Qing Xuan had just put away the Eight Treasures Glazed Cup when Nuwa, not far away, stirred. The Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud appeared above her head, and the Earth Flower shimmered with waves of clear light.
Qing Xuan knew this was a sign that Nuwa was about to break through to Late-stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. The reason she could advance so quickly was the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus.
Although the Creation Green Lotus had yet to mature, the Creation Qi it released was an absolute boon to Nuwa's cultivation.
Sure enough, the Earth Flower above Nuwa's head finally blossomed, reaching Flower Blooms Ninth Grade as well. She successfully broke through to Late-stage Great Luo.
The Three Flowers sank into her Qing Yun, which slowly drew back into Nuwa's Mud Pill Palace. At last, Nuwa opened her bright, lively eyes.
Seeing Qing Xuan watching her with a smile, Nuwa rushed straight over, grabbed both his hands, and spun around with him.
Sometimes Qing Xuan truly felt helpless. He couldn't understand why the girl loved spinning in circles. Every time, she left him feeling dizzy.
There was no helping it. The only way to stop her from continuing to spin in place was to pull Nuwa into his arms.
"Little Gourd Vine, I've reached Late-stage Great Luo now. I'm definitely strong enough to help you protect this Creation Green Lotus."
Qing Xuan asked, "You cultivate the Great Dao Creation Law. Wouldn't the Creation Green Lotus be even more useful to you? Why give it to me?"
Seeing that Houtu wasn't nearby, Nuwa leaned close to Qing Xuan's ear and whispered, "Isn't it because your cultivation is too low, and you still haven't undergone Form Transformation in the true sense of the word?"
On the surface, Nuwa was putting Qing Xuan down, but he could hear the concern in her voice.
Qing Xuan didn't take it to heart, though. When it came to who would end up with the Creation Green Lotus, he knew better than anyone. The Heavenly Dao would never allow the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus to exist.
In other words, as soon as the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus matured, it would bring down the Nine-Nine Heavenly Punishment. This Lotus Platform, which surpassed a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and was second only to an Innate Supreme Treasure, would be split into three.
Qing Xuan glanced back at the soon-to-bloom Green Lotus, then toward Kunlun Mountain. "The Sanqing should be on their way."
Just then, Houtu appeared from who knew where, her face alight with joy as she told Nuwa, "It worked! I finally did it!"
Nuwa didn't need to ask what Houtu meant. She knew Houtu had finally merged the Pangu Marrow into her Ancestral Witch True Body.
It had already begun nourishing her Remnant Soul. Before long, Houtu would have a complete Nascent Soul.
Nuwa was happy for Houtu. She promptly left Qing Xuan behind and went off to celebrate with her. Qing Xuan was left feeling like an extra.
Watching the two girls chatting happily, Qing Xuan couldn't help smiling. Then he turned and headed toward the pool.
Before long, Qing Xuan reached the Creation Green Lotus and sat cross-legged on one of its leaves. Absorbing Creation Qi here was undoubtedly the most direct way.
What he didn't know was that as soon as he sat on the leaf, Houtu and Nuwa both widened their eyes. Houtu was the first to speak.
"He actually succeeded! We tried so many times, but the Green Lotus rejected us every time. Why would it accept him?"
Nuwa looked just as puzzled. "I cultivate the Great Dao Creation Law too. By rights, I should be the one most compatible with the Creation Green Lotus."
"And yet it still cast me out without mercy. I couldn't even get within ten feet of it."
When Qing Xuan had been refining the Eight Treasures Glazed Cup, both Houtu and Nuwa had thought about going to see the Creation Green Lotus.
Nuwa had naturally wanted to cultivate beneath it, where it would help her absorb Creation Power. Houtu, on the other hand, had wondered if she could help Qing Xuan retrieve some of the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.
Unfortunately, whatever their motives, the outcome had been the same: the Creation Green Lotus rejected them. They couldn't even get within ten feet of it.
Now Qing Xuan hadn't merely approached the Creation Green Lotus; he was even sitting cross-legged on one of its leaves.
That wasn't even the strangest part. Houtu and Nuwa could clearly sense that the lotus flower seemed to be shielding Qing Xuan from the sunlight.
At last, Nuwa and Houtu spoke in unison. "Could it be because he's the Little Gourd Vine? Like the Creation Green Lotus, is he a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root?"
It was the only answer Houtu and Nuwa could come up with. After all, there was no other explanation that made sense.
Just then, three streaks of light descended from the sky. They were none other than the Sanqing from Kunlun Mountain.
Seeing them arrive, Nuwa remembered Qing Xuan's words: someone would come to claim the Creation Green Lotus.
Her gaze turned hostile at once. Houtu spoke up even more bluntly. "We're growing flowers here. Leave!"
Houtu was immediately declaring that their group owned the Creation Green Lotus, hoping to keep the Sanqing from entertaining any thoughts of taking it.
But the Sanqing, who were Pangu Orthodox, would hardly be scared off by a single remark from Houtu. Yuanshi Tianzun let out a cold snort.
"You think you can claim this Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure for yourselves? Take a good look at what you're capable of before making such a boast."
Laozi didn't say a word, but he shook his head repeatedly, as if to say they weren't worth the trouble of a scolding.
Tongtian, on the other hand, was more amiable than his two elder brothers. He gave them a respectful salute and said,
"Fellow Daoists, this Creation Green Lotus concerns the enlightenment of my two brothers and me. So I ask that you not contend with us for it."
"If either of you ever needs something in the future, and I, Tongtian, can do it, I'll give you my all."
Yuanshi Tianzun frowned at Tongtian's words, as if asking why he was wasting his breath on two ants.
By now, Houtu had also figured out that the three before her were the Sanqing, formed from the three souls of Pangu. Her expression immediately darkened.
"You're Tongtian, which makes these two Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun?" Houtu asked, her voice slightly cold.
Before Tongtian could answer, Yuanshi Tianzun spoke up. "That's right. We brothers are the Sanqing, Pangu Orthodox."
"Since you know who we are, you should leave while you still can. Don't lose your lives to a moment of greed."
Houtu gave a cold laugh. "You dare call yourselves Pangu Orthodox? Tell me, is there a statue of Pangu Father God on Kunlun Mountain? Have you ever paid your respects to Pangu Father God?"
Hearing Houtu call Pangu her Father God revealed her identity. The Sanqing all frowned.
Houtu paid them no mind and continued her interrogation. "You keep claiming to be Pangu Orthodox, yet you've never once made offerings to Pangu Father God."
"Since I've run into you today, I, Houtu, will take Father God's place and teach you three unfilial sons a lesson."
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