We Can't Take a Loss

Weren't these twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls complete?

Hearing Zhou Qingqing's inner thoughts, the Three Pure Ones all fixed their gazes on the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls floating outside Azure Dragon's body, radiating five-colored divine light.

Sure enough, they came to the conclusion that the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls were incomplete.

The complete number of Sea-Calming Divine Pearls should correspond to the number of the celestial cycle: thirty-six. Once complete, the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls would become an innate supreme treasure, their power naturally surpassing that of the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner.

Wait, if that was the case, thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls would rise to the level of an innate supreme treasure. Trading an innate supreme treasure for the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner would be far too much of a loss.

That wouldn't do. Even considering the bond between master and disciple, that was still a losing deal. I wouldn't have the nerve to make such a request.

Third Master, just accept these twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. When the time comes, you can gain another innate supreme treasure for yourself and better protect your disciples. That is the best choice.

Listening to Zhou Qingqing's thoughts, Tongtian barely held back his laughter.

So his big-hearted disciple was actually helping him calculate gains and losses at a time like this, without even considering the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner first.

With that thought in mind,

Upper Pure Tongtian resolutely extended his hand and pushed the twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls back toward Azure Dragon.

"What we have always wanted is only the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner. Though these twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls are also top-grade innate spirit treasures, they are not what I seek."

Tongtian paused before continuing.

"You only have twelve Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. If they reach the complete number of thirty-six, they can advance into an innate supreme treasure, enough to replace the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner in governing the water element of the Primordial World."

"I will obtain the remaining twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, then exchange them for your clan's Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner. What do you think?"

What?

This time,

the ancient golden flood dragon, Azure Dragon, and Zhou Qingqing were all stunned.

Third Master, you really... sob, sob, I want to cry again.

You only glanced at the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and immediately saw that they were incomplete. For my sake, you were even willing to give up the chance to obtain an innate supreme treasure.

The other twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls were still in Dao Ancestor Hongjun's hands. Their location could not be deduced at all, yet Third Master was willing to pursue something so ethereal and uncertain. This was what a true master was!

"..."

"..."

Naturally, Azure Dragon was not as moved as Zhou Qingqing, that treasured disciple.

Tongtian before him was actually willing to gather the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls into a complete set and then hand them over to him in exchange for the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner.

Such an outrageous matter was actually unfolding before his eyes.

Ancestor Dragon, the Dragon Clan's patriarch, had once expended great effort to deduce the whereabouts of the remaining twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, yet even in the end, he had failed to determine where they had gone.

Once all thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls appeared, they would form a complete innate supreme treasure capable of calming the storms of the four seas of the Primordial World.

If they could have been gathered during the Dragon-Han Calamity, they might even have directly reversed the course of the battle.

This spirit treasure was even more powerful than the Ancestor Dragon Pearl.

If they could obtain this spirit treasure,

the Dragon Clan, which had already begun to decline, might have another chance to rise again.

He had sent the ancient golden flood dragon to patrol the East Sea precisely to search for such opportunities.

They had merely found Golden Turtle Island, the blessed grotto-heaven opened by Tongtian.

However,

the complete Sea-Calming Divine Pearls were far more important than Golden Turtle Island.

He was now heading toward destruction due to the backlash of Heavenly Dao karma. Yet if he could grasp the complete Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, he might have a chance to offset that backlash and cultivate anew.

All of these would be changes brought by an innate supreme treasure.

And these were merely some of the outcomes he had imagined.

An innate supreme treasure can't simply be handed over for nothing. Third Master, even if you're doing this to exchange for the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner, you can't abandon the benefits you deserve.

Tongtian immediately understood.

"Of course, you also know that if twenty Sea-Calming Divine Pearls become an innate supreme treasure, their value will already be immeasurable, far exceeding that of the Northern Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner. How will you make their values equal?"

Oh, Third Master does have some negotiating skill. By letting Azure Dragon decide the value himself, he can not only see Azure Dragon's true character, but also test his real bottom line. Killing several birds with one stone...

Tongtian raised a sword-like brow, the corners of his lips curving upward with a touch of pride.

"To be honest, if the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls truly become complete, they will be of enormous use to both me, Azure Dragon, and the entire Dragon Clan."

Azure Dragon's tone was resolute.

"If, Fellow Daoist, you can gather all thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, I, Azure Dragon, am willing to become Golden Turtle Island's guardian divine beast. The entire Dragon Clan will also honor Golden Turtle Island above all else. Fellow Daoist may issue edicts and command any Dragon Clan member!"

Gasp, this Azure Dragon has such courage. He's truly straightforward too!

Zhou Qingqing drew a deep breath.

He had completely laid out the value of the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls.

In the eyes of the increasingly declining Dragon Clan, this innate supreme treasure held such value. It might allow the entire Dragon Clan to regain the glory it had possessed in the previous Calamity.

If that was the case, then treating Third Master as equal in status to Ancestor Dragon was only natural.

Actually, Third Master will attain sainthood in the future. If the Dragon Clan truly submits to him, the Dragon Clan will be the one profiting.

But Azure Dragon doesn't have my knowledge. It's already good enough that he can go this far. In that case, giving up an innate supreme treasure in exchange for the Dragon Clan's protection isn't a loss either.

Third Master will remain on Golden Turtle Island in the future. If he can gather the East Sea Dragon Clan's fortune, that would be quite nice.

And Azure Dragon truly is a divine beast. With thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, he really can guard Golden Turtle Island.

He possesses insights into the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal realm, so he should recover his strength quickly. He's far stronger than Lu Wu at the Queen Mother of the West's dojo.

Thinking about it this way, it seems like a pure profit.

The only one losing out is my future junior brother, but it's fine. Your sacrifice will be worthwhile. Senior Sister will remember you...

Zhou Qingqing felt quite satisfied.

In her eyes, this was already the best outcome.

Since she was satisfied,

Tongtian, who had heard Zhou Qingqing's thoughts, was naturally satisfied as well.

Jade Pure Yuanshi and Supreme Pure Laozi naturally had nothing to say either.

Zhou Qingqing had said that the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls would fall into Tongtian's hands. How he handled his own spirit treasure was naturally for Upper Pure Tongtian himself to decide.

They had no standing to interfere.

"Very well. Azure Dragon, no problem."

"Once I obtain the remaining twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, I will naturally come find you again."

Tongtian paused.

"I am Upper Pure Tongtian. Beside me are my second brother, Jade Pure Yuanshi, and eldest brother, Supreme Pure Laozi. We were formed from Pangu's Primordial Spirit, and we will naturally keep our word!"

Hearing Upper Pure Tongtian's resounding declaration, Azure Dragon was completely convinced.

With the foundation of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, his words needed no questioning. He only needed to believe.