Pact of Protection, Wutu Acknowledges Master

That desolate and majestic will, like an invisible shackle, bound Xuanwei's immortal qi and body firmly in place. An unprecedented sense of pressure surged from all directions, not just a crushing force, but an ancient majesty born from a life that had endured immeasurable tribulations, leaving him with no thought of resistance.

It's over! I've been discovered!

Xuanwei's heart turned ice cold. His greatest reliance, the [Deep Immortal Seclusion], was so vulnerable before such an existence. Although this was merely a wisp of a remnant soul, its fundamental nature was far beyond what he could currently fathom.

"Pr... Predecessor..." he strained to gather his trembling will, attempting to convey goodwill and humility. "This junior meant no offense. I was merely... merely drawn by the qi here and stumbled into this place. I harbor no ill intentions and will depart immediately..."

The soul fire within the eye sockets of the jade-white Kirin skeleton flickered slightly. The ancient will, tinged with scrutiny, sounded again, directly interrupting him: "Stumbled? With your meager cultivation, you could penetrate the earth's malevolent qi and precisely locate my burial site? Innate Immortal Qi... though its foundation is shallow, it is full of spirit. What's more rare is that it actually contains a trace of 'Variable' intent, transcending this world's heavenly secrets."

Variable?

Xuanwei's heart tightened. Was it because of the system, or because of his soul from another world?

"This junior does not know what a 'Variable' is. It was merely a survival instinct that guided me forward." He dared not expose the system, so he could only speak vaguely, displaying his fear and humility without reservation. "Senior, please see clearly. If I had malicious intent, would I come here to die in such a weakened state?"

The remnant soul fell silent for a moment, seemingly sensing everything about him. The heavy pressure slightly receded, but the lock was not released.

"My name is 'Mo Xuan', an Earth-Guarding Elder of the Kirin Tribe," the ancient will declared, laden with endless vicissitudes. "I fell here... countless eons ago. I left this wisp of consciousness solely to protect the last trace of pure 'Wutu Source' of my tribe, to prevent it from being tainted by malevolent qi or falling into the hands of scoundrels."

Its will pointed towards the earth-yellow crystal guarded by its skeleton.

"Your body possesses innate pure qualities and a pristine spirit. Though weak as a firefly, you are the first... perhaps the only one in these ten thousand years who could approach this place without having your mind corrupted by the malevolent qi." A complex, difficult-to-discern emotion flickered within Mo Xuan's will – scrutiny, hesitation, and a desperate resolve, as if seeing the last sliver of hope.

Xuanwei's thoughts raced. It seemed this remnant soul of Mo Xuan didn't intend to kill him immediately. Instead... it had a request?

"What do you need this junior to do?" he asked directly. This was his only chance of survival.

"Guard."

Mo Xuan's will became solemn and dignified. "My time is short. This wisp of remnant soul is about to dissipate completely. This 'Wutu Source Core' carries the final hope and a portion of the inheritance of my Kirin tribe. It cannot fall into the hands of malevolent qi, nor can it be obtained by those with impure intentions."

"I observe that your origins are special, and your disposition is acceptable (referring to his caution that prevented him from being completely blinded by greed). I wish to establish a 'Pact of Protection' with you! You must make a Great Dao Oath. To the best of your ability, you shall protect any surviving bloodline descendants of my Kirin tribe and use the power of this Source Core for righteous purposes, to continue my tribe's unending lineage."

"In return, I can bestow this 'Wutu Source Core' upon you, helping you establish an unparalleled Dao Foundation! I can also impart the introductory chapter of the Kirin tribe's secret technique, the Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body, allowing you to refine Wutu essence and temper your body!"

Protect Kirin descendants? A Great Dao Oath?

Xuanwei's heart trembled. This involved immense karma! The Kirin tribe was one of the protagonists of the Dragon-Han Calamity. To become entangled with them would undoubtedly lead to endless trouble in the future. But... a Wutu Source Core, a Kirin secret technique – the temptation was unimaginably immense! This was enough to give him a start far surpassing most beings in the Primordial World!

Risk and opportunity, once again, presented themselves to him in a more potent form.

"System, what are the consequences of making a Great Dao Oath?" he urgently asked in his mind.

[Reply: Great Dao Oaths are supervised by the Great Dao's origin. Once made, they must be fulfilled. Those who violate the oath will be disdained by the Great Dao, their path to enlightenment severed, and calamities will befall them.]

[Analysis: The essence of this contract is long-term investment and karmic binding. The benefit is immediate access to immense resources, laying a foundation for peak cultivation. The drawback is the future responsibility of protecting the Kirin tribe, potentially drawing you into unknown tribulations.]

[Suggestion: The host may make a decision based on their own future path planning. If choosing to accept, extreme caution must be exercised regarding the oath's terms, clearly defining the scope of 'ability' to avoid unlimited liability.]

The system's analysis calmed him. He couldn't refuse; refusal would likely lead to immediate annihilation by Mo Xuan's remnant soul as someone with "impure intentions." But he couldn't blindly accept either; he had to fight for some room to maneuver.

He took a deep "breath," gathered his will, and responded solemnly: "Senior Mo Xuan, this junior is willing to make an oath! However, this junior's current cultivation is low, and I can barely protect myself. To speak of protecting the descendants of a powerful tribe is like a mayfly trying to shake a tree. This junior can swear that to the best of my ability, without endangering my own life and fundamental path, I will do my utmost to find and protect the surviving Kirin descendants, and use the power of the Wutu Source Core for righteous purposes. If I violate this oath, may the Great Dao abandon me! However, if this junior perishes midway, or remains incapable, the effect of this oath shall be limited. I hope Senior understands!"

He clearly stated conditions like "to the best of my ability" and "without endangering myself." This wasn't haggling, but a reflection of reality's constraints.

The remnant soul of Mo Xuan listened quietly, the soul fire in its eye sockets flickering irregularly, as if weighing his words. After a long while, a barely audible sigh came from its ancient will.

"Good. Meticulous in thought, knowing when to advance and retreat, not speaking rashly... Perhaps this is fate's arrangement." It seemed to approve of Xuanwei's conditions. "So be it. Make your oath, with your origin as the witness, invoking the Great Dao!"

Xuanwei no longer hesitated. Concentrating all his will, guided by a mysterious sensation, he solemnly swore with his innate immortal qi origin as the core: "Great Dao above, Innate Immortal Qi Xuanwei swears! Today, receiving the legacy of Senior Mo Xuan of the Kirin tribe, I obtain the Wutu Source Core. I will remember, to the best of my ability, without harming my own foundation, to protect the surviving Kirin lineage, and to use the power of this Source Core for righteous purposes! If I violate this oath, I shall willingly be abandoned by the Great Dao, with no chance of transcendence!"

Buzz!

The moment his oath was uttered, a supreme, unfathomable, and great will from the depths of the void seemed to cast a sliver of attention. An extremely subtle, yet immensely majestic Dao rhythm simultaneously left an indelible mark on his innate immortal qi origin and the Wutu Source Core.

The Great Dao bears witness! The oath is established!

The instant the oath was established, the heavy pressure from Mo Xuan's remnant soul completely dissipated, replaced by a sense of relieved peace.

"Good... good...!" Mo Xuan's will grew faint but filled with relief. "Little one, 'Xuanwei'... I hope you abide by your word today... This Wutu Source Core, I give it to you... The inheritance of the Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body is also within it... Carefully... comprehend it..."

As its voice faded, the soul fire in the jade-white skeleton's eye sockets, like a candle in the wind, flickered a few times before finally extinguishing completely. The skeleton, which had guarded for countless years, seemed to lose its last support and quietly turned into a pile of pure white powder. Only a fist-sized, warm and jade-like earth-yellow crystal, containing boundless profundity – the Wutu Source Core – quietly hovered in place, emitting a gentle yet majestic vitality.

Simultaneously, a massive stream of information surged into Xuanwei's consciousness, containing the introductory cultivation method for the Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body, as well as fragmented knowledge about the Kirin tribe and the Wutu origin.

Success!

Immense joy washed over Xuanwei's consciousness. He not only survived but also obtained a heaven-defying opportunity!

He cautiously approached, gently enveloping the Wutu Source Core with his immortal qi. The moment they touched, the Source Core transformed into a warm stream of light and directly merged into the very core of his immortal qi body!

Boom!

An indescribable, pure Wutu origin power, like a warm tide, instantly swept through his entire body! His immortal qi body solidified and grew at an unprecedented speed. Its color shifted from milky white to a lustrous white, with specks of pale yellow Wutu essence settling within, exuding a contradictory aura of heaviness and lightness.

His energy level began to skyrocket!

0.5%... 1%... 3%... 5%...!

In just a few breaths, he broke through the coveted 1% mark, and the momentum did not diminish!

[Detected Host Energy Level Breakthrough 1%, Novice Survival Mission Complete!]

[Reward Issued: Chaos Heaven-Opening Art Qi-Guiding Chapter!]

[Detected Host Fusion of Innate Wutu Source Core (Partial), Foundation Slightly Improved, Potential Enhanced.]

[Detected Host Acquisition of Secret Technique Nine Tribulations Earth-Guarding Body (Incomplete), Body Cultivation Path Opened.]

The system's prompts sounded one after another, accompanied by the surging power within his body. Xuanwei felt as if he were about to ascend to immortality! However, amidst this ultimate comfort and enhancement, the system's cold warning tone sounded sharply once more!

[Warning! Fusion of the Wutu Source Core has triggered violent fluctuations in the Earth Vein spiritual energy!]

[Warning! Anomalous activity detected in the surrounding miasma!]

[Warning! Powerful lifeforms detected being attracted by the local disturbance, approaching at high speed! Analyzing energy signature characteristics... Analysis complete! Matching target: Earth Vein Rock Lizard (gregarious, Lord-level)! Estimated arrival in thirty breaths! Risk level: High!]

Xuanwei's ecstatic mood instantly froze.

Fortune hides misfortune! The commotion from fusing the Source Core had attracted the local inhabitants!

He jolted awake from the pleasure of his power increase, his senses expanding outward. As expected, from the direction of the cave passage, several violent, greedy auras were rushing over at extreme speed! They were clearly drawn by the pure Earth elemental origin that had suddenly erupted here!

He had just obtained an immense opportunity, only to face a new life-threatening peril in the blink of an eye!

Xuanwei grew anxious, his gaze quickly sweeping across the entire cave. The miasma in the central area was still terrifying; he couldn't go there. Return the way he came? He would inevitably run headfirst into that pack of Earth Vein Rock Lizards!

His gaze suddenly locked onto an inconspicuous, deep, narrow hole next to Mo Xuan's skeletal remains, revealed after the bones dissipated. Only a wisp of airflow could pass through it. The system indicated that it seemed to lead to a more ancient, narrower underground spiritual vein tributary, where the miasma was relatively thinner!

No time to think!

He instantly pushed his newly increased power to its limit, maintaining the [Deep Immortal Seclusion], and transformed into an almost imperceptible stream of light, diving without hesitation into the narrow hole!

A second after his figure disappeared, several massive lizards, covered in thick, rocky scales and with bloodthirsty yellow eyes, charged into the cave with furious roars