Ling Xiao's battle with Jieyin had reached a fever pitch. The spectacle was astonishing, their power soaring through the heavens as the sun and moon dimmed.
Sun True Fire devoured the sky, stirring the essence of the sun and pouring down a vast expanse of golden holy flames. They spread into an endless sea of fire that overturned Qiankun.
"Senior Brother! I'm coming to help you!"
Seeing that his senior brother Jieyin was losing, Zhun Ti shouted and prepared to join the battle, but Di Jun and Tai Yi blocked him.
Though they couldn't defeat Zhun Ti, they could still keep him occupied and buy some time.
"Bastards!"
Zhun Ti roared in fury, and the two sides clashed in an instant.
Elsewhere.
Jieyin finally couldn't hold on any longer. He was nearly beaten senseless, and even his Sixteen-Foot Golden Body had been damaged. His face was swollen and bruised, and he was covered in Dao wounds that would be difficult to heal.
"Fellow Daoist, let's stop for now. We can talk this out."
Taking advantage of a brief lull, Jieyin hurriedly spoke. "Fighting won't solve anything. We are all cultivators. We shouldn't behave so crudely!"
"Oh? What do you want to say?"
Ling Xiao raised a hand, summoning the Primordial Cauldron to hover above his head. It bobbed up and down, keeping him invincible.
Jieyin glanced at the Primordial Cauldron with apprehension, then forced a smile. "When all is said and done, aren't we fighting over these seven gourds? In that case, I'll give one to you as an apology."
"Our West only needs one gourd."
At that, he looked toward Zhun Ti, who was still fighting, and shouted a reprimand.
"Junior Brother, stop being rude! Stop fighting at once!"
His shout left Zhun Ti stunned. In that moment of distraction, Di Jun and Tai Yi took turns landing a slap on him, one each.
Zhun Ti exploded, furious enough to blow himself up on the spot.
But Jieyin was quick to hold him down. "Junior Brother, don't act rashly. Relax, relax."
Ling Xiao laughed wryly. "Jieyin, these seven gourds are treasures of our East, and have nothing to do with your West. Forget one gourd—even a single leaf won't leave with you."
"Fellow Daoist! We are all living beings of the Primordial Land. Why divide things into East and West?" Jieyin said with a stiff expression and a chuckle.
He had already given way, asking for only one gourd. He hadn't expected Ling Xiao to refuse to give him even that.
That was simply too much.
Were the strongest duo in the West really so insignificant?
"Heh, I think Fellow Daoist Golden Crow is right. Fellow Daoist Jieyin, don't meddle. Go back to the West and cultivate."
Red Cloud Daoist suddenly spoke up. He wasn't trying to kick them while they were down; he simply thought Ling Xiao had a point.
"You..."
Jieyin glared at him, not expecting Red Cloud to say something like that.
Was this still the good fellow Daoist who had offered him a seat at Purple Heaven Palace?
The path of cultivation demanded an unwavering Dao heart. Changing your mind back and forth like this could lead to a cultivation deviation, you know?
Jieyin's anger had yet to subside when Nuwa spoke as well, indicating that they should leave.
"Fellow Daoist Jieyin, Fellow Daoist Zhun Ti, please return to the West."
Her jade-like face was calm, suffused with an unusual serenity.
Ling Xiao looked at Red Cloud and Nuwa in surprise. He had only said it offhand, but he hadn't expected the two of them to step forward in agreement.
Of course, he could understand Red Cloud's actions perfectly well.
The bitterness had long since vanished from Jieyin's face. He turned toward the Three Pure Ones, about to ask them to uphold justice.
But Tongtian spoke before he could.
"Jieyin, Zhun Ti, stop clinging to this place. What they said makes sense. These are treasures of the East. I really don't think you're fated to have them."
"Fate isn't something you can force."
"You..."
Jieyin and Zhun Ti stared in shock at the Three Pure Ones and the others. Not long ago, they had been sitting together in a row, calling one another brothers and good friends.
Now they had turned their backs on them.
The tide had turned!
With all these mighty figures joining forces, they wouldn't be able to take so much as a leaf, let alone a gourd.
Jieyin and Zhun Ti exchanged a glance and calmed their anger. If they were leaving, they had to do so with dignity.
"In that case, fellow Daoists, until we meet again."
Jieyin spoke coolly, then turned and left with Zhun Ti. As they passed the Innate Gourd Vine, he gave a cold snort and said:
"Hmph! This item and the West were not fated to meet!"
After the Western Duo left,
the situation grew tense once more. There were only seven gourds, but nine people present.
"Fellow Daoists, the three of us brothers only need three gourds. I hope you'll do us the favor."
Laozi spoke first, breaking the stalemate.
"Indeed. We Three Pure Ones are of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Asking for three gourds isn't excessive." Yuanshi added, his expression haughty.
At this, Ling Xiao laughed.
"Funny you should say that. We Three Crows were born from Pangu's left eye. We, too, are of the Pangu Orthodox Lineage."
"Three Crows?"
The Three Pure Ones were taken aback.
They were the Pure Ones, while these three were "Crows." Were they deliberately picking a fight?
What a clumsy imitation!
"How about this: we Three Crows will take only two gourds. The remaining ones will go to Fellow Daoist Nuwa and Fellow Daoist Red Cloud, one each."
Ling Xiao paused, then continued.
Since Red Cloud had been the first to stand up for him just now, Ling Xiao felt that the Red Gourd originally meant for him should be given to Red Cloud.
That gourd would be crucial to Red Cloud in the future.
He couldn't take advantage of someone just because they were honest.
The Three Pure Ones were a whole tier stronger than the Two Western Sages. Laozi in particular was no weaker than Jieyin—in fact, he was stronger.
The Three Crows couldn't match the Three Pure Ones in raw strength.
Nuwa, meanwhile, was on the demon race's side and would become a Sage in the future. Ling Xiao didn't want to make an enemy of her over a single gourd.
When he finished speaking, the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa were all deeply surprised. Red Cloud wasn't weak, but he was only one person. They could easily have left him out of the distribution.
Even Red Cloud was deeply moved. He stared at Ling Xiao in utter surprise, feeling a rush of emotion.
"Since no one has any objections, that's how we'll divide them."
Yuanshi spoke at once, afraid Ling Xiao might change his mind. In any case, they would still get three gourds, so their interests hadn't been harmed.
The mighty figures said nothing, which counted as tacit agreement.
Yuanshi's face brightened. He was about to use a spell to take the gourds. The seven gourds were all different colors and strengths. The last one in particular, the Black Gourd, was wrapped in Chaos energy and was unquestionably far superior to the other six.
"Hold on."
Ling Xiao moved in a flash, blocking Yuanshi's path.
"We Three Crows have already taken a loss and made concessions. Are you still not going to let us choose first?"
"That's not true. You're already getting two gourds, which is an enormous advantage." Yuanshi was proud and arrogant by nature; he had no intention of yielding.
The Three Crows were ridiculous. How could they possibly compare to the Three Pure Ones?
"Fellow Daoist Yuanshi, you're taking three gourds. Don't insist on choosing first. Let Fellow Daoist Three Crows go ahead."
Red Cloud spoke up again, coming to stand beside Ling Xiao.
His meaning was clear: if it came to blows, he would side with Ling Xiao without hesitation.
Yuanshi's expression shifted. He glared at Red Cloud.
That damned do-gooder.
Why did you have to stick your nose in everywhere?
Standing with those three Golden Crows—did you think the Three Pure Ones were inferior to the Three Crows?
Before you continue