The Great Battle Ends, Treasures Exchanged

The moment Luohu self-destructed, in order to complete his plan, East King Duke deliberately moved much closer to Mount Sumeru from tens of thousands of miles away. The shockwave washed over him. Although protected by the Five Directional Banners, without the Dao Lotus to shield him, he was still heavily injured.

A sense of spiritual weakness washed over him. He quickly downed dozens of drops of Three Lights Divine Water before the feeling slowly subsided, and he let out a sigh of relief.

Soon, the Twelve-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus flew back to his feet. Upon inspection, within the lotus platform, two spiritual lights shone, exuding the power of pure Yin-Yang Law. A look of joy appeared on his face, and he nodded slightly.

He then directly put it away. He didn't have the free time to deal with it for the moment.

The Western Continent Cataclysm caused by Luohu's self-destruction lasted for nearly a hundred years. Hundreds of thousands of years of Devil Race rampages and the stagnation of the immortal path had already eroded the world with devilish qi, making it even more desolate. Innate Spiritual Qi dissipated, all things withered, and the land was scarred.

Hongjun looked at this land, but his heart was unable to calm down for a long time. Feeling his own luck slowly draining away and his body covered in karmic sin, he truly had unspeakable bitterness.

Fortunately, the devil affliction was removed. As the Calamity Qi of the Great Desolation dispersed, the entire world, between heaven and earth, returned to clarity, as if clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

Once the Calamity Qi was gone, rosy clouds suddenly appeared in the nine heavens, accompanied by waves of Heavenly Dao Congratulatory Sound. Then, heavenly Xuanhuang merit descended, covering an area of over ten thousand mu.

Wherever the Xuanhuang Qi passed, all things began to revive. After the merit fell, it immediately split into several portions and dispersed. The largest portion naturally belonged to Hongjun.

After receiving the Xuanhuang merit, Hongjun used a portion to offset the karmic sin he had accumulated. As for the rest, he did not absorb it but instead sent it all into the Western Continent.

After receiving the merit, the desolate land of the West began to show a little vitality and improved slightly. Spiritual Veins started to slowly nurture and grow. Although the recovery speed was extremely slow, it would not continue to worsen.

Thus, the karmic sin within Hongjun was finally eliminated, and his own luck also recovered somewhat. He finally breathed a slight sigh of relief, but he still owed much karma to the West, which he could only repay slowly.

With the pressure eased, Hongjun secretly pondered in his heart. After a long while, he sighed.

"It seems I still need to take that step. However, if I do, even if I become a Saint, will Hongjun still be Hongjun then? Luohu, is this also your scheme against this old Daoist?"

Although he had won, he had also fallen into the quagmire of Luohu's schemes. The path to becoming a Saint was still unknown.

Furthermore, after Hongjun received most of the merit, there was still a considerable amount left, which was then divided into several portions. One portion went to the cultivators of the Three Tribes, such as the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin, who had resisted the Devil Race, slightly reducing their karmic obstacles.

Zhenyuanzi had merit for protecting the spiritual脉. Under his and East King Duke's arrangements, the Western spiritual脉 did not become extinct, so he naturally received merit, and quite a lot of it.

Besides Hongjun, the one who received the most merit was East King Duke. In this Dao Demon War, he had done quite a lot. First, he joined Zhenyuanzi in protecting the spiritual脉. Second, he killed many Great Luo of the Devil Race, including Luohu's clone. Third, he obtained the Immortal Trapping Sword, which indirectly broke the Immortal Slaying Great Array.

These deeds, one by one, were all crucial. Therefore, East King Duke was worthy of the Xuanhuang merit.

The Xuanhuang Qi descended, more than several times the total merit he had gained since his birth. If he were to absorb it all, he even felt he could directly break through to the Quasi-Saint realm.

However, East King Duke did not do so. He had his own path, and this merit had other marvelous uses.

He collected all this Xuanhuang Qi into his primordial spirit. The merit was wondrous. Even without refining and absorbing it, just by entering his body, it removed all the chronic illnesses from his Dao body. His entire being exuded an extraordinary aura, appearing sacred and inviolable.

He had gained a great deal from this great battle. Not to mention the merit, he had obtained two Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures. They were the Southern Flame Light Banner, which he had previously obtained from Primeval Phoenix, and the Immortal Trapping Sword, one of the Four Immortal Slaying Swords.

However, he definitely could not keep this Immortal Trapping Sword. This treasure had a Heavenly Mandate. Along with the other three swords and the Immortal Slaying Array Diagram, it belonged to the future Saint Upper Pure Tongtian. Moreover, although the Immortal Trapping Sword was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, its power was limited when wielded alone. For East King Duke, its use was truly limited, and it was better to follow the Heavenly Mandate.

Therefore, after obtaining this sword, he didn't even have the slightest thought of refining it. He simply waited quietly for that person to come and take it.

As expected, he didn't have to wait long. A figure appeared within the valley where he resided. It was the victor of the Dao Demon War, the future Lord of the Mystic Gate, Hongjun.

At this moment, Hongjun's expression was calm. After the karmic sin was eliminated, he had gradually begun to show signs of Dao attainment, making it impossible for others to pry.

"Little friend, we meet again."

Upon seeing East King Duke, Hongjun revealed a slight smile.

"Greetings, Senior Hongjun."

Hongjun nodded slightly, looked at East King Duke with deep meaning, and said, "Little friend, your actions this time have greatly benefited the Primordial World, and the Heavenly Dao Merit you have gained is truly commendable."

"Senior is too kind. As an Innate Being of the Primordial World, it is my duty to do things that benefit the Primordial World."

Facing Hongjun, East King Duke's attitude was neither servile nor overbearing.

After the Dao Demon War, the karma he owed the other party due to the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner had been repaid. In fact, because of this battle, he had greatly assisted Hongjun, and the other party now owed him quite a bit.

Hongjun pondered for a moment and then said, "I have come today because there is something I wish to discuss with little friend."

"Please speak, Senior."

"Earlier, in Luohu's Immortal Slaying Array, the Immortal Trapping Sword was taken and kept by little friend. This sword is useful to me. Could you exchange it with me?"

Heavenly secrets must not be revealed. Hongjun naturally could not explain the Heavenly Mandate of the Immortal Trapping Sword, but he did not know that East King Duke already knew everything.

"There is no reason why not! However, I dare to ask Senior Hongjun, can I exchange this sword for something I specify?"

"Oh? Tell me."

East King Duke knew that if there was anyone in the Primordial World who possessed the most spiritual treasures, it would undoubtedly be Hongjun. This future Dao Ancestor was exceptionally gifted, personally wielding the Jade Plate of Creation, the Pangu Banner, and two Twelve-Grade Lotus Platforms, among other supreme treasures. Now, he had also acquired the Taiji Diagram, the Qiankun Cauldron, the Immortal Slaying Sword, and the Immortal Slaying Array Diagram from Old Ancestor Yin-Yang, Old Ancestor Qiankun, and Demon Ancestor Luohu.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say he was covered in treasures, and the quality of his spiritual treasures was extremely high. He possessed no less than four or five Innate Supreme Treasures alone.

Among these treasures, the one East King Duke most desired was undoubtedly the Taiji Diagram. However, he knew that the Immortal Trapping Sword was not of high enough grade to be exchanged for it. Moreover, the Taiji Diagram also had its own Heavenly Mandate and could absolutely not be coveted.

Therefore, after pondering for a moment, he named a treasure.

"God Slaying Spear!"

This was originally Luohu's possession. It was not a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, nor was it an Innate Supreme Treasure. In fact, it didn't even qualify as a spiritual treasure; it could be called a rare treasure of heaven and earth.

However, this treasure possessed immense power, controlled slaughter, and had infinite miraculous uses. With the Five Directional Banners and the Twelve-grade Yin-Yang Dao Lotus in his possession, East King Duke had ample defensive spiritual treasures but was slightly lacking in offensive items. Thus, the God Slaying Spear was the most suitable for him.

Most importantly, it was rumored that wielding the God Slaying Spear could even injure a Heavenly Dao Saint. He was cultivating the path of the Law Golden Immortal of the Origin, and with this, he would have a means to contend against Heavenly Dao Saints.