At the valley entrance, all the mighty figures' gazes were instantly drawn over.
"What could this be?" Excitement flashed in Tongtian's eyes.
Taiqing and Yuanshi also showed slight changes in expression.
Di Jun and Taiyi's breathing quickened somewhat. This was a top-tier Innate Spiritual Root!
Brilliant light flickered repeatedly in Nuwa's beautiful eyes.
Ancestor Hong Yun directly cried out, "Wow! What a treasure!"
Zhen Yuanzi was also filled with astonishment.
Wu Ming looked at the Gourd Vine, especially the vine itself, and understood.
"Fellow Daoists, the opportunity is right before us. Let each rely on their own affinity." Laozi spoke first, his voice calm. He stepped forward and walked toward the Gourd Vine.
He raised a hand and pointed at the gourd emanating a faint purple aura.
The Purple Gourd hummed once, detached from the vine, and fell into Taiqing's hand.
After receiving the gourd, Taiqing gave a slight nod and retreated to the side without looking at it again.
Yuanshi followed close behind. With an arrogant expression, he locked his gaze onto a verdant gourd.
He waved his hand, and the green gourd flew into his sleeve.
After obtaining the treasure, Yuanshi remained expressionless and also withdrew.
Tongtian laughed heartily and strode forward. "This cyan-skinned gourd is fated to be mine!"
He reached out and grabbed it, and the Cyan Gourd happily leaped into his palm.
The Three Pure Ones each took a gourd, their movements crisp and decisive.
Nuwa moved with graceful steps and arrived beneath the Gourd Vine.
Her gaze shifted before finally landing on a gourd shining with brilliant golden light.
She gently raised her jade hand, and the Golden Gourd drifted down into her possession.
After obtaining the gourd, Nuwa gave the vine a slight bow before retreating to the side.
At this moment, three gourds remained on the vine.
A red one, a yellow one, and a blue one that was clearly not yet fully mature, its color somewhat dim.
Ancestor Hong Yun rubbed his hands and cheerfully stepped forward. "Hehe, it's my turn!"
He took one look at the Red Gourd and immediately favored it. With a beckoning gesture, the gourd flew into his hand.
"What a treasure! What a treasure!" Hong Yun was beside himself with delight.
Only the yellow and blue gourds remained.
Taiyi had long been unable to contain himself. Seeing Hong Yun succeed, he immediately stepped forward, the Solar True Fire faintly flickering around his body.
Without hesitation, he reached for the Yellow Gourd.
The moment the gourd entered his hand, a heavy, scorching aura spread over him. Taiyi nodded in satisfaction and put it away.
In the blink of an eye, the six mature gourds had each found their owners.
Everyone's gazes involuntarily fell upon the lone gourd remaining on the vine, as well as the Gourd Vine itself.
It was a blue gourd, one size smaller than the other six, and its color was also somewhat dim. It clearly had not fully matured.
As for the body of the Innate Gourd Vine, after the gourds fell away, its spiritual radiance had also become much more restrained. Even so, it remained a top-tier Innate Spiritual Root.
Just as everyone's thoughts differed, Wu Ming moved.
Wu Ming wore a calm expression as he slowly walked before the Gourd Vine.
"Since all you fellow Daoists have taken the gourds fated to you," Wu Ming raised his head and looked at everyone, his voice calm, "this immature Blue Gourd and the body of this Gourd Vine will be taken by the Witch Clan. None of you have any objections, do you?"
His words were polite, but his meaning was perfectly clear: You've all taken the good ones. I'll take this leftover dud, along with the vine itself.
Taiqing closed his eyes and said nothing, which counted as tacit agreement.
Yuanshi glanced at the Blue Gourd, then at Wu Ming, before turning his head away.
Clearly, this immature gourd and the vine had yet to meet his standards.
Tongtian toyed with the Cyan Gourd in his hand and laughed. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, take them if you wish. We have already obtained our opportunities. Excellent."
Nuwa looked at Wu Ming, then at the Gourd Vine. Her delicate brows drew together slightly, as though she felt something was inappropriate. However, she had already obtained the Golden Gourd, so she could not say anything more at this point and could only give a slight nod.
Hong Yun, even more carefree, laughed. "That's right, that's right! Take them, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming! With you, this Gourd Vine might even bloom into a second spring!"
Zhen Yuanzi stood to the side and naturally supported Wu Ming.
He reached out, preparing to take the Blue Gourd and the entire Innate Gourd Vine together.
Just as the matter was about to be settled, Taiyi could not help but jump in.
"Wait!" He glared at Wu Ming. "Why should it belong to you? This Gourd Vine is an Innate Spiritual Root. Even if the last gourd hasn't matured, the vine itself is still an ultimate treasure! You say you want it, and that's that?"
Wu Ming turned to look at Taiyi, his face expressionless.
"Oh? Then, in your view, Fellow Daoist Taiyi, what should be done?"
"This..." Taiyi was stumped.
To be honest, he was not very interested in the Blue Gourd or the vine itself. He simply did not want the Witch Clan, and especially not Wu Ming, to gain any benefit.
Di Jun frowned from the side, inwardly sensing that things were taking a bad turn.
Taiyi's temper had flared up again.
Wu Ming looked at Taiyi, the corners of his mouth curving slightly, as if he had smiled, yet also as if he had not.
"Since Fellow Daoist Taiyi feels this is inappropriate, it's easy enough to resolve."
Wu Ming pointed at the Yellow Gourd in Taiyi's hand.
"How about this? Fellow Daoist Taiyi, give me the Yellow Gourd in your hand. In exchange, this Blue Gourd and the Gourd Vine will belong to you. How does that sound?"
"You!" Taiyi was instantly left speechless with rage.
Have him exchange a mature Innate Gourd already in his possession for an unfinished broken gourd and a vine?
Did Wu Ming take him for a fool?
The Yellow Gourd felt warm and smooth in his hand, its treasure light restrained. Anyone could tell it was no ordinary item. How could he possibly be willing to trade it?
"In your dreams!" Taiyi shouted angrily.
"Since you are unwilling to trade," Wu Ming spread his hands, his tone still calm, "then that means you also believe the value of this Blue Gourd and the Gourd Vine is inferior to the Yellow Gourd in your hand."
"Then, what is wrong with me taking this relatively lower-value item?"
"I..." Taiyi was choked into silence.
Logically speaking, there did not seem to be anything wrong with that, but he felt utterly aggrieved!
Wu Ming's way with words was truly too formidable!
Di Jun sighed inwardly and stepped forward to pull Taiyi back.
Then he looked at Wu Ming. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming is right. Since this vine and this gourd are not fated for us, let Fellow Daoist take them."
Di Jun knew very well that this was not the time to clash with the Witch Clan.
It was not worth falling out with Wu Ming over an immature gourd and a vine whose value was still unclear.
Moreover, the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa had already tacitly agreed. If he forcibly stepped forward now, it would only make the Demon Clan appear domineering and unreasonable, causing them to lose their dignity.
Though Taiyi was unwilling, Di Jun had spoken, so he could only glare resentfully at Wu Ming before saying nothing more.
Wu Ming paid no further attention to the others. He turned around and gently waved his hand at the Innate Gourd Vine.
The Blue Gourd and the entire Gourd Vine, roots, soil, and all, were wrapped in his Magic Power. They slowly shrank until they finally disappeared into his palm.
Thus, the Innate Gourd Vine and the seven Innate Gourds had all been settled, each finding its owner.
The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, nodded slightly, and transformed into streaks of light before departing.
Nuwa also nodded to everyone and drifted away.
Di Jun and Taiyi exchanged a glance, snorted coldly, and returned to the Heavenly Court.
After everyone had left.
Hong Yun walked over to Wu Ming's side and patted him on the shoulder. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist!"
Wu Ming gave a slight nod. "Thank you for sending word earlier, Fellow Daoist."
Zhen Yuanzi also stepped forward and said, "The matter here is settled. Fellow Daoist Hong Yun and I should take our leave as well."
"Take care, Fellow Daoists." Wu Ming cupped his hands.
Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi also transformed into streaks of light and departed.
In the blink of an eye, the lively valley had been left with only Wu Ming.
Wu Ming did not linger. With a movement of his body, he transformed into a streak of light and flew toward Buzhou Mountain.