The first three gourds were merely Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
The fourth and fifth gourds were High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Who would have thought that this sixth gourd would actually be a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!
It even faintly showed signs of breaking through to become an Innate Supreme Treasure.
Everyone present, except Nan Ji, stared in shock at the Chaos Gourd in Yuanshi's hand.
Tai Yi immediately felt that he had suffered a huge loss and shouted, "Fellow Daoists of the Three Pure Ones, this is unfair!"
Though Laozi was surprised inwardly, his expression remained unchanged as he said, "Fellow Daoist Tai Yi, treasures belong to those fated for them. You have already obtained the Pure Yellow Gourd, so why go back on your word?"
Di Jun watched the scene unfold. Though he too wanted to obtain Yuanshi's Chaos Gourd, he did not wish to offend the Three Pure Ones, and for a moment, he remained silent.
Seeing this, Nan Ji was delighted. He knew it was time for his scheme to come to fruition.
He signaled to his elder brothers and sisters. Since Ancestral Witch Dijiang had been involved in the earlier planning, he naturally knew it was time to set a trap for Di Jun and Tai Yi.
Dijiang spoke, "You two from the Demon Clan have already obtained two gourds. This final one should belong to our Witch Clan."
With the Witch Clan joining in, Di Jun found himself in an even more difficult position.
He had always wanted to unify the Demon Clan, so he was unwilling to needlessly offend the Three Pure Ones before that, much less the Witch Clan, one of the Great Desolation's major clans.
Tai Yi, however, was unwilling to accept this and immediately sneered, "Those two gourds combined are already inferior to this Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Do you think the two of us are as brainless as your Witch Clan?"
"Ha! What, you feathered Demon Clan birds don't accept that? Want to fight?" The hot-tempered Zhurong stepped forward and said.
Seeing this, Nan Ji was immensely satisfied. The time for the scheme has come. It's time for me to step in.
Nan Ji hurriedly grabbed Zhurong. "Second Brother, calm down."
Since they had discussed it beforehand, and because Zhurong regarded Nan Ji as his younger brother, he let Nan Ji pull him back and haughtily turned his head aside.
With an extremely conflicted expression, Nan Ji slowly said to Di Jun, "Uncle Di Jun, by all reason, it is indeed Uncle Tai Yi and you who have suffered a loss."
"But... the Three Pure Ones are poor as well, you see..."
As he spoke, Nan Ji reluctantly took out the Treasure Dropping Coin.
Di Jun had not wanted to make enemies of both the Three Pure Ones and the Witch Clan over a single treasure. He looked closely and found that it was another High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
Seemingly in great pain, Nan Ji said with difficulty, "Yuanshi is my master, and that treasure has already fallen into our hands. How about I give this item to you, Uncle?"
Upon hearing this, Di Jun began calculating inwardly.
Seeing this, Nan Ji gritted his teeth and said, "Uncle, this treasure is called the Treasure Dropping Coin. It can bring down all non-weapon treasures beneath Innate Supreme Treasures."
Di Jun's eyes lit up upon hearing that.
After all, compared with a single Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, Di Jun knew how to choose between it and countless High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
"You would be so kind?"
Tai Yi directly voiced Di Jun's thoughts.
Nan Ji put on a pained expression and shook his head. "I would not dare deceive you two, Uncles. The Treasure Dropping Coin also requires one to pay luck to claim treasures."
Nan Ji had indeed said that, but he had not told them exactly how much luck it consumed.
And aside from Tai Yi, no one knew of Di Jun's ambitions.
This Treasure Dropping Coin would become Di Jun's greatest support in commanding the Demon Clan.
Di Jun had no reason not to be tempted.
Thus, Di Jun laughed heartily after hearing this. "Originally, my senior brothers of the Three Pure Ones and I shared the bond of listening to the Dao together. And you, Nephew, are blessed with exceptional intelligence. Then we shall do as you say."
"Thank you, Uncle Di Jun!"
Nan Ji handed the Treasure Dropping Coin over and spoke to Di Jun with a grin.
Di Jun did not sense in the slightest that Nan Ji had schemed against him. Instead, he patted Nan Ji on the shoulder and said, "Then the final gourd and the Gourd Vine shall be left to you, Nephew!"
After saying that, Di Jun hurriedly left with Tai Yi.
Watching the two depart into the distance, Dijiang and the other Witch Clan members could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.
Gonggong bluntly said to Nan Ji, "Twelfth Brother, your heart is truly black."
Because everyone present except Di Jun and Tai Yi knew that the Treasure Dropping Coin itself carried immense karmic consequences. As it was used in the future, it would gradually deduct the karma previously owed.
Nan Ji had truthfully told Di Jun, but he had not told him the whole truth.
After the Witch and Demon calamity, Di Jun and Tai Yi would ultimately choose to self-destruct in order to sever that karmic debt.
Of course, that was a story for later.
"Alright, we're leaving too."
"If you need us again next time, just tell your brothers and sisters."
"Come play at Pangu Hall when you have time!"
Seeing that their help was finished, Dijiang left with the Ancestral Witches.
Only after the Ancestral Witches had left did Nan Ji turn his gaze to the Gourd Vine, which was about to wither, and the final gourd.
"Ah, disciple..."
Though Yuanshi knew that it had all been Nan Ji's scheme, he was still Nan Ji's master, and now his disciple had given away a treasure.
Seeing Nan Ji's delighted expression as he looked at the withered Gourd Vine, a wave of sorrow rose in Yuanshi's heart.
Yuanshi felt extremely distressed, but being so concerned with his pride, he could not bring himself to say those words.
He could only sigh and pat Nan Ji on the shoulder.
"It's alright, Master..."
Nan Ji was considering how to comfort Yuanshi when Tongtian suddenly discovered that he could speak again. He hurriedly cut in, "Little Nan Ji, it isn't that your uncle wants to criticize you, but no matter how you scheme, you cannot say that your eldest martial uncle is muddleheaded."
"As a junior, how can you be so disrespectful to your elders?"
"Very well. When we return, your uncle will explain the Dao to you properly, following your master's method."
Perhaps because he had held it in for too long, Tongtian poured out a whole string of words at once.
After hearing this, Nan Ji seemed to realize something belatedly.
So this was how Master explained the Dao to Uncle?
Wonderful!
But before Nan Ji could say anything, Yuanshi's reluctance swiftly transformed into protectiveness toward Nan Ji.
With a dark expression, Yuanshi said, "Quickly collect this item, and return to Kunlun early!"
Upon hearing this, Nan Ji pulled up the Gourd Vine.
Sure enough, when Nan Ji uprooted the Gourd Vine, he brought up a large patch of unusual soil—Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.
One had to know that Nine Heavens Breathing Soil grew when exposed to wind and came alive upon meeting water. Even a single grain could become a mountain.
"Hehe!"
Nan Ji happily put away the Gourd Vine along with the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. Only Duo Duo and I possess this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. If the sages want to attain sainthood in the future, Lady Nuwa will have to owe me the karma of her sainthood.
Then Nan Ji thought, And Yu the Great's flood control will also require this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. That will be another great merit.
Thinking of this, Nan Ji happily put it away.
After all, in the age of sages, the Three Pure Ones did not lack Dharma treasures, but merit and karmic ties with sages could not be traded even for Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
This scene was especially heartbreaking in the eyes of the unaware Laozi and Yuanshi.
The chief disciple of the Mystical Sect gave all good things to his elders, yet he treated a piece of junk he had picked up as if he had obtained a treasure.
Tongtian, however, was extremely excited and said, "Big Brother, Second Brother, let's hurry back!"
"Nan Ji still needs to be properly taught. This time, I will take care of it and discuss the Dao with him for a hundred years."
Looking at such an insensible younger brother, Yuanshi gritted his teeth and said, "Will a hundred years be enough?"
Tongtian scratched his head. I suffer this punishment often enough. It isn't so bad—I can still run and jump afterward. Let's add a little more.
Thus, Tongtian said, "Then two hundred years!"
Looking at Tongtian before him, Yuanshi even felt that Tongtian was inferior to his own disciple Nan Ji. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Isn't that still too little?"
At this moment, Laozi suddenly felt that Yuanshi's methods of education were correct.
Tongtian truly needed to be taught!
Thus, he slowly said to Yuanshi, "Then keep it within five hundred years!"
Before you continue