Chapter 52: The Five Elements Flag and the Bitter Bamboo Spear

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said, "I want the Five Elements Flag. You know that my family has a new member, Kong Xuan, who has the Five-Colored Divine Light divine ability. I want to give him the Five Elements Flag to merge with his Five-Colored Divine Light and increase its power."

  A small child suddenly appeared in Hong Jun's mind, with five large flags inserted on his back. He couldn't help but have a black face and said, "Don't you have the Dinghai Pearl? Fusing it into the formation wouldn't be bad either."

  Zhuang Xiong's face showed disdain, and he thought to himself: "Do you still need to say that the Dinghai Pearl is useful? Countless people have tried it before, but I just want to see what it looks like with five large flags inserted on my back." Zhuang Xiong thought this in his heart, but his mouth smiled and said: "I think the properties of the Five Elements flag are more suitable, don't you?"

  Hong Jun looked at his face and knew what he was really thinking. He couldn't help but feel a little sad for Kong Xuan, but he also knew that this kid wouldn't give up until he got what he wanted. So, he furrowed his brow and said: "I don't have all the Five Elements Flags in my hands. I only have the plain-colored Cloud Boundary Flag, the blue-colored Treasure Lotus Flag, and the Earthly Flame Light Flag. Although they still have some use, it's no big deal to give them to you. As for the other flags, I'm afraid I won't be able to help you."

  Zhuang Xiong hurriedly smiled and said, "Having these three is already not bad. There's another one I know that's in the Primordial Era. When the time comes, I'll exchange it with him. If we can't exchange it, then so be it. After all, both Town Yuanzi and I are earth-attribute, and I have the Qiankun Ding. When the time comes, I can just replicate one. However, where is the last one? What's its name? And I'll need you to point it out for me."

  Hong Jun frowned and said, "You want to find this flag, but it's a bit troublesome. The Five Elements Flag is the transformation of the five leaves of the Primordial Green Lotus in the Chaos. When Pangu opened the sky, his axe struck that leaf, so the flag is also incomplete. The larger part is called the Xuan Yuan Controlling Water Flag, which is currently perfecting itself somewhere and has not yet appeared in the world. The smaller part fell into the Blood Sea, absorbing its essence and transforming into the Shura Underworld Flag, which is now in the hands of Meng Po."

  Zhuang Xiong thought for a moment and said, "The flag of the Nether River is likely to be somewhat improper. I don't know if Zu can help me figure out the whereabouts of that mysterious water-controlling flag? I also have some good things in my hands, which should be able to speed up his recovery."

  Hong Jun didn't even give him a glance, saying: "Now that you have something to ask for my help, do you know how to call out to Dao Zu? What's the hurry? Kong Xuan has just been born, and it will be a long time before he needs the Five Elements Flag. Who knows when the time comes, the Xuanyuan Controlling Water Flag may have already appeared. If not, I'll help you calculate then."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but chuckle, and then thought of something else, saying: "That guide gave me a stalk of bitter bamboo, that thing can't be eaten, I still don't know how to deal with it, why not you just help me cultivate it into a magic treasure?"

  Hong Jun was furious: "What do you take me for? You come to me with such a trivial matter?"

  Zhuang Xiong was about to argue, but suddenly his ears moved, and Hong Jun's expression also changed. He pinched his fingers, calculated, pulled Zhuang Xiong directly through the space, and hid inside the Zi Xiao Palace.

  Zhuang Xiong involuntarily rolled his eyes, and as soon as he steadied himself, he saw Haotian and Yaochi frolicking around the tree. Looking at Haotian and Yaochi's innocent and lovely appearance, he thought to himself: "This is what a child should be like, this is the kind of child I want, not that bird in my house."

  Hongjun saw the two children playing and scolded in anger: "How can you play instead of cultivating? Hurry up and clean up, someone is coming, go and greet them."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but grumble: "How can a little kid be so fierce?"

  Hao Tian Yao Chi tidied up her clothes and regained her composure, just as she was about to leave the door when she heard Emperor Jun's voice outside the Zi Xuan Palace: "Emperor Jun Tai Yi requests an audience with the Dao Ancestor, seeking guidance on a matter, and hopes for the Dao Ancestor's teachings."

  Hong Jun gave a signal with his eyes, and then Huang Tian and Yao Chi hurried out.

  I don't know what Emperor Jun said, but Zhuang Xiong is too lazy to check now, let Hong Jun worry about it. He himself wandered idly to the Zixiao Palace.

  However, the Zixiao Palace in front of it is majestic and atmospheric, but this one behind it is really ordinary, or perhaps all the good things are hidden? Just as Zhuang Xiong was guessing, Yaochi came back.

  Yaochi Shi Li said: "I report to the Ancestor of the Way, Emperor Jun says he wants to see the Ancestor of the Way and ask about the matter of establishing the Heavenly Court."

  Hong Jun thought for a moment and said, "You go back to him and tell him he can do whatever he wants, don't worry about me."

  Jade Pool hurriedly bowed and took her leave.

  Zhuang Xiong saw that Yao Chi had left, and couldn't help but laugh: "This Emperor Jun still thinks he has everything under control, never expecting you to be waiting for him to make a move. This time, he's fallen right into your trap."

  Hong Jun sighed, "Heaven's fault can still be made up for, but one's own fault cannot be lived with. How could I not have given them a chance? They themselves walked onto this road of no return, yet they blame me."

  Zhuang Xiong said, "That's also true, but if we let them develop on their own, who knows how many innocent lives will be lost. However, what about the witch tribe? I think they're quite pitiful, being calculated by you without a reason."

  Hong Jun smiled bitterly: "The Wu tribe is the descendant of Pangu, with a proud air, how can they be bullied by the demon tribe? Where do I need to calculate and arrange, as long as the demon tribe makes a move, this great war cannot be avoided."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but let out a sigh, his eyes flashing with the proud and lovable face of Shi Er Zu Wu, yet he was at a loss for what to do. No one could so easily abandon their own pride, especially not the pride of Pangu's legacy?

  But this thought only flashed through Zhuang Xiong's mind, and he immediately thought of his own bitter bamboo, busily laughing: "You are the Dao Ancestor, your vision is definitely broader than mine, even if you don't help, then tell me, what kind of treasure is my bitter bamboo most suitable for refining?" As he spoke, Zhuang Xiong took out that crystal clear bitter bamboo which seemed like a work of art.

  Hong Jun glared at him and said, "I say you little brat has been relying on me all along, right?"

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said: "Is that possible? Isn't this asking for your guidance? You can be considered my teacher, right? Not even willing to teach me something like this?"

  Hong Jun rolled his eyes and said, "I don't see where you treat me as a teacher."

  Zhuang Xiong smiled and said, "My respect for you is in my heart. Those who are always talking about it are insincere. Actually, someone like me is the most reliable. Just look at my true nature and you should know that I'm a very honest person, right?"

  Hong Jun really didn't want to entangle with Zhuang Xiong anymore, carefully observed the bitter bamboo and said: "If there was no Qian Kun Ding, I would suggest you refine six roots of clear bamboo, which can seal a person's six senses. However, since you have Qian Kun Ding, it's different. This bitter bamboo has nine sections, three branches, and twelve leaves, but it is most suitable for refining one root of Da Ji."

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but doubt: "Dajie? Refine Dajie with bamboo? I'm afraid it's not suitable, right?"

  Hong Jun coldly snorted and said, "You asked me, what's the point of being suspicious? I say refining a spear is refining a spear, of course it can't just use bitter bamboo, it needs to add some other things." After finishing speaking, he told Zhuang Xiong a pile of materials.

  Zhuang Xiong nodded in agreement, but still couldn't help but ask doubtfully: "Actually, I don't have any opinions on refining the halberd, it's just that this halberd is a bit too light, isn't it?"

  Hong Jun said with a bad temper: "These materials have already added up to 180,000 catties, do you think everyone has the same brute strength as you? Or do you think that any weapon should be better if it's heavier? Can't there be agile weapons?"

  Zhuang Xiong couldn't help but smile wryly, actually he still truly believed that heavy armor was stronger than light armor, but this wasn't the time to say so.

  Hong Jun didn't know what he was thinking, and angrily said: "You can refine whatever you want, but now get out of here for me. This isn't your home, chatting and drinking tea is already a great favor to you, don't tell me you also want to refine weapons in my place?"

  Zhuang Xiong sneered: "If you weren't more skilled and experienced than me, and could have given me pointers during equipment refinement, do you think I would be lingering around? Not even bothering to come in the first place."

  Hong Jun's face was covered in dark lines, his veins bulging, as he glared ferociously at Zhuang Xiong.

  Zhuang Xiong awkwardly smiled and followed Huang Tian Yao to the door, shaking his head and walking out. When he reached the door, he suddenly turned back and said: "Daozu, remember that I still don't have a Dao number, next time you lecture on the Dao, be sure to give me a loud and clear Dao number."

  Hong Jun angrily shouted: "You love to call yourself whatever Dao number you want, why must I take it?"

  Zhuang Xiong laughed and said, "Isn't this the great reputation of the Taoist ancestor? You can take a Taoist name and scare away many petty thieves. I can also avoid a lot of trouble, right?" As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Hong Jun's face turn gloomy, and quickly dodged out of sight.

  Until Zhuang Xiong had walked away and was no longer in sight, Hong Jun finally let out a long sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said: "This kid is really hard to deal with, he's still too tender. If this goes on for a few more years, it'll be unbearable. It's possible that by then, we won't even be able to meet."

  Hao Tian and Yao Chi exchanged a glance, Yao Chi whispered: "I think this bear-like person is quite interesting." Hao Tian also nodded in agreement.

  Hongjun was once again covered in black lines all over his face.

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  He emerged from the chaos, and Zhong Xiong couldn't help but smile wryly. Who could guess what was on Hong Jun's mind? It wasn't that easy to get him to reveal his true intentions. Although he didn't deceive himself again, there were still some unclear aspects, and sometimes being half-aware was more terrifying than being completely unaware. However, this time it was just that Hong Jun felt a bit guilty about the previous time and thought that stopping Zhong Xiong from killing Di Jun had indeed affected him somewhat, so he could allow himself to be so reckless. It was likely that there wouldn't be another chance in the future.

  When Zhuang Xiong arrived at Buzhou Mountain, Nüwa was still in seclusion. Zhuang Xiong knew that Nüwa was also a very proud person deep down. Although she didn't say it out loud, after hearing the Tao this time, both Sanqing and Zhuang Xiong were already in the late stage of quasi-sainthood, while Nüwa was only in the middle stage of quasi-sainthood. She couldn't help but feel a sense of competitiveness, wanting to work even harder to catch up. So after returning, she went into seclusion again, looking like nothing was wrong, and would only come out when Emperor Jun established the Heavenly Court.

  Zhuang Xiong returned at an inopportune time, as Fu Xi was also in seclusion. Zhuang Xiong had no choice but to go find Kong Xuan and Zi Yu instead. He wanted to see if Nüwa or Fu Xi had left any messages for them, and also offer some guidance on their cultivation.

  Zi Yu Kong Xuan did not go into seclusion at this time, but Zhuang Xiong carefully examined the cultivation of the two and frowned, saying: "You two have already reached the late stage of Taiyi Golden Immortal? Logically speaking, you should have transformed a long time ago. Why are you still in beast form?"