Hongjun's figure dissipated, and the gates of Zixiao Palace swung violently open.
The deathly silence inside the palace was instantly shattered. Countless figures transformed into streaks of light and rushed out of the palace gates, all making straight for Treasure Distribution Rock Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens!
Wu Ming's thoughts stirred, and he sent a voice transmission to Dijiang beside him. "Dijiang, you're the fastest. Go to Treasure Distribution Rock at once."
"Remember, you can ignore everything else, but you must find the Twenty-Four Dinghai Divine Pearls."
"That set of pearls is extremely compatible with your Space Law. You must get them."
Dijiang's figure paused almost imperceptibly. He immediately understood and nodded at Wu Ming.
His form blurred as Space Law circulated. He merged directly into the void, and in the next instant, he had crossed an endless distance and shifted toward Treasure Distribution Rock. His speed far exceeded that of the other great powers.
Chaos airflow surged. Treasure Distribution Rock floated in the void, treasure light flowing across it. Countless Innate Spiritual Treasures could be vaguely seen bobbing in the air.
However, when Dijiang arrived first, he froze.
Where was the scene of endless treasure light and Innate Spiritual Treasures raining down?
Treasure Distribution Rock was completely empty. Only a scant few lower-grade and mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures lay there forlornly, giving off an aura that seemed to say, "I'm very ordinary."
"This..." Dijiang frowned and swept the area with his Divine Thought, confirming that he had missed nothing.
Could he have arrived too late? Impossible. He was confident that his speed had put him among the first to arrive.
Despite his doubts, Dijiang still collected those few lower-grade and mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Even the smallest mosquito was still meat.
Before long, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, Di Jun and Taiyi of the Demon Clan, along with several other top great powers, arrived.
Wu Ming and the other Ancestral Witches followed close behind.
When Wu Ming saw the sparse few Innate Spiritual Treasures on Treasure Distribution Rock, then noticed the faintly puzzled look on Dijiang's face, he understood what was going on.
It seems Hongjun made arrangements long ago, Wu Ming thought.
The treasures on Treasure Distribution Rock aren't visible to everyone, nor can everyone obtain them. It all depends on fate—or rather, on the fate determined by the Heavenly Dao.
Sure enough, what happened next proved his guess.
The Three Pure Ones stepped forward. Taiqing flicked the Taiji Diagram, and dozens of streaks of treasure light flew into his sleeve, including no small number of High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Yuanshi brought out the Pangu Banner and gave it a gentle shake. A large number of Innate Spiritual Treasures were swept away by him as well.
Tongtian was the most imposing. Amid his booming laughter, a wave of sword light swept out, and more than a hundred assorted Innate Spiritual Treasures were taken into his possession. The dazzling display made the others burn with envy.
Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti also reaped abundant rewards, each collecting dozens of Innate Spiritual Treasures.
But when it was the turn of the other great powers, the situation was completely different.
Some stepped forward and could see only three or five lower-grade Spiritual Treasures—better than nothing.
Some could not see anything at all. They could only stare blankly, so furious that they blew their beards and glared.
"What's going on? Where are the treasures?"
"Why can they take so many? Why can I see only these?"
"Unfair! The Heavenly Dao is unfair!"
Complaints and doubts rose one after another.
Wu Ming watched all this with a calm expression.
He led the Ancestral Witches forward.
In the end, aside from Wu Ming and Houtu, who each obtained a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the other Ancestral Witches collected only one or two lower-grade or mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures apiece. It was better than nothing.
Very soon, all the Innate Spiritual Treasures on Treasure Distribution Rock that everyone could sense had been taken.
Just as everyone was preparing to leave, Wu Ming made a move that left them all dumbfounded.
He walked to the front of Treasure Distribution Rock, extended his hand, and sent Magic Power surging out, directly covering the entire cliff!
Buzz—!
Treasure Distribution Rock shook violently. Then Wu Ming tore it out by the roots. It continuously shrank until it became palm-sized and fell into his hand.
"!!!"
"What is he doing?"
"He took Treasure Distribution Rock?"
"Holy crap! That's allowed?"
Everyone was stunned.
Treasure Distribution Rock could bear so many Innate Spiritual Treasures, so its material was definitely extraordinary. Even if it was not an Innate Spiritual Treasure, it was certainly a top-tier material for refining artifacts!
They had been so focused on taking the treasures. How had they never thought of taking the cliff itself?
"This object is fated for the Witch Clan." Wu Ming put away [Treasure Distribution Rock] and spoke indifferently.
Everyone: "..."
Fated your ass!
You were simply faster than everyone else!
But then again, so many people had been present, and Wu Ming alone had thought of it—and actually acted.
What could they do?
Fight him?
After looking at the twelve murderous Ancestral Witches standing behind Wu Ming and weighing their own abilities, most people wisely chose silence.
Di Jun gave Wu Ming a deep look, grabbed Taiyi before he could say anything, and turned into a rainbow before departing.
The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others also left one after another.
Just then, Wu Ming spoke.
"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, please wait."
Tongtian, who had been about to leave, stopped and looked at Wu Ming in surprise. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, what is it?"
Wu Ming stepped forward and got straight to the point. "Among the Spiritual Treasures you obtained from Treasure Distribution Rock, do you have the Twenty-Four Dinghai Divine Pearls?"
Tongtian froze. Surprise flashed through his eyes.
He had indeed obtained that set of pearls, but how had Wu Ming known?
Tongtian remained outwardly calm. With a thought, twenty-four pearls radiating hazy treasure light and containing fluctuations of Space Law floated above his palm.
"Is this the item? How did you know, Fellow Daoist Wu Ming?"
Wu Ming looked at the twenty-four pearls, then swept his gaze toward Dijiang beside him.
Tongtian followed his gaze and immediately understood.
The Sea Calming Divine Beads contained Space Law!
And Dijiang was precisely the Space Ancestral Witch!
"I see." Tongtian smiled freely. "Fellow Daoist Wu Ming, you want to exchange for this treasure on behalf of Fellow Daoist Dijiang?"
Wu Ming nodded and directly took out the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure he had just obtained.
"Correct. I'm willing to use this treasure to exchange for your set of Sea Calming Divine Beads. What do you say?"
Tongtian had a straightforward personality and disliked scheming. He did not feel much for this set of pearls to begin with. He primarily cultivated the Sword Dao, and Space Law was of little use to him.
"Hahaha!" Tongtian burst into laughter. "So that's it! These pearls truly are useless to me. Since Fellow Daoist Dijiang needs them, exchanging them is no problem!"
He readily handed [the Twenty-Four Dinghai Divine Pearls] to Wu Ming.
Wu Ming accepted the pearls and handed them to Dijiang.
Dijiang took the pearls and felt the resonance between them and his own Law. Joy appeared on his face, and he gave Tongtian a solemn bow. "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Tongtian!"
Wu Ming also cupped his hands toward Tongtian. "Many thanks for granting our request."
"Our Witch Clan will remember this favor."
"Today, our Witch Clan owes you a Karma. If you ever need anything in the future, the Witch Clan will naturally repay it."
Upon hearing this, a sharp glint flashed through Tongtian's eyes, and he laughed heartily. "Think nothing of it! Think nothing of it!"
He put away the treasure, nodded toward Wu Ming and the Ancestral Witches, and transformed into a streak of sword light that shot into the Primordial Wilderness.
Wu Ming watched Tongtian's departing figure and nodded slightly.
Then he turned his head toward Hong Yun, who was preparing to leave with Zhen Yuanzi in the distance.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun."
Hong Yun's figure paused. He turned around, his expression complicated.
Wu Ming looked at him calmly. "If you've made up your mind, you can come find me at Pangu Hall on Buzhou Mountain."
Hong Yun's body trembled almost imperceptibly. His lips moved, but in the end, he merely let out a sigh and cupped his hands toward Wu Ming without speaking.
Wu Ming said no more. He nodded toward Zhen Yuanzi.
"Let's go. Back to Buzhou Mountain."
He waved his great hand, bringing the Twelve Ancestor Witches with him as they transformed into thirteen streaks of light and shot toward the towering pillar at the center of the Primordial Wilderness.