Chapter 13
Protected by Fuguang all the way back to the Primordial World, and having entered the starry skies, Xihe turned to Fuguang and expressed her gratitude:
"Thank you for the trouble, Fellow Daoist!"
Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Fuguang's face:
"We are neighbors, there is no need to stand on ceremony!"
Pausing for a moment, Fuguang looked at Xihe and Changxi and asked:
"Would the two fellow daoists care to visit the Sun Star for a while? I have some immortal brew made from innate fire mulberries harvested years ago, which I can use to entertain you both!"
Upon hearing Fuguang's invitation, Xihe and Changxi exchanged glances, and then shook their heads. Turning to Fuguang, they said:
"Having listened to the Sage's discourse this time, Fellow Daoist must have gained profound insights. Right now is the golden opportunity to enter seclusion and digest what you have learned!"
"It would be inappropriate for us sisters to disturb you any further."
"We will definitely visit another day!"
Not only Fuguang, but the two sisters themselves had also benefited immensely from this discourse. They precisely needed to return to seclusion to properly digest and break through their respective realms. Therefore, neither Xihe nor Changxi had any intention of visiting the Sun Star for the time being.
"In that case, I shall await the grand arrival of the two fellow daoists at the Sun Star."
Fuguang did not press the matter, merely smiling as he spoke. At the same time, he cupped his hands in farewell:
"Since it is so, I shall take my leave!"
"Farewell for now, Fellow Daoists!"
Hearing this, Xihe and Changxi both bowed slightly:
"Farewell."
Without any lingering reluctance, the three parted ways and returned to their respective homes.
Spending some time on the journey, Fuguang returned to the Golden Crow Palace on the Sun Star and directly went into secluded cultivation.
His Sun Dao and Dao of Fire were on the verge of reaching completion, and the various secondary Daos he practiced were also stepping into the realm of completion. With this seclusion, he was determined to bring his Daluo Dao Fruit to perfection before emerging.
As for the chance of obtaining the Innate Spiritual Treasure gourd at Mount Buzhou, which was originally supposed to be his share?
There was no rush.
It would not be too late to go and claim that opportunity after he completed his breakthrough in strength.
……
Time flew, and the years passed in the blink of an eye.
Clang—
The heavy doors of the Golden Crow Palace slowly opened, and Fuguang stepped out from within, a look of satisfaction on his face.
Feeling his perfected Daluo Dao Fruit, he thought:
"Next, I must properly temper my magic power, divine abilities, and physical body. Only after making all due preparations should I consider breaking through to the Hunyuan Golden Immortal Realm."
"It would be best to make the breakthrough after attending the second discourse, once I have further deepened my foundation."
The content of the first lecture in Zixiao Palace focused primarily on the Daluo Golden Immortal realm, with realms below Daluo as secondary. The content of the second lecture, barring any unexpected turns, would likely focus mainly on the Three-Corpse-Slaying Quasi-Saint realm, with Hunyuan Golden Immortal as secondary. By making his breakthrough only after hearing the teachings of the second discourse, Fuguang could better patch any gaps and rectify omissions, ensuring no flaws were left in his Dao Fruit during the breakthrough.
"It is about time to go over there!"
Amidst his reflections, Fuguang raised a hand to divine the signs, a look of expectant smiling filling his face.
Among the seven precious gourds on the Innate Gourd Vine at Mount Buzhou, six had fully matured and were top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasures, while the last one, which failed to mature fully, was still a high-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Although Fuguang could only obtain one of them—the Immortal-Slaying Gourd—it was still exceptionally good. That was a top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure that could be openly brought out and used! The name of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd might not be resounding enough, but the reputation of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger certainly was. As long as he refined the Immortal-Slaying Gourd with certain innate spiritual properties, Fuguang had absolute confidence that he could elevate the future transformed power of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Dagger to an even higher level.
Of course, Fuguang had also considered taking advantage of the fact that others were unaware to seize the Innate Gourd Vine, all seven spiritual treasure gourds, and even the Nine Heavens Breathing Soil that nurtured the vine. But the moment he thought about how the Innate Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil were tied to future major events like Nuwa creating humanity and awakening the will of the Human Realm, Fuguang extinguished that thought.
No other reason.
Such an approach was not prudent enough!
Heaven alone knew if this stuff was being watched by the Heavenly Dao and the Dao Ancestor Hongjun. And once he got his hands on it, what could he use it for? In the end, wouldn't he still have to give it to Nuwa so she could use it to create humanity and attain Sagehood? By then, even if the karma from this would not be as massive as directly handing over a Sage Throne, it certainly wouldn't be small. What if Nuwa, after attaining the Dao, had no intention of repaying the karma and instead chose to wipe him out?
All in all—
Acquiring the Innate Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil in advance would inevitably put him at odds with the Pangu Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, bringing countless future troubles. Therefore, Fuguang still chose to remain cautious and prudent. He would not take them ahead of time. However, if after claiming his spiritual treasure, Nuwa failed to recognize its true value and abandoned the Innate Gourd Vine and Nine Heavens Breathing Soil, he would certainly take them in. As long as he didn't acquire them through hostile methods like outright robbery that would forge deep grudges, it would be fine.
With this thought settled, Fuguang felt the heavenly guidance pulling him toward his opportunity grow clearer and clearer. Lingering no longer, he directly summoned a propitious cloud and sped at maximum speed toward Mount Buzhou, the pillar that propped up the heavens.
Meanwhile—
Sensing that opportunities belonging to them were about to manifest, the Pangu Three Pure Ones also departed from their dojos. Ancestor Hongyun of the Fire Cloud Cave did the same. Within the Fengqi Mountain dojo near Mount Buzhou, Nuwa also emerged from seclusion ahead of time. Seeing no signs of her brother coming out of seclusion, she left the dojo alone.