Di Jun looked at the displeased Hong Jun and was about to explain, but Hong Jun did not even spare him another glance.
Whether Liu Mang's words were true or not, Di Jun was definitely taking the blame for giving away a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure.
With so many people here, why were you the one giving out a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure?
You think you're so impressive—why not go catch sheep on Green Green Grassland?
Look how full of yourself you are.
Hong Jun was deeply displeased. Di Jun had nearly turned him, the Dao Ancestor, into a laughingstock.
With a flip of his palm, the ordinary Spiritual Treasure he had been holding became a scroll glittering with starlight, its dazzling radiance making its extraordinary quality obvious at a glance.
He drew the scroll out from the space before him. With a shake of his hand, it slowly unfurled. Its starlight grew even more intense, stabbing into everyone's eyes and leaving them unable to open them. Once they could see again, a scroll covered in ninety-nine stars and roughly one meter long was clearly displayed before them.
"This is the Chaos Jade Void Diagram. Before heaven and earth were divided, the Jade Void Demon God gathered ninety-nine ancient stars from the chaos and refined them into this treasure. Every star possesses the power to destroy heaven and earth. This diagram can grow or shrink—at its longest, it exceeds a thousand meters; at its shortest, it is less than a foot long. Once deployed, the ninety-nine stars will form an array on their own and guard the bearer's body."
After Hong Jun finished speaking, everyone present widened their eyes and sucked in a cold breath.
"This diagram actually came from a Chaos Demon God and was refined within the chaos. It definitely isn't simple."
"Exactly. Even Quasi-Sages might not survive entering the chaos, let alone refine a treasure inside it."
"I used my Spiritual Sense to examine it, and all I could feel was how terrifyingly powerful it was."
"The Dao Ancestor truly is the Dao Ancestor. Even his gifts are extraordinary."
Hong Jun was quite satisfied with everyone's reaction. With another shake of his hand, the scroll rolled back up. He then sent it forward, and the Chaos Jade Void Diagram floated before Liu Mang.
Hong Jun continued, "Although this diagram does not reach the grade of the Rivers and Mountains Diagram, it is still an Innate Spiritual Treasure. I see that the clothes you wear are merely an ordinary Spiritual Treasure and offer insufficient defense. I will give this to you for protection as you travel through Hong Huang."
Liu Mang caught the Chaos Jade Void Diagram and answered with slight disappointment, "Oh~"
Hong Jun stared blankly at Liu Mang, unable to understand what had gone wrong.
Oh?
What the hell was "oh"?
An Innate Spiritual Treasure, and all he got in return was an "oh"?
This was an Innate Spiritual Treasure, not some common roadside stone.
Since when had Innate Spiritual Treasures become so worthless in Hong Huang? How did he, Hong Jun, not know about it?
Was this some kind of joke?!
Hong Jun looked at Liu Mang in confusion. "Is there something about this diagram that dissatisfies you?"
Liu Mang bared eight teeth in a wide grin, his face full of fake cheer. "Satisfied! Very satisfied!"
Hong Jun choked and nearly passed out. You little bastard, could you put away that fake smile before saying you were satisfied? It was disgusting!
Anyone with functioning eyes could see that smile was fake. Satisfied, my ass. You were satisfied?
With that fake smile still on his face, Liu Mang continued, "Thank you, Dao Ancestor Grandpa. As long as it's from you, I like anything."
If I'd known, I would've given you a pile of crap!
"However, I thought there would also be a reward for passing your test! Uncle Taishang said he would teach me alchemy, but I still don't have a suitable pill furnace~ I thought I might receive a furnace~"
[Damn it! I'm already calling you Grandpa! You think one Innate Spiritual Treasure is enough to send me away? No way!]
Taishang was also startled when he heard Liu Mang's words.
When the hell did I ever agree to teach you alchemy?!
Hong Jun turned an inquiring gaze toward Taishang. Just as Taishang was about to refute him, he noticed Liu Mang looking at him with a smile. However, Liu Mang's eyes kept drifting toward Xuan Du behind him, the threat unmistakable.
Taishang understood Liu Mang's meaning and was left speechless.
This little bastard—if I say one more word, he definitely won't let Xuan Du acknowledge me as his master.
Taishang looked at Xuan Du, who was lost in thought, and could not help sighing with countless emotions.
Xuan Du, your master had made far too great a sacrifice to obtain you!
From now on, you had better make your master proud!
Who knew whether you or this little bastard was the elder brother? Why did he get to decide everything?
My path to attaining the Dao—why was it so difficult?!
Faced with Liu Mang's fake smile, Taishang could only reluctantly cup his hands toward Hong Jun. "I did indeed have such plans."
Though Taishang outwardly acknowledged Liu Mang's claim, he was screaming inwardly, Teacher, I have no choice if I want to attain the Dao! Surely you'll understand once you learn the truth.
However, Hong Jun was not Nu Wa, and Taishang was not Liu Mang. Hong Jun did not hear a single word of Taishang's inner thoughts.
Liu Mang turned his head and looked harmlessly at Hong Jun, as if saying, See? I wasn't lying, was I?
Seeing Liu Mang's smug expression after getting what he wanted, Hong Jun's fists clenched.
If killing Liu Mang would not also kill himself, Hong Jun would have been willing to suffer severe injuries just to kill Liu Mang today. He was simply too infuriating.
He had been cowardly to the extreme before, yet now he was recklessly arrogant. Hong Jun was beginning to wonder whether he had been facing two different people.
Hong Jun let out a long breath and suppressed the fury in his heart. As he considered what to give, he looked into his spatial treasure vault and suddenly had an idea. He spoke slowly.
"This item was originally meant for Fellow Daoist Nu Wa, but Fellow Daoist Nu Wa never had a use for it."
The moment Hong Jun spoke, Liu Mang knew what he intended to give. He simply had not expected Hong Jun to truly be willing to part with it—even this could be given away.
Liu Mang's eyes widened excitedly.
Could it be the Qiankun Cauldron? It must be!
Based on Hong Jun's words, only the Qiankun Cauldron fits those conditions.
Liu Mang screamed inwardly, while Nu Wa wore a confused expression. She did not understand why Liu Mang was so certain that Hong Jun would say the Qiankun Cauldron had been meant for her.
Seeing Liu Mang's excitement, Hong Jun could not help grumbling inwardly. This little bastard had good eyes. The moment he heard it had been prepared for Nu Wa, he was practically grinning from ear to ear.
Though his heart bled with pain, Hong Jun continued, "Since you need it, and Fellow Daoist Nu Wa did not use it, I'll give it to you."
After speaking, Hong Jun raised his right hand. A small cauldron appeared out of thin air in his palm.
Unlike the Chaos Jade Void Diagram, the small cauldron was plain and unadorned, without even the slightest gleam. Yet it exuded an ancient, weighty aura.
The appearance of the small cauldron made everyone present widen their eyes. None of them could ignore it.
"The Qiankun Cauldron?!" everyone cried out.
The Qiankun Cauldron was formed from the Lotus Seed Pod of the Primordial Green Lotus. It possessed the ability to return things to their origin; when cultivating laws, it could lead directly to the Great Dao. It could also raise the grade and quality of treasures and weapons, transforming the postnatal into the innate.
Compared to it, the Chaos Jade Void Diagram did not even qualify as a little brother. It was a little brother's little brother.
If Fei Lian had possessed the Qiankun Cauldron, the Myriad Treasures Ruyi Fan would have long since become a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure. Why would he need to search everywhere for gemstones to refine it?
Nu Wa was equally stunned, though for a different reason. "He got it right again! How many times has this been now? Why can he always be so accurate?"
Tongtian's eyes also burned with desire as he looked at the Qiankun Cauldron. Back then, he had begged Hong Jun for it for ages, yet had failed to obtain it.
Seeing the Qiankun Cauldron about to fall into Liu Mang's hands made Tongtian's heart ache.
There had once been a chance of getting it. But now that it was in this little bastard's hands, he would probably go bankrupt just to take one look at it, let alone get his hands on it.
Hong Jun said, "That's right. It is the Qiankun Cauldron."
Before you continue