Styx was the first to rush over. With a sweep of his hand, he tried to collect the treasures atop it.
Yet he inexplicably encountered a resisting force and ultimately managed to take only three spiritual treasures.
Styx understood that Hongjun had placed restrictions upon it.
Everyone could only take the treasures fated to them.
Thus, Styx was not disappointed. Instead, he continued gathering other spiritual treasures. Perhaps there were more that were fated to him?
By then, everyone else had arrived as well.
The Three Pure Ones acted at the same time. With a sweep of Laozi's Taiji Diagram, more than ten spiritual treasures were swept away.
Yuanshi was somewhat stronger than him, collecting over thirty in one go.
Tongtian had the best luck. On his first attempt, he collected around a hundred spiritual treasures, and every one of them seemed to be of no low grade.
Even Styx was nearly dying of envy at such luck.
But honestly, Styx's gains were not small either. Though he had only taken three on his first attempt, his subsequent hauls were quite decent.
In the end, he obtained seventy or eighty spiritual treasures in total, including several High-Grade Connate Spiritual Treasures and Top Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures.
Everyone else had their own fortunes as well.
For instance, the Three Pure Ones alone swept away nearly half the treasures on the entire Treasure Distribution Rock.
By the time the other Great Powers arrived, their eyes were practically red with jealousy.
They had been one step too late. When they arrived and saw that half the Treasure Distribution Rock was already empty, they immediately panicked. Everyone swarmed forward, unleashing all manner of divine abilities.
The Three Pure Ones were fully satisfied and returned directly to the Purple Cloud Palace.
Styx, however, was in no hurry.
How could he possibly miss the famed Treasure Distribution Rock from all those Primordial Wilderness novels?
Only after the many Great Powers had taken the spiritual treasures fated to them did Styx step forward and store the entire Treasure Distribution Rock away.
The Great Powers froze, then beat their chests and stamped their feet, hating only that they had not been quicker than Styx in taking the Treasure Distribution Rock.
Of course, even after the Great Powers took their treasures, there were still a few spiritual treasures left on the Treasure Distribution Rock that no one had claimed.
But when Styx took away the Treasure Distribution Rock, those spiritual treasures all transformed into Spiritual Light and flew into the Primordial Wilderness, awaiting the birth of those fated to obtain them.
Everyone returned to the Purple Cloud Palace.
Hongjun remained seated on the high platform, but his aura had become ever more ethereal and unfathomable.
He said, "After Harmonizing with the Dao, Hongjun shall be the Heavenly Dao, but the Heavenly Dao shall not be Hongjun. Unless there is a matter of great importance, I shall not appear."
Among the Three Thousand Great Powers in the Purple Cloud Palace, everyone but Styx knelt down. "Teacher, please reconsider!"
Styx remained unmoved.
If Hongjun were to merge with the Heavenly Dao, those Primordial Wilderness Great Powers would be the happiest of all.
There would no longer be a great mountain pressing down upon their heads.
Hongjun glanced at everyone and said casually, "All of you, rise. My merging with the Heavenly Dao is the ordained course of fate. Remember well that you must not defy the Heavenly Dao in the future. Then our bond as master and disciples shall not have been in vain."
As he spoke, Hongjun's gaze intentionally, or perhaps unintentionally, turned toward Styx.
Styx was speechless.
He had not listened to even half a second of Hongjun's teachings. There was no true bond of master and disciple between them, so whether he defied the Heavenly Dao had not the slightest thing to do with Hongjun.
Everyone in the Purple Cloud Palace voiced their agreement.
Hongjun nodded. Then he raised both hands, stirring the boundless currents of Chaos into a terrifying chaotic cyclone.
Everyone was alarmed. Then they saw Hongjun shout, "Harmonize!"
The chaotic cyclone instantly transformed into a golden bridge, linking the Purple Cloud Palace to an enormous golden wheel.
That wheel was like unfathomable fate itself, emanating an endless aura of the Heavenly Dao.
How could anyone fail to recognize what that giant wheel was? It was clearly the Heavenly Dao Golden Wheel.
Hongjun stepped onto the golden bridge, one step at a time, walking toward the Heavenly Dao Golden Wheel.
No one let this opportunity to come into close contact with the Heavenly Dao pass them by. All of them began comprehending it.
Even Styx was no exception.
When everyone awakened from their contemplation, they had somehow already left the Purple Cloud Palace and returned to the Primordial Wilderness.
Moreover, the entire Primordial Wilderness seemed to have expanded. They could clearly sense the power of fate enveloping them.
The hearts of the Great Powers sank.
It seemed that after Hongjun merged with the Heavenly Dao, he had also strengthened the power of the Heavenly Dao.
Styx did not care much about this. He believed that one day, he would transcend the Heavenly Dao.
The Great Powers each returned to their own Blessed Lands.
Now that Hongjun had Harmonized with the Dao and bestowed seven strands of Primordial Purple Qi, it was time for them to consider what paths they should take in the future.
Within the Heavenly Court, the entire place was filled with celebration because Nüwa had obtained a strand of Primordial Purple Qi.
Their Wa Emperor Nüwa had received Hongjun's acknowledgment. He had plainly declared that Nüwa could become a saint!
The might of saints was obvious to all. In the future, they too would have a saint to back them. The Witch Clan would surely be nothing to fear then!
Within the Hall of High Heavens of the Heavenly Court, Di Jun, as the emperor of the demon race, had originally been the absolute core of the demon race.
Although the Four Emperors of the demon race were nominally equal in status, Di Jun had truly been the one in command.
But now, Di Jun no longer dared to place himself above Nüwa.
Di Jun said politely, "Fellow Daoist Nüwa, please take the seat of honor."
Nüwa frowned slightly. In truth, she did not enjoy conflict. She had joined the demon race only because her elder brother had joined, and it would have been difficult for her to explain herself if she had not.
Thus, although she held an exalted position within the demon race, she had rarely participated in decision-making.
Yet Di Jun's words faintly implied that he wanted her to become the ruler of the demon race, which displeased Nüwa somewhat.
Nüwa knew very well that she was not suited to governing the demon race, so she simply said, "There is no need for this, Fellow Daoist Di Jun! Your position as ruler of the demon race will absolutely not change, and I, Nüwa, am now the Wa Emperor of the demon race and shall be its saint in the future. That will absolutely not change either!"
The meaning was that she would not contend with Di Jun for control of the demon race. Di Jun sighed inwardly in relief, though he did not show it on his face.
"Fellow Daoist Nüwa is truly righteous and understanding!"
If Nüwa had truly wanted to seize power from him, Di Jun was not certain he would have had much chance of winning.
In terms of strength, Nüwa ranked among the top ten in the Primordial Wilderness. Eastern Emperor Taiyi might be able to suppress Nüwa with the Eastern Emperor Bell, but Di Jun himself could at best fight her to a draw.
In terms of status, they were both nominally demon emperors and were evenly matched. Yet Nüwa was also Hongjun's disciple and a future saint, which gave her far greater standing than Di Jun.
Thus, Nüwa's initiative in declaring that she would not fight for power also prevented the demon race from suffering the disaster of division.
Di Jun returned the favor and said, "Now that Sage Hongjun has personally declared that Fellow Daoist Nüwa can become a saint, this is a blessing for our demon race! If Fellow Daoist Nüwa needs anything, simply speak. If the demon race can be of help, we will surely give our full support!"
"In that case, Nüwa will first thank the Demon Emperor."
The Hall of High Heavens was filled with harmony. Everyone was immersed in the joy of Nüwa's imminent sainthood, as though they had already seen Nüwa become a saint, destroy the Witch Clan, and lead the demon race to dominate heaven and earth.
Unfortunately, they were quickly dragged back to reality.
"Break!"
A tremendous crash rang out, and half of the Hall of High Heavens collapsed in response...
Before you continue