A Dao banner wreathed in Dao resonance and radiating a rich aura of earth appeared in Yuanshi's hand.
With the banner's appearance, earth spiritual energy surged throughout the void of Chaos, as though summoned by an unseen emperor, gathering toward the banner in Yuanshi's hand!
"The Wu Earth Apricot Yellow Banner!"
Daochen cried out in surprise.
He had never expected Yuanshi to bring out this treasure.
The Wu Earth Apricot Yellow Banner was one of the Innate Five Directional Banners.
Even among Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures, it ranked among the very finest.
Of course, that was not what delighted Daochen most.
Rather, the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner was a component of the Innate Five Elements Formation-one of the Primordial World's four great formations!
The four great formations of the Primordial World:
The Zhou Tian Starry Formation: centered on the countless stars in the Primordial World's heavens, with three hundred and sixty-five Great Luo Golden Immortals serving as formation envoys, it gathered the power of all the heavenly stars and possessed unparalleled might. Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi had originally comprehended it from the River Chart and Luo Writing to counter the Twelve Ancestral Witches' Dutian Divine Fiend Formation!
The Dutian Divine Fiend Formation: using their own Pangu bloodline as a catalyst, the Twelve Ancestral Witches summoned Pangu's true body, unleashing power comparable to an all-out strike from Pangu!
The Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation: formed by combining the Four Immortal-Slaying Swords with the Immortal-Slaying Formation Diagram, it could only be broken by four Sages working together!
The final formation was the Innate Five Elements Formation, established with the Innate Five Directional Banners. It possessed the mighty power to reverse yin and yang and recreate earth, fire, water, and wind!
Now that he had this Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, one-fifth of the Innate Five Elements Formation was already in his grasp.
"Fellow Daoist, I obtained this treasure through a fortunate encounter. Today, I offer it to you as an apology. Would that be acceptable?"
Yuanshi looked as though he were having his flesh cut away.
Given his temperament, if Hongjun's lecture had not been imminent, he would never have given the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to Daochen, even if beaten to death.
"Now that we have offered you this Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasure, might you show us a little leniency and allow us to proceed to the Purple Heavens Palace?"
Laozi spoke with a smile.
His meaning was obvious.
You had beaten us.
We had given you a treasure, too.
Surely you ought to let us leave now!
But little did he know that the moment Yuanshi brought out the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, Daochen's plans had changed!
At first, Daochen had only intended to shake them down a little and call it a day!
He truly did not care about one or two treasures.
His main aim had been to teach Yuanshi a lesson.
But he had never expected Yuanshi to produce the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner. That changed everything.
Daochen wanted to lead Dijun and Eastern Emperor Taiyi away from the Witch-Demon Tribulation. In the future, he would inevitably have dealings with innate Sages such as the Three Pure Ones, Hongjun, and Jieyin.
These people had yet to become Sages, so he could thrash them at will.
But once they attained Sagehood, that might no longer be the case!
Since Yuanshi had obtained the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner was presumably in Laozi's possession.
If he did not take this opportunity to squeeze more out of them now,
he would never have such a fine opportunity again!
In any case, by taking Yuanshi's Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner today, he had already thoroughly offended the Three Pure Ones.
Why not go all the way in one stroke?
"You think a mere Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasure is enough to settle this? Do you take me, Daochen, for a beggar?"
Though delighted to obtain the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, Daochen still acted as though he would not relent without two Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures, all for the sake of the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner!
He wanted to trick the Three Pure Ones, but they were no fools. If he demanded the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner outright, they would surely realize something was wrong.
Thus, although Daochen did not back down, his tone softened somewhat.
This time, his reply was no longer as forceful as before; instead, it carried a slight hint of hesitation!
Sure enough, Laozi, Yuanshi, and Tongtian immediately caught the change in Daochen's tone.
At once, all three felt a spark of delight they could scarcely suppress.
When Hongjun attained Sagehood and announced that he would preach the Dao to the Primordial World, they had sensed something in the depths of their hearts.
This lecture of Hongjun's would be the greatest opportunity of their lives.
They could not miss it, no matter what!
"Please calm yourself, fellow Daoist, please. Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures are, after all, divine wonders of heaven and earth. Even after roaming the Primordial World for so many years, we have only this one. Now that we have given it to you, we truly have nothing left."
Laozi spoke with an ingratiating smile.
Well, well, you're actually pleading poverty with me? If I didn't know the course of the Primordial World so well, you might really have fooled me.
Daochen curled his lip and thought to himself.
"In that case, let us fight before discussing anything further. I have spent so long on the Sun Star that I lack anyone to practice against. Why not help me stretch my muscles today, fellow Daoist?"
With a thought from Daochen, the Heaven Measuring Ruler instantly appeared above his head. Endless primordial purple qi cascaded down, making him look like a god of Chaos.
Hum!
Hum!
Two clear notes of Dao resonance rang out as Eastern Emperor Taiyi and Dijun approached, wielding the Eastern Emperor Bell and the River Chart and Luo Writing.
The three took up mutually supporting positions, surrounding the Three Pure Ones.
They looked ready to strike at the slightest disagreement.
Seeing the three poised to attack again at a single wrong word, Laozi inwardly cursed his rotten luck.
Of all the people they could have provoked, why did it have to be such a god of slaughter?
Had he not cared about maintaining his dignity as the head of the Three Pure Ones, Laozi would have strung Yuanshi up and beaten him right then.
"Eldest brother, why not simply give this fellow Daoist your Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner?"
Seeing that Laozi had failed to squeeze out so much as a fart for quite some time, Yuanshi spoke directly.
He had already paid in blood, after all.
Better to share the pleasure than enjoy it alone...
"You!"
Fury instantly welled up in Laozi's heart.
Yet Tongtian had also turned his gaze toward him.
Hongjun's lecture concerned all three brothers' future attainment of Sagehood. Yuanshi had already handed over a Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner. If Laozi possessed a treasure but refused to give it up, Daochen would not be the only one he offended.
He would offend his youngest brother Tongtian as well!
As the head of the Three Pure Ones, he had already made Yuanshi clean up his own mess, leaving resentment in Yuanshi's heart. If he still refused to cut away a piece of his own flesh now, even Tongtian might cease to acknowledge him as his eldest brother!
"Very well, very well. The greater good must come first!"
Forcing a smile, Laozi reached out and produced a Dao banner one foot and seven inches long, wreathed in an aura of flame.
With a wave of his hand, the Earth-Leaving Flame Light Banner instantly became a streak of light and landed in Daochen's hand.
Got it!
In mere moments, he had acquired two Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures, both belonging to the Innate Five Elements Banners. Even with Daochen's composure, he could not help feeling a surge of excitement.
With a beckoning gesture, the two Innate Five Elements Banners vanished from his hands.
"In that case, let us part ways here today. We shall meet again at the Purple Heavens Palace!"
As his words fell, a brilliant divine radiance flashed, and Daochen, Dijun, and Eastern Emperor Taiyi vanished.
"They're finally gone!"
Watching Daochen and the others leave, Yuanshi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Gone? Didn't you hear that they're heading to the Purple Heavens Palace?"
Laozi shot Yuanshi an irritated glare.
Had Yuanshi not run his mouth today, Laozi would never have been dragged into losing a Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasure!
"Second brother, when we meet that fellow Daoist again at the Purple Heavens Palace, you absolutely must not behave like this!"
After offering that warning, Tongtian stepped onto the Green Duckweed Sword. Its sword light flashed, and he instantly followed Laozi away.
"Hmph! They were merely two Supreme Xiantian Spiritual Treasures. Once I attain the Dao and become a Sage, let's see whether you still dare treat me like this!"
Yuanshi spoke bitterly.
He held a grudge not only against Daochen, but also against his own brothers, Laozi and Tongtian.
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