Seeing Hongyun's mysterious manner, Li Yu helplessly shook his head. He had no idea how many years this old monster had lived, yet he was still playing coy.
However, this was the crucial moment of the Sage's second teaching, so Li Yu did not continue asking.
Strands of clear qi descended within Purple Cloud Palace as the Sage Hongjun appeared and began expounding the Dao.
None of the cultivators dared be negligent. The Sage would only teach three times; it was equivalent to three profound enlightenments. The improvement to one's cultivation would be anything but insignificant.
Above Li Yu's head, his Three Flowers bloomed, withered, and blossomed anew, cycling endlessly from flourishing to decay.
Many more years passed, and everyone's cultivation had improved tremendously.
This time, Li Yu awoke at roughly the same time as everyone else.
"This is my second teaching, and it has now concluded. During my past travels through the Primordial World, I happened upon several treasures. They are of no use to me, so today I shall distribute them among you."
The moment Hongjun said this, everyone's hearts stirred with eager anticipation. He was the first Sage beneath heaven and earth; any treasure that had caught his eye was surely extraordinary.
Of course, those with quick minds immediately understood why so few powerful treasures had appeared in the Primordial World over the years. It turned out the Sage had picked them all up long ago.
"Taiqing, you are the foremost of the Three Pure Ones and my eldest disciple. I bestow this Taiji Diagram upon you."
"Yuanshi, you were transformed from Pangu's primordial spirit and are also my disciple. I bestow this Pangu Banner upon you."
"Tongtian, you are the youngest among the Three Pure Ones. I bestow this Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram and the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords upon you. Their power is unfathomable; unless four Sages join forces, they cannot be broken. Use them with caution."
"There is also a Treasure-Dividing Rock behind Purple Cloud Palace. The three of you may go there and take some more spiritual treasures before departing."
Hongjun had produced three Innate Supreme Treasures at once and bestowed them upon the Three Pure Ones. Everyone was exceedingly envious, especially since the Three Pure Ones were also allowed to choose from the treasures atop the Treasure-Dividing Rock first. It truly made others green with envy.
"Nüwa, this Heaven and Earth Furnace and this Resting Soil will bring you great fortune in the future. I bestow them upon you today. You may go to the Treasure-Dividing Rock."
Nüwa accepted the decree and left. Jieyin and Zhunti could no longer restrain themselves and hurriedly said, "We beg Teacher to show pity upon your disciples and grant us a few treasures as well."
"Since you are my registered disciples, we do share some karmic affinity. I bestow this Demon-Subduing Pestle and Blessing Divine Pestle upon the two of you. Go to the Treasure-Dividing Rock as well."
Jieyin and Zhunti each took one of the pestles, then hurried toward the Treasure-Dividing Rock.
By this point, everyone understood. Hongjun had likely already given the precious treasures to several of his disciples, especially Taiqing, Yuanshi, and Tongtian. The treasures they had received were Innate Supreme Treasures, among the most powerful of all treasures.
As for the spiritual treasures atop the Treasure-Dividing Rock, their quality was likely somewhat inferior, though there should be quite a few of them. Perhaps they could still get a share. Yet before the Sage spoke, no one else dared move.
"You may all go to the Treasure-Dividing Rock as well. If you have the affinity, you will naturally obtain spiritual treasures. If you do not, do not force it."
After Hongjun finished speaking, he vanished from Purple Cloud Palace. Everyone immediately transformed into streaks of radiant light and flew toward the Treasure-Dividing Rock.
After all, six people had already gone ahead. If they arrived any later, they would not merely miss the soup—they might not even get the leftover scraps.
Taiqing was the first to arrive at the Treasure-Dividing Rock. Countless spiritual treasures floated there in dense clusters, their brilliance dazzling at a glance.
Suddenly, several dozen streaks of clear light flew toward him. Taiqing swept his sleeve and collected those spiritual treasures, taking no more. Instead, he climbed onto the Treasure-Dividing Rock, where a Primordial Gourd Vine grew. Seven gourds should have grown upon it, but only five remained.
Taiqing calculated with his fingers, then picked the purple gourd before turning and returning to the Primordial World.
Afterward, Yuanshi and Tongtian acted much like Taiqing. After Nüwa collected her spiritual treasures, she came here and picked the golden gourd. Then, the final yellow gourd suddenly fell from the vine on its own.
It transformed into a streak of clear light and shot toward the Primordial World. Inspiration struck Nüwa, and she immediately collected the bare Primordial Gourd Vine as well before returning to the Primordial World.
When Jieyin and Zhunti arrived, they only obtained a few spiritual treasures. They had wanted to pack up and take everything away, but their efforts were clearly in vain. Seeing that the Sage had his own arrangements, they could only return to the Primordial World in regret.
Relying on the divine ability Hongjun had granted him, Kunpeng was incredibly fast. He was the first to rush to the Treasure-Dividing Rock, took an unidentified spiritual treasure, and returned to the Primordial World unwillingly.
Among those remaining, Li Yu arrived second only to Kunpeng. Two streaks of clear light immediately flew toward him, and Li Yu did not stand on ceremony, sweeping his sleeve to collect both spiritual treasures.
One was the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner, one of the Innate Five-Element Banners. Even among spiritual treasures, it was exceptionally precious. Obtaining it had already left Li Yu thoroughly satisfied.
However, that was not the end of it. The second spiritual treasure was actually the Godslayer Spear.
Although this treasure was an Innate spiritual treasure, in terms of slaughter and attack, it possessed the might of an Innate Supreme Treasure. Among the Innate spiritual treasures of the Primordial World, it ranked first in offensive power.
Li Yu had never expected to obtain the Godslayer Spear. He could not help becoming suspicious again. Was Hongjun's arrangement behind this matter as well?
Even the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner now felt suspicious to Li Yu.
"What kind of situation is this? After finally obtaining two Innate spiritual treasures, both of such exceptional quality, I still don't dare use them without worry. They're tasteless to keep and a pity to discard—nothing but a burden!"
As Li Yu lamented, the other cultivators arrived one after another. Those with the affinity obtained one or two spiritual treasures, while those without it could only leave in frustration.
After all the cultivators had arrived, the treasures atop the Treasure-Dividing Rock had still not all been distributed. Then the ownerless Innate spiritual treasures transformed into streaks of clear light and flew toward the Primordial World, scattering across its many regions.
The cultivators who had failed to obtain any treasures had already been deeply unwilling. Seeing this, they transformed into radiant light and chased after the spiritual treasures.
Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi had each gained something at the Treasure-Dividing Rock. Together with Li Yu, the three of them tacitly gave up the thought of pursuing those treasures. If they truly had affinity with them, they would have obtained them here.
"Those spiritual treasures entering the Primordial World may increase the strength of its cultivators, but they will certainly also cause disputes. I wonder whether that is a good thing or a bad thing," Zhen Yuanzi said.
"Don't overthink it. They're only a few dozen spiritual treasures; no great turmoil will come of it," Hongyun said cheerfully, offering Zhen Yuanzi a word of reassurance.
"Alright, let's leave as well!"
As Li Yu spoke, he took the lead and flew toward the Primordial World, with Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi close behind him.
"Brother Hongyun, before the Sage began teaching the Dao, you were acting all mysterious and said there was good news. Hurry up and tell us!"
Li Yu asked with a smile along the way. Zhen Yuanzi beside him also looked quite interested.
"Hehe!"
Hongyun chuckled. "To make a long story short, while traveling through the northern part of the Primordial World that year, I met a woman named Jin Shan. It was love at first sight between us, and we became Dao companions. Before coming to Purple Cloud Palace, Jin Shan had already given birth to our child. By the time I return this time, the child probably won't even recognize me as his father."
Before you continue