Although they had been prepared, the Three Pure Ones were still inevitably stunned by the sight. Even after cultivating for countless epochs, they had never seen anything like it.
Who could have imagined that among the living beings of Honghuang, there was a Spiritual Root that could receive the blessing of Double Merit Fortune?
"Second Brother, you must protect your disciple. It hasn't taken human form yet..."
Laojun didn't finish, but his meaning was clear.
"Of course."
Yuanshi nodded, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. Xuanqing was his first disciple, but if anyone dared to bully him, they'd better be prepared to face the wrath of a Da Luo Golden Immortal like himself.
After absorbing the aura of merit, Xuanqing felt an immeasurable force surge into his body. It wasn't mere magical power, but a higher level of primordial energy. It swiftly helped him stabilize his newly advanced cultivation and tempered his foundation until it was rock-solid.
The strand of Pangu's Clear Qi bestowed by Yuanshi was now carefully refining Xuanqing's newly advanced True Immortal foundation.
The stability of Yuanshi's Clear Qi brought to mind a saying from Xuanqing's previous life.
"Before entering Mystic Cultivation, seeing Yuanshi is like a frog in a well gazing at the moon in the sky. Once you enter Mystic Cultivation, looking upon Yuanshi is like a mayfly glimpsing the blue heavens."
If his previous cultivation had been like feeling his way forward alone, now it was as if an invisible hand were carrying him upward as he surged ahead.
After Yuanshi's Clear Qi refined him, and with the talent of Double Merit Fortune, Xuanqing's cultivation soared once again!
How vast and abundant was the spiritual energy of Kunlun Mountain? Yet now, it seemed to have found an outlet, forming visible blue vortexes that poured toward the tiny Purifying Mystic Bamboo with frenzied force.
True Immortal Mid-stage peak... True Immortal Late-stage... True Immortal Late-stage peak...
With a rumble, he reached the Mystic Immortal Realm!
"Even with your fortune blessing him, Brother, breaking through two realms in two days is still astonishing for a living being of Honghuang."
Seeing Xuanqing's breakthrough, Tongtian couldn't help but marvel.
But this was also the Heavenly Dao Merit granted when Yuanshi took him as a disciple—and it was doubled. It was hardly surprising that Xuanqing's cultivation had leaped so far in such a short time.
Laojun nodded in agreement. Once they saw Xuanqing break through, the two of them didn't linger and returned to Jade Void Palace.
A little while later.
"Your disciple Xuanqing pays his respects to Master."
When Xuanqing saw Yuanshi looking his way, he hurriedly spoke.
"Now that we are master and disciple, there's no need to stand on ceremony. I should have given you a Magic Treasure and cultivation techniques today, but you haven't taken human form yet. We'll have to wait until you do."
"I'll heed your words, Master."
With that, Xuanqing focused his mind and continued cultivating. He had to take human form quickly, before Hongjun attained the Dao and became a saint.
Meanwhile, deep in the distant Chaotic Void.
An object wreathed in golden light floated motionlessly.
Its surface resembled Chaos, but within it was filled with a golden glow. It was an unrefined Innate Merit Treasure!
Earlier, the aura of merit released by Xuanqing's breakthrough had stirred its essence.
"Vmmm—!"
The Innate Merit Treasure gave a soft hum. After lying dormant for countless ages, its hazy form blazed with brilliant profound-yellow light for the first time. It tore through the Chaos before it, locked onto its target, and shot away as a streak of light, straight toward Kunlun Mountain in Honghuang!
The disturbance of such an Innate Supreme Treasure instantly alarmed countless powerful beings throughout Honghuang.
After the Innate Merit Treasure passed over the North Sea, Kunpeng suddenly opened his eyes. Uncontrollable greed flared in his sinister gaze.
"An Innate Merit Treasure has appeared! This aura... it's heading for Kunlun Mountain!"
He tried to divine the heavens, but all he saw was a blur. He knew only that an unparalleled opportunity was descending. Without hesitation, Kunpeng—one of the swiftest beings in Honghuang—transformed into a streak of black light, ripped through the void, and pursued the aura.
He had to seize this opportunity!
At the foot of Kunlun Mountain, Xuanqing knew nothing of what was happening outside.
He only felt the call growing stronger, as if something were racing toward him, heedless of all else.
Suddenly, the sky above Kunlun Mountain split open without warning. A streak of profound-yellow divine light, carrying the terrifying pressure of creation itself, burst from the fissure and shot straight toward Xuanqing!
What was that?!
Even Xuanqing's bamboo leaves trembled, but he could sense no malice in the divine light.
Inside Jade Void Palace, the Three Pure Ones exchanged stunned looks.
"Th-this is an Innate Merit Treasure?!"
Outside Kunlun Mountain, a mass of Demonic Qi descended from the sky like an overhanging storm cloud.
"Hahaha! Treasures belong to the worthy. How could a mere little Spiritual Root deserve such a treasure?"
A black claw vast enough to blot out the sky appeared out of nowhere. Demonic Qi swirled around it, and the Power of Law coiled over its surface. It clawed at the Innate Merit Treasure, while the force of its swipe also mercilessly swept toward Xuanqing's body!
Kunpeng actually intended to kill two birds with one stone, taking both Xuanqing and the treasure!
"Not good!"
Xuanqing was terrified out of his wits. He could feel the destructive force contained in the giant claw. He hadn't even taken human form yet, and though he had reached the Mystic Immortal Realm, before a powerful being like Kunpeng, he was no more than an ant!
He had no way to fight back!
At the critical moment between life and death, Xuanqing summoned all his strength and sent a plea for help toward Jade Void Palace above him.
"Master!"
Almost as soon as the thought left his mind, an angry snort boomed across the peak of Kunlun Mountain like heavenly thunder.
"Wretch! How dare you attack my disciple beneath Jade Void Palace!"
Before the words had faded, a giant hand formed from the energy of Heaven and Earth reached out from Jade Void Palace, striking faster than the attack.
"Bang!"
The black claw, wreathed in monstrous Demonic Qi, shattered into pieces before the hand of Clear Qi and dissipated into a cloud of black vapor.
"Yuanshi!"
Kunpeng's figure stumbled into view in midair. He stared at Jade Void Palace in shock, his eyes filled with wariness.
Yuanshi wore a white robe, and the Three Treasures Jade Scepter floated beside him. Standing halfway up Kunlun Mountain, he gazed with eyes like ice that had endured ten thousand years. His aura was restrained and unassuming, yet the entire mountain seemed to tremble.
He didn't even glance at the Innate Merit Treasure. His gaze fixed directly on Kunpeng, and he spoke in a cool, indifferent voice.
"He is my First Disciple. You stinking bird—how dare you cause trouble!"
Kunpeng's face turned pale, then flushed red with anger. He was both shocked and furious. He had never imagined that this little Spiritual Root would have such a connection to Yuanshi! Stealing someone else's opportunity in Honghuang was a feud that could only end with one side's death!
But the Innate Merit Treasure was right before his eyes. How could he willingly give it up?
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, the treasure has no owner. Whoever sees it has a share..."
"Get lost!"
Yuanshi couldn't be bothered to waste words with him. He uttered a single word.
A terrifying pressure far beyond anything Kunpeng had imagined descended with a thunderous crash.
Kunpeng felt as though he were standing alone against all of Honghuang Heaven and Earth. The pressure made his primordial spirit ache and his Dao Heart falter.
Kunpeng had yet to enter the Daluo Realm, while Yuanshi was already a mid-stage Daluo. He had no doubt that if he said one more word, he might die here today!
"Fine! Fine, Yuanshi! I'll remember this humiliation!"
After leaving a threat, Kunpeng didn't dare linger another moment. He transformed into a streak of light and fled toward the North Sea in utter disarray.
Only after Kunpeng had been driven off did the terrifying pressure around Yuanshi gradually fade. He turned to look at Xuanqing, safe and sound, and at the Innate Merit Treasure hovering nearby, radiating an unmistakable sense of closeness. Even with his unshakable composure, he couldn't help but marvel.
He looked at Xuanqing without a trace of blame in his eyes. Instead, they were full of admiration and a hint of... envy.
"Truly, you are my fine disciple. With Double Merit Fortune, you've even drawn an Innate Merit Treasure to you of its own accord."
"Even I, your master, envy such fortune!"
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