Chapter 20

Thus, everyone turned killing gazes toward Kunpeng.

Upon hearing Hongjun's words, Li Peng cursed inwardly, Hongjun is clearly inciting them to seize Kunpeng's and my Primordial Violet Qi! How vicious!

These people may be nothing to fear now, but once Di Jun and Tai Yi reach the Quasi-Saint Late Stage or even the peak, then set up the Grand Formation of the Stars—

Wouldn't I be doomed?

I must raise my strength as quickly as possible, or I will surely follow in Hong Yun's footsteps!

At that thought, resolve flashed through Li Peng's eyes.

From the corner of his eye, he saw Kunpeng still immersed in his joy and could not help thinking, Kunpeng hasn't noticed at all? He was supposed to be a shrewd fellow. Did obtaining Primordial Violet Qi make him lose his mind?

On the high platform, Hongjun calmly said to the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, "As my personal disciples, you should naturally have supreme treasures to protect yourselves.

"In my early travels through the primordial world, I acquired many spiritual treasures.

"Now that I am about to Combine with Dao, these treasures are of no use to me.

"Today, I shall bestow them upon you for self-defense."

Upon hearing this, all the great powers present grew jealous. They had risked their lives in pursuit of spiritual treasures, while the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa received treasures merely for being personal disciples. The gap was truly enormous.

Seeing that Hongjun intended to bestow treasures only upon his personal disciples and had no intention of considering them, Zhunti and Jieyin looked even more miserable.

Ignoring everyone's gazes, Hongjun summoned a treasure diagram flowing with Yin-Yang Qi and said to Laozi, "Laozi, you were formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit and are my eldest disciple. You should wield this Innate Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram."

With that, he tossed the Taiji Diagram toward Laozi.

The entire hall erupted—one of the Three Treasures of Creation, the Taiji Diagram could stabilize Earth, Water, Fire, and Wind; transform the Yin-Yang Five Elements; discern the mysteries of the Heavenly Dao; and encompass all phenomena. For Hongjun to give away such a supreme treasure so casually was truly shocking.

Nearly all the great powers present wanted to rush forward, hug Dao Ancestor Hongjun's thigh, and call him father!

Unfortunately, Dao Ancestor Hongjun was not someone they could approach simply because they wished to.

"Thank you, Teacher!" Laozi said as he accepted the Taiji Diagram, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

Next, Hongjun took out a long banner and said to Yuanshi, "This is the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner. I bestow it upon you today, and hope you will put it to good use."

Having said that, he threw the Pangu Banner to Yuanshi.

"Thank you, Teacher!" Yuanshi said as he received the Pangu Banner, unable to hide his excitement.

When the great powers present saw Hongjun produce another Innate Supreme Treasure, their eyes reddened with envy.

Yet before Dao Ancestor Hongjun, no one dared act recklessly.

Afterward, Dao Ancestor Hongjun took out a formation diagram and four long swords radiating baleful, vicious auras, handing them to Tongtian. "These are the Immortal Slaying Four Swords and the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram. Together, they can form the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation. This formation is immensely powerful and overflowing with killing intent. It cannot be broken unless four Saints join forces, so you must use it with caution."

"Thank you, Teacher!" Tongtian said gratefully as he accepted the Immortal Slaying Four Swords and formation diagram.

Everyone had already been numbed by the treasures Hongjun had bestowed one after another. Upon hearing that the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation required four Saints to break, they were even more dumbfounded.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun turned his gaze to Nuwa and said, "Nuwa, you have a gentle temperament and do not enjoy conflict. In the future, a great merit awaits you. Today, I bestow upon you the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure River Mountains Societal Diagram and the Red Embroidered Ball. One is for attack and the other for defense; together, they can keep you safe."

With that, he handed the Red Embroidered Ball and the River Mountains Societal Diagram to Nuwa.

"Thank you, Teacher." Nuwa accepted the spiritual treasures with a calm expression.

Having spent so much time with Li Peng, she had seen many Innate Supreme Treasures and top-grade spiritual treasures. Her perspective was no longer what it had once been.

After Dao Ancestor Hongjun bestowed those two treasures, he closed his eyes to rest, seemingly with no intention of giving out any more.

Seeing this, Zhunti and Jieyin burst into tears and knelt on the ground, pleading, "Teacher! The West is barren and lacks treasures. We beg for your mercy—please bestow spiritual treasures upon us for protection!"

The two wept as they repeatedly kowtowed, looking utterly pitiful.

Hongjun looked at them and pondered for a moment before saying, "You two do possess great perseverance and great wisdom. You have comprehended the three thousand side paths, which is also a matter of fate. Yet you are ultimately guests from the West and have no affinity with the great treasures of the Eastern lands. Very well. I shall now bestow the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and the Blessing Vajra Pestle upon you."

As Hongjun spoke, he tossed the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus and the Blessing Vajra Pestle to Zhunti and Jieyin.

"Thank you, Teacher!" the two said in unison.

The instant the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus appeared, the system notification sounded:

"Ding! The host's current situation has been detected. Please make a choice!"

"Option One: The Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, most suitable for severing the Good Corpse, has appeared. Seize this treasure before Hongjun!

Reward: Ten drops of Pangu's Essence Blood; Yin-Yang Great Dao law increased by thirty percent!"

"Option Two: The Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, most suitable for severing the Good Corpse, has appeared. Exchange treasures with Jieyin and Zhunti for this lotus!

Reward: One million years of cultivation; method for forging a Buddhist Golden Body!"

"Option Three: The Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus, most suitable for severing the Good Corpse, has appeared. Directly seize it from Zhunti and Jieyin!

Reward: One million years of cultivation; Yin-Yang Law increased by ten percent!"

Li Peng carefully weighed the three options.

He first ruled out Option One. Although the reward was generous, it was no different from courting death—seizing a spiritual treasure Hongjun had just bestowed right before him? He would have to be tired of living.

Option Two was also quite difficult. When Li Peng had seized the gourds last time, he had already formed a deadly enmity with Zhunti and Jieyin. Even if he offered two Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures in exchange, they would likely refuse. Besides, why would Li Peng make such a losing deal?

That left only Option Three: directly seize the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus from Zhunti and Jieyin.

Though they were destined to become Saints in the future, their current strength was far inferior to Li Peng's, so taking it would not be difficult.

This would certainly offend those two Heaven-appointed Saints completely, but Li Peng was not afraid.

There were two reasons. First, he possessed the system, and his future achievements would surely surpass theirs. Second, since they had already become mortal enemies during the previous treasure seizure, Zhunti and Jieyin's vengeful natures meant they would certainly seek revenge on him the moment they became Saints.

Since that was the case, what was the harm in offending them one more time? A man with many debts did not worry about another.

Li Peng decisively confirmed with the system, "I choose the third option."

The great powers present were once again stunned by this sight. No one had expected that lowering oneself so humbly could bring such an opportunity. Had they known that casting aside their pride would yield such benefits, how could these great powers have remained silent?

Thus, everyone followed suit, kneeling and pleading, "Our cultivation is shallow, and we have no spiritual treasures to protect ourselves. We beg Teacher to take pity on us and bestow treasures!"

Li Peng secretly complained, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had intended to distribute spiritual treasures anyway. All this begging is completely unnecessary. Even as he mocked them inwardly, he prepared to sprint—there were only so many treasures at Treasure Distribution Cliff, and opportunity could not be missed.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked at the wailing crowd below the platform and sighed softly. "Very well! In the rear courtyard of the Purple Sky Palace lies Treasure Distribution Cliff, where I have stored all kinds of spiritual treasures collected in my early years. Go and take them according to your fate."

Before the Dao Ancestor had even finished speaking, a figure flashed through the Purple Sky Palace. The great powers were shocked to discover that Li Peng, who had originally been sitting in the foremost seat, had vanished.

"Damn!"

The same word sprang into the minds of all the great powers present. They immediately activated their divine abilities and rushed toward Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Meanwhile, Li Peng had already arrived before Treasure Distribution Cliff ahead of everyone else. It was incomparably enormous and layered with countless restrictions.

Without hesitation, Li Peng immediately released his aura, attempting to draw spiritual treasures fated to him.

The moment his aura spread, three streaks of light flew toward him.

With a grab of his hand, he caught three spiritual treasures: the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Yin-Yang Diagram, the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Yin-Yang Treasure Fan, and the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Yin-Yang Qiankun Robe.

Looking at the mere three treasures in his hands, Li Peng complained inwardly, Why are there only so few? Aren't I the protagonist? How can I have so few fated treasures?

That old man Hongjun must have tampered with things!

He did not hesitate any longer. Taking out the Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda, he charged headlong into the depths of Treasure Distribution Cliff.

"Collect! Collect! Collect!"

Relying on the Innate Supreme Treasure Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda, Li Peng easily broke through layer after layer of restrictions.

No matter what grade of spiritual treasure lay within a restriction, he swept them all away.

In only a short while, he had forcibly collected dozens of spiritual treasures.

Though these spiritual treasures were not of particularly high grade, there were many of them. Even if he did not use them himself, he could leave them for his descendants in the future.

At the same time, Li Peng did not forget to search for spiritual treasures that would be greatly useful to him, such as the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Beads, the Five Elements Pearl, and the Four Symbols Pearl.

Before long, he finally found the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Beads.

"Finally found them. Collect!"

Just as Li Peng put away the Sea-Calming Divine Beads, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Fuxi, Di Jun, Tai Yi, Zhunti, Jieyin, King Father of the East, Kunpeng, Changxi, Xihe, and many other top great powers arrived before Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Laozi flew forward and released his aura.

In an instant, more than ten spiritual treasures of at least the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure level flew toward him on their own, including the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Vajra Ring, the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner, the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Trigram Furnace, and the High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure Jing Palace Lamp.

Seeing this, Li Peng could not help cursing, "Damn! This cheat is way too obvious! The moment he releases his aura, more than ten High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures fly over!"

Before his words had faded, Tongtian also released his aura.

In an instant, the Plague Punishing Seal, Plague Stopping Sword, Plague Bell, Plague Radiant Umbrella, Plague Dispersing Whip, Headache Incense, Sky Swallowing Cover, Rainbow Piercing Rope, Flying Smoke Sword, Sky Opening Bead, Earth Splitting Bead, Hunyuan Pearl, Five Dragon Wheel, Sky Illuminating Seal, Spirit Shattering Cone, Trigram Dragon Whisker Scarf, Treasure Cloud Light Scarf, Four Symbols Pearl, Dragon Tiger Ruyi, Mountain Driving Whip, Sun-Moon Beads, Golden Cloud Crown, Duobao Pagoda, Treasure Spitting Golden Toad, Treasure Gathering Basin, Dragon Binding Rope, Eye Slaying Bead, Wind Bag, Hunyuan Golden Dipper, and hundreds of other Innate Spiritual Treasures all flew toward Tongtian.

Witnessing this scene, Li Peng could only be thoroughly convinced.

The moment Tongtian released his aura, hundreds of Innate Spiritual Treasures actively came to him. Such fortune was truly heaven-defying!

Suddenly, Li Peng noticed that the Four Symbols Pearl was among those treasures.

His pupils contracted slightly as he began calculating inwardly.

The other great powers felt bitter as they watched the Three Pure Ones take away so many treasures.

Di Jun, Tai Yi, Kunpeng, Nuwa, Fuxi, Zhunti, Jieyin, King Father of the East, Changxi, Xihe, and the other top innate great powers all released their auras, drawing the treasures fated to them.

In an instant, streams of light streaked through the sky as spiritual treasures were taken into the hands of those great powers one after another.

Li Peng no longer hesitated either. The Chaos Yin-Yang Pagoda above his head swept through Treasure Distribution Cliff like a mad dragon emerging from the abyss.

Within moments, more than ten additional Innate Spiritual Treasures fell into his hands.

Quasi-Saint-level great powers such as the Three Pure Ones also entered Treasure Distribution Cliff, doing their utmost to collect treasures.

Only then did several hundred great powers at the peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal level hurriedly arrive before Treasure Distribution Cliff and release their auras to draw the treasures fated to them.

In an instant, hundreds of streaks of light flashed.

These spiritual treasures were swiftly collected by the peak Grand Unity Golden Immortal great powers.

In the blink of an eye, Treasure Distribution Cliff was completely empty.

Several hundred late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal great powers who had arrived a step too late could only stare mournfully at the empty Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Seeing that all the treasures were gone, Li Peng and the other top innate great powers withdrew from Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Fuxi, Nuwa, Changxi, and Xihe had gained considerably from this trip and approached Li Peng with joyful expressions.

Just then, a majestic voice rang in the ears of every great power:

"Combine with Dao!"

All the great powers knew that this voice meant Hongjun had already combined with the Heavenly Dao and would no longer concern himself with worldly affairs.

At the moment Hongjun Combined with Dao, his cultivation broke through, and he gained control over part of the primordial world's Heavenly Dao authority.

After Combining with Dao, Hongjun first used the Heavenly Dao's authority to deduce who had been stirring up turmoil in the primordial world and plotting against him in secret.

"Pfft!"

Not long afterward, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his expression shocked. "Why are the Heavenly Secrets still chaotic and obscure? Why can I not deduce the person behind this at all? Could the other party have already reached the Heavenly Dao realm?"

At that thought, Hongjun's face filled with horror.

"I paid such a price, even ending my preaching early before my foundation was stable and shortening the period for all cultivators to gain enlightenment, all so that I could combine with the Heavenly Dao sooner. Yet in the end, I gained nothing. In that great power's eyes, perhaps everything I have done is nothing more than a joke," Hongjun muttered bitterly.

If he knew that all of this was merely the work of the system within Li Peng, while Li Peng himself possessed only Quasi-Saint Late Stage cultivation, would he be angered to the point that his Dao heart became unstable?

When the great powers learned that Hongjun had Combined with Dao, they all felt a sense of relief, as though the mountain pressing above their heads had finally been removed.

In the blink of an eye, great powers such as the Three Pure Ones flew away from the Purple Sky Palace.

Li Peng's group, however, remained where they were and did not hurry to leave.

Once nearly everyone had dispersed, Li Peng waved his hand and put Treasure Distribution Cliff away.

The dispirited Grand Unity Golden Immortals nearby twitched at the corners of their mouths upon seeing this.