Guangchengzi's expression darkened. If that statement were made, everyone present would have to call Qi an elder. Who could possibly stop him from taking the spiritual treasure?
At this moment of awkwardness, a small ball of fire cloud drifted from the horizon, and a young boy carrying an umbrella came into view. Everyone's gaze turned towards the newcomer.
The boy, feeling embarrassed under so many stares, blushed and walked up to Qi, whispering, "Martial Ancestor Uncle, did you obtain the treasure?"
Qi nodded and said to You and Beixu, "Let's go."
Just then, from the western sky, a vast jade object, piercing through the heavens, emerged. Its terrifying pressure stunned everyone present, and twelve great old ancestors from various realms turned their attention to Kunlun.
A Saint had made a move! This was an exceptionally rare opportunity to observe.
It was the Saint of Jade Purity, the Heavenly Venerable Primordial, the leader of the Chan School on Kunlun Mountain, who had acted!
The reason it was him and not Laozi was that Laozi represented the entire Daoist sect. If he were to act, the implications would be far greater, involving a conflict between the Hall of All Beings and the entire Daoist sect. However, if Primordial acted, it would merely be a dispute between Kunlun Mountain and Fuyu Mountain.
As for Tongtian, who would have been more suitable, he had too many disciples. If he were to intervene, the myriad immortals of the Jie School would surely erupt, causing chaos across a large part of the Primordial World!
This was something Laozi wished to avoid.
Therefore, Primordial, whose connections were fewer and whose disciples were not as numerous as Jie School's, was put forward by Laozi to play the villain.
The brilliant might of a Saint, the vast light of the Three Treasures. In the flickering brightness and darkness of heaven and earth, all beings prostrated themselves in silence. Under such saintly power, what were supreme grandmasters, what were ancient ancestors? They were no more than ephemeral beings, adrift in the boundless sea of saintly majesty.
Auspicious signs abounded, filling all realms. A jade Ruyi scepter, encompassing a great world, suppressed even the heavens.
Primordial did not speak to Qi, nor did Qi attack Primordial. He vividly remembered his elder brother's words: no matter when, one must never strike a Saint first.
The Heaven-Shattering Ruyi descended, aimed at Mount Kongtong. Countless beings trembled in fear, and even the great Luo cultivators felt dread for the first time since achieving their status.
Hua Shuo's small face turned pale. Clutching his umbrella, he hid behind Qi. However, the ancient jade umbrella in his arms suddenly blazed with light, and a stream of green light shot into the sky. Instantly, the heavens opened with a thousand lotuses blooming everywhere. An ancient jade umbrella unfurled, standing firm in the midst of the sky.
The Ruyi, amidst the vast sea of power, paused noticeably. Then, it continued its descent. The pure white light of the Ruyi was like heavenly radiance, a treasure of creation, cleaving and joining the heavens, carrying an almost sharp will of heaven and earth to crush downwards.
But on the green jade ancient umbrella, the wood-elemental Dao patterns emerged layer by layer. White light was like a sea, green jade like a mountain. The sea enveloped the green mountain, waves surged angrily, yet the green mountain remained majestic.
Everyone could see that this was a clash between two Saints using their treasures, one attacking and one defending, each neutralizing the other. Although the battle was fierce, it did not threaten to destroy heaven and earth.
Primordial wished to seize the Kongtong Seal, and Qing Ling naturally wished to obtain it. Regardless of whether it was heaven's will, he paid it no mind. After all, he was not a Saint of the Heavenly Dao. Heaven's will was merely wind in his ears; he would listen but not heed.
The Three Treasures Ruyi descended time and again, carrying the might of heaven and earth. But when this world-destroying power struck the green jade umbrella, only green lotuses scattered and were reborn, blooming eternally.
For a time, both Saints were locked in a stalemate. Qing Ling was unwilling to escalate the conflict, and so was Primordial Heavenly Venerate. This was, after all, in Dongsheng Shenzhou, his territory. Qing Ling could simply leave after causing damage, and who would bear the consequences? Only he, the host.
Thus, Primordial Heavenly Venerate did not wield uncontrollable supreme treasures like the Pangu Banner, and Qing Ling did not bring out the Chaos Bell. He merely used the Green Lotus treasure, which was inherited, intending to stop at a suitable point.
It was merely a spiritual treasure. While important, it was not enough to cause two Saints to become sworn enemies.
However, the Saintly battle of offense and defense in the sky continued, waiting for someone to offer a way out.
It wasn't that Saints only cared about face, but the world-destroying power they possessed placed them on high, yet they carefully suppressed the display of their strength. The Saints' dignity was merely an appendage of the Saint era.
High in the sky, green lotuses fell one by one. Countless green lotus leaves flew in all directions, a rain of lotuses descended from heaven. The vast white Ruyi continued to strike the green jade umbrella repeatedly. Green and white lights surged and ebbed, driving the heavens from the first layer to the thirty-first.
Primordial inwardly warned himself. It seemed that he, a Saint who had achieved sainthood tens of Yuan Hui earlier, was unable to gain an advantage against this newcomer Saint.
Qing Ling's conversion of his magic power into the power of rules had already completed half of the process. Primordial Heavenly Venerate, despite his years of arduous cultivation, possessed only one-tenth more rule power than Qing Ling. In a few more years, Qing Ling would surpass Primordial Heavenly Venerate.
Although Qing Ling became a Saint late, he had created twelve realms, and his fortune was boosted by the worship of countless beings. How terrifying was that? His fortune, though seemingly small in each individual place, aggregated to more than that of any other Saint.
The more fortune he possessed, the faster he could comprehend the rules within the Primordial World. Moreover, Qing Ling walked the path of Three Lives, a path he alone occupied, whereas the Six Saints were six individuals.
If this continued for a long time, Qing Ling could quietly surpass the Six Saints. But no one knew what unforeseen changes might occur during this long period.
The two Saints, contending with their treasures from afar for three days, had pierced through thirty-three layers of the heavens. If the fighting continued, it would shake the foundations of heaven and earth.
Therefore, Qing Ling spoke first.
Across a distance of hundreds of millions of miles, Qing Ling's voice reached Mount Kongtong, "Fellow Daoist Primordial, since the Daoist sect desires this human treasure, I shall give it."
Upon hearing this, everyone's heads ached. If he truly intended to give it, why would they have to break the heavens like this?
Primordial Heavenly Venerate was also taken aback and replied, "Thank you kindly, fellow Daoist."
Qing Ling added, "But the Daoist sect must offer a treasure in exchange. Use the Southern Li Di Flame Light Banner to exchange for my Kongtong Seal, the human treasure."
"This..."
Primordial fell silent. Treasures like the Five-Element Banners of the Five Directions were rare even in the hands of Saints. While precious, they were somewhat of a double-edged sword. After all, the Five Banners were all defensive treasures, and Saints possessed numerous defensive treasures. However, they were born from the shattered Primordial Green Lotus, and their significance far outweighed their practical use.
Furthermore, this treasure belonged to Laozi, not him. Primordial had even less say in the matter.
After a long period of silence, from Shouyang Mountain in the south, a crimson fiery light swept across the Three Realms. The terrifying flames seemed to burn the Three Realms, striking fear into the hearts of all beings.
Qing Ling smiled. Laozi was somewhat reluctant, but he had agreed to the exchange.
The green jade umbrella blazed with green light, enfolding the Li Di Flame Light Banner with one hand, while lightly tossing out the Kongtong Seal with the other.
Qing Ling had never truly intended to keep the supreme treasure, the Kongtong Seal. After all, Laozi was the leader of the Human Sect, and the human populations of Dongsheng Shenzhou and Nanzhanbuzhou represented the mainstream forces of humanity. Because they were orthodox, mainstream, and desirable, everyone wanted a piece, naturally leading to many complications.
It was better to remain quiet in the north and avoid schemes and disputes.
Qing Ling's grand spectacle was for two reasons: firstly, he genuinely wished to help the human race unite. The Hua Xia human race ultimately needed to be complete. Thus, the Shennong branch was integrated into Dongsheng Shenzhou.
However, his true objective had always been Laozi's banner. Besides matters of human fortune, there was likely no other opportunity to make Laozi bleed.
Qi, accompanied by the three, returned to Fuyu Mountain. The Kongtong Seal was handed over to Xuanyuan. Naturally, the main lineage of humanity was the Xuanyuan tribe, and the grand trend of humanity was the great prosperity of Xuanyuan.
The Shen Jiang clan would also be integrated into the Xuanyuan tribe in the future, and the Fuxi tribe would also send branches. The convergence of the two Heavenly Emperors would mark the emergence of the Human Emperor, the completion of the Three Powers, the great prosperity of humanity, and the beginning of the Daoist sect absorbing the mainstream fortune of humanity.