The Heaven-Measuring Ruler Cancels Pangu's Pressure

"Looks like I'd oversimplified things." Haotian's brows furrowed slightly, his heart turning solemn.

"Buzhou Mountain was formed from the Great God's spine. Its pressure originates from the Great Dao of Creation itself, far beyond what my current realm can easily withstand."

"Forget reaching the mountain peak—even approaching the core region may be impossible."

Just as Haotian focused his mind on devising a solution, the Primordial Chaos Sky Measuring Ruler, dormant deep within his Primordial Spirit, suddenly trembled faintly and let out an almost inaudible chime.

At the same time, the Saint Power imprint Hongjun had left within the ruler began to circulate silently, emanating a trace of gentle serenity, yet bearing a supreme Dao resonance.

That Dao resonance transformed into an invisible veil, softly draping itself over Haotian's entire body.

The next moment, Haotian felt his whole body lighten.

The Pangu pressure that had once been everywhere, heavy as the heavens themselves, now met an invisible barrier.

Though he could still sense its vastness and grandeur, it could no longer exert any tangible oppression or influence upon Haotian.

Like a breeze brushing over a mountain ridge—one knew the wind was there, yet it no longer hindered one's path.

"So that's how it is..."

"The Dao Ancestor had long foreseen the obstacle on this journey. That was why he left this safeguard behind when he bestowed the ruler." Enlightenment dawned on Haotian, and his awe and gratitude toward Hongjun's unfathomable depths grew by another measure.

He murmured softly to himself, no longer hesitated, chose a direction, and transformed into a swift yet steady streak of light, flying toward the core region of the Buzhou Mountain range.

With his own Golden Immortal cultivation, if he relied solely on his own flight, traversing the endless perilous peaks, steep ridges, mist-shrouded barriers, and deadly lands on Buzhou Mountain's outskirts before finally reaching the core region that might nurture the Innate Gourd Vine would likely require time measured in Yuanhui.

For Buzhou Mountain was no ordinary land.

Its spatial structure, affected by Pangu's might and the lingering laws of Creation, was both stable and chaotic, making it extraordinarily difficult to tear through space for long-distance travel.

If one forced the matter, not only would the expenditure of power be immense, but it could also easily trigger terrifying spatial turbulence and backlash from the laws. Even a Primordial Unity Golden Immortal could perish and have their Dao extinguished through a single misstep.

To save time and improve efficiency, Haotian still used the method he had employed during his previous travels through the Great Desolation.

That was, relying on the supreme power of the Purple Firmament Token to repeatedly travel back and forth between the Purple Firmament Palace and the Great Desolation, shortening the time needed to advance.

The Purple Firmament Token had been personally refined by Hongjun. It contained the Saint's Great Dao and part of the Purple Firmament Palace's authority; its power to traverse time and space was, in essence, the invocation of a trace of a Saint's great might.

This power stood detached from all things, above the ordinary laws of the Great Desolation.

Even Buzhou Mountain's immense pressure born of Pangu, along with its stable yet chaotic spatial structure, could not wholly resist this power's interference.

Whenever Haotian flew a certain distance and felt his speed slow somewhat, or encountered an obvious obstruction, he would activate the Purple Firmament Token.

With a flash of radiance from the token, it would wrap around him and carry out a precise short-distance "jump," ignoring some of the dangers and pressure zones in between and depositing him directly at the next "safe point" closer to the core.

Repeating this cycle again and again, though it was still far from the effortless freedom of spatial travel elsewhere in the Great Desolation, it nonetheless greatly shortened the time required to climb this Pillar of the Great Desolation, while allowing him to avoid many natural deathtraps.

Relying on this method, Haotian was like a wisp of blue smoke capable of leaping through space, advancing firmly and swiftly through the towering, sky-reaching, majestic Buzhou Mountain range toward the target guiding him from the unseen.

Time flew, and in the blink of an eye, a thousand years had passed.

On this day, a colossal mountain, so towering and majestic that it defied description, blocked Haotian's path.

This mountain was immensely high, its summit beyond the reach of sight, as though it had pierced into the azure void of chaos.

Its weighty presence seemed capable of suppressing all heavens and myriad worlds. Merely gazing upon it filled Haotian with an awe and smallness that arose from the very origin of life.

Understanding dawned in his heart.

This was the core of Buzhou Mountain's main vein, the straightest and heaviest section of Pangu's spine, and likewise the place most likely to nurture an Innate Spirit Root.

Haotian no longer hesitated and once more activated the Purple Firmament Token.

The token's radiance blazed brightly, carrying him through a precise short-distance crossing...

The surrounding scenery abruptly came into focus. Haotian was already standing within a strange valley enclosed by Buzhou Mountain's Main Peak.

The spiritual energy here was so dense it had nearly liquefied, while Dao resonance condensed like mist.

At its center stood an extraordinary vine, emitting hazy Treasure Light. It was none other than the Innate Gourd Vine!

Yet the space around the vine was far from empty.

Several figures with majestic auras and Dao resonances soaring into the heavens already stood in a circle around it, each occupying one side, faintly forming a standoff.

Upon the gourd vine, seven gourds of different hues gleamed brilliantly. Six of them flowed with Treasure Light, their Dao patterns faintly visible; clearly, they were close to maturity.

Only the final Purple-Black Gourd appeared dim and withered, its spiritual energy sparse.

The six treasure gourds on the verge of maturing had long been remotely locked onto by the several Great Powers present.

Haotian's gaze swept across them, and he understood at once.

Fuxi and Nuwa stood side by side.

The Three Pure Ones' auras were linked, forming a whole unto themselves.

Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun stood as each other's horns.

The imperial aura of Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi faintly emerged.

Though the various groups spoke not a word, their auras intertwined as they guarded against one another, clearly waiting for the moment the gourds fully matured, when each would seize the destiny ordained for them.

Haotian abruptly descended with the power of the Purple Firmament Token, his Aura appearing without the slightest warning. The Great Powers present were inwardly startled, and their Divine Senses swept over him at once.

When they saw clearly that the newcomer was Haotian, the Boy who attended the Dao Ancestor, their surprise turned to understanding—and a trace of barely perceptible regard.

Since he was under a Saint's tutelage, it was only natural for him to possess some extraordinary methods.

Seeing that no one showed any obvious hostility or rejection toward him, Haotian felt somewhat relieved.

He possessed memories of the future, so he naturally knew how the treasures would be divided once this Gourd Vine ripened.

With his current Golden Immortal Mid-stage cultivation, his say was truly limited when facing a group of supreme Innate Divine Beings, each at least in the early Da Luo stage, if not higher.

Thus, when he entered the Primordial Wilderness this time, he had not altered his appearance, continuing instead to act under the identity of "the Boy before the Dao Ancestor's seat."

Now, it seemed that this strategy was quite effective. At the very least, no one dared casually ignore or slight him.

All manner of Thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning and sparks. Haotian steadied himself, then was the first to cup his hands toward the crowd and greet them loudly. "Dao Brothers, This Daoist is Haotian. Greetings."

In the Primordial Wilderness, the accomplished came first.

Ordinarily, with merely Golden Immortal Mid-stage cultivation, even calling himself the grandson generation before a gathering of Da Luo would have been perfectly proper.

But his backer was the Saint Hongjun.

Moreover, Hongjun had once explicitly said that, as one of his disciples, even if he possessed a mortal body, he was still nobler than others. When meeting these people, he must never tarnish the name.

Therefore, Haotian's address of "Dao Brothers" had already given the Great Powers present ample face. It showed humility without sacrificing his standing.

None of them were fools, and they naturally understood the measure of it. They returned his greeting one after another, saying, "Daoist Haotian, you are too courteous."

Haotian immediately pretended that he had only just arrived and knew nothing of the situation. His gaze fell upon the Gourd Vine shrouded in Treasure Light as he asked in puzzlement, "This Daoist was drawn here by a thread of Heavenly Secrets, sensing that there should be a destined opportunity in this place."