The Prolific Top-grade Innate Spiritual Roots—Gourd Vine

The hall fell silent at once, and both Dong Wangong and Queen Mother of the West revealed delighted expressions.

They knew that if the Sage valued them, an opportunity and a gift would surely follow.

The two immediately stepped forward and bowed respectfully, their manner humble.

The space before Hongjun trembled slightly, and two streaks of spiritual light emerged, transforming into two spirit treasures.

One of them flew straight down before Dong Wangong.

"Dong Wangong, you shall serve as the Leader of Male Immortals. This is the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the [Dragon Head Crutch], bestowed upon you for protection."

Threads of Dao Rhyme cascaded from the Dragon Head Crutch. Dragon's Roar flickered in and out of hearing, its might awe-inspiring.

The joy in Dong Wangong's eyes was impossible to conceal. He solemnly accepted it with both hands, then bowed all the way to the ground again, speaking with excited reverence:

"Thank you, Sage, for bestowing this treasure! This junior will surely spare no effort in bringing order to the Primordial Wilderness, and will never fail the Sage's trust!"

Hongjun nodded faintly, paid him no further heed, and turned to the other side.

The second spirit treasure immediately transformed into a clear radiance and descended before Queen Mother of the West.

"Queen Mother of the West, you shall serve as the Leader of Female Immortals. This is the Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the [Pure Water Bowl], bestowed upon you for protection."

The Pure Water Bowl was crystal clear throughout, with limpid ripples flowing over it, capable of washing away all manner of filth.

Queen Mother of the West accepted it with her slender hand. Joy flashed through her eyes, yet she forcibly suppressed her emotions and respectfully worshipped and said:

"Thank you, Sage, for bestowing this treasure. This junior will not disgrace this mission."

Hongjun's expression remained indifferent, his voice echoing through the four directions and piercing straight into their souls:

"Safeguard the peace of the Primordial Wilderness and bring order to its chaotic order. You two must not disappoint me."

Dong Wangong and Queen Mother of the West exchanged a glance and answered in unison, "This junior accepts the command!"

The cultivators in the hall watched them, some envious, some indifferent, some already harboring calculations.

Things bestowed by a Sage had never been simple.

By accepting the position of Immortal Chief and the spirit treasures, they had also accepted the corresponding karma.

Before a Sage, ants had no room to choose.

Refuse? That would be publicly slapping the Sage in the face; the consequences would be unthinkable.

Thus, the positions of Immortal Chiefs were settled.

"At the next preaching, the Discourse on the Dao of Quasi-Saint shall be held after one Yuan Meeting."

As his words fell, Hongjun's figure slowly faded away.

The majestic gates of Purple Cloud Palace opened soundlessly. A gentle breeze brushed across their faces, reminding everyone:

The preaching was over; they could depart as they pleased.

The cultivators each used the dodge technique, their Escape Lights streaking through the sky.

Unlike their journey here, the return went quite smoothly. It seemed that Purple Cloud Palace and the Primordial Wilderness were but inches apart.

Presumably, it was the Sage's handiwork.

Bei Ming still traveled side by side with Nüwa and Fuxi.

Along the way, Fuxi's expression was calm, and the lingering charm of the preaching had yet to fade from his eyes.

"Sage Preaching truly is profound and unfathomable. The next 'Dao of Quasi-Saint' must be the realm beyond Great Luo."

Nüwa's gaze was clear as she nodded slightly, her words filled with admiration.

"Senior Hongjun truly deserves the title of Sage. His preaching of the Dao throughout the Primordial Wilderness has earned boundless Merit."

Hearing this, Bei Ming did not echo her words. He offered no judgment of Hongjun, instead changing the subject.

"We're nearly back in the Primordial Wilderness. One Yuan Meeting is not particularly long, but neither is it short. What are your plans?"

Nüwa said gently, "I wish to return to Mount Qixi first and cultivate in seclusion for a time;

during that time, I will sort through what I gained from the preaching and deeply comprehend its True Meaning. Will you travel with us?"

Bei Ming shook his head. "No, I should return to Changbai Mountain.

I have been away since my last journey of exploration. It is time to go back."

Fuxi nodded slightly, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Very well. Then we shall meet again at the next preaching."

As they spoke, the three had already entered the Primordial Wilderness.

Bei Ming and Nüwa suddenly felt their hearts jolt. Almost simultaneously, they turned their heads, their gazes falling upon the distant Mount Buzhou Summit.

The heavens there trembled as streams of innate Dao Rhyme shot into the sky, transforming into colorful clouds that filled the heavens.

Bei Ming's gaze narrowed slightly. "It seems an opportunity has emerged."

Nüwa's eyes flickered as she slowly nodded. "I sensed it as well. Let us go and take a look."

Fuxi's expression turned solemn as he said in a deep voice, "We must hurry. With such a disturbance, a great treasure must have emerged;

it will likely draw many fellow Daoists to fight over it. There will surely be a bloody battle."

A flash of confidence passed through Nüwa's eyes.

"We three travel together. Across the Primordial Wilderness, other than the Three Pure Ones and the Twelve Ancestor Wizards, whom need we fear?"

Before her words had faded, a burst of hearty laughter rang out from afar, shaking the mountains and rivers until they echoed.

"Fellow Daoist Nüwa speaks true!"

Di Jiang led the Ancestor Wizards through the air toward them. His gaze swept over the three as he said boldly, "Three fellow Daoists, we meet again! That way is Mount Buzhou, isn't it? As expected of the blessed land formed from Father God's spine—opportunities emerge there one after another."

At his side, blazing flames burned in Zhurong's eyes as his gaze fell upon the three of them, his fighting spirit surging.

"I have long heard of the names of you three! I, Zhurong, have always loved battle. If you have the time, why not fight me?"

Di Jiang's brow tightened as he shouted sternly, "Zhurong!

"Our most pressing task is to see what is happening at Mount Buzhou Summit. Do not waste time indulging in verbal bravado!"

Bei Ming, Nüwa, and Fuxi exchanged glances, then clasped their fists and said, "Ancestor Wizards, then we shall take our leave first."

As soon as they spoke, the three rose in escape light, transforming into three streaks of flowing rainbow that tore across the heavens and shot straight toward Mount Buzhou Summit.

The heavenly wind howled as escape lights crisscrossed.

The Wind Ancestor Wizard, Tian Wu, curled his lips into an arrogant smile.

"A race of speed? That's what I like best!"

In the next instant, his figure flashed, transforming into a towering divine gale that roared away.

Di Jiang raised a hand and pointed toward Mount Buzhou Summit. "Brothers and sisters, we must not fall behind either!

"Remember—do not forget our objective!"

With that, Di Jiang used spatial leaps to speed ahead.

Before long, he had overtaken Fuxi, Tian Wu, and Nüwa, chasing directly after Bei Ming at the very front.

Seeing this, the other ten Ancestor Wizards each displayed their abilities and rushed onward.

When they had left Purple Cloud Palace, they had originally intended to find another chance to block Di Jun and Tai Yi's path and teach them a proper lesson.

Unfortunately, those two Golden Crows were exceptionally slippery, and their escape lights were swift. The moment the gates of Purple Cloud Palace opened, they had fled far away, leaving no chance to strike.

But now that an opportunity had appeared at Mount Buzhou, those two Golden Crows surely would not miss it.

When the time came, there would be another opportunity.

At this moment, heaven and earth rumbled.

Above Mount Buzhou Summit, Auspicious Clouds pierced the skies, while golden light stretched hundreds of millions of zhang.

The formation guarding the Primordial Gourd Vine was about to dissipate.

The spiritual aura and Dao Rhyme it released swept outward, drawing countless Innate Gods who had just returned from Purple Cloud Palace.

This Primordial Gourd Vine was a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, nurtured by heaven and earth and incomparably precious.

It bore seven innate gourds in total. Six had matured, while the last, its origin exhausted, could not mature successfully.

Like Innate Spiritual Treasures, Innate Spiritual Roots contained laws and possessed Innate Undying Spirit Light.

Spiritual treasures refined with them as their primary materials could be ranked among the innate.

According to the original course of events, the six gourds would respectively be obtained by Laozi, Yuanshi, Tongtian, Hong Yun, Tai Yi, and Nüwa.

Laozi would possess countless spiritual treasures in the future, while having only one personal disciple, making him immensely wealthy. After obtaining the gourd, he refined it into the Purple Gold Gourd to store pills.

Yuanshi refined his into the Heaven and Earth Gourd, which could nurture spiritual treasures and raise their grade.

Tongtian refined the Water and Fire Gourd, within which two Water and Fire Qilin were nurtured.

After Nüwa obtained her gourd, she refined it into the Summoning Demon Banner and gave it to the Demon Court, allowing it to command the demons.

Hong Yun incorporated Soul-Scattering Sand into his, refining it into the Nine Nine Scattered Soul Gourd, whose destructive reach was vast.

As for the Zhanxian Gourd refined by Tai Yi, its fame would shake later generations. It would be passed down to Di Jun's youngest son, Lu Ya, and earn a fearsome reputation in the Canonization of the Gods war.

The gourd vine itself was also a supreme wonder.

As one of the tools Nüwa used when she created humans, it would later transform into the [Creating People Whip], capable of absolutely suppressing Human Race cultivators.