All five of these flags contain the divine power of the Chaos Green Lotus, and each is a powerful defensive supreme treasure: the Central Wuji Apricot-Yellow Flag, the Eastern Qinglian Treasure Color Flag, the Southern Ground-Advancing Flame Flag, the Western Plain Cloud-Boundary Flag, and the Northern Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag.
The treasure grasped in the black dragon's claws was precisely the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag—what a fine item! Before Zhang Qing could even give in to covetous thoughts, the pitch-black giant dragon let out another roar, plunging straight down from the sky to smash right into him.
Naturally, Zhang Qing had no intention of letting it hit him. With a flash, he dodged a hundred zhang away. Unable to check its momentum, the pitch-black giant dragon crashed headfirst into the rocks, shattering a nearby peak to pieces.
Seeing Zhang Qing dodge, the dragon let out yet another roar, burst out from the rubble, and charged at him once more. After dodging a few times, Zhang Qing realized that this pitch-black giant dragon repeated only this single trick over and over.
The Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag grasped in its claws had not moved even once. This creature seemed to know only how to smash its head against things, though its exact state was anyone's guess.
That being the case, Zhang Qing stood on ceremony no longer. He summoned the Chengying Sword into his hand and, as the pitch-black giant dragon lunged forward for another strike, brought his sword down squarely upon its head.
With a crisp clang, the massive dragon head was split right down the middle between its two horns. A pitch-black dragon pearl rolled out, which Zhang Qing casually scooped up and put away. He then retrieved the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag from the dragon's claws, and even kept the dragon corpse, stowing it away directly.
Upon careful sensing, the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag actually possessed twenty-seven heavenly barriers—unmistakably a Xiantian Spiritual Treasure! If all five of the Xiantian Five-Direction Flags were gathered together, wouldn't this surpass even Supreme Laozi's Xuanhuang Linglong Pagoda?
Yet, after a moment's thought, Zhang Qing let out a sigh. The rest of the flags were likely all in Hongjun's hands, destined to be distributed among his disciples after the lecture concluded.
Zhang Qing hadn't even gone to Zixiao Palace, so how could he possibly hope to get his hands on one? Still, even if he had gone, there was no guarantee he could acquire a magical treasure of the Five-Direction Flags' caliber. With a chuckle, Zhang Qing sat down cross-legged right where he was and began refining the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag.
This was a barren, desolate place utterly devoid of spiritual energy, so it was unlikely anyone would come to disturb him. He sat there for a full five hundred years, refining all twenty-seven barriers until the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag belonged entirely and utterly to Zhang Qing.
Zhang Qing cast the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag to test its power. As his true essence urged it forward, the cosmos turned hazy and indistinct, blocking out the sun and sky, driving away all evils, and remaining impervious to ten thousand spells.
Truly, it was a fine treasure! After the Qiankun Cauldron, he had acquired yet another defensive Xiantian Spiritual Treasure. Beaming with joy, Zhang Qing stowed the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag into his celebration halo to nourish it.
He stood up, mounted the Wangyue Rhinoceros, and continued his travels through the Primordial World. In the blink of an eye, more than two thousand years passed, during which Zhang Qing collected quite a few spiritual roots and materials from across the realm.
However, he never encountered another spiritual treasure quite like the Xuanyuan Water-Control Flag. Most of the mighty figures of the Primordial World had gone to Zixiao Palace to listen to the lectures, which instead granted the Primordial World three thousand years of peace.
Journeying along, Zhang Qing remarkably met no blind fools to cross his path, and before he knew it, he arrived at the foot of the Kunlun immortal mountains.
Immortal deer and exotic birds were seen inhaling and exhaling spiritual energy among the mountains, while spiritual apes romped and played through the crags. Peak after peak pierced straight into Yunxiao, their summits wreathed in clouds and mists formed from spiritual energy. What a towering immortal mountain, and what a pristine sanctuary for immortal cultivation! Zhang Qing was just about to go up and look around when someone suddenly emerged from the mountain.
The man was of medium height, with a sword hanging at his waist and a treasure pagoda held in his palms. The hair on his head grew only in a ring around the sides, leaving the top bare and gleaming brightly. Blocking Zhang Qing's path, the man said, "I am Duobao, first disciple under Master Tongtian. Friend, is there business that brings you up the mountain?"
So this was Tongtian's eldest disciple, Duobao Daoren. Zhang Qing raised his hands in a salute and said, "Zhang Qing of the East Sea, style name Daoist Qingling. Greetings, Daoist Duobao. While traveling through the Primordial World, I happened to pass this way and saw this immortal mountain radiating thousands of auspicious rays with the true air of the immortals. My heart yearned for it, and I wish to ascend and take a look."
Upon hearing this, Duobao Daoren figured this was merely a cultivator from overseas—and a provincial one at that, whose cultivation was two levels lower than his own, seeing as Duobao was already in the late-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. Moreover, Duobao had always looked down upon loose cultivators, and since he could not read Zhang Qing's foundation, he couldn't be bothered to entertain him.
With a blank expression, he said, "This mountain is the daoist sanctuary of my Master, my Eldest Uncle, and my Second Uncle. We do not accept visitors. Daoist friend, please turn back."
Hearing this, Zhang Qing felt a wave of irritation.
This jerk was actually chasing him away! He had come here to wait for his "immortal affinity," yet before he even met his thick-thighed backer, the Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun, he ran into an idiot like this.
Considering that he would soon be cultivating in the same sect as Duobao, Zhang Qing decided to endure it for the moment and replied, "I have long heard that the Shangqing Lingbao Tianzun teaches without discrimination, possesses a broad mind, and wields supreme cultivation. Therefore, I have come this time with the intention of seeking apprenticeship. I hope Daoist friend can be accommodating and allow me to enter."
Duobao Daoren's face grew stern, and he was about to issue a reprimand when a hearty laugh rang out from the air. "Hahaha! I never expected my name as Tongtian to have spread all the way to the East Sea! Duobao, since someone has come specifically to seek apprenticeship, why haven't you stepped aside?"
Recognizing his teacher's voice the moment he heard it, Duobao hurriedly bowed and said, "Welcome back, Master, Eldest Uncle, Second Uncle."
Laozi sat upon the back of a green ox, smiling as he said, "Duobao, no need for formalities." Yuanshi Tianzun maintained his usual haughty demeanor, merely uttering a hum in acknowledgment.
Master Tongtian was just about to speak to Zhang Qing when Yuanshi Tianzun chimed in first. "You are a loose cultivator of the East Sea? Would you be willing to take me as your master?"
Seated majestically upon the Nine-Dragon sinking-fragrance chariot, Yuanshi wore a haughty, expressionless look, waiting for Zhang Qing to drop to his knees in obeisance.
Yet a stampede of ten thousand alpacas was currently thundering through Zhang Qing's mind. What on earth are you playing at? He refused to believe Yuanshi hadn't heard what was said just moments ago. He had clearly come for Tongtian, so what kind of game was Yuanshi playing by sticking his oar in?
Tongtian immediately balked at this, blurting out, "Second Brother, since he came looking for me, naturally he should enter my Tongtian sect. Don't fight me for him!"
With that, he looked at Zhang Qing with a smile. Seizing the moment, Zhang Qing said, "Qingling of the East Sea pays respects to Master! May Master enjoy boundless longevity and eternal immortal blessings!" As he spoke, he moved into a kneeling posture.
Seeing this, Tongtian extended a breath of pure Qi to support Zhang Qing, laughing heartily as he said, "Hahaha! There is no need for that. Keeping respect for your master in your heart is enough. My Tongtian sect has no use for kowtowers. Good disciple, come and pay your respects to your Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle."
In truth, all three of them had seen through Zhang Qing's foundation from afar: he was the incarnation of Chaos Sword Qi. Though his cultivation was only at the early-stage Taiyi Golden Immortal realm, his true essence was incomparably solid, and the Chaos Sword Qi throughout his body remained restrained yet unreleased. What an untutored piece of unpolished jade!
As it happened, Tongtian's own enlightenment treasure was the Qingping Sword, giving him an even sharper resonance with Chaos Sword Qi. He took an immediate liking to this disciple who had delivered himself to his doorstep, which was why he was willing to clash with Yuanshi Tianzun rather than let him go.
Yuanshi, who prized foundational origins above all else, had wanted to brazenly poach someone incarnated from Chaos Sword Qi. Yet since the fellow clearly had no regard for him, Yuanshi could only let out an angry, cold snort. Following Tongtian's instructions, Zhang Qing first cupped his fists, bowed deeply to Laozi, and said, "Qingling pays respects to Eldest Uncle."