Primordial Era: The Sun Emperor

Lingbao Tianzun, with his hands behind his back, circled the gourd vine once, marveling, "What a treasure! If these seven gourds were refined into spiritual treasures, each one would be of the innate level."

The crowd fell silent, each finding a spot to sit cross-legged and quietly waiting for the gourds to ripen.

Several days later, two figures drifted down from the horizon.

Ancestor Hongyun was transformed from the first red cloud in the world. He was generous and warm-hearted.

He was dressed in a red robe, his beard and hair were all red, and he landed in the secluded valley with a smile.

Behind him followed Zhen Yuanzi, who was a close friend of Hongyun.

"Oh my, how lively!" Hongyun chuckled and cupped his hands to the crowd, saying, "This humble Taoist, Hongyun, greets all fellow Daoists."

This is Zhen Yuanzi. When we were rushing back to Wuzhuang Temple, we sensed the birth of Lingbao, so we came to see.

I never expected the Heavenly Emperor, the Three Pure Ones, and Fellow Daoist Nuwa to all be here. I'm sorry for my abrupt arrival.

Zhen Yuanzi bowed slightly as a sign of greeting.

Taiyi glanced at Hongyun and said indifferently, "Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. Spiritual treasures are for those who are destined to receive them. Since you have come, it must be fate."

Hongyun was overjoyed and quickly pulled Zhenyuanzi to sit down beside her.

Everyone continued to wait.

On this day, the sky above suddenly changed.

The seven gourds simultaneously emitted a dazzling light, and seven beams of light shot into the sky, piercing the clouds and illuminating the entire Buzhou Mountain.

The birth of Lingbao caused a great commotion.

The aura of that spiritual treasure spread in all directions like ripples, instantly reaching the entire primordial land.

In Penglai, East Sea, the Eastern King was handling state affairs in his celestial palace when he suddenly looked up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Such a powerful spiritual treasure aura! It's coming from the direction of Buzhou Mountain!"

Without saying a word, he leaped up, transforming into a streak of purple-gold light, and flew westward.

The Queen Mother of the West followed closely behind.

Jieyin and Zhunti were rushing back to the West. They opened their eyes at the same time, looked at each other, and felt an overwhelming surge of emotion in their hearts.

Zhunti said, "Senior brother, this treasure is destined for my Western Paradise!"

The guide looked distressed, but did not hesitate: "Let's go."

The two transformed into two golden streaks and sped eastward.

In the Netherworld Blood Sea, the Styx Ancestor, cradling the Yuan Tu and A Bi swords, gazed with blood-red eyes toward Mount Buzhou, sneering, "With the birth of a spiritual treasure, how could I be absent?"

His figure transformed into a streak of blood-red light and vanished into the sky.

Countless innate deities and independent cultivators from all walks of life sensed the aura of that spiritual treasure and rushed over from all directions.

In an instant, the area around Buzhou Mountain was ablaze with light and bustling with people.

Taiyi stood with his hands behind his back in front of the gourd vine, his golden eyes sweeping over the approaching figures, his expression unchanged.

"They're all here," he said calmly.

The Three Pure Ones' expressions darkened slightly, and Nuwa frowned slightly.

Hongyun and Zhen Yuanzi exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming more solemn.

The first to arrive was the Eastern King Duke.

He landed in the secluded valley, his gaze sweeping over the crowd before finally settling on the seven gourds on the vine, a glint of greed flashing in his eyes.

But he quickly composed himself, cupped his hands and smiled, "Fellow Daoists are all here; it is I who am late."

Taiyi didn't look at him, his tone indifferent: "You're too late, there's no left for you."

The Eastern King's face stiffened, but he dared not lash out and could only stand awkwardly to the side.

The Queen Mother of the West arrived shortly afterward and stood silently beside the King Father of the East.

Jieyin and Zhunti arrived together.

When Zhunti saw the seven gourds, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Excellent! This treasure is destined for my Western Paradise!"

The three Pure Ones all changed color.

Yuanshi Tianzun glanced at him and said coldly, "Zhunti, say that again?"

Zhunti shrank back, but was still unwilling: "Senior Brother Yuanshi, this humble Taoist only..."

That's enough.

Taiyi spoke, his voice not loud, yet it resonated like the sun and a great bell, making everyone present's eardrums buzz.

He turned around, his golden eyes sweeping over Jieyin, Zhunti, Dongwanggong, Xiwangmu, and the other innate deities who were arriving one after another, a cold smile curling at the corner of his lips:

"I will only say this once: this vine grew on Mount Buzhou, a treasure nurtured by heaven and earth. Such a spiritual treasure will choose its own master. Anyone who dares to snatch it will be an enemy of me, and they will not be able to blame me for not informing them in advance."

He paused, then his Solar Domain erupted, unleashing a scorching pressure that weighed down on everyone like a mountain: "Those who oppose me shall die!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

Those rogue cultivators who had originally intended to take advantage of the chaos all took several steps back.

The Styx Ancestor had just arrived and was about to speak when he met Taiyi's golden eyes, and swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue.

He still vividly remembered being suppressed by a single punch atop Mount Buzhou, and dared not act recklessly again.

I wanted to obtain this magical treasure, but since the Heavenly Emperor is here, it's best to stay put.

After all, nominally, he was also Taiyi's subject.

Jieyin tugged at Zhunti's sleeve and whispered, "Junior brother, don't argue."

Zhunti gritted his teeth and said angrily, "Senior brother, what does Taiyi know? The West suffers greatly. Now that the Lingbao has descended upon the world, how can we not fight for it?"

Zhunti stepped forward, looked at Taiyi, and retorted, "Fellow Daoist Taiyi, are you trying to intimidate me with your power?! The treasures of heaven and earth are meant to be possessed by all who see them; whoever obtains them is destined to have them!"

"Indeed! Fellow Daoist Zhunti is absolutely right!"

"We agree with what Fellow Daoist Zhunti has said!"

Those who later became great masters of supernatural powers all expressed their agreement.

Some of them were independent cultivators, while others came from various factions. They were already dissatisfied with Taiyi's monopoly on distribution power, and when Zhunti spoke up, they switched sides like weather vanes. In a short time, seven or eight people echoed his sentiments.

The Eastern King Duke and the Western Queen Mother remained silent. The Eastern King Duke already knew how terrifying Taiyi was and dared not utter a word, for fear of further humiliating himself.

Fuxi did not speak. Nuwa had arrived very early, so her share was naturally hers. Whether he had it or not was irrelevant.

"Bah! Fellow Daoist Taiyi is right! Lingbao has a master, and it will choose its master in its own time!" Lingbao Tianzun said.

Although neither the Celestial Venerable of Morality nor the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning spoke, they were also staring at Zhunti.

Two gazes, as if they were physical, pressed down on Zhunti, their warning meaning self-evident.

Suddenly, immense pressure appeared around Zhunti.

The auras of the Three Pure Ones, Taiyi, and Nuwa—almost all the most powerful beings present sided with Taiyi.

However, Taiyi couldn't be bothered with them.

He sneered, a cold glint flashing in his golden eyes, and said, word by word, "I think you're all tired of living!"

Before he finished speaking, he waved and left.

Without activating the Chaos Bell or unfolding the Solar Dao Domain, it was just a simple palm strike!

The sacred flames of the sun condensed into a giant golden hand, blotting out the sky and pressing down on Zhunti and those powerful beings who echoed his sentiments.

Zhunti's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly summoned the Seven Treasures Tree.

The precious tree emitted a seven-colored light, sweeping towards the golden giant hand, intending to brush it down.

However, the Holy Flame of the Sun was extremely fierce and intense. Although the Seven Treasures Tree, which was said to be able to brush away anything, was powerful, it could not brush away the pure and ultimate power of the Great Dao.

boom--

The Seven Treasures Tree was sent flying by a single palm strike, and Zhunti himself was also swept away by the aftershock of the giant palm. He was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, spitting out blood as he crashed into several rocks behind him and fell into the dust in a sorry state.

"Junior brother!" Jieyin exclaimed in surprise, his face showing distress, but he had no choice but to take action.

He formed a mudra with his hands. Although he had already given the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus of Merit to Taiyi, he still had the Reception Banner.

The golden banner shone brightly, transforming into a golden light curtain that blocked Zhunti's path.

Taiyi sneered, "You think you're worthy?"