Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, Breaking the Formation on Mount Zhou in Search of Opportunity

Seeing Li Changsheng's eager look, Pangu almost laughed. It was rather amusing. Though the boy was playing a few clever tricks, he certainly had guts. During these dull days, he at least added a bit of entertainment.

Treasures meant little to him. Having someone to chat with was already quite nice.

"Boss, what treasure are you giving this little one?"

"Treasure? What treasure? I never said it was a treasure."

Li Changsheng's smile did not fade. After so long, he had more or less figured out Pangu's temperament. Though his words could be cutting, he was quite generous. Definitely a good person.

Li Changsheng stared eagerly into the void, his eyes sparkling, his heart filled with anticipation for a protective treasure. He barely dared to breathe, simply waiting for Pangu's reward.

He knew it perfectly well.

As the ancestor who had opened heaven, Pangu's wealth was unimaginably vast. Even a tiny scrap would be enough for him to swagger through the Primordial World. Pangu had merely been teasing him earlier. How could he possibly dismiss him with some ordinary spiritual root?

"Young fellow, I searched around. Under the limitations of this remnant soul's will, I only found an ordinary innate spiritual root. It cannot be called a supreme treasure, but it can barely serve as a toy. If you do not mind, take it."

Pangu's voice was unhurried, carrying a deliberately casual tone, as though he truly could only produce some insignificant trinket.

As his words fell, a small blade of grass with emerald leaves slowly drifted out of the void. No divine light circulated around it, nor did it leak even a trace of Dao rhythm. It looked no different from the ordinary spiritual herbs scattered all across the Primordial World.

Li Changsheng: "..."

He rolled his eyes on the spot and grumbled silently to himself.

Give me a break!

Pangu was way too fond of playing around. His idol image had completely collapsed!

Did he really think Li Changsheng could not tell?

This was clearly something casually picked up from Mount Zhou!

Besides, he had already acted cute and shameless to that extent. If Pangu truly tried to fob him off with this thing, that would be far too ungenerous!

"Boss! Please stop teasing me!"

Li Changsheng immediately put away his expectant expression and adopted a shamelessly persistent stance. He repeatedly bowed toward the void, his tone full of roguish pleading. "I know your family fortune is abundant. How could you possibly possess only this ordinary spiritual herb? You must be deliberately teasing me for fun!"

"I do not want this spiritual herb. I want a treasure that can protect me, fight for me, and avoid causing trouble! Stop hiding your good stuff and bring it out already!"

As he spoke, he continued plotting inwardly.

Pangu liked this approach—soft persistence and shameless pestering. It could not fail!

After all, he was now someone chosen by Pangu and bore the important responsibility of protecting the Primordial World. Pangu definitely would not truly shortchange him!

Sure enough.

No matter how Li Changsheng wheedled and pleaded for quite some time, Pangu's will remained silent in the void. It was obvious that he wanted to tease him a little longer.

Li Changsheng was not discouraged.

He simply sat down beside the Three Radiances Divine Water, assuming the posture of someone who would not leave unless given a good treasure. He kept rambling on, speaking first of his weak strength, then of the dangers of the Primordial World, and then bringing up their agreement. Every word struck straight at the crucial points.

After nearly half an hour of this.

Pangu's helpless yet amused sigh finally sounded from the void.

"You little fellow, you truly refuse to suffer even the slightest loss. You are exceedingly troublesome!"

"Fine, fine. I have had enough fun. Take this properly!"

The instant his words fell!

The void suddenly erupted with an immense black-and-yellow divine radiance!

This radiance was neither as tyrannical as the Origin of Heaven-Opening nor as gentle as the power of creation, yet it carried endless heaviness, auspiciousness, and the aura of merit. In an instant, it illuminated the entire small world. Even the Three Radiances Divine Water seemed to bow before it, while the spiritual roots across the ground paid homage in unison!

A small ruler, barely a foot long, slowly emerged from within the black-and-yellow divine radiance and quietly floated before Li Changsheng.

The ruler was entirely black and yellow. Its body was engraved with the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, lands, and the myriad Daos of the Primordial World. Every pattern contained supreme Great Dao order and circulated a terrifying aura capable of suppressing heaven and earth and sweeping away all things.

It appeared small and exquisite, but the pressure it radiated made Li Changsheng's heart tremble!

It was clearly no ordinary object!

"This is..."

Li Changsheng widened his eyes and stared fixedly at the little ruler before him. His heart pounded wildly as indescribable ecstasy surged through him!

He could clearly sense that the ruler contained destructive offensive power capable of obliterating heaven and earth. It also possessed supreme merit to protect its bearer, untouched by karma and untroubled by heavenly taboo. Even if it was used to kill, it would not incur the slightest karmic burden!

"This is the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, an acquired merit supreme treasure."

Pangu's voice was extremely calm, as though he were not speaking of a top-tier supreme treasure but of some worthless object he could throw away at will.

"This treasure absorbed Heaven-Opening merit and Hongmeng pure qi, forged from the earth, water, fire, and wind of the Primordial World. Its offensive power is enough to rank among the top five in the Primordial World!"

"More importantly, as a merit supreme treasure, it is untouched by karma and untainted by calamity qi. If you carry this treasure through the Primordial World, even if you fight and kill others, you will not incur karmic burden, nor will you be dragged into a calamity!"

Boom!

Li Changsheng's mind instantly exploded!

The Hongmeng Measuring Ruler!

An acquired merit supreme treasure!

Ranked among the top five in offensive power throughout the Primordial World!

And it was untouched by karma!

He had never dreamed that Pangu's first gift would be such a heaven-defying supreme treasure!

One had to know that although innate supreme treasures were powerful in the Primordial World, they could easily become tainted by karma and swept into calamities. Merit supreme treasures were different. Protected by Heavenly Dao merit, they were immune to all evil, free from cause and effect. They were practically the finest treasures for survival and slaughter while traveling the Primordial World!

With the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, he would not only possess a top-tier killing method, but he could also act with far fewer concerns!

"Thank you, Great God Pangu! Thank you, Boss!"

Li Changsheng trembled with excitement as he hurriedly reached out and accepted the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler.

It felt warm in his hand. Black-and-yellow qi wound around his body, and a sensation of blood connection rose within his heart, as though this supreme treasure had been custom-made for him.

He lightly swung the Measuring Ruler, and a black-and-yellow ripple instantly spread through the void. There was no earth-shaking commotion, yet it contained terrifying power capable of crushing heaven and earth with a single strike!

Too strong! This treasure is incredible!

Li Changsheng rejoiced wildly inwardly. His gaze toward the void grew even more respectful, while the little calculations in his heart clattered away.

Sure enough! Clinging tightly to Pangu's thigh was absolutely the right choice!

A casual gift was already a supreme treasure like the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler. One could imagine just how abundant Pangu's wealth truly was!

It seemed he had to hurry to the East Sea, find the corpse of the Creation Demon God, and establish some merit in the Monstrous Beast Calamity as soon as possible. He needed to perform well!

As long as he performed well, Pangu might casually grant him a few more opportunities in the future. Would he not soar straight to the heavens then?

At that time, not only would the Three Pure Ones not dare casually set their sights on him, but even Hongjun after merging with the Dao would not be someone Li Changsheng lacked the confidence to resist!

At this thought, Li Changsheng could no longer suppress his urge to venture outside.

Holding the Hongmeng Measuring Ruler, he deeply bowed toward the void. His tone was filled with respect and determination.

"Great God, I have accepted the treasure. On this journey, I will certainly find the origin of the Creation Demon God and do my utmost to change the Monstrous Beast Calamity. I will never disappoint your expectations!"

"I bid you farewell for now. If there is anything important in the future, call for me at any time!"

"Go."

Seeing Li Changsheng practically itching to leave, Pangu laughed inwardly. Give the boy a little benefit, and his tail was already about to rise to the sky.

Pangu's voice sounded faintly, carrying a trace of instruction. "Be careful in all things. If you encounter danger you cannot resolve, shout for help and summon a strand of my will to assist you. The louder your voice, the better."

Li Changsheng suspected that last part had been deliberate. Pangu probably wanted to watch him embarrass himself!

Before Li Changsheng, the void slowly split open with a fissure, and the dense spiritual qi of the outside Primordial World instantly poured in.

Li Changsheng no longer hesitated. With a movement of his body, he stepped directly out of the hidden small world where he had slept and cultivated for countless years.

The moment he left the small world, he entered the outside Primordial World.

A vast, boundless, incomparably heavy pressure instantly descended from the heavens and enveloped everything around him!

This pressure held no killing intent, yet it bore the supreme majesty of opening heaven and earth, as though the aura of the ruler of heaven and earth filled every inch of space.

Li Changsheng recognized it at once. This was Pangu's pressure!

The place where he stood was Mount Zhou, formed from Pangu's body!

Mount Zhou had been formed from Pangu's spine. It was the center of the Primordial World, bearing all the majesty of Pangu opening heaven. It was also the foremost divine mountain of the Primordial World, its pressure enduring through the ages and intimidating heaven and earth!

An ordinary innate living being, even a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal, would become stiff all over and struggle to move beneath such pressure.

However, Li Changsheng's physical body had been formed from the Creation Green Lotus, and he had absorbed a considerable amount of the Origin of Heaven-Opening. His body was exceedingly powerful, far surpassing living beings of the same realm. To him, Pangu's pressure was no more than a breeze brushing his face, with almost no effect whatsoever.

Li Changsheng looked around.

Mount Zhou towered into the clouds, piercing straight into chaos. Spiritual qi on the mountain was so dense that it condensed into raindrops and fell from the sky. Strange flowers, exotic grasses, and innate spiritual roots covered the ground, while innate strange stones containing Dao rhythm could be found everywhere. It was unquestionably a treasure land!

His heart stirred.

He knew that Mount Zhou hid countless innate supreme treasures, such as the Primordial Gourd Vine that would later become famous throughout the Primordial World, along with many top-tier spiritual roots and innate spiritual treasures.

However, not long had passed since heaven-opening. These supreme treasures and spiritual roots were still gestating and had not yet reached the time of their birth. Even if he found them now, he would not be able to pluck them.

"No rush. There is plenty of time."

Li Changsheng smiled faintly and suppressed that thought.

He was quite interested in the Primordial Gourd Vine. He even could not help imagining that if he could obtain it and raise seven mighty gourd children, he could become their grandfather outright. Would that not be wonderful?

But this was not the time to covet such things. His most urgent task was to head to the shore of the East Sea, find the corpse of the Creation Demon God, and improve his own strength!

He no longer lingered over Mount Zhou's opportunities and slowly made his way down along the mountain.

As he traveled, Li Changsheng clicked his tongue in wonder.

Mount Zhou truly deserved its title as the foremost divine mountain of the Primordial World. Innate spiritual herbs that had vanished entirely in later ages could be seen everywhere along the way. Any random one was priceless, and the density of spiritual qi far surpassed the outskirts of the small world where he had previously stayed.

If he could cultivate here, his progress would surely be several times faster.

Just as he reached the mountainside of Mount Zhou and passed by a quiet valley, his footsteps suddenly halted!

A strand of incomparably pure creation qi, highly compatible with his own aura, slowly drifted out from within the valley and instantly entered his nostrils!

"Hmm? Creation qi?"

Li Changsheng's eyes lit up at once, and a wave of delight surged through him.

His true body was the Creation Green Lotus, so his perception of creation qi surpassed that of any other living being in the Primordial World. This creation qi was exceptionally dense and could not possibly have been emitted by an ordinary innate spiritual root!

There had to be a treasure inside the valley!

He immediately concealed his aura. With a flash, he swept directly toward the valley.

The moment he stepped into the valley entrance, Li Changsheng's expression changed slightly.

An invisible barrier stretched across the center of the valley, completely sealing off its interior. Profound formation patterns flowed across the barrier, containing obscure and unfathomable Great Dao laws. They faintly radiated an aura capable of suppressing everything!

An innate formation!

And a high-grade, obscure, and complex innate formation at that!

Clearly, this was a protective formation naturally nurtured by heaven and earth to guard the treasure within the valley. Without a fortuitous opportunity or extremely high attainments in formations, no one could enter it!

If it were any other living being of the Primordial World, they would likely be forced to stop before such an innate formation.

But Li Changsheng was different!

He had inherited Pangu's Heaven-Opening legacy. That legacy encompassed everything—not only cultivation methods, divine abilities, and Great Dao principles, but also formations, restrictions, alchemy, and artifact forging. There was nothing he did not understand and nothing in which he was not proficient!

Though this innate formation was powerful, it could not trouble him!

"Interesting. I did not expect to encounter such an opportunity so soon after leaving the small world!"

A smile rose on Li Changsheng's lips, and anticipation flashed through his eyes.

He did not rush to forcefully break the formation. Instead, he sat cross-legged outside it, slowly closed his eyes, and drew upon the Heaven-Opening legacy in his sea of consciousness to carefully comprehend the innate formation before him.

As he studied the rules of the formation, he compared them against the formation knowledge within the legacy.

With the support of Pangu's top-tier legacy, Li Changsheng's understanding of formations improved at a terrifying pace.

The initially obscure formation patterns gradually became clear in his eyes. The originally incomparably complicated structure of the formation also gradually became organized.

Time flowed on, and the years passed like a shuttle.

A hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.

Throughout those hundred years, Li Changsheng remained seated cross-legged, immersed in comprehending the formation and ignoring everything outside.

His attainments in formations soared directly from knowing only a little to reaching the pinnacle!

He had already completely grasped every secret of the innate formation before him!

"Break!"

Li Changsheng suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp glint flashed through their depths as he gave a light shout.

With a flick of his finger, a divine light containing Heaven-Opening Dao laws struck precisely upon the formation's core formation eye!

Bzzzz!

A soundless tremor arose.

The innate formation surrounding the valley instantly rippled in layer after layer. Its circulating formation patterns shattered and dispersed at once!

This complex innate formation that had concealed countless opportunities was completely broken by him!

As the formation vanished, the scene within the valley was fully revealed before Li Changsheng.

Dense creation qi rushed toward him.

Li Changsheng rose to his feet, patted the dust from his clothes, and slowly walked toward the depths of the valley, his eyes filled with anticipation.

He truly wanted to see what kind of heaven-defying treasure could be guarded by such a powerful innate formation!