Di Jun's face darkened. Taiyi gritted his teeth, clenching his fists until his knuckles turned white.
Kunpeng and Ancestor Minghe looked even more bitter and unwilling to accept what had happened.
Yet Zhunti stood beside Jieyin to protect him,
and Jieyin was also shielded by the West's karmic debt, which the Dao Ancestor had tacitly acknowledged.
No one dared seize the prize by force inside the Purple Heaven Palace.
Although Jieyin had obtained the Primordial Purple Qi, Dao Ancestor Hongjun had never once accepted him as a disciple.
Jieyin had the foundation to become a Saint, but he held no standing as either a direct or a nominal disciple of the Daoist Sect.
With that, all seven strands of Primordial Purple Qi had found their owners!
The atmosphere in the hall grew stifling.
Icy killing intent surged beneath the surface.
Taiyi and Di Jun turned their baleful gazes toward Hong Yun in the front row.
If they could not seize the opportunities granted to Jieyin and the Three Pure Ones,
then Hong Yun, who appeared to stand alone, was their only opening!
Kunpeng lowered his head even further,
hiding his boundless greed and murderous intent deep within his heart.
Hong Yun felt their gazes bore into his back, and cold sweat beaded on his brow.
Just then, Li Qingxiao's calm, steady voice sounded quietly in his mind:
"Fellow Daoist Hongyun, steady your heart."
"I'm here. Whatever happens, the world won't fall apart."
Li Qingxiao's composed voice gave Hong Yun something firm to hold on to,
and his racing heart settled at once.
On the dais, Dao Ancestor Hongjun slowly rose.
His vast, saintly authority once again suppressed every undercurrent in the hall.
The Dao Ancestor swept an impassive gaze over the assembled immortals.
"The seats of sainthood have been decided. My Great Dao is complete, and I will soon merge with the Heavenly Dao."
"Outside the Purple Heaven Palace stands the Treasure Distribution Rock. It holds countless Innate Spirit Treasures and divine weapons that I acquired during my travels through the Primordial World."
"Come with me and claim your treasures."
As soon as the Dao Ancestor finished speaking, he gave a gentle sweep of his sleeve.
Ripples spread through the space within the Purple Heaven Palace,
and the Three Thousand Guests of the Red Dust saw light and shadow shift before their eyes.
In the next instant, they had followed the Dao Ancestor
through the palace doors and into the boundless chaos Beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens.
Ten thousand miles away, amid the raging Chaos Currents,
an immense ancient rock stretched across their view, blotting out the heavens.
It was as vast as a primordial divine mountain,
and nine layers of inscrutable innate restrictions sealed its surface.
Through the veil of chaotic light,
they could make out thousands of innate treasure lights of every color, flickering within.
Five-colored mists swirled, and divine radiance shot skyward,
illuminating the dark, lifeless void of chaos as brightly as day.
"Th-this is the Treasure Distribution Rock?!"
"Such dense innate spiritual energy! How many treasures are hidden inside?!"
The immortals breathed faster, greed burning in their eyes.
Had Dao Ancestor Hongjun not stood at the front,
some cultivators would already have rushed forward to snatch what they could.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun walked calmly to the Treasure Distribution Rock.
He did not immediately undo its formation.
Instead, he turned first to the disciples of the Daoist Sect before him.
"Laozi."
The Dao Ancestor called his name softly.
Laozi stepped forward with a solemn expression and bowed respectfully.
"Your disciple is here."
Hongjun brushed his sleeve, and an ancient scroll slowly flew out, rippling with the boundless Dao rhythms of yin, yang, and creation.
"This treasure is called the Taiji Diagram. Formed from the back of the Pangu Axe, it is one of the three supreme treasures of the creation of heaven and earth."
"It can order the five elements, encompass all things, settle earth, water, fire, and wind, and stabilize Qiankun."
"I bestow it upon you today to safeguard the fortune of the Daoist Sect's Human Teaching."
Laozi's heart trembled. He took the Taiji Diagram solemnly in both hands, drew a deep breath, and bowed.
"Your disciple thanks you for your great kindness, Master!"
Next, the Dao Ancestor looked at Celestial Master Yuanshi.
"Yuanshi."
Celestial Master Yuanshi had expected this. He hurried forward and bowed.
"Your disciple is here."
"This treasure is called the Pangu Banner. Also a supreme treasure of the creation of heaven and earth, it was formed from the blade of the Pangu Axe."
"It possesses the power to tear apart the primordial cosmos and destroy the heavens. It is a weapon of attack and slaughter."
"I bestow it upon you today. Use it well to expound the Heavenly Dao."
An ancient banner emanating endless sword qi of chaotic destruction fell into Celestial Master Yuanshi's hands.
Celestial Master Yuanshi stroked its surface, his eyes filled with pride and delight, then bowed his head respectfully.
"Your disciple will not fail your expectations, Master!"
The Dao Ancestor turned his gaze to Tongtian.
"Tongtian."
Daoist Tongtian strode forward, a fighting spirit glinting in his eyes.
"Your disciple is here!"
Hongjun swept his sleeve, and four ancient swords blazing with killing intent appeared alongside a formation diagram.
In an instant, frigid sword qi seemed to freeze the entire chaotic void,
and the faint vision of gods and demons being slain appeared!
"These are the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords and the Immortal Slaying Formation Diagram."
"Four Saints are needed to break the formation. Its power of slaughter is unrivaled in the Primordial World."
"I bestow them upon you today to wield on behalf of the Interception Sect."
Overjoyed, Daoist Tongtian drew the four swords and the diagram into his mind, then bowed deeply.
"Your disciple thanks you, Master!"
Finally, Hongjun looked at Nuwa.
"Nuwa, you are destined for immeasurable merit through creation. You should not commit too much slaughter."
"The Mountains and Rivers, State and Society Diagram contains a vast universe within it and is a supreme defensive treasure."
"The Red Embroidered Ball is a mighty innate merit treasure. It governs the fortune of the three marriages of heaven, earth, and humanity."
"I bestow both upon you today."
Nuwa bowed gracefully and accepted the two spirit treasures with delight.
"Nuwa thanks you for these treasures, Master."
The Three Pure Ones and Nuwa had received supreme treasures, making the standing of the Orthodox Lineage of Pangu and the Saint's chosen disciples plain to all.
At the front of the hall, Jieyin and Zhunti watched, their faces twitching.
The Dao Ancestor had skipped over the two of them entirely!
Zhunti could contain himself no longer. Pulling Jieyin with him, he threw himself down before the Treasure Distribution Rock and wailed:
"Have mercy, Master! This is unfair!"
"My senior brother and I dwell in the impoverished West, where the spiritual veins are severed and living beings suffer!"
"Though we now have the seats of sainthood, we do not possess a single worthy treasure to protect our path."
"How are we to guide the beings of the West in the future? Please have pity on us, Master!"
Zhunti cried until his voice was hoarse. Jieyin, too, wore an anguished expression as he sighed and bowed his head.
The assembled immortals frowned inwardly, scornful of the shameless pair from the West.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun looked at them, a knowing glint passing through his eyes.
He had played a part in damaging the Western Ley Lines years ago.
If he did not settle that karmic debt, his merging with the Heavenly Dao would remain flawed.
"Very well."
The Dao Ancestor sighed softly and swept his sleeve. Two brilliant lights descended before the pair.
"This is the Twelve-Petal Merit Golden Lotus, a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure. Seated upon it, you will have Ten Thousand Laws Immunity. It can safeguard your sect's fortune."
"This is the Green Lotus Treasure Banner, one of the Five Directions Five Elements Banners. It provides defense and purification."
"I bestow these two treasures upon you to settle the karmic debt I owe the West."
Jieyin and Zhunti hurriedly gathered the two Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures into their arms and repeatedly bowed their heads in thanks.
By then, most of the Primordial World's finest defensive spirit treasures had found their owners.
Ancestor Hong Yun stood to one side, watching the other great powers of his generation receive supreme treasures.
Though he held the status of a nominal disciple,
the Dao Ancestor had not personally granted him a single supreme weapon of slaughter.
A faint ripple of unease stirred in his heart.
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