The Heavenly Dao Is Utterly Impartial

At that moment, the sixth gourd on the vine, radiating dazzling golden light, transformed into a flowing streak and landed steadily in Di Jun's palm.

Di Jun lowered his gaze to examine it, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly as he nodded in satisfaction.

The gazes of the other Innate Deities involuntarily turned toward the now-withered vine and the last chaotic, hazy gourd upon it—clearly still unripe.

Seeing that the opportunity seemed to have passed, the fervent heat in their hearts instantly cooled, and they lost interest one after another.

Thus, the six mature innate spiritual gourds had each found their master!

Just as everyone's minds relaxed, a figure moved!

It was Qing Huan!

His form abruptly transformed into a streak of light too swift to track, ignoring the constraints of space and the barriers of law. With a single step, he crossed every gap and appeared silently before the dimly glowing gourd vine!

His movements were fluid and natural, carrying an almost instinctive sense of "taking."

In the blink of an eye, he swept the entire innate gourd vine—roots and all—into the universe within his sleeve!

Even the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil that nurtured the vine below was taken along with it.

Everything happened in a flash!

By the time Di Jun, Tai Yi, Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, and other great powers reacted, all that remained was a bare pit in the ground.

In the air, the dense innate spiritual essence had yet to fully dissipate, as if silently recounting the sudden upheaval.

I possess the Three Lights Divine Water and the Zhongshu Earth, one of the ten great innate divine soils. How could I fail to revive this seventh gourd and the innate gourd vine?

Besides, this is the true greatest fortune of this trip!

As for karma? Ridiculous! Nuwa hesitated and didn't act—who can she blame? Crossing into the Primordial Wilderness means one must seize the moment!

Nuwa's delicate brows furrowed slightly. An inexplicable sense of loss surged within her for no clear reason.

She had already obtained a spiritual treasure, so why did she feel as though a crucial opportunity had been torn away from her?

She instinctively looked toward Qing Huan, her eyes carrying a trace of confusion and inquiry.

Primordial Heavenly Venerate stroked his long beard and gazed at Qing Huan with bewilderment:

"Daoist Friend Qing Huan, that last gourd was clearly unripe, and the vine had already withered, its life force severed. You uprooted the whole thing—do you truly think you can revive it?"

He simply couldn't understand why Qing Huan, blessed with deep fortune, extraordinary roots, and flourishing luck, had not had a single spiritual treasure choose him on its own, ending up with only a withered vine and a useless gourd.

Qing Huan smiled carelessly, his demeanor relaxed:

"Heh, Daoist Friend Primordial, you're mistaken! This vine bore seven gourds, six of which are top-grade innate spiritual treasures.

Who's to say this withered vine cannot bloom anew and nurture the seventh gourd to maturity?

I'm taking it back, just to try my luck."

In his heart, he was certain: If I can revive the gourd vine, the seventh gourd will surely ripen in time.

Besides... that Grand Pure One Laozi's Purple-Gold Gourd will require the Classic of the Way and Virtue in exchange.

And as for Nuwa... when she wants the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and the Three Lights Divine Water to revive the vine and create life...

Heh, she'll have to trade her gourd for it, plus owe me a massive karmic debt! Otherwise, no deal!

That way, all three gourds will be mine. And these people won't be using gourds to sever their corpses anyway...

After all, after the third lecture at the Purple Xiao Palace, every spiritual treasure given out surpasses these gourds...

Grand Pure One Laozi's gaze was deep and unfathomable as he swept his eyes over Qing Huan's sleeve, speaking calmly:

"Since Daoist Friend Qing Huan has this intention, I wish you success in your endeavor.

We three brothers will take our leave now."

With those words, the figures of the Three Pure Ones blurred and vanished from the spot.

The other great powers, such as Di Jun, Tai Yi, Hongyun, and Zhenyuanzi, seeing that matters had reached this point, also transformed into streaks of light and departed one after another.

Nuwa turned to leave but couldn't help glancing back, giving Qing Huan a long, deep look.

She felt, deep down, that the crucial opportunity meant for her had been taken by this very figure...

But with so many Innate Deities present, she ultimately couldn't bring herself to ask, and left with a trace of melancholy.

"Sigh! Daoist Friend Qing Huan... what a pity! I feel it's such a loss for you!"

East Prince stepped forward, his face a mask of anguish and indignation on Qing Huan's behalf, his tone thick with regret.

Qing Huan sneered inwardly, fully aware of East Prince's intentions.

He was simply trying to curry favor and recruit Qing Huan into his so-called faction of the Head of Male Immortals.

Still... after a moment's thought, it wouldn't hurt to play along with him for now. After all, his Lesser Yang Essence Blood would be of great use to me.

"Oh?"

Qing Huan furrowed his brows just slightly, feigning confusion.

"What does Daoist Friend East Prince mean by that? What loss do I have to speak of?"

"Friend, you were honored by the Dao Ancestor himself as a guest of the Cushion in the Purple Xiao Palace."

Possessing boundless Luck, he ought to be matched with a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure to be worthy of this position!

Yet now... now he only has a withered vine and a rough gourd—is that not a pity? Is it not the Heavenly Dao being unjust?"

East Prince shook his head repeatedly, as if even more vexed than Qing Huan himself.

Qing Huan, however, gave a carefree smile after hearing this and waved his hand, saying:

"So it's about this matter. Daoist Friend East Prince seems to be fixated.

As the saying goes, 'Gain is my fortune, loss is my fate.'

The Heavenly Dao is supremely just; all is determined by fate.

That I obtained this vine and this gourd may well be another kind of destiny. I do not feel there is anything wrong."

Qing Huan's tone was calm, as if he truly did not care.

"Haha, it is I who have become attached. Your Daoist Friend's breadth of mind is admirable!"

East Prince let out a laugh, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as he smoothly extended an invitation.

"I wonder if Daoist Friend Qing Huan would do me the honor of visiting my Dao Field for a while, to sip tea, discuss the mysteries, and debate the Dao?"

East Prince calculated inwardly:

This is an existence on par with the Three Pure Ones! If I can win him over to my side, why worry about achieving my great enterprise?

A faint, elusive smile tugged at the corner of Qing Huan's mouth:

"Oh? Visit your Dao Field to discuss the Dao? Since you, Daoist Friend, have so warmly invited me, I would be remiss to decline."

This East Prince is deeply blessed by fortune—after the second sermon, he was able to find that Penglai Immortal Island.

This is a perfect chance to get a glimpse of it. If I can sense something... even if I can't snatch it away, I'll make sure he pays a heavy price!

Two streaks of escape light shot across the sky, heading straight southwest toward the coast of the Eastern Sea.

Before long, the outline of an island, seemingly ordinary yet shrouded in a hazy purple aura, emerged from the vast misty waves.

Gazing at this magnificent Purple Mansion Continent before him, Qing Huan couldn't help but feel a trace of envy:

This bastard East Prince truly has Luck among the top tier of the Primordial Wilderness.

Following East Prince through the island's protective formation and stepping inside, In an instant, dense Innate Spiritual Qi rushed toward him.

The mountains and rivers were beautiful, strange peaks layered with emerald green, auspicious beasts frolicking in the forests, immortal birds soaring above the clouds, and rare flowers and exotic grasses covering the ground—truly a scene of immortal splendor that captivated the heart and soul.

Halfway up the Main Peak, a grand and ancient palace, exuding a pure and harmonious yang aura, stood majestically. On the plaque, three ancient characters flowed with the rhythm of the Dao—Pure Yang Palace.