Distributing Treasures

Dao Ancestor Hongjun saw that the purple qi had been distributed and the master-disciple relationship was settled. He no longer paid attention to the undercurrents surging below.

His gaze shifted to Laozi, and he lightly waved his sleeve again.

A scroll, interwoven with black and white, flowing with yin and yang, as if containing the ultimate principle of the universe's birth and destruction, flew out from his sleeve and slowly descended towards Laozi.

The scroll unfurled, revealing the Taiji, the Two Principles, the Four Phenomena, and the Eight Trigrams within. It evolved infinite profound mysteries!

"This is a Primordial Supreme Treasure, the Taiji Diagram."

"It can regulate earth, water, fire, and wind, suppress the Primordial World, and evolve the profound mysteries of the Heavenly Dao."

"I bestow this upon you to preside over the Xuanmen and protect the Dao lineage."

A trace of solemnity finally appeared on Laozi's face, which was as still as an ancient well. He respectfully received the Taiji Diagram with both hands.

As the scroll entered his grasp, it transformed into a stream of light and merged into his Primordial Spirit, complementing the Mysterious Yellow Exquisite Pagoda and the Primordial Violet Qi, making his Dao rhythm even more unfathomable.

"Disciple Laozi thanks Master for bestowing this treasure!"

Laozi bowed deeply.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's gaze turned to the Primordial Heavenly Venerate.

Another banner shadow flew out.

As soon as this banner appeared, it exuded a terrifying aura that could tear apart chaos and destroy all laws!

The banner surface was the color of chaos, with the phantom image of Pangu splitting heaven and earth faintly visible upon it, as if it could command all heavens and rule all laws!

"This is a Primordial Supreme Treasure, the Pangu Banner."

"It was formed from the blade of Pangu's axe. It can break chaos, open heaven and earth, and evolve the path of the infinite."

"I bestow this upon you to preside over the Great Sect and expound the Heavenly Dao."

Sparks shot out from the Primordial Heavenly Venerate's eyes, his imposing aura growing even stronger. He received the Pangu Banner with both hands.

The Pangu Banner transformed into chaotic energy and merged into his auspicious clouds, becoming one with the phantom image of the Pangu Banner, its power surging.

"Disciple Primordial Heavenly Venerate thanks Master for the generous gift!"

The Primordial Heavenly Venerate's voice was filled with excitement.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun finally looked at Sect Master Tongtian.

"Tongtian."

"Disciple is here!"

Sect Master Tongtian's eyes were filled with fighting spirit.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun did not take out a single magical treasure, but instead unfurled his sleeve. "Zheng! Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!" Four earth-shattering sword cries echoed throughout the Purple Heaven Palace!

Four ancient swords, carrying the boundless killing aura of execution, slaying, trapping, and annihilation, pierced through the void!

One was entirely crimson, brimming with killing intent!

One was as black as ink, embodying death and annihilation! One was deep and dark blue, trapping all things!

One was pale gray, annihilating all life!

These were the Four Swords of Execution: the Immortal Execution Sword, the Immortal Slaying Sword, the Immortal Trapping Sword, and the Immortal Annihilation Sword!

As the four swords appeared, the temperature of the entire Purple Firmament Palace seemed to drop several degrees. Senile sword qi permeated the air, causing many powerful beings to feel their skin sting and their Primordial Spirits tremble!

Even more so, a formation diagram followed closely behind. Upon the diagram, sword qi crisscrossed, evolving into a terrifying sword formation that was neither alive nor dead, filled with infinite killing intent! "These are the Four Swords of Execution and their formation diagram."

"The four swords form a formation, neither bronze nor iron nor steel, hidden beneath Mount Sumeru. Without the refining of yin and yang inverted, how could there be the tempering of water and fire for its edge?"

"Immortal Execution is sharp, Immortal Slaying brings death, Immortal Trapping causes red light everywhere. Immortal Annihilation's changes are infinitely wondrous, dyeing the robes of even Grand Unity Golden Immortals with blood!"

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's voice was indifferent, yet it revealed the terror of this formation.

"Once this formation is set up, it cannot be broken without the convergence of four Saints!"

Boom!

These words struck everyone's hearts like thunder!

Unbreakable without four Saints?!

What kind of heaven-defying killing treasure was this?!

It was simply the most ferocious formation in the Great Desolation!

Unprecedented brilliance erupted in Sect Master Tongtian's eyes. Full of heroic spirit, he laughed heartily:

"Good! What a formation that cannot be broken without four Saints!

This perfectly aligns with my Intercepting Sect's path of intercepting a sliver of life!

Disciple Tongtian thanks Master for bestowing this supreme treasure!"

With a wave of his hand, the Four Swords of Execution and the formation diagram transformed into four heaven-shattering sword lights and merged into his auspicious clouds. The Azure Banner Sword also let out a joyful cry, its sword qi soaring into the sky, unstoppable!

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's gaze turned to Empress Nuwa.

"Nuwa."

"Disciple is here." Empress Nuwa stepped forward.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun took out two treasures.

One was a scroll. When unfurled, mountains, rivers, the land, and all living beings were contained within it, its creation energy so dense it was almost dripping.

The other was a crimson ball embroidered with golden patterns, exuding an aura of marriage, creation, and long-lasting blessings.

"This is a Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the River Diagram of Mountains and Rivers."

"It contains the primordial mountains and rivers, with boundless creation. It can trap enemies, protect the body, and expound the Dao."

"This is a Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Red Embroidered Ball."

"It governs the marriage of heaven, earth, and man, with blessings of marriage and creation that last for a long time. It can also be used to attack enemies."

"I bestow these upon you to perform the功 of creation."

Empress Nuwa's face lit up with joy. With a gentle wave of her hand, the River Diagram of Mountains and Rivers and the Red Embroidered Ball transformed into streams of light and entered her Primordial Spirit. The creation energy became even more mysterious and unfathomable.

"Disciple Nuwa thanks Master for his grace!"

With this, the bestowal of treasures upon the direct disciples was complete.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun remained silent, as if there was nothing more.

Below, Jieyin and Zhunti watched with eager eyes. The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa had received Primordial Supreme Treasures and Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. Looking at their own empty hands, the ecstasy they felt upon receiving the Primordial Violet Qi was instantly replaced by immense disappointment and unwillingness!

"Master!"

Daoist Zhunti reacted the fastest, prostrating himself on the ground again, his voice choked with tears, "Merciful Master! Although my disciple and his brother are only registered disciples, we are still part of the Xuanmen!

The West is barren. My disciple and his brother have nothing. How can we establish a sect, spread the Dharma, and save the beings of the West? We beg Master to show compassion and bestow upon us treasures to protect our path!"

Daoist Jieyin also quickly bowed, the sorrow on his sallow, emaciated face deepening:

"Master! The West is harsh and cold. My disciple and his brother face a difficult path. Without treasures to protect us, we fear we will be unable to fulfill the responsibility of saving the world and will disappoint Master's expectations! We beg Master to show mercy!"

The two then continued with tearful pleas, lamenting how difficult the West was and how hard their own journey had been.

In the Purple Firmament Palace, many powerful beings' faces twitched, suppressing the urge to roll their eyes.

Here they go again... These two from the West have truly mastered the art of 'the squeaky wheel gets the grease' to its extreme!

Dao Xuan grumbled inwardly, but he also secretly admired their thick skin and psychological fortitude.

Dao Ancestor Hongjun's brow seemed to furrow almost imperceptibly again.

He remained silent for a moment, then finally waved his sleeve.

Two beams of treasure light flew out.

One was a weapon, entirely golden, neither a pestle nor a mace. It exuded a fierce aura of subduing demons, vanquishing devils, and dispelling evil obstacles.

The other was a small green flag, with lotuses faintly appearing on its surface, its treasure light brilliant. It emanated a Dao rhythm of pure protection and invincibility against all methods.

"This is a Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Blessing Divine Pestle."

"This is a Supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Green Lotus Treasure Banner."

"I bestow these upon you two to protect your Dao path and save the West."

The Blessing Divine Pestle flew towards Jieyin, and the Green Lotus Treasure Banner flew towards Zhunti.

Jieyin and Zhunti quickly accepted them. Although they had some reservations about the grade of these two magical treasures being inferior to the Primordial Supreme Treasures of the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa's Supreme-grade Spiritual Treasures, it was still better than nothing.

The two forced out smiles of profound gratitude: "Disciple Jieyin (Zhunti) thanks Master for bestowing treasures! Master is merciful!"

Just as everyone thought the treasure distribution was completely over and prepared to take their leave.

An unexpected event occurred!

"Grand-Disciple Ancestor--!!!"

A mournful cry, incredibly tragic as if he had suffered an immense injustice, suddenly echoed through the Purple Firmament Palace!

The suddenness and intensity of this sound even surpassed the previous wails of the two from the West!

Swish! All eyes instantly turned in the direction of the sound!

Behind the Three Pure Ones, the disciple who had been as quiet as a quail, the eldest disciple of Taiqing--Dao Xuan!

At this moment, he had actually followed the example of Jieyin and Zhunti, and with a "plop," knelt on the ground!

He beat the ground with his hands, tears streaming down his face (it was unclear if they were real or not). His voice, filled with an extreme degree of sorrow and grievance, cried out to Dao Ancestor Hongjun on the high platform:

"Grand-Disciple Ancestor! You cannot show favoritism!"

"Your disciple Dao Xuan is a true disciple of the Xuanmen, a third-generation chief disciple with pure origins!

I am the first disciple of your direct disciple, the Grand Pure One Laozi!"

"Look!" Dao Xuan pointed at himself, his face filled with righteous indignation.

"My cultivation is low, merely at the early stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal. On this Great Desolation, I am practically a nobody!

Any random cat or dog could crush me!"

"Your disciple bears the heavy responsibility of glorifying the Xuanmen and promoting your supreme Dao, Grand-Disciple Ancestor!

But your disciple is currently penniless, with only one Mid-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure (Mysterious Gold Law-Breaking Halberd) on his person, which he painstakingly cultivated and refined himself!

How... how can I possibly shoulder such a heavy responsibility?"