Good Things Should Naturally Be Hidden

Jieyin finally couldn't hold back and shamelessly said, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, to be honest, my Western Lands are dirt poor. Last time you obtained seven innate gourds and a gourd vine, could you generously gift them to my fellow disciple and me?"

They were very familiar with this tactic; last time, they had used their poverty to trick Hongyun out of a Purple Cushion.

Hongyun sighed inwardly, "These guys' faces are thicker than the sky!"

To give away all seven gourds and the gourd vine, a normal person wouldn't even dare to ask.

Seeing Hongyun's displeased expression, Jieyin quickly changed his tune, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, if you're having trouble, giving us seven gourds would also be fine. You can keep the gourd vine for yourself."

Zhunti chimed in, "Exactly! You don't like to fight, so a gourd vine is more than enough for you. Seven gourds for us to revitalize the Western Lands would count as you accumulating virtue and good deeds."

Hongyun took a deep breath, gaining a whole new understanding of their shamelessness.

He swept his gaze over the two of them and slowly said, "Fellow Daoists, your vision is too small!"

Jieyin blinked, "What do you mean, 'too small'?"

Zhunti was also confused, "What do you mean?"

Hongyun continued, "Your perspective is too narrow!"

He raised his tone, "Your Western Lands are so poor, how can you possibly turn things around with just seven gourds? If I were to show some mercy, I could point you towards a great path and bestow upon you a heaven-sent opportunity!"

Jieyin's eyes widened, "Really?"

Zhunti excitedly asked, "An opportunity even bigger than seven gourds?"

Their eyes gleamed. Revitalizing the Western Lands was their life's ambition.

The Western Lands were incredibly desolate. The only notable landmark, Spirit Mountain, had been burned to the ground by Kunpeng last time and had only just begun to recover.

Life had been too hard. Now, hearing about a great opportunity, how could they not be tempted?

Both pairs of eyes stared intently at Hongyun, waiting for him to continue.

Hongyun slowly said, "Do you two know that the Dao Ancestor intends to choose one person to be the leader of all immortals? If you nominate yourselves for this position and lead all the immortals in the Great Desolation..."

Before he could finish, Jieyin and Zhunti understood immediately.

Leader of all immortals!

If all the immortals gathered in the Western Lands and obeyed their commands, would they still need to fear the West not rising?

It was likely that even the Witch Clan and the Demon Clan would have to bow their heads.

Jieyin clapped his hands in delight, "Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"

This opportunity was a hundred times better than seven gourds.

Zhunti, however, was suspicious, "Fellow Daoist Hongyun, is this news reliable?"

If they truly became the leader of all immortals and commanded the masses, let alone revitalizing the West, they could even dominate the Great Desolation.

This opportunity was too great, more enticing than the Cushions in the Purple Heaven Palace.

Hongyun feigned displeasure and glared, "I, Hongyun, have always been kind to others. When have I ever deceived anyone!"

He wasn't lying. It was just that the position of leader of all immortals had male and female candidates already decided by Hongjun: Eastern Prince Gong and the Queen Mother of the West.

Zhunti quickly plastered on a smile, "I have misunderstood you, Fellow Daoist. I apologize!"

He performed a solemn bow.

Hongyun waved his hand, "Forget it, I won't hold it against you!"

But the system rewards didn't chime. He mused, "Could it be that I have to wait for these two to nominate themselves in Purple Heaven Palace for the trick to be considered successful?"

No rush. Given their personalities, they would definitely jump out and nominate themselves then.

Even if they failed, they would offend someone, either Eastern Prince Gong or Hongjun himself. In any case, there would be no good end for them.

After Hongyun's suggestion, Jieyin and Zhunti's minds were filled with how to persuade Hongjun to let them be the leader of all immortals.

As for the innate gourds, they had completely forgotten about them and kept thanking Hongyun.

Not long after, the three arrived at Purple Heaven Palace.

With only a few days left until the second sermon, the great powers of the Great Desolation were arriving one after another.

As soon as Hongyun stepped inside, he felt a gaze filled with deep hatred piercing him.

He followed the gaze and indeed, it was Kunpeng.

"This feathered beast still holds a grudge over the Purple Cushion!"

Hongyun muttered to himself but didn't take it seriously.

Although Kunpeng was fast, his other abilities weren't particularly outstanding among the great powers of the Great Desolation.

If he dared to cause trouble, Hongyun would teach this mongrel bird a lesson.

Immediately after, several more gazes shot towards him, almost all carrying hostility.

Hongyun was speechless, "Why is my image as a good old guy so disliked?"

He swept his gaze over them one by one.

First were Dijun and Taiyi. After giving him a fierce glare, they turned away.

"They both screwed me over, but they attacked first, and I just fought back. It's not my fault!"

Hongyun thought to himself.

Another gaze fell upon him from Old Ancestor Minghe, who looked like he was smiling but wasn't, exuding a chilling aura.

He had been holding a grudge ever since he lost ten Netherworld Blood Rivers in front of Hongyun's cave last time.

Even though his losses had been recovered, it didn't mean he didn't want revenge.

Minghe secretly vowed, "Hongyun, once this sermon is over, I will absolutely not let you off!"

He had brought the entire Netherworld Blood Sea with him this time.

He wouldn't dare cause trouble during the sermon, but afterward, he would make Hongyun pay.

A voice reached his ears, "Old Ancestor, rest assured, leave this to me this time!"

It was the Blood Mosquito Daoist, hidden within the Blood Sea.

Minghe let out a sinister laugh, "Good! Hehehehe!"

The Blood Mosquito's proboscis had fused with fragments of the God-Slaying Spear, making it indestructible.

Even though it was only a part of the spear, it could easily shatter a Supreme Grade Spiritual Treasure; only an Ultimate Treasure could block it.

The crucial part was that it was hidden deeply, and no one knew about it.

When Minghe was locked in a fierce battle with someone, the Blood Mosquito would sneak in for a bite, and anyone bitten would be severely wounded.

With this move, he had killed many powerful beings, none of whom had survived.

Hongyun curled his lips, "This old geezer Minghe!"

He didn't seek trouble, but he wasn't afraid of it either.

If Minghe came looking for a fight again, he would teach him another lesson.

On the other side, the gazes of the Three Pure Ones also swept over coldly.

Last time, during the distribution of gourds at Buzhou Mountain, Hongyun had won big, while they were ganged up on and had to compensate with many treasures to settle the matter.

Just thinking about it made Taishang, Yuanshi, and Tongtian furious.

Hongyun sighed inwardly, "So many people are eyeing me!"

He hadn't provoked anyone; it was these people who initiated the provocations.

Buzz!

He decided to release a powerful aura, wanting to show some strength.

Otherwise, any stray cat or dog in the Great Desolation would dare to step on him.

In an instant, the aura of a Grand Unity peak erupted from him, sweeping through Purple Heaven Palace.

"This... this is the aura of a Grand Unity peak!"

"Such powerful pressure, Hongyun has actually reached this level!"

"How did he cultivate? This is too outrageous!"

Countless powerful beings stared at Hongyun with wide eyes, utterly shocked.

Although they were Grand Unity Golden Immortals, most of them were still stuck in the early stages.

It took tens of thousands of years to go from the early to the middle stages after hearing just one sermon from the Dao Ancestor.

Even the powerful beings in the Grand Unity middle stages were shaken by this aura.

The gap between the middle and peak stages was more than a hundredfold.

Taishang Laojun exclaimed in disbelief, "Impossible! Last time at Buzhou Mountain, he was only at the Grand Unity late stage, how could he reach the peak so quickly!"

Yuanshi's eyes turned red with jealousy, "We are incarnations of Pangu's Primordial Spirit, with top-tier roots, and we haven't reached the peak yet. How could he get there first!"

He had always been arrogant and never paid attention to other powerful beings.

But now, being left behind by Hongyun, his heart burned with anger.

Tongtian's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

Even Jieyin and Zhunti were stunned.

Hongyun hadn't revealed his aura when they traveled together before, so they never expected him to have already reached the peak.

And they had only just touched the threshold of the Grand Unity late stage.

Demon Emperor Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi were completely dumbfounded.

After the Witch-Demon War, they had been cultivating diligently on the Solar Star and had only reached the Grand Unity late stage, far from the peak.

They had intended to deal with Hongyun this time to get revenge, but he had become so strong.

"This Hongyun is too monstrous!"

At the Grand Unity peak, his strength could crush a late-stage cultivator tenfold.

Even if they joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him.

Old Ancestor Minghe was also startled, but quickly regained his somber expression.

Although he was in the late Grand Unity stage, he was not far from the peak.

This sermon might allow him to break through, and with Blood Mosquito Daoist, they might still be able to scheme against Hongyun.

He snorted coldly, "Hongyun, you just wait!"

At this moment, Zhenyuanzi walked up to Hongyun's side.

He had only just arrived at Purple Heaven Palace when he was stunned by Hongyun's aura.

"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, congratulations! You've actually reached the Grand Unity peak!"

Zhenyuanzi laughed heartily and congratulated him.

He remembered that his old friend didn't like cultivating, but in less than ten thousand years, he had shot up from the middle stage to the peak.

This speed was simply terrifying.

Hongyun released his aura, and the crowd began to discuss amongst themselves, filled with shock.

Many powerful beings felt the urge to befriend him.

Hongyun's talent was too monstrous.

As for those who harbored resentment towards him, their expressions flickered with uncertainty, clearly harboring their own schemes.

Three days later.

Buzz!

A vast Saint aura enveloped the Purple Heaven Palace.

Purple energy flowed from the east, auspicious signs filled the sky, and Hongjun appeared.

"Greetings, Dao Ancestor!"

"We pay respects to the Dao Ancestor!"

Countless powerful beings bowed in unison.

Hongjun scanned the crowd and nodded slightly.

But then, his brow furrowed.

Among the three thousand guests, he noticed one person was missing.

Ancestor Houtu had attended last time, but was absent this time.

The Witch Clan cultivated the physical body and not the Primordial Spirit, so listening to his sermons was already of little use.

But Houtu's absence made him lose face to some extent.

He remained outwardly calm, but mentally made a note of this against the Witch Clan.

He then glanced at the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti.

These six were the fated Six Sages, and after three sermons, he planned to take them as disciples.

He nodded with satisfaction; all six were in the late Grand Unity stage, not far from the peak.

In the Great Desolation, they were already top-tier combatants.

Just as he was about to begin his lecture, his gaze fell upon Hongyun, and he paused slightly.

"He has actually reached the Grand Unity peak!"

Hongjun was secretly surprised.

Last time, Hongyun was only in the Grand Unity middle stage, and in less than ten thousand years, he had reached the peak.

This speed was even faster than his own back then.

However, a Saint was still a Saint; his expression flickered for a moment, unnoticed by anyone.

He spoke, "Everyone, today I shall lecture on the path of the Quasi-Saint!"

"I cultivate the Quasi-Saint path to achieve Hunyuan, my method is to sever the three corpses..."

Hongjun began his sermon.

In the Purple Heaven Palace, flowers rained from the sky, and golden lotuses sprang from the ground.

The three thousand guests listened intently, afraid of missing a single word.

Hongyun sat on the Great Dao Cushion, quietly comprehending.

This cushion could conceal his aura, appearing ordinary, so that even Saints could not discern its secrets.

On the cushion, he listened and cultivated simultaneously, his comprehension far surpassing everyone else's.

Two hundred years passed.

Most of the listeners in the palace were lost in a fog.

The method of severing the three corpses was incredibly profound, and those in the early Grand Unity stage couldn't grasp it at all.

Only the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, Zhunti, and Dijun in the front rows were completely engrossed.

They were in the late Grand Unity stage and had comprehended more.

But compared to Hongyun, they were far behind.

"This Three Corpses technique from the Dao Ancestor is truly profound. According to him, refining the three corpses allows one to become an early Quasi-Saint!"

Hongyun nodded inwardly.

Hongjun was indeed a Saint; his understanding far surpassed ordinary people.

Just then, he noticed the Universe Cauldron in his personal space had stopped.

"Could it be that the seven gourds have been refined?"

He was curious and secretly probed with his divine sense.

He didn't want to expose the Universe Cauldron and the gourds in the Purple Heaven Palace.

As soon as his divine sense entered, he was immediately shocked.

The seven-colored gourds within the cauldron were all gone, leaving only a single black gourd.

Originally there were seven colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, but now they had merged into a mass of black.

The power emanating from this black gourd was astonishing even to his divine sense.

Based on Hongyun's knowledge, perhaps only the Chaos Bell could compare.

He quickly sensed the restrictions.

"48 restrictions! There are actually 48 restrictions!"

Hongyun's heart trembled violently.

He had actually refined a primordial supreme treasure with 48 restrictions.

This was already top-tier among supreme treasures.

"Excellent!"

He couldn't hide his excitement.

Magical treasures had always been his weakness, and now it was instantly compensated, even exceeding expectations.

"This treasure shall be named the Great Dao Treasure Gourd!"

Hongyun named it inwardly.

However, it was inconvenient to take it out in Purple Heaven Palace.

He could only split off a portion of his Primordial Spirit to infiltrate the cauldron and slowly refine it.

Without refining it, he couldn't activate it at all.

Fortunately, he had the Great Dao Cushion, which allowed his Primordial Spirit to refine at an incredibly fast speed.

He estimated that in two to three thousand years, he could refine more than half of it.

Two to three thousand years on the cushion was equivalent to two to three hundred thousand years for ordinary people.

His Nine Revolutions Primordial Technique was at the peak of its fourth revolution, and his Primordial Spirit was already powerful.

He refined the treasure, listened to the teachings, and cultivated all at the same time, not neglecting any of them.