Not to mention, which of the dozen or so figures present wasn't a mighty being who shook the Primordial Wilderness? Every one of them had a cultivation level at least at the peak of Grand Unity Golden Immortal, if not Quasi-Sage.
The terrifying auras they each exuded intertwined and clashed, creating a field powerful enough to warp space and drive the laws into retreat!
Under these circumstances, a mere creature at the Heavenly Immortal Realm had appeared nearby and seemed to be curiously sizing them up. How could they not be surprised?
For a moment, nearly all the mighty beings furrowed their brows almost imperceptibly. After all, it was hardly pleasant to have an ant of such low cultivation watching them.
Still, they were all cunning old monsters who had lived through countless eras. For a Heavenly Immortal to appear unharmed in a place like Buzhou Mountain was strange in itself.
Besides, they couldn't immediately determine Ao Chen's true circumstances, so no one was the first to scold or drive him away.
The mighty beings soon shifted their attention from the inconspicuous Heavenly Immortal Ao Chen and refocused on the heart of the valley, where the radiance of the treasure was gradually fading.
Buzz—!
As the final streak of Seven-Colored Radiance vanished, the scene in the valley came into full view.
On the cliff stood a vine about a zhang tall, entirely emerald green, as though carved from jade. Dao Rhythm flowed across it, and it brimmed with life. It was none other than the Innate Spiritual Root—the Gourd Vine!
Seven perfectly round gourds, each glowing with precious light, hung quietly from the vine. They came in different colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple!
Each gourd emanated a unique Innate Dao Rhythm. They had clearly ripened and were about to fall from the vine!
"The Innate Gourd Vine?"
Even the mighty beings present, whose hearts had long been as still as ancient wells, couldn't help but gaze at the gourds with burning eyes. After all, each of the seven was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.
At the instant everyone's attention was drawn to the gourds, the Gourd Vine seemed to have fulfilled its purpose. A flash of light passed over it, and it quickly withered, crumbling into dust and scattering away. Only the seven Innate Gourds remained, floating in midair and shining with even more alluring light!
Then, a sudden change occurred!
The seven gourds hovering in the air trembled slightly, as if they had come to life!
The first, a purple-gold gourd of indescribable majesty, transformed into a streak of light and flew straight into the hands of the old man whose aura was the most ethereal, as though he had merged with the Great Dao—Taishang Laojun!
The second, a fiery-red gourd containing boundless fire essence and a trace of merit and fortune, flashed brightly and flew toward the smiling, red-robed elder with his abundant fortune—Ancestor Hong Yun!
The third, gleaming with golden light and radiating abundant vitality of Creation, drifted lightly into the hands of the beautiful Nuwa, whose bearing was compassionate and sacred.
The fourth, a heavy, earthen-yellow gourd that seemed to bear the power of the earth, was swept up by an overbearing blaze of Solar True Fire and landed in the hands of Eastern Emperor Taiyi, who held the Chaos Bell and possessed peerless presence!
The fifth, a gourd streaked with purple and blue and containing Jade Purity Immortal Light, flew toward the solemn-faced, middle-aged Daoist who expounded the laws of Heaven—Primordial Lord of Heaven.
The sixth, woven with purple and green and containing Upper Purity Sword Intent and vigorous vitality, transformed into a streak of sword light and landed in the hands of the young Daoist whose Sword Intent soared into the heavens—Sect Master Tongtian.
In the blink of an eye, six of the Innate Gourds had found their owners!
Just then, the last one—the seventh, which looked the most unremarkable and gave off only a faint gray glow—spun in midair, then...
Whoosh!
It transformed into a streak of light and flew straight toward Ao Chen, who was hidden behind the rocks at the valley entrance!
"Hm?"
The sudden turn of events left all the mighty beings present stunned. Even Ao Chen himself was somewhat taken aback!
After all, the Innate Gourd Vine was quite famous in later ages, and the gourds' owners were already settled. He hadn't expected one of them to be destined for him, too, without his having to fight for it.
"For me?"
Ao Chen instinctively held out his hand, and the pale gray gourd landed lightly in his palm.
It felt warm to the touch, and faintly resonated with the Star River Universe within him!
He could sense that the gourd contained some highly unusual innate laws related to space, which was why it had flown into his hand.
Moreover, the resonance between the laws within it was even stronger than Ao Chen had imagined.
Ao Chen was both surprised and delighted. He was just about to put the gourd away and study it later when—
A cold voice, filled with jealousy and killing intent, suddenly rang out!
"Hold it!"
In a corner, the hooked-nosed Daoist who had been watching everything with a sinister gaze now stepped forward, transforming into a half-human, half-peng figure.
Kunpeng's sharp eyes fixed on the purple gourd in Ao Chen's hand. He shouted furiously:
"A mere Heavenly Immortal ant dares to lay claim to an Innate Spiritual Treasure of this caliber? What destiny could you possibly have with it? Hand it over at once! Otherwise, don't blame me for making sure your form and spirit are annihilated!"
Kunpeng was already mad with jealousy!
He was the dignified Lord of the Northern Darkness, yet ever since his birth, he had possessed no decent Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure for protection besides the Northern Darkness Palace that had been born with him!
He could accept the first six gourds going to their respective owners. After all, they had gone to the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi—beings of that caliber. He couldn't compete with them, and he accepted it.
After all, treasures belonged to the virtuous. Those few were more or less virtuous, and antagonizing them over a spiritual treasure wasn't worth it.
But now the last gourd had flown to an unknown ant whose cultivation was only at the Heavenly Immortal Realm. How could he tolerate that?
A newcomer had obtained an Innate Spiritual Treasure, while he, a veteran mighty being, had come away empty-handed? It was a tremendous affront!
Jealousy and greed instantly clouded Kunpeng's mind! He was the first to step forward and take Ao Chen to task!
As Kunpeng's angry shout rang out, the other great divine powers also turned to look.
Sword Slays an Innate Divine, and You Tell Me This Is a Heavenly Immortal?
Before the Gourd Vine, Kunpeng's furious shout drew the gaze of the other great divine powers as well.
The Three Pure Ones looked puzzled. They, too, found it surprising that this newly arrived Heavenly Immortal was connected to the Gourd Vine, and now they began examining Ao Chen closely.
Nuwa and Fuxi stood where they were, astonished as they sized up Ao Chen as well.
Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Di Jun stood in the distance, narrowing their eyes as if trying to figure something out.
Hong Yun wanted to speak, but Zhen Yuanzi stopped him. Zhen Yuanzi gave a slight shake of his head, signaling Hong Yun to wait and see.
Minghe wore an amused smile, two Killing Swords circling around him as killing intent surged. He seemed to be waiting for something.
Only Kunpeng let his Late Grand Unity aura expand without reservation, turning it into a tangible black storm that swept across the heavens and earth!
His terrifying aura shook the past and present, sweeping across hundreds of millions of li. Even the exceptionally stable void around Buzhou Mountain seemed unable to withstand it, groaning under the strain as though it might collapse at any moment!
Ao Chen stood opposite him, feeling the terrifying pressure rush toward him, nearly freezing and tearing apart his soul. His expression gradually turned cold.
He hadn't held back before because he was afraid of trouble. He simply hadn't thought it necessary.
The Innate Spiritual Treasure was certainly precious, and the Indestructible Spiritual Light within it could help him comprehend the True Immortal Dao. But ultimately, it was just an external object.
The Mythical Grand Unity Method he cultivated would ultimately transform him into an eternal Dao Body, transcending all spiritual treasures.
It wasn't worth making mortal enemies of so many top mighty beings of the Primordial Wilderness over a gourd whose purpose he didn't fully understand yet.
But now the other party had come right to his face to bully him, his words dripping with contempt and killing intent!
If he still backed down and endured it, what would become of Ao Chen's Dao Heart? Wouldn't the transcendent path he cultivated become a joke?
"An ant? Heh..."
Ao Chen let out a chuckle of indeterminate meaning, cutting off whatever threat Kunpeng might have made next.
"I'd like to see how you, you feathered beast, are going to annihilate my form and spirit!"
His words shocked everyone present!
A Heavenly Immortal had actually dared to call Kunpeng that?
"You're courting death!"
Kunpeng was enraged, and his eyes instantly turned blood-red!
He was the dignified Lord of the Northern Darkness, a top mighty being at the Late Grand Unity stage. When had he ever suffered such humiliation?
Without a moment's hesitation, Kunpeng attacked!
His half-human, half-peng body shuddered, revealing his terrifying true form, vast enough to blot out the sky and sun.
A colossal Kunpeng, its wings spanning hundreds of millions of li, its entire body pitch-black, emanating boundless chill and the intent to devour!
It beat its enormous wings!
Whoosh!
Boundless Northern Darkness True Water mixed with Nine Heavens Gang Wind, powerful enough to freeze the soul of a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, forming a black tornado that stretched across the heavens and earth and swept toward Ao Chen!
The storm also contained Kunpeng's innate divine ability—the Devouring Power—seeming poised to swallow Ao Chen and the gourd in his hand whole!
Faced with this terrifying strike, powerful enough to make an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal blanch, Ao Chen remained where he was, his expression calm.
"What a laughable Dao."
He scoffed and stepped through the air. In an instant, the Great Dao thundered within him and the laws flowed as he unleashed the Great Dao Origin Scripture Heavenly Immortal Chapter to its fullest!
Rumble!
The vast, boundless phantom of the Star River Universe appeared behind him once more!
Compared to the last time he'd faced Ci Tie, it was more solid, more expansive, and more profound!
Countless stars blazed with an unparalleled aura that suppressed the heavens and wore down all laws!
As soon as the Star River Domain appeared, the terrifying black tornado slowed sharply within a hundred zhang of Ao Chen!
The Devouring Power within it seemed to have met its match. It could no longer advance!
Before you continue