Buzhou Mountain.
When the Three Pure Ones arrived at the place of opportunity, they 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 Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun arrived, a burst of treasure light suddenly shot into the sky, and an innate protective formation emerged from the void.
When he saw what lay within the formation, a flicker of delight flashed through 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.
This was a supreme spiritual root, after all!
A treasure that could only be encountered by chance, never sought after.
Laozi glanced around. Apart from his three brothers, there were six other great powers present. Though the three of them were somewhat stronger in cultivation, two fists could not beat four hands. His Profound Yellow Exquisite Pagoda was not suited for battle, and his two younger brothers did not yet possess suitable magical treasures. It was unrealistic to claim the entire Gourd Vine for themselves, so he slowly said, "A supreme spiritual root such as this possesses its own spirituality. Since we have all come here by fate, why not let the treasure choose for itself?"
No one objected to Laozi's suggestion.
Because none of them had the ability to drive away everyone else and claim the Gourd Vine as their own.
As the formation appeared, dark clouds instantly gathered overhead, with lightning stirring within them.
Clearly, the Gourd Vine had to endure the baptism of lightning tribulation before it could emerge into the world.
Bolt after fierce bolt of lightning struck the Gourd Vine, only to be blocked by the protective innate formation.
Though the formation was sturdy, it began to tremble on the verge of collapse as the number of descending tribulations increased.
When another bolt of tribulation lightning fell, the formation finally could no longer bear the burden and shattered.
By then, the lightning tribulation had reached forty-nine bolts.
At that moment, five more bolts of lightning tribulation descended in succession, making fifty-four in total.
They struck the Gourd Vine until it swayed precariously. Yet when the tribulation dispersed, the tottering vine shone with dazzling light, and the seven oddly colored little flowers on its branches transformed into seven gourds.
Seeing this, Laozi made a slight beckoning gesture. A crimson-gold gourd dropped from the vine and flew into his hand.
The others who sensed their fate followed suit.
The remaining five mature gourds on the Gourd Vine each flew into the hands of their destined owners.
Lu Chen lay at Tongtian's sleeve cuff, watching the immature purple-black gourd that was about to wither from insufficient nutrients. On an impulse, he stretched out a paw and beckoned.
The next moment, the Purple-Black Gourd fell 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 somewhat lacking, and he has yet to transform."
When Nuwa asked about him, the corners of Tongtian's lips rose slightly.
At Tongtian's words, the entire gathering instantly fell silent.
Even Yuanshi and Laozi looked at Tongtian as though they barely recognized him.
Since when had their little brother gained such a cheeky side?
Everyone else was at the Great Luo realm and could easily see through Lu Chen's cultivation.
Taiyi Realm cultivation.
Well, compared to the Great Luo realm, it truly was not that high.
But damn it, if he had reached the Taiyi Realm and still could not transform, did that not mean he would have to wait until the Great Luo realm to do so?
That meant his innate foundation was at least on the same level as theirs!
Nuwa secretly calculated Lu Chen's origins, her brows knitting slightly. She discovered that she could calculate nothing at all; it was as though a fog enshrouded Lu Chen.
In truth, Lu Chen had used the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase to conceal his origins. Had he not feared Hongjun discovering it when he used the Heaven-Devouring Treasure Vase at Zixiao Palace, he would even have wanted to hide part of his cultivation.
The Taiyi Realm was still a little too high...
Besides interest, Nuwa's gaze toward Lu Chen now held a trace of curiosity.
However, she did not ask about Lu Chen's origins. It was already presumptuous to calculate them without permission, and failing to calculate anything only meant her own Dao attainment was lacking. If she asked him directly after that... 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 blazing eyes.
He was already secretly considering how to recruit Lu Chen.
Lu Chen's innate foundation alone was no weaker than theirs. Given sufficient time, his future achievements would certainly not fall short of theirs.
If he could recruit him, the strength under his command would surely surge. It might not be impossible to stand against the Witch Clan on equal footing.
After all, Lu Chen had the Three Pure Ones behind him.
By recruiting Lu Chen and using him as a bridge, he could draw closer to the Three Pure Ones.
In the future, he might find an opportunity to recruit all three of them as well.
Dijun could not help imagining the grand blueprint that would unfold after bringing Lu Chen under his command.
As for Lu Chen, seeing all the great powers looking at him in surprise, he flashed forward and appeared before the Gourd Vine. He opened his mouth slightly and drew the vine inside.
His hands were moving as well, his two paws digging around the Gourd Vine.
Dig, dig, dig...
"Little one, you are 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 when he saw 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, she held a clump-like object radiating a yellow glow.
"Innate Self-Growing Soil!"
Forget it. I got the Gourd Vine and the Purple-Black Gourd that would have withered anyway. This trip has already been a full harvest. So what if I do not get the Xi Rang?
Though Lu Chen thought this inwardly, he obediently nodded on the surface.
He looked at the Xi Rang in Houtu's hand with longing in his eyes.
Though he was not sure whether Houtu would give it to him, he would not give up as long as there was a chance. After all, these were all sources of merit!
"You want it? Then I'll give it to you."
Houtu smiled slightly and tossed it. The Xi Rang fell into Lu Chen's slightly open mouth.
"I got it just like that?!"
Disbelief filled Lu Chen's eyes. He had not expected that Houtu would truly give him the Xi Rang as soon as he asked.
Though the Innate Self-Growing Soil was not as valuable as the Gourd Vine, it was still a rare treasure.
But since it was already in his hands, returning it would be wasting Houtu's goodwill.
Lu Chen clasped his hands and bowed to Houtu, speaking with utter sincerity.
"Thank you, Lady Houtu."
"If you ever need anything in the future, I will brave fire and water without hesitation."
Through Lu Chen's inner thoughts, Tongtian knew how precious the Xi Rang was. He cupped his fists toward Houtu and said, "Fellow Daoist Houtu, I accept today's favor on behalf of my disciple. If you ever need assistance, do not hesitate to ask."
He now believed Lu Chen's inner thoughts somewhat more.
"Alright."
Houtu did not stand on ceremony and accepted directly.
With the Ancestral Witch Houtu present, Dijun suppressed the heat in his eyes toward Lu Chen.
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 cupped his fists to them with Taiyi and turned to leave.
"Until we meet again!"
The Three Pure Ones also drifted away with Lu Chen.
Nuwa stepped forward, looped an arm around Houtu's, and teased, "Houtu, that boy asked you for such precious Xi Rang, and you simply gave it to him. Do you fancy him?"
At this, a faint blush appeared on Houtu's gentle face. She shook her head. "No. I gave him the Xi Rang because...
It was a feeling from the unseen..."
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