When Immortal Lady Yunxiao left, she was supported by Qiongjiao – among all the immortals, she was the only one who was truly intoxicated.

Upon leaving, Qiongjiao kept muttering things like ‘Sister never used to dance like this before,’ which gave Li Changshou even more anticipation.

A normal dance ultimately lacked that certain… thrill.

Gongming, however, directly took up residence at Black Pool Peak, enjoying delightful conversations with White Marsh. Having found kindred spirits in each other, it seemed they would be freeloading for some time.

As for Ling’e, the planner of this gathering…

Under the willow tree by Spirit Lake, a certain Celestial Immortal realm junior immortal was lying there pitifully, with two thick stone slabs beside her. She was using an engraving knife to carve elegant characters, erasing a layer of the stone slab after completing each set.

“Mean senior brother! For your happiness, I even invited enemies into our gate, and still, you punish me!

Punish, punish, punish, that’s all you know! If you have the ability, punish me some other way!”

Li Changshou couldn’t help but want to laugh hearing this.

Preventing the primordial world from warming up starts with reducing steam.

Next, there were still many matters to handle, but everything had to be done one at a time…

Since Gongming was here, Li Changshou took the opportunity to borrow the Ocean-Calming Zhenzhu and brought that purple-tinged white gourd to Black Pool Peak.

White Marsh frowned: “Isn’t this Luya’s Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife?

That day when it suddenly disappeared along with the Demon Emperor’s Seal, this poor Daoist thought Holy Mother had taken it.”

Gongming smiled: “I’ve seen this treasure display its might, it’s quite formidable. Congratulations are in order today, young brother, for obtaining such a powerful treasure.”

Li Changshou shook his head and said seriously: “This treasure is somewhat strange. I’ve tried seven or eight different refinement methods but still cannot control it at will.

It seems… this treasure is like a living thing.”

White Marsh muttered softly: “Which Primordial Spirit Treasure doesn’t have spirituality? You killed its previous master, it’s only natural for it to hold some grudges against you.”

“Oh?”

Li Changshou asked: “Could it be that Master White also doesn’t know this treasure’s specific origins?”

Effective technique number two for dealing with White Marsh: slight provocation.

“Let this poor Daoist take a look.”

White Marsh stroked his goatee while pacing back and forth by the square table, examining it carefully. “Isn’t this the gourd that grew on that gourd vine?”

Gongming’s eyes lit up: “It is the treasure from that gourd vine!”

Li Changshou had two question marks hanging over his forehead – which gourd vine?

Had speaking in riddles become fashionable now?

If that was how to understand it, Li Changshou might as well just cut open this gourd and see if a Gourd Baby would pop out!

“Could you two explain more clearly?”

“Hahaha!”

White Marsh and Gongming exchanged glances, immediately bursting into laughter together.

White Marsh laughed: “Finally something the great Water God doesn’t know.”

Gongming also said: “This treasure rarely appears in the primordial world, and records of it are scarce in the classics. It’s only natural that you don’t know, Changshou.

That gourd vine was one of the Ten Great Primordial Spirit Roots.”

“Oh, that one,” Li Changshou smiled, “I thought from your laughter that you must have some profound insights.

Could that gourd vine be the vine that Holy Mother used to scoop and fling mud when creating humans?”

White Marsh laughed and scolded: “Is the Water God deliberately teasing this poor Daoist? It is indeed that gourd vine.”

“Tell me more details,” Li Changshou turned and sat back in the round-backed armchair, “That’s all I know, I won’t joke with you two anymore.”

“This gourd vine sparked a great battle in ancient times…”

Gongming sighed lightly and slowly recounted the events of that year.

At that time, the Three Pure Ones had not yet become saints, and the Dao Ancestor was busy comprehending the ultimate mysteries of achieving sainthood through the Three Corpses Severance;

The era when picking up treasures in the primordial world was simpler than eating was entering its final phase.

On the mountainside of Mount Buzhou, in a cloud of mist that never dispersed and could make even Daluo realm beings lose their way, heavenly light suddenly shone forth that day, indicating a great treasure was emerging.

Various powerful beings rushed there together, but the Three Pure Ones were already among the top masters in the primordial world at that time. With mutual support and numerous treasures, no one dared provoke them.

The three of them stood at the forefront, and when the treasure emerged, they got the greatest benefits.

It was a Primordial Spirit Root gourd vine, upon which grew seven gourds.

Lord Taiqing made the first move, selecting and picking the first purple-gold colored gourd. Lord Taiqing’s expression showed some disappointment at the time, and he shook his head as he left.

That was the Purple-Gold Gourd, now used to hold the Nine Cycles Golden Elixir in the Jade Doushuai Palace.

Lord Yuanshi took away the purple-black gourd, also showing disappointment as he turned and left;

Patriarch Tongtian took the purple-yellow gourd, smiling and saying it would be good for storing wine, obviously hinting to others not to fight over it, as it wasn’t anything special.

After the three great ones finished their selections and left, various powerful beings displayed their divine abilities, each taking one of the remaining four gourd fruits according to their capabilities.

Nüwa obtained the purple-blue gourd, the tragically tragic Elder Hongyun picked the purple-red gourd, the purple-green gourd vanished during the struggle, and Demon Emperor Donghuang Taiyi took the purple-white gourd.

Which is this one now before the three of them?

The Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife was a Primordial Spirit Treasure – Luya hadn’t fully displayed its power before.

Gongming reached out with his left hand, trying to grasp the gourd’s mouth.

Li Changshou said “Be careful,” and Gongming withdrew his left hand before even touching the gourd’s mouth, a trace of blood appearing on his fingertip.

White Marsh hummed in thought, habitually making calculations with his fingers, but soon gave up dejectedly. After carefully recalling for a while, he said:

“This gourd is somewhat strange.

I calculated the powers of the Seven-Colored Gourds in ancient times. It’s said that inside this purple-white gourd contains incomparably sharp primordial sword energy that can sever the primordial spirits of all things in heaven and earth, but the gourd itself cannot be controlled.

Just like that purple-black gourd rumored to contain chaos energy – we’ve never seen the Saint Lords personally use it or bestow it to disciples.”

Li Changshou asked puzzledly: “Then, how could Luya use it?”

White Marsh shook his head and also reached toward the gourd’s mouth, feeling the sharp intent within, his fingertip similarly showing traces of blood.

And so, the three brothers paced around this large gourd in White Marsh’s simple wooden house beside the magnificent Kitchen Palace.

At Gongming’s request, Li Changshou began trying to refine this large gourd, to see what reaction there might be…

However, from the most basic communication with magical treasures to various methods of activating its restrictions with immortal power, to superstitious methods like blood binding, Li Changshou tried them all one by one.

The Immortal-Slaying Gourd showed no reaction, and one couldn’t even feel half a trace of spirituality from it.

Gongming said: “Why not try directly? Perhaps it’s related to that incantation.”

Li Changshou and White Marsh exchanged glances – although Old Brother Zhao’s suggestion lacked technical merit, it was indeed worth trying.

At once, a paper clone hugging a long-necked sheep that was pessimistic, depressed, and hopeless about sheep life was made into a simple target.

Li Changshou used immortal power to carry the Immortal-Slaying Gourd to a distance, and six Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus flew over to make a simple protective helmet for him.

Li Changshou called out: “Please turn around, treasure!”

Nothing whatsoever happened.

“Let this poor Daoist try,” White Marsh stepped forward voluntarily, taking the large gourd and pointing its mouth toward the target.

He actively released his aura, made small talk with the Immortal-Slaying Gourd, tried to establish some connections, and soon called out:

“Please turn around, treasure!”

The large gourd remained utterly silent, without the slightest response.

“Let me try,” Gongming stepped forward to take the large gourd, Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus circling around him as he emanated righteousness, letting the light of the righteous path envelop his mighty frame!

Lifting the large gourd and aiming it at the target ahead, Gongming deepened his voice to convey authority and called out:

“Please! Turn around, treasure!”

Silence…

Gongming tried again: “Treasure, please turn around!”

Absolute silence…

“Treasure! Please turn around once!”

Why did this feel so painful to watch?

Puff!

Suddenly, a small wisp of white mist appeared at the mouth of the Immortal-Slaying Gourd. Within the mist, a flash of white light burst forth, slashing toward Gongming’s neck.

In that split second, Gongming hastily dodged using his space-time divine ability, but the white light still cut off a section of his beard before shooting toward the horizon, making the Black Pool Peak formation flicker with light.

“Hey! I’ll…!”

Gongming’s eyes bulged as the Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus shot forth, surrounding the Immortal-Slaying Gourd.

Old Brother Zhao pulled out a Golden Wood Whip and was about to smash this broken gourd, but fortunately, Li Changshou and White Marsh rushed forward quickly enough to hold him back.

“Old Brother, calm down!”

“Fellow Daoist Gongming, Fellow Daoist Gongming, it’s not worth getting angry at a treasure.”

Finally, Gongming was persuaded to stop, and the three spirits faced this Primordial Spirit Treasure gourd, starting to encounter all sorts of difficulties.

They couldn’t help feeling frustrated, like entering a treasure mountain only to return empty-handed.

“Let’s destroy it,” Li Changshou said calmly. “Since this object can’t be used by any of us, we might as well destroy it directly to prevent it from becoming a future problem.”

Gongming nodded in strong agreement, “Right, destroy it. Changsheng, you won’t lack for treasures anyway.”

Li Changshou thought: I do lack them, quite severely at that!

White Marsh winked at Li Changshou, asking whether he was just trying to scare the big gourd or really intended to destroy it; but Li Changshou nodded solemnly, his killing intent already decided.

“Isn’t this somewhat wasteful of heaven’s treasures…”

White Marsh stroked his goatee, “Why don’t we ponder for half a day more, see if we can thoroughly research this spirit treasure, then treat the problem accordingly.”

“That would be too dangerous,” Li Changshou said, “This treasure specifically harms primordial spirits, quite formidably so.”

“Well then…”

Gongming thought for a moment, suddenly clapped his hands and said decisively: “I’ll use the Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus at full power, Changsheng, you try again!”

Thus, moments later, above a lake outside Degree Immortal Gate.

Twenty-four Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus flickered with light, surrounded by clouds of water vapor. Li Changshou and White Marsh sat cross-legged behind Gongming, who sat behind Li Changshou’s paper clone.

The paper clone frowned as its left hand reached toward the gourd’s mouth.

Li Changshou had tried this method before – the paper clone’s result had been too tragic to look at, its head completely gone.

But this time was different.

As the paper clone’s left hand, wrapped in immortal power, approached the gourd’s mouth, the immortal power began to vibrate – that was formless and weak sword energy rejecting his left hand.

As the left hand drew closer again, a small cloud of mist emerged.

At that moment!

Beams of water-blue light struck this cloud of mist, like twenty-four small worlds pressing down, directly freezing the cloud of mist above the gourd’s mouth!

Like water frozen in an instant.

Li Changshou’s hand grasped the ‘stopper’ at the gourd’s mouth and gently pulled it out.

Pop!

Li Changshou and White Marsh were mentally tense, Gongming formed sword fingers with both hands, and the twenty-four Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus blazed with light.

But no world-shaking sword energy burst from the gourd’s mouth – instead, it remained utterly quiet…

White Marsh frowned and was about to step forward but was stopped by Li Changshou’s gesture;

Li Changshou took out a paper kite from his sleeve, letting it fly over the gourd’s mouth – the kite passed safely.

“There seem to be some fine marks here,” Gongming suddenly said, “Just inside the gourd’s mouth, extending downward.”

“Don’t rush, let the paper clone handle it.”

Li Changshou said in a deep voice, moving the paper clone slowly forward. This time it truly wasn’t attacked by the large gourd.

It seemed that small cloud of mist from before was the gourd’s ‘self-defense program.’

To be safe, the twenty-four Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus pressed down, completely fixing the large gourd in place.

Li Changshou’s consciousness attached to the paper clone began to gradually explore the internal structure of this large gourd, his immortal consciousness penetrating layer after layer of mist.

The inside of this large gourd was like a small thousand world;

Though it appeared completely normal from the outside, just like other Primordial Spirit Treasures, created by heaven and earth, possessing mighty power.

But upon careful examination, Li Changshou found something that felt slightly ‘unnatural’…

“This Primordial Spirit Treasure has been refined again by someone.”

Li Changshou suddenly said: “Were there such skilled treasure refiners among the ancient demon race?

To work on a Primordial Spirit Treasure – this was no ordinary being.”

White Marsh hummed in thought and said: “The demon race had countless skilled treasure refiners, and at that time they also had the supreme treasure Eastern Imperial Bell stabilizing the demon court. With the River Diagram and Luo Writing for calculations, analyzing a Primordial Spirit Treasure wasn’t particularly difficult.”

Gongming muttered: “Why analyze a Primordial Spirit Treasure? Had the demon court become so wealthy by then?

Goodness, if only I had met young brother Changsheng back then, I would have passed by the Solar Palace and taken a little rest there!”

“If it was a usable Primordial Spirit Treasure, surely no one would be willing to analyze it,” Li Changshou analyzed, “But what if this treasure couldn’t be used? Sitting there it would be merely decoration – might as well refine it anew.”

Gongming nodded with a smile, and Li Changshou, as if discovering something, added:

“You two, step back a bit.”

At once, White Marsh, Gongming, and what seemed to be Li Changshou’s true body all stepped back twice.

Li Changshou’s paper clone appeared to have discovered something. One finger slowly entered the gourd’s mouth as water-blue light blazed around them, the Ocean-Calming Zhenzhus at full power.

Click!

The paper clone’s movement paused, then slowly withdrew its finger.

They saw neat lines of cracks appear on the upper half of the purple-white gourd. The gourd, which had looked perfectly complete before, burst open with a crack.

This burst made Li Changshou’s Dao heart tremble and White Marsh’s mouth corner twitch.

After the gourd burst, small pieces of ‘wooden tallies’ floated around it like dust rings around a star.

— They were, of course, wrapped in immortal power.

At this moment, the true form of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife appeared before their eyes.

The lower half of the large gourd was filled with light white energy, containing a trace of primordial sword energy – this was the source of the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife’s power.

This trace of primordial sword energy was sealed under layers of intricate restrictions. Above the restrictions was a black and red interwoven light sphere, and below this sphere was a palm-sized golden cage.

If the cage were enlarged, one could see its structure resembled a golden palace. Inside the palace was only a stone pillar, and sealed on the pillar was a light white figure.

This figure was now either alive or dead – it seemed to sense someone peering from outside and suddenly raised its head, glaring outward!

Those features matched exactly the eyes and brows that appeared in the mist when Luya used the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife!

White Marsh cried out in shock:

“A Great Shaman’s soul! Yi the Archer’s soul!”

Li Changshou was somewhat puzzled, exchanging glances with Gongming, both somewhat speechless.

“So this is the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife,” Gongming shook his head and sighed, “No wonder its power is so mighty, able to cut off Changsheng’s Lightning Escape.

Imprisoning the soul of the ancient Great Shaman Yi the Archer, using this gourd’s original primordial sword energy as arrows, no wonder…

Setting aside whether it’s too cruel, to conceive of such a treasure – the demon court truly had formidable figures back then.”

Li Changshou frowned and said: “We now face two problems.”

White Marsh asked puzzledly: “What?”

Li Changshou said: “The first problem is whether we can communicate with Yi the Archer, whether we can use the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife. If we can’t use it, we might as well find a way to destroy those restrictions.

The second problem…

Master White, are you sure you can put it back together?”

“Though difficult, it can be attempted… Hey, wait!”

White Marsh’s eyes bulged: “You wanted to take it apart, how come this poor Daoist has to put it back together? This poor Daoist is a strategist, not a craftsman!”

Li Changshou smiled: “Master White, look at us three – my Old Brother is rough-handed, I’m not skilled in refining treasures, only Master White is widely learned and versed in various fields, naturally it should be Master White who does it.”

“Ah,” White Marsh shook his head, already stroking his goatee as he began to ponder the ‘upper half of the gourd’ that had broken into thousands or tens of thousands of pieces.

Li Changshou, however, began to contemplate that golden palace cage.

If the Immortal-Slaying Flying Knife could be used by him, that would be best; and the key to this should be Yi the Archer’s soul in the golden palace.

Yi the Archer…

Chang’e?

…

Upon the moon dwells a beauty, her graceful name known throughout the Three Realms.

Under the Primordial Spirit Root osmanthus tree, in that cold Clear Void Palace.

A graceful figure leaned against the railing, standing before that long-stilled clear pond, gazing at the magnificent Five Continents world, slightly lost in thought.