"System, I refuse the mission," Lin Yang chose.
The second option was to refuse the mission and not rescue the three clan Old Ancestors, which would grant him an Innate Spirit Treasure—the Xuan Yuan Controlled Water Flag, one of the Five Directions Flags.
Only a fool wouldn't choose the second option.
He just had to make the choice; he didn't even have to move, and the benefits would fall from the sky... well, from the System.
As Lin Yang made his choice, the System immediately distributed the reward to Lin Yang.
Lin Yang placed the Xuan Yuan Controlled Water Flag into his Primordial Spirit to nourish it; this was the first Innate Spirit Treasure he had obtained.
Moreover, it was the Xuan Yuan Controlled Water Flag, one of the Innate Five Directions Flags, corresponding to the North and the Water of the Five Elements.
It was a top-grade Innate Spirit Treasure, with extraordinary power.
It could be used to obscure the universe, cover the sky and sun, make all evil retreat, and render all magic ineffective.
At the same time, if he could collect the remaining four flags—the Qing Lian Precious Color Flag, the Leaving Earth Flame Light Flag, the Plain Color Cloud Realm Flag, and the Wu Ji Apricot Yellow Flag—then the set of five Innate Five Directions Flags would definitely have power comparable to an innate supreme treasure.
Putting aside everything else, if the Five Directions Flags were used to set up the Innate Five Elements Great Array, the power of this great array would probably be comparable to the Zhou Tian Xing Dou Great Array, the Du Tian Shen Sha Great Array, or the Zhuxian Sword Formation.
Of course, this was just a thought.
It would be very difficult to collect all the Five Directions Flags. Lin Yang remembered that when these flags appeared later, the Qing Lian Precious Color Flag was in Zhunti's hands, the Leaving Earth Flame Light Flag was in Laozi's hands, the Plain Color Cloud Realm Flag was in Yaochi's hands, and the Wu Ji Apricot Yellow Flag was in Yuanshi's hands.
This meant that, at present, these flags were very likely to be in Hongjun's hands.
Zhunti, Laozi, Yaochi, and Yuanshi all obtained the flags from Hongjun later.
Four of the flags already had owners, and their owners were formidable figures like Hongjun. How could he snatch them?
...
In the Western battlefield of the three clans, Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin were fighting desperately.
The three quasi-sages clashed, and the battle was prolonged.
Even though their strength was unrivaled in the Great Desolation, after such a long stalemate, they were gradually approaching exhaustion.
Especially Zu Long, who was constantly besieged by Yuan Feng and Shi Qilin, roared repeatedly in anger.
Suddenly, Zu Long opened his mouth and spat out a Dragon Pearl; this was his innate Dragon Pearl, also known as the Zu Long Pearl.
As soon as the Zu Long Pearl appeared, it smashed towards Yuan Feng and Shi Qilin with immense power, causing both of their expressions to change.
They knew that Zu Long was fighting with his life on the line!
The Zu Long Pearl contained Zu Long's entire cultivation and was nourished by the Luck of the entire Dragon Clan.
This was the Dragon Clan's heavy Luck treasure, far more powerful than a top-grade Innate Spirit Treasure.
What else could it be but a desperate move for Zu Long to unleash it at this moment?
Immediately, Yuan Feng and Shi Qilin, without hesitation, also unleashed their respective clan's heavy Luck treasures, the Wutong Staff and the Qilin Seal, to meet Zu Long's Zu Long Pearl.
The three collided.
Suddenly, with a "boom," a terrifying force shook the entire West.
After this collision, Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin all spat out large mouthfuls of blood, having suffered heavy injuries.
At this moment, as Zu Long was forced back, his huge Dragon eyes inadvertently glanced downwards, suddenly trembled, and he froze.
"No!"
Zu Long let out an incomparably sorrowful roar.
He had seen the tragic situation of the Dragon Clan on the battlefield; almost all of his clansmen who had entered the battle were gone.
At the same time, his mind cleared, and he also felt the unprecedented decline in the Dragon Clan's Luck.
Furthermore, endless Karma pressed down on the Dragon Clan, constantly eroding its Luck.
This was all caused by their great battle here; the damage caused to the heavens and earth had all been transformed into Karma.
This was a sign of clan annihilation!
Zu Long's body trembled with immense regret and self-blame. If he hadn't insisted on competing for supremacy, wanting to take that final step and dominate the entire Great Desolation, how could he have brought the Dragon Clan to such a state?
How could such a vast amount of Karma be eliminated?
At this moment, similarly, Yuan Feng and Shi Qilin, startled by Zu Long's roar, also discovered the situation on the battlefield.
They couldn't help but let out cries of sorrow like Zu Long.
"Stop quickly, don't fight anymore!" Yuan Feng screamed, urging the three clans to cease fighting.
But even if they stopped, what then? It was too late; could they still remedy the situation?
Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin exchanged glances, all filled with despair.
At this moment, a figure walked from afar and appeared before them.
"Hongjun?"
Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin were startled, remembering that this old Daoist was Hongjun, who had tried to dissuade them before their battle.
"Alas!"
Hongjun sighed and said, "Fellow Daoists, do you understand now?"
"What's the use of understanding? It's too late. Is there any medicine for regret?"
Shi Qilin said coldly, his gaze turning towards Zu Long and even Yuan Feng, filled with killing intent.
In his opinion, since things had come to this, he might as well go all the way. If he killed Zu Long and Yuan Feng and claimed the final victory, he might still find a way to survive.
Similarly, Zu Long and Yuan Feng had the same thoughts and ideas.
"Alas!"
Hongjun sighed again, saying, "Fellow Daoists, your current states are evenly matched. If you continue to fight, I'm afraid you can only end up perishing together."
"I have a method here. Why don't you three Fellow Daoists listen?"
Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin all paused. Indeed, Hongjun was right; if they continued to fight, the possibility of perishing together was much greater than the possibility of victory.
"What other method could Fellow Daoist have?" Zu Long asked.
Yuan Feng and Shi Qilin also looked at Hongjun, their eyes filled with anticipation.
If there were other methods, they naturally wouldn't want to continue fighting like this.
"Fellow Daoists, the Luck of the three clans is now exhausted, and boundless Karma has descended. The three clans are clearly unable to continue contending for supremacy over the heavens and earth."
Hongjun advised, "Given this situation, why don't you three Fellow Daoists make a great vow to suppress the heavens and earth with your own bodies, using this great Karma to maintain the last bit of your clans' Luck, so that your clans do not perish?"
Zu Long, Yuan Feng, and Shi Qilin's expressions wavered slightly, then became resolute.
Zu Long was the first to make a great vow to the heavens, saying, "Heavenly Dao above, from now on the Dragon Clan shall guard the Four Seas and be responsible for the smooth winds and rains of the Great Desolation, and I, Zu Long, shall return to the heavens and earth."
"Boom!"
As soon as Zu Long finished speaking, the heavens and earth trembled, and in the ethereal realm, it seemed to receive a response from the Heavenly Dao.
Vast Heavenly Dao power descended upon Zu Long, and his billions of feet long Azure Dragon body instantly vanished between the heavens and earth.
Zu Long, at the cost of his own demise, eliminated most of the Dragon Clan's Karma, and if the Dragon Clan withdrew from contention, guarded the Four Seas, and managed the winds and rains of the Great Desolation, they could barely cope with the remaining small portion of Karma.