The words "extremely high" in the system notification struck Xuanwei's consciousness core like a heavy hammer.
Extremely high risk! Extremely high opportunity!
The joy he had just felt from comprehending the art of seclusion and optimizing his cultivation method was instantly diluted by this sudden discovery, replaced by intense caution and fierce inner struggle in the face of the unknown.
Innate Wutu Essence Qi! It was one of the most fundamental Five Element essences in the Primordial World, containing endless creation and vitality. It was also a supreme treasure for tempering the physical body—though he did not have one yet—improving one's innate foundation, and refining magical treasures! If he could obtain it, the benefits would be far beyond the spiritual light particles he had previously devoured.
But... the place where the Kirin Tribe had fallen!
The Dragon-Han Primordial Calamity was the first boundless slaughtering tribulation of the Primordial World, sweeping through countless races and shattering heaven and earth! The dragon, phoenix, and kirin races had fought for supremacy, only to nearly perish together in the end. The resentment, murderous aura, and tribulation aura accumulated there were deep enough to corrode all things and befoul intelligence. Those who had left behind a name in a calamity of that level were at least Grand Unity or even Quasi-Saint mighty beings. Even a lingering thought or a wisp of tribulation aura from their resting place was not something his mere 0.15% energy-level immortal qi could touch.
Go, or not go?
This was a life-and-death choice laid before him. The opportunity was tempting enough to transform him completely; the danger was terrifying enough to destroy both body and soul at any moment.
Xuanwei's immortal qi body slowly circulated through the crack in the rocks, revealing the fierce struggle in his heart. He "looked" at the energy level in his consciousness, which was slowly but steadily increasing—it had recovered to 0.18%—and recalled the suffocating despair he had felt beneath the Crimson Flame Fierce Bird's gaze, as well as the system's resolve in sacrificing energy to secure his survival.
"System, assess the probability of my entering the depths of the earth veins, successfully obtaining Innate Wutu Essence Qi, and returning safely." He tried to seek a more rational analysis.
[Insufficient data. Precise assessment impossible. Known variables: Host's current state (energy 0.18%, mastery of 'Deep Immortal Seclusion,' 'Innate Immortal Qi Origin Method'), target area energy level (extremely high, unknown restrictions and lingering thoughts present), environmental complexity (high).] [Rough probability estimate: Survival probability below 10%; probability of successfully obtaining the essence qi below 1%.] [Warning: Host is strongly advised against exploring in current condition.]
Less than a 10% chance of survival!
The system's assessment was like a bucket of cold water, dousing most of the adventurous flame in his heart. Reason told him that he should leave immediately and continue developing quietly. That was the proper path.
But... the faint ripples of Innate Wutu Essence Qi coming from deep underground were like the most wondrous immortal music, yet also like the most alluring poisoned bait, constantly tugging at his heartstrings. He could feel that the origin of his Innate Immortal Qi instinctively craved that pure earth-element origin.
That was something that could elevate his very essence!
"Risk and opportunity coexist... System, if I only remain at the outskirts and observe from afar while using the seclusion state, without going any deeper, can the risk be kept within an acceptable range?" He changed his approach and asked unwillingly.
[Attempt possible. Recommendation: Maintain 'Deep Immortal Seclusion' at maximum capacity, compress perception range to within three zhang of the body. Immediately abandon the attempt and retreat at full speed upon detecting any energy disturbance or mental contamination.] [Note: The earth-vein structure is complex. Baleful aura and essence qi may coexist. Extreme caution is required for differentiation.]
With the system's relatively "feasible" advice, Xuanwei steadied himself. He decided not to be greedy or reckless. He would only go take a look. If it proved impossible, he would turn around and leave at once.
Having made up his mind, he hesitated no longer. He poured the energy he had just recovered back into Deep Immortal Seclusion. This time, he did not seek "deathly stillness," but the ultimate "concealment" and "assimilation." His immortal qi body grew increasingly dim, its aura almost entirely drawn inward. Slowly, like a drop of water seeping into a sponge, it "sank" into the rock layer beneath the crevice.
Earth Evasion?
No, it was not true Earth Evasion divine art. His current strength was nowhere near sufficient to support such a technique. Relying on the pure, attribute-less nature of his immortal qi and the extraordinary affinity with his surroundings granted by the seclusion state, he moved like a spirit body, traveling with extreme slowness through tiny cracks in the rocks and gaps in the flow of earth-vein spiritual qi.
This process was more than ten times harder than drifting through the air. Within the earth, the spiritual qi leaned toward the heavy, condensed earth element, which slightly repelled his innately light and nimble origin. There were also all kinds of chaotic earth-baleful qi and gloomy turbid qi, obstructing his progress like mud.
He could only rely on the system to continuously fine-tune his route, searching for paths where the earth-vein spiritual qi was relatively pure and resistance was lower as he slowly descended.
Darkness. Absolute darkness. Not visual darkness, but darkness of perception. Within the strata, his spiritual senses were greatly suppressed, and he could barely perceive only a few feet around himself. By his ears—if he had any—was the low rumble of earth-vein spiritual power flowing, along with the faint groans of rocks beneath the pressure of countless ages.
He did not know how long he had descended. Perhaps only dozens of zhang, perhaps already hundreds. The surrounding earth-element spiritual qi grew denser and denser, and the pressure increased, making each step forward more difficult. Yet at the same time, the ripples of Innate Wutu Essence Qi from deep within the earth—heavy, bearing, and nurturing all things—also became clearer and clearer!
He could even occasionally catch traces of incredibly tiny essence-qi specks, pale yellow and glittering like stardust, flowing amid the ordinary earth-vein spiritual qi. Merely approaching those specks made a comfortable tremor pulse through the origin of his immortal qi.
Hope lay ahead!
He forcibly suppressed the urge to immediately pounce on and devour those scattered traces of essence qi. Remembering the system's warning, he maintained the seclusion state and continued forward carefully.
At last, after passing through an exceptionally dense layer of rock that seemed like some natural barrier, the "scene" before him suddenly opened up!
It was not visual openness, but openness in perception. It was as though he had emerged from a narrow passage into a massive underground hollow. There was no light here, but the earth-element spiritual qi, so dense it was nearly liquefied, and the vast Innate Wutu Essence Qi themselves emitted a soft pale-yellow radiance, faintly illuminating the underground space.
This was an enormous cavern, with a lofty ceiling and no visible boundaries. At its center stood a mound of dark golden soil, like a small hill. The incomparably pure Innate Wutu Essence Qi was emanating from the heart of that mound!
Yet alongside that vibrant vitality and supreme creation was a sorrowful, unwilling, and violent baleful aura so dense it could not be dispersed!
Around the mound drifted dark red baleful qi that was almost tangible. It rolled and gathered into indistinct phantoms of gigantic beasts, letting out silent roars. Massive fossilized bones lay scattered across the ground, still frozen in poses of struggle and battle. Their bones were covered in cracks and charred marks, radiating ancient pressure that made one's heart tremble. An oppressive tribulation aura also shrouded the entire cavern, making even time and space seem thick and sluggish.
The place where the kirin had fallen! Seeing it with his own senses was far more shocking than the system's notification!
Xuanwei held his breath and focused, pushing the seclusion state to its utmost limit as he pressed tightly against the rock wall at the cavern entrance, not daring to advance even an inch further. He could even sense the dark red baleful qi sweeping slowly through the air like living tentacles. Had his concealment not been perfect enough, it would likely have discovered and devoured him in an instant.
His "gaze" remained fixed on the dark golden mound at the center. It had to contain the core and purest Innate Wutu Essence Qi. It might even hold the origin essence left behind by a mighty Kirin Tribe expert!
But the surrounding baleful qi and tribulation aura were like the most loyal, yet also the most vicious guards, cutting off all prying eyes.
What should he do? Was he going to return empty-handed?
He was unwilling. Had he taken such an enormous risk just to look at it once?
Just as his thoughts raced and he struggled to devise a solution, the system's notification sounded again with a hint of something unusual:
[Special energy field detected... Analyzing... Producing weak resonance with the origin of Host's immortal qi...] [Source: Three hundred steps to the left-front, beneath a smaller kirin skeleton.] [Energy attribute: Pure earth-element origin, containing a trace of undying and indestructible 'protective' will. Baleful contamination level is low.]
Xuanwei's heart stirred, and he immediately "looked" in the direction indicated by the system.
Sure enough, at the edge of the massive skeletons emanating terrifying baleful qi was a relatively "small" kirin skeleton. Its entire body was a warm jade-white color, utterly unlike the gray, withered bones around it. Its bones were comparatively intact. Rather than struggling, it was curled up, as if protecting something. Beneath its curled chest bones, a soft yet steadfast ochre glow faintly shone.
The aura emitted by that glow was pure and warm, carrying a tragic yet resolute will to "protect." It stood utterly at odds with the violent baleful qi around it, forming a tiny patch of pure land.
That was it!
Xuanwei's heart—his consciousness core—began pounding fiercely. This might be something a Kirin Tribe expert had exhausted their last strength to protect before death, or perhaps the being's own origin core that had not been fully contaminated! Either way, its value was immeasurable, and obtaining it would clearly be far easier than reaching the central mound surrounded by layers of baleful qi!
An opportunity!
He took a deep "breath" and suppressed his excitement. The target was right before him, but the route remained dangerous. He needed to cross nearly a hundred steps while avoiding those wandering baleful-qi tentacles and any lingering restrictions that might exist.
Like the most patient hunter, he began calculating his route. Relying on the system's precise perception of energy flows, he found a path where the baleful qi was relatively thin and the energy currents were more placid. With every step, he moved with utmost caution, adjusting himself and the surrounding earth-vein fluctuations until they were completely synchronized.
Ten steps, twenty steps, fifty steps...
He drew closer and closer to the jade-white kirin skeleton, already able to clearly feel the warm, pure power emanating from the ochre glow. That power made him feel incomparably comfortable. Even the growth rate of his immortal qi origin quietly accelerated in this environment.
Eighty steps, ninety steps...
Victory was in sight! He could even "see" the core of that glow clearly. It seemed to be an ochre crystal the size of a fist, covered in naturally formed, profound patterns, resting quietly beneath the protection of the jade-white skeleton.
Just ten more steps...
However, at the very instant his mind relaxed ever so slightly from the impending success—
A sudden change occurred!
The jade-white kirin skeleton that had remained quietly curled up all this time suddenly ignited two faint yet incomparably stubborn flames of ochre soul fire within its hollow eye sockets!
At the same time, a lingering will, though not even one ten-thousandth as powerful as it had been at its peak, carried ancient majesty and a trace of scrutiny. Like a slumbering dragon awakening, it abruptly locked onto Xuanwei, who was already so close!
"Buzz—!"
An invisible pressure descended. It was not violent, yet it was heavy as a mountain, instantly freezing Xuanwei's immortal qi body in place and nearly forcing his seclusion state to collapse!
A desolate, exhausted consciousness, yet one carrying a hint of surprise and suspicion, spoke directly within the depths of his mind:
"Innate Immortal Qi? So weak... why... were you able to come here?"
Before you continue