Chapter 17

Not long after White Lotus Daoist left, Nuwa and Fuxi arrived at Li Peng's secluded cultivation site.

Seeing the two visit so suddenly, Li Peng was puzzled. They had just broken through to the Quasi-Saint Early Stage and should have been in seclusion consolidating their cultivation. Why had they suddenly come here? Could something important have happened?

Seeing the suspicion on Li Peng's face, Nuwa explained, "I was cultivating in seclusion to stabilize my cultivation when I suddenly felt uneasy, as though something deeply connected to me was about to emerge."

Upon hearing this, Li Peng understood that Nuwa's opportunity was calling to her.

"Where is the opportunity you sensed?" Li Peng asked.

"Buzhou Mountain," Nuwa answered.

"Buzhou Mountain? The second lecture at Purple Cloud Palace had only just ended. What could possibly be there that concerned Nuwa? Could it be the Seven-Colored Gourd Vine? It had to be! That Seven-Colored Gourd Vine, along with the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil beneath it, were indispensable for Nuwa to create humanity. Without those two things, how could Nuwa create humans and become a Saint? And without humanity, what race would become the protagonists of heaven and earth in the future?"

With that thought, Li Peng could no longer sit still. If inviting Nuwa to Penglai Island caused her to miss the Seven-Colored Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, resulting in her failure to create humanity, would he not become a sinner to the human race? Though he believed that the Heavenly Dao and Dao Ancestor Hongjun would make arrangements, who knew how long that would take?

Li Peng stepped forward and directly took Nuwa's hand. "Let's go!"

Before his words had even faded, he used Golden Light Across the Earth, and the two vanished from the spot in an instant.

Fuxi stood there dumbfounded, his face full of astonishment.

"What happened?"

"Why am I the only one left?"

"Where did they go?"

A string of questions flooded Fuxi's mind.

Nuwa lowered her head and looked at the hand Li Peng was tightly holding, sweetness rippling through her heart.

Seeing how anxious he was over her affairs especially warmed her heart.

Li Peng rushed onward at full speed, pushing his Quasi-Saint Late Stage physical body to its limits. His speed was astonishing.

In merely thirty years, he brought Nuwa to the place where she had sensed her opportunity.

The Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, Zhunti, Jieyin, King Father of the East, and many other great powers were gathered around a Gourd Vine bearing seven gourds.

When they saw Li Peng and Nuwa arrive, they all cast wary looks at them.

Li Peng did not care in the slightest. Calmly holding Nuwa's hand, he walked to the Seven-Colored Gourd Vine.

Their appearance undoubtedly reduced everyone else's chances of obtaining treasures by another fraction.

Yet no one spoke to stop them—this was the prehistoric world, where the weak were prey to the strong and strength reigned supreme.

The seven gourds on the vine were each different in color: purple-gold, purple-red, purple-white, purple-blue, purple-yellow, purple-green, and purple-black. Only the last was slightly smaller and not as full as the first six.

As Li Peng focused on examining them, the system's voice rang out again:

"Ding! The host's current circumstances have been detected. Please make a choice!"

"Option one: Help Nuwa obtain one gourd, and take the Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

Reward: Nuwa's favorability increases."

"Option two: Seize one gourd each for Nuwa and yourself, and take the Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

Reward: High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, Nine-Grade Creation Green Lotus."

"Option three: Everything I see belongs to me! Host, please take all seven gourds, the Gourd Vine, and the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

Reward: Twelve-Grade World-Destroying Black Lotus; Yin-Yang Law increased by twenty percent."

"Please choose quickly!"

Li Peng's heart jolted. "System, you're really trying to stir up trouble!"

After venting, Li Peng calmed down and carefully weighed his options.

He first ruled out the first option. The reward was simply too pathetic.

The reward for the second option was merely the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Nine-Grade Creation Green Lotus, yet he would have to fight a group of Innate great powers for it.

The third option's rewards were generous, but it would offend far too many people!

Just as his thoughts were in turmoil, the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth suddenly shook.

Boom—

The first Purple Gold Gourd seemed to have absorbed enough Innate Spiritual Energy and origin energy. It had fully matured and was faintly about to fall from the vine.

In an instant, everyone's eyes focused on the Purple Gold Gourd, their gazes filled with eagerness.

Looking at the gourd, Li Peng secretly thought, Either way, I'm taking it. Taking one will offend them, and taking two will offend them too. I might as well take them all!

As long as I am strong enough, not only will these people not dare touch me, they will have to show me respect.

If I lack strength, then even if I humble myself, they will still trample all over me.

Thinking this, Li Peng said to the system, "System, I choose option three!"

The moment he said it, his heart instead became completely clear.

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the Purple Gold Gourd fell from the vine, blooming with thousands of rays of golden light.

Every great power present stared fervently at the Purple Gold Gourd.

Judging from the aura it emitted, it was actually a Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

Hongjun had yet to distribute treasures, and none of the Innate great powers were particularly wealthy. Even the Three Pure Ones did not possess many Innate Spiritual Treasures worth displaying.

Moreover, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had just imparted the method of Slaying Three Corpses, making everyone even more eager to obtain the seven gourds.

The next moment, the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, Zhunti, Jieyin, King Father of the East, and the other Innate great powers all made their moves, charging toward the Purple Gold Gourd.

Laozi wielded the White Jade Flat Crutch and held the Heaven and Earth Golden Yellow Exquisite Pagoda above his head, blocking attacks from every direction.

Yuanshi and Tongtian, meanwhile, intercepted Di Jun and Tai Yi for him.

After all, those two held the River Diagram, Luo Script, and Chaos Bell. Among those present, they posed the greatest threat.

On the other side, Laozi endured the attacks of Zhunti, Jieyin, and King Father of the East, three Quasi-Saint Early Stage great powers, and flew directly toward the Purple Gold Gourd, treating their attacks as though they were nothing.

Though the three attacked with all their strength, they could never break through the defenses of the Heaven and Earth Golden Yellow Exquisite Pagoda. They could only watch helplessly as Laozi advanced.

Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun had no intention of competing and merely watched from the side.

Seeing that the Purple Gold Gourd was about to fall into Laozi's hands, Li Peng no longer hesitated and flew straight toward it.

When Laozi saw Li Peng suddenly rush over, his face darkened. He had not expected someone to interfere at such a critical moment.

Zhunti, Jieyin, and King Father of the East were secretly delighted, believing that Li Peng would join forces with them against Laozi.

Who would have thought that Li Peng ignored them entirely, directly passing Laozi and lunging for the Purple Gold Gourd?

The three could not help cursing inwardly, thinking Li Peng was foolish enough to throw himself into a siege.

Laozi, Zhunti, Jieyin, and King Father of the East attacked at once, waves of attacks shooting toward Li Peng.

Li Peng remained unruffled and summoned the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda above his head. With his Quasi-Saint Late Stage physical cultivation driving the pagoda, its defense was nearly invincible; none but Saints could break it.

Several thunderous booms rang out as the immortals' attacks all struck the pagoda, yet failed to shake it in the slightest.

Borrowing the force, Li Peng surged forward and seized the Purple Gold Gourd in the blink of an eye.

Seeing that the treasure had been taken, the immortals all stopped fighting.

When Nuwa saw Li Peng obtain the treasure, joy filled her heart.

Li Peng swept his gaze over the crowd and cupped his hands with a smile. "Thank you for letting me have it."

The immortals remained silent, their gazes turning once more to the Gourd Vine.

Seeing that these great powers ignored him, Li Peng did not get angry. He simply smiled and returned to Nuwa's side.

Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, five hundred years passed. The second purple-red gourd finally showed signs of falling.

For a moment, all the great powers focused again, their gazes gathering on the purple-red gourd.

Li Peng remembered that this gourd was called the Nine-Nine Soul Scattering Gourd. In the original course of events, it had been obtained by the good-natured Hong Yun.

But since he had already decided to collect every gourd, he could only apologize to Hong Yun in his heart.

Before long, the purple-red gourd fully matured.

"Crack!" With a crisp sound, the gourd fell from the vine, instantly blooming with thousands of rays of red light.

The moment the gourd dropped, Li Peng made his move without ceremony, flying forward beneath the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda.

At this moment, the Three Pure Ones, Zhunti, Jieyin, Di Jun, Tai Yi, King Father of the East, and the other great powers all locked their eyes on Li Peng.

He had already obtained one treasure, yet he was trying to snatch another. He was simply too greedy.

In an instant, the great powers stepped forward to block him. Only Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun remained watching from afar, with no intention of joining in.

Seeing everyone move to stop Li Peng, King Father of the East impatiently jumped out and shouted sternly, "Li Peng, you have already obtained one gourd. Do not interfere in the struggle for treasures again, or we will join forces and destroy your soul!"

Li Peng smiled disdainfully. "You? If you have the guts, come and try!"

King Father of the East's face flushed crimson with rage, but he ultimately did not dare step forward. He had long experienced Li Peng's strength.

Di Jun, Tai Yi, Zhunti, Jieyin, and the Three Pure Ones all took delight in his embarrassment. King Father of the East relied on Hongjun's personal appointment as Head of Male Immortals, placing his status above theirs, and they had long been dissatisfied with him. Naturally, they were pleased to see him humiliated.

However, now was not the time to dwell on that. If they let Li Peng take another treasure, it would be too late for regrets.

Zhunti stepped forward. "Fellow Daoist Li Peng, if all of us join forces, you are no match for us. You should withdraw."

Jieyin also agreed. "Indeed. Please withdraw, Fellow Daoist."

Li Peng sneered. "You two are visitors from the west. What right do you have to seize treasures of the east? Why not get lost back to the west?"

Upon hearing Li Peng's words, the eyes of the Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Tai Yi, King Father of the East, and the other Innate great powers lit up.

There were only six gourds left. If they could drive Zhunti and Jieyin away, their chances of obtaining treasures would naturally increase.

Seeing the hostile looks in everyone's eyes, Zhunti and Jieyin hurriedly argued, "All living beings of the prehistoric world are equal. How can there be a distinction between east and west?"

But no one cared to listen to their defense. Their very presence already infringed upon the interests of the other great powers.

Therefore, no matter how reasonable they sounded, it was useless.

Laozi spoke calmly. "Fellow Daoist Li Peng is right. Since you two are from the west, you have no affinity with the treasures of our east. Please return to the west."

"That's right! Return to the west!"

"Return to the west!"

"Return to the west!"

Yuanshi, Tongtian, Di Jun, Tai Yi, King Father of the East, and the other Innate great powers all echoed him.

Zhunti and Jieyin looked at the eastern great powers, who had unanimously turned their hostility upon them, and their expressions became extremely ugly.

Yet their strength was inferior, so they could only cast reluctant looks at those Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure gourds before turning to glare fiercely at Li Peng. If looks could kill, Li Peng's soul would already have been destroyed.

Li Peng merely smiled faintly at their glares and did not take them seriously.

Though he knew Zhunti and Jieyin would become Saints in the future, their current cultivation was far beneath his own, so he naturally did not fear them.

By the time they became Saints, Li Peng was confident that he would still crush them.

With the system at his side, if he still could not defeat those two traitors, he might as well smash his head into a block of tofu.

Seeing Li Peng's utter indifference, Zhunti and Jieyin grew even more resentful. Yet they had no choice but to leave, or they would face a joint assault from all the eastern great powers.

The two could only depart in fury.

Once Zhunti and Jieyin left, the great powers turned their attention toward Li Peng once more.

King Father of the East stepped forward several paces and said, "Fellow Daoist Li Peng, please stop now! If you stop at this point, we can still be friends."

"Who is friends with you? Why don't I know about that?" Li Peng replied disdainfully.

King Father of the East's face turned ashen from Li Peng's merciless words.

The Three Pure Ones and the other great powers beside him also realized that Li Peng had not given up on those gourds.

"It seems Fellow Daoist Li Peng has no intention of giving up these gourds. How many do you intend to take?" Laozi stepped forward and asked.

There was hidden intent behind that question.

No matter how many Li Peng said he wanted, he would become the target of everyone present—unless he voluntarily gave up competing for the remaining gourds.

But was that possible?

Obviously not!

Li Peng declared boldly, "In the prehistoric world, strength reigns supreme, and those with strength possess everything! My strength now surpasses yours, so these gourds—I want them all!"

The Three Pure Ones, Di Jun, Tai Yi, King Father of the East, Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and the other Innate great powers all felt that Li Peng was far too arrogant and utterly contemptuous of others.

Only Nuwa looked at Li Peng with a face full of admiration, nearly becoming his follower.

"What a claim that strength reigns supreme! I want to see whether you truly have the ability!" Tai Yi roared.

Before his words ended, Tai Yi's mana surged within him as endless power poured into the Chaos Bell.

"Dong—"

The bell's chime shook Buzhou Mountain as the Chaos Bell erupted with boundless might.

Li Peng merely smiled lightly. "An Innate Supreme Treasure truly possesses astonishing power. What a pity that it has fallen into your hands and been left to gather dust."

Tai Yi's fury intensified upon hearing that.

"Die!" he roared, swinging the Chaos Bell toward Li Peng with the force of ten thousand mountains.

Li Peng laughed loudly. "Excellent!"

The aura around him surged explosively, instantly reaching the Quasi-Saint Late Stage.

At the same time, the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda above his head shone with black-and-white radiance, its vast pressure sweeping in every direction.

Sensing Li Peng's aura and the pagoda's pressure, every great power present was shocked. Even the Chaos Bell's incoming speed slowed slightly.

"Th-this... the Quasi-Saint Late Stage! That pagoda-shaped treasure is actually an Innate Supreme Treasure! How is that possible?!" King Father of the East cried out in shock.

He had never imagined that Li Peng could be so powerful.