Twelve-Petal Pure World White Lotus

Zhou Ming's Divine Thought swept over every inch of Mount Fangzhang Island, his brow slightly furrowed.

Nothing.

The aura of the Pure World White Lotus was completely undetectable.

This immortal island brimmed with dense spiritual energy and heavenly treasures scattered everywhere, yet it lacked that single most important target.

Unwilling to give up, he probed again meticulously, even delving deep into the earth's veins to search.

Still, he found nothing.

Instead, during his search, his Divine Thought brushed against a valley concealed by layers of restrictions.

The restrictions were quite subtle; had his cultivation not been profound, he would have nearly missed them.

Zhou Ming moved, silently passing through the restrictions.

Inside the valley, spiritual energy was dense.

Twelve beads, radiating a faint clear light, floated quietly above a spiritual spring.

The Sea Calming Divine Beads! And precisely the last twelve that were lost!

Zhou Ming's heart stirred slightly.

Though he hadn't found the Pure World White Lotus, the appearance of these twelve Sea Calming Divine Beads was an unexpected delight.

He reached out with a gesture, and the twelve beads fell into his palm.

Adding the twenty-four he had exchanged from Tongtian, the thirty-six Sea Calming Divine Beads were now complete.

With all thirty-six Sea Calming Divine Beads gathered, they formed a complete set of Innate Supreme Treasures.

For Dijiang, this was a tremendous boost.

Stowing away the Sea Calming Divine Beads, Zhou Ming confirmed once more that the island held no Pure World White Lotus.

Without a trace of reluctance, he moved, ready to leave Mount Fangzhang Island.

This place was not fit for a long stay!

Mount Fangzhang Island could detach from the Primordial Wilderness at any moment and vanish into Chaos.

Zhou Ming's form turned into a streak of light, swiftly departing Mount Fangzhang Island.

Almost the instant he left, the mist around Mount Fangzhang Island grew thicker, the entire immortal island began to grow illusory, slowly sinking into another layer of space.

On the other side, Mount Yingzhou Island.

Dijiang and Houtu split up to search, their efficiency extremely high.

Houtu, who commanded the Earth Law, was most sensitive to the earth's spiritual veins. She closed her eyes, carefully sensing every trace of aura deep within the island.

Her Divine Thought swept over, and soon, in a valley guarded by heavy restrictions, she detected a special aura—pure, holy, carrying the power to purify all things.

"Found it!"

Houtu's heart rejoiced, and she immediately sent a message to Dijiang.

Soon, Dijiang's figure appeared beside Houtu.

The two looked toward the valley. Inside, a twelve-petal lotus platform bloomed quietly.

The lotus platform was pure white, unstained by dust, radiating a soft yet majestic white light. It was precisely the Twelve-Petal Pure World White Lotus!

"It really is here!" Dijiang said in a deep voice.

Houtu stepped forward, cautiously approaching the Pure World White Lotus.

The lotus platform seemed to sense the gentle earth aura emanating from Houtu and did not resist.

Houtu extended her hand, her Magic Power surging as she carefully lifted the Pure World White Lotus.

"What about big brother..." Houtu looked at Dijiang.

"Leave this island first!" Dijiang decided without hesitation. "This place is not fit for a long stay; it could detach from the Primordial Wilderness at any moment and return to Chaos!"

"Alright!"

The two dared not delay a single moment. Stowing away the Pure World White Lotus, they immediately activated the Space Law and the Earth Law, charging out of Mount Yingzhou Island's Innate Grand Array at top speed.

The moment they left, the massive outline of the immortal island behind them began to grow illusory and blur, as if being pulled by an invisible force, slowly sinking into another time and space.

Dijiang and Houtu exchanged a glance, each seeing the relief in the other's eyes.

One step later, and the consequences would have been unthinkable.

The two did not linger. As agreed, they flew at full speed toward the desolate island where they had stayed for a hundred years.

On the desolate island.

Zhou Ming had long been waiting here.

Moments later, two streaks of light descended—Dijiang and Houtu.

"Big Brother!"

"Big Brother!"

The two hurried forward.

Houtu handed the [Pure World White Lotus] to Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming looked at the [Pure World White Lotus] before him, sensing the pure and vast power within it, and nodded.

"Good."

"At least this trip wasn't in vain."

He turned to Dijiang, flipped his palm, and the twelve Sea Calming Divine Beads appeared in his hand.

"Big Brother, what is this?" Dijiang stared at the twelve beads, feeling the familiar aura, confusion flickering in his eyes.

"Found on Mount Fangzhang Island." Zhou Ming handed the beads to Dijiang.

"The remaining twelve Sea Calming Divine Beads."

"Combined with the twenty-four you traded from Fellow Daoist Tongtian, that makes thirty-six in total."

"When these beads unite, they form a complete set of Innate Supreme Treasures!"

"Refine them fully as soon as possible. It will greatly benefit your future mastery of the Space Law."

Dijiang solemnly accepted the twelve Sea Calming Divine Beads.

The moment the thirty-six beads touched his hand, they resonated intensely with the twenty-four already refined within his Primordial Spirit.

A sense of completeness and vastness spread through the air.

Dijiang could clearly feel that once this set of treasures was unified, its power had undergone a earth-shattering transformation.

"Thank you, Big Brother!" Dijiang said in a deep voice, his tone carrying excitement.

An Innate Supreme Treasure!

This was the pinnacle of treasures in the Primordial Wilderness. With this in hand, his combat strength would soar once more.

"We're brothers. No need for formalities." Zhou Ming waved his hand. "Since this matter is settled, we'll return to Buzhou Mountain immediately."

"Yes!"

The three wasted no time, transforming into streaks of light and flying toward Buzhou Mountain.

Pangu Hall.

Zhou Ming, Dijiang, and Houtu returned.

Wu Ming had been waiting there all along.

Seeing Zhou Ming and the others return safely, a trace of relief appeared on Wu Ming's calm face.

"Fellow Daoist, was your journey smooth?" Wu Ming asked.

Zhou Ming nodded. "There were some twists, but the outcome is acceptable."

Zhou Ming took out the Pure World White Lotus and handed it to Houtu.

"Houtu."

"Big Brother?" Houtu stepped forward.

Zhou Ming looked at Houtu, his expression serious. "You will refine this Pure World White Lotus."

"Once you have fully refined it... take a drop of your own heart's Essence Blood, cut off a portion of your Primordial Spirit origin, and merge them into this lotus throne to forge an Avatar."

"This Avatar... will serve a great purpose in the future."

Forge an Avatar? And use Essence Blood and Primordial Spirit origin?

Houtu was puzzled, but she did not ask further.

She had always trusted her Big Brother's arrangements unconditionally.

"Yes, Big Brother. Houtu understands." She took the Pure World White Lotus, feeling the affinity emanating from the lotus throne, and nodded.

Zhou Ming then turned to Dijiang. "Dijiang, you should go into seclusion as well."

"Fully refine those thirty-six Sea Calming Divine Beads, the sooner the better."

"Once you succeed, our Witch Clan will gain another major trump card."

"Yes, Big Brother!" Dijiang acknowledged, then turned and found a secret chamber to begin his seclusion, refining the Innate Supreme Treasure.

Only Zhou Ming and Wu Ming remained in the great hall.

Zhou Ming looked at Wu Ming. "Fellow Daoist, in the hundred years we were away, has anything major happened in the Primordial Wilderness?"

Wu Ming shook his head. "Nothing major."

"The Demon Race's Heavenly Court is still gathering strength. Di Jun and Taiyi are busy consolidating the Demon Race's forces and have no time for other matters."

"As for Kunpeng, after obtaining the Hongmeng Purple Qi, he has been holed up in the Demon Master Palace in the North Sea, keeping a low profile. Clearly, he is deeply wary of Di Jun and Taiyi."

"The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and the others, having obtained the Hongmeng Purple Qi, have all retreated to their respective dojos to cultivate in seclusion, comprehending the path to becoming a Saint."

"Hongyun returned to his Huoyun Cave, and Zhen Yuanzi also went back to Wuzhuang Temple."

"As for the other factions, they too are digesting what they gained from Zixiao Palace. The Primordial Wilderness is temporarily in a relatively calm period."

Zhou Ming nodded. This was more or less what he had expected.

It was merely the calm before the storm.

Once someone took the lead in becoming a Saint, or if the Demon Race felt their wings were full and their strength sufficient to crush all opposition, then a war sweeping across the entire Primordial Wilderness could erupt again at any moment.

"Fellow Daoist, I need to go into seclusion once more for a time, to prepare for the coming great calamity," Zhou Ming said to Wu Ming.

"The affairs of the Witch Clan, large and small, will continue to require your diligent oversight."

Wu Ming gave a slight bow. "Fellow Daoist, rest assured and go into seclusion. The Witch Clan has me."

Zhou Ming nodded, then took out the Earth Book and handed it to Wu Ming. "This item, I must trouble you to return to Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi."

Wu Ming accepted the Earth Book solemnly. "Fellow Daoist, rest assured. I will handle this matter properly."

Zhou Ming said no more. He nodded, turned, and walked deep into Pangu Hall, seeking out the most central area to begin his seclusion.

Only Wu Ming remained, standing alone in the center of the vast hall, his gaze deep and unfathomable, as if lost in thought.