Seeing Di Jiang act as though he wouldn't even discuss it without the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner, Hongjun felt his dignity as a Saint take a hit. He decided to bring out something truly worthwhile. Surely the boy would be tempted!
After all, seeing was believing. Hongjun refused to believe anyone could lay eyes on a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and feel nothing!
Hongjun flicked his sleeve. A flash of treasure-light shone through Zixiao Palace, and a grand, ancient cauldron appeared, with three legs and two handles, its body wreathed in Chaos energy and the Daoist aura of creation. It was none other than the Universe Cauldron!
"Little friend Di Jiang, what do you think of this cauldron?"
Hongjun's tone brimmed with confidence!
"This cauldron can turn acquired treasures into innate ones and reverse the workings of creation. It is an unsurpassed treasure for crafting artifacts, and it can even stabilize one's fortune. Little friend, from now on, whatever Innate Spiritual Treasures you want to craft will be yours to decide!"
Hongjun thought that a treasure capable of creating something from nothing and turning the mundane into the miraculous would be irresistible to Di Jiang, who lacked spiritual treasures. If Di Jiang showed even a hint of longing, Hongjun could use the opportunity to give it to him and settle part of their karmic debt.
Yet Di Jiang's reaction once again left him dumbfounded. Di Jiang looked at the Universe Cauldron, and his eyes did brighten. He knew all too well how useful it was—it was an absolute divine artifact for building up a faction! Still, there were probably plenty of restrictions on its ability to craft Innate Spiritual Treasures!
Di Jiang schooled his expression, forcibly tamped down his longing, and shook his head again. His tone carried the helplessness of a very particular man:
"To be honest, Saint, this cauldron is indeed wondrous. But what I need is an offensive treasure capable of stabilizing the world and protecting my path. This cauldron is excellent, but it isn't what I need most urgently."
Hongjun's eye twitched. He almost failed to keep his expression impassive. Good grief, he even turned down the Universe Cauldron? Unwilling to give up, Hongjun waved his hand again!
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
One dazzling treasure-light after another flared into existence!
A scroll unfurled, containing mountains, rivers, and lands within its own world—the Mountain and River Diagram!
A black lotus blossomed, radiating a terrifying aura of destruction and finality—the World-Destroying Black Lotus!
A golden staff crowned with a dragon's head appeared, exuding the might of the Imperial Dao and suppressing everything around it—the Dragon-Head Golden Staff!
A bowl appeared, with what seemed to be the waters of the Three Thousand Weak Rivers rising and falling within it, purifying all things—the Pure Water Alms Bowl!
Hongjun brought out several Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots in succession. Every one of them was a peerless treasure that could make the mighty figures of the Primordial World fight tooth and nail! He had practically brought out every prized possession he had, except for the Taiji Diagram, the Pangu Banner, and the Immortal Slaying Four Swords. Surely Di Jiang couldn't possibly remain unmoved by such a dazzling display!
"Little friend, each of these treasures and spiritual roots has its own wonders and boundless power. If you like them, you may take them all!"
A trace of urgency, barely perceptible, crept into Hongjun's voice. Surely one of them had to suit Di Jiang's taste?
Haotian and Yaochi stared in amazement. They had served Hongjun for so long, yet had never seen him display so many precious treasures at once, let alone offer to let someone take them all!
But Di Jiang's gaze swept across the glittering treasures, remaining calm, even faintly evaluative, as if he were picking carrots at a market.
Di Jiang rubbed his chin, then shook his head and sighed. "Saint, these treasures are indeed excellent. But compared to the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner, they're still lacking something. My heart is set on the Three Treasures of Creation. If you don't have them, I wouldn't dare insist!"
"You—!!!"
Even Hongjun, whose Daoist heart was as firm as bedrock, felt an inexplicable fury surge to his head. His fingers trembled inside his sleeve! He had lived through countless aeons, survived the Heaven-Opening Tribulation and the Dao-Devil War—when had he ever suffered such humiliation? Some junior was actually this greedy, nitpicking over his gifts!
A terrifying Saintly might nearly burst out of him, and the air in Zixiao Palace seemed to freeze! Haotian and Yaochi turned deathly pale and trembled with fear.
But just as Hongjun was about to lose control and teach this arrogant brat a lesson, his gaze fell on the dense, heaven-heavy Mysterious Yellow Merit Golden Light surrounding Di Jiang, hidden but not yet released!
An instant later, it was as if someone had doused him with icy water in the dead of winter. Hongjun calmed down at once. He couldn't make a move! Di Jiang bore an immense amount of Heaven-Opening Merit. If Hongjun harmed him and triggered a backlash from that merit, the Heavenly Dao would be enraged, and Hongjun's plan to merge with the Heavenly Dao would be thwarted. He might even suffer severe injuries! It wasn't worth it for a few spiritual treasures!
Hongjun forcibly suppressed his murderous intent and fury. The turbulent aura around him gradually settled, but his expression remained unpleasant.
Hongjun stared hard at Di Jiang for a long while before grinding out, "Little friend Di Jiang, you certainly have a firm will."
He sounded as if he were gritting his teeth.
Di Jiang smiled sheepishly. "You flatter me, Saint. I'm just... rather persistent."
The atmosphere in Zixiao Palace had fallen to a freezing point. Hongjun realized that his plan to settle their karmic debt easily with a few treasures had utterly failed against Di Jiang, this stubborn piece of tough meat.
Watching Dao Ancestor Hongjun bring out the Universe Cauldron, the Mountain and River Diagram, the World-Destroying Black Lotus, and a whole host of other Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures with names impressive enough to frighten anyone, yet refuse to give up the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner...
Even Di Jiang, slow as he could be, sensed that something was wrong!
Something strange was going on!
Who was Hongjun? The first Saint of the Primordial World. Why would he be so generous to a mere Primordial Origin Golden Immortal like Di Jiang, practically begging him to accept these treasures?
This was no longer just a bid to make a connection. It was as if Hongjun were in a hurry to get rid of some hot potato!
Alarm bells rang in Di Jiang's head! He coveted spiritual treasures, but he valued his life more! Fortune didn't fall from the sky—and if it did, it might crush you!
Hongjun's eagerness to give away these less important treasures had to involve a tremendous karmic debt, perhaps one whose cost Di Jiang couldn't possibly bear at present!
"Could it be because of the Pangu bloodline and Heaven-Opening Merit in me? Is he trying to settle his karmic debt to Pangu with these treasures? But the Taiji Diagram and Pangu Banner have to settle their karmic debt with the Three Pure Ones, so he can't give them to me!"
Di Jiang's thoughts raced, and he immediately hit upon the likeliest explanation. If that was really the case, then the value of these treasures might not even amount to a fraction of a fraction of the karmic debt on him! This deal was out of the question!
At the thought, Di Jiang looked at the glittering treasures before him. They no longer seemed enticing. Instead, they looked like death warrants. He had to leave this place of trouble at once!
Di Jiang suppressed his unease, forced a smile that was as natural and respectful as he could manage, and bowed to Hongjun, whose expression had returned to normal. He spoke cautiously:
"Saint, I'm grateful for your generous gifts today. But my cultivation is shallow, and my blessings insufficient. I truly dare not accept such precious treasures. Besides, there are still matters that need handling at Mount Buzhou. If you have no further instructions, I'll take my leave!"
Seeing Di Jiang suddenly become so cautious—unlike the stubborn man who had made unreasonable demands and nitpicked over everything moments ago—Hongjun knew the boy had sensed something and wanted to slip away!
His pent-up fury nearly burst through the top of his head! He had lowered himself and brought out so many treasures, practically begging Di Jiang to accept them. Yet the moment he couldn't get a better bargain, the boy wanted to run!
Hongjun stared hard at Di Jiang. For a moment, he truly wanted to keep him there at all costs and force the karmic debt to be settled. But when he saw that vast sea of Merit Golden Light, reason prevailed.
At last, Hongjun closed his eyes and waved his hand!
"If you have made up your mind to leave, I won't force you to stay. Go."
With Hongjun's approval, Di Jiang felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted. He didn't dare stay a moment longer and bowed again. "Thank you, Saint. This junior takes his leave!"
With that, Di Jiang's figure blurred in an instant. Like a fugitive fleeing for his life, he raced into the Chaos energy outside Zixiao Palace and vanished without a trace.
Watching the direction in which Di Jiang had disappeared, Hongjun slowly opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed in them before he let out a sigh, his meaning impossible to discern.
"Pangu's karmic debt is indeed troublesome. This boy is a Variable, too."
Hongjun knew that settling this karmic debt easily would be difficult.
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