"Strange! Why is it so quiet around here?"
After leaving the Bamboo Forest, Chi Yu drifted eastward until he reached an unusually quiet mountain forest.
Logically speaking, such a lush place should have been bustling. Even if there were no demonic beasts about, there should at least have been birds, insects, and wild animals!
Yet this place was incredibly quiet, as though something major had happened. It was enough to make one's skin crawl!
Chi Yu shook himself, a chill running through him!
"Mother of heavens! Don't tell me I ran into a ghost? Pah, pah, pah~ This is the Primordial World!"
"Besides, I'm a Golden Immortal. Why would I be afraid of some damn ghost? Though, did ghosts even exist during the Ferocious Beast Calamity?"
"Hm? Why did fog suddenly appear out of nowhere?"
Suddenly, waves of white mist drifted through the dense mountain forest, making it seem even more eerie.
"Not good! It's drifting this way! I need to leave!"
Chi Yu turned to run back, but the mist moved far too quickly. It soon swallowed up his tiny speck of dust.
"Ah~ I can't see! I can't see anything!"
Everything around him was hazy. He could not see his hand in front of his face.
"What do I do? I don't even have a sense of direction here. I really wish I had a compass right now!"
"Boom, crack!"
"Crash~"
A towering tree in the distance collapsed.
Then, a monster with a scorpion's tail, a human body, and a deer's head walked past Chi Yu.
"Mother of heavens! Did something just walk past me?"
Dazed and disoriented, Chi Yu neither dared to leave nor remain, standing frozen in place.
Before long, another monster passed by him.
Trees continued collapsing in the distance, producing rumbling booms.
"Boom~"
"Roar~"
"Screech~"
A Strong Light suddenly scattered the mist, allowing everything ahead to be seen clearly.
Chi Yu rubbed his eyes in astonishment.
"Th-What the hell are those monsters?"
Two Unknown Fierce Beasts were engaged in battle.
Chi Yu hesitated, wondering whether he should use this chance to flee, but after thinking it over carefully—
"Isn't this a perfect chance to increase my cultivation? I can't miss it!"
While Chi Yu was still wavering—
The fierce beasts began slaughtering each other! There were no flashy techniques involved.
They rammed into each other, swung their tails, then bit and tore. There were not even any of the massive special effects he had imagined.
After recovering his senses, Chi Yu curled his lip.
"Tch~ Don't they have cultivation techniques or divine abilities? Is this the most primitive way of fighting?"
(Good lord! Just a moment ago, he had been scared stiff, and now he was critiquing them. This guy really had some nerve!)
"How about... I go up and give it a try?"
Chi Yu gathered all his strength, preparing to barge into the fight.
"Screw it! What does a man have to fear? At worst, I'll still be a good man two hundred thousand years from now!"
"Charge~"
Using all his strength, Chi Yu charged straight between the two fierce beasts.
Just then, the two beasts rushed at each other!
The pressure around them surged, and Chi Yu was completely unable to get close.
After the two beasts collided, an even greater pressure instantly sent Chi Yu flying.
"Ah~ My da—"
And then there was no then!
When Chi Yu woke up, he discovered that he was inside a Special Space.
"Hiss~"
"Those two fierce beasts had at least Taiyi Golden Immortal Peak cultivation. What a pity!"
"Hm? Where did that impact send me?"
Everything around him was azure. Looking down, Chi Yu saw a gigantic Lotus Platform before him.
Azure Light shimmered from it. It seemed like jade, yet not jade, and looked incomparably noble and sacred.
"Is this the Creation Green Lotus?"
Chi Yu was greatly shocked, then burst into laughter!
"Hahaha! I got a lucky opportunity just from being hit. I really am the protagonist, with boundless fortune!"
"Am I inside the Azure Lotus?"
Though delighted, Chi Yu was also thoroughly confused.
"Hey! You brat!"
Suddenly, a voice entered Chi Yu's ears.
"Who?"
Chi Yu was startled and looked around.
"Ahem! Stop looking everywhere. I'm talking to you, that speck of dust!"
"Hm? You can see me?"
"What, are you the Great Dao? Why wouldn't I be able to see you?"
"Uh~"
After calming down, Chi Yu bowed toward the void.
"May I ask who you are, Senior? Why are you inside this space?"
"What? You're inside Old Man's body, yet you're asking why Old Man is here?"
"Inside your body~ Y-you're the Creation Green Lotus?"
Chi Yu stared around him in shock.
"More precisely, Old Man is a strand of consciousness formed from the Creation Green Lotus."
Chi Yu froze, then asked:
"May I ask, Senior, did you draw me in here?"
"You brat, if Old Man hadn't saved you, who knows where you would have been sent flying! A mere Golden Immortal actually dared to charge into the battlefield of two Daluo Golden Immortals without caring for your life!"
"Still, your life is quite tough! You merely fainted instead of dying. How strange!"
"W-What? A Daluo Golden Immortal battlefield?"
"Hm? You didn't know?"
"My heavens, you really are an oddball!"
"Uh~"
"This junior thanks Senior for saving my life!"
"Think nothing of it! Old Man simply found you amusing and took in a breath along the way."
Chi Yu smiled helplessly.
"Oh, right, Senior! Why had I never discovered this space from the outside?"
"Oh~ You mean this? Before Old Man is born into the world, an Innate Great Array protects me. It can shield Heaven and Earth. Unless Old Man wishes it, no one can discover or probe it."
The Creation Green Lotus answered with great confidence.
"Right! I actually overlooked that!"
"Brat, what are you muttering about over there?"
"Oh! I wanted to ask Senior, how can I get out?"
"Hahaha! You still want to leave? I'm afraid that won't be possible! Before Old Man is born into the world, I cannot leave this Great Array. And since you are inside Old Man's body, so~ do you understand?"
"Huh? Then what do I do?"
"May I ask, Senior, how long until you are born into the world?"
"This~ Well! It'll be a long time! At least two Yuanhui, I suppose! Mm~ Roughly that long!"
"According to the rules, Old Man may open the Great Array upon encountering someone fated. As for who that fated person is or when they will arrive, Old Man does not know! I do not know!"
"Ah~"
Chi Yu collapsed onto the Lotus Platform in despair.
"It's over! My cultivation undertaking!"
"However~"
Chi Yu froze. There was more to this?
"However what?"
"However, Old Man can choose to graft karma onto you. That way, you can leave this place."
Chi Yu was overjoyed!
"R-Really, Senior?"
The Creation Green Lotus suddenly let out a sorrowful sigh.
"Alas! Old Man fears that my life will not last much longer! Before long, this consciousness of mine will likely dissipate between Heaven and Earth!"
"Th-Then why?"
"Brat, do you want to hear Old Man's story?"
Chi Yu nodded.
"I do."
"Back then, Old Man's former master, Great God Pangu, created Heaven and Earth and battled three thousand Chaos Gods and Demons. What he stood upon was this very Chaos Green Lotus..."
"After the Chaos Green Lotus shattered, it left behind five Lotus Seeds, which transformed into the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus, Twelve Grade Merit Golden Lotus, Twelve Grade Karma Fire Red Lotus, Twelve Grade World Destruction Black Lotus, and Twelve Grade World Cleansing White Lotus."
"And Old Man is the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus, formed from the largest Lotus Seed of the Chaos Green Lotus."
"As for why Old Man's consciousness will dissipate from Heaven and Earth ahead of time, it is deeply connected to the current Ferocious Beast Great Calamity. Taking it as my duty to watch over my master's world, Old Man forcibly used my origin to continuously suppress the Tribulation Qi produced by this calamity for tens of thousands of years. By now, my origin is close to collapse, with almost nothing left."
"So! Little brother, since Old Man has encountered you by fate, let me use my remaining strength to help you escape before I dissipate!"
Chi Yu was deeply moved and politely said:
"May I ask, Senior? How can I save you?"
The Creation Green Lotus froze!
"Hahaha! Who would have thought it? You brat are actually a kind-hearted person! Good! A promising talent! Wonderful, wonderful!"
"But it is useless! Brat, don't waste your efforts! Origin is not something your current cultivation can come into contact with!"
"Rest easy. Although Old Man's consciousness will dissipate, this body will remain. After merging with you, would that not be another beginning?"
"The road ahead is long! Let Old Man lend you a hand!"
"Wuwuwu! I'm so moved!"
With tears and snot streaming down his face, Chi Yu repeatedly nodded toward the Creation Green Lotus.
"That's enough! A powerhouse should act like a powerhouse. Stop crying and sniveling!"
"Old Man hopes that you can fulfill the wish my master failed to fulfill, reach that realm, and go see that world."
"And while you're at it, help Old Man take a good look at the new world my master created. After all... I have never seen it myself~"
"Don't worry, Senior! I will! This junior is willing to swear an oath upon the Great Dao!"
"Mm! There is no need to swear an oath! Old Man sees that you have good character. I trust you."
As he spoke, the consciousness of the Creation Green Lotus suddenly became even more illusory.
"Brat! That is all I have to say to you. From here on, you must rely on yourself!"
"Senior!"
"Do not grieve! Empty your mind!"
Chi Yu felt miserable inside.
After composing himself, he emptied his mind.
The space suddenly changed. The Azure Lotus slowly rose, while the azure mist around it gradually dissipated.
Then, the Azure Lotus grew smaller and smaller until it was the same size as Chi Yu. With a thud, it entered Chi Yu's body.
"Brat! Live well! Live well in Old Man's place! Old Man is leaving~"
The consciousness of the Azure Lotus completely dissipated, and the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus thoroughly merged with Chi Yu.
Warm currents flowed throughout his body. Chi Yu hurriedly sat cross-legged and shut his eyes to cultivate.
At the same time, the system's voice sounded!
Ding! Special attack detected! Enemy: Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus (Innate Supreme Treasure) No matter how strong he is, you are stronger! Congratulations, Host! Your physical cultivation has risen to the Mid-stage Golden Immortal of the Origin (Quasi-Saint).
It was not over yet!
Ding! A massive amount of Creation Law detected! Congratulations, Host! Your comprehension of the Creation Law has increased by 50%.
This absorption and fusion lasted an entire thousand years.
On this day, the Azure Qi around Chi Yu's body gradually disappeared.
Before long, Chi Yu opened his eyes.
"Phew~"
"Finally, the fusion succeeded! Other people remove restrictions when claiming magic treasures—what was this for me? Taking a shortcut? Hehe!"
"But! It seemed like I'd become much stronger, completely different from before."
"System! Show my personal attributes!"
Stronger System: Host: Chi Yu Primordial Spirit cultivation: Golden Immortal Peak Physical cultivation: Hunyuan Golden Immortal (Quasi-Saint) Origin: Primordial Azure Qi Sand Dust Laws: Lightning (1%), Poison (5%), Creation (50%) Companion Supreme Treasure: Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus.
This inspection left Chi Yu stunned!
"My heavens! Th-this... My physical cultivation had reached Hunyuan Golden Immortal just like that? And why had the Creation Green Lotus become my Companion Supreme Treasure?"
All of a sudden, he remembered what the Creation Green Lotus had said before its consciousness dissipated.
"Could this be the other way to live another life that Senior mentioned?"
"If that's the case, then let us carve out a new Heaven and Earth together!"
The Creation Green Lotus had successfully fused with him, and this Great Array was about to dissipate as well. Chi Yu stood up, preparing to leave.
But the moment he rose, he realized something was wrong!
"Uh... Th-this... Good grief! Why had I grown bigger too?"
That was right, Chi Yu had grown larger! He had become roughly the size of the Blue Planet from his previous life—more precisely, a yellowish-brown ball of flesh covered in azure patterns.
"Uh... How was I supposed to hide now? I wouldn't be able to leech off anyone's cultivation in the future!"
Chi Yu looked utterly helpless.
(Good grief! You sneaky bastard! Your physical body was already at Quasi-Saint, and you even had the Twenty-Four Grade Creation Green Lotus as your companion. You still wanted to leech off cultivation? Why not just start a war?)
After moping for a while, Chi Yu finally saw daylight again as the Great Array dissipated.
Several sparrows flew over from a distant tree, staring at the ball of flesh with puzzled expressions.
"HAHAHA! I, Chi Yu, had finally gotten out!"
Upon hearing Chi Yu speak, the sparrows scattered in fright.
Before you continue