Returning to the Mountain in Search of Gourds

Wang Shi turned his gaze toward the Three Pure Ones beside him.

"My three masters, why not come visit my Buzhou Mountain Divine Hall?"

"An Innate Spiritual Treasure is about to mature on Buzhou Mountain. I'm afraid someone else might snatch it away."

By his reckoning, the Innate Gourd Vine was about to emerge. He could not let such a supreme treasure fall into someone else's hands.

The Three Pure Ones exchanged glances, a hint of surprise in their eyes.

As the spirit of Buzhou Mountain, Wang Shi certainly had grounds for what he said.

An Innate Spiritual Treasure that could draw even his attention was surely no ordinary thing.

"Very well. We'll accompany our disciple, then!"

Soon, the other members of the Twelve Ancestral Witches caught up as well.

They formed a tight barrier around Houtu, keeping her apart from the others.

"Boy, we owe you a favor for helping Houtu secure a meditation cushion this time."

"But we're in a hurry to return to Buzhou Mountain, so we'll take our leave."

They cupped their hands toward the Three Pure Ones without saying much else.

The two sides had never gotten along and could not stand the sight of each other.

Naturally, there was no need for conversation.

Only Houtu spoke, looking a little embarrassed.

"Little Shi, come visit my Pangu Temple once you return to Buzhou Mountain. I'll prepare our Witch Clan's delicacies. You must come!"

Before she could finish, the group dragged Houtu away.

Sect Master Tongtian snorted coldly.

"A bunch of barbarians, thickheaded fools. They dare call themselves the Pangu orthodox lineage?"

Heavenly Venerable Yuanshi and the others voiced their agreement.

"Exactly. A bunch of savages who know nothing but fighting to prove themselves superior. They don't even have souls. What right do they have to compete with us?"

"That young girl is rather promising, though. There's something quite unusual about her. She actually carries fluctuations of the Great Dao, and her fortune differs from that of ordinary people. She's probably no simple figure."

The Three Pure Ones were no fools.

Naturally, they had noticed what made Houtu special.

At that moment, Sect Master Tongtian patted Wang Shi on the shoulder.

"I saw you two exchanging meaningful glances. Disciple, do you have something in mind?"

Then his expression grew serious as he continued.

"If you want to find a Dao companion for dual cultivation, we won't object. But no matter what, you must preserve your primal yang."

"At least until you attain the Great Dao, you must keep yourself intact. This is extremely important to your attainment of the Great Dao."

Wang Shi pursed his lips. Sect Master Tongtian really would say anything.

Did he think I wanted to woo every girl I looked at? What a strange idea.

Just then, Nuwa waved to him from behind.

With the Three Pure Ones beside him, it was difficult for her to approach and speak.

Helplessly, Wang Shi walked over to Nuwa and Fuxi.

"Are you two fellow Daoists heading back?"

Nuwa and Fuxi nodded.

"Once we part today, who knows when we'll have another chance to meet? Fellow Daoist Stone Spirit, please take care."

"It's just a shame about that meditation cushion. I suspect those cushions may be connected to becoming Dao Ancestor Hongjun's personal disciples. It's truly a pity that you gave yours up so easily."

Wang Shi laughed heartily and waved a hand, utterly unconcerned.

"It's fine. I understand the significance of those cushions better than anyone. But for the path I'm taking, having a cushion makes little difference."

"You two managed to claim cushions partly through fortunate coincidence, and partly because your standing in the Demon Tribe's Demon Court sets you apart. Otherwise, you wouldn't have been able to hold those seats."

In truth, Wang Shi still felt a faint unease.

After all, the situation had changed, and several more seats of sagehood had appeared.

He still had no idea what that signified.

All he could do was take one step at a time.

"Until we meet again, fellow Daoists. If fate permits, we'll see each other again."

Then he turned and left.

He followed the Three Pure Ones through the chaos storm.

At the boundary of the Thirty-Three Heavens, a great many powerful cultivators were still gathered. When they saw those who had attended the lecture at the Purple Firmament Palace return, they crowded around them.

"We seek the Dao with all our hearts. Would any senior be willing to accept us as disciples? We will devote ourselves fully to serving our master."

Even Wang Shi was surrounded by at least a hundred people. Their eyes burned with hunger, as though they wanted to swallow him whole.

Not one person who could cross the chaos storm and reach the Purple Firmament Palace was mediocre.

Speechless, Wang Shi rubbed his forehead. These people really were ravenous.

Just then, Sect Master Tongtian's voice rang out.

"Hey, disciple, don't bother with these people. Just leave."

Under the intimidating presence of the Three Pure Ones, the group soon headed toward Buzhou Mountain, and no one could stop them.

Before long, they arrived at Buzhou Mountain.

The mountain was quiet, with only a scattering of wandering cultivators searching for treasures.

Wang Shi chuckled.

"There's a cave halfway up Buzhou Mountain containing an Innate Gourd Vine. It's about to mature. Please come inspect it with me, my three masters."

Just as they landed on Buzhou Mountain,

Zhunti and Jieyin also arrived at its foot.

"So this is Buzhou Mountain. They say treasures cover the ground here, and spiritual herbs grow in swathes. Our western lands are barren, so this is the perfect place for us to search."

"Indeed, indeed. You're right, senior brother."

A peculiar gleam flashed in Jieyin's and Zhunti's eyes as they quietly stepped into Buzhou Mountain.

They concealed their forms and suppressed their auras, appearing no different from ordinary creatures.

Not long after they left,

Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Di Jun arrived at Buzhou Mountain.

Behind them followed the Ten Great Demon Marshals and numerous mighty cultivators of the Demon Tribe.

"We've come to negotiate with the Ancestral Witches. Conflicts between the Witch Clan and the Demon Tribe have begun to arise and are growing ever fiercer. This benefits neither side."

"Our foremost priority now is still pursuing the Great Dao. If we can reach an agreement this time, it will greatly benefit the entire Primordial World."

Soon, this group also entered Buzhou Mountain.

Inside a secluded cave,

The Three Pure Ones Daoists and Wang Shi sat cross-legged.

A Gourd Vine shone brilliantly, its seven Innate Gourds each nurturing a distinctive Dao resonance. They looked extraordinary.

Wang Shi's expression was grave as he continually reinforced the formation.

Although he had long known the Gourd Vine was extraordinary, he had never expected it to possess such tremendous power.

Even with his constant efforts to conceal it, he could hardly suppress the power of its Dao resonance.

The Three Pure Ones looked solemn as well.

"Disciple, stop trying to conceal it. Merit is manifesting on this Gourd Vine, so it likely has a spirit of its own. It is seeking its masters now. If we forcibly conceal it, we may only drive the Gourd Vine further away from us."

Their discerning eyes naturally saw the reasoning behind this.

As the saying went, spiritual treasures had their destined masters and could not be forced.

Wang Shi's face turned ashen. He had long considered these treasures his own. How could he possibly let someone else take them?

"Hmph, you little gourds are so disobedient. It seems that unless I teach you a lesson, you won't know why the flowers are so red."

He strode forward, going straight to the Gourd Vine's roots.

He was outrageously rough, actually preparing to tear the Gourd Vine apart with one pull.

"If you want to acknowledge someone else as your master, I might as well destroy you now, lest you be used against me later."

The seven precious gourds immediately trembled, and a pleading intent reached Wang Shi's mind.

"Great Immortal, spare our lives! We are only following the Heavenly Dao. Please let us go!"