Xuanwei set foot on Three Immortal Island once more, his heart filled with both anticipation and gravity.
Unlike last time, when he had been hunted down and rescued, he had come this time at Fairy Yunxiao's personal invitation, as a "guest elder" and "fellow Daoist." The immortal maidens and spirit children on the island all greeted him with smiling, respectful bows that carried a hint of warmth.
Qiongxiao had personally come to welcome him outside the island. She wore a flowing aqua-green dress today, making her appear even gentler and more captivating. Upon seeing Xuanwei, she smiled softly, a trace of barely perceptible delight flickering in her eyes. "Junior Brother, you're here. Elder Sister is already waiting at the Primal Chaos Platform."
"Thank you for the trouble, Senior Sister Qiongxiao." Xuanwei cupped his hands and followed Qiongxiao into the island. The scenery along the way remained as picturesque as ever, but his state of mind had changed completely. He felt less unease and more resolve.
The Primal Chaos Platform stood at the highest point of Three Immortal Island. It was a Dao platform carved from a single piece of strange Chaos Color stone, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist. From there, one could overlook the island's splendor and the boundless Eastern Sea. Yunxiao sat cross-legged at its center, dressed in plain white robes, cool and serene as the moon. Primal Chaos Qi flowed naturally around her, as though she had become one with heaven and earth.
Bixiao sat nearby in boredom, swinging her feet. The moment she saw Xuanwei, she sprang up and said with a grin, "Junior Brother Xuanwei, you finally made it! Elder Sister prepared for this Dao discussion for so long!"
Yunxiao opened her eyes, her cool gaze settling on Xuanwei. She nodded slightly. "Please sit, Junior Brother."
Xuanwei sat on a cushion at one side of the platform, formed from condensed immortal qi, making a triangle with the three sisters. Qiongxiao sat quietly slightly behind and beside him, while Bixiao sat next to Yunxiao.
"The violet orchids Junior Brother gifted us some days ago were of exceptional quality and helped me refine the pills. I will remember this favor." Yunxiao went straight to the point. Though her tone was calm, her gratitude was sincere. "Recently, while comprehending the Primal Chaos Golden Dipper, I gained some insight into the Dao of 'Primal Chaos Qi embracing all things.' Today, I shall discuss the Dao with Junior Brother so that we may verify each other's understanding."
"Senior Sister honors me too highly. I dare not accept such praise, and I am all ears." Xuanwei answered solemnly.
Yunxiao said no more and began her discourse. What she spoke of was not a specific cultivation method, but her profound understanding of the words "Primal Chaos" after wielding the imitation Primal Chaos Golden Dipper. Primal Chaos was the state before chaos divided and primordial qi was distinguished. It encompassed all phenomena, knew neither good nor evil, and had neither beginning nor end. Its Dao was supremely vast and impartial; it could give rise to heaven and earth, and it could also contain all living beings.
Her Dao voice was cool and ethereal, yet it contained supreme truths. It drew the surrounding Dao Rhyme of the Primal Chaos Platform into resonance, manifesting visions of chaos first opening and the birth and death of all things.
Xuanwei listened, utterly absorbed. What Yunxiao taught shared a profound similarity with the Chaos Heaven-Opening Art he cultivated and the essence of the Chaos Bead, yet from the perspective of "embracing" and "bearing," it gave him entirely new inspiration. The Chaos Bead fragment within him trembled faintly, as if it too had been nourished by this Primal Chaos Dao voice. Its restoration progress quietly rose to 5.9%.
When Yunxiao finished, Xuanwei pondered briefly before beginning to expound upon his own Dao. He did not hold back. Drawing upon his Innate Immortal Qi, Wutu Source, Wood Element Vitality, the Dao of Chaos, and the newly born Humanity's Torch Flame, he spoke of his understanding of "change," "birth," "struggle," and "the inheritance of civilization."
His Dao lacked the grand inclusiveness of Primal Chaos, but it was more agile, brimming with vitality and unpredictability. It carried an unyielding will to rise from insignificance and seize a thread of life even in desperate circumstances. Especially when he spoke of the torch flame being passed from generation to generation, that speck of Mysterious Yellow Star Fire naturally emerged at his brow, warm yet unwavering as it illuminated a patch of empty space.
Bixiao's eyes shone as she listened. She found Xuanwei's words fresh, interesting, and full of vitality. Qiongxiao's gaze softened as she fell into thought, seemingly sensing a certain resonance within them.
As for Yunxiao, when she heard Xuanwei expound on the Dao of the torch flame, speaking of the self-strengthening of all beings and the continuation of civilization, ripples unexpectedly spread across her heart, which had always been as cold and still as an icy lake. Wielding the Primal Chaos Golden Dipper, she had seen too many great powers regard living beings as ants. Yet few were like Xuanwei, able to see such boundless potential and unyielding spirit in those insignificant "ants."
Two different Daos met, collided, and verified each other at that moment.
From Yunxiao's Dao of "Primal Chaos," Xuanwei gained a deeper understanding of tolerance and steadiness, and his control over the power of chaos became more rounded. Yunxiao, meanwhile, sensed from Xuanwei's Dao of "Torch Flame" an entirely different possibility for the future, one filled with vitality and hope. It even faintly benefited the completion of her own Great Dao.
The Dao discussion lasted for three full days.
Three days later, the Dao voices gradually faded and the visions dispersed. All four on the Primal Chaos Platform had gained something, and their auras had become more profound and harmonious.
Yunxiao looked at Xuanwei, and for the first time, undisguised admiration appeared in her cool eyes, along with a trace of gentleness she herself had not noticed. "Junior Brother's Dao opens a new path and contains limitless possibilities. I, too, have benefited greatly from today's discussion."
If word spread that the proud Fairy Yunxiao had evaluated him so highly, Xuanwei's name would be enough to shake the younger generation of the Primordial World.
Xuanwei replied modestly, "Senior Sister overpraises me. It was Senior Sister's Great Dao of Primal Chaos that enlightened me."
Bixiao cut in with a grin. "All right, all right, stop flattering each other! Now that the Dao discussion is over, shouldn't we handle the real business?" As she spoke, she winked at Qiongxiao.
Qiongxiao's face flushed slightly. She shot Bixiao a gentle glare, then flipped her slender hand, and a warm jade bottle appeared in her palm. She handed it to Xuanwei, her voice soft. "Junior Brother Xuanwei, this contains the Nine-Turn Calming Pills. They were refined personally by Elder Sister, using the Calming Violet Orchids you cultivated as the primary ingredient and several rare materials from Three Immortal Island as supplementary ingredients. Nine pills were refined in total. These three are for you, as a small token of our gratitude."
Xuanwei accepted the jade bottle and pulled out its stopper. At once, a pill fragrance that soothed the heart and seemed capable of cleansing the soul spread through the air. Inside lay three pills the size of longans, smooth and flawless, each bearing nine distinct cloud patterns and emitting a hazy treasure light. Merely taking a breath of their fragrance calmed his mind and made his thoughts crystal clear.
Nine-Turn golden pills! And Nine-Turn Calming Pills of exceptionally high quality at that! These pills had miraculous effects in stabilizing one's Dao heart, resisting inner demons, and enhancing comprehension. Their value was immeasurable!
"This... is far too precious!" Xuanwei hurriedly tried to refuse. "I merely provided a few Spiritual Plants. How could I dare accept such a generous gift?"
Yunxiao said calmly, "Without your violet orchids containing creation vitality, these pills could not have reached the ninth turn. This is what you deserve. Accept them."
Qiongxiao also said gently, "Junior Brother's cultivation is advancing rapidly, and this is the time for you to press forward with vigor. These pills will greatly benefit you. Besides... if we need to refine pills again in the future, we will surely have to trouble Junior Brother once more." A hint of anticipation gleamed in her eyes.
Since matters had reached this point, Xuanwei no longer stood on ceremony and solemnly accepted them. "Thank you, three Senior Sisters! Should you need anything in the future, Xuanwei will serve with all his heart and never refuse!"
Seeing him accept the pills, all three members of San Xiao smiled. Bixiao even clapped her hands. "That's more like it! Oh, right, Junior Brother Xuanwei, you're so good at planting. Could you help us make a place on Three Immortal Island like your Medicine Garden? We want to taste top-grade spirit fruits grown by our own hands too!"
Xuanwei's heart stirred. This was the perfect opportunity to draw closer and deepen their connection. He immediately nodded. "That would be easy! If the three Senior Sisters do not mind, I am willing to do my utmost to plan a spiritual garden for Three Immortal Island and share some cultivation insights."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Bixiao cheered.
Qiongxiao's face also brightened with delight. "Then we will have to trouble Junior Brother."
Though Yunxiao said nothing, her eyes revealed both approval and a hint of anticipation.
Over the following days, Xuanwei remained on Three Immortal Island and began planning a spiritual garden for them. He not only applied the Azure Emperor Longevity Art and his knowledge of Wutu Source, but also incorporated a trace of the creative and inheriting meaning of the "torch flame." As a result, the planned garden would not merely be rich in spiritual qi; it would also conform to the natural Dao of birth, death, and endless cycles. Its design far surpassed an ordinary Medicine Garden.
During this time, his interactions with San Xiao grew increasingly frequent. With Bixiao, there was mostly laughter, banter, and playful bickering. With Qiongxiao, there was a gentle understanding and tenderness that flowed like a quiet stream. And with Yunxiao... though this cool and aloof eldest sister spoke little, whenever he encountered a difficult problem or explained some subtle idea, she always pinpointed the key issue and gave him tremendous inspiration. Between them, a strange affection rooted in mutual admiration and resonance on the Dao path quietly began to grow.
One day, Xuanwei was discussing the placement of an array core with Yunxiao. They stood very close, and he could clearly smell the faint, cool fragrance upon her, like the freshness after snow had cleared. Yunxiao was intently pointing at the array diagram as she explained, a lock of dark hair falling across her forehead and lending her an added softness.
As Xuanwei looked at her breathtaking profile so close at hand, his heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
Just then, Yunxiao seemed to notice his gaze and lifted her eyes. Their gazes met, and time seemed to freeze for an instant. A flash of panic, so swift that even she herself did not understand it, passed through Yunxiao's cool eyes before she quickly regained her composure. Yet a faint blush quietly crept up to her ears.
She continued explaining as if nothing had happened, but her speech had quickened ever so slightly.
Xuanwei also hastily composed himself and listened attentively, but the stir in his heart had already been quietly planted.
The initial plans for the spiritual garden had been completed. What remained required time to slowly construct and cultivate. Xuanwei knew it was time for him to leave. The date of Biyou Palace's Dao lecture was drawing near, and he needed to return for his final preparations.
Before he departed, Yunxiao summoned him alone to Tide-Listening Pavilion.
She looked at Xuanwei in silence for a moment before speaking. "Does Junior Brother know that the Nine Nether Demon Domain fragment you triggered that day has been temporarily sealed by Master with the power of a Saint?"
Xuanwei's heart tightened. "I did not know. Thank you to Master for intervening."
Yunxiao shook her head. "Sealing it is not a long-term solution. That fragment is too deeply entwined with the earth veins of the Primordial World, and even... certain resentments that should have long dissipated. Forcefully purifying it may trigger an even greater calamity. Master said that the one who tied the bell must be the one to untie it."
She looked deeply into Xuanwei's eyes. "You bear the power of chaos and that 'torch flame.' You may be the key to dealing with such foul qi. Once your cultivation is sufficient, this matter may ultimately fall upon you."
Xuanwei nodded solemnly. "I understand. I will certainly cultivate diligently and live up to Master's and Senior Sister's trust."
Yunxiao nodded slightly. Then, with a flip of her hand, a token that was neither gold nor jade appeared in her palm, engraved with simple Primal Chaos runes.
"This is a Primal Chaos Token, condensed from my own Dao Rhyme. It possesses no offensive or defensive power, but it can help calm your mind and allow you to comprehend the meaning of Primal Chaos. It may benefit your cultivation. Also... if you encounter an emergency, crush this token, and I will sense it."
She extended the token toward Xuanwei. Her tone remained calm, but a trace of concern lay hidden within her clear eyes.
Xuanwei looked at the token containing Yunxiao's unique Dao Rhyme, and warmth surged through his heart. He accepted it with both hands. It felt warm and smooth to the touch, as though it still carried the warmth of Yunxiao's fingertips.
"Senior Sister... this generous gift... Xuanwei... will remember it from the depths of his heart." His voice was low, carrying sincere emotion.
Yunxiao avoided his gaze and turned to look at the rolling waves beyond the pavilion, leaving only her graceful back to him. "Be careful on the road. Return... soon."
Xuanwei gripped the Primal Chaos Token and gave Yunxiao's back a deep bow. Only then did he turn, mount his escaping light, and leave Three Immortal Island.
This time, beyond his desire for power and his determination to reverse the calamity, his heart carried one more heavy attachment.
Not long after he left, Yunxiao remained in Tide-Listening Pavilion, staring in the direction in which he had vanished without moving for a long time. Qiongxiao quietly came to her side and asked softly, "Elder Sister, are you worried about Junior Brother Xuanwei?"
Yunxiao did not turn around. She merely sighed softly, so quietly that the sea breeze seemed capable of scattering the sound.
"The calamity clouds... have already revealed their signs. He carries an anomaly, and his ties with us are growing ever deeper. I fear... the road ahead will be difficult."
Hearing this, a trace of worry also passed through Qiongxiao's gentle eyes.
Above the Eastern Sea, Xuanwei flew through the air, planning his next cultivation steps. Suddenly, his expression changed. With a flip of his hand, he took out the jade slip obtained from Duobao, which recorded information about Liubo Mountain.
At that moment, the jade slip was faintly heating up. A previously blurred mark concerning a region of sea near Liubo Mountain had become clear, and a line of small words appeared beside it:
"Suspected traces of a primitive human tribe. They worship a strange torch flame, perhaps fated to be connected to Junior Brother's Dao..."
A primitive human tribe? A strange torch flame?
Xuanwei's heart leaped violently. Could it be... an early human tribe?!
He immediately changed direction and sped toward the new location marked on the jade slip!
Before you continue