On Dao, Chance, and a Friendly Spar

In the Primordial World, treasures were divided into innate and acquired.

Acquired Treasures were forged by living beings, usually from various materials.

Though they could be quite powerful, they ultimately bore the marks of craftsmanship. Their laws were incomplete, and they had limits.

The Kunpeng Nest, which Kunpeng had forged from the place of his birth, was one such example.

Its materials were of decent quality.

Though it could be considered a fine Acquired Treasure, it could hardly serve as a vessel for the Great Dao.

Innate Treasures, on the other hand,

were nurtured by the laws of the Great Dao and the innate source during the time before or just after the world's creation. They contained complete laws of the Great Dao, possessed endless mysteries, and wielded unparalleled power.

Obtaining an Innate Treasure not only greatly increased one's strength in battle, but also allowed one to comprehend the corresponding Great Dao. It was a precious treasure every cultivator dreamed of possessing.

Since his birth, Kunpeng had ranged across the Northern Abyss and even journeyed far through the Primordial World, yet he had never obtained an Innate Treasure of his own. It was one of his greatest regrets.

Now that an unclaimed Innate Treasure was right before him, how could he not be tempted?

Guiyuan, too, sensed a faint thread of karmic connection between himself and the black flag.

Treasures stirred the heart, and all the more so when they were innate.

When traversing the Primordial World, one's cultivation was the foundation, but a powerful treasure was often the key to survival and seizing opportunities.

Besides, just from the treasure's appearance, Guiyuan already had a good idea what it was.

It was the Xuanyuan Controlling Water Flag, one of the Five Innate Banners formed from the petals of the Chaos Azure Lotus. As for the flag's whereabouts, some said it had fallen into Styx's hands.

Others said it belonged in the North, and that it had either fallen into the Black Tortoise's hands or later passed into Nüwa's.

Now it seemed it had indeed fallen into the Black Tortoise's hands. After all, it was a treasure of the North.

He could sense the karmic connection to it. It was a treasure fated to be his. Had it not been for this Lightning Tribulation, he would have eventually followed that connection and obtained it.

But he should have been able to take it only while still in his tortoise form. Such was fate.

Guiyuan wasn't about to yield, either. This was at least a Top-grade Innate Treasure. It would benefit even a Daluo, let alone someone who had taken the next step beyond.

And the Great Dao it contained would be a great boon to both Guiyuan and Kunpeng.

Who would be willing to give it up?

The atmosphere turned subtly tense.

They were both Innate Sacred beings of the Northern Abyss. Just moments ago they had addressed each other as fellow Daoists; now they were about to fight over a treasure.

To openly fall out and snatch it would look bad, and it was hardly the act of a wise man.

Kunpeng's thoughts raced. His grim face twisted into a smile as he spoke first. "Fellow Daoist Guiyuan, this treasure has appeared before us. It must be fated to belong to our Northern Abyss.

"Yet a treasure cannot have two masters..."

He paused, then proposed, "Why don't you and I have a friendly spar? The victor takes the treasure. What do you say?"

He had his own calculations.

This old turtle—no, Guiyuan—had spent his days in a daze in the North Sea. He had almost no experience in battle.

Kunpeng, by contrast, had ventured into the Northern Continent and fought the Ferocious Beasts that remained there. He had even clashed with the Dragon Race, who had once held sway over the Four Seas. He was rich in experience.

Even if their cultivation realms were similar, Kunpeng was sure to have the upper hand in a real fight!

Guiyuan was taken aback by the proposal, then couldn't help finding it amusing.

Right.

In the current Primordial World, Hongjun had yet to join with the Dao, and the sermons at the Zixiao Palace had yet to begin. Schemes and entangled karma had yet to become commonplace.

The mighty still resolved conflicts in a more "straightforward" way.

They simply fought.

The winner took all. Simple and direct.

"Does Kunpeng think I have the cultivation but lack combat skill? Is he hoping to use his experience to get the better of me?"

He shook his head, amused.

"Combat? In the Eternal Life World, I fought my way up from an ordinary mortal through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to become an Immortal King!

"Just because I followed Fang Laomo around, does he think I was nothing but a cheerleader? Without some real skill, I'd have been reduced to dust long ago under the attacks of Heavenly Monarchs and Immortal Kings!"

Kunpeng's experience fighting Ferocious Beasts and battling the Dragon Race was child's play compared with the countless wars between worlds and the sieges by Immortal Kings that Guiyuan had survived.

"Very well." Guiyuan nodded calmly. "We'll do as you say, fellow Daoist."

The moment he spoke, their auras changed abruptly.

Guiyuan and Kunpeng faced each other in midair, both rapidly weighing the other's strengths and weaknesses.

In battle in the Primordial World, five things mattered: cultivation realm, laws, treasures, divine abilities, and physical body.

As for their cultivation realms, both were peak Taiyi Golden Immortals, evenly matched.

When it came to treasures... both were practically penniless. The small black flag that had sparked their dispute was still floating in the distance, so it didn't count for now. Kunpeng at least had the Kunpeng Nest, forged from the place of his birth and Northern Darkness Profound Ice, as an Acquired Treasure at his side. Guiyuan, on the other hand, was truly empty-handed. He had only just emerged from his transformation and didn't even have a hair to his name.

As for physical strength, Kunpeng knew his own limits. Though his body as an Innate Sacred being was no ordinary one, it was probably slightly inferior to the North Sea Black Tortoise's, whose Origin Foundation was famed for its defense and ability to bear weight.

"Then the deciding factors must be our comprehension of the laws and our use of divine abilities!" A glint flashed in Kunpeng's eyes, and his confidence grew. He had been born exceptionally early and had spent ages comprehending the Great Dao of Wind and Water. He had also combined his cultivation methods with countless ages of battle experience to create several powerful divine abilities. Guiyuan, on the other hand, had spent his days in a daze. He probably had cultivation but knew nothing of the subtleties of combat!

"Fellow Daoist, watch out!"

Kunpeng didn't hesitate. He struck first. Knowing that the Black Tortoise's defenses were formidable, he didn't seek to win with one blow. Instead, he aimed to control the battlefield. With a press of both hands, the laws of the Great Dao of Water roared around him, stirring the waters of the Northern Abyss Sea below!

"Return to the Void!"

Rumble!

The space around Guiyuan instantly dimmed and caved in, as if a gigantic, invisible vortex had formed. It swallowed not only light, but also the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, even forcibly drawing out and sealing away the aura that cultivators themselves let escape! This was a trapping divine ability Kunpeng had derived from the Great Dao of Water. Its purpose was to cut off every way Guiyuan might recover his magic power and trap him in the cage until he was exhausted.

But Guiyuan's gaze remained calm. The instant Kunpeng's aura shifted, he had already seen through his intention.

"Pathetic trick."

He spoke four words softly. His body stayed still, but the immense magic power within him erupted like a volcano.

"Great Dragon Appearance Technique! Great World Technique!"

Roar—!

Countless dragon roars suddenly rang through the void! Myriad Primordial Heavenly Dragons, formed from condensed magic power, appeared out of nowhere. Every one of them was complete with scales and claws, and contained supreme dragon might and the power to open worlds! The dragons surged forth—not in disarray, but weaving together in an instant, forming a great refining world that enveloped every direction!

Myriad Dragons Refining World Great Immortal Technique!

This was a mighty immortal technique from the Eternal Life World, combining the supreme divine abilities of the Dragon Race with the power to create worlds. Its power was boundless!

"Crack!"

Under that domineering, peerless refining force, the newly formed Return to the Void cage shattered like fragile glass! Its seal was broken in an instant!

"What?!" Kunpeng's pupils contracted, his heart in turmoil. "A Dragon Race divine ability? So pure and vast! What connection does he have to the Dragon Race?!"

Seeing that the lingering power of the Myriad Dragons Refining World Great Immortal Technique was still surging toward him, Kunpeng didn't dare meet it head-on. He instantly unleashed the Great Dao of Wind, turning into a streak of light so swift it was almost invisible. It was none other than the ultimate speed technique he had derived—Peng Strike! In the blink of an eye, he had escaped the range of the immortal technique.

Though shocked, he didn't lose his composure. He had exceptionally rich combat experience. As he retreated, his hands were already forming seals, and the laws of Wind and Water intertwined and resonated between his palms!