Hong Yun has such good intentions, it wouldn't do for us three brothers to let him down. We thank the Daoist Fellow!"

Yuanshi was still that same Yuanshi.

People always said he cared deeply about his face, yet in front of real, tangible benefits, his bottom line was extremely flexible.

Did he not disregard a Saint's face in later generations to plot against Intercepting Sect disciples one after another, and were the Three Xiāo not sent onto the Investiture of the Gods List by his own hands?

"In that case, many thanks, Daoist Fellow Hong Yun!"

As for Laozi, he wasn't all that detached either.

For the sake of benefits, this person could even collude with the Western Lands and join hands to suppress his own blood-related brothers.

He preached detachment and non-action, yet there was nothing he wouldn't do.

"I thank Daoist Fellow Hong Yun on behalf of Tai Yi."

Instead, Tai Yi possessed his own pride. Though he initially wanted to refuse, Di Jun seized the initiative and thanked Hong Yun first.

Seeing that both of his elder brothers had agreed, Tongtian had no choice but to nod. "Since it is so, consider that this poor Daoist owes Daoist Fellow a karma."

"Count a share of karma for me as well!"

Tai Yi was never one to fall behind others in his entire life, and immediately spoke up.

Laozi and Yuanshi exchanged glances, and also spoke, "We, the Three Pure Ones, each owe Daoist Fellow Hong Yun a karma."

The reason they didn't feel as grateful as Nuwa was because, after Nuwa plucked the yellow gourd, these seven gourds were destined never to become a complete set, making the karma they owed much smaller.

However, while karma could be small, it could also be large; at a critical moment, it was enough to turn the tides of Qiankun.

Perhaps you will profit, but this poor Daoist will definitely not lose!

A smile hung on Hong Yun's face, while deep inside he was laughing so hard he was almost cramping.

Trading spiritual treasures that originally belonged to these people in exchange for their karma, with Nuwa even feeling so grateful she was moved to tears—

this wasn't just breaking even; it was clearly a massive profit!

Not to mention that Nuwa's true opportunity for attaining Sainthood, the "Nine Heavens Breathing Soil", was still buried beneath the Innate Gourd Vine!

Afterward, the people who sensed their opportunities stepped forward one after another.

Laozi plucked a golden gourd—the very one that would trap a monkey in later generations, which was later refined into the Purple-Gold Gourd used for storing pills.

Tongtian obtained a green gourd containing Water-Fire Essence, capable of releasing powerful water and fire forces to attack.

Yuanshi acquired a black gourd capable of nurturing Chaos Qi, containing a Minor World within, which was unfathomably wondrous.

Tai Yi took a white gourd; this gourd was later refined into the fiercely renowned "Killing Flying Knife".

Finally, Hong Yun casually plucked the red gourd belonging to himself, though this time Hong Yun had no intention of refining it into the "Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd".

Compared to that Old Ancestor Hong Yun, the current Hong Yun was far more powerful in the aspect of artifact refinement.

As for what specific type of spiritual treasure it would be refined into, that was a matter for later.

Stripped of six gourds, that Innate Gourd Vine immediately suffered severe damage to its vitality; its originally emerald-green leaves dimmed considerably, losing their moist luster.

Yet misfortune lies within fortune, and fortune is concealed within misfortune.

Having lost six gourds, the Innate Gourd Vine instead gained the opportunity for transformation.

When the very last gourd was plucked by Hong Yun, the Innate Gourd Vine transmitted a piece of information to Hong Yun through its true spirit.

This information indicated that its own kill tribulation had passed.

It only awaited the maturation of the seventh gourd, at which time it would welcome its opportunity for transformation.

Only then did the Innate Gourd Vine realize that Hong Yun had not deceived it earlier; if it hadn't acknowledged Hong Yun as its master, it probably would have been uprooted by this group of people right before it today.

Therefore, it felt no more repulsion toward Hong Yun, but instead sincerely acknowledged him as master.

The thoughts of the Innate Gourd Vine were thoroughly clear to Hong Yun through its true spirit, including the vine's earlier grumblings.

He had originally wanted to settle accounts after the autumn harvest, but seeing that it showed remorse, he would spare it!

Naturally, the Innate Gourd Vine did not know that it had narrowly escaped disaster once again.

Putting the Gourd Vine aside, seeing that everyone was about to take their leave at this moment, Hong Yun wasn't happy.

It had taken so long for the wool to grow back; how could he let them go back so easily?

"Fellow Daoists, it is rare for everyone to make a trip to my Wu Clan's territory, only to leave in such a hurry. If word gets out, wouldn't it make it seem like my Wu Clan invited Buzhou for nothing?"

"How about we all discuss the Dao and spar with each other? Wouldn't that be far better than shutting yourselves behind closed doors at home?"