Could it be because he is the Little Gourd Vine

Just as Qing Xuan put away the Eight Treasures Glazed Cup, Nuwa stirred not far away. The Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud manifested above her head, and the Earth Flower emitted 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 for her rapid breakthrough was the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus.

Although the Creation Green Lotus had not yet matured, the Creation Qi it released was absolutely a fine medicine for Nuwa's cultivation.

Sure enough, the Earth Flower above Nuwa's head finally bloomed, also reaching the Ninth Grade Flower. This allowed her to smoothly break through to Late-stage Great Luo.

The three flowers sank into the Auspicious Cloud, which slowly retracted into Nuwa's Mud Pill Palace. Nuwa finally opened her lively, large eyes.

Seeing Qing Xuan watching her with a light smile, Nuwa rushed over directly, grabbing his hands and spinning him in circles.

Sometimes Qing Xuan was utterly helpless, not understanding why this girl was so fond of spinning in circles. Every time, she made herself dizzy.

Helpless, the only solution was to pull Nuwa into his embrace, thus ending her continued spinning.

"Little Gourd Vine, I'm already at Late-stage Great Luo now. I definitely have the strength to help you guard this Creation Green Lotus."

Qing Xuan spoke: "You cultivate the Great Dao Creation Law; wouldn't the Creation Green Lotus be more useful to you? Why give it to me?"

Seeing 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 haven't truly taken form yet?"

On the surface, Nuwa was belittling Qing Xuan, but Qing Xuan could hear full concern in her tone.

Still, Qing Xuan didn't mind. He knew better than anyone that the Heavenly Dao would not allow the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus to exist.

That is to say, the moment the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus matured, the Nine-Nine Heavenly Punishment would descend, splitting this lotus platform—which surpassed Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures and was second only to Innate Supreme Treasures—into three parts.

Qing Xuan looked back at the green lotus about to bloom, then toward Kunlun Mountain. "The Sanqing should be arriving soon."

Just then, Houtu popped out from somewhere, her face full of joy as she said to Nuwa: "It worked. I finally did it."

Nuwa didn't need to ask what Houtu meant by "it worked"—she had finally integrated the Pangu Marrow into her Ancestral Witch True Body.

And it had already begun nourishing her remnant soul; before long, Houtu would possess a complete Primordial Spirit.

Nuwa was happy for Houtu too. She immediately abandoned Qing Xuan and went to celebrate with Houtu, leaving Qing Xuan feeling somewhat superfluous.

Watching the two girls chatting happily, a faint smile couldn't help but appear on Qing Xuan's face. Then he turned and headed toward the pool.

Before long, Qing Xuan had arrived beneath the green lotus and sat cross-legged on one of its leaves. After all, absorbing Creation Qi here was the most direct method.

Little did he know, the moment Qing Xuan sat on the lotus leaf, both Houtu and Nuwa widened their eyes. Houtu immediately said to Nuwa:

"He actually succeeded! How many times did we try, and we were always rejected by the green lotus. Why does it accept him?"

Nuwa also looked puzzled: "I cultivate the Great Dao Creation Law too. Logically, I should be the most compatible with this Creation Green Lotus."

"Yet even so, I was ruthlessly thrown out by the Creation Green Lotus. I couldn't even get within three zhang of it."

Both Houtu and Nuwa, while Qing Xuan was refining the Eight Treasures Glazed Cup, had thought of going to check on the Creation Green Lotus.

Nuwa naturally wanted to cultivate under the Creation Green Lotus to help absorb Creation Power. Houtu thought about whether she could help Qing Xuan retrieve some of the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil.

Unfortunately, no matter their motives, the outcome was the same: they were rejected by the Creation Green Lotus. They couldn't even get within one zhang of the lotus.

Now Qing Xuan not only approached the Creation Green Lotus but could even sit cross-legged on its leaf.

That wasn't the main point. The main point was that Nuwa and Houtu could clearly sense the lotus seemed to be shielding Qing Xuan from the sun.

Finally, Nuwa and Houtu said in unison: "Could it be because he's the Little Gourd Vine? Like the Creation Green Lotus, both are Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots?"

This was the only answer Nuwa and Houtu could find. After all, no other reason could explain it.

Just then, three streamers descended from the sky. They were none other than the Sanqing from Kunlun Mountain.

Seeing the Sanqing suddenly arrive, Nuwa remembered Qing Xuan's words that someone would come to claim the Creation Green Lotus.

Her gaze toward the Sanqing immediately filled with hostility. Houtu directly said: "We're tending our flowers. Leave now."

Houtu was declaring to the Sanqing that she and her companions owned the Creation Green Lotus, hoping to discourage them from coveting the treasure.

But as the Pangu Orthodox, how could the Sanqing be driven off by Houtu's words? Yuanshi Tianzun let out a cold snort and said:

"With just you lot, you think you can monopolize this Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure? Have you looked at your own abilities to dare speak such arrogance?"

Laozi didn't speak but shook his head repeatedly, as if to say you weren't worth This Daoist's rebuke.

Tongtian, however, was more courteous than his two elder brothers. He made a bow and said:

"Two Daoist Friends, this Creation Green Lotus concerns the enlightenment of us three brothers. So please, do not contend with us for it."

"If you ever need anything in the future, as long as Tongtian can do it, I will give it my all."

Yuanshi Tianzun frowned at Tongtian's statement, as if to say, why waste words on these ants?

By now, Houtu had realized these three were the Sanqing, formed from Pangu's three souls. Her expression turned cold.

"You're Tongtian, so these two must be Laozi and Yuanshi Tianzun?" Houtu asked, her voice icy.

Before Tongtian could answer, Yuanshi Tianzun said directly: "Correct. We brothers are the Sanqing, the Pangu Orthodox."

"Since you know our names, you should have the sense to leave. Don't lose your lives over greed."

Houtu sneered: "You dare call yourselves Pangu Orthodox? Let me ask you—is there a statue of Pangu Father God in Kunlun Mountain? Have you ever paid homage to Pangu Father God?"

Hearing Houtu call Pangu "Father God," her identity was naturally revealed. This made the Sanqing frown simultaneously.

But Houtu didn't care and continued to question: "You claim to be Pangu Orthodox, yet you've never once paid tribute to Pangu Father God."

"Since I've met you today, I, Houtu, will naturally take Father God's place and teach you three unfilial sons a lesson."