C7 Axe

"No."

The response from the will of Heaven was brief, yet it allowed Hongjun to breathe a little easier.

"As long as it's unrelated to the Great Dao..." he muttered to himself, seeking solace in his thoughts.

After all, Fuxi was merely a minor element in his grand scheme, hardly significant.

Just another Sage. Once he achieved union with the Great Dao, even a Sage would be no more than a slightly larger ant to him.

Hongjun's eyes narrowed as his presence began to blend seamlessly with the Creation Jade Plate.

Recalling the terrifying aura that had erupted from Fuxi, a sudden fear gripped Hongjun, instilling an urgent need to accelerate the fusion with the Great Dao.

Only with a successful union would he be invincible against all!

When that time came, if Fuxi proved to be sensible, he could retain his status as a Sage. If not...

Hmph!

A deadly silence hung over the Purple Heaven Palace!

The Purple Heaven Palace was steeped in quietude, while the final moments of the treasure division at Treasure Splitting Cliff were unfolding.

Hongjun's collection was extraordinary, with most treasures claimed by several Quasi Saints.

Taiqing received the Taiji Diagram, Eight-scene Palace lanterns, and the Universe Map.

Tongtian acquired the Extermination Sword Array, Chaos Essence Gold Dipper, and the Universe Pouch, among others.

Yuanshi secured the Pangu Banner, Yin Yang Furnace, and the Yellow Apricot Banner, to name a few.

Jieyin and Zhunti were bestowed with the Twelve Grade Virtue Golden Lotus, Eight Treasures Virtue Dragon Transformation Pool, and the Divine Pestle.

Nuwa and Fuxi, working together, claimed the Red Embroidery Ball, Treasured Lotus Lamp, State of Mountains and Rivers Painting, and the Demon Refining Pot, among others.

Some lesser treasures were picked up by the rest.

As the group prepared to depart contentedly, Fuxi gazed at the now barren Treasure Splitting Cliff, lost in thought.

"Brother, what troubles you?" Nuwa inquired, admiring her newly acquired treasures.

"Little sister, our fortunes today are thanks to brother's guidance. Shouldn't we bring something back to show our gratitude?"

Nuwa nodded in agreement, "Then I shall gift all the treasures I've received to brother!"

"Brother is the most extraordinary person in the world. Why would he need such mundane items?"

The siblings' conversation wasn't concealed, and it was overheard by Zhunti, Jieyin, and the rest, who stopped in their tracks and exchanged puzzled looks.

Yuanshi and Zhunti couldn't help but scoff.

Such arrogance! To deem the Innate Spirit Treasure, the Red Embroidery Ball, and the Mountain and River State Painting as mere trinkets!

But Fuxi and Nuwa paid them no mind. In their eyes, even the Innate Spirit Treasures paled in comparison to their enigmatic and formidable brother.

"So, brother, what should we do?" Nuwa found herself at a loss.

"Even though we haven't spent much time with our brother, it's clear he prefers to take matters into his own hands and never relies on others," Fuxi observed, his eyes gleaming with insight.

"Rather than offering these treasures, I think we should present him with some materials for crafting," he suggested.

Pointing to the ground, Fuxi indicated the Treasure Splitting Cliff, "This Treasure Splitting Cliff seems perfect!"

Nuwa hesitated briefly but then nodded in agreement. To the astonishment of the three thousand guests at the Purple Heaven Palace, the siblings proceeded to store the massive Treasure Splitting Cliff within the Mountain and River State Painting.

"Not even sparing a simple stone, you bring shame to the Profound Sect! I wonder how you'll justify yourselves when our teacher questions you!" Yuanshi couldn't stand it any longer, flinging his sleeves and soaring into the sky.

The stoic Taiqing remained impassive, offering a respectful apology to Fuxi and Nuwa for Yuanshi's remarks before departing.

Tongtian, brimming with curiosity, seemed on the verge of asking a question but ultimately held his tongue, departing with a look of inquiry.

Zhunti and Jieyin, standing nearby, wore expressions of regret. How had they not realized that the Treasure Splitting Cliff, capable of holding numerous Innate Spirit Treasures, was far from ordinary?

The more they dwelled on it, the more irritated they became, and they left in a huff.

Fuxi and Nuwa exchanged a knowing smile, unfazed by the scrutiny and gossip of the others. After all, how could these people comprehend the extraordinariness of their brother?

"Let's head home!"

In a flash, the Purple Heaven Palace had all but emptied of its three thousand guests.

After an indeterminate amount of time, Hongjun emerged from his state of Dao Integration and made his way to the mountain's rear. Gazing into the barren Chaos void, even his composure as a Dao Ancestor couldn't prevent a facial twitch.

Who the hell... didn't even spare the stone platform meant for treasures?

A single thought brought clarity to Hongjun, and his expression grew even more thunderous.

"Fuxi!"

The name seemed to be forced through clenched teeth, as the chaotic Qi around Hongjun surged and then burst forth.

...

"What? The Dao lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace is over? How many days have passed? Weren't they supposed to last three thousand years?"

In the courtyard of Buzhou Mountain, Zhang Yan, stunned, addressed the siblings who were eagerly devouring their meal.

"It's been three thousand years inside the Purple Heaven Palace. The old... Uh, the Dao Ancestor possesses immense power, creating a different flow of time within the Palace compared to the outside world." Nuwa managed to swallow her last bite of food and settled contentedly onto a stone bench.

Beside her, Fuxi nodded in agreement.

The siblings felt a mix of satisfaction and astonishment. The Dao principles within the food had intensified, and now even Virtue was interwoven, proving immensely beneficial even to Quasi Saints like them.

Fuxi mused that with decades of such meals, he might achieve sainthood without needing the Purple Qi of Hongmeng.

It was mere food, yet its impact rivaled that of objects meant for confirming one's Dao.

Could their brother's methods even surpass those of the Dao Ancestor?

Zhang Yan paid no mind to the admiring looks from the siblings. His concern only deepened. He had hoped to take advantage of the rare peace during the three thousand years of the Dao lecture at the Purple Heaven Palace to further his own growth.

Little did he expect the Dao Ancestor to conclude the lectures so abruptly. Those online novels from his past life were truly a curse.

"I need to forge some weapons!"

Without hesitation, Zhang Yan made his way to a modest hill outside the courtyard, the very Treasure Splitting Cliff that Fuxi and Nuwa had retrieved.

Through the discerning eyes of Master Zhang Yan, a virtuoso in stone carving, he recognized the stone that the siblings had somehow acquired as being of high quality, suitable for crafting weapons.

Fuxi and Nuwa sat in the courtyard, exchanging puzzled glances, unable to fathom why Zhang Yan's expression had turned so grave. They quickly followed him outside and found him wielding a battered axe, chipping away at the mountain.

"This axe..."

Before Fuxi and Nuwa could approach, they were hit by an overwhelming sense of sharpness. They focused their gaze and saw the dilapidated axe blade in Zhang Yan's grip, emanating a chilling gleam.

The icy radiance sent a shiver down their spines.

Confronted with this piercing chill, Fuxi and Nuwa sensed that even with their Quasi Saint physiques, they would be defenseless against it, vulnerable to being effortlessly cut down.

"Brother," they called out, retreating to a safe distance and standing at the courtyard's entrance to question Zhang Yan, "Where did this axe come from? We've never seen it before."

Zhang Yan paused, glanced at the axe that was barely serviceable in his hands, and replied nonchalantly, "Oh, I found it at the base of the mountain a few days ago. It was so damaged it was practically unusable. I spent a long time sharpening it, just enough to make it workable."

Fuxi and Nuwa exchanged a wordless look, at a loss for words.