Chapter 251: and the translation of the chapter title

Title: Chapter 251: The Assembly Ends, a Fateful Sigh

As the conference ended and guests came and went, Qi and Taiyi suddenly sensed something, and together with Nüwa they flew to Mount Buzhou beneath the heavenly realm.

Named entities: the assembly (not a proper name); Qi; Taiyi; Nüwa; Heavenly Realm (not a proper name); Mount Buzhou (place). Also "Mount Buzhou beneath the Heavenly Realm". We'll treat Mount Buzhou as a place.

On a high cliff, Qi had just steadied himself when Taiyi, Nüwa, Di Jun, and Fuxi hurried over, looked ahead, and discovered someone already waiting there.

Named: Qi, Taiyi, Nüwa, Di Jun, Fuxi. Also maybe 'high cliff' not a name.

The Three Pure Ones arrived together, along with Hongyun and Zhenyuanzi, plus the five from the Heavenly Court who had rushed over; everyone exchanged glances and secretly calculated.

Named: Three Pure Ones, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi, the Heavenly Court's five. Also 'everyone' not a name.

Seeing so many primordial deities gathered, Qi began to ponder how this opportunity would unfold and whether it was worth turning against them.

Named: primordial deities (maybe not a specific name); Qi.

Not only Qi had this thought; Hongyun and the Three Pure Ones felt the same, especially now that they were at Mount Buzhou beneath the heavenly realm, they were all considering whether to contend with the Heavenly Court.

Named: Qi, Hongyun, the Three Pure Ones, Mount Buzhou, the Heavenly Realm, the Heavenly Court.

Qi thought for a moment and then spoke:

Named: Qi.

"I never expected to meet you all here; I wonder if you too have come for this opportunity."

No named.

Hongyun hesitated a bit; seeing the Three Pure Ones unmoved, he felt inclined to yield, and after much deliberation he still spoke:

Named: Hongyun, the Three Pure Ones.

"I report to Your Majesty Qi, when I just left the assembly, I suddenly felt a karmic connection with this place and therefore came willingly."

Named: His Majesty Qi (also 'humble Taoist' self-reference, not a name).

"I never would have thought, alas."

No named.

Having said this, Hongyun sighed, not finishing his remaining words, but looking at the people present, the meaning was clear.

Named: Hongyun.

Qi looked toward where the Three Pure Ones stood, saw them also nodding, everyone felt hesitant, yet outright giving up would be hard to accept.

Named: Qi, the Three Pure Ones.

Qi thought for a moment and then said:

Named: Qi.

"Since everyone has come for this opportunity, there must be great fortune here; let's divide it according to the number of people, how about that?"

No named.

The Three Pure Ones and Hongyun did not expect Qi to be willing to share with them; they felt somewhat moved, and the Moral Daoist pondered and then spoke:

Named: Three Pure Ones; Hongyun; Qi; Moral Daoist (the Moral Daoist? Actually "Moral Daoist" is a title for Laozi? Might be a specific deity; we need to decide if it's a name. It's a descriptor: "Moral Daoist". Could be a title. According to rules: official & sect ranks/titles translate by meaning. So we translate as "the Moral Daoist". But we need to see if it's a proper name used as a title for a specific character. Likely refers to Laozi, but we treat as a title. We'll translate as "the Moral Daoist". However we need to list named entities: if it's a title, we still list? The instruction says list official & sect ranks/titles. So we should list "the Moral Daoist". We'll provide English translation.)

"Thank you for your generosity, Your Majesty; if only one piece of fortune emerges from this place, we are willing to forgo it, and the share shall belong entirely to Your Majesty."

Named: His Majesty (referring to Qi).

Yuanshi and Lingbao also nodded in agreement; after all, although the Heavenly Court is powerful, they do not bully with strength, and reciprocity dictates this as well.

Named: Yuanshi, Lingbao, the Heavenly Court.

Hongyun also agreed, for they were the weakest among those present; Qi could still consider them and give them a share of the profits.

Named: Hongyun, Qi.

He is naturally straightforward and righteous; if there were truly only one share, he would simply let it go.

No named.

Di Jun, seeing the harmonious atmosphere, said: "If there is only one share of fortune, and everyone has already spoken beforehand, then it shall belong to my Heavenly Court, and we will compensate everyone's shares appropriately, how about that?"

Named: Di Jun, the Heavenly Court.

The Three Pure Ones, Hongyun, and Zhenyuanzi exchanged glances and then spoke in unison:

Named: the Three Pure Ones, Hongyun, Zhenyuanzi.

"Good."

No named.

For now the opportunity has not yet manifested; everyone can only wait here, and faintly a formation is quietly disintegrating.

No named.

Qi, Fuxi, and Lingbao had sparkling spiritual light in their eyes as they recorded the formation's operating path; all three loved this discipline, and they increasingly realized how extraordinary this opportunity was.

Named: Qi, Fuxi, Lingbao.

It is rare to find kindred spirits; the three occasionally exchanged a few words, and Qi and Fuxi were amazed by Lingbao Daoist's understanding of formations, as was Lingbao himself.

Named: Qi, Fuxi, Lingbao Daoist.

"On the path of primordial formations, Your Majesty Qi and Your Majesty Xi are surely the foremost in the world."

Named: His Majesty Qi, His Majesty Xi.

Lingbao Daoist felt a sigh, thinking he was already among the best, yet he did not expect there to be such an outstanding person in the world.

Named: Lingbao Daoist.

Qi smiled, and in exchanging formation insights with Lingbao he also gained much; in response to Lingbao Daoist's praise, he merely waved his hand modestly and said:

Named: Qi, Lingbao, Lingbao Daoist.

"Friend, you overpraise me; how vast the primordial world is, with countless heroes, the way of formations encompasses all things—how could it be accomplished by one person alone?"

No named.

"Although I am skilled in this way, in the primordial realm I am merely insignificant; how could I be arrogant? Even speaking solely of you, friend, you are not inferior to us."

No named.

Fuxi was likewise, speaking humbly:

Named: Fuxi.

"Qi's words are sound; the primordial realm is vast and rich, and in this way we are but as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, unworthy of such praise from you."

No named.

As everyone chatted and laughed, the formation protecting the opportunity finally appeared before them, then immediately dissipated into spiritual energy that drifted in all directions.

No named.

Suddenly a rainbow appeared on the horizon, seven-colored clouds scattered, spiritual rain fell gently, and the wondrous sound inspired a song.

No named.

The cliff was originally a valley, with a clear spring flowing, its sound like a jade bell; the water gathered the three lights, containing the power of sun, moon, and stars.

No named.

In the vast black wilderness of the marshes, aside from the clear spring there was no other hue; within the clear spring's black soil, a jade-green vine extended, winding through stone crevices and climbing upward.

No named.

The vine was a thousand feet long, its branches and leaves lush, leaves like jade, with condensed dew like pearls that dripped onto fertile soil and dissipated invisibly.

No named.

This vast black wilderness is also extraordinary; it is the heavenly realm's scattered vital earth that fell upon the primordial world, absorbing the yin and yang of heaven and earth, blending purity and turbidity.

Named: Heavenly Realm, the Primordial Wild. "the Primordial Wild" is a term for the primordial world; we could translate it as "the Wasteland" or "the Primordial Wild". According to the rules, we translate meaning, so we will translate it as "the Primordial Wild". However we need to see if it is a proper noun used as a place name; it is a concept, so we can translate it. We will list it as "the Primordial Wild". Also "immortal soil" maybe translate as "immortal soil". We'll translate.

The rosy light entered the condensed dew, then dripped onto the soil, awaiting the absorption of the horizon's colors; this vine's extraordinariness defies description, and Qi also felt astonished, saying: "Drawing from the nine heavens above, taking the turbid earth below, watering with the three-light divine water, supplied by the ten-thousand-mile vital earth, now that you and I have arrived together, it also draws in human vitality."

Named: Qi, Three Light Divine Water, ten-thousand-mile vital earth.

"Uniting the three powers of heaven, earth, and humanity above, taking the pure and impure energies below, located in Mount Buzhou, infused with the meaning of Pangu's primordial unity—could this scene not be the evolution of a primordial supreme treasure?!"

Named: Mount Buzhou, Pangu, Pangu's Primordial Unity, Primordial Supreme Treasure.

Seeing the crowd, the vine instantly shrank from a thousand feet to a mere two feet, the ten-thousand-mile vital earth recoiled, and all that remained was a two-foot sprout rooted in the black soil beside the pool.

No named.

A gourd hung from the vine, adorned with a few green leaves, leaving everyone astonished. As the vine moved, thunder suddenly roared from the horizon, winds and clouds surged, sweeping away the previous omens; storm approached, and the signs of calamity became evident.

No named.

Everyone wanted to help, but suddenly a cracking sound was heard, and the hanging gourd exploded with a bang.

No named.

Seven rays of spiritual light flew out, transforming into smaller gourds that hung from the fine vine, and the signs of disaster vanished.

No named.

Qi felt a sense of regret, as did everyone else; this treasure was heaven-favored, with outstanding roots and stems, rare in the world.

Named: Qi.

Unfortunately, it dared not withstand the heavenly tribulation; merely a glimpse frightened it into damaging its own foundation, unwilling to continue gestating.

No named.

Now these seven gourds hang on the vine; although their quality is extremely high, they ultimately fall short of what came before, and they can no longer grow.

No named.

"Having damaged its own foundation, its source is injured; it can no longer grow—what a pity."

No named.

Yuanshi felt a sigh, thinking that if that gourd had truly emerged, it would surely be no weaker than the Taiji Diagram or Pangu's banner as a treasure.

Named: Yuanshi, Taiji Diagram, Pangu Banner.

Now the seven gourds he has differentiated all have damaged origins, so they can only be considered semi-finished products, yet they are already supreme primordial spiritual treasures; however, their use remains to be determined, requiring later harvesters to add a bit more.

Named: Supreme Primordial Spiritual Treasure.

If one wishes to unleash its power, one must inevitably devote thought to its refinement, and what further methods will be needed also depends on the wielder's ability.

No named.

"Truly a pity; with favorable timing, location, and harmony all present, yet at the final moment it cut itself off; these seven gourds, though supreme, are of only middling-low quality."

No named.

Qi's eyes showed unmistakable regret, and he then spoke again:

Named: Qi.

"Fortunately, these gourds now are like a blank slate; their owner may add colors as they wish, and if properly refined they will not be inferior to the highest treasures."

No named.

Everyone nodded, and then Lingbao Daoist suddenly spoke:

Named: Lingbao Daoist.

"Now there are only seven gourds, but we have ten people here; how should we divide them?"

No named.

Everyone was stunned; after all, even if its origins were damaged, it remains a supreme primordial spiritual treasure, exceedingly rare in the world.

Named: Supreme Primordial Spiritual Treasure.

To lightly give it up would be regrettable; as the atmosphere stalled, Zhenyuanzi stepped forward and said:

Named: Zhenyuanzi.

I originally came accompanying Hongyun; this treasure has little to do with me; since we can't now distribute it fully, I'll just give up my share.

However, since I have given it up, Hong Yun, this karmic person, should take one; this act should also be considered reasonable, not excessive, right.

Qi Tong and the Three Pure Ones nodded; the two of them took one gourd, which is not excessive either, and moreover they are the weakest in strength, but they are also karmic persons, so it should be thus.

Fuxi thought for a moment, then stood up and said: "Since Fellow Daoist Zhen Yuanzi has set an example, we of the Heavenly Court should also show our stance; this treasure is not closely related to me, so I will not take a gourd."

The Heavenly Court crowd and Hong Yun nodded; at the same time, their gazes turned toward the Three Pure Ones' side—the three forces—and now the other two sides have already shown their stance, so it's up to them.

The Three Pure Ones immediately felt embarrassed, for all three sensed that this object was karmically linked to them, but seeing both sides' gazes focused on them, they also felt considerable pressure.

Just as the Moral Daoist was about to step forward, the Numinous Treasure Daoist spoke first:

"Since everyone has already shown their stance, we three brothers naturally will do so; although I am somewhat reluctant, I am not unaware of reason."

"Let these gourds be divided among you few; it's fine for us three brothers to take two."

Speaking of this, the Numinous Treasure Daoist still wore a smile; although he did not take the Numinous Treasure, compared to Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi, the Three Pure Ones still gained quite a lot.

As for the Heavenly Court, this is originally their home turf; being able to take away three gourds is already not easy, and in the eyes of everyone present, this counts as generous.

"Good."

Di Jun, having confirmed it, divided it thus, the Heavenly Court occupying four; after thinking, Di Jun then spoke:

"Since the division has been confirmed, let Hong Yun Fellow Daoist choose first, then the Moral Daoist Fellow Daoist, then the Primordial Daoist Fellow Daoist, and finally let the Heavenly Court collect; how does that sound?"

Everyone had no objection to this; Hong Yun thought for a moment, carefully selected from the seven gourds, and finally eagerly chose a red gourd.

The Moral Daoist also carefully observed it, and after much consideration chose a purple-gold gourd, then happily took it and stepped aside.

The Primordial Daoist took one whose color he liked most; its surface resembled green jade, round and smooth pearls, though its shape was not particularly good, the Primordial Daoist had his own considerations regarding it.

He planned to refine this green jade gourd into a jade ruyi; then no further modification would be needed, and it could be easily shaped, so this disadvantage in form would become an advantage.

Only the four remaining gourds in the field were to be chosen by Di Jun, Taiyi, Qi, and Nüwa; after discussion, Nüwa took the lead in choosing.

Nüwa merely gave it some thought, then chose a golden gourd that felt karmically linked to her; as for how to handle it, she still had no idea.

Next up was Qi to choose.

PS: Today first 3000, tomorrow continue 6000 to 9000 (end of chapter).