Di Jun's idea was indeed somewhat feasible;
but at this moment, all the experts around them were drawn in by the Top-Grade Spirit Root, with no time to spare for anything else.
The six Primordial Gourds before them were far more tangible than empty fame.
After all, fame could be fought over later, but once the gourds were gone, they would truly be gone.
Moreover, the benefits Di Jun could offer now could not possibly surpass the Primordial Gourds, while they would still have to bear the risk of retaliation from the Ancestor Wizards.
After a brief consideration, Di Jun took a deep breath and said coldly:
"Abandon the Primordial Gourds for now! Second Brother, suppress space and time with all your strength. We will use the Hunyuan Heluo Great Array to find an opportunity to retreat!"
Meanwhile, on the other side, a new struggle began among the remaining Great Powers over the Primordial Gourds.
With the Golden Crow Brothers and the group of Ancestor Wizards gone, exactly six parties remained in the field.
Dong Wangong stepped forward and said loudly:
"Everyone, there are now six mature gourds, and we happen to have six parties."
A sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. Calm and composed, he slightly raised his hands.
"I have just been appointed Immortal Chief by the Saint. Why not let me make the decision? Each of our six parties takes one—would that not be perfect?"
Hearing this, everyone inwardly scoffed.
He had only just been appointed Immortal Chief, yet he was already impatient to exercise the Immortal Chief's special privilege?
Bei Ming's gaze was cold as it fell upon the high-spirited Dong Wangong. He thought to himself:
The Dao Ancestor gave you the title of Immortal Chief, but you still have to earn the substance of that position yourself.
If everyone here accepted your proposal, would that not amount to recognizing you as Immortal Chief?
You would gain the title and secure a Primordial Gourd as well. How could there be such a good deal?
Everyone present understood this logic. Their gazes met, but no one intended to grant Dong Wangong his wish.
Leaving aside whether they recognized his identity as Immortal Chief, this method of distribution alone was destined to satisfy no one.
Bei Ming wanted one;
Fuxi himself did not particularly care, but he had already resolved to fight for one on Nüwa's behalf.
That single party alone would take two gourds.
As for the Three Pure Ones, they wanted one each, claiming three more.
Seeing everyone's cold expressions, Dong Wangong's face remained unchanged, though his heart sank. His eyelid twitched slightly as he prepared to say something else.
Yuanshi, however, spoke first. His steady voice naturally carried an air of authority.
"My two brothers and I are the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu.
There are six gourds here. We do not intend to take them all, but taking three—one for each brother—is not excessive, is it?"
Tongtian's sword light flashed. With a casual flick of his wrist, he traced a sword flourish. His Sword Momentum was fierce, his sword intent grim, and he firmly supported his Second Brother.
"What my second brother said is right. We will take three; you may fight over the rest."
Laozi said nothing. His eyes were slightly lowered, his expression tranquil and unreadable;
yet the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda above his head shone with even greater divine light. Its radiance was heavy, its pressure spreading in all directions, clearly endorsing those words.
"This..." Dong Wangong revealed a troubled expression, the smile on his face stiffening slightly.
Once the Three Pure Ones spoke, no one dared take them lightly.
Dong Wangong inwardly groaned. These three had always been overwhelmingly domineering in the Primordial Wilderness. It seemed difficult for him to use the situation to seize control.
Bei Ming brought out the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler. As the ruler's light emerged, vast Hongmeng qi spread through the area.
"In the Primordial Wilderness, strength has always been supreme. I will take one."
Seeing the ruler in Bei Ming's hand, Zhunti's head still throbbed faintly.
Fuxi stepped forward. His tone was gentle, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.
"I can go without one, but my younger sister Nüwa must have one."
Bei Ming turned his gaze toward Dong Wangong and spoke with a faint smile.
"Fellow Daoist, what do you think? Our side now has two demands."
Hong Yun smiled and raised a hand toward one of the gourds.
"I think one of these gourds is fated with me."
Hong Yun had always done good deeds, mostly protecting the weak.
Back at Zixiao Palace, Zhunti and Jieyin had moved him precisely by pretending to be pitiable.
But what followed proved that he had misjudged them.
Now, as he looked around, everyone present was powerful. Where were the weak?
Since that was the case, he naturally had to fight for an opportunity for himself.
Zhen Yuanzi was quite straightforward. He said slowly:
"The Primordial Gourds are not fated with Poor Daoist. But since one is fated with Hong Yun, I shall help him fight for it."
Zhunti said with a smile, "Why all the fighting and killing? Give one gourd to us in the West, and Senior Brother and I will not interfere."
Seeing Zhunti's smiling face, Yuanshi immediately snapped at him.
"You two call yourselves Western Guests! The Gourd Vine is a treasure of the Eastern Continent and is not fated with you! Leave at once!"
Zhunti shook his head, the smile on his face unchanged.
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, Spirit Treasures belong to the fated ones. What does East or West have to do with it?"
Ming He sneered, holding a sword in each hand: Yuan Tu and A Bi.
Cold light flickered from the sword edges as a bloody aura spread outward.
Both swords were Top-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures. They contained the Laws of Slaughter and possessed the wondrous ability to kill without incurring karma, making them highly compatible with Ming He.
Seeing this, he said, "Time is precious. Talking alone will not settle anything.
I think Fellow Daoist Bei Ming is right. Strength is supreme in the Primordial Wilderness. Let us each rely on our own abilities."
Tongtian's fingertips lightly brushed across the edge of the Qingping Sword. The blade immediately hummed without end, erupting with a thousand zhang of azure light.
"Clang—!"
The sword cry soared into the heavens. A fierce sword qi slashed through the air, opening the battle and launching the first attack.
The Three Pure Ones charged forward together, rushing straight toward the Gourd Vine.
At the same time, everyone else acted almost simultaneously. Divine light shot into the sky as Spirit Treasures emerged one after another.
Ming He faced Zhunti and Jieyin;
bloody baleful qi churned as karmic fire swept forth;
the dual swords Yuan Tu and A Bi danced in unison, their blood light grim and cold, every strike aimed to kill.
Zhunti's smile faded as he wielded the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree, clashing fiercely with Ming He's sword light.
Jieyin's expression was solemn. His dharma form flickered into view as he raised the Precious Canopy high, its golden light dazzling as it resisted the boundless killing intent.
Fuxi and Nüwa stood side by side, facing Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi from afar.
Zhen Yuanzi's Earth Book possessed extremely powerful defenses. With him protecting them, Nüwa and Fuxi could hardly inflict any damage.
On the other side, Bei Ming alone faced Dong Wangong and Queen Mother of the West.
The Spirit Treasures Hongjun had just bestowed had not yet been refined and could not be used;
however, as two of the most top-notch Innate Gods, both of them possessed Personal Spirit Treasures.
With a sweep of his long sleeve, Dong Wangong drew the Pure Yang Sword. Its blazing sword light carried supreme Pure Yang might as it slashed straight at Bei Ming.
Bei Ming fiercely brought down the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler. Its ruler light seemed to split Heaven and Earth, striking the Pure Yang Sword with a heavy blow.
"Boom—!"
Heaven and Earth shook violently. Dong Wangong's expression changed drastically, his chest tightening as he staggered back several steps, his blood and qi churning.
However, that strike had not truly been meant to win. It was intended to create an opportunity for Queen Mother of the West.
Queen Mother of the West raised her jade-like hand. The Kunlun Mirror floated above her head, its mirror light blazing. Time-Space Power filled its brilliant Divine Radiance as it shrouded the Gourd Vine.
Bei Ming had long prepared for this treasure. He shouted coldly, "Absolute Time!"
The Eternal Age Hourglass appeared. Its grains of sand flowed backward, and streaming light reversed.
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