"This disciple does not know!"
Daochen looked momentarily stunned.
He truly did not know why Hongjun had kept him behind alone instead of letting him go to the Treasure-Splitting Cliff to compete for treasures.
"If I am not mistaken, this is the treasure you intended to seek at the Treasure-Splitting Cliff!"
A faint smile touched Hongjun's lips. In the next instant, a palm-sized banner wreathed in rich innate yi wood energy appeared in his hand.
"The Azure Lotus Banner?"
Daochen stared at the little azure banner in Hongjun's hand in surprise.
"Three of the Innate Five Elements Banners are already in your possession. With this Azure Lotus Banner and the Plain-Colored Cloud-Boundary Banner held by the Queen Mother of the West, you would have the complete set."
Hongjun looked at Daochen with an enigmatic smile.
"Indeed, nothing escapes you, Master!"
Daochen rubbed the tip of his nose sheepishly.
Hongjun's words naturally meant that he knew Daochen had seized the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner and the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner from Laozi and Yuanshi before the first lecture began.
He even knew about Daochen blasting apart Ancestor Minghe's Dharma body outside the Purple Heavens Palace and seizing the Mysterious Origin Water-Control Banner.
Of course Hongjun knew.
"I only wish to ask why you are so determined to collect the Innate Five Elements Banners."
Hongjun asked softly.
"If this disciple said it was merely for fun, would you believe me, Master?"
Daochen asked with a smile.
"Of course not. There are countless entertaining things in this world. Why insist on collecting the Five Elements Banners even at the risk of offending future sages? With your intelligence, Daochen, you would never do something so unwise merely for amusement!"
Hongjun kept his gaze fixed firmly on Daochen as he spoke.
"If this disciple said