Inside Pangu Hall, baleful aura filled the air.
The other eleven Ancestral Witches were discussing the great plans for the Witch Clan's development when the hall doors were violently smashed open. A figure, charred black from head to toe, hair standing on end, wisps of green smoke rising from his body along with a faint scent of roasted meat, staggered inside and crashed to the ground.
"Gong Gong?!"
The Ancestral Witches were horrified and hurriedly gathered around him. Zhu Rong, who had the fiercest temper, roared, "Who was it?! Which bastard dared to hurt you like this?! Was it those two feathered beasts from the Demon Court?!"
Dijiang's expression turned grave as he examined Gong Gong's condition. "What pure and violent thunderous power... It actually broke through your Ancestral Witch body and injured your origin? When did the Primordial Chaos produce such a figure?"
Gong Gong struggled to raise a charred hand, pointing at the sky before pointing at himself. His lips trembled, and after a long while, he forced out broken words. "N-No... not the Demon Emperor... It was, it was a... strange Daoist... I-I couldn't hurt him... He, he called down lightning... struck me... It was Purple Cloud Divine Thunder..."
"What?!" "Purple Cloud Divine Thunder?!" "Heavenly Dao divine thunder?! Why would it strike you?" "A strange Daoist? You couldn't hurt him?"
The Ancestral Witches were utterly baffled. They looked at one another, wondering whether Gong Gong's brain had been fried and he had started talking nonsense. A Daoist who could not be harmed? One who could casually summon Heavenly Dao Purple Cloud Divine Thunder? That was even more absurd than claiming Father God Pangu had come back to life!
Houtu Ancestral Witch frowned delicately and asked softly, "Brother Gong Gong, tell us carefully. What exactly happened?"
Gong Gong caught his breath and roughly recounted what had happened, especially emphasizing the other party's bizarre defensive power and that final outrageous bolt of Purple Cloud Divine Thunder.
After hearing Gong Gong's account, an eerie silence fell over Pangu Hall.
Zhu Rong scratched his red hair. "Something like that exists? An unbreakable punching bag that can call down heavenly lightning? What the hell kind of monster is that?" She Bi Shi stroked his chin. "Could it be some special Primordial God or Devil? One immune to physical attacks?" Tian Wu pondered, "He can wield Purple Cloud Divine Thunder... Could he be connected to the Heavenly Dao? But why would the Heavenly Dao help him deal with Gong Gong?"
Dijiang finally said gravely, "This matter is suspicious. We will set it aside for now. Gong Gong, recover properly. In the near future, none of our clansmen are to stray far from Buzhou Mountain unless necessary. We will speak again after investigating that Daoist's origins." Deep down, he vaguely felt that the Primordial Chaos had gained a variable that operated by no conventional rules.
Meanwhile, that "variable" was leisurely wandering into the territory of Kunlun Mountain.
"Hmm, this place has plenty of immortal aura. It's much denser than elsewhere. No wonder it produces big shots." Xiao Kuang sniffed. He could not actually smell anything, but it definitely felt different.
He wandered around aimlessly and unknowingly entered a valley. Spiritual energy within the valley had condensed into mist, while countless rays of sunset glow and auspicious colors filled the air. At the center of the valley, floating above a clear spring, was a verdant lotus bud ready to bloom. It radiated an incomparably profound aura of creation, causing even the surrounding laws of the Great Dao to resonate with it.
"Wow! What a beautiful lotus!" Xiao Kuang's eyes immediately went wide. "That quality, that sheen—it's way better than the ones in an aquarium! It'll definitely look good if I bring it back and put it in the hot spring!"
He never considered whether the thing had an owner or whether it was some Innate Spiritual Root. Following the bandit logic of if I like it, it's mine, he eagerly reached out to pick it.
[Heavenly Dao:... Warning! Detected agent attempting to acquire... Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure... Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation...] [Notice: this treasure shares... a deep fate with the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun Mountain... involving immense karma... recommendation... proceed cautiously... do not become entangled...]
The Heavenly Dao's cold intent sounded in time, trying to stop this bastard from doing something outrageous again.
Xiao Kuang's hand froze in midair, and he raised an eyebrow. "Oh? It has an owner? And it belongs to the Three Pure Ones? Deep fate? What the hell does that have to do with me?"
He was rebellious by nature. The more the Heavenly Dao told him not to do something, the more eager he was to do it.
"So what if their fate runs deep? I'm the Dao Ancestor! No fate with me? There is now!" He curled his lip, completely ignoring the Heavenly Dao's warning as he grabbed for the Green Lotus of Creation.
Just as his fingers were about to touch the lotus, three terrifying auras descended like meteors and crashed into the valley. Three Daoists appeared—it was none other than the Three Pure Ones of Kunlun!
Laozi's expression darkened slightly. "Fellow Daoist, stop!" Jade Pure Primordial Heavenly Venerate wore an ugly expression as he rebuked, "What divine being are you, to dare covet the treasure born with us!" Upper Pure Heavens Leader directly brought out the Qingping Sword, its tip aimed straight at Xiao Kuang as fighting intent surged from him. "Treasures belong to the virtuous? I think you want to find out whether my sword is sharp enough!"
The Three Pure Ones had been discussing the Dao in their cave abode when they simultaneously sensed that the Green Lotus of Creation, linked to their very origins, was about to be forcibly taken. They had rushed over in a panic, arriving just in time to catch Xiao Kuang about to make his move.
Xiao Kuang was startled by the three powerful auras that had suddenly appeared. He pulled back his hand and looked at the three saints who would one day be incomparably awesome. They were still just three "youngsters" now. He felt a little uneasy, but he could not lose verbally.
"What's with all this? Who are you trying to scare?" He planted his hands on his hips, trying his best to look intimidating. "Does this lotus have your names written on it? If you call it, will it answer? Treasures of heaven and earth belong to whoever finds them, understand?"
Primordial Lord of Heaven was so angry he nearly laughed. "What twisted logic! This treasure was born alongside us in Kunlun Mountain, its aura linked to ours. It is a treasure ordained by heaven! How can we allow you to use smooth words to seize it!"
Sect Master Tongtian said impatiently, "Big Brother, Second Brother, why waste words with him? He is obviously here to steal a treasure. Let our hands decide the matter!" As he spoke, the Qingping Sword hummed, and sword qi shot into the sky.
Laozi was the calmest of them all. He carefully examined Xiao Kuang, growing more shocked the longer he looked. The other man's aura was unfathomable, seemingly in harmony with the Heavenly Dao, yet also chaotic and lazy. He could not see through his origins at all. He stopped the impulsive Tongtian and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist, with your profound cultivation, why engage in such blatant theft? Is that not beneath your status?"
[Heavenly Dao:... Warning again... the Green Lotus of Creation involves merit from the creation of heaven and earth... karma is immense... strongly recommend... let go...]
The Heavenly Dao's intent urged him again, even carrying a trace of anxiety.
Xiao Kuang was caught between both sides, especially with the Heavenly Dao still babbling in his head. His rebellious streak completely exploded!
"Shut up! I'm taking it!" he roared at the Heavenly Dao in his mind. Then he gave the Three Pure Ones an infuriatingly roguish grin. "Heaven-ordained? I am heaven! I say it has fate with me now!"
Without giving the Three Pure Ones time to react, he once more mobilized that unreasonable Heavenly Dao Authority. He did not refine it, nor did he collect it. Instead, he used the simplest and most brutal method—spatial extraction!
"Heavenly Dao Authority! Area lockdown! Forced requisition! Come here!"
Buzz!
An indescribable supreme power descended in an instant, completely freezing the entire valley along with the Green Lotus of Creation! The Three Pure Ones felt their bodies tighten, as though invisible shackles had bound them. Even the circulation of their mana became sluggish!
Then, under their bloodshot gazes, the Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation—profound beyond measure and bound to their fortunes—was forcibly "dug" from where it stood, turning into a streak of light that landed in Xiao Kuang's hand!
"You!!!" Primordial Lord of Heaven flew into a rage, and his Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud was nearly summoned! Sect Master Tongtian shook the Qingping Sword and was about to slash out without regard for anything else! Laozi's expression also changed drastically as a flat crutch appeared in his hand!
[Heavenly Dao:!!!!!! (ultimate garbled-text spam)] [Core code:... collapse... unable to comprehend... forced execution... karmic lines violently disturbed... merit golden lotus warning...] [Computing power overloaded... entering power-saving mode... ((′-﹏-`;))...]
The Heavenly Dao had completely crashed from this hooligan maneuver.
Having stolen the treasure, Xiao Kuang weighed it in his hand. It felt cool and comfortable. He glanced at the Three Pure Ones, who were on the verge of going berserk, then chuckled. "Thanks, you three. This lotus is pretty nice. I'll take it back and... well, use it to soak my feet!"
Soak his feet?!! He was going to use the Twenty-Four Petaled Green Lotus of Creation, a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure containing boundless power of creation, to soak his feet?!!
Upon hearing that, the Three Pure Ones nearly coughed up blood! Their bodies shook with rage!
"Villain! How dare you insult this treasure!" Primordial Lord of Heaven could no longer endure it, and the Myriad Heavens Auspicious Cloud bloomed with radiant light! "Give back my treasure!" Sect Master Tongtian's sword light tore through the sky! Laozi swung his flat crutch as well!
Three incomparably terrifying attacks, containing the ultimate fury of Grand Unity Golden Immortals, crashed down upon Xiao Kuang!
Xiao Kuang jumped in fright. Hugging the Green Lotus, he let out a yelp, no longer caring about putting on airs. He mobilized his authority to protect himself, turned into a streak of light, and ran faster than a rabbit!
"See you later! We'll chat again next time!"
The Three Pure Ones' attacks missed, reducing the valley to a complete mess. All that remained were the dark faces of the three future saints and the Heavenly Dao's endlessly collapsing garbled text...
Xiao Kuang hugged the lotus and sped all the way back to Purple Cloud Palace, still shaken. "Damn it, I almost got ganged up on... But it was worth it! This lotus is really beautiful. It'll be perfect for soaking my feet!"
Before you continue