Humanity's Torch Flame Proves the Dao, Its First Cry Shocks the Immortals

Outside the medicine garden, the atmosphere was grim and murderous.

The middle-aged Daoist leading the Enforcement Hall was known as Lei Shuo. His face was stern, his gaze as sharp as an eagle's, and his cultivation had already reached the late True Immortal stage. He was one of the Interception Sect's executive elders, renowned for his iron-faced impartiality. Behind him stood several Enforcement Hall disciples, each with a formidable aura and icy eyes.

Standing beside Lei Shuo, Lingxiao wore an expression of righteous indignation and compassionate concern. Yet the slight upward curl of his lips and the fleeting malice deep in his eyes exposed his true feelings.

"Junior Brother Xuanwei, you finally came out." Lingxiao spoke first, his voice filled with apparent grief and indignation. "We are all righteous cultivators of the Mystic Gate and should devote ourselves to tranquil cultivation and comprehending the Dao! How could you secretly practice such a forbidden demonic art, one that drains the vitality of Spiritual Plants to benefit yourself and harm others, merely to advance your cultivation quickly? Look at this medicine garden of yours. Its spiritual energy is restless, and the earth veins show faint signs of depletion. Had I not discovered it in time and reported it to Uncle-Master Lei Shuo, I fear the cultivation resources of even more fellow disciples would have been destroyed by you!"

With that accusation, he directly branded Xuanwei as a scoundrel who cultivated demonic arts and endangered his fellow sect members!

Quite a few Interception Sect disciples had already gathered after hearing the news. Upon hearing this, they erupted in uproar, their gazes toward Xuanwei filled with shock, suspicion, scrutiny, and even disgust. Cultivation resources were vital to every cultivator. If someone had truly done something so despicable, they would surely incur everyone's wrath.

Ma Sui stood nearby, sweating profusely. He wanted to defend Xuanwei, but Lei Shuo's sharp gaze stopped him.

Xuanwei's expression remained calm, though he sneered inwardly. Lingxiao truly had perfected the art of twisting black into white. His gaze swept over Lei Shuo as he offered a respectful yet unyielding salute. "Disciple Xuanwei greets Uncle-Master Lei Shuo. May I ask why Uncle-Master has come? Everything Senior Brother Lingxiao said is utter nonsense, a malicious framing of this disciple. I ask Uncle-Master to investigate clearly."

Lei Shuo remained expressionless, his voice cold. "Lingxiao reported that you cultivate demonic arts and harm Spiritual Plants. His evidence is the abnormal spiritual energy in your medicine garden, the disturbances in its earth veins, and your cultivation progress, which far exceeds all reason. How do you explain this?"

"An explanation?" Xuanwei smiled faintly, his expression composed and confident. "This disciple's cultivation has advanced because of Master's favor, the opportunity he bestowed upon me, and my own unceasing diligence. Where is this so-called demonic art? As for the spiritual energy and earth veins of the medicine garden..."

He paused, his gaze falling on Lingxiao with a trace of mockery. "Could it be that Senior Brother Lingxiao has forgotten? What this disciple excels in is the cultivation of Spiritual Plants. Fluctuations in spiritual energy and the drawing of earth veins are merely normal resonances between heaven and earth caused by nurturing certain special Spiritual Plants. Because Senior Brother is unskilled in this path, does he think everyone in the world is like him?"

"You!" Lingxiao choked, his face instantly flushing red. "Sophistry! If it is not a demonic art, how could it make Spiritual Plants grow so quickly and possess such abnormal quality? Uncle-Master Lei Shuo, do not be deceived by his glib words!"

Lei Shuo frowned slightly. Though he did not trust Lingxiao's one-sided account, the abnormalities in Xuanwei's medicine garden and his strange cultivation progress were indeed suspicious. He said gravely, "Words alone prove nothing. Xuanwei, how will you prove your innocence?"

Xuanwei had long expected this question. He declared, "Uncle-Master, please judge fairly! Whether this disciple cultivates demonic arts or harms Spiritual Plants can be determined with a single test!"

He turned and pointed toward a Seven Star Begonia in the medicine garden, one he had just cultivated to five hundred years of age through ordinary methods, without using the power of Humanity's Torch Flame. He said to Lei Shuo, "Please inspect this Spiritual Plant, Uncle-Master. Is there even the slightest trace of vitality being forcibly plundered? Is there even the faintest remnant of demonic qi?"

Lei Shuo swept it with his divine sense. The Seven Star Begonia brimmed with vitality and spiritual energy, its Dao Rhyme naturally formed. There was indeed no sign whatsoever of harm from a demonic art. He nodded slightly.

Xuanwei continued, "As for this disciple's method of cultivating Spiritual Plants, it may differ from ordinary methods, but it is absolutely not a demonic path! Today, I ask Uncle-Master and all my fellow disciples to witness it together!"

Having said that, he ignored Lingxiao's ugly expression and walked directly to an open patch at the center of the medicine garden. He took a deep breath, and the aura around him suddenly changed!

No longer was it the restrained sharpness from before. Instead, he became as heavy as the earth and as gentle as a spring breeze! Azure, yellow, and chaotic radiance flowed naturally around him. At the heart of that light, a warm yet resilient spark of Mysterious Yellow Star Fire quietly lit up!

"What... is that power?" The onlookers sensed an essence completely unlike immortal spiritual qi and revealed looks of astonishment.

Xuanwei pressed both hands toward the ground, activating the Azure Emperor Longevity Art and his own Wutu Source. He then slowly infused that thread of Humanity's Torch Flame into the Spirit Field beneath his feet, like spring rain silently moistening all things!

In an instant, a strange phenomenon erupted!

The once ordinary spiritual soil seemed to have been filled with boundless vitality and Life-Creating Power. It turned dark and lustrous, radiating dense life-force Dao Rhyme! Xuanwei casually scattered prepared seeds of Spiritual Plants of varying grades across it.

Before everyone's stunned eyes, the moment those seeds touched the soil, they broke through the earth, sprouted, sent out branches, unfurled leaves, bloomed, and bore fruit at a speed visible to the naked eye!

The Spiritual Plants seemed to have been fast-forwarded, completing in mere dozens of breaths growth cycles that should have taken decades or even centuries! Moreover, the spiritual energy they emitted was incomparably pure, their quality far surpassing others of their kind. Mysterious natural patterns faintly formed upon their leaves and petals, overflowing with Dao Rhyme!

Even more unbelievable was that throughout the entire cultivation process, not only did they fail to draw vitality from the surrounding earth veins or other Spiritual Plants, but the power of the Mysterious Yellow Star Fire spread outward, making the spiritual energy throughout the medicine garden more active and pure. Even the nearby Spirit-Nourishing Grass, which had previously looked somewhat wilted, became vibrant and full of life once more!

How could this be a demonic art? This was clearly a supreme wondrous method that enlightened vegetation and created life!

"Life-Creating Power... This is the power of Life-Creating Power!" A disciple proficient in alchemy cried out in shock!

"How could such pure life-force Dao Rhyme possibly be a demonic art?"

"Not only did it not plunder vitality, it is actually nourishing this land in return!"

"Senior Brother Xuanwei is truly divine!"

The tide of public opinion instantly reversed! Everyone was won over by this miraculous technique, and their gazes toward Xuanwei filled with amazement and respect.

Even Elder Lei Shuo's stern face revealed undisguised shock! He could clearly sense that the Mysterious Yellow Star Fire contained an extremely righteous supreme power, one filled with creation and protection, utterly unlike the deathly filth of demonic qi!

Lingxiao's face instantly turned pale as paper. He pointed at Xuanwei, his lips trembling as he tried to say something more. "No... impossible! This must be an illusion! It..."

"Enough!" Elder Lei Shuo suddenly shouted, cutting him off. His eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at Lingxiao, filled with deep disappointment and authority. "Lingxiao! You baselessly framed a fellow disciple, spread discord, and nearly caused a grave mistake! I will truthfully report this matter to the Sect Master and Daoist Virtue! Now apologize to Xuanwei at once, then get back to your Yuxu Palace!"

"I..." Under Lei Shuo's late True Immortal pressure and the countless contemptuous gazes around him, Lingxiao trembled all over, consumed by shame and fury. He glared fiercely at Xuanwei, the resentment in his eyes nearly solidifying into substance. In the end, he forced three words through clenched teeth. "I... am... sorry!"

Having said that, he no longer had the face to remain. He transformed into a miserable streak of Jade Purity escape light and fled Golden Ao Island in panic.

Only then did Lei Shuo turn to Xuanwei. His expression softened considerably, even carrying a trace of approval. "Nephew Xuanwei, the Enforcement Hall failed to investigate properly today and caused you injustice. You have grasped the true essence of creation in the path of Spiritual Plants, and you bear such wondrous righteous power. You are truly a blessing to our Interception Sect! Cultivate well, and do not disappoint this talent and opportunity."

"Thank you, Uncle-Master, for upholding justice!" Xuanwei bowed in salute.

Thus, the disturbance came to an end. Yet Xuanwei's name as the master of "Life-Creating Power" spread through Golden Ao Island like a whirlwind through the words of those present, even beginning to reach other forces across the Primordial World!

After this incident, Xuanwei's reputation within the Interception Sect reached an entirely new height! No one dared look down on him because of his origins or cultivation progress any longer. Many disciples even regarded him as a grandmaster in alchemy and Spiritual Plants, and those who came to seek guidance or friendship formed an endless stream.

Xuanwei also seized the opportunity to officially offer "custom high-grade Spiritual Plants." Though his prices were steep, demand still far exceeded supply. Vast quantities of Contribution Points and all kinds of rare resources began flowing toward him.

He invested most of those resources into his own cultivation, the Chaos Bead, and nurturing the Remnant Seed of Jianmu. A smaller portion was used to maintain the medicine garden and "feed" the Light Cocoon underground.

With abundant resources and accelerated time, his cultivation steadily advanced toward the complete peak of the Heavenly Immortal realm, while his control over his various divine abilities grew increasingly refined. The Chaos Bead's restoration had risen to 5.8%, while the Remnant Seed of Jianmu had grown into a small tree taller than a person. Chaotic Dao patterns densely covered its branches and leaves, brimming with vigorous life.

One day, while he was inside the Chaos Bead's space, using the Dao Rhyme radiated by the Remnant Seed of Jianmu to comprehend the Azure Emperor Longevity Art and attempting to break through the True Immortal bottleneck, the jade talisman connecting him to Three Immortal Island in his robes began to grow warm once again.

He withdrew his consciousness from the space and read the message within the jade talisman.

It was a message from Qiong Xiao. Her tone was as gentle as ever, yet it carried a trace of unconcealed delight and... a hint of shyness?

"Junior Brother Xuanwei, the batch of 'Tranquil Purple Orchids' you gave us some days ago, cultivated through your special method, was used by Eldest Sister to refine Nine-Turn Calming Pills. Unexpectedly, she produced nine pills, all of extraordinary quality, their efficacy far exceeding expectations! Eldest Sister is greatly delighted and says your contribution in assisting the alchemical path cannot go unrecognized. As it happens, Eldest Sister has recently gained deeper control over the Primal Chaos Golden Dipper and wishes to give a lecture on the wonders of Primal Chaos Qi. She specially invites Junior Brother to Three Immortal Island for a gathering, to discuss the Dao and taste pills together. Would Junior Brother honor us with your presence?"

Xuanwei held the jade talisman, sensing the faint affection and anticipation between the lines. The corners of his lips could not help but rise slightly.

Three Immortal Island... an invitation to hear Senior Sister Yun Xiao's lecture on the Dao...

He knew that after the previous incidents, his relationship with San Xiao—especially Yun Xiao and Qiong Xiao—had already surpassed ordinary fellowship between sect members.

And this invitation might be an opportunity.

He took a deep breath and sent back a message.

"Since Senior Sister has invited me, how could I refuse? Xuanwei will make some preparations and depart at once."

After sending his reply, he looked in the direction of Three Immortal Island, his eyes filled with anticipation.

However, just as he was about to set out, the system that had lain dormant in his sea of consciousness for so long suddenly issued an unprecedented notification, carrying urgency and warning:

[Warning! It has been detected that the host's connection to the important Primordial World plot node, "the Three Ladies of San Xiao," has greatly increased!]

[Warning! The host's actions have begun to slightly disturb the established trajectory of the Heavenly Dao!]

[Hidden long-term mission triggered: Defy Heaven, Change Fate - Calamity of Beauties!]

[Mission Description: Change the predetermined fate in which the Three Ladies of San Xiao perish during the Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods and their true spirits ascend the Investiture List!]

[Mission Difficulty: Unknown (related to the host's strength, planning, and the intensity of Heavenly Dao backlash)!]

[Mission Rewards: Determined by completion level, including but not limited to vast cultivation gains, innate spiritual treasures, Great Dao merit, and special privileges!]

[Failure Penalty: Face the tribulation alongside San Xiao!]

[Current Connection: Yun Xiao (35%), Qiong Xiao (40%), Bi Xiao (30%). Stage rewards may be unlocked when connection reaches 50%!]

Xuanwei stared at the system panel that had suddenly appeared before him. The smile on his face instantly froze, and it felt as if a mountain weighing ten thousand jun had crushed his heart!

Defy Heaven, Change Fate - Calamity of Beauties!

San Xiao... perishing and having their Dao extinguished... their true spirits ascending the Investiture List!

He had long known the tragic outcome of the war of Investiture of the Gods, but when this cold mission prompt became linked to those three vivid figures, the impact was overwhelming!

He clenched his fists, his gaze becoming incomparably resolute.

"I will never allow this tribulation... to happen!"

Whether to repay their kindness, for the feelings quietly taking root in his heart, or to resist this predetermined fate!

He would go to Three Immortal Island—not merely to discuss the Dao and taste pills, but to... place the first piece in reversing that tragedy!