Hongjun's Request

"These are twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls. If you are fortunate enough 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 Hongjun's broad sleeve, twenty-four pearls glowing with soft blue light, each containing a vast ocean within, slowly flew 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 all twenty-four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls in its palm.

Inside the formation, Gonggong nearly leaped up in excitement at the sight.

Together with the twelve he had obtained earlier, all thirty-six Sea-Calming Divine Pearls had finally been gathered!

This was a complete Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure!

Yet after Dijiang took the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, the Pangu Phantom showed no sign of dispersing. That terrifying pressure still held Yuanshi Tianzun below in an unyielding lock.

"What do you mean by this, Daoist?"

Hongjun's brows drew together slightly, and a trace of displeasure entered his voice.

"Dao Ancestor, there is no need to hurry."

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 spoke wildly and insulted us, the Pangu Orthodox Lineage. Shouldn't this mental anguish compensation be calculated as well?"

"You..."

Yuanshi Tianzun, still kneeling on the ground, was so enraged that he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

Mental anguish compensation?!

He was a dignified Quasi-Saint, yet he had been forced to kneel before everyone and had lost all face. Who exactly had suffered mental anguish here?!

Yet at this moment, he did not dare utter a word. Like an ostrich, he wished he could burrow his head into Mount Buzhou's hard stone, terrified of drawing Dijiang's attention again.

Hongjun's expression darkened completely.

He was a lofty Sage. He had already lowered his head and offered a Spirit Treasure in compensation, yet Dijiang still pushed his luck and demanded more!

"What do you want?" Hongjun asked, forcibly suppressing his anger.

"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 put behind us." Dijiang opened his mouth like a lion, demanding an outrageous price.

"A Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure?!"

The corner of Hongjun's eye twitched violently.

Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures did not grow like cabbages. There were not many in the entire Primordial World, yet Dijiang opened his mouth and demanded one outright. Did he take Hongjun for some charitable hall?

But as he looked 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 this bloodshed paid in advance."

Hongjun sighed inwardly.

His upcoming plan to merge with Heaven's Way still required the Pangu fortune carried by the Twelve Ancestral Witches. If he tore all pretenses apart now, it would bring him nothing but harm.

"This is the Myriad Poisons Pearl. It was formed from a wisp of innate poison origin when chaos first opened, and it ranks among Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures."

With a flip of his hand, Hongjun produced a pearl emanating seven-colored poisonous miasma. He flicked it with a finger and sent it before the Pangu Phantom.

"Dao Ancestor truly is forthright!"

Dijiang laughed loudly and put away the Myriad Poisons Pearl.

"Since the karma has been settled, Yuanshi, you may scram."

As Dijiang's words fell, the horrifying pressure weighing on Yuanshi Tianzun instantly vanished.

Yuanshi Tianzun felt as though he had received a pardon. He scrambled to his feet, not daring to leave behind even a single harsh word, and transformed into a streak of Jade Pure Divine Light, fleeing back to Kunlun Mountain without looking back.

He had carved today's humiliation 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 instruction?"

Seeing this, Dijiang's thoughts shifted, and he dispelled the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation.

The Pangu Phantom slowly dissipated, and the figures of the Twelve Ancestral Witches reappeared in midair.

"I have remained this time because I wish to extend an invitation."

Hongjun looked at Dijiang. His tone was calm, but it carried an unmistakable air of finality. "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 and listen."

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 knew very well that Hongjun needed to gather the fortune of the entire Primordial World in order to merge with Heaven's Way, and the Pangu fortune carried by the Twelve Ancestral Witches was an indispensable part of Hongjun's plan.

Go, or not go?

Dijiang calculated silently.

He did not particularly wish to refuse. All twelve of them were Primordial Golden Immortals, and they had also mastered the Twelve Capitals Divine Baleful Formation. Even within Violet Firmament Palace, if Hongjun wanted to make a move against them, he would have to weigh the consequences.

Besides, if all else failed, they could hide inside Pangu Hall. That was an absolute forbidden zone that even Heaven's Way could not peer into.

Thus, they were not particularly afraid of Hongjun now.

Most importantly, he had set his sights on something in Hongjun's possession.

"Since Dao Ancestor has extended an invitation, by rights, we should not decline."

Dijiang looked at Hongjun, the corner of his mouth lifting into a meaningful smile. "However, my brothers and I cultivate laws, which do not align with Dao Ancestor's path of Three-Corpse Severing. Even if we go, I fear we may not understand much."

"Daoist, you jest."

Hongjun said calmly, "There are three thousand Great Daos; though their paths differ, they lead to the same destination. What I teach is the fundamental truth of heaven and earth, and it may likewise offer enlightening parallels for the path of Daoist's laws."

"Since that is so..."

Dijiang suddenly changed his tone, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes. "Then my brothers and I will go join the excitement. But I have one condition."

"Please speak, Daoist." Hongjun seemed to have expected this long ago, and his expression did not change.

"I want the Pangu Banner."

Dijiang stated his demand without hesitation.

The eleven Ancestral Witches behind him all sucked in a breath of cold air.

The Pangu Banner!

The Innate Supreme Treasure formed from the blade of the Heaven-Opening Divine Axe.

Big Brother's appetite was not small!

Yet Hongjun did not show much surprise at Dijiang's request.

He gave Dijiang a deep look, as though he had seen 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 laid bare Dijiang's scheme in a single sentence. "At that time, the Pangu Phantom you summon will likely be enough to make even me retreat three paces, would it not?"

Dijiang shook his head inwardly. With the Pangu Banner, the three Heaven-Opening Treasures would be complete. The Pangu Phantom's strength would likely only surpass Hongjun as he was now, still a Sage. But by then, Hongjun would have merged with Heaven's Way; unless all his brothers broke through to the Primordial Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, there would be no possibility.

"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.

Meanwhile, the Pangu Banner was the Innate Supreme Treasure with the greatest offensive power in the Primordial World.

To trade one supreme treasure in exchange for drawing the Twelve Ancestral Witches into the game and filling the gaps in fortune—Hongjun did not think this transaction was truly a loss.

After all, once he successfully merged with Heaven's Way and became Heaven's Way's representative, everything within the Primordial World would ultimately fall under his control.

One mere Pangu Banner—even if he gave it to Dijiang, how great a wave could they possibly stir up?