Discussing Opportunity through the Dao, Sparring

In the Primordial World, spiritual treasures are divided into Acquired and Innate.

Acquired Treasures are crafted by hand, usually forged from collected materials.

Although they possess considerable power, they ultimately retain a sense of artificiality. The laws contained within them are incomplete, and they have their limits.

Take, for instance, the Kunpeng Nest, which Kunpeng refined from the very place of his birth.

Because the materials used were of high quality, it is considered a decent Acquired Treasure, yet it can hardly be called a vessel for the Great Dao.

In contrast, Innate Treasures are birthed from the laws of the Great Dao and the primordial essence during the time before or just as the heavens and earth were opened. They contain complete laws of the Great Dao, possess infinite wonders, and exhibit peerless power.

Obtaining an Innate Treasure not only causes one's combat strength to skyrocket, but it also allows one to contemplate the corresponding Great Dao. They are the treasures that every cultivator dreams of possessing.

Since his birth, Kunpeng has dominated the Northern Sea and traveled far across the Primordial World, yet he has never managed to obtain an Innate Treasure of his own. This has always been a great regret in his heart.

Now, with an ownerless Innate Treasure right before his eyes, how could he not be tempted?

Guiyuan also sensed a faint, ethereal karmic connection forming between himself and that black flag.

Spiritual treasures stir the hearts of men, all the more so when they are of Innate origin.

When walking the Primordial World, one's own cultivation is the foundation, but a powerful spiritual treasure is often the key to determining life and death and seizing opportunities.

Moreover, just by looking at the appearance of this treasure, Guiyuan already had a rough idea of 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. Compared to the other four Innate Banners, some said this flag fell into the hands of Styx.

Others claimed it should be in the North, or perhaps it fell into the hands of the Black Tortoise, only to later end up with Nüwa.

It appears now that it did indeed fall into the hands of the Black Tortoise; after all, it is a treasure of the North.

He sensed the karma upon it; it was destined for him. If not for this Lightning Tribulation, he would have eventually followed that karma to claim it.

But that would have been when he was still in his tortoise form—such is fate.

Guiyuan could not possibly yield. This was, at the very least, a top-grade Innate Treasure. Not to mention its utility for a Daluo, it would be beneficial even for those a step further along the path.

Furthermore, the Great Dao contained within it would be a massive boon for both Guiyuan and Kunpeng.

Who would be willing to give it up?

The atmosphere instantly turned somewhat subtle.

As fellow Innate Sacreds of the North Sea, they had just been addressing each other as fellow Daoists, yet now they were to contend for a treasure.

To tear off the mask and snatch it directly would be unsightly and not the act of a wise man.

Kunpeng's thoughts raced. A smile forced its way onto his sinister face as he spoke first: "Fellow Daoist Guiyuan, this treasure has manifested before our very eyes; it is clearly fated to be with me in the North Sea. However, one treasure cannot serve two masters..."

He paused, then proposed a solution: "Why don't we have a friendly spar? The winner takes the treasure. How about it?"

He had his own calculations.

This old turtle—no, Guiyuan—had spent his days muddled in the North Sea, with almost no experience in combat. As for himself, he had set foot on the Northern Continent, battled remnant Ferocious Beasts, and even clashed with the Dragon Race that dominated the four seas. His experience was vast. Even if their cultivation realms were similar, when it came to actual combat, he would surely hold the upper hand!

Upon hearing this, Guiyuan was stunned for a moment, then found it somewhat amusing.

That was right.

In the current Primordial World, Hongjun had not yet merged with the Dao, and the Purple Cloud Palace had not yet opened for lectures. The many schemes and complex webs of karma had not yet become the norm.

The way the great powers resolved conflicts was still quite "simple."

Just have a fight.

The winner takes all; simple and direct.

This Kunpeng thinks I have the realm but lack the skill in combat? He wants to manipulate me with his experience?

He shook his head and chuckled inwardly.

Combat? In the Eternal Life World, I climbed my way up from a mere mortal through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to become an Immortal King! Following the model worker Fang, did he really think I was just a hanger-on who only knew how to wave flags and shout?

Without real skills, I would have been reduced to dust long ago under the siege of Heavenly Monarchs and Immortal Kings!

Kunpeng's experience in battling Ferocious Beasts and the Dragon Race was, compared to the inter-world wars and sieges by Immortal Kings that he had endured, nothing more than a child at play.

"Very well." Guiyuan's expression remained calm as he nodded in agreement. "We shall do as you suggest, fellow Daoist."

As the words fell, the aura of both men changed abruptly.

Guiyuan and Kunpeng stood in the air, facing each other, their minds racing as they weighed each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Combat in the Primordial World was nothing more than a contest of five things: realm, laws, spiritual treasures, divine abilities, and physical bodies.

In terms of cultivation realm, both were at the peak of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal stage; they were evenly matched.

Regarding spiritual treasures... both could currently be described as "destitute." The small black flag that had sparked the dispute was still hovering in the distance and could not yet be counted. Kunpeng at least had the "Kunpeng Nest," refined from the Northern Darkness Profound Ice of his own birthplace, as an Acquired Treasure to rely on. Guiyuan, however, was truly empty-handed; having just undergone Transformation, he didn't even have a single hair to his name.

As for the strength of their physical bodies, Kunpeng knew his own standing. While his Innate Sacred physique was extraordinary, it was likely slightly inferior to the North Sea Black Tortoise, whose Origin Foundation was renowned for defense and endurance.

It seems the outcome will depend on the comprehension of laws and the application of divine abilities! A sharp glint flashed in Kunpeng's eyes, and his confidence began to grow. He had been born very early and had spent eons contemplating the Great Dao of Wind and Water. He had even combined his own Dao techniques with the combat experience gained over countless eons to create several formidable divine abilities. Guiyuan, on the other hand, had lived in a state of ignorance until now; he likely possessed the realm but lacked the finesse of combat!

"Fellow Daoist, be careful!"

Kunpeng did not hesitate and struck first. Knowing the Black Tortoise's defense was formidable, he did not seek to win with a single blow, but rather aimed to set the stage. He pressed his hands into the void, and the Great Dao of Water roared around him, drawing upon the Northern Darkness seawater below!

"Return to the Void!"

BOOM!

The space surrounding Guiyuan instantly dimmed and collapsed, as if forming an invisible, massive vortex. Not only was light swallowed, but even the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and even the aura radiating from the cultivator himself, were forcibly extracted and sealed! This was a trapping ability Kunpeng had deduced from the Great Dao of Water, intended to cut off any path for Guiyuan to recover his magic power and trap him within a cage.

However, Guiyuan's expression remained calm. The moment Kunpeng's aura shifted, he had already discerned his intent.

"A mere parlor trick."

He uttered these four words lightly. His figure did not move, but the vast magic power within his body erupted like a volcano.

"Great Dragon Appearance Technique! Great World Technique!"

ROAR—!

Thousands of dragon cries suddenly rang out in the void! Countless Primordial Heavenly Dragons condensed from magic power appeared out of thin air. Each one had distinct scales and claws, imbued with supreme dragon might and the power to create worlds! The ten thousand dragons surged forward, not in a chaotic manner, but instantly intertwining and combining to form a refining world that enveloped the four poles and eight directions!

Myriad Dragons Refining World Great Immortal Technique!

This was a powerful Immortal Technique from the Eternal Life World that combined the supreme divine abilities of the Dragon Race with the power of world creation; its might was infinite!

"CRACK!"

The "Return to the Void" cage that had just formed was shattered like fragile glass under this overbearing refining power! The blockade was broken in an instant!

"What?!" Kunpeng's pupils constricted, and his heart was filled with shock. Dragon Race divine abilities? So pure and vast! What connection does he have with the Dragon Race?!

Seeing that the remaining power of the Myriad Dragons Refining World was undiminished and surging toward him, Kunpeng dared not take it head-on. He instantly triggered the Great Dao of Wind, his figure transforming into an almost invisible stream of light—this was the method of extreme speed he had deduced: the Peng Strike! In an instant, he had escaped the coverage of the Immortal Technique.

Though shocked, he was not flustered. With his extremely rich combat experience, even as he retreated, his hands were already forming seals, the laws of Wind and Water merging and resonating between his palms!