The Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit felt a trace of hesitation at this moment, making the decision incredibly difficult.
If he tried to hold on any longer, he would completely lose Face. But if he didn't keep this entity and make it his Magic Treasure, he wouldn't have as many Small World Origins and Laws to devour in the future.
As a heaven-opening supreme treasure, he also wanted to become stronger and progress, unwilling to remain stagnant.
Although it could grow stronger alongside the strengthening of the world, the speed was too slow. As a heaven-opening supreme treasure, he naturally couldn't tolerate this.
After thinking for a moment, he finally couldn't resist the temptation of the crystal divine kingdom's Origin anymore and spoke to Hongjun:
"Fellow Daoist, I have considered this matter carefully. If you allow me to devour the Origin of the crystal divine kingdom once every ten thousand years, I will serve as your protective Magic Treasure."
"You should know that I am a heaven-opening supreme treasure, one of the best in the Honghuang World. Few Magic Treasures can contend with me, and my offensive power is unmatched."
"Fellow Daoist, do you truly not want such a powerful Magic Treasure to assist you?"
As soon as he said this, a hint of joy arose in Hongjun's heart—the deal was done.
However, he didn't show it. Handling this intelligent heaven-opening supreme treasure required patience; if he exposed his eagerness now, forget about using it for protection, he'd be lucky if it didn't turn around and strike him with a Heaven-Opening Blade.
A heaven-opening supreme treasure not only represented the highest status in the Honghuang World but also symbolized the great Power of Creation.
If it truly unleashed its full power in a fight, Hongjun was far from being its match.
At this moment, Hongjun seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment, he looked at the Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit and said:
"Fellow Daoist, that absolutely won't do. How about this instead: we establish a cooperative relationship, and I treat you as a Fellow Daoist?"
"We support each other and promote each other's progress."
There was no falsehood in Hongjun's words. He genuinely wanted to treat this heaven-opening supreme treasure as a Fellow Daoist with whom he could progress together.
An intelligent Magic Treasure like this was essentially equivalent to a Fellow Daoist; they could even exchange insights and learn from one another.
The Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit was indeed startled and asked with a hint of confusion:
"Fellow Daoist? What is a Fellow Daoist? What is this 'Fellow Daoist' thing?"
A large question mark seemed to appear on Hongjun's forehead at that moment. In the end, he could only explain helplessly:
"A Fellow Daoist is a Friend of the Great Dao, an existence that helps and supports you during the process of cultivation and progress."
"For example, regarding what you proposed earlier—you being my protective Magic Treasure and me nurturing you with the Origin of the crystal divine kingdom—in a sense, that is what a Fellow Daoist relationship entails."
After hearing this, the Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit nodded blankly, yet said with a joyful expression:
"Then that's settled! Starting today, we are Fellow Daoists."
"Then... then could you let me absorb some again?"
The Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit asked somewhat sheepishly.
Hongjun rubbed his forehead upon hearing this, but ultimately agreed. The Dao Power surrounding him dissipated, and he offered no resistance at that moment.
The Pangu Banner Artifact Spirit didn't hesitate either, entering his body again at that moment and beginning to devour the Origin Power.
A moment later, Hongjun's Face was pale, his body weak, and he looked completely drained.
The Great Dao of Equality manifested and began to gradually restore him.
He looked towards the pangu banner and said weakly:
"Fellow Daoist, that should be enough for now, right? Let's leave this Formation first and take a good stroll on Mount Buzhou."
The pangu banner did not hesitate, entering his body at that moment, and then Hongjun walked out of the Formation.
When he left the Formation, because the Formation lacked the support of a Formation Core, the Formation's power suffered immense damage, and even this Innate Grand Formation began to gradually disintegrate.
After leaving the Formation, he didn't hesitate and continued wandering on Mount Buzhou. After an unknown amount of time ascending, the power of pangu's pressure grew stronger and stronger. He looked at the summit of Mount Buzhou with a trace of solemnity in his eyes.
His Physical Body was already nearing its limit, and his Dao was similarly close to its limit.
As for an impromptu Breakthrough—suddenly leveling up at a critical moment—that was completely impossible.
What they cultivated was the Dao, which could not be quickly elevated; cultivation had to proceed very slowly.
Thinking of this, he didn't hesitate and ran down the mountain.
Rather than forcing himself up the mountain to gamble on an almost impossible impromptu Breakthrough, it was better to descend immediately and minimize his own injuries.
Descending was much easier than ascending. pangu's pressure was no longer so dense, and the suppression on his body grew weaker and weaker.
Just then, while descending, an Innate Sacred Being dressed in red robes and appearing female walked toward him.
This entity looked at him, a trace of wariness flashing in her eyes.
A sense of danger! Looking at Hongjun's figure, she felt a massive threat at that moment.
The surrounding Fire Dao permeated the air, emitting a terrifying Qi as she adopted a defensive posture.
Seeing this, Hongjun retracted his own aura, actively emitting goodwill, and spoke kindly to the red-robed woman before him:
"I am a World Sacred Being. May I ask what existence this Fellow Innate Sacred Being is?"
The cold and haughty expression on the red-robed woman's Face relaxed slightly. Looking at Hongjun, she said:
"I am Primal Empress. Greetings, World Sacred Being. Of course, if you don't like that name, you may also call me Yuanfeng."
Hearing this, a trace of confusion flashed across Hongjun's Face. What did that mean?
Was there a difference between Yuanfeng and Primal Empress? They didn't seem to have any difference!
Instead of asking directly, he used an indirect approach:
"Fellow Daoist Primal Empress, I recall that a powerful Innate Sacred Being was born between Heaven and Earth—the first Phoenix picked up by Heaven and Earth. Might that be you, Fellow Daoist?"
"Rest assured, I have no intention of attacking you, Fellow Daoist. I am just a bit curious. Innate Sacred Beings are inherently supposed to be a unity of Yin and Yang, capable of changing gender infinitely. I wonder if there is any specific meaning behind you having this name."
Primal Empress's Face was calm and filled with indifference. Her gaze toward Hongjun carried a hint of disdain before she finally explained flatly:
"The Feng (Phoenix) is male, and the Huang (Empress) is female, corresponding to the Yang and Yin between Heaven and Earth. Since I possess two Dao Bodies, what is wrong with having two Innate Divine Names?"
As she spoke, her aura shifted, and she suddenly transformed into a handsome man.
Hongjun finally understood. It was simply a manifestation of the two dao body forms of Innate Sacred Beings corresponding to the Yin and Yang of Heaven and Earth, like the difference between male and female genders. However, in the Honghuang World, there was no concept of male and female, only Yin and Yang.
Primal Empress could change her state at will, which was why she had two names.