Mount Buzhou Treasure Hunt, Obtaining the Seven Treasures Gourd

After discussing the Great Dao with Tongtian, Nuwa, and Hong Yun in the starry sky, Xuan Wazi parted ways with them. Tongtian returned to Kunlun Mountain to digest what he had gained, Nuwa went back to her dojo on Mount Buzhou to continue her comprehension of creation, and Hong Yun, remembering Xuan Wazi's warning, rushed to Wuzhuang Temple on Longevity Mountain, preparing to begin a long period of reclusive cultivation.

Xuan Wazi himself was not in a hurry to find a place to cultivate. He recalled the system's prompt about an opportunity related to the "Innate Gourd Vine."

"Innate Gourd Vine... In later legends, this vine bore seven precious gourds, which were obtained by the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Hong Yun, Di Jun and Tai Yi, and Hongjun respectively. Hongjun's seems to have been given to Haotian to store pills? I can't quite remember," Xuan Wazi mused as he controlled his escape light, returning once more to Mount Buzhou.

"However, now that this humble Daoist has arrived, the ownership of this gourd vine will have to change," he said, a familiar "mischievous" smile on his face. "Especially that 'Chaos Gourd,' which was supposed to belong to the Eastern Emperor Tai Yi. It contains Chaos Qi, can nurture all things, and can return to chaos. Its uses are endless, and it is destined to be fated with this humble Daoist!"

He did not go directly to the place where he remembered the gourd vine growing, but instead quietly snuck back to the vicinity of his original natural restriction. Although this place was no longer useful to him, it was familiar, and it was close to the main body of Mount Buzhou. The residual pressure from Pangu could effectively interfere with heavenly calculations.

He set up a Chaos Bead restriction and adjusted his state to its best. His divine sense, at the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, spread out like mercury, carefully sensing every trace of spiritual energy fluctuation and every anomaly in the Dao rhythm within the range of Mount Buzhou.

As the Heavenly Pillar, Mount Buzhou was incredibly vast, with countless hidden blessed lands and innate restrictions. Even for Xuan Wazi, it would take some effort to accurately locate the Innate Gourd Vine, which had not yet appeared.

Relying on his keen perception of the unique life essence and Dao rhythm of Innate Spiritual Roots, benefiting from refining the Dao rhythm of the Creation Green Lotus and the Laurel Divine Branch, as well as the faint pull of the Chaos Bead towards the aura of treasures, he searched meticulously on the mountainside of Mount Buzhou like the most patient hunter.

One day, he passed by what seemed like an ordinary mountain stream. The water gurgled, but the spiritual energy here was several times denser than in the surrounding area, and it carried a very faint, dark aura that seemed capable of devouring all light.

"Hmm? There's something strange here," Xuan Wazi stopped, focusing his divine sense to investigate. As expected, deep within the stream, beneath a cliff face shrouded by a natural illusion array, he discovered a peculiar plant.

It was not a gourd vine, but a small sapling that was entirely black, with leaves like ghost claws, emitting a power of devouring.

"Is this... the Soul-Devouring Darkwood, an Innate Spiritual Root?" Xuan Wazi recognized it. It was a top-tier material for refining demonic and ghostly treasures, and it could also devour souls and corrupt one's Primordial Spirit. "A good thing. Although it's not of much use to me, it's good for... ahem, for collecting."

He unceremoniously broke through the illusion array and collected the not-yet-fully-mature Soul-Devouring Darkwood, along with a small piece of Innate Netherworld Soil beneath its roots, placing them into the "medicine garden" space he had specially opened within the Chaos Bead to be nurtured by the Creation Green Lotus's Dao rhythm.

This small interlude made him even more convinced that Mount Buzhou was indeed full of treasures.

After searching for several more decades, during which he found several more good Innate Spiritual Materials, and even found a wisp of Innate Fire Essence in a subterranean fire cave, he still had not found any trace of the gourd vine.

"It seems the time is not yet right, or the gourd vine's concealment restriction is extraordinary," Xuan Wazi was not discouraged. He simply continued to search while using the Pangu pressure of Mount Buzhou to further comprehend the fragment of the Great Dao of Strength.

He simulated the scene of Pangu's creation of the heavens and earth, experiencing that supreme power of splitting chaos and establishing the four elements with his own strength. The insights from the fragment gradually merged with his own Primordial Dao Body. His application of strength was no longer limited to brute force, but became more refined, lifting the heavy with ease and the light with weight, changing as his heart desired.

One day, as he was comprehending the Great Dao of Strength in a valley shrouded in mist, he suddenly felt something and his eyes snapped open!

Deep within the valley, behind a seemingly ordinary cliff face, an extremely subtle yet vast and magnificent Innate Yi Wood Essence mixed with seven distinct but originating from the same source divine lights, like a sleeping dragon awakening, suddenly erupted for an instant! Although it was immediately concealed again by a powerful innate restriction, how could that momentary fluctuation escape the notice of Xuan Wazi, who had been closely monitoring this area?

"Found it!" A sharp glint flashed in Xuan Wazi's eyes, and his figure instantly vanished from his original position. The next moment, he appeared before that cliff face.

The cliff face before him appeared no different from its surroundings, but with Xuan Wazi's current cultivation and the Chaos Bead's perceptive abilities, he could clearly see layers upon layers of extremely complex innate Dao patterns flowing on it, forming a powerful concealment and protection restriction. This restriction was naturally formed and connected to the Earth Vein of Mount Buzhou. If not for a fortunate coincidence or someone like Xuan Wazi, who was prepared and had extraordinary perception, even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal might have had difficulty detecting it if they passed by.

"What an exquisite restriction, worthy of being the birthplace of a top-tier Innate Spiritual Root," Xuan Wazi praised, but he did not forcibly break the formation. Forcibly breaking it would create too much commotion and might damage the spiritual root within.

He sat down cross-legged, his divine sense like the most delicate tendrils, cautiously penetrating the restriction. At the same time, he circulated the Chaos Bead, simulating the Innate Yi Wood and Earth aura that shared the same origin as this restriction. What he intended to do was to "integrate" rather than "break."

This was an extremely demanding process of patience and skill. The innate restriction was infinitely variable, containing the principles of the five elements' mutual generation and destruction, and the marvels of spatial folding. Xuan Wazi was fully concentrated, relying on the inclusivity of his Primordial Dao Body and the analytical ability of the Chaos Bead to gradually decipher and adapt to the restriction's patterns.

After forty-nine days.

"Open!" Xuan Wazi let out a low cry, forming a mysterious hand seal and pointing it at the cliff face ahead.

The cliff face rippled like water, Dao patterns flowing, and slowly parted to the sides, revealing a gap just wide enough for one person to pass through. An extremely dense innate spiritual energy mixed with a refreshing scent of grass and wood rushed towards him!

Xuan Wazi's figure flickered, and he entered.

The scene before him suddenly opened up, revealing a small hidden grotto-heaven! In the center of the grotto-heaven, a divine and incomparibly strange vine grew atop a mass of dense Innate Wu Earth Essence.

The vine was emerald green, as if carved from jade, its leaves like green jasper, and it flowed with seven-colored auspicious light all over its body. On the vine, seven gourds of different colors, emitting powerful divine light that pierced the sky, were hanging!

One was crimson, exuding a scorching flame aura; another was purplish-gold, carrying the sharp and unparalleled edge of Geng Metal; a third was water-blue, containing the immense power of Water Essence; a fourth was earthy yellow, giving a sense of thick and supportive weight; a fifth was cyan-green, filled with vitality and creation; and a sixth was black, deep and dark, as if it could devour everything.

But the gourd that most attracted Xuan Wazi's attention was the purplish-white one, its surface swirling with Chaos Qi, its Dao rhythm the most ancient and profound – the Chaos Gourd!

The seven gourds were clearly close to maturity, emitting an alluring treasure light, trembling slightly, as if they could fall off at any moment.

"Haha! It really is the Innate Gourd Vine! Seven precious gourds!" Xuan Wazi was overjoyed. He knew that according to the original trajectory, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Di Jun, Tai Yi, and others would soon sense the treasure light and come to pick them.

"Unfortunately, they are this humble Daoist's now!" Xuan Wazi stepped forward unceremoniously, his gaze first locking onto the Chaos Gourd.

However, just as he reached out to pluck it, an unexpected change occurred!

The Chaos Gourd seemed to sense the approach of an unfamiliar aura and trembled violently. Its opening automatically widened, and a stream of Chaos Qi like a silken banner unfurled towards Xuan Wazi! At the same time, the other six gourds on the vine also emitted brilliant treasure light, forming a subtle resonance. A powerful repulsive force field enveloped them, actually intending to protect the treasure on their own!

"Oh? A bit of a temper?" Xuan Wazi laughed instead of being alarmed. "However, before this humble Daoist, you'd better behave!"

He did not use the God-Slaying Spear or the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation. Dealing with such a spiritual treasure that was not yet fully mature did not require such a grand display. He simply raised his right hand.

The fragment of the Great Dao of Strength flickered in his palm, and an invisible, absolute domain of power instantly spread out, enveloping the seven gourds and the entire gourd vine!

The surging Chaos Qi that came towards him struck the power domain like a mud ox entering the sea, silently annihilating. The repulsive force field formed by the resonance of the six gourds, in the face of absolute power, was like paper, shattering instantly!

Xuan Wazi's hand, ignoring all obstacles, steadily and gently plucked the purplish-white Chaos Gourd.

The gourd felt cool and warm in his hand, incredibly heavy, as if it contained a small chaotic world within, profoundly mysterious.

[Ding! Successfully seized the Innate Spiritual Treasure 'Chaos Gourd'! This treasure contains a Chaos Space, capable of nurturing all things and returning to chaos, with endless marvelous uses.]

"Good treasure!" Xuan Wazi was enamored with it, playing with it for a moment before placing it into the Chaos Bead to be nurtured.

Next, his gaze swept over the remaining six gourds.

"According to the 'plot', these six should have belonged to the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Hong Yun, and Di Jun and Tai Yi... However, I'll take Hong Yun's share for him, to prevent him from bringing disaster upon himself by possessing such a treasure. As for Di Jun and Tai Yi's share..." Xuan Wazi chuckled and unceremoniously took all the remaining six gourds, along with the entire Innate Gourd Vine, and the mass of Innate Wu Earth Essence beneath it, all in one go! He didn't leave a single hair for those who came later!

"Perfect! Took it all in one go!" Xuan Wazi clapped his hands, looking at the now empty grotto-heaven, and nodded with satisfaction.

He knew very well that once these gourds were taken by others, they would be connected to their owner's destiny, and it would be difficult to seize them later. Now, taking them all beforehand while they had not yet recognized a master was the best strategy. As for how much "plot" this would change and how much karma he would incur, did Xuan Wazi care?

"Eastern Emperor Tai Yi, your Chaos Gourd is gone. I wonder if your Chaos Bell, oh no, the Eastern Emperor Bell, will also feel fated with this humble Daoist in the future?" Xuan Wazi said with a wicked smile, his figure once again merging into the concealment of the Chaos Bead, and he silently left the grotto-heaven.

Shortly after he left, several powerful auras rushed over from different directions, landing near this valley.

"Strange, I clearly sensed a world-shattering treasure light here just now, why did it suddenly disappear?" Laozi frowned slightly, calculating with his fingers, but only felt that the heavenly secrets were in chaos.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate looked displeased, "Could it be that the treasure has already been taken by someone?"

Sect Master Tongtian looked around, his eyes sharp.

Afterward, Nuwa, Di Jun, Tai Yi, and others also arrived one after another, all showing confusion and unwillingness.

Naturally, they found nothing. The blessed land that had nurtured the Innate Gourd Vine completely vanished after Xuan Wazi left, leaving no trace. This opportunity that should have belonged to them had already been intercepted by a "scoundrel" of an old schemer, and completely snatched away.

Meanwhile, Xuan Wazi had already fled far away, finding a hidden place to begin studying his newly acquired Chaos Gourd and contemplating how to utilize that Innate Gourd Vine to prepare for Nuwa's subsequent creation of humans and other potential plans.