Inside the pangu banner, a nimble voice rang out, and a hint of solemnity flashed across Hongjun's face. Following the revival of the pangu banner's spirit, the power of this Magic Treasure seemed to instantly increase significantly.
Hongjun's expression remained normal as he spoke calmly:
"I am Hongjun, an Innate Sacred Beings. I came to Mount Buzhou looking for a Magic Treasure to protect myself. I didn't expect the heaven-opening supreme treasure, the pangu banner, to possess a spirit. I truly apologize for the disturbance."
Hongjun looked at the pangu banner and gave up the idea of forcefully suppressing it. He hadn't known that this heaven-opening supreme treasure possessed its own sentience.
For an existence with such high sentience, unless it willingly submitted, he did not want to forcefully suppress it.
If its heart is with Cao Ying while its body is in Han, he would have to expend effort later to prevent this Magic Treasure from rebelling, which would be troublesome.
He wasn't some villain or anything, nor did he intend to use this heaven-opening supreme treasure for any other purpose.
If he truly couldn't obtain it, he wouldn't force the matter.
Of course, the most crucial point was that he wasn't certain he could suppress it completely. If he failed, it would be bad; if this fellow directly recognized another Innate Sacred Beings as its master and attacked him, wouldn't he be finished?
But as soon as he said this, the pangu banner seemed to bristle, looking at Hongjun and saying:
"What? You dared to disturb my slumber and affect my development just to get a Magic Treasure? Do you know what consequences poor development has for a heaven-opening supreme treasure?
I don't care, you must compensate me today."
As it spoke, the figure of a small, chubby child condensed above the pangu banner, pointing at Hongjun and cursing him vehemently.
Hongjun's mouth twitched as he looked at the form of the small child, but he still apologized with a sincere expression.
"Fellow Daoist, I was indeed wrong this time, and I apologize to you. I only came here to look because I lacked a Protective Treasure. I will leave immediately.
As for compensation, I truly have nothing valuable, and I cannot afford to compensate you."
As he spoke, Hongjun looked helpless. Who knew that a heaven-opening supreme treasure would have an Artifact Spirit? He hadn't seen one on the taiji diagram. Of course, it might have been hidden too deeply.
In any case, he had failed this time.
As soon as Hongjun finished speaking, the pangu banner glanced at him a few times. After a moment, as if it had seen something, it suddenly became excited and said to Hongjun:
"No, you do have things, and many of them! As long as you agree, the Karma between us this time will be settled here.
Slurp!"
The Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit looked at Hongjun as if seeing a delicious feast, speaking joyfully while staring.
Hongjun looked at himself. He had no Innate Spirit Treasure, and the Great Dao of Equality was useless to this Magic Treasure.
Even if it obtained it, it wouldn't be able to enhance its power, and might instead make the aura of the heaven-opening supreme treasure impure.
Therefore, he hadn't found anything on himself that would be useful to the pangu banner. After thinking for a moment, Hongjun readily agreed.
"Alright, since that is the case, let's proceed. Take whatever you want."
As soon as he spoke, the pangu banner rushed directly into his body. In an instant, a trace of horror appeared on Hongjun's face.
It was devouring the power of the crystal divine kingdom inside him. The Origin and power of each crystal divine kingdom, along with the immense power of Law, withered under this terrifying devouring force.
A moment later, the pangu banner flew out from Hongjun's body, looking completely satisfied.
At this moment, Hongjun felt utterly drained and weak, with only a few crystal divine kingdoms remaining within him.
If he hadn't Cultivated the Great Luo Dao and transferred a portion of his power to his past Incarnation, he likely would have been completely drained this time.
Feeling the weakness inside his body, he recalled the power of his past Incarnation. The Great Dao of Equality manifested, and the crystal divine kingdoms within him gradually repaired themselves, rapidly returning to their Peak state.
This scene shocked the pangu banner. It could actually do that? Didn't that mean the Origin and World Power of the Small Worlds inside this person were virtually limitless?
It could easily eat its fill and never worry about running out of provisions.
One must know that these Origin and World Power had a slight benefit for its growth.
A trace of greed appeared in the Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit's gaze as it looked at Hongjun, and Hongjun noticed this immediately.
This fellow seemed very interested in the Origin and power within his crystal divine kingdom, and this Origin and power appeared to have a unique effect on it.
Seeing this, a thought sprang up in his mind: The pangu banner wants the Origin and power of the crystal divine kingdom inside him. Could he use this point to make it serve him?
He himself didn't have many Magic Treasures; his only Innate Spirit Treasure was the jade disc of creation, and he had no other Protective Treasures whatsoever.
He couldn't possibly chop down the Innate Flat Peach Tree to refine a Magic Treasure, that would be too uneconomical.
Setting aside the power of the Magic Treasure, its utility would certainly not compare to a true Innate Spirit Treasure.
Watching the increasingly eager gaze of the Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit, this idea grew stronger and felt increasingly feasible.
Thinking of this, he pretended that the Karma was settled and that he did not wish to get entangled further. He cupped his hands and bowed to the pangu banner, speaking lightly:
"Fellow Daoist, you previously agreed that the Karma with me is settled. In that case, I won't stay any longer. I will leave now and look around Mount Buzhou to see if there are any other Innate Spirit Treasures."
With that, he turned and left.
The pangu banner grew slightly anxious. If he left, what would it do? It was awake now; would it have to fall back into slumber?
Moreover, the Origin and power of Law from the worlds inside Hongjun were so tempting; it was starting to crave them.
Watching Hongjun run towards the outside of the Great Formation, it finally solidified its resolve.
"Hongjun, wait! Didn't you want to find a Magic Treasure for protection? I think I'm quite suitable. As long as you can frequently supply me with the Origin and power of Law from those worlds, I can lend you a hand.
I will become your Protective Treasure and safeguard your safety."
Upon hearing this, Hongjun knew the matter was likely settled, but a hint of sincerity appeared on his face as he spoke to the Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit:
"Fellow Daoist, absolutely not! As a heaven-opening supreme treasure, how can you give up your freedom for such petty gains?
Furthermore, I was the one who offended you before. Now that the Fellow Daoist has clarified things and the Karma is settled, it is certainly impossible for me to harbor the thought of making you my Protective Treasure again."
The expression on Hongjun's face was utterly sincere, as if he were speaking nothing but the truth.
The pangu banner was a bit depressed. What was going on? Didn't he want to subdue it before? Why didn't he need it now?
Looking at the righteous Hongjun, its heart was extremely conflicted.
But thinking about the World Origin and the power of Law, it grew envious again. These things provided a slight benefit to its evolution.
A tiny bit wouldn't be enough, but if it could frequently devour the Origin and power of Law, then its power would become the strongest among the Three Great heaven-opening supreme treasures.