Volume One: The Lich Cataclysm Chapter 105: Gathering at Mount Zhou, Azure Sky Appears to Save the Spirit Vine
“Very well, Fellow Daoist Qingxuan. If I read your intentions right, you seek my help not for your own sake, but truly wish for me to protect these two youngsters,” Yang Mei said, feigning displeasure. The powerful aura he emanated so intimidated Houtu and her companion that neither dared to utter a word.
“You two have not met Daoist Yang Mei before, have you? He is a being who has attained the realm of Hunyuan Da Luo Golden Immortal. From now on, be respectful upon encountering him,” Chen Rui admonished the pair.
“Greetings, Senior Yang Mei!”
At his words, the two quickly bowed respectfully to Yang Mei.
“Enough, let us set off without further delay!”
Yang Mei swept his sleeve, carrying Houtu and her companion, and together with Chen Rui, entered the chaos.
Beyond the heavens, inside the Purple Heaven Palace.
At the moment Yang Mei and Qingxuan entered the chaos, Hongjun suddenly opened his eyes, speaking with ambiguous meaning.
“Yang Mei and Qingxuan have entered the chaos. Strange!”
His gaze brightened, voice rising in intensity.
“Could it be that Qingxuan’s true self has encountered a formidable enemy in the chaos and needs assistance, or perhaps has discovered some opportunity?”
“No matter, whatever the reason, it has little to do with me. The matters at hand are far more pressing. When the time comes…”
Hongjun’s eyes burned with fervor as he finished speaking.
At the Pillar of Heaven, in the Azure Lotus Dao Academy.
“So those two items have finally appeared?”
Qingkong sat in the grand hall, eyes suddenly opening as he spoke in a low tone.
He sent out a message and vanished from sight.
After hearing the Dao, the Three Primes stepped out of the Purple Heaven Palace, each feeling a shiver run through their bodies.
They exchanged glances, understanding much from each other’s eyes.
Taiching laughed cheerfully, saying,
“It seems this opportunity is fated for all three of us brothers! I wonder what kind of supreme treasure it could be.”
At his words, all three recalled the treasure they once obtained together on Mount Kunlun—an artifact tied to the path of enlightenment itself.
Now encountering a similar event once more, the trio could not help but marvel, curiosity rising regarding the item about to emerge.
“In that case, let us go together, brothers!”
“Indeed!”
Yuqing and Taiqing both agreed, transforming into three rays of pure light that sped toward the Pillar of Heaven.
Others who felt the same resonance included the brothers Emperor Jun and Taiyi, and the siblings Fuxi and Nuwa.
The moment they left the Purple Heaven Palace, they sensed the opportunity descending.
When they neared the Pillar of Heaven, Taiching among the Three Primes stopped abruptly.
“Brother, why do you stop?”
Yuqing looked in confusion at Taiching, who had halted.
“Ah, you two may not know. It’s said that the Pillar of Heaven is already claimed. Do you recall that during the lecture, we sat behind the Saints, and Qingxuan, who spoke the Dao to us, was seated among them?
To sit with the Saints, he must be extraordinary.”
Taiching spoke with an air of mystery.
“But what does that have to do with our opportunity? We don’t intend to compete with the elder for it. The Pillar of Heaven is vast; we can seek our fortune without conflict!”
Yuqing’s words left Taiching at a loss.
Before he could respond, a mocking laugh rang out.
“If I sensed this opportunity, then it is fated for me. What if he is a senior? Does he intend to contend with us? You, Daoist, seemed impressive; who would have guessed you’d be so easily frightened. I’m ashamed to share the path with you.”
Taiching turned to see Taiyi from the Sun Star, looking at the three brothers with provocation.
“You!”
Shangqing’s temper flared, ready to teach Taiyi a lesson, but Taiching quickly restrained him.
“Let’s go, brother. Don’t waste time with these fools. The treasure will be ours!”
With that, Emperor Jun and Taiyi shot toward the Pillar of Heaven like two rainbows.
“Brother, this—” Shangqing said, somewhat vexed, looking at Taiching.
“Ah, let us go, lest others truly look down on us brothers.”
Taiching glanced at his siblings, unconcerned.
After they departed, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun, Fuxi, and Nuwa also arrived at the Pillar of Heaven one after another, all flying directly to the mountain after brief consideration.
Near the summit of the Pillar of Heaven, in a secluded valley, a vine sprawled across nearly the entire gorge.
Seven gourds hung from the vine: the Purple-Gold Gourd, the Purple-Black Gourd, the Purple-Yellow Gourd, the Purple-Red Gourd, the Purple-Green Gourd, the Purple-White Gourd, and the Purple-Green Gourd.
“What a wondrous innate spiritual root, bearing seven gourds at once. Judging by their quality, all but the last, which is not fully formed, are exceptional spiritual treasures,”
Taiching, arriving first, instantly discerned the nature of the vine.
Soon after, Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun arrived, followed by Fuxi and Nuwa.
Emperor Jun and Taiyi, despite arriving before the Three Primes, were the last to reach the site.
“This spiritual root bears only seven gourds, but so many of us are here. How should we divide them?”
Hongyun, the benevolent one, looked at the vine with concern.
Nuwa proposed,
“Why not each try to sense which treasure resonates with them? Spiritual treasures have their own will and will choose their master. If fate is with us, we will gain something. What do you all think?”
Taiching smiled and agreed,
“A splendid idea. Let’s do just that.”
Taiyi, however, protested, but Emperor Jun quickly restrained him, shaking his head.
Taiyi had to swallow his frustration.
Just as they were about to pick the gourds, a figure appeared.
“Wait. If you proceed, you will only destroy the root’s essence.”
It was Qingkong, who had arrived earlier and studied the root, seeking a way to preserve it. Seeing them about to take the gourds, he rushed to intervene.
“Who are you? Do you mean you have a solution?” Shangqing asked, and Taiching quickly pulled him back.
Among them, only Zhenyuanzi watched Qingkong thoughtfully, but the others did not notice.
“If what you say is true, then we have been reckless. If you have a way, please act. We do not wish to destroy this spiritual root through our carelessness,”
Taiching said promptly.
“It is fated for this root to meet me. I will employ my methods to preserve its essence. Once you have taken your destined treasures, the root will belong to me,”
Qingkong replied, feigning difficulty.
“If you can do it, so be it. We have no objections,”
Taiching quickly agreed. Yuqing and Shangqing, seeing their elder brother consent, said nothing further.
Zhenyuanzi quietly signaled Hongyun.