Treasure Distribution Cliff

When the two massive doors of Zixiao Palace creaked open, chaotic currents wrapped in fierce winds poured inward, making everyone's robes flap violently. But who had time to care about that now?

The eyes of the hundreds of great powers who had come to hear the Dao were all drawn to the sight outside—

In the chaos beyond the palace gates, where there had once been only gray gloom, a cliff had somehow appeared out of nowhere. It was not particularly tall, perhaps a hundred zhang or so, formed entirely of blue-gray stone from before chaos had separated. It looked ancient and even somewhat shabby. Yet treasure light soared into the heavens from its summit!

Crimson haze, golden radiance, emerald waves, violet mist... countless colors of treasure light intertwined and surged, illuminating the surrounding dead chaos with dazzling brilliance. Streams of spiritual energy, some strong and some weak, seeped from the cliff's peak and wormed into people's hearts, stirring the greed hidden deep within them.

"Treasure Distribution Cliff!"

No one knew who screamed it first, their voice warped with excitement.

That set everything off. The previously orderly crowd exploded into chaos. Escape lights, cloud vapors, demonic winds, Buddhist radiance... all manner of lights flashed wildly, like floodwaters bursting through a dam as everyone surged toward the cliff. The people charging at the front had bloodshot eyes, as though they wanted to swallow the entire cliff whole.

Di Jun stood beside Taiyi, his breathing quickening slightly as well. It was not greed that moved him, but urgency—the Demon Race had spread itself far and wide, yet its foundation remained weak, and Xiantian Spirit Treasures were especially rare. If they could obtain a few more treasures from Treasure Distribution Cliff to hold the fort, then when they established the Heavenly Court and ruled the myriad demons in the future, they would have more confidence.

True Sun Fire suddenly blazed around him, transforming into a golden rainbow as he prepared to charge forward.

"Brother, wait."

Taiyi's steady voice came from beside him, and one hand lightly rested on his arm.

Di Jun paused and turned back, urgency in his eyes. "Second Brother? If we're any later, there won't even be soup left!"

Taiyi shook his head. His gaze settled on the distant cliff overflowing with treasure light, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. "Look carefully, Brother—the treasure light atop that cliff may be flourishing, but the circulation of spiritual energy follows a hidden order. These are not ownerless treasures piled up at random. Since Dao Ancestor Hongjun said that those with affinity may take them, there must be some mystery behind it. If we rush in recklessly and trigger something, that would be unwise."

His words were half true and half false. The truth was that he genuinely found this strange—what sort of person was Hongjun? Would the treasures he brought out really be fought over like vegetables at a market? The falsehood was that he had already quietly opened his Causality Vision.

With that look, the scene before him immediately became entirely different.

How could Treasure Distribution Cliff be a mere rocky mountain? It was clearly an enormous "aggregate of causality" so vast it made one's heart tremble! Countless Karma Threads of varying colors and thicknesses extended from within the cliff like the roots and branches of a colossal tree. Dense and tangled, they nearly blanketed the entire chaos.

Every thread was connected to a spiritual treasure.

And those spiritual treasures floated amid the treasure light on the cliff's summit, as if alive, waiting and searching.

What made Taiyi's heart turn cold was that these Karma Threads were not lifeless. They slowly wriggled, probed, and formed connections... as though searching for their fated "masters."

So that was how it was... Taiyi understood.

What "those with affinity may obtain them"? It was clearly "those destined for them may take them"! The ownership of these spiritual treasures had likely been determined long ago by the operation of the Heavenly Dao! This so-called distribution of treasures was merely a formality, allowing the treasures and their owners to "recognize each other."

Since that was the case, what was the point of fighting to be first?

His thoughts raced, but his expression remained calm as he said to Di Jun, "Look, Brother. Some fellow Daoists have already gone up."

As he spoke, the first group had already reached the foot of the cliff. Leading them was an elderly man clad in a pitch-black cloak, his face sinister and gloomy. He was Old Ancestor Xuan Yin, notorious throughout the Northern Sea, with cultivation at the middle stage of the Great Luo realm. This old demon was exceptionally impatient and greedy. Seeing the treasure light directly above him, he gave a strange laugh and transformed into a stream of black smoke that swept toward the summit.

But just as the black smoke reached the middle of the cliff—

Bzzz!

A faint, rippling layer suddenly spread across the blue-gray stone surface of the cliff like water. The ripples expanded and struck the black smoke without missing.

Pfft!

Old Ancestor Xuan Yin did not even have time to scream before the black smoke seemed to suffer a crushing blow. With a bang, it exploded apart, revealing his wretched true form. Blood sprayed wildly from his mouth as he was hurled more than a hundred zhang away, crashing into the chaos and remaining motionless for a long while.

That single blow shocked the people behind him out of their frenzy. They hastily stopped their escape lights and stared at one another.

"A restriction! There is a restriction on the cliff!"

"What a formidable restriction!"

The scene fell into a stalemate. Only the treasure light atop the cliff continued to flow endlessly, as though mocking everyone's greed and humiliation.

At that moment, the Three Pure Ones arrived leisurely atop pale azure clouds. Laozi's eyelids were half lowered as though he had seen nothing; Yuanshi looked indifferent, his eyes fixed straight ahead; Tongtian glanced once more toward where Old Ancestor Xuan Yin had fallen, a trace of mockery curling at the corner of his lips. The three walked directly to the cliff. Without using any visible divine ability, the faint ripples parted soundlessly like spring ice melting into water, opening a passage.

Their robes fluttered as they calmly stepped inside, their figures disappearing into the cliff.

"Th-this..." Everyone stared in stunned disbelief.

Soon after, Nuwa and Fuxi arrived together. Nuwa did not take out the Mountain and River Diagram—she had long since refined it, and it was currently hidden within her Primordial Spirit for nourishment. She merely extended her delicate hand and lightly tapped the ripples with one slender finger. Creative Vitality flowed from her fingertip, and the ripples obediently parted. The two exchanged smiles and entered side by side.

Then came Zhunti and Jieyin. Zhunti pressed his palms together and softly chanted a Buddhist invocation. Dark golden Buddhist light surged from around him, enveloping them both. The moment that light touched the ripples, they slowly receded as though meeting hot oil. The two entered without difficulty as well.

By then, even the dullest person understood—not everyone was forbidden from entering. One simply needed "affinity" to do so!

But who could explain the word "affinity"? Who had it? Who did not?

The crowd grew restless. Some refused to accept it and tried charging in directly like the Three Pure Ones, only to be flung even farther than Old Ancestor Xuan Yin. Others who considered their magic power formidable used divine abilities to force their way through, and their fates were even more miserable.

Taiyi watched coldly, his Causality Vision never closing.

He saw it clearly—when the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, Zhunti, and Jieyin entered, several thick and solid Karma Threads had long been connected between them and certain spiritual treasures within the cliff. That rippling restriction was not meant to block people at all. It was more like an identity checkpoint, allowing passage only to those carrying "proof"—namely, those with karmic ties to spiritual treasures.

As for those who had been flung away, they either lacked such a thread or their thread was too thin and weak to qualify.

This was not treasure distribution at all. It was simply returning things to their rightful owners... Taiyi understood.

Hongjun's move was truly brilliant. Whoever was meant to own a treasure had already been written into the Heavenly Dao's script. Today was merely a formality, handing the items over to their proper owners. As for those not included in the arrangement, they could not even pass through the door.

While he was pondering this, Di Jun suddenly let out a low sound of surprise beside him. "Strange... the River Diagram and Luo Script in my Primordial Spirit seems to have resonated with something inside the cliff."

Taiyi abruptly turned his head, focusing his Causality Vision on his brother.

Deep within Di Jun's Primordial Spirit, the phantom of the River Diagram and Luo Script he had been born with was faintly glowing. The Star Dao Rhyme and imperial aura it emitted subtly echoed and resonated with the aura of a spiritual treasure deep within the cliff. Although it was not directly acquiring a new treasure, this resonance seemed capable of triggering some profound transformation, deepening Di Jun's control and comprehension of the River Diagram and Luo Script.

"Brother, this is your opportunity. Go." Taiyi's voice was solemn.

Di Jun nodded, steadied himself, and walked toward the cliff.

Sure enough, when the rippling layer encountered the stellar imperial aura naturally emanating from Di Jun, it silently parted like snow before the sun. Di Jun's figure flashed and vanished inside.

It worked.

Taiyi relaxed inwardly, then focused on sensing himself.

This time, he truly caught several subtle pulls.

Not one, but three.

Three extremely faint, nearly transparent Karma Threads extended from the hazy, chaotic fog of his karma, trembling as they reached toward the cliff. These three threads were so thin that they seemed ready to snap at any time. Without Causality Vision, he would not have noticed them at all. Moreover, the things connected to the other ends did not seem to be the "main characters" shining most brightly atop the cliff, but objects hidden in corners with dim spiritual light.

"Is it because my own karma has been disturbed and become blurred, making these connections weak as well?" Taiyi frowned in thought. "Or is it because, as an 'anomaly' in my current state, I was never meant to become entangled with too many major treasures of 'fixed destiny'?"

He had no time to think further, because others around him had already discovered the key and begun displaying their various methods—some closed their eyes in meditation to sense their destined affinity; some took out Xiantian divination discs and forcefully deduced a path; others gathered in groups of three or five to discuss breaking the restriction together.

Taiyi no longer hesitated and stepped forward.

The ripples spread apart without blocking him.

He took one step inside.

Light and shadow flowed before his eyes, and space transformed. When his vision cleared, he found himself in a strange place.

This seemed to be inside the cliff, yet also an independent hidden realm. There was no sun or moon overhead, only hazy clear radiance falling from above. There was no solid ground beneath his feet, only flowing chaotic cloud vapor. In the surrounding void floated hundreds of light spheres, varying in size and brightness. Every sphere contained a spiritual treasure, its Dao Rhyme circulating and treasure light swirling.

The people who had entered before him were already scattered throughout the area.

The Three Pure Ones stood together. The light spheres floating before them radiated vast and awe-inspiring auras. They were the embryonic origins of the Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner, and Four Swords of Zhu Xian, treasures that would one day shake the Great Wilderness. Though the supreme treasures had not yet fully formed, their might was already apparent, causing the surrounding chaotic currents to freeze.

Nuwa and Fuxi stood somewhat farther away. They did not collect new treasures, but merely stood quietly in comprehension. The Mountain and River Diagram within Nuwa's Primordial Spirit resonated with the dense Creation Dao Rhyme around them, seemingly making progress; before Fuxi, several profound Xiantian hexagram trajectories appeared, helping him deduce heavenly secrets.

Over at Zhunti and Jieyin's side, a withered yellow sapling floated before Zhunti. Nourished by Buddhist light, the sapling sprouted tender buds and regained vitality—it was the embryonic form of the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree. Before Jieyin floated the phantom of a string of twelve dark prayer beads. Each bead seemed to contain an endless sea of suffering, with the intent of extinction and reincarnation beginning to emerge.

Di Jun was nearby as well. He did not collect any physical object, but closed his eyes in concentration. The phantom of the River Diagram and Luo Script in his Primordial Spirit resonated with a certain Star Origin deep within the space. The Star Chart upon the scroll seemed to become more vivid and profound, fusing even more closely with his imperial destiny.

Everyone was harmonizing with their own "destined affinity."

Taiyi withdrew his gaze and began searching for the things that belonged to him, following the guidance of those three faint Karma Threads.

The first thread pointed to an exceptionally secluded corner in the front left. The light sphere floating there was small and dim, nearly swallowed by the treasure light filling the sky. Inside the sphere was not a physical artifact, but a wisp of ever-changing gray aura—at times like smoke, at times like fog; at times condensing into obscure runes, at times dispersing into invisible ripples.

Taiyi reached out and touched the light sphere.

Bzzz—

A cold and obscure thought entered his sea of consciousness: Qi of Tribulation and Destiny. An aura born from great tribulations, formless and intangible, capable of attaching to karma and subtly disturbing the course of calamities. However, the backlash of tribulation and destiny was immense. If used improperly, the wielder would be the first to suffer.

Tribulation and destiny?

Taiyi's heart stirred. Great tribulations were the greatest variables in the Great Wilderness, as well as the most crucial "plot points" in the Heavenly Dao's script. This wisp of Qi of Tribulation and Destiny could not directly contend against a great tribulation, but it could subtly influence its direction at crucial moments like a catalyst or fuse... It was practically a tool tailor-made for an "anomaly" like him!

He cautiously wrapped it in divine sense and drew the gray aura into the depths of his Primordial Spirit to nurture it. This formless object perfectly suited his current blurred karmic state.

The second thread pointed toward an indentation in the stone wall to his right. The light sphere there was slightly larger. Within it was a small crimson flag, its surface fluttering without wind as flame light flowed across it. Yet upon closer inspection, the runes along the flag's edges were somewhat blurred, and its flame light lacked the domineering true intent to burn the eight directions. Instead, it carried an illusory sense of being "similar, but not quite."

When he touched the light sphere, information arrived: Li Di Yan Guang Qi (Replica). A Houtian Spirit Treasure modeled after the southern Li Di Yan Guang Qi among the Xiantian Five Direction Flags. It possessed roughly thirty percent of the original flag's power, capable of unleashing Southern Bright Fire, protecting its wielder, and disrupting the qi of the five elements. However, this replica had an unstable foundation and incomplete restrictions. Prolonged activation or powerful strikes could damage or destroy it.

A replica? Taiyi raised a brow. The true Li Di Yan Guang Qi was a top-tier Xiantian Spirit Treasure; how could it be given away so easily? Though this replica possessed only thirty percent of its power and was a Houtian treasure, its ability to disrupt the qi of the five elements was ideal for someone like him, who needed to conceal heavenly secrets and confuse others. Besides, replicas had their own uses... In certain circumstances, a replica that had the name but not the substance might confuse an opponent better than the genuine article.

With a thought, he stored the small crimson flag in his sleeve.

The third thread pointed toward the deepest and darkest part of the space. The chaos qi there was dense, nearly forming a dim fog bank. At the center of that fog, a weak blue glimmer flickered uncertainly. Within the light sphere was a deep-blue pearl the size of a pigeon's egg. Turbulent waves seemed to rage inside it, yet they were tightly sealed by some force, emitting only faint but pure water-element spiritual resonance.

Taiyi stared intently at the pearl. Through Causality Vision, twenty-four extremely fine Karma Threads extended from it—twenty-three pointed into the depths of the void, vaguely connecting to other Sea-Calming Pearls that had yet to appear. Only one thread, weak yet firm, connected to himself.

He reached out and touched the light sphere.

Bzzz—

Information flooded his sea of consciousness: Sea-Calming Pearl (single pearl). One of the twenty-four Xiantian Spirit Treasure Sea-Calming Pearls, containing the embryonic form of a water world. It could suppress magic power, evolve void, and possessed countless wondrous uses. However, a single pearl had limited power. Only by gathering multiple pearls could the true world-calming might be revealed. This pearl bore profound karma and secretly connected to the other pearls. Holding it would easily invite turmoil.

Taiyi's heart trembled. Twenty-four Sea-Calming Pearls... In the memories of his past life, this treasure had been Zhao Gongming's weapon of dominance during the Investiture of the Gods war. A single pearl was already a Xiantian spiritual object, while the complete set possessed limitless might. More importantly, an innate and closely bound karmic connection existed among the twenty-four pearls.

He held the deep-blue pearl in his palm. Its surface was cool and smooth, and tides seemed to surge within it. Through Causality Vision, he could clearly "see" the twenty-three Karma Threads extending into the depths of the void—this meant that as long as he held this pearl, he could faintly sense the locations, states, and even... possible future ownership of the other twenty-three Sea-Calming Pearls.

A potential karmic network had silently fallen into his hands.

He had obtained three things: a wisp of formless tribulation and destiny qi, a Houtian replica flag, and a fragmentary Xiantian pearl. Compared to the origin treasures touched by the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and the others, they could only be called shabby scraps. Yet Taiyi felt no disappointment whatsoever. Instead, he felt reassured and fortunate—these were the "destined affinities" truly suited to his current identity as a blurred anomaly. If he forcibly sought those "main character" treasures burdened with profound karma and destined for others, not only would he likely fail, but he might expose his abnormality too early and bring disaster upon himself.

His fingertips touched the cool, smooth surface of the Sea-Calming Pearl. A trace of water-element spiritual resonance spread up his arm, faintly echoing the pulse of the three fragments of Karma Reversal deep within his Primordial Spirit.