Houtu Gives Away Self-Growing Soil

Buzhou Mountain.

The Three Pure Ones arrived at the place of opportunity and discovered that they were not the only three brothers drawn here.

Nuwa, Fuxi, Dijun, Taiyi—

Oh, and Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi, who had just arrived as well.

As Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun arrived, a burst of treasure light suddenly shot into the heavens, and an innate protective grand formation emerged from the void.

Seeing what lay within the formation, a flash of delight crossed Dijun's eyes.

"I never expected one of the ten supreme innate spiritual roots—the Innate Gourd Vine—to be here!"

Dijun was not the only one excited. Everyone present was thrilled.

After all, this was a supreme spiritual root!

A treasure that could only be encountered by chance, never sought after.

Laozi glanced around. Aside from the three brothers, there were six other great powers here. Though their cultivation was somewhat higher, two fists could not defeat four hands. His Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda was not suited for battle, and his two younger brothers did not yet possess suitable treasures. Seizing the entire gourd vine was unrealistic, so he slowly said, "A supreme spiritual root such as this possesses its own spirituality. Since everyone has come here because of fate, why not let this treasure choose for itself?"

No one had any objection to Laozi's proposal.

Because no side possessed the strength to drive away everyone else and claim the gourd vine for themselves.

As the grand formation appeared, dark clouds instantly gathered overhead, with lightning flickering within them.

Clearly, the gourd vine had to undergo the baptism of lightning tribulation before it could emerge into the world.

Bolts of swift and terrifying lightning struck the gourd vine, only to be blocked by the innate protective formation.

Yet though the formation was sturdy, as more and more lightning tribulations descended, it began to teeter on the brink of collapse.

With another lightning tribulation falling, the formation finally could bear no further burden and shattered.

By then, the lightning tribulations had reached the number of forty-nine.

At that moment, another five lightning tribulations fell one after another from the sky, completing the number fifty-four.

They blasted the gourd vine until it swayed precariously. But as the lightning tribulation faded, the tottering gourd vine emitted a dazzling radiance, and the seven tiny flowers of different colors on its branches transformed into seven gourds.

Seeing this, Laozi made a slight beckoning gesture. A crimson-gold gourd fell from the vine and flew into his hand.

Those who sensed the call followed suit.

The remaining five mature gourds on the vine each flew into the hands of their fated owners.

Lu Chen lay at Tongtian's cuff, watching the purple-black gourd that had yet to mature and was about to wither from insufficient nourishment. As if possessed, he stretched out a paw and beckoned.

The next instant, the purple-black gourd dropped from the vine and flew toward Lu Chen.

The purple-black gourd's destination drew the attention of Dijun, Nuwa, and the others.

"Fellow Daoist Tongtian, who is he?"

Nuwa looked at Lu Chen with great interest and asked.

Back at Zixiao Palace, everyone had been focused on listening to the Dao and had not noticed Lu Chen.

"He is my disciple. His aptitude is passable, though his cultivation is a little lacking. He has yet to take form."

As Tongtian answered Nuwa's question, the corners of his lips lifted slightly.

Upon hearing Tongtian's words, the entire place instantly fell silent.

Even Yuanshi and Laozi looked at Tongtian as though they did not recognize him.

When had they ever known their little brother to have such a mischievous side?

The rest were all Great Luo cultivators and could easily see through Lu Chen's cultivation.

Taiyi Realm.

Mm, compared with Great Luo, it truly was not that high.

But damn it, he had already reached the Taiyi Realm and still could not take form. Did that not mean he would have to wait until Great Luo to do so?

Then his foundation had to be at least on the same level as theirs!

Nuwa secretly calculated Lu Chen's foundation and origins. Her brows furrowed slightly when she discovered that she could calculate nothing at all. It was as though a cloud of mist shrouded Lu Chen.

In truth, Lu Chen had used the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase to conceal his foundation. If he had not feared that using it in Zixiao Palace would alert Hongjun, he would even have wanted to hide part of his cultivation.

The Taiyi Realm was still a little too high...

Nuwa's gaze toward Lu Chen gained a trace of curiosity alongside her interest.

However, she did not ask about his foundation. Rashly attempting to calculate it had already been rather presumptuous. Failing to calculate it only showed that her Dao practice was shallow; if she then went and asked him directly... Nuwa had her pride too!

Besides, even if she asked, she might not receive an answer.

She and Fuxi were not familiar with the Three Pure Ones.

Dijun, standing nearby, looked at Lu Chen with burning eyes.

He was already secretly considering how to win Lu Chen over.

Lu Chen's foundation alone was no weaker than theirs. Given sufficient time, his future achievements would surely be no less than theirs.

If he could recruit him, the strength under his command would inevitably soar. It might not be impossible to stand toe-to-toe with the Witch Clan.

After all, Lu Chen had the Three Pure Ones behind him.

By winning over Lu Chen and using him as a bridge, he could draw closer to the Three Pure Ones.

In the future, he might seek an opportunity to recruit all three of them as well.

Dijun could not help but envision the grand blueprint that would unfold after bringing Lu Chen under his command.

As for Lu Chen, seeing all these great powers staring at him in astonishment, he flashed to the front of the gourd vine. He opened his mouth slightly and swallowed the gourd vine inside.

His paws were working as well, digging around near the gourd vine.

Dig, dig, dig...

"Little fellow, you're looking for this, aren't you?"

A crisp and gentle voice rang out.

"Houtu!"

Hearing the voice, Dijun turned to look, and his expression darkened at the sight of the newcomer.

Lu Chen looked over and saw a gentle, kind-faced woman in a pale yellow dress suddenly appear beside him. In her hand rested a lump-like object that radiated a yellow glow.

"Innate Self-Growing Soil!"

Forget it. I already got the gourd vine and the purple-black gourd that had been doomed to wither. This trip has already been a full harvest. So what if I don't get the soil?

Though he thought this, he obediently nodded on the surface.

He looked at the Self-Growing Soil in Houtu's hand with longing in his eyes.

Though he was unsure whether Houtu would give it to him, so long as there was a chance, he would not give up. After all, these were all merits!!!

"You want it? Then have it."

Houtu smiled faintly and tossed it with a flick of her hand. The Self-Growing Soil fell into Lu Chen's slightly open mouth.

I got it just like that?!

Disbelief appeared in Lu Chen's eyes. He had not expected that with a single request, Houtu would truly give him the Self-Growing Soil.

Though the Innate Self-Growing Soil was not as valuable as the gourd vine, it was still an exceedingly rare treasure.

But now that it had reached his hands, returning it would not mean wasting Houtu's goodwill for nothing?

Lu Chen clasped his hands and bowed to Houtu, saying with an utterly sincere expression, "Many thanks, Lady Houtu."

"If you ever have need of me in the future, I will brave boiling water and tread through fire without hesitation."

Through Lu Chen's inner voice, Tongtian learned how precious the Self-Growing Soil was. He clasped his hands toward Houtu and said, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, I shall accept today's favor on behalf of my disciple. Should you need any assistance, do not hesitate to speak."

Now, he believed Lu Chen's inner voice somewhat more.

"Alright."

Houtu did not stand on ceremony and agreed directly.

With Houtu, an ancestral witch, present, Dijun buried the heat in his eyes toward Lu Chen deep within his heart.

Though they and the Witch Clan had not yet become completely opposed, if they wished to accomplish great ambitions, conflict was only a matter of time.

Seeing that there was nothing more to gain, he clasped his hands with Taiyi, turned, and left.

"Until we meet again!"

The Three Pure Ones also drifted away with Lu Chen.

Nuwa stepped forward, wrapped an arm around Houtu's, and teased, "Houtu, that boy asked you for such precious Self-Growing Soil, and you simply gave it to him. Could it be that you have taken a liking to him?"

At her words, a faint blush rose on Houtu's gentle, pretty face. She shook her head. "No. I gave him the Self-Growing Soil because...

Of a feeling in the unseen..."