Shouyang Mountain, Ancestral Dragon's Backup Plan

Having obtained two opportunities in Mount Wuyi, Xuanyuan and his brother lingered no longer and left the place to continue their journey.

In the blink of an eye, nine thousand years had passed.

Yet nine thousand years was far too short for the vast Primordial World. Along the way, they encountered many ordinary Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, but only one truly caught the eyes of Xuanyuan and Tongtian.

Now, by the shores of the East Sea stood a blessed immortal mountain, formed from the ultimate yang essence of Pangu, and thus named Shouyang Mountain.

Since their birth, the Dragon Race had taken the East Sea as their ancestral home. Dragons were naturally lustful, and this was no small part due to the influence of Pangu's ultimate yang essence.

As Xuanyuan and Tongtian traveled here, the Pangu Primordial Spirit and the Ancestral Witch body within them simultaneously resonated with the Pangu aura of this place. Shouyang Mountain shook with a thunderous roar, and amid the earth-shattering upheaval, a precious seal flew out from the mountain peak, landing before the two brothers.

Upon the seal were nine dragons interlocking, and the four sides of the seal's base were carved with five blurred faces. Beneath the seal were Dao Talismans forming the two characters "Kongtong."

"A Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

Sensing the faint power radiating from the seal, Tongtian's eyes lit up.

"Kongtong Seal," Xuanyuan murmured.

Indeed, this treasure was the Kongtong Seal, ranked among Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. It had been born in response to destiny the moment it was conceived, fated to become the fortune treasure of the Human Race.

The Kongtong Seal's gestation involved the interweaving of Daos such as time, fortune, and karma, to the point that although the Human Race had not yet been born, this treasure had already taken shape several eons in advance.

Gazing at the seal's base and the five blurred faces on its sides, Xuanyuan knew in his heart that these corresponded to five great Divine Powers of the future Human Race.

They were Taihao Fuxi, the Heavenly Emperor of the East; Emperor Yan Shennong, the Heavenly Emperor of the South; Shaohao Xuanxiao, the Heavenly Emperor of the West; Zhuanxu Gaoyang, the Heavenly Emperor of the North; and Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, the Heavenly Emperor of the Center.

The nine interlocking dragons atop it were also extraordinary. On the surface, they were merely nine ancient dragon souls at the early Golden Immortal of the Origin level absorbed during the treasure's gestation, but...

During the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity Era, although the Dragon Race were the Lords of Scales under heaven, Golden Immortal of the Origin-level experts were exceedingly rare, each one a named figure like Candle Dragon!

Where could one scrounge up nine early Golden Immortal of the Origin dragons?

The information self-contained within the treasure could fool Tongtian's Spiritual Sense, but it could not deceive Xuanyuan.

Within his Primordial Spirit, a few treasures trembled slightly, and a stream of clear energy allowed him to see through the disguise of the nine dragons on the Kongtong Seal, recognizing their true nature at a glance.

"A backup plan left by the Ancestral Dragon," Xuanyuan murmured, his eyes flickering.

When the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity drew to a close, the Ancestral Dragon suppressed the East Sea Eye but stripped away a portion of his own power, condensing it into Shouyang Mountain by the East Sea shore. There, it interfered with the gestation of the mountain's spiritual essence, forming the nine golden dragons on the seal.

This, too, was the Ancestral Dragon's scheme. He did not know what treasure was being nurtured in Shouyang Mountain, but a flash of insight told him it was a treasure of fortune.

No matter which clan's great Divine Power obtained it, the Dragon Race would be able to forge a connection with them.

Originally, the Kongtong Seal was destined to be the fortune treasure of the Human Race, capable of nurturing and suppressing their fortune.

The Ancestral Dragon's backup plan indeed bore fruit. Through the Human Race's status as the protagonists of the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, it sheltered the declining Dragon Race, making them auspicious symbols and totems for humanity.

One could only say that neither Old Ancestor Five Elements nor the Ancestral Dragon—these ancient great Divine Powers—were simple beings.

"Fourth Brother, since this treasure is a fortune treasure and perfectly complements the Treasure-Dropping Coin, it is only right that you wield it," Tongtian said, having also recognized the Kongtong Seal's ability to suppress fortune.

"Good, then I shall not decline," Xuanyuan replied without standing on ceremony with Tongtian.

Between family, there was no need for two words. Moreover, with the Kongtong Seal complementing the fortune-consuming Treasure-Dropping Coin, he would not have to expend too much fortune in a short time.

After all, once Hongjun's lecture ended, he intended to use these two treasures to scheme for the Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation on Tongtian's behalf.

Furthermore, although the Kongtong Seal was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, it was closely tied to the Human Race's fortune. Its power would grow as the Human Race's fortune increased.

To some extent, its value and might were no less than those of an Innate Supreme Treasure.

"The stronger the Human Race's fortune, the stronger the Kongtong Seal. But since the Human Race has not yet been born, the nine dragon souls at the Golden Immortal of the Origin level within the seal cannot yet be driven. Fellow Daoist Nuwa, I hope you will create the Human Race soon," Xuanyuan thought to himself.

He had Formed and Born only to ascend to the Peak of the Great Dao, resolved to be a carefree, unrestrained cloud and crane. Creating an entire race would be a burden.

Thus, he had already considered that if the opportunity arose later, he would offer Nuwa a few pointers. When the Gourd Vine emerged, she could use it to dip into the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil and Three Lights Divine Water to create humanity.

Moreover, with the Kongtong Seal in hand, even if Xuanyuan did not participate in the establishment of the Human Race, he could still reap the benefits.

The one who wields the Kongtong Seal inherently holds the authority to appoint or depose the Human Emperor, ensuring that the human leader is wise and capable.

He could also use the Kongtong Seal to draw upon the entire Human Race's fortune to empower himself. The stronger the Human Race's fortune, the greater the seal's might, and the more power it granted him.

"Counting the days, the Ten-Thousand-Year Lecture is drawing near. Fourth Brother, should we continue wandering the Primordial World Earth in search of opportunities, or return to Buzhou Mountain for Focused Cultivation?"

Tongtian wandered around Shouyang Mountain but found no other gains.

At this time, the Shouyang Bronze—the top-tier refining material of the world, imbued with Great God Pangu's ultimate yang essence—had not yet reached its time to emerge.

Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan's Xuanyuan Sword and Great Yu's Nine Provinces Cauldron were both forged from Shouyang Bronze.

Later artifacts like the Sea-Calming Divine Needle and the As-You-Will Iron Staff also incorporated Shouyang Bronze, granting them immense power.

"Wandering further won't yield any treasures. Let's return to Buzhou Mountain first. We agreed with Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi and Fellow Daoist Candle Dragon that after the first lecture ends, they will likely visit us," Xuanyuan said.

Over nine thousand years, obtaining the Enlightenment Tea Tree, the Treasure-Dropping Coin, and the Kongtong Seal—three top-grade Innate-level treasures—was already a satisfying haul.

For the remaining few hundred years, even if they continued traveling the Primordial World, the hope of finding precious treasures was quite slim.

"If we can discuss the Dao with Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi again, that too would be an opportunity. I wonder if Sister Houtu and Brother Gou Mang have emerged from seclusion. If we could discuss the Great Dao of Earth and the Great Dao of Wood with them, it should also yield Great Gains," Tongtian nodded.

"Kacha!"

Xuanyuan manipulated the Primordial Measure Heaven Ruler, effortlessly tearing through the void, and then the two brothers transformed into two streams of clear energy, speeding toward Buzhou Mountain at the very heart of the Central Land.

Thus, the two brothers ended their journey through the Primordial World. Meanwhile, deep within the endless chaos, the first lecture in the Purple Firmament Palace was also drawing to a close.

Daoist Hongjun set the next lecture three eons hence, speaking on the Quasi-Saint Path. The words "Quasi-Saint" stirred doubt in Candle Dragon and the other Great Divine Powers.

Before Daoist Hongjun, the Primordial Wilderness knew only Golden Immortals of the Origin and Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals of the Origin—there were no Quasi-Saints or Heavenly Dao Saints.

As the Ten-Thousand-Year Lecture drew to a close, Innate Spiritual Qi surged within Purple Firmament Palace. Dao Sounds, Heavenly Flowers, and Golden Lotus scattered like stars across the sky.

Daoist Hongjun's gaze swept over the Three Thousand Purple Firmament Guests below the steps. With a light flick of the whisk in his sleeve, all the Great Divine Powers still deep in meditation awoke, and with heartfelt submission they hailed him as Dao Ancestor and Teacher.

Having forged the karmic bond of teaching and learning, and established the master-disciple relationship, unseen currents of fortune began to gather from these Great Divine Powers toward him.

"Dong Wang Gong, Queen Mother of the West—where are you?" Dao Ancestor Hongjun stroked his beard.

As the Dao Sound rippled, two figures swiftly rose from the crowd.

"We pay homage to the Dao Ancestor."

Dong Wang Gong wore a Purple Gold Crown, his face like polished jade, his eyes rivaling starlight. Clad in a robe of crimson glow, he held a Pure Yang Sword, with Dao rhythms flowing all around him—his bearing surpassing all, transcendent and otherworldly.

The Queen Mother of the West was breathtakingly beautiful, her plain robes outshining the moon, strands of starlight cascading from her hair. Her bare feet, white as snow and delicate as jade bamboo shoots, were nearly flawless; with every step she took, clusters of immortal lotus bloomed from the void.

"The Western Sublime Ultimate Qi and the Eastern Sublime True Qi belong to pure yin and pure yang. You two shall harmonize these two energies, nurture Heaven and Earth, mold the ten thousand things, and serve as the sovereigns of all male and female immortals in the Primordial Wilderness."