The chaos of the Source Qi from the Outer Realm was immense, even the guidance of the Heavenly Track could not pierce its secret clearly, one could only vaguely make out a huge figure emitting treasure light that was surrounded by twelve equally immense and distorted shapes, all pouncing upon it, engaging with every limb and organ in an extremely chaotic melee.
Countless Divine Powers and treasures were bombarding Duobao's Dharma Body.
Suddenly assaulted, Duobao seemed momentarily unresponsive, getting beaten to a bloody mess.
Not only had much of his flesh been ripped away, but many of the treasures embedded in his body had also fallen.
Fortunately, he was after all Duobao True Monarch, and it seemed he had anticipated such an event, as with his character he surely would not allow his treasures to fall into other hands.
As those treasures detached from his distorted Dharma Body, they all flew towards the Penglai Sea, with not a single one deviating from this course.
From his own Mountain Gate, Tao Qian could see it all distinctly:
Within the Penglai Sea, there were sudden thunderous sounds, then the sky ripped open, and a first wave of flesh and corrupted treasures, mingling together like a swarm of falling stars, came plummeting from the Outer Realm.
Looking at where they landed, it was clear they were falling at the site of the original Golden Radiance Arena.
The first piece of flesh, covered in black hair, with sinews like a dragon python, blood like pus, and displaying a dazzling rainbow of colors, was a large thigh, from which many tendrils and membranes extended, merging with a magnificently grand and luxurious ancient vessel.
On that ancient vessel crouched three zombies—two large and one small—seemingly a family?
They were howling fiercely, looking rather disturbed.
"What is that...?"
Tao Qian caught a glimpse and felt a stir in his heart.
Beside him, Yuan Gong immediately provided enlightenment:
"That treasure is called the 'Qiankun Treasure Boat', it has a significant background; it's the originating treasure refined by an Ancient Qi Refiner 'Qiankun Daoist' who, after spending his entire Dao Heng and wealth, could even sail to the Outer Realm Abyss. At one point, a relic of Immortal Demons was opened, containing many treasures—this boat was included. According to Karma, it should have belonged to Xiu Zhonglin, yet Duobao used his schemes to snatch it, and later brushed Xiu off with some trinket called the Seven Fragrant Car."
"Poor Xiu Zhonglin ended up with a grudge against Duobao for this, tried several times to take revenge, but instead got played by Duobao's calculations quite a few more times."
"Though I never went myself, I heard from a returning junior sister that the Qiankun Treasure Boat is indeed a fine treasure. However, it is attached to quite a troublesome karma: Whoever acquires the treasure must seek out all descendants of Qiankun Daoist, and then apply the 'Sealing Spirit Secret Technique' to completely cut off these descendants' Dao Path, leaving none."
"Looking at the present state of the Treasure Boat, and those three zombies, obviously Duobao has failed his endeavor to settle the karmic debts."
Master Yuan finished recounting a piece of Duobao's dark history.
As if that wasn't satisfying enough, he pointed out the falling flesh and treasures plunging towards the Penglai Sea, introducing them one by one.
Each piece was a remarkable item, and as they fell into the Penglai Sea, they were all attached to some organ from Duobao's Dharma Body, a broken limb, or a piece of flesh, such as a thigh, an eyeball, a piece of scalp, a kidney, and so on.
While Master Yuan continued casting shade on Duobao, within the Spirit Treasure Sect Mountain Gate, there were reactions to the massive plummeting treasures.
One could see from the Penglai Sea, a corner of a giant tree that pierced the heavens and the earth began to emerge.
Countless robust roots struck out, effortlessly absorbing all the blood and flesh treasures. Then, at a speed visible to the naked eye, the roots cleansed the broken flesh of its contamination, and thereafter, descensions of Spirit Treasure Dew washed all the treasures clean and clear.
This spectacle was not unexpected.
From various places, comments began to arise:
"Heh, Duobao is indeed Duobao, just like an old Pixiu, once a treasure lands in his hands, there's no way he'd part with it."
"That must be the Miraculous Tree Great Venerable of the Spirit Treasure Sect, how profound his Divine Skills, his Mana, yet here he is being roped in to clean up Duobao's mess, what a waste."
"Like a thief who never leaves empty-handed, always taking in never giving out, that is Duobao True Monarch indeed..."
For a moment, throughout the Cultivation World there erupted verbal attacks against Duobao Daoist.
Until the next moment, Duobao's counter-attack arrived.
A majestic Dao Voice, from the Outer Realm to inside the realm, could be heard cursing:
"A bunch of narrow-minded fools, measuring the noble belly by their own petty hearts, this time you've got me wrong, Duobao."
"Today is the day for repaying debts."
"I had specially invited the Miraculous Tree Great Venerable over, to cleanse the treasures, sever the karma, thus totally clearing the slate."
"All Treasures have a spirit, let them seek out those destined, I will no longer hold them."
"Go, be gone!"
No sooner had his voice fallen, than above the Penglai Sea, all those treasures bound by the Miraculous Tree Great Venerable indeed gained their freedom.
Suddenly, streaks of Divine Light burst forth, all treasures trembling.
It seemed that the treasures themselves could hardly believe it.
Duobao Daoist!
He was actually returning the treasures to freedom?
Who would believe it?
Though unbelievable, the truth was indeed such.
The gates of the Spirit Treasure Sect Mountain Gate flung wide open, permitting these illustrious treasures to drag their luminance towards all directions.
For a moment, every important figure and place in the Cultivation World were stunned.
Even Master Yuan was taken aback for a moment before turning to Tao Qian with a somewhat dazed comment: "Boy, it seems Old Thief Duobao might have been Body Seized."
The comment was, of course, made in jest.
Yet it also demonstrated the extent of the shock that Duobao returning the treasures to freedom had caused.
But reality allowed no dissent.
For in the dozens of moments that followed, the struggle in the Outer Realm continued, both sides sustaining injuries.
The flesh and treasure that peeled off the Daoist Transformation body were handled differently by both sides.
For Duobao, the treasures first flew back to the Penglai Sea to be cleansed of karma, cut off their ties, turning into ownerless items to fly in all directions, seeking their destined ones.