Answering Hongjun's Question

"I am willing to be friends with Fellow Daoist," Haotian said solemnly.

At his words, Bai Ze's eyes lit with brilliant amusement. He raised his cup in response. "To hear such words from a Daoist is truly one of life's great joys!"

"Once we finish this cup, Daoist, you may peruse these inheritances."

"If there is anything you do not understand, I will certainly tell you all I know."

"Good!"

The two raised their cups and drained them in one gulp.

Afterward, Haotian took the Jade Slips and immersed his Divine Sense within them.

Vast inheritances unfolded before him like a river of stars.

Bai Ze sat quietly at the side, sometimes closing his eyes to rest, sometimes refilling the tea.

Beyond the cave abode, time flowed by in silence.

Spring blossoms gave way to autumn fruit; cold came and heat went. In the blink of an eye, more than thirty thousand years had passed...

On this day, Haotian finally comprehended the last inheritance and slowly opened his eyes.

The divine light in his eyes had withdrawn inward, and the Dao rhythm around him was perfectly harmonious. His understanding of the Primordial World had been utterly transformed.

Over those thirty thousand years, Haotian had studied the inheritances. Whenever he encountered a bottleneck, Bai Ze had patiently guided him.

This Innate Auspicious Beast possessed vast knowledge and insight. Often, just a few words from him could pierce through the fog of confusion, benefiting Haotian immensely.

"Fellow Daoist..." Haotian rose, intending to offer his thanks, but Bai Ze stopped him with a smiling wave.

He said with a smile, "The fact that Daoist has gained something is the best outcome."

"Since you and I are friends, why stand on ceremony?"

Hearing this, Haotian was deeply moved. He opened his mouth to thank him, but the Purple Firmament Token within his Great Dao Space suddenly emitted a clear radiance.

His heart tightened, and he hurriedly connected his Divine Sense to the token.

Yaochi's somewhat urgent voice came from the Purple Firmament Token. "Elder Brother, Esteemed Master has emerged from seclusion and summons you back to the palace at once."

"I shall return at once," Haotian replied immediately, his heart jolting.

He clasped his hands toward Bai Ze. "Fellow Daoist, my master urgently summons me. I have no choice but to take my leave. I hope you will forgive me."

Seeing the gravity in his expression, Bai Ze found it unsuitable to keep him. "Since it is your master's command, Daoist should go swiftly."

"If you ever have need of me, simply send word."

Haotian nodded his thanks, then turned and left the cave abode.

After a brief moment of thought, Bai Ze followed after him, intending to see him off.

But when he arrived outside, he discovered that Haotian's figure had already vanished without a trace.

"What a profound escape art..." Bai Ze stood atop the mountain peak, gazing out at the boundless Cloud Sea as he murmured in praise.

He merely assumed that Haotian's escape technique was formidable, never knowing that Haotian had not used any escape art this time.

Instead, he had directly activated the Purple Firmament Token and crossed the void with the power of a Saint.

In but an instant, he had returned to the Purple Firmament Palace.

Within the Purple Firmament Palace at the heart of chaos, Haotian had only just landed when Yaochi came to greet him.

"Elder Brother..." A trace of worry lay between her brows. "Esteemed Master is calling for you. Hurry and go."

Haotian, however, was not flustered. He asked calmly, "Where is Esteemed Master now? What is his expression like?"

Yaochi lowered her voice. "Esteemed Master is in Yan Dao Palace... His expression is solemn and unreadable. I cannot tell whether he is pleased or angered."

"I see... Then I understand. It is nothing. I will go meet Esteemed Master now; there is no need for you to panic."

With that, Haotian gently patted Yaochi's shoulder.

He then activated the Purple Firmament Token and arrived before Yan Dao Palace in an instant.

This palace was the central hub of the Purple Firmament Palace, grand and majestic. Its doors were carved from Chaos Jade Stone, with the patterns of three thousand Great Daos faintly visible upon them.

Haotian reverted to the form of a boy, straightened his robes and cap, and only then lightly knocked on the palace doors. "Esteemed Master, Disciple Haotian has come at your summons."

A moment later, an indifferent Dao Sound came from within. "Enter."

Haotian took a deep breath and pushed the doors open.

The sight within differed from the other halls of the Purple Firmament Palace.

It did not resemble a palace chamber, but rather a complete greater world of a thousand worlds.

True dragons circled through the Nine Heavens, while immortal phoenixes perched upon parasol trees.

Rare flowers and precious grasses carpeted the ground, and spiritual springs murmured as they flowed.

At the center of the world, a purple-jade Dao Platform floated in the air. Hongjun sat upon it, the Dao rhythm around him as deep and vast as an abyssal sea.

Before the Dao Platform, several thousand cushions formed from Cloud Qi floated silently.

The six Golden Lotus Dao Platforms at the very front were especially eye-catching, Innate Dao Rhymes flowing through the Lotus Petals.

Haotian did not dare disturb him. Riding a cloud to the platforms, he respectfully knelt upon a bank of clouds.

After an unknown length of time, Hongjun slowly spoke, his voice like heavenly music. "I ordered you to diligently guard the palace. Why did you enter the Primordial Wilderness without permission?"

Thoughts racing, Haotian lowered his head and answered, "I would not dare deceive Esteemed Master."

"The reason this Disciple secretly went to the Primordial Wilderness was that I encountered a bottleneck in cultivation. Then I thought of Esteemed Master's exalted status as a Saint, yet there was no Spirit Tea to offer you—it truly seemed unfitting."

"That was why I dared enter the world, taking the opportunity of my travels to seek out fine tea for Esteemed Master."

At these words, Hongjun's eyes opened slightly, and an invisible Dao intent swept over Haotian's entire body.

In an instant, all of Haotian's experiences in the Primordial Wilderness unfolded like a painted scroll, revealed without the slightest concealment.

"You have had quite the fortunate karmic encounter," Hongjun said mildly.

Haotian secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He immediately took out the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin and a jade box filled with Tea Leaves, presenting them with both hands. "Thanks to Esteemed Master's blessings."

"During this journey, this Disciple happened upon a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin, as well as a High-Grade Innate Spiritual Root, the Great Red Robe Mother Tree."

"Since the Great Red Robe Mother Tree was rooted in the Earth Veins and could not be moved, this Disciple could only pluck all its Tea Leaves and offer them, together with the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin, to Esteemed Master."

Hongjun raised a brow slightly. "A Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure is incomparably precious. Even I possess few such treasures."

"Are you... truly willing to offer it?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Haotian said, "This Disciple received Esteemed Master's grace of enlightenment, a kindness akin to being remade."

"A mere Spirit Treasure, compared to Esteemed Master's boundless grace, is like the glow of a firefly before the bright moon."

Hearing this, Hongjun revealed a rare trace of a smile. "You truly are clever."

"As the foremost Saint of the Primordial Wilderness, how could I seize the belongings of my own Boy?"

With a light sweep of his sleeve, the Treasure Dropping Gold Coin became a streak of light and vanished into Haotian's brow.

Hongjun solemnly warned, "This Treasure has indeed wrested away the creations of heaven and earth, and its power is extraordinary."

"I have roamed the Primordial Wilderness for endless years and seen countless Spirit Treasures, yet only a scant few can compare with it."

"You must make proper use of it... Never rely on its might to wantonly take from all living beings, or you will eventually bring about a great calamity."

"When that time comes... even I, your Esteemed Master, may find it difficult to keep you safe."

Hearing this, Haotian knew he had passed this trial. He immediately bowed low. "This Disciple will remember Esteemed Master's teachings."

Hongjun nodded faintly. "I cannot accept the Spirit Treasure, but this Spirit Tea represents your filial devotion. I shall sample it."

As he spoke, with a shift of Thoughts, a crimson treasure pot appeared in the void.

The pot's body was covered in Fire Crow Dao patterns, with Solar True Fire faintly circulating within.

Haotian recognized the pot's origin after just one glance.

The Ten Thousand Crows Pot, a Mid-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, containing endless Fire Crows.

In his previous life, This Treasure had ultimately fallen into the hands of Jiejiao Luo Xuan, who had once used it to set West Qi City aflame and carve out a fearsome reputation.

Before Haotian could examine it closely, Hongjun's Divine Sense stirred. A hundred Great Red Robe Tea Leaves flew from the jade box and entered the pot.

The pot began operating on its own, and the spiritual spring within boiled in an instant.

Immediately afterward, a jade bottle, utterly clear and shimmering with flowing radiance, manifested.

Haotian's mind trembled once more.

Likewise, he knew this treasure's origin as well.

The Pure Glazed Bottle, a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure.

It was a supreme treasure formed when a drop of Primordial Water fell at the creation of the Primordial Wilderness.