The Black Gourd erupted with the indestructible divine light of the Innate, manifesting the primordial traces of the Chaos. After devouring the fragment of the Jade Disc of Creation, it underwent a profound metamorphosis.
Ling Xiao watched the scene, his eyes alight with a brilliance he could not conceal.
He could actually sense the specific resonance of a Chaos Spirit Treasure emanating from the Black Gourd.
"Excellent. I did not feed you all those treasures in vain!"
Ling Xiao was elated. He initially considered producing even more treasures to nourish it, but he quickly realized the Black Gourd had reached a state of saturation; it was on the verge of its final molding. To force more into it now would likely trigger a catastrophic reversal.
He pointed a single finger, continuing the refinement process to aid the Gourd in its final leap of evolution.
Normally, if a Chaos Spirit Treasure were to manifest within the Great Desolation, it would likely be struck down by the wrath of the heavens. However, within the sanctuary of the Chaos Pearl, there was no such fear.
Even the Heavenly Tribulation could not find its mark here.
After a long duration.
The storm subsided, and the divine light and accompanying anomalies gradually faded. Ling Xiao reached out his hand, and the Black Gourd settled into his palm.
His Divine Thought permeated the vessel, meticulously sensing its every property.
"A Chaos Spirit Treasure... the Sky-Swallowing Gourd?!"
"Also known as the Great Thousand Gourd; it possesses the power to devour three thousand Major Thousand Worlds!"
"It swallows all things without exception!"
Ling Xiao looked at the gourd in his hand, feeling a sense of profound shock. This gourd was incredibly fierce—it belonged to the category of extreme Magic Treasures. Much like the Four Swords of the Slaying Immortals, its slaughtering power was absolute, but its aura of malevolence was too heavy; it could not be used to suppress one's Luck.
Beyond its destructive potential, it possessed several mysterious, creative abilities.
For instance, the gourd could breathe out Innate Spiritual Water, which possessed the ability to accelerate the growth of Innate Spiritual Roots.
Even the Yellow Core Plum and the Chaos Green Lotus within the Chaos Pearl would benefit immensely from this.
In other words, with this artifact, he could indefinitely compress the time required for the Chaos Green Lotus to reach maturity.
He could bring the lotus to fruition in a fraction of its natural lifespan.
This was only possible within the Chaos Pearl; were this Black Gourd to be in the outside world, the Heavenly Dao would have likely unmade it before it could even finish its molding.
With this thought, Ling Xiao returned the Black Gourd to the Chaos to be further tempered. While the object was undeniably powerful, he knew it could not be easily revealed to the world unless the situation became desperate.
Shortly after.
Ling Xiao withdrew his Divine Thought and departed the Chaos Pearl.
"Third Brother, why did you require so many Heaven and Earth Treasures?"
Within the hall, seeing that Ling Xiao had finished his task, Dijun and Tai Yi could no longer contain their curiosity.
That mountain of treasures had been entirely "consumed" by their brother. They had no idea what he was working on, and the mystery was gnawing at them.
"It is nothing. I was merely nurturing a Spirit Treasure; it happens to be quite an gluttonous one," Ling Xiao replied with a chuckle.
"A Spirit Treasure? That... eats?"
Dijun and Tai Yi were stunned. What kind of treasure consumes actual materials?
Are you certain you aren't raising a Spirit Beast?
Ling Xiao merely spread his hands, offering no further explanation. Then, with a shift of his intent, he produced the Grand Void Mirror.
"Big Brother, this Magic Treasure is yours to use!"
He handed it toward Dijun with a casual air. He possessed far too many treasures as it was; leaving it to sit idle was a waste. It was better to use it to bolster Dijun's combat strength.
At those words, Dijun froze, staring blankly at the Grand Void Mirror before him.
"Third Brother... I cannot take this. You went through so much effort to seize it; you should keep it for yourself."
In truth, he had never expected Ling Xiao to simply hand over such a precious Magic Treasure.
This was an Innate Supreme Treasure!
It was the very prize that had driven countless experts of the Great Desolation to madness, yet his third brother was offering it up as if it were a common bauble.
Though he truly desired an Innate Supreme Treasure of his own, he found he could not bring himself to reach for the Grand Void Mirror.
"Big Brother, do not be so stubborn. I know you have always yearned for an Innate Supreme Treasure. My own personal treasures are far more formidable than this mirror; I truly have no use for it."
Ling Xiao said with a smile, waving the Grand Void Mirror in front of Dijun's eyes.
Dijun gritted his teeth and spoke with a solemn tone, "Very well. I shall consider this a loan from you. When you have need of it, I shall return it to you immediately."
As he spoke, he finally reached out and took the Grand Void Mirror.
He decided he would use it to experience the thrill of wielding an Innate Supreme Treasure; once his curiosity was satisfied, he would return it. Dijun understood his own heart—sometimes, the lack of a thing makes one obsess over it, but once it is possessed, the fixation often fades.
He would take this chance to study the essence of a Supreme Treasure. Once he understood its mysteries, perhaps he would no longer crave one so fervently.
"Fine!" Ling Xiao nodded, not pressing the matter further. As long as Dijun took the mirror, his goal was achieved.
Elsewhere.
Nuwa departed from the Taiyin Star and flew directly toward the Sun Star. Her face was a mask of hesitation and slight helplessness.
The two sisters of the Moon Palace had agreed to the union, but they refused to be separated.
Regarding their demand, Nuwa could only promise that she would do her absolute best to accommodate it.
To be perfectly honest, it was the first time in her life she had ever heard such a request.
After a long flight, Nuwa arrived outside the perimeter of the Sun Star. Unlike the Taiyin Star, this place was scorching beyond measure, and the pressure was significantly more intense.
In principle, the Yin of the Moon and the Yang of the Sun should be in perfect balance, but Nuwa could clearly sense that the Sun Star was far more powerful than its lunar counterpart.
This was likely due to the disparity in strength between their respective celestial Lords.
"Fellow Daoists of the Three Crows, Nuwa comes to visit."
Nuwa straightened her robes and spoke with a clear, resonant voice. Her Dao-sound was melodious, permeating deep into the heart of the Sun Star.
A moment later, a boy dressed in purple Daoist robes flew out.
Upon seeing Nuwa, he cupped his hands in greeting and asked:
"For what purpose do you seek my Master?"
What a powerful Dao-boy!
Nuwa was inwardly shocked. This young attendant was actually not a shred weaker than the Goddesses of the Moon, Xi He and Chang Xi.
He had already achieved the Perfection of the Grand Unity Golden Immortal Realm.
She suddenly felt that the Moon Goddesses were perhaps somewhat unworthy of Ling Xiao.
The Sun and the Moon were no longer in balance.
The strength of those two women was only equivalent to the servant standing at Ling Xiao's side.
"I ask you to inform your Master that Nuwa has urgent matters to discuss."
Nuwa returned the greeting, showing not the slightest hint of condescension toward the boy Ziwei. With such a background and cultivation, he would be a renowned expert in any other corner of the world.
After all, in the current Great Desolation, Quasi-Saints were still a rare breed.
Ziwei nodded and turned away, entering the Ling Xiao Treasure Hall to inform his Master of Nuwa's arrival.
In reality, there was no need for the report; the three brothers had already sensed her presence.
"What brings Nuwa here at a time like this?"
Ling Xiao fell into thought, then waved a hand to Ziwei. "Bring her in."
"As you command!"
Ziwei bowed and withdrew.
"Third Brother, do you think she has come to invite us to join the Yao Race again?"
Dijun couldn't help but ask, still idly turning the Grand Void Mirror over in his hands, clearly finding it difficult to put down.
"As long as she possesses even a shred of intelligence, she will not attempt such a thing. As for her true purpose, we shall know once she enters."
Ling Xiao spread his hands, choosing not to overthink it.
Shortly after.
Ziwei led Nuwa into the grand hall. The moment she stepped into the Ling Xiao Treasure Hall, Nuwa felt a crushing weight of suppression; her cultivation and her dharmic power felt as if they were being physically restricted.
At the head of the hall sat three golden figures.
Ling Xiao was seated in the center, with Tai Yi and Dijun to his left and right—they looked like three miniature golden suns, radiating a boundless and terrifying pressure.
Nuwa felt a chill in her heart, finding herself uncharacteristically restrained and cautious.
"I greet the Fellow Daoists of the Three Crows."
She cupped her hands, offering a polite smile.
"Fellow Daoist Nuwa, for what purpose have you traveled all this way?" A calm, resonant Dao-sound echoed through the hall.
Nuwa paused for a heartbeat, then spoke directly. "I have come today to validate the Heavenly Marriage—to harmonize the Yin and Yang and follow the mandate of Heaven."
As the words fell, the quiet of the hall was broken by Dijun's voice.
"Heavenly Marriage? What use would we have for a thing like that?"