Xu Tong showed no intention of handing over the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, finally driving Hongjun into a fury.
I've roamed the Primordial World unchallenged for so many years, yet this brat keeps making me suffer hidden losses.
If I don't make you bow your head today, how am I supposed to command respect once word gets out?
Hongjun was confident that, given his reputation as the foremost figure in the Primordial World and his current status as one who had achieved Dao Integration, Tongtian should still fear him somewhat.
After all, if he truly attacked, he believed his opponent would have no chance of escaping.
What he did not know was that this line of thinking played straight into Xu Tong's hands.
"Dao Ancestor, are you saying that if I refuse to hand over the Spiritual Treasure, you'll seize it by force?"
"You jest, young friend. Spiritual Treasures belong to those capable of possessing them."
Hearing this, Xu Tong curled his lip.
Old bastard, are you sure you don't want to take Zhunti and Jieyin as your personal disciples?
That shameless streak really does bear a striking resemblance.
'Belong to those capable,' my ass.
In the end, the bigger fist was the only truth that mattered.
Seeing Hongjun act so shamelessly, Xu Tong suddenly laughed.
"Haha, you're right, Dao Ancestor. Spiritual Treasures do indeed belong to those capable of possessing them."
"If someone more virtuous than I, Tongtian, comes asking for this Spiritual Treasure, I certainly won't object. I'll even offer it with both hands."
"They're welcome to take the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil."
"The question is whether anyone dares to come."
Hongjun frowned. His opponent intended to meet force with force.
Did he think his wings had grown strong enough, that his strength could withstand Hongjun?
It had to be said that this clone of Xu Tong's, with his peak Quasi-Sage strength, did indeed leave most of the Primordial World's other mighty figures far behind.
Apart from a few old monsters, calling him the foremost figure in the Primordial World would not even be an exaggeration.
But escaping Hongjun's grasp? That was something of a joke.
Yet just as Hongjun prepared to act, Xu Tong moved first.
Xu Tong's clone waved his hand, and creation merit shone behind his head, coalescing into a Merit Golden Wheel.
Its dazzling radiance illuminated the entire hall so brilliantly that no one dared look straight at it.
As Tongtian's creation merit manifested, the Heavenly Dao immediately sensed it. Heavenly flowers rained down, Golden Lotuses Springing from the Earth appeared, and auspicious cranes cleared the way.
Then Xu Tong did nothing more. He simply stood there, watching Hongjun with amusement.
"Dao Ancestor, this is my virtue. If anyone claims to possess greater virtue than I, Tongtian, let him come and display it. If that truly proves to be the case, I will offer up the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil myself."
At Xu Tong's words, Hongjun fell silent.
What the hell is there left to say?
He had thought Xu Tong meant strength, only to discover that he meant merit.
At this point, Hongjun also calmed down.
Damn it, I forgot about this earlier. Tongtian is one of the Three Pure Ones, after all. Even without becoming a Sage, he possesses a vast amount of creation merit.
And all these years, he has never shown himself or stained himself with the karmic burden of killing. Not a shred of his creation merit has been diminished. Even Laozi and Yuanshi combined don't have merit and blessings as profound as his.
If I kill him, the Heavenly Dao will probably punish me immediately. Achieving Dao Integration after that would be difficult.
Xu Tong belonged to the Pangu Orthodox Lineage, and the merit he carried was no sham.
That was precisely why Hongjun found his hands and feet bound.
The situation had suddenly reversed.
Watching the conflict on Hongjun's face, the clone smiled disdainfully.
Xu Tong had never placed much faith in this Dao Ancestor's character. As a precaution, he had transferred his creation merit to this clone. He had not expected it to actually come in handy.
In truth, this merit was only enough to bluff Hongjun.
Even if he truly destroyed this clone,
since he would not have killed Xu Tong's true body, the Heavenly Dao would not punish him very severely.
There would, of course, still be some warnings.
Unfortunately, Hongjun did not dare gamble. After a long while, he withdrew his imposing aura and put on a smiling face.
"You jest, Fellow Daoist Tongtian. Who in the Primordial World could possibly surpass your virtue?"
"In my opinion, we should discuss how to exchange this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil."
Hongjun had finally yielded.
Only after hearing this did Xu Tong nod in satisfaction.
Heh, wouldn't it have been better to say that from the start? Why bother with threats?
Xu Tong grumbled inwardly.
Seeing that Hongjun was finally willing to negotiate, Xu Tong sat down again.
"Dao Ancestor, to tell you the truth, it isn't that I'm unwilling to part with something precious. It's just that this Nine Heavens Breathing Soil is truly of great use to me, so I cannot give it to you. But if you wish to borrow it, we can discuss that-for a price."
Xu Tong revealed a crafty smile.
He had calculated all of this long ago.
What was the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil? It was what would one day be used to mold the human race, the future protagonists of heaven and earth.
If he casually traded it away, Xu Tong would suffer an enormous loss.
But if he lent it to Hongjun and Hongjun used it up, all the merit attributable to the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil would belong to him.
Hongjun would also owe him a karmic debt and have to provide substantial compensation.
Between the two options, Xu Tong naturally knew which was the better bargain.
Hongjun's expression darkened.
Lend it to me? That isn't what I wanted.
"Fellow Daoist, I believe an exchange would still be best. Just tell me what you need it for, and I'll compensate you with two additional Spiritual Treasures."
Hongjun knew perfectly well that the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil involved an enormous amount of merit. He did not want to hand that over to someone else.
Especially not to Xu Tong.
He had just lost so much power of the Heavenly Dao. If he could obtain the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, he might be able to replenish that power in one stroke.
Unfortunately, his calculations had gone awry today.
"Dao Ancestor, this is not negotiable. I will only lend this item, never trade it. If you are unwilling, we have nothing more to discuss."
With that, Xu Tong prepared to rise.
Seeing Xu Tong's resolute manner, Hongjun felt the blood and qi churn within him. He had cultivated the Dao for countless years, yet before Xu Tong, he could not even maintain basic composure.
There was no helping it. This fellow was simply too infuriating, always striking right at a person's weak spot.
Hongjun's teeth ached with hatred, but there was nothing he could do.
With Xu Tong leaving absolutely no room for negotiation, Hongjun had no choice but to abandon his original plan.
"Very well. This old Daoist only needs to borrow the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil. Hurry and bring it out, Fellow Daoist."
Hongjun seethed inwardly.
Such an enormous amount of merit is going to fall into someone else's hands-and Xu Tong's hands, at that. I simply can't accept it.
Yet upon hearing Tongtian's words, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Xu Tong's mouth.
"You must be confused, Fellow Daoist. For something this important, even borrowing it should come at a price. Otherwise, wouldn't I be taking a tremendous loss?"
At that moment, Xu Tong wore the expression of a thoroughly unscrupulous merchant.
"What! Tongtian, you've gone too far! I'm only borrowing a Spiritual Treasure, and you still demand a price? This concerns..."
In his fury, Hongjun nearly blurted out that this concerned attaining Sagehood.
But he quickly caught himself.
He could not reveal that. If he did, Xu Tong would probably open his lion's maw again and double the price.
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