Preemptively Looting Treasure Distribution Cliff

The Qiankun Diagram activated its time acceleration: one year outside was ten years inside.

In the first year, he refined Merit, stabilizing his cultivation at the peak of mid-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal.

In the third year, he comprehended the vicious, baleful laws within the God-Slaying Spear Fragment and created the divine ability [Malevolent Qi Brick]—its attacks carried an effect that eroded the Primordial Spirit.

In the fifth year, he fused materials from the Three Clans and reforged the Black Brick. He added dragon scales to strengthen it, phoenix feathers to increase its speed, qilin bones to make it heavier, and a God-Slaying Spear Fragment to sharpen it.

The new Black Brick was complete: jet-black all over, with dark golden patterns. Faint phantoms of dragon wings and phoenix feathers shimmered along its sides. It weighed as much as a mountain; one strike would leave even a Great Luo dizzy!

In the seventh year, he comprehended the Law of Strength and, from the axe-handle fragment, grasped its second form—[Gravity Brick]. It could manipulate gravity and slow its targets down.

In the tenth year, his cultivation broke through to late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal!

When he emerged from seclusion, only a year had passed outside.

"It's time to prepare for the second lecture... But first, there's something else I need to do."

Lu Chen turned his gaze west.

Treasure Distribution Cliff!

According to the original story, after Hongjun's second lecture, he would open Treasure Distribution Cliff and let the cultivators take whatever treasures fate had in store for them.

But Lu Chen knew that the restrictions on Treasure Distribution Cliff would actually weaken three years before the lecture, making it possible to sneak in early!

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun, forgive me. I'll just help you tidy up your treasures first."

He gave a mischievous grin and transformed into a streak of light, flying toward Chaos.

Three days later, deep within Chaos.

Following the map on his jade slip, Lu Chen found Treasure Distribution Cliff. It was a gray stone mountain, ten thousand zhang high, suspended in Chaos and wrapped in layer upon layer of restrictions.

The restrictions radiated the might of a Saint. Even ordinary Quasi-Saints couldn't break through them.

But Lu Chen had a way.

He took out Sky-Opening Merit. It was the purest power of Pangu and could seep through any restriction.

"I'll wear it down slowly. Three years should be enough to get me into the third layer."

He turned the Merit into fine threads and began to seep through the restrictions.

He kept at it for two years and eleven months.

Finally, one month before the lecture, he slipped into the third layer of Treasure Distribution Cliff!

The sight before him left him breathless.

The third layer was not large, only a hundred zhang across, but every floating treasure was a fine example of an Innate Spiritual Treasure!

On the left: Sea Calming Divine Pearls (twelve), Primordial Golden Bucket, Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger Gourd, Qiankun Ruler...

On the right: Immortal Binding Rope, Wind Fire Wheels, Yin Yang Mirror, Nine Dragon Divine Fire Cover...

On the central platform, three treasures were protected by special restrictions: Taiji Diagram (imitation), Pangu Banner (imitation), Chaos Bell (imitation)!

Though they were imitations, they were still top-tier Innate Spiritual Treasures, with power equal to thirty percent of the originals!

"I've struck it rich... This time, I've really struck it rich!"

Lu Chen swallowed, forcibly suppressing his excitement.

He didn't dare touch the three treasures in the center. Hongjun had left those for his personal disciples. But the rest...

"I'll take just one of each. I mustn't get greedy."

He unfurled the Qiankun Diagram and began collecting them.

The Sea Calming Divine Pearls (bringing the twelve he already had to a set of twenty-four), the Primordial Golden Bucket, the Immortal Slaying Flying Dagger Gourd...

Each time he took a treasure, he used Golden Light of Merit to erase the traces, then used materials from the Three Clans to create the illusion that the original was still there.

Two hours later, he had cleared out most of the third layer, leaving thirty percent behind to avoid suspicion.

"Time to go."

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly sensed a small room behind the platform.

There were no restrictions on the room. Inside lay only a single jade slip.

[Inventory and Allocation Plan for the Treasures of Treasure Distribution Cliff (Draft)]

Lu Chen's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly examined it.

The jade slip recorded in detail who each treasure belonged to: the Taiji Diagram for Lao Tzu, the Pangu Banner for Yuanshi, the Chaos Bell for Taiyi (later acquired by Eastern Emperor Taiyi), the Sea Calming Divine Pearls for Zhao Gongming...

At the very bottom was a line of small text:

[The remaining treasures shall be left for those destined to find them. However, the cultivators of the Primordial World are greedy, so a test must be set: those who obtain a treasure must answer three questions. Those who answer incorrectly will be barred from entry for ten thousand years.]

"A test?" Lu Chen raised an eyebrow.

He kept reading and found that the end of the jade slip included "suggested answers" to the three questions.

First question: What is the Dao? (Answer: The Great Dao is fifty; Heaven's evolution yields forty-nine, with one escaping.)

Second question: What is a treasure? (Answer: Whatever suits me is a treasure.)

Third question: What is fate? (Answer: To see this scroll at this very moment is fate.)

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun... Did you deliberately leave yourself a back door?" Lu Chen couldn't help laughing wryly.

Whether or not that was the case, this jade slip was immensely valuable!

He put it away and prepared to leave.

But just then, Treasure Distribution Cliff suddenly shook!

An immense Divine Sense swept across the third layer:

"Who's there?"

It was Hongjun's aura!

Terrified out of his wits, Lu Chen hurriedly slipped into the Qiankun Diagram and shrank to a speck of dust, clinging to a stone.

The Divine Sense swept back and forth three times. Only after finding nothing amiss did it slowly withdraw.

"That was close..." Cold sweat soaked Lu Chen's back.

He didn't dare linger. Controlling the Qiankun Diagram, he quietly slipped away through the crack he had entered from.

He only dared show himself after he was ten thousand li from Treasure Distribution Cliff.

Looking back, Treasure Distribution Cliff still floated quietly in place.

"Dao Ancestor Hongjun probably didn't notice anything missing... After all, I only took one of each, and I left imitations behind."

He let out a long breath and checked what he'd gained.

Thirty-seven Innate Spiritual Treasures, all fine examples. Combined with what he'd accumulated before, he was now rolling in wealth.

"Time to head back. The second lecture starts in a month."

Lu Chen flew toward the Primordial World.

On the way, as he passed a stretch of ruins in Chaos, he suddenly heard the sound of fighting.

He crept closer and saw two cultivators fighting over a treasure.

One was a rogue cultivator at the Great Luo Golden Immortal level. The other... was Jieyin!

The two were fighting over the phantom of a Twelve-Petal Golden Lotus. It was only an image, but it was still priceless.

"This golden lotus and I are fated to meet. Why insist on claiming it, fellow Daoist?" Jieyin wore a sorrowful expression, but his attacks were ruthless.

"Bullshit! I found it first!" the rogue cultivator roared.

The two were evenly matched.

Lu Chen hid in the shadows, his eyes shifting as an idea came to him.

"Jieyin and Zhunti... The future Saints of the Western Teachings are still fighting over treasures right now."

He considered it, then took out the Black Brick.

"Since we've crossed paths, I'd be doing fate a disservice if I didn't land a brick on him."

He waited for the perfect moment, then, just as Jieyin was about to claim victory, the Black Brick shot out like a streak of dark light.

"Thud!"

The brick struck Jieyin on the back of the head.

Caught off guard, Jieyin's vision went black and his movements froze.

The rogue cultivator seized the chance to snatch the golden lotus phantom and fled.

By the time Jieyin recovered, the golden lotus was gone.

"Who?! Who ambushed me?!" Jieyin's face turned livid as his Divine Sense swept frantically through the area.

Lu Chen had already slipped away, leaving no trace of his deed.

"Awesome! I bricked a future Saint!"

In high spirits, he sped up on his way back to the Primordial World.

A month later, the bell of Purple Heavens Palace rang again.

The second lecture began!

Lu Chen followed the crowd into Purple Heavens Palace and, as before, found a seat in the corner.

This time, he noticed that the seven people seated on the front-row cushions all had far stronger auras than before.

The Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Jieyin, and Zhunti had all broken through to Quasi-Saint!

Hong Yun was seated on the seventh cushion. His aura was obscure, but Lu Chen could sense that he'd broken through too—Early Quasi-Saint!

"Good. Senior Hong Yun is alive and has even broken through. The story has changed." Lu Chen felt relieved.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun appeared and began his lecture.

This time, he taught the Quasi-Saint path and the method of Slaying the Three Corpses.

Lu Chen listened attentively while observing the others.

He noticed that Jieyin kept touching the back of his head. Clearly, the aftereffects of that brick hadn't worn off.

"Pfft..." Lu Chen nearly burst out laughing.

The lecture lasted three hundred years.

When it ended, Dao Ancestor Hongjun announced:

"In three thousand years, I will give my third lecture, determine the Saint Positions, and distribute spiritual treasures. Then Treasure Distribution Cliff will open, and all those with fate may take treasures."

The whole hall erupted.

Lu Chen lowered his head, the corner of his mouth curling up.

Treasure Distribution Cliff? I've already cleaned it out.

Of course, he couldn't say that aloud.

As the crowd dispersed, Hong Yun found Lu Chen. "Little friend, shall we leave together?"

"All right." Lu Chen nodded.

Just as they were about to leave, Jieyin and Zhunti suddenly blocked their path.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, please wait." Jieyin stared at Hong Yun, his gaze profound.

Lu Chen's heart tightened. Here it came—the scene from the original story where Hong Yun gave up his seat!

But this time, Hong Yun had already broken through to Quasi-Saint. Would he still give it up?

"What is it?" Hong Yun asked calmly.

Zhunti put on a mournful face. "Fellow Daoist, the West is impoverished, and we have no luck when it comes to good seats. Would you... give your cushion to my senior brother and me? We're willing to trade a precious treasure for it!"

Before Hong Yun could speak, Lu Chen suddenly cut in:

"Senior sirs, it looks like there are bricks... on your heads."

Jieyin and Zhunti froze, then instinctively looked up.

"Thud!" "Thud!"

Two dull blows landed squarely on the backs of their heads.

Lu Chen put away the brick and gave them an "astonished" look. "Oh! There really are bricks! Are you two all right?"

Jieyin and Zhunti's vision went black, and they nearly fainted.

Hong Yun held back a laugh, grabbed Lu Chen, and hurried away.

Only after they'd flown ten thousand li from Purple Heavens Palace did Hong Yun burst out laughing. "Little friend, you're really... too wicked!"

Lu Chen shrugged. "When you're dealing with shameless people, you have to use shameless methods."

They looked at each other and laughed.

As they laughed, Lu Chen suddenly sensed something and looked deep into Chaos.

There, a faint trace of demonic energy flashed and vanished.

Luohu's remnant will was still watching him.

"The Primordial World... is getting more and more interesting," Lu Chen murmured.

On his way back to the Primordial World, Lu Chen encountered a badly wounded Kunpeng. Di Jun and Taiyi had ambushed him and taken the River Diagram and Luo Book!

When Kunpeng saw Lu Chen, he gritted his teeth and offered him an item: [Zhou Tian Xing Dou Grand Formation · Incomplete Formation Diagram]! He had only one condition: help him get revenge!

At the same time, an urgent message came from Wuzhuang Temple—the three Kirin Eggs had suddenly hatched ahead of schedule, and the qilins that emerged carried the memories of Chaos Demon Gods?!