"These are twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. If you have the fortune to obtain the remaining twelve, they can be assembled into a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure—the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls."
With a sweep of his sleeve, Hongjun sent the twenty-four pearls, glowing with a gentle blue light and containing vast oceans within, slowly flying toward the Pangu Phantom.
"Many thanks for Dao Ancestor's generosity."
A gigantic hand extended from the Pangu Phantom and, without the slightest courtesy, seized the twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls in its palm.
Inside the formation, Gonggong nearly jumped up in excitement at the sight.
Added to the twelve he had obtained before, the thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls were finally complete!
This was a complete Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!
Yet after Dijiang collected the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, the Pangu Phantom showed no sign of dispersing. Its terrifying pressure still held Yuanshi Tianzun below in an unyielding lock.
"What do you mean by this, Daoist?"
Hongjun's brows furrowed slightly, and a trace of displeasure entered his voice.
"Dao Ancestor, there is no need to rush."
Dijiang's unhurried voice rang out. "These Sea-Calming Divine Pearls settle the karma of Yuanshi injuring the living beings of Mount Buzhou. But he just made wild remarks and insulted us, the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Shouldn't we also settle this fee for emotional damages?"
"You..."
Yuanshi Tianzun, still kneeling on the ground, nearly spat out a mouthful of blood in rage.
Emotional damages?!
He was a dignified Quasi-Saint, yet he had been forced to kneel in public, his face utterly swept clean. Who, exactly, had suffered emotional damages here?!
But at this moment, he did not dare utter a word. Like an ostrich, he wished he could bury his head in Mount Buzhou's hard rock, terrified of drawing Dijiang's attention again.
Hongjun's expression darkened completely as well.
He was a dignified Sage. He had already lowered his head and compensated them with a Spirit Treasure, yet Dijiang was still pushing his luck inch by inch!
"What does Daoist want?" Hongjun asked, forcibly suppressing his fury.
"My brother She Bishi cultivates the Law of Poison and happens to lack a suitable Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure. If Dao Ancestor can satisfy this request, today's matter will be completely turned over," Dijiang said, opening his mouth like a lion.
"A Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure?!"
The corner of Hongjun's eye twitched violently.
Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures were not cabbages. There were only so many in the entire Primordial World, yet Dijiang demanded one the moment he opened his mouth. Did he take Hongjun for the operator of a charity hall?
But looking at the Pangu Phantom radiating terrifying pressure, then at Yuanshi Tianzun kneeling on the ground like a dead dog, Hongjun drew a deep breath and ultimately chose to compromise.
"Forget it. I'll consider it bleeding in advance."
Hongjun sighed inwardly.
His coming plan to merge with Heaven's Way still required the Pangu Fortune carried by the Twelve Ancestral Witches. If he completely tore his face apart with them now, it would bring him a hundred harms and not a single benefit.
"This is the Myriad Poisons Pearl, formed from a wisp of primordial poisonous essence when chaos first opened. It ranks among Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures."
With a flip of his hand, Hongjun produced a pearl wreathed in seven-colored poisonous miasma. With a flick of his finger, he sent it before the Pangu Phantom.
"Dao Ancestor truly is straightforward!"
Dijiang laughed loudly and put away the Myriad Poisons Pearl.
"Since the karma has been settled, Yuanshi, you may get lost."
As Dijiang's words fell, the terrifying pressure crushing Yuanshi Tianzun instantly vanished.
Yuanshi Tianzun felt as though he had received a great pardon. Scrambling to his feet, he did not even dare leave behind a harsh word before transforming into a streak of Jade Pure Divine Light and fleeing back to Kunlun Mountain without looking back.
Today's humiliation had been carved deep into his bones.
After Yuanshi left, Hongjun did not depart.
He stood quietly in midair, his gaze deep as he watched the Pangu Phantom.
"Does Dao Ancestor have any further guidance?"
Seeing this, Dijiang stirred his thoughts and dissolved the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation.
The Pangu Phantom slowly dispersed, and the figures of the Twelve Ancestral Witches reappeared in midair.
"I have remained this time to extend an invitation."
Hongjun looked at Dijiang, his tone calm yet carrying an unquestionable air. "Thirty thousand years from now will be the third lecture at Violet Firmament Palace, and also the last. I hope the Twelve Ancestral Witches will come to hear the Dao."
At these words, Zhu Jiuyin, Zhu Rong, and the other eleven Ancestral Witches were all stunned. Then, in unison, they turned their gazes toward Dijiang.
They had not expected Hongjun to invite them so directly.
Dijiang was not surprised by Hongjun's frankness.
He understood clearly that Hongjun needed to gather the Fortune of the entire Primordial World to merge with Heaven's Way, and the Pangu Fortune carried by their Twelve Ancestral Witches was an indispensable part of Hongjun's plan.
Go, or not go?
Dijiang calculated inwardly.
He did not particularly wish to refuse. All twelve of them were Primordial Origin Golden Immortals and had mastered the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation. Even within Violet Firmament Palace, if Hongjun wanted to move against them, he would have to weigh the matter carefully.
Besides, if it truly came to that, they could retreat into Pangu Hall. That was an absolute forbidden region that even Heaven's Way could not pry into.
Thus, they were not terribly afraid of Hongjun now.
Most importantly, Dijiang had set his sights on something in Hongjun's possession.
"Since Dao Ancestor has invited us, by rights, we should not decline."
Dijiang looked at Hongjun, a meaningful smile curling across his lips. "However, my brothers and I cultivate laws, which do not align with Dao Ancestor's path of Three-Corpse Severing. Even if we went, I fear we would not understand much."
"Daoist jests."
Hongjun said evenly, "The Great Dao has three thousand paths, yet different roads lead to the same destination. What I teach is the supreme principle of heaven and earth, and it may likewise provide insights by analogy for Daoist's path of laws."
"If that is so..."
Dijiang abruptly changed the subject, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Then my brothers and I will go join the excitement. However, I have one condition."
"Please speak, Daoist." Hongjun seemed to have expected this already, and his expression did not change.
"I want the Pangu Banner."
Dijiang stated his demand without hesitation.
At those words, the eleven Ancestral Witches behind him all sucked in a cold breath.
The Pangu Banner!
An Innate Supreme Treasure formed from the blade of the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.
Their eldest brother's appetite was not small!
Yet Hongjun showed little surprise at Dijiang's demand.
He looked deeply at Dijiang, as though he had seen straight through Dijiang's thoughts.
"The Taiji Diagram is already in your hands. If you obtain the Pangu Banner as well, together with the Chaos Bell in Eastern Emperor Taiyi's possession, the three Heaven-Opening Treasures will be complete."
Hongjun's tone remained calm, yet he exposed Dijiang's scheme in a single sentence. "At that time, the Pangu Phantom you summon will likely make even me retreat three steps, no?"
Dijiang shook his head inwardly. With the Pangu Banner completing the three Heaven-Opening Treasures, the Pangu Phantom's strength should only surpass Hongjun as he was now, before becoming a Sage. But by then, Hongjun would already have merged with Heaven's Way. Unless all of his brothers broke through to Primordial Daluo Golden Immortals, it would be impossible.
"Will Dao Ancestor make this deal, or not?"
The third lecture at Violet Firmament Palace concerned Hongjun's grand plan of merging with Heaven's Way.
The Pangu Banner, meanwhile, was the Innate Supreme Treasure with the greatest offensive power in the Primordial World.
Using one supreme treasure in exchange for drawing the Twelve Ancestral Witches into the game and making up the gap in Fortune was not actually a loss in Hongjun's eyes.
After all, once he successfully merged with Heaven's Way and became its spokesperson, everything in the Primordial World would ultimately fall under his control.
What waves could a mere Pangu Banner stir up, even if he gave it to Dijiang?
Before you continue