Bei Ming was startled, and a few traces of resolve appeared in his eyes as he said solemnly:
"Alright, I understand."
With that, Bei Ming no longer hesitated. He sat cross-legged in the center of the palace, formed seals with both hands, and mobilized his magic power.
The Eternal Age Hourglass floated before him, slowly rotating and emitting faint ripples of time that resonated with Bei Ming.
Within this environment filled with the Dao Rhyme of Time Law, and with the Eternal Years Daoist's assistance, the refining process went unexpectedly smoothly.
Six thousand four hundred years passed in a flash, and Bei Ming completed the refinement of the Eternal Age Hourglass.
Although he had gained ownership of it, the Time Law contained within remained unfathomably profound and would still require long years of comprehension.
The Eternal Years Daoist reminded him, "One who uses time well will surely create miracles."
Bei Ming rose to his feet and answered steadily, "I will remember your words well."
With a sweep of his sleeve, he stored the Eternal Age Hourglass within the Returning Ruins.
The next moment, the surrounding palace shook violently. Its impenetrable walls collapsed in an instant, turning into countless motes of light that scattered into the void.
Bei Ming's body returned to Mount Buzhou Summit, exactly where he had been before entering the Formation.
"Bei Ming!" A familiar voice called out.
Following the sound, he saw Fuxi standing not far away, an easy smile on his face.
The corners of Bei Ming's lips lifted slightly as he replied calmly, "Fuxi, it seems you entered as well."
"That's right." Fuxi nodded, his gaze flickering slightly as a hint of delight appeared on his face.
"There truly are opportunities within Mount Buzhou."
As he spoke, he turned his right hand over. A flash of spiritual light appeared in his palm, and an ancient, unadorned longsword emerged.
The blade was dull and plain, yet it carried a deep, weighty sword intent.
Fuxi ran a hand across the blade and said, "This sword is called Changge.
Within the Secret Realm, I also obtained a set of sword techniques. Its Sword Momentum was clear and melodious, distant and profound, quite exquisite. What did you gain, Daoist?"
Bei Ming raised a hand slightly. Spiritual light gathered in his palm, revealing a small and ancient hourglass.
Silver-gray radiance flowed within the hourglass, as though the River of Time were slowly pouring through it.
"It is also a Spirit Treasure, called the Eternal Age Hourglass. It contains Time Law and is exceptionally profound."
Just as the two exchanged their gains, the void trembled softly. Amid faint rosy clouds, Nüwa's figure emerged from nothingness and once more stood atop Mount Buzhou.
A purple-and-cyan furnace floated beside her, Mysterious Light flowing along its walls and Heaven and Earth's Creation contained within.
"Older brother, Bei Ming!" Nüwa hurried toward them, her eyes shining with delight.
"You're both out already."
She lifted a hand and gently stroked the treasure furnace at her side, asking with a bright smile:
"So, what did you encounter?"
Bei Ming and Fuxi exchanged a glance, then each briefly recounted what they had experienced.
When Bei Ming spoke of the Eternal Age Hourglass, he did not mention the existence of its spirit of the artifact, the Eternal Years Daoist.
After all, when he had summoned the hourglass earlier, the Eternal Years Daoist had not appeared. There was no need to mention the matter for now.
Fuxi's experience had been relatively simple. After entering the Formation, he used the sound of his qin to break a musical Formation and obtained the Changge Sword.
After hearing this, Nüwa smiled beautifully and began to speak as well.
"After I entered, this Refining Heaven Furnace appeared before me.
A pile of stone ore and a jade slip were placed beside it.
After touching them, I obtained an artifact-refining art called the Great Stone Transformation Technique, which can smelt wondrous stones."
As she spoke, she gestured with one hand. The Refining Heaven Furnace slowly turned and released a wisp of five-colored rosy clouds.
"After initially refining the Refining Heaven Furnace, I studied according to the Great Stone Transformation Technique and used some of the stone ore to refine a Five-Colored Stone. Then I was sent out."
With that, Nüwa opened her fair hand. A small stone gleaming with five-colored radiance floated quietly above her palm, suffused with hazy rosy clouds and exceptionally splendid.
"I keep feeling that this Five-Colored Stone will have some wonderful use."
Nüwa stared at the Spirit Stone in her palm, a thoughtful look appearing in her eyes.
"But I still cannot say exactly what it can be used for."
Looking at the Five-Colored Stone in Nüwa's hand, Bei Ming could not help but sigh inwardly.
*Nüwa's luck truly is extraordinary.
Aside from the Three Pure Ones, the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu, she should be the cultivator with the most flourishing luck in the Primordial Wilderness.*
The original Six Saints had all attained the Dao through Merit.
The Three Pure Ones established religions and inherited Pangu's Merit of Opening Heaven, thus becoming saints in turn.
Zhunti and Jieyin also established religions, but their Merit was insufficient. They could only make Great Vows, essentially taking a "loan" of Merit from the Heavenly Dao—becoming saints first and repaying the debt later.
Still, all of it was for Western Prosperity. The two of them could be said to suffer happily.
After Nüwa gained enlightenment, she would only need to create humanity and complete her task to directly receive enough Merit to become a saint.
As for Human Education, that would be the key for the other Saints to become saints.
Nüwa did not have the ties of establishing a religion and would not need to worry about future conflicts among religious sects.
Nor had she made Great Vows, so she would not bear a Merit Loan.
When the War between the Wu and Yao clans came in the future, Mount Buzhou would break, the sky would split open, and a massive gap would remain. She would use Five-Colored Stones to mend the firmament, and the Merit from that would certainly not be small.
In terms of luck, as the Human Holy Mother, Nüwa was already entitled to a share.
If she wished, she could, as a Saint, find any excuse to further involve herself in the struggle for luck in the Primordial Wilderness.
It was only that Nüwa disliked conflict. Otherwise, she still possessed the Summoning Demon Banner, enough to mobilize the remnants of the Demon Race.
That force absolutely could not be underestimated amid the Primordial Wilderness's changing circumstances.
Bei Ming was not surprised that Nüwa had obtained an opportunity related to Mending Heaven. What made him somewhat curious was the artifact that would be used for it.
There had been differing accounts regarding the Qiankun Cauldron and the Heaven-Mending Furnace, but now his doubts had been resolved.
The Refining Heaven Furnace, Nüwa, and the North Sea Black Tortoise—the three key elements for Mending Heaven were all present.
This also added another safeguard against future great calamities in the Primordial Wilderness.
Bei Ming looked toward Nüwa and said evenly:
"Although we do not yet know its use, since it is an opportunity obtained from Mount Buzhou, there will surely come a time for it to reveal itself."
"That's true." Nüwa's eyes curved as she smiled faintly. She lifted the Spirit Stone glowing with five-colored radiance from her palm and offered it to Bei Ming.
"Bei Ming, you can have this."
"Hm?" Bei Ming paused slightly, somewhat hesitant as he asked:
"Why give it to me?"
Nüwa's expression was gentle as she smiled softly. "Haven't we always been like this along the way?
Whenever there is something that can be shared, everyone takes a little piece as a keepsake.
This Five-Colored Stone is the first finished product I refined, so I'm giving it to you."
Seeing the sincerity in her eyes, Bei Ming felt warmth rise in his heart. In the end, he nodded.
"Alright, thank you. If you truly need it someday, I'll return it to you."
"It's fine." Nüwa waved a hand, her smile radiant.
"I obtained plenty of stone materials in the Secret Realm. I can probably refine a whole pile of Five-Colored Stones. When I need them, I'll just refine more."
"Right!" Fuxi suddenly stirred and spoke.
"Bei Ming, I was actually the last one to enter the Secret Realm.
Before that, I encountered the leader of the Twelve Ancestor Wizards—Di Jiang."
Before you continue