The Primordial Gourd Vine Ripens, Red Cloud Ancestor Divides the Gourds

Last time, it was said that after the Purple Cloud Palace's first lecture ended, Daoist Hongjun formally became the Mystic Sect's Dao Ancestor, renowned throughout the Primordial Wilderness and revered by all.

At the same time, following the Heavenly Dao's instructions, Hongjun Daozu proclaimed within Purple Cloud Palace that Eastern King Duke and Queen Mother of the West would respectively lead the male immortals and Female Dao cultivators. He also bestowed upon them the Dragon-Head Golden Staff and the Western Plain Cloud Banner.

From then on, Eastern King Duke was high-spirited, believing destiny was on his side. He began traveling throughout the Primordial Wilderness, recruiting heroes and establishing a sect called the "Immortal Court."

As a Female Dao cultivator, Queen Mother of the West had no great ambitions. Moreover, Female Dao cultivators were already scarce in the Primordial Wilderness, so she simply continued her former cultivation life, doing whatever she needed to do and paying no heed to the rising storms of the Primordial Wilderness.

Meanwhile, after the Three Thousand Purple Cloud Guests returned from chaos to the Primordial Continent, they each displayed their divine abilities and headed home.

They intended to properly comprehend the profound principles and wondrous methods taught by Hongjun Daozu to improve themselves, and thus had no mind for making friends.

The Three Purities Daoist entered the Primordial World from Beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, intending to return to Kunlun Mountain from Buzhou Mountain.

Whether it was coincidence or the guidance of the Heavenly Dao, just as the Three Purities Daoist descended Buzhou Mountain from Beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, they suddenly sensed something unusual in heaven and earth.

When they looked up, a seven-colored divine radiance had already shot into the sky from Buzhou Mountain, tearing through the void and piercing straight into Beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven.

Across the entire Primordial Continent, from the four extremes to the Northern Darkness, everyone could see this towering pillar of seven-colored light.

Spiritual energy surged wildly, heaven and earth resonated, strange phenomena appeared in succession, and fortune gathered. It was precisely the omen of a heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure appearing.

In an instant, countless great powers were alarmed.

Those Purple Cloud Guests who had yet to return to their caves abruptly halted their escape lights, turned, and sped toward Buzhou Mountain.

Those Purple Cloud Guests who had already returned to their caves and were preparing to enter seclusion to digest Hongjun Daozu's profound principles and wondrous methods also raised their escape lights once more and rushed toward Buzhou Mountain.

Some Purple Cloud Guests who were too far away weighed their own strength and chose to give up.

The Three Purities Daoist exchanged glances, then tacitly raised their escape lights and hurried toward the place where the treasure had appeared.

Those nearest the water got the moonlight first. The Three Pure Ones were all peak Great Luo Immortals, so with a treasure appearing now, they naturally did not wish to miss it.

When the Three Purities Daoist arrived at the place where the treasure had appeared, they were surprised to discover that someone had already been waiting beside a Primordial Gourd Vine, seemingly awaiting the treasure's complete maturation.

This person was none other than Patriarch Red Cloud, who had attended the lecture with them at Purple Cloud Palace and given his seat to Zhunti.

Looking again at the Primordial Gourd Vine, endless Primordial Spiritual Energy was rapidly surging into this Primordial Spiritual Root. It was about to mature and emerge.

The Three Purities Daoist felt somewhat depressed.

Such a treasure had been claimed by someone else first.

Seeing that this item already had an owner, Taiqing Laozi feared causing a misunderstanding and immediately said, "Infinite Heavenly Venerable, so it is Fellow Daoist Red Cloud."

"This poor Daoist is Taiqing Laozi, accompanied by my two younger brothers, Yuqing Yuanshi and Shangqing Tongtian. We greet Fellow Daoist Red Cloud."

"I did not expect Fellow Daoist Red Cloud to learn of this treasure's appearance so early and wait here. Fellow Daoist truly possesses deep fortune."

"Having obtained this Primordial Gourd Vine, Fellow Daoist's cultivation will surely improve further and rise to an even greater height."

"You and I both listened beneath the Dao Ancestor's seat, so we share the bond of fellow disciples. Should there be any inconvenience later, the three of us can assist Fellow Daoist Red Cloud."

The moment Red Cloud Ancestor saw the Three Purities Daoist, his expression grew slightly tense. He feared that the Three Pure Ones would seize his treasure.

After all, the Three Purities Daoist were each peak Great Luo Immortals. Their strength and cultivation needed no elaboration.

Yet seeing that the Three Purities Daoist not only did not attempt to seize his spiritual treasure, but instead treated him courteously and even offered to protect him by driving away those who came to fight for the treasure, Red Cloud Ancestor's kind heart was deeply moved. Tears filled his eyes as he thought, The Three Pure Ones are truly good and honorable men!

With that thought, he looked at the seven gourds growing on the vine. After his thoughts turned, he said, "Infinite Heavenly Venerable, this poor Daoist is Red Cloud Hermit. Greetings, three Fellow Daoists."

"To meet is fate. Heavenly materials and earthly treasures naturally belong to those fated for them."

"I see that this Primordial Gourd Vine bears seven fruits, each one a High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. I alone cannot bear such fortune and virtue. Later, each of you Fellow Daoists may take one."

Red Cloud Hermit had always been a generous person, and his kindness had been stirred. The Three Purities Daoist's conduct greatly increased his favorable impression of them, and he could not help taking the initiative to propose dividing the gourds.

The Three Purities Daoist considered it and did not refuse, though the smiles on their faces became far more sincere.

"Fellow Daoist is truly benevolent."

Before long, three more streams of escape light arrived.

The escape lights landed and revealed Fuxi and Nüwa, brother and sister, along with Queen Mother of the West.

Fuxi and Nüwa had originally appeared and cultivated in Phoenix Perch Valley beneath Buzhou Mountain.

During this lecture at Purple Cloud Palace, Queen Mother of the West had been personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor as the leader of the female immortals. With Nüwa's future in mind, they had grown close to her.

Thus, their escape lights had joined together as they returned to the Primordial Continent, intending to deepen their friendship, form a good karmic bond, and watch over one another.

However, just after the three descended from Beyond the Thirty-Third Heaven, they noticed a seven-colored pillar rising from Buzhou Mountain. Knowing that a heaven-and-earth spiritual treasure had appeared, they immediately hurried over and arrived in time for this feast of division.

After Fuxi, Nüwa, and Queen Mother of the West landed, they stepped forward and greeted them. "Blessings of the Infinite Heavenly Venerable. Fuxi, Nüwa, and Queen Mother of the West greet the four Fellow Daoists."

The Three Purities Daoist and Red Cloud Ancestor returned the greeting one by one.

Once the seven had exchanged formalities, Red Cloud Ancestor, as the host, smiled and said, "The three of you have arrived at just the right time."

"I see that this Primordial Gourd Vine bears seven fruits, just enough for each person to take one."

"Truly, arriving early is not as good as arriving at the right moment. Since heaven wills it so, Fellow Daoists, do not refuse."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Three Purities Daoist.

The meaning in his eyes was naturally that he wished to form good karmic bonds with the six of them, lest his fortune and virtue grow too great and bring disaster.

The Three Pure Ones naturally understood this and took the initiative to say, "Fellow Daoist is truly benevolent."

With the Three Purities Daoist speaking first, Fuxi, Nüwa, and Queen Mother of the West did not refuse either, and all thanked Red Cloud Ancestor.

Red Cloud Ancestor had formed this karmic bond, and he could not help beaming with delight.

As if by mutual understanding, once the seven had agreed on dividing the gourds, the Primordial Gourd Vine also reached full maturity, its fruits ripening and falling from the vine.

The moment Red Cloud Ancestor saw that the gourds had ripened, he immediately said, "Among the seven of us, Elder Brother Taiqing has the highest cultivation and attainment. He should be the first to take a treasure."

Yuqing Yuanshi and Tongtian naturally had no objections to Red Cloud Hermit's words.

Fuxi and Nüwa, brother and sister, along with Queen Mother of the West, also knew that the Three Pure Ones were one whole. Furthermore, Laozi had once fought the Twelve Ancestral Witches alone and defeated them.

Such terrifying combat power was truly astonishing.

Moreover, within the Sage's dojo, Purple Cloud Palace, Laozi had been the first to sit upon a Great Dao Mat. He possessed opportunity, fortune, virtue, and strength alike, so the three naturally had no objections.

Seeing that everyone's earnestness was difficult to refuse, Laozi had no choice but to step forward first and take the first gourd.