Chapter 5: The Dissipation of the True Spirit and the Division of the Gourd

Since the dawn of Chaos, there has been the legend of the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots. Each of these roots is a unique, peerless existence, favored by heaven. If one were to enumerate them, they would be: the Azure Lotus, the Immortal Peach, the Ginseng Fruit, the Green Willow, the Bitter Bamboo, the Gourd Vine, the Fusang Tree, the Moon Laurel, the Celestial Yellow Tree, and the Ninth Extreme which concludes the ten and conceals itself.

Among these Ten Innate Spiritual Roots, some have transcended their original nature, becoming ineffable entities; others, bound by the limitations of the primordial world, have been forced to split themselves apart, barely surviving; and some have perished since the very beginning of creation.

Now, the Gourd Vine among the Ten Innate Spiritual Roots appeared beneath the venerable Hongyun Ancestor. Without needing to meditate deeply, he could clearly perceive the mysteries within, as well as the peculiar, twisted sensation emanating from it. It was as if a distorted magnifying glass had been placed before his eyes—blurred, chaotic, riddled with countless holes.

This feeling was especially apparent atop the Gourd Vine. He could even "see" that within it, a nearly perfect order and Dao had formed, contending with the myriad energies of the primordial world.

Beneath a harmonious and profound surface lay a self-consistent chaos and madness.

After Zhenyuanzi and Hongyun, two venerable Da Luo ancestors, arrived, the Gourd Vine seemed to sense its impending tribulation. Its immortal aura and spiritual radiance receded slightly, preparing to transform into a mundane object, yet just as it dimmed, it shone brilliantly.

On this fragment of Buzhou Mountain, one colorful vortex after another appeared, collapsing and rebuilding, faintly connecting with the energies beyond Chaos.

The Gourd Vine, once hidden beneath its spiritual light, gradually revealed its form. Washed repeatedly by chaotic energies, the gourds on the vine began to tremble, causing the seasoned Da Luo Golden Immortals to hold their breath.

Whether it was the Three Pure Ones or Emperor Jun, all stared intently below, their gaze unwavering.

As Chaos was stirred, boundless tribulation clouds surged forth, instantly filling the isolated fragment of Buzhou Mountain.

In Hongyun’s perception, an invisible giant hand tore open the spatial barrier between Chaos and Buzhou Mountain, reaching in.

The hand opened, five fingers, each wrapped in earth, fire, wind, and water from Chaos, while the thumb crackled with thunder.

Though the top Da Luo Golden Immortals could not see the hand itself, they could perceive the raging earth, fire, wind, and water upon it.

At this point, their expressions changed.

Da Luo Golden Immortals could resist earth, fire, wind, and water by invoking their own Dao, but the threads of energy within the thunder made them feel a faint sense of danger.

Spirit-Destroying Ninefold Calamity Thunder!

This Gourd Vine sought to attain Dao, break through Da Luo, and glimpse the realm above Da Luo!

The Da Luo Golden Immortals dared not delay, each shielding themselves and retreating millions of miles.

Moments ago, they had felt not only the anomaly in the thunder but also the unusual nature of the earth, fire, wind, and water.

...

Just then, from each gourd on the Gourd Vine, a wisp of energy spilled forth, feeding back into the vine.

Colors converged, and within the glow appeared the true spirit of an elder: clad in coarse linen, wearing rough cloth shoes, beard, brows, and hair all white; a shriveled segment of Gourd Vine tied atop his head, casually forming a hair bun, exuding carefree spirit.

No sooner had the true spirit manifested than the invisible hand atop the tribulation clouds pressed downward.

He ignored the Three Pure Ones and others, stretching out his palm. The red gourd dropped from the vine, releasing a crimson smoke that enveloped it, absorbing the attack along with a patch of Chaos, nullifying the assault, and drifting around the true spirit.

As soon as the strike was resolved, the invisible hand gathered again, its power undiminished, and struck down.

The true spirit of the Gourd Vine remained unperturbed. The orange gourd fell, radiating golden light, likewise dispersing the invisible hand.

The tribulation clouds simmered, brewing, until a low roar echoed. With the roar, the yellow gourd dropped from the vine.

...

Truly formidable—by the sixth tribulation light, I can no longer withstand it...

Hongyun sensed the energies within, his expression unchanged, his crimson robe billowing without wind, contemplating the divine aura surrounding the elder and the energy transcending Da Luo.

At this moment, the true spirit of the Gourd Vine had six gourds rising and falling around him.

He looked up at the undiminished tribulation clouds, his gaze solemn, then raised his hand to summon the last purple gourd on the Gourd Vine.

Hm?!

The purple gourd did not descend as he had anticipated; a trace of confusion and regret appeared on his face.

Finally, he glanced up at the eerily calm tribulation clouds, a hint of relief on his countenance.

"It is time, it is fate!"

With these words, the elder’s true spirit gradually faded, never to be seen again.

The Da Luo Golden Immortals present watched the true spirit dissipate before the Gourd Vine, saw the tribulation clouds above slowly vanish and return to Chaos, and their faces were full of sighs.

"The primordial world has lost a companion in the Dao."

The Supreme Purity One lamented, shaking his head gently:

"Now that fortune is before us, let each do as he pleases."

“Since that is so, I shall not stand on ceremony!”

Emperor Jun, hearing this, looked around, reached out, and a green gourd floated above his head.

He swallowed it in one gulp, showing satisfaction:

"Fellow Daoists, I have matters to attend to and shall take my leave."

After Emperor Jun departed, the other great powers followed their own destinies, each drawn to their fated treasures.

Hongyun Ancestor had yet to act when the crimson gourd floated to his side, their energies merging as one.

As for Zhenyuanzi, he acquired a blue-skinned gourd, which he did not inspect but slipped directly into his sleeve.

With the gourds claimed, the Three Pure Ones, Nuwa, and Hongyun remained motionless, silence settling over them.

"Nuwa, Zhenyuanzi, Hongyun—are you coveting the Gourd Vine itself?"

The Supreme Purity One, who had not yet acted, opened his eyes, gazing at the purple-skinned gourd still hanging from the vine, a hint of sorrow in his eyes:

"It seems this last gourd is fated for me. The innate energy within it is still half-residing in the vine; to pluck it now would greatly harm its vitality. Let us wait until the gourd falls naturally from the vine—then, should the vine become a treasure, it shall be yours to use as you wish. What say you?"

This...

Hongyun Ancestor was moved by these words, seeing Zhenyuanzi and Nuwa hesitate, chose not to speak further, nodding slightly:

"Such non-contention shows a touch of Dao’s essence. Hongyun admires it; let it be as you say."

With Hongyun’s agreement, Zhenyuanzi also nodded. Nuwa saw the Supreme and Upper Purity Ones looking at her; for the first time, she felt disadvantaged without her elder brother and could only nod in assent.

After the Supreme Purity One collected the purple gourd along with the vine, to the astonishment of the others, Hongyun stirred his clouds, lifting the entire fragment of Buzhou Mountain with great magical power and storing it in his own heavenly domain.

Zhenyuanzi, noticing Hongyun’s actions and sensing a trace of surprise, began to deduce and calculate, but said nothing more, bidding farewell to the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa:

"Hongyun has urgent matters and must depart first. Fellow Daoists, may fate reunite us."

May fate reunite us?

The Three Pure Ones, hearing this, each showed a hint of different emotion, insights stirring within, and spoke in unison:

"Well said, Daoist. When time permits, you are welcome to visit Western Kunlun as a guest."

Hongyun smiled and nodded, accepting the invitation. After Nuwa nodded lightly, he transformed into a streak of red light and departed, followed closely by Zhenyuanzi, who had received a secret transmission.

He wished not to linger a moment longer, his mind shaken:

For in his perception, as the true spirit of the Gourd Vine faded, a vast mouth split open in the palm of the invisible giant hand and devoured most of the true spirit...