Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler

She swept her gaze around and found that the looks the Great Powers cast her way were utterly different from moments ago—reverence, probing curiosity, fervor, estrangement... all of it mingled together.

Yet inwardly, she could only cry out in bitterness. She understood that the position of "Head of Female Immortals" looked glorious, but was in truth the heart of endless karma and strife.

But now that the Saint's Edict had been issued, like the decree of Heaven itself, how could it be defied?

West Queen Mother could only suppress the myriad thoughts in her heart. Rising, she walked to the middle of the hall and bowed respectfully. "This disciple gives thanks to the Dao Ancestor for this generous bestowal."

"I shall certainly devote all my heart and strength."

Hongjun nodded faintly and said no more. At last, he declared, "This sermon has now reached its perfect conclusion."

"You may disperse on your own."

At his words, the Great Powers rose one after another and bowed in unison, their voices shaking the hall. "We thank the Dao Ancestor for the grace of imparting the Dao and dispelling our doubts!"

The instant the words fell, clear light flashed atop the purple-jade High Platform, and Hongjun's figure had already vanished without a trace.

Disappearing along with him were Haotian and Yaochi, who had stood attendant on either side.

The Great Powers Inside the Hall looked at one another. Only after a moment did they each depart with a tangle of thoughts, transforming into streaks of flowing light and fleeing from Purple Firmament Palace, returning to the Primordial World.

Deep within Purple Firmament Palace, inside a strange Quiet Room.

This place knew neither above nor below, neither east nor west; it knew neither past nor present. It resembled the Sea of Chaos, yet lacked the Sea of Chaos's violent disorder.

In the void, countless starlike points of Dao radiance flickered in and out, evolving cycles of birth, death, and reincarnation.

At the center of the Quiet Room, Haotian looked at the violet-robed figure before him, his heart clouded with shock and uncertainty.

He did not understand why Hongjun had brought him here alone.

This was Hongjun's forbidden sanctuary for cultivation. In the past, neither he nor Yaochi had been permitted to enter.

Hongjun looked at Haotian, his gaze seeming able to pierce through every illusion and reach straight to the source. He spoke calmly. "You... wish to enter the Primordial World again?"

The moment those words emerged, Haotian froze.

He had assumed that Hongjun had specifically summoned him to question why he had helped the Two People from the West "cheat" before Purple Firmament Palace's gates, or why he had deliberately "shown off" his spiritual treasure during the discussion of the Dao.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected Hongjun to ask about this.

Haotian's thoughts raced. Though a thousand questions filled his mind, when he thought of that great opportunity atop Buzhou Mountain, one that concerned the future, he suppressed his emotions and respectfully cupped his hands. "Esteemed Master sees all, discerning even the slightest detail."

"This disciple indeed harbors such intentions. I wish to enter the Primordial World once more to temper myself, seek opportunities, and verify the Great Dao."

Hongjun nodded slightly, his expression as still as an unruffled lake. "The Primordial World is vast; opportunities and dangers exist side by side."

"On this journey, peril will lie on every side, and tribulations will lurk in the dark."

"I shall grant you a treasure to accompany you."

"Use it well. It will surely help you seek fortune and avoid calamity, walking through danger as though on level ground."

This string of words contained an enormous amount of information. Haotian felt his heart tremble slightly as he listened, leaving him somewhat dazed.

Before he could consider it further, Hongjun's sleeve stirred. With a gesture through the air, he drew out a mysterious radiance from nothingness.

The radiance condensed into an ancient, ruler-shaped treasure that floated before Haotian.

The ruler was roughly one chi and two cun long, its entire form seeming like jade yet not jade, like stone yet not stone.

The Ruler Body naturally coiled with Mysterious Yellow Qi and a thread of Primordial Chaos violet intent, emitting a gentle yet supremely sovereign violet-gold Dao light. Its Dao rhythm was born of Heaven itself.

Endless profound runes flickered in and out of view upon the Ruler Body. At its center, two Innate Divine Script characters inscribed its true Dao name... Sky Measuring!

"Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler!" A monstrous wave surged through Haotian's heart. As a transmigrator, he naturally knew this treasure's origins.

This Treasure was an unparalleled marvel formed when, at the first division of Primordial Chaos before Heaven and Earth had separated, the first strand of Innate Dao Light merged with a portion of the merit from the creation of Heaven and Earth and Mysterious Yellow Mother Qi!

Because the timing of its birth was so special, it was both a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and an Acquired Merit Supreme Treasure, possessing the strengths of both.

The Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler's offensive power was incomparably fierce. It could be called one of the Primordial World's foremost Killing Supreme Treasures. Its might ranked only below the Heaven-Opening sacred artifact, the Pangu Banner, standing alongside Styx's Yuantu and Abi killing swords—and in certain mysterious aspects, it even surpassed them.

One measure of this ruler could set the laws of Heaven; one sweep could alter the course of the Earth Veins. If wielded by a Saint, it could even temporarily exercise a portion of Heaven's authority!

Its attacks ignored the barriers of time and space, arriving with a single thought. Moreover, it possessed the heaven-defying trait that its acts of slaughter incurred no karma.

Beyond that, it also had the supreme miraculous use of suppressing the fortune of great sects and clans.

In all the legends and records Haotian knew from his Previous Life, the ownership of such a supreme treasure had remained a mystery.

Some legends claimed that it had fallen into the hands of Dao Ancestor Hongjun.

Other records stated that it had never emerged into the world and had never been claimed by anyone.

"I have left a Saint's seal within this ruler," Hongjun explained calmly.

"Take this ruler into your Primordial Spirit and nurture it. At a critical moment, this seal will reveal itself."

"Though the Primordial World is vast and perilous places are many, with this seal's protection, you will remain safe."

Upon hearing this, Haotian's feelings became even more indescribably complicated.

Instinctively, he wished to decline with a few courteous words, but this world-shaking opportunity was right before his eyes—he truly could not resist it.

Any refusal at a time like this would only seem hypocritical.

After a long silence, Haotian finally bent deeply and performed a grand salute, his voice trembling with sincere excitement and gratitude. "This disciple... thanks Esteemed Master for this generous gift!"

"For this grace and virtue, Haotian shall never forget it, even through countless ages!"

"Go." Hongjun said no more, merely giving his sleeve a light flick.

As though sentient, the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler transformed into an arcane streak of intertwined violet and gold light. With a whoosh, it plunged into Haotian's brow, descending directly into the depths of his Primordial Spirit, where it floated quietly and faintly resonated with the Dao seed of the Imperial Great Dao.

Haotian's body trembled slightly. Sensing within his Primordial Spirit a supreme Dao essence as vast as a sea of stars and as weighty as Buzhou Mountain, he hurriedly steadied his mind and calmed his breath.

He forcefully suppressed the wild joy that was nearly bursting forth, then respectfully backed away several steps before turning and leaving the mysterious quiet room, one step at a time.

Once his figure had vanished completely, Hongjun's eternally unchanging expression shifted ever so slightly at the center of the quiet room.

A nearly imperceptible glimmer passed through his profound eyes, deep as the Dao itself.

Upon returning to his private quiet room within the Purple Firmament Palace, Haotian could no longer contain himself. After setting down several layers of restrictions, an irrepressible look of excitement appeared on his face.

With a thought, the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler flew out from his Primordial Spirit and hovered before him. Violet-gold Dao light illuminated the quiet room, while boundless Dao essence naturally spread through the air.

This Treasure was utterly different from the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin.

Though both were Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin's effects leaned more toward "support," offering limited aid in direct Dao battles and bloody combat.

The Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, however, was a genuine supreme treasure of offense. It could also suppress fortune and possessed the profound wonder of killing without accruing Karma. It was an all-in-one treasure of attack and defense, with endless marvelous uses.

In particular, its ability to "kill without accruing Karma" was simply beyond measure in value within the Primordial Wilderness, where Karma was tangled and tribulations came one upon another.

Haotian toyed with it and contemplated its mysteries for several full hours before his excited emotions gradually settled.

He drew a deep breath, divine light shining brightly in his eyes as he suppressed every stray thought.

Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned every spiritual treasure in his possession.

In an instant, Treasure Light soared through the quiet room, and wondrous phenomena emerged in profusion.