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The celestial beings were so clearly displeased that even Red Cloud, no matter how dull he was, noticed it at this moment. He reined in his smile, his tone becoming subdued as he said, "I take my leave!" With that, he flicked his sleeves and departed.
Ye Chuanze glanced at his departing figure and thought to himself that this person's temperament would not lead to anything good.
However, Di Jun was staring intently at Red Cloud's retreating silhouette, his gaze dark and expression obscure. After a long while, Di Jun finally withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands to the other celestial beings, and coldly said, "Farewell, fellow Daoists!" With that, he left with Taiyi.
The Three Pure Ones also left in succession, leaving only Ye Chuanze, Nuwa, and Fuxi at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
Once the others had departed, Ye Chuanze relaxed and inwardly muttered about how unfortunate he and Fuxi and Nuwa were. Twice during the emergence of the Buzhou Mountain Innate Spiritual Treasure, they had been mixed up with other celestial beings who took a share. Today's emergence of the Primordial Gourd Vine was just like the previous emergence of the Primordial Banana Leaf. Both treasures grew right at Buzhou Mountain, at their own doorstep, yet they ended up being shared with others. It was truly unfortunate!
As Ye Chuanze pondered this, he wondered if he should go pray to the Dao Ancestor, to Hongjun, for a change in fortune.
He imagined a scene where the Hongjun Daoist, clad in a Purple Robe and Flowing Hair, sat on the highest seat of the Lotus Platform. Below him, he held burning incense in hand, bowing once, twice, thrice—almost as if praying to the dead—hoping that when the time came, Hongjun wouldn't strike him down.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, Ye Chuanze silently repented. "Master above, your unworthy disciple is here to make amends. Please do not hold a grudge against me! Please do not conspire with Heaven to make things difficult for me! I have already been unfortunate enough; I ask for your protection!"
"Ye Chuanze, we should head back," said Fuxi, his smile gentle and his eyes soft as he spoke to him.
"Wait..." replied Ye Chuanze, then stepped forward to examine the empty-looking Primordial Gourd Vine. The other celestial beings had taken away the gourds, leaving this vine unwanted; however, Ye Chuanze felt that this vine was truly a treasure. After all, it was this vine that was known as one of the top ten innate spiritual roots, not just the gourds it produced. It was akin to how people only recognized Zhen Yuanzi's Ginseng Fruit as a treasure without realizing that the true treasure was the Ginseng Fruit Tree itself.
Putting aside everything else, just knowing that these gourds were produced by the Gourd Vine indicated its precious utility.
After some contemplation, Ye Chuanze reached out and collected the Primordial Gourd Vine.
Seeing this, Nuwa frowned and asked, "What do you want with this Gourd Vine?"
"I took this Gourd Vine back to nurture it; maybe in a thousand years, it will bear a few gourds," Ye Chuanze said.
Nuwa chuckled at his words and replied, "Are you deluded? Do you think that the Primordial Gourd can be easily produced? Now that heaven and earth have formed, the spiritual energy is not what it was before the primordial chaos. It is unlikely that the Primordial Gourd can be produced again."
"How do you know it won't bear fruit if you don't try?" Ye Chuanze countered.
Nuwa, hearing this, lost interest and glanced at him, saying, "Do as you wish; it's just some worthless thing. If you like it, take it!"
After collecting the Primordial Gourd Vine, Ye Chuanze crouched down and took some yellow soil from the ground where the Primordial Gourd Vine was growing. Initially, he only intended to take this soil back to nurture the Primordial Gourd Vine, but he soon realized that this yellow soil contained an exceptionally rich spiritual power. Suddenly, a vague thought flashed through his mind, as if he had forgotten something important.
"Are you done yet?" Nuwa frowned at him for wanting even the common yellow soil and spoke impatiently.
Ye Chuanze put away the yellow soil, stood up, smiled at Nuwa, and said, "I'm done; let's go back!"
Nuwa glanced at him with furrowed brows and an unhappy expression but said nothing more as she turned to leave.
As Nuwa walked ahead, Ye Chuanze and Fuxi lagged a few steps behind. Gradually, they fell further behind Nuwa. Fuxi then quietly said to Ye Chuanze, "Don't blame her; she's been in a bad mood lately."
Hearing this, Ye Chuanze turned his head to look at him. Seeing Fuxi's calm expression made him sigh inwardly; it wasn't just Nuwa who was in a bad mood—he himself felt the same. "I understand; I’m not blaming her. You don’t need to worry. I’ve known Nuwa for many years; I know her well."
Fuxi sighed softly in response and remained silent for a while.
Seeing this, Ye Chuanze felt helpless; he couldn't help with their issues. They walked in silence until they reached a fork in the road. Ye Chuanze grasped Fuxi's hand tightly, patted his back, and comforted him, saying, "Everything will be fine; don’t rush. There’s no use in being anxious. Just let things take their course; everything will turn out well."
Fuxi looked up at him and smiled slightly as he said, "I'm fine; sorry to make you worry."
Ye Chuanze shook his head and said, "There is no need for such formality between us."
Fuxi took his hand and sighed softly, saying, "My friend..."
"I'm here," Ye Chuanze replied quietly.
The two stood at a fork in the road, neither saying a word, simply standing there in silence for a long time. A gentle breeze blew by, lifting their sleeves. Ye Chuanze understood that sometimes words were unnecessary; just being there beside him was enough. This is what true friendship is.
He understood Fuxi's inner turmoil, and he knew that Fuxi did not need him to say much. The power of words was often the most impotent. At that moment, silence was sufficient.
After an unknown amount of time, Fuxi finally spoke softly, "You should go back."
"Mm." Ye Chuanze responded lightly without saying much more and then turned to leave.
Fuxi stood still, unusually suppressing his typically gentle demeanor, his expression cold and silent. He knew Nüwa's thoughts, but he could not stop her.
*******
Back at Yunze Cave, Ye Chuanze took out the Azure Gourd and examined it closely. He discovered that this gourd contained a vast space; its exterior appeared to be a small gourd, but inside it held an endless expanse filled with rich spiritual energy, complete with earth fire and wind water, forming a small world of its own. Ye Chuanze pondered how to refine this Spiritual Treasure, whether to focus on defense or emphasize offense, or perhaps create a balance of both.
As he contemplated this question, the gatekeeper Qing Shan entered and reported, "Sir, there is a young boy outside who says he has come on behalf of Hongjun to deliver a message."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chuanze felt a mix of surprise and suspicion. Why would Hongjun send someone to find him? Had he successfully attained the Dao? With this thought, Ye Chuanze's mind raced with uncertainty. Ultimately, he suppressed his fluctuating emotions and told Qing Shan, "Please let him in."
The visitor was none other than Haotian, who bowed to Ye Chuanze and said, "My lord sent me to deliver a message; please come to the Purple Cloud Palace.
"Do you know why the Master sent me?" Ye Chuanze asked.
"I don't know," Haotian replied.
Ye Chuanze was not surprised by this answer. He nodded at Haotian and said, "Since the Master has given the order, I will accompany you."
On the way to the Purple Cloud Palace in the Thirty-Three Heavens, Ye Chuanze asked Haotian, "Has the Master successfully merged with the Dao?"
Haotian hesitated for a moment before saying, "He probably has succeeded."
"Probably?" Ye Chuanze frowned and repeated this phrase.
Haotian said, "I don't know if the Master has successfully merged with the Dao, but he said he wanted to. Now that he is like this... he should have merged with it, right?"
Haotian's words were uncertain, and Ye Chuanze felt even more confused. Did Hongjun really merge with the Dao? Merging with the Dao... could be risky, right? Would it require tribulations like his transformation? If so, would those tribulations be easy to overcome?
Thinking of this, Ye Chuanze's emotions stirred. He asked again, "Master, is there any difference between now and before?"
Haotian pondered for a moment before uncertainly saying, "Probably... there is no difference. No, it seems there are some differences." After a pause, he added, "It seems there are some differences, yet it also seems there are none. I'm not sure."
Upon hearing this, Ye Chuanze felt a wave of frustration and angrily pointed at him, saying, "Why do you know nothing at all? What use are you?"
Haotian looked aggrieved and said, "How could I possibly know about the Master's matters?"
"Forget it, I won't ask you anymore," Ye Chuanze said dejectedly, feeling increasingly unhappy. After merging with the Heavenly Dao, is Hongjun still Hongjun? Is he still the Hongjun I know?
Upon arriving at the Purple Cloud Palace, Ye Chuanze went alone to the Four Symbols Hall. He entered the vast hall and saw, at the highest point, a Purple-Clad Daoist sitting with closed eyes on the throne.
With a noble appearance and a cold demeanor, the Daoist exuded an unparalleled grace and presence.
Feeling the chill of the heights, Ye Chuanze thought of the phrase that came to mind as he looked at Hongjun sitting on the high throne.
This was Ye Chuanze's first time seeing Hongjun alone on that elevated seat, with no one else in the empty hall. Yet, Ye Chuanze knew that in the future, countless individuals would prostrate themselves beneath this hall, their expressions respectful and hearts humble in reverence for him who sat high upon the throne. The seeds of the Dao had just been sown by Hongjun, to be spread by his disciples to the Primordial World.
In the future, on this fertile land of Primordial, those seeds would eventually break through the earth, sprout, grow, and ultimately become a towering tree.
Dao Ancestor Hongjun would also be passed down through generations, enduring through time.
"You've come," Hongjun said as he opened his eyes and looked at him, his voice cold and clear.
Hearing this, Ye Chuanze pulled back his drifting thoughts. He glanced at the solitary Daoist on the high throne and then bowed his body, lowering his head with a respectful expression and said, "Disciple pays respects to Master."
Hongjun heard this and lowered his gaze to observe him, remaining silent for a long time.
There were many kneeling in the hall below, yet none dared to raise their heads to look directly at the person on the elevated throne; to him, all those present were but shadows. In the end, he was merely one person sitting high upon that throne, leaving behind an emptiness in the hall.
After a long while, Hongjun finally sighed softly. In this cold and empty hall, his voice sounded particularly clear and desolate. "Long time no see; you've become more distant."
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