Innate Spiritual Treasure

Standing atop the Suspended Peak, Donghua sighed inwardly as these thoughts crossed his mind.

"So the original East King Gong just vanished like that, and I crossed back to take everything over."

He had crossed over into East King Gong's body—or rather, it wasn't crossing over, but returning.

He was East King Gong; of that he was certain. He was a sliver of East King Gong's Indestructible True Spirit. As for how he had returned, he hadn't figured that out either.

All he knew was that the original East King Gong had already perished, and what existed now was only the East King Gong transformed from Wang Xuanfu.

"My injuries are mostly healed. What remains is a matter of slow, patient work. Primordial Spirit wounds are difficult to recover from; they won't mend overnight." Donghua gazed at the sea of clouds and spoke calmly.

Great Commander of Fate and Shao Siming nodded involuntarily. Primordial Spirit injuries were indeed no easy thing to heal.

Donghua turned to face the two before him, then suddenly spoke: "You two need to cultivate properly as well. Don't keep drifting along idly like before."

If there was one thing that gave Donghua the biggest headache, it was the people under the Purple Mansion. Everyone who cultivated here was far too carefree and undisciplined.

Originally, the Purple Mansion had been like a paradise, a unique exception in the Primordial World, where conflict and slaughter never ceased.

If things had continued like that, it would have been fine. The major powers of the Primordial World wouldn't have constantly schemed to destroy this place—instead, they would have tried to win it over.

But ever since East King Gong was appointed Head of Male Immortals, he had gotten carried away and lost sight of himself.

He had harbored thoughts he shouldn't have: to conquer the Primordial World.

That had brought about his death, and the Purple Mansion Faction ceased to exist.

After the Purple Mansion was destroyed, this place became a gathering ground for scattered immortals, along with some later members of the Jie Sect. No notable figures ever occupied it.

There was someone named Yu Yuan, they said, whose dao field was here. He called himself the Penglai One Qi Immortal.

"Understood, Emperor Lord."

Shao Siming said impatiently. The Emperor Lord was good in every way, but ever since becoming Head of Male Immortals, he had constantly pushed them to train hard.

Because of the Head of Male Immortals' status, the Purple Mansion had attracted many beings from the Primordial World, as well as some Innate Deities who joined.

Some were cultivators who sought purity and didn't want to join the Demon Race or the Gods and Devils in their struggle for the Primordial World.

Others had fled here after their clans and dao traditions were destroyed by the Demon Race or the Gods and Devils, and they reestablished their dao fields and clan lands here.

And there were also opportunists who wanted to use East King Gong's title as Head of Male Immortals to achieve their own ambitions. These people had been urging the Emperor Lord to go to war.

Great Commander of Fate didn't answer Donghua's request. He had always cultivated diligently, treating training as his very life, and he was naturally a man of few words.

Donghua looked at the green-skirted girl before him, who couldn't hide her thoughts, and found her quite endearing.

After all, a round-faced girl was lovable no matter where she was.

Donghua couldn't resist and flicked her forehead with a snap.

"You little girl, I tell you to cultivate properly, and you're all reluctant. Do you think I'm asking you to train hard for my sake?"

Shao Siming was stunned by the sudden attack. She rubbed her forehead, feeling terribly wronged.

"I never said I wouldn't cultivate properly. Why did you hit my forehead? And training for the Emperor Lord's sake isn't a bad thing either. You're getting worse and worse."

Donghua was speechless for a moment, not knowing what to say. How had this girl's demeanor shifted so much? When they first met, she wasn't like this—she had been quite aloof. But now, when it came to him, she seemed almost... two-dimensional?

"Alright, stop fooling around. I'm not joking this time. The Heavenly Court's expansion is accelerating. They destroy temples and wipe out clans at the slightest provocation. Submit or die. One day, they might attack my Purple Mansion."

Donghua explained helplessly.

"The Emperor Lord is right. I feel the same. The Heavenly Court is becoming more and more domineering. Especially after the Third Lecture at the Purple Firmament Palace, their aggression has grown very strong." Great Commander of Fate spoke his second sentence since arriving, his voice cold.

Donghua nodded slightly and said:

"That's normal. The Heavenly Court can't sit still anymore, because they're afraid."

"In the Purple Firmament Palace, the Dao Ancestor took the Three Pure Ones as disciples, bestowing upon Grand Pure One Laozi the Innate Supreme Treasure Taiji Diagram, upon Jade Pure Yuanshi the Innate Supreme Treasure Pangu Banner, and upon Upper Pure Tongtian the Immortal Slaying Four Swords and their formation diagram."

"And the Three Thousand Guests of the Purple Firmament Palace all received Innate Spiritual Treasures to varying degrees. So the Demon Race's advantage is shrinking, and the resistance to unifying the Primordial World by force is growing. Naturally, they can't sit still."

Having said this, Donghua paused, then changed his tone: "But the more they do this, the harder it will be to unify the Primordial World. Where there is oppression, there will be resistance. The Heavenly Court's dao has gone wrong."

The two nodded after hearing Donghua, indicating their agreement.

But when Innate Spiritual Treasures were mentioned, envy flickered in the eyes of Great Commander of Fate and Shao Siming.

Though they were born as deities, their innate qualities and foundations were mediocre. They had no connection to the Purple Firmament Palace, and naturally no chance to attend the lectures.

"Innate Supreme Treasures... those are Innate Supreme Treasures! The Dao Ancestor is so generous, just giving them away, along with all those Innate Spiritual Treasures." Shao Siming looked reluctant, as if those treasures were hers.

Innate Spiritual Treasures held immense temptation for cultivators, especially those that matched their own nature.

If Donghua hadn't known what Hongjun ultimately intended to do, he wouldn't have understood why he gave away Innate Supreme Treasures either.

Innate Supreme Treasures were already the most supreme treasures in the world, helpful even for those who had Attained Hunyuan Dao.

The world's artifacts were divided into Innate Spiritual Treasures and Houtian Spiritual Treasures.

There were no such things as Chaos Supreme Treasures or Chaos Spiritual Treasures, as Donghua had known in his Previous Life.

Innate Supreme Treasures were also Innate Spiritual Treasures, but due to their special functions and the completeness and transcendence of the Great Dao they contained, they were called Supreme Treasures.

Supreme—above all.

The Primordial Chaos, due to its unique nature, could not possibly give birth to living beings, as the conditions were not present.

Thus, only the Great Dao existed within the Primordial Chaos; the Dao is everything. Pangu is the Great Dao, the Chaos Green Lotus is the Great Dao, and the Heaven-Opening Axe is also the Great Dao.

Whether it is the Chaos Green Lotus, the Heaven-Opening Axe, or Pangu, these are all merely appellations. The Dao is originally nameless—how could there be a name like Pangu?

They are simply the Great Dao given form.

Therefore, Pangu could be anyone, and anyone could be Pangu, because Pangu possesses the characteristics of all living beings.

Naturally, when Pangu split the heavens, there were no so-called Three Thousand Demon Gods blocking his way, for such beings did not exist in the chaos. Even if there were so-called demon gods, they would only be Daos nurtured by the Great Dao.

Pangu split the Primordial Chaos, and the chaos transformed into the Primordial World, while the primordial essence became the River of Time and Space and the River of Destiny.

These two rivers are attached to the world, similar to it, and evolve along with its development.

Only because these two exist can the world give birth to and nurture all living beings.

Since the Primordial Chaos lacked the River of Time and Space and the River of Destiny, how could it possibly have living beings?

After the heavens and earth were split open, Pangu transformed into the myriad Daos. The world quickly gained vitality.

Under the nurturing of the Great Dao, the Primordial World gave rise to Innate Deities, Innate Living Beings, the Myriad Races of the Primordial World, and Innate Spiritual Treasures.

With all living beings in the Primordial World, and relying on the Great Dao, it gradually birthed its own Dao—the Heavenly Dao.

Because the Great Dao was not suited for the Primordial World.

Thus, the Heavenly Dao was born from the Great Dao, yet stands apart from it.

The Heavenly Dao is the Dao of this world, the everything of this world, while the Great Dao is the Dao of the Primordial Chaos.

Therefore, Innate Spiritual Treasures are treasures formed by the Innate Dao.

Houtian Spiritual Treasures are treasures formed after the birth of the Heavenly Dao; some are nurtured by the Heavenly Dao, while others are refined by human hands.

Among those refined by human hands, some are called Immortal Artifacts, some Divine Artifacts, and some Demonic Artifacts.

"Memories from my previous life are not absolutely correct. From now on, they can only serve as a reference; otherwise, I'll really end up making a fool of myself," Donghua sighed inwardly.

Looking at the Great Commander of Fate and Shao Siming, who were lamenting over the spiritual treasures, these two were his absolute trusted subordinates.

Thinking of this, he took out an Innate Spiritual Treasure, a playful mood rising within him, and decided to tease Shao Siming.

"Little Siming, call me Emperor Lord Brother, and I'll give you this treasure."

Both of their eyes went wide instantly, a look of disbelief on their faces—disbelief at the treasure and at Donghua's words.

"Emperor Lord Brother, Emperor Lord Brother, Emperor Lord Brother!" Shao Siming immediately stepped forward, hugged Donghua's left arm, and called out sweetly.

Donghua was stunned by this. He had only made a casual joke, never expecting such a result. He felt foolish himself!

"Can you have some dignity? You're my Shao Siming, in charge of the Purple Mansion, and you'd act like this over an Innate Spiritual Treasure?" Donghua said, somewhat speechless.

"Dignity? What's that? Is it more important than a treasure?"

Shao Siming wore an innocent expression, even shaking Donghua's left arm with both hands.

"Here, take it." He handed over the Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Shao Siming immediately let go of Donghua's left arm, snatched the treasure quickly, and then branded it with her imprint.

Her manner was as if she feared any delay, worried that Donghua might change his mind.

"This treasure is called the Three Star Mirror. It was conceived and formed from the Three Lights of Sun, Moon, and Stars. It contains the Star Law within, can shoot the two lights of sun and moon to injure one's Primordial Spirit, and starlight can connect to the Power of Stars to aid your cultivation. Its uses are truly endless."

The Great Commander of Fate's eyes went wide, and he slowly stepped forward, twisting awkwardly as he said, "Emperor Lord, I can also..."

Donghua quickly stepped back, alarmed, and said, "Stop, stop! Don't move, don't move!"

Being called brother by a beautiful young girl was a pleasure.

But you, this icy, big man, what are you butting in for? If you did that, it wouldn't be a pleasure—it would be torture.

Then he took out another Innate Spiritual Treasure and gave it to the Great Commander of Fate.

Because he feared that if he delayed any longer, and the Great Commander of Fate came closer, he might not be able to resist striking him dead with a single palm.

I'm straight, not bent.

The Great Commander of Fate quickly took the treasure and also branded it.

"This treasure is called the Yin-Yang Furnace. All things bear yin and embrace yang; Yin Yang and Five Elements are the foundation of the Dao.

The Yin-Yang Furnace contains the Yin Yang Law within. It can refine tools and pills, can draw people into the furnace and burn them to death with the two fires of yin and yang, and can also be used for defense. When defending, the furnace releases the Yin Yang Two Energies, protecting the body completely."

As they refined their treasures, Donghua gave a brief introduction to each.

The greatest use of an Innate Spiritual Treasure is to comprehend the Great Dao Law and suppress one's fortune.

After the two had branded their treasures, they no longer rushed to refine them. They bowed deeply to Donghua.

"Thank you, Emperor Lord, for bestowing these treasures."

Cultivators rarely performed such grand gestures of respect, but Donghua was worthy of this bow.

"You two must train diligently from now on and strictly manage the Thirty-Five Divisions of the Purple Mansion. I estimate that we and the Heavenly Court will eventually go to war, and that war will be a battle of life and death. Don't end up as ashes because of poor cultivation."

Donghua spoke these words with severity and authority, carrying a tone that brooked no refusal.

"Emperor Lord, but I feel we don't have that great a conflict with the Heavenly Court. Our Purple Mansion sits atop the East Sea—as long as we don't join the struggle for supremacy over the Primordial World, neither the Heavenly Court nor the Twelve Demon Gods will fight us to the death.

Besides, Emperor Lord, you are the Head of Male Immortals personally appointed by the Dao Ancestor. All Cultivators will not stand idly by when the time comes."

Shao Siming looked puzzled. In her view, the Purple Mansion was situated on the East Sea of the Primordial World, not within the central lands of heaven and earth. Who would be idle enough to lock horns with them to the bitter end?

After all, the Purple Mansion was also a major power.

Unless the Emperor Lord had set his heart on conquering the Primordial World and becoming the Heavenly Emperor.

Donghua glanced at Shao Siming, said nothing, rose from the Suspended Peak, and flew toward the Azure Sea Palace.

"Do you feel the Emperor Lord is a bit different from before?"

Shao Siming sensed that the Emperor Lord after returning from the Dao lecture had changed greatly from his former self.

He was no longer as aloof and arrogant as before.

Now the Emperor Lord was warm and approachable, yet also seemed unusually restless—not like a Quasi-Saint Great Power or the master of a domain. But his temperament had improved a lot.

He treated everyone with a spring-like gentleness. She couldn't quite describe the feeling of being with him.

What had increased, it seemed, was equality and respect.

So now she often acted casually around the Emperor Lord, whereas before she had been very proper.

"I think the Emperor Lord has set his mind on contending for the Primordial World. He's just a bit lost right now," the Great Commander of Fate said calmly.

Shao Siming: "Then what is your choice?"

"As long as the Emperor Lord wills it, I will do it."

"Even at the cost of death and annihilation?"

"Even if it means death and annihilation, I have no regrets."

"Me too. Without the Emperor Lord, I wouldn't be where I am today. Since the Emperor Lord wants to become the Heavenly Emperor, I will give my all to help him achieve it."

The two stood silently atop the Suspended Peak, gazing at the azure sea of the Purple Mansion, and remained wordless for a long time.

Perhaps they were thinking of that figure who had descended before them like a savior that day.