Above the main hall of Zixiao Palace.
The system's voice rang in Dong Wanggong's mind, filling him with delight.
Divine Choice could continually grant him opportunities. He wondered what kind of reward he would receive this time.
[Choice One: Become the Head of Male Immortals and lead the Heaven and Earth Beings. Reward: Great Dao Merit Golden Wheel, which can shield against prying eyes beneath the Great Dao and help the host become a Great Dao Merit Saint.]
[Choice Two: Refuse Dao Ancestor Hongjun and roam freely at the edge of the heavens. Reward: Chaos Supreme Treasure, the Chaos Bead.]
After the system's voice fell silent, Dong Wanggong hesitated.
With his current strength, he could indeed suppress all the mighty figures. And possessing the Great Dao Merit Golden Wheel would mean being protected by the Great Dao; even the Heavenly Dao would not dare attack him.
But the Head of Male Immortals was a hot potato. Dong Wanggong didn't want to become a target and incur the hostility of the Wu Race and the Demon Race.
Better safe than sorry. Caution above all!
"System, I choose to refuse Dao Ancestor Hongjun!"
In an instant!
As Dong Wanggong's thoughts stirred, an ancient, unadorned gray bead floated within his primordial spirit. It released cool Chaos Origin, tempering his spirit.
The Chaos Bead was a Chaos Supreme Treasure, capable of shielding against the Great Dao's probing. Naturally, it was more precious than the Great Dao Merit Golden Wheel.
More importantly, the Chaos Bead itself was an unopened Great Thousand World. If Dong Wanggong could emulate Great God Pangu and carry out World Creation, the Chaos Bead would become another Primordial World.
Though the myriad living beings born within it could not compare with those of the Primordial World, its World Origin and world rank would be in no way inferior to the Primordial World.
Thus, the Chaos Bead was the right choice.
"Dong Wanggong, have you made your decision?"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun sat high upon the Cloud Platform. His expression hadn't changed; he remained exceptionally kind.
Ever since Dong Wanggong comprehended the Immortal Dao Law and displayed unparalleled aptitude, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had regarded him as one of the forces that could stand against the Chaos Evil.
He had planned to appoint Dong Wanggong as the Head of Male Immortals so that, in the future, he could lead the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and other supreme powers in shaping the Primordial World alongside him.
At these words!
Dong Wanggong rose to his feet. A trace of apology showed in his eyes as he bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
"Thank you for your regard, Dao Ancestor, but I am truly unworthy of the position. I cannot lead the Heaven and Earth Beings on your behalf. Moreover, my Dao is the Three Thousand Great Daos—the Great Dao of Freedom. Becoming the Head of Male Immortals does not accord with my Dao-heart!"
"I ask you to rescind your decree!"
His words stirred an uproar in Zixiao Palace.
The Innate Deities exchanged bewildered glances. They couldn't understand why Dong Wanggong would refuse an appointment from Dao Ancestor Hongjun. The person seated atop the Cloud Platform was a Heavenly Dao Saint!
Haotian and Yaochi were merely attendants by Dao Ancestor Hongjun's side, yet they possessed strength comparable to that of the supreme powers. The Head of Male Immortals would certainly hold a higher position than attendants.
If Dong Wanggong had accepted Dao Ancestor Hongjun's offer, he could have commanded the Ten Thousand Races in the name of Heaven and Earth's rightful ruler, swiftly amassing forces far greater than those of the Wu Race and the Demon Race.
Then he could have become the ruler of the Primordial World and attained sainthood through Heaven and Earth's destiny with ease.
The rivalry among the Three Races during the Dragon-Han Initial Tribulation, and the current standoff between the Wu Race and the Demon Race, had both ultimately been about claiming all the destiny for themselves.
Proving the Dao through destiny was a method of cultivation known to everyone in the Primordial World.
Yet since ancient times, no one had ever succeeded.
Dong Wanggong was the one who had come closest to this path, yet he had actually refused Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
It was truly shocking!
The Dao Sound lingered, and Immortal Music filled the air.
On the Cloud Platform, Dao Ancestor Hongjun brought forth a supreme treasure. It radiated Righteous Qi, as though no evil in the world could escape its light.
"If you are unwilling, I won't force you."
"But since you have inherited my Immortal Dao, you must take up the duty of enlightening all living beings. I don't need you to lead the Myriad Races of the Primordial World. Just do your best to untangle the cause and effect of the Tribulation Karma."
"This is the Great Dao Treasure, the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud. It was formed from the Righteous Qi in Great God Pangu's chest. Its true power is no less than that of an Innate Supreme Treasure; it may even possess the might of a Chaos Spirit Treasure."
"I bestow it upon you!"
Dao Ancestor Hongjun sent the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud into Dong Wanggong's arms.
Immortal light glimmered in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly as he regarded Dong Wanggong with satisfaction.
Radiant light blazed, and Righteous Qi surged.
The golden, resplendent Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud manifested countless wondrous visions.
Beyond the Celebration Cloud, countless golden lamps, golden lotuses, jeweled tassels, and hanging pearls drifted down from the sky like spiritual rain, one after another without end.
Within the Celebration Cloud, the Hongmeng World appeared and vanished from sight. The Sun, Moon, and Stars shone throughout, Five-Colored Radiance suffused the heavens, and the music of the eight tones rang across the universe.
Righteous Qi enveloped Zixiao Palace, drawing forth boundless auspicious signs from the Heavenly Dao.
"This... Dao Ancestor Hongjun is being absurdly good to me!"
Dong Wanggong stared at the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud in his arms, completely dumbfounded. He couldn't begin to guess what Dao Ancestor Hongjun was thinking.
Could it be that the Dao Ancestor in this Primordial World wasn't a villain?
"West Queen Mother, judging by your expression, you probably don't want to become the Head of Female Immortals either. I'll bestow this Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure upon you as well. From now on, help Dong Wanggong enlighten living beings."
As he spoke, Dao Ancestor Hongjun produced another spiritual treasure.
The Western Plain Colored Cloud Realm Banner had been formed from a leaf of the Chaos Green Lotus. It was one of the Innate Five Directions Banners.
The other four banners were the Eastern Green Lotus Treasure Banner, the Northern Profound Origin Water Control Banner, the Southern Earth Leaving Flame Light Banner, and the Central Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner.
Among Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, the Five Directional Banners ranked among the best in defense.
When all five banners were united, they could even unleash power on the level of an Innate Supreme Treasure. However, compared with the Chaos Bell and the Heaven and Earth Mysterious Exquisite Pagoda, they were undoubtedly far inferior.
"I thank you for the treasure, Dao Ancestor!"
Dong Wanggong stopped overthinking and bowed to Dao Ancestor Hongjun.
With a Great Dao Treasure like the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud in hand, Dong Wanggong could only say that he was glad to have accepted it!
As long as he didn't have to become the Head of Male Immortals, that was all that mattered.
As for enlightening living beings and untangling the cause and effect of Tribulation Karma, those were trivial matters he could handle with little effort.
"With the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud in hand, I can resolve the Chaos Demon God Remnant Soul within Qiongqi and purge the Heaven and Earth Sha Qi. But I'll need to plan carefully if I want to help him rebuild his body!"
"Listening to the Dao in Zixiao Palace was well worth the trip!"
Dong Wanggong was thoroughly satisfied.
He had entered the Immortal Dao Law, obtained the Chaos Bead and the Myriad Heavens Celebration Cloud, and even the meditation cushion representing an opportunity for sainthood couldn't compare with his foundation.
Before the Innate Deities present could envy Dong Wanggong and West Queen Mother, Dao Ancestor Hongjun swept his jade sleeve, sending everyone out of Zixiao Palace.
The power of a Saint was truly terrifying!
"Fellow Daoist West Queen Mother, why didn't you want to become the Head of Female Immortals? Was it because of me?"
Dong Wanggong gave a mischievous smile, holding West Queen Mother tightly around the waist and feeling her ample bosom press against his chest.
The soft sensation made his heart flutter. He wanted nothing more than to find a place to take West Queen Mother into his harem, experience the wonders of cultivating together, and savor the bliss of their Laws merging.
"You already know, so why ask?"
"Hmph... I'm not talking to you anymore!"
West Queen Mother pretended to be coy and buried her face in Dong Wanggong's chest.
Ever since Dong Wanggong had rescued her, and after spending three thousand years together listening to the Dao, her heart had long belonged to the man before her. They simply hadn't taken the final step yet.
"Ha ha ha... From now on, don't call me Fellow Daoist. Why not just call me husband?"
"You were formed from the Primordial World's first wisp of Supreme Yin Qi, while I am its first wisp of Supreme Yang Qi. Heaven and Earth have destined us to be Dao Companions, so don't even think of refusing!"
Dong Wanggong lifted West Queen Mother's delicate chin, his expression tender.
The road of the Great Dao was long. Without a companion, the desolate chill of loneliness and emptiness could extinguish one's emotions and desires, turning one into a mere puppet of the Dao.
One had to master the Dao, not be mastered by it!
"You're so naughty!"
"Husband... I'll do as you wish!"
West Queen Mother's cheeks flushed pink. She closed her phoenix eyes and gave Dong Wanggong's face a light peck, then buried her little head even deeper against him.
Dong Wanggong alone stroked her hair adoringly.
The sickly-sweet aura of love filled the entire Chaos space. Nuwa, Xihe, Changxi, and the other female immortals blushed, yet found themselves longing for the same.
Zhen Yuanzi glanced at Ancestor Hong Yun beside him.
In that instant, he felt that the bond he'd shared with him for tens of thousands of years no longer seemed so appealing.
How could a rough man be as lovable as a female immortal?
"Be good, my dear. Go back to West Kunlun first. I still need to visit Buzhou Mountain!"
"Remember to bathe and change. Wait for me to come back and guide your cultivation!"
Dong Wanggong reluctantly released the beauty in his arms. After lingering together for a while, they went their separate ways. He rode Qiongqi across the void of Chaos and descended at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
At that moment, the Three Pure Ones and the others had also sensed their own opportunities.
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