Golden Immortal Mid-stage

The crimson flames of the Ten Thousand Crows Pot flickered faintly; pure radiance flowed through the Pure Glazed Bottle; the Three Talents Dao rhythms of the Three Talents Jade Cups intertwined; phantasmal coins of the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin rose and fell; and at the center, the violet-gold Dao light of the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler shone brightly, presenting a myriad splendid sights.

Haotian sat down cross-legged, his expression grave as he began taking stock of the gains from his previous journey through the Primordial World and this first lecture at Purple Firmament Palace.

In truth, he had long wished to sort through these matters, but one thing after another had kept him occupied, leaving him no time to do so.

First was his previous expedition through the Primordial World.

The foremost objective of that journey had been accomplished. He had successfully found Mount Wuyi and subdued the Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin, along with the High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Great Red Robe Mother Tree. His gains had been truly abundant.

His sole regret was that the origins and background of the mysterious "Demonic Black Tiger" remained an enigma.

Moreover, though getting lost had prevented him from finding Zhongnan Mountain and obtaining the Wind Lightning Immortal Apricot—

He had unexpectedly received the complete "Primordial World Inheritance" from Bai Ze, resolving the greatest obstacle to his future travels through the Primordial World: his inability to discern geographical directions.

All things considered, the gains outweighed the losses. It could still be called a perfect outcome.

Second was what had happened after returning to Purple Firmament Palace.

Thanks to the merit of offering tea, he had been rewarded with three Innate Spiritual Treasures of extraordinary power, further deepening his foundations.

Then came the first lecture at Purple Firmament Palace, and his gains arrived one after another.

He had received Zhenyuanzi's Ginseng Fruit as a gift.

He had smoothly formed good ties with Zhunti and Jieyin as planned.

And by taking the opportunity to discuss the Dao with Hongjun and debate the Dao with the Great Powers, he had absorbed nourishment that vastly refined his still-nascent Imperial Great Dao.

By now, the Imperial Great Dao had cast off its initial "infant" state. Its Dao rhythm was full and abundant, nearly entering a stable "youth" stage.

Though he had made enemies of East Prince and Kunpeng in the process, that was beneath mention compared to his enormous gains.

Lastly, there was what had happened at the end of this lecture.

Hongjun had personally bestowed the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler upon him!

The preciousness of This Treasure and the significance it carried were enough to stand alongside the sum of every opportunity he had encountered before—even surpassing them!

It was not merely a sharp weapon for protecting the Dao and slaughtering foes, but also a cornerstone for accomplishing great undertakings and suppressing fortune in the future!

Haotian sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness. He gazed at the Imperial Great Dao seed, now fairly solid and holding its brilliance within, then swept his eyes over the various Treasure Lights surrounding him. He nodded in satisfaction, and an unprecedented sense of confidence and heroic ambition surged from within.

"The opening has been nothing short of perfect." Haotian murmured, his gaze sharp as a sword. "Next, I must advance step by step, deepen my gains, and consolidate my foundations."

He had two ultimate objectives.

The first was to become a Heavenly Emperor who commanded the Three Realms, whose word became law, and who possessed true authority.

The second was to attain the Dao Fruit of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal of the Origin, transcend calamities, and remain eternally unfettered.

For the former, he needed to gather Spiritual Treasures and Spiritual Roots extensively to strengthen his foundations, befriend Great Powers and towering figures to weave a network of connections, accumulate Immeasurable Merit to legitimize his rank, and develop his own forces to secure his authority.

For the latter, he needed to improve without cease and perfect his one-of-a-kind Imperial Great Dao.

The core of this Dao lay in "Build Heaven and Earth, sort out yin and yang, and Enlighten Myriad Spirits."

Therefore, whether it was to accumulate merit, develop his forces, or practice the Imperial Great Dao—

Haotian had to venture deep into the Primordial World, walk between heaven and earth, and temper himself, grow, and lay his plans amid the worldly dust and endless Karma.

"The most urgent matter is to first refine the Pure Glazed Bottle and the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, which have not yet received my Primordial Spirit imprints. I must gain initial control over them and make them as responsive as my own arms and fingers." Haotian's thoughts were crystal clear.

"Once the Spiritual Treasures are refined, I will immediately enter the Primordial World again and head straight for Buzhou Mountain to claim the great opportunity tied to the future—the Innate Gourd Vine!"

"After settling the matter of the gourd vine, I should make a detour back to Mount Wuyi, collect the newly grown spiritual tea, and reinforce the Protective Formation in the mountain."

"Finally, I can head to Zhongnan Mountain and seek out the Wind Lightning Immortal Apricot, making up for my previous regret."

Having sorted out his plans for the coming days, Haotian let out a long breath. His Dao Heart felt clear and bright, and the road ahead lay plainly before him.

Of course, a question still lingered in his heart, impossible to shake.

Why was Hongjun's attitude toward him so "indulgent," even so "fond"?

Not only had he ignored the "cheating" at the palace gates and the "showing off of treasures" during the Dao discussion, but he had even bestowed such an invaluable treasure upon him. His words also seemed to carry a faint implication of encouraging Haotian to "act without restraint."

What, exactly, was the reason behind this?

Yet this was clearly not a question Haotian could answer at present.

Moreover, he was currently within Purple Firmament Palace, right beneath Hongjun's watchful eye. He did not dare let his mind investigate too deeply, lest he stir some unfathomable perception.

Casting aside his distracting thoughts, Haotian gathered his focus and first turned his gaze to the Pure Glazed Bottle floating before him.

With a thought from him, the faint Magical Power Imprint belonging to Hongjun within the bottle quietly dissipated like ice and snow melting away.

Unlike when he had refined the Ten Thousand Crows Pot and the Three Talents Jade Cups, when the Spiritual Treasures' power had thrashed violently and needed to be subdued by force—

Though the Pure Glazed Bottle had now been freed from Hongjun's Magical Power suppression, it was exceptionally docile, its Treasure Light flowing meekly.

After giving it some thought, Haotian understood the reason.

At this moment, the auras of the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin, the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, the Ten Thousand Crows Pot, and the Three Talents Jade Cups intertwined, inadvertently forming a Dao-rhythm domain that already suppressed the Pure Glazed Bottle.

Its spirituality had been born naturally. Sensing that not one of the treasures around it was ordinary—particularly the supreme Dao rhythm of the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler—it instinctively drew in its brilliance and did not dare make any rash move.

Seeing this, Haotian was happy to save himself the trouble. He directly circulated the Dao rhythm of his Imperial Great Dao, transforming it into countless invisible Dao patterns that wrapped around the Pure Glazed Bottle layer by layer, slowly permeating, connecting with, and refining it.

Cultivation knew no years.

Inside the quiet chamber, Dao resonance flowed as radiance flickered and dimmed.

In the blink of an eye, three thousand years passed.

"Bzzzz..."

A clear, ringing chime came from the bottle.

The Pure Glazed Bottle blazed with Treasure Light, only for it to swiftly withdraw. A clear and stable connection had already formed between the bottle and Haotian's Primordial Spirit.

The initial refinement was complete!

Almost at the very instant the refinement was completed, a flash of inspiration crossed Haotian's mind as though heaven had answered his thoughts.

With a stir of his will, he swiftly retrieved the Ginseng Fruit he had kept within the Great Dao Space.

The fruit was shaped like an infant, lifelike and vivid, its strange fragrance rushing to meet the nose, its Dao resonance born of nature itself.

Haotian hesitated no longer and placed it in his mouth.

The Ginseng Fruit melted upon entering his mouth, instantly transforming into a vast, surging yet gentle and rich tide of Innate Yi Wood essence and Creation Spiritual Aura. Like the Heavenly River pouring backward, it flooded Haotian's limbs and bones, meridians and acupoints, even piercing straight into the depths of his Primordial Spirit!

Haotian's will had always been steadfast and his cultivation solid. Now, with this immense and pure Spiritual Aura pouring into him, everything fell into place as naturally as water flowing into a channel. The invisible bottleneck within him, which had long since loosened, quietly collapsed like crumbling earth and shattered tiles.

Bzzzz!

The Imperial Great Dao, having entered its "youth stage," resonated of its own accord, its Dao resonance surging and circulating.

At the center of Haotian's Primordial Spirit, the already solid Dao Seed suddenly burst with radiant light, becoming even more dazzling and stable.

Sun, Moon, Stars; mountains, rivers, and peaks; the phantoms of myriad living beings—all endlessly evolved within it.

An even more powerful, harmonious Dao resonance, carrying an air of command, spread from Haotian's entire body.

Golden Immortal Mid-stage!

Moreover, his foundation was incomparably firm, with scarcely a trace of instability.

"Finally... everything has fallen into place. I've taken another step forward!" Haotian slowly opened his eyes. Divine light gleamed within them, as though they contained the birth and destruction of the cosmos.