A flicker of surprise crossed Jiang Chen's eyes when he saw what his two disciples had chosen.
In the legends of the Primordial World, the Chaos Azure Lotus had broken apart after the heavens were opened, transforming into all manner of treasures containing boundless divine powers.
Now, drawn by the children of fortune, this Chaos Azure Lotus had taken the initiative to break apart. Who knew whether it could eventually evolve into those treasures renowned throughout the Primordial World?
If the various parts of the Chaos Azure Lotus could still transform into those treasures of the Primordial World once they matured, then both disciples' choices suited them quite well.
The five medium-sized lotus leaves Han Yuyao had chosen would eventually become the Five Innate Directional Flags, before which all evil retreated and which no art could invade.
At the center, the Wuji Apricot Yellow Flag: ten thousand golden lotuses, impervious to all things;
In the east, the Azure Lotus Treasure-Colored Flag: the brilliant radiance of sarira, calming the heart and stilling the mind;
In the south, the Off-Ground Flame Light Flag: throwing yin and yang into chaos and overturning the five elements;
In the west, the Plain-Colored Cloud Boundary Flag: wondrous visions wreathed in mist, illuminating heaven and earth;
In the north, the Mysterious Origin Water-Controlling Flag: shrouding heaven and earth, veiling the sky and blotting out the sun.
United, the Five Innate Directional Flags could form the Innate Five Directions Grand Formation, whose defenses rivaled supreme defensive treasures such as the Taiji Diagram, the Chaos Bell, and the Heaven and Earth Xuanhuang Exquisite Pagoda!
However, not even the mighty figures of the Primordial World had ever gathered all Five Innate Directional Flags, so the power of their union had never been verified.
Only if Han Yuyao could evolve the Five Innate Directional Flags in the future could the true power of their union be revealed.
As for the rootstalk of the Chaos Azure Lotus that Ye Hao had chosen, it would eventually become the God-Slaying Spear.
It gathered the most ferocious Qi between heaven and earth and could also devour any baleful presence between heaven and earth to strengthen itself. It was truly the foremost supreme treasure of slaughter in the Primordial World!
In the hands of an Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, the God-Slaying Spear would truly be like giving wings to a tiger, allowing the Ancient Desolate Sacred Body's strength to reach its utmost!
Of course, the Chaos Azure Lotus's remaining two large lotus leaves, five small lotus leaves, flower, seedpod, seeds, and other parts all possessed inconceivable divine powers and could be kept for other disciples in the future.
"Thank you for bestowing these treasures upon us, Master!"
Han Yuyao and Ye Hao voiced their thanks in unison.
Anticipation shone in both their eyes. If they nurtured their chosen lotus leaves or rootstalk to the utmost, what earth-shaking transformation might occur?
If their master's words were true, even Han Yuyao's Chaos Sword Bone was far less precious than any part of the Chaos Azure Lotus. Both of them were filled with anticipation for the future.
Jiang Chen nodded slightly, casually put away the remaining Chaos Azure Lotus, and said with an easy smile, "I cannot always be by your side to protect you. Should you encounter a powerful enemy you cannot withstand, these lotus leaves and rootstalk should be more than enough to protect you, even before they mature."
Hearing Jiang Chen's words, Han Yuyao and Ye Hao brimmed with confidence, eagerness flashing in their eyes.
With such wondrous chaos objects protecting them, couldn't they walk sideways through the lower realm?
Even if a Great Emperor came, breaking through such wondrous chaos objects would be utterly impossible!
Seeing their expressions, Jiang Chen knew what they were thinking and scolded them with a laugh, "Neither of you should rely too heavily on these wondrous chaos objects."
"Every time these wondrous chaos objects ward off a calamity for you, they will consume an enormous amount of your fortune."
"If your fortune runs dry, these wondrous chaos objects will instantly flee."
"As for what will become of you then, think about it yourselves."
Clarity returned to Han Yuyao's and Ye Hao's eyes at his words. They bowed respectfully to Jiang Chen and said solemnly, "We understand! Unless we truly face certain death, we will never use these wondrous chaos objects!"
Jiang Chen said casually, "There is no need to go that far, either. Use them when you should. Just don't rely on them too much."
Ye Hao scratched his head and asked in some confusion, "Master, you keep mentioning fortune, but it can't be seen or touched. What exactly is it?"
Hearing Ye Hao's question, Jiang Chen saw confusion in Han Yuyao's eyes as well, so he simply gave them a detailed explanation.
"What we call fortune is one's allotted fate and destiny!"
"Everything between heaven and earth has fortune, and it is constantly changing!"
"Fortune rises and falls, dynasties come and go, the stars wheel and shift, and seas turn into mulberry fields!"
"If a holy land's fortune flourishes, geniuses emerge in succession, and its legacy endures undying through ten thousand generations; if the fortune of mountains and rivers flourishes, the mountains are verdant and the waters clear, with clouds rising and rosy mists gathering; if a cultivator's fortune flourishes, calamity can turn into blessing, and all things go as they wish!"
"Conversely, if a holy land's fortune declines, it has no successors, and its legacy is severed; if the fortune of mountains and rivers declines, the mountains and rivers shatter, the waters dry up, and the stones crumble; if a cultivator's fortune declines, misfortune clings to them, and their path is fraught with hardship!"
"This era is an age of great contention unseen in ten thousand generations. Contend with heaven, with earth, with others, and with yourselves! Contend for opportunities, and contend for fortune!"
"Obtaining treasures or inheritances in ruins and secret realms all counts as seizing the fortune of heaven and earth!"
"As for personal fortune, many things affect it: temperament, aptitude, ability, divine powers, Dao arts, resources, treasures, background, connections, and so on. All can influence the rise and fall of each person's fortune!"
"The Dao children of the great holy lands and divine dynasties far surpass true disciples and ordinary disciples in background, aptitude, Dao arts, treasures, and other respects. They also bear the rise and fall of their factions' fortunes, so naturally, the fortune they carry is far greater!"
"If you can defeat or kill them, you can seize their fortune, and even seize some of the fortune of the factions behind them!"
"Of course, if you are slain or perish in ruins or secret realms, all your fortune and opportunities will turn to ash!"
"Such is the nature of fortune's changes!"
Both Han Yuyao and Ye Hao looked thoughtful. Han Yuyao asked tentatively, "Master, do you mean that cultivating in seclusion is inadvisable, and that we should go out for experience more often instead?"
Jiang Chen nodded slightly and praised her, "A child worth teaching!"
"In an age of great contention, contend when you must!"
"If you do not contend, you will fall behind others! If you do not contend, you will miss all manner of opportunities!"
"As theirs waxes and yours wanes, others will leave you further and further behind, until you finally fade into the crowd!"
Jiang Chen had delivered this long, earnest exhortation because he naturally wanted his two disciples to leave the mountain more often.
What children of fortune stayed in the mountains all day, living off their elders?
Moreover, the Chaos Azure Lotus had already separated its rootstalk and lotus leaves of its own accord and merged them into their bodies.
No matter where they went, they would receive nourishment from the Chaos Azure Lotus. There was no need to remain on the mountain.
Although heaven-sent opportunities might fall into the laps of such children of fortune even if they stayed on the mountain, that possibility was too small. How could it compare to the many opportunities they would encounter while venturing out for experience?
"I understand!" Han Yuyao nodded lightly, her eyes perfectly clear.
In her eyes, her master had passed down the Chaos Sword Scripture and bestowed wondrous chaos objects upon her, giving her the means to establish herself in the present world.
The rest of the road was hers to walk!
Divine light blazed in Ye Hao's eyes as he declared spiritedly, "I'll go challenge the Purple Firmament Holy Land's true disciples one by one right now! I'll seize their fortune!"
"Thump!"
Jiang Chen rapped Ye Hao hard on the head and said, "What ability is there in throwing your weight around at home?"
"If you want to contend, contend with the Dao children of other factions!"
"But do not bully the weak just to seize their fortune. Our Clear Void Peak lineage cannot afford that disgrace!"
Ye Hao rubbed his head with a grimace and said with a wry smile, "Master, I was only saying it! As a dignified Ancient Desolate Sacred Body, I wouldn't stoop to bullying the other true disciples!"