Just as the situation had reached a stalemate, Nuwa stuck her oar in once more, completely turning things around.
"Fellow Daoists of the Three Pure Ones, the Three Crows have already yielded. Let them choose first."
The Three Pure Ones' expressions changed. Why did this scene seem so familiar? Hadn't they seen it somewhere before?
That was it. This was exactly how they had just driven away the Western Duo.
This despicable Golden Crow even knew how to win people over.
The arrangement he had proposed himself had just now been exactly what Nuwa and Hong Yun wanted.
With only a few words, he had brought Nuwa and Hong Yun over to his side.
Then they had turned around and joined him in pressuring the Three Pure Ones.
That despicable Golden Crow must have had his eye on the Black Gourd from the start, which was why he'd yielded first.
He'd given ground to gain an advantage.
For a moment, the Three Pure Ones looked at Ling Xiao with different expressions. After a brief pause, Laozi spoke slowly.
"What you two fellow Daoists say is reasonable. Then let the Golden Crow choose first."
Although they were formidable in battle, they weren't confident they could take on so many at once.
They could only swallow their anger for now.
A hint of amusement flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. At that moment, he was a scheming little Golden Crow.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, let's go pick out our gourds."
Then he beckoned to Di Jun and Tai Yi, who stood nearby.
The two of them had already been dumbfounded by Ling Xiao's maneuvers.
Only when they heard him call did they come back to their senses and hurry after him.
With a flash, Ling Xiao arrived before the Gourd Vine and looked at the seventh, black gourd.
Anyone who'd seen Calabash Brothers knew the seventh was the fiercest. In his view, if the other six were all top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, this Black Gourd was very likely an Innate Supreme Treasure.
However, this gourd was rarely mentioned in the Primordial World novels of his past life.
Perhaps Heaven had envied it, and it hadn't fully matured before something went wrong.
Or perhaps Hongjun had swiped it.
Whatever the case, Ling Xiao planned to put the Black Gourd in the Chaos Bead to nurture it, in case Heaven really did envy it and ruin it.
After plucking the Black Gourd, Di Jun also got the gourd that had caught his eye, just as he'd hoped. It was a purple-and-white gourd that could nurture the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife.
Once Ling Xiao and the others had chosen their gourds, the remaining mighty figures made no ceremony of it and used their magic to take the ones they wanted.
Hong Yun also got the red gourd he'd hoped for—the Nine-Nine Soul-Scattering Gourd of the future.
Nuwa got the golden gourd that would later nurture the Demon-Summoning Banner.
After the gourds had been distributed, the Three Pure Ones didn't linger. They didn't much want to look at Ling Xiao's face.
Meanwhile, Ling Xiao began collecting the Gourd Vine and the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil as though no one else were there.
"Little Sister, let's go too," Fuxi called to Nuwa, urging her to leave.
But Nuwa was lost in thought as she watched Ling Xiao working.
Somewhere deep inside, she felt that the Gourd Vine and the soil were extremely important to her.
But Ling Xiao had already set his sights on them.
After hesitating for a moment, Nuwa walked up to him.
"Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao, I have an unreasonable request. Could you give me the Gourd Vine and the soil?"
"I can trade you a gourd for them."
She looked utterly earnest, her words sincere. Her intuition told her that those two things mattered more to her than the gourd.
Ling Xiao looked at the golden gourd before him and fell into thought. This thing was the Demon-Summoning Banner. If he took it, would he incur Karma with the demon clan?
He had no plans to establish a demon clan.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, you should keep this gourd," Ling Xiao said with a smile.
Then he added silently:
I'll entrust the demon clan to you in the future.
Nuwa froze, utterly surprised. He didn't even want the treasure right in front of him?
"What about the Gourd Vine...?"
She couldn't quite read Ling Xiao. Was he giving it to her or not?
"I can give it to you, but you'll have to repay this Karma someday."
As he spoke, Ling Xiao tossed the Gourd Vine to Nuwa and gave her half the soil.
He kept the other half for himself.
He'd save it for later, to see if he could use it to create Golden Crows.
Nuwa was overjoyed and nodded repeatedly. "Of course, of course. I'll repay you someday, Fellow Daoist."
Ling Xiao nodded and waved casually, indicating she could go.
Nuwa and Fuxi took their leave. The ever-kind Hong Yun hadn't left yet. He came before Ling Xiao and said gratefully:
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist. Without you, I would never have gotten this gourd."
"Don't mention it. You deserve it."
Ling Xiao replied as if it were nothing. If he hadn't come along and caused the Butterfly Effect, this gourd would have belonged to Hong Yun anyway.
Hong Yun was still grateful and wanted to repay him, but after thinking it over, he couldn't come up with anything better to offer.
Suddenly, inspiration struck.
"Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao, would you allow me to visit your place? I'd like to sit and discuss the Dao with the three of you."
Hong Yun had the cheek to invite himself over.
The Three Crows hadn't gone to the Purple Heaven Palace to hear the Dao, but he had. He could explain what he'd heard to them.
It was the only way he could repay them.
Ling Xiao looked at Hong Yun in surprise. Not only was this fellow kindhearted, but he had quite the nerve too.
"Then... let's go together."
He didn't refuse. As the saying went, you didn't hit a smiling face.
Afterward, the Three Crows and Hong Yun returned to the Sun Star.
Hong Yun looked around the Sun Star. It was his first time there.
"What a fine place. No wonder it could give birth to three geniuses like you, Fellow Daoists."
"Could it be anything less, when it's one of Great God Pangu's eyes?" Tai Yi replied with a smile.
"Third Brother is the real genius. We're only so-so."
Di Jun and Tai Yi said this because Ling Xiao's performance this time had once again overturned everything they thought they knew.
It was downright absurd.
"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to belittle yourselves. Your innate foundations are powerful; what you lack is insight into the Dao. Fortunately, I had the honor of hearing the Dao Ancestor lecture this time. I can tell you what I heard."
Hong Yun took the opportunity to say.
"Is that true?"
Di Jun and Tai Yi were instantly delighted.
"Of course it's true. Fellow Daoist Hong Yun didn't just hear the Dao; he even sat in the foremost seat."
Ling Xiao couldn't help teasing him. Hong Yun really was a warmhearted fellow. To repay them, he'd come over as a messenger and lecture them on the Dao.
"Just luck, just luck. I was only fortunate... Wait, how did you find out about that, Fellow Daoist Ling Xiao?"
Hong Yun asked in puzzlement. He hadn't seen Ling Xiao at the Purple Heaven Palace!
Ling Xiao spread his hands and replied casually, "I heard it from a fellow Daoist who came back from the Purple Heaven Palace."
Hong Yun nodded, amazed. Was he really so much the center of attention now?
He'd only given up his seat. Surely that wasn't such a big deal?
After that, they sat down to discuss the Dao. Of course, Hong Yun did most of the talking.
Di Jun and Tai Yi listened attentively. They benefited greatly from it.
They might as well listen while they could.
As for Ling Xiao, he split his attention, putting the Black Gourd into the Chaos Bead.
Then he put the Yellow Plum, which he'd received as a system reward, into the Chaos Bead as well.
An Innate Spiritual Root of this level couldn't grow in an ordinary environment.
He could only plant it in the Chaos with some of the soil.
Once it matured, a single fruit could create a Daluo Golden Immortal.
Before you continue