Myriad Arts Academy Begins a New Journey, Origin Anomalies Hide Danger

Three years after the Myriad Arts Assembly ended, a magnificent complex rose from the heart of the Forest of Life—the "Myriad Arts Academy." Founded jointly under the leadership of Chen Fan, Su Muxue, and Lin Xiaohu, the academy aimed to shatter the barriers between martial arts and immortal cultivation, allowing all living beings to freely study the essence of both systems and explore a new path of "Myriad Arts Fusion." The academy was divided into three branches: the Martial Arts Academy, the Immortal Cultivation Academy, and the Fusion Academy. They were overseen respectively by Lin Xiaohu, Su Muxue, and an immortal cultivator who had once broken through the shackles of spiritual roots. Cultivators from every race came each day to study there, making the place livelier than ever.

That morning, Chen Fan stood atop the academy's highest "Starwatching Platform," looking down at the training grounds below. The disciples of the Martial Arts Academy honed their qi and blood with bare fists, their punching winds howling as they stirred the surrounding Earth Vein Power. The Immortal Cultivation Academy's disciples sat cross-legged in meditation, spiritual energy flowing around their fingertips. Yet they no longer relied on Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy; instead, they fused it with their own qi and blood, causing its circulation to move several times faster than before. The Fusion Academy's disciples, meanwhile, attempted to combine the martial path's "body tempering" with immortal cultivation's "spell control." Some used qi and blood to cast Fireball Techniques, producing flames even more solid than spells powered by pure spiritual energy. Others nourished their qi and blood with spiritual energy, their physical bodies becoming far stronger than martial cultivators of the same realm.

"I never expected Myriad Arts Fusion to make such tremendous progress in only three years." Su Muxue stepped onto the Starwatching Platform, a teaching report in hand and satisfaction filling her eyes. "Look—the Fusion Academy already has ten disciples who have successfully mastered the method of 'dual-born qi-blood and spiritual energy.' One of them can even use martial will to control an immortal cultivator's magic treasure. That would have been unthinkable before."

Chen Fan accepted the report, his gaze settling on one particular entry as a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Xiaohu has managed the Martial Arts Academy very well. His Soul Suppressing Power can not only stabilize the disciples' minds, but also help them comprehend martial will more quickly. It seems our decision back then was the right one."

Just then, the Origin Compass at the center of the Starwatching Platform began to shake violently. The needles representing the Nine Great Origins spun madly, while the once-balanced origin lights flickered erratically. In particular, the needle representing the "Chaos Origin" gave off a faint black glow, uncannily similar to the twisted origin aura of the Will of the Heavenly Dao from years ago.

Chen Fan's expression changed drastically. He reached out and gripped the Origin Compass, slowly pouring in the power of his Nine Meridians of Chaos in an attempt to stabilize its fluctuations. "What's happening? How could the origins suddenly fall out of balance?"

Su Muxue's smile vanished as well, her eyes filled with gravity. "Could the Will of the Heavenly Dao's remaining power be causing trouble? Or has the process of Myriad Arts Fusion created a new effect on the origins?"

Before the two could think further, a commotion rose from below the academy. They hurried down from the Starwatching Platform and saw a stream of black air rising from the Fusion Academy's direction. It contained twisted origin power and was devouring the surrounding disciples' qi, blood, and spiritual energy. Several Fusion Academy disciples were swept into the current, and signs of "qi-blood and spiritual energy conflict" began to appear in their bodies—their flesh continuously swelled, while spiritual energy rampaged wildly within them. Clearly, the two powers had lost their balance.

"Quick! Use Soul Suppressing Power to stabilize their minds!" Lin Xiaohu's voice rang out from the crowd. Holding the Soul Suppressing Seal, he released pale violet Soul Suppressing Power like a surging tide, wrapping around the disciples caught in the current and temporarily suppressing the chaotic forces within them. But the black current was far too powerful. The Soul Suppressing Power could only barely hold it back and could not disperse it completely.

Chen Fan swiftly arrived beside the black current. The power of his Nine Meridians of Chaos condensed into an "Origin Barrier," isolating the current from the surrounding disciples. He carefully observed the origin fluctuations within it and discovered that, in addition to the residual aura of the Will of the Heavenly Dao, it contained new impurities born from the improper fusion of qi-blood and spiritual energy. Clearly, the exploration of Myriad Arts Fusion had not been smooth sailing. Without the right method, merging the two powers could very likely harm both cultivators themselves and the world's origins.

"This black current is a 'Chaotic Turbid Current' formed by the combination of 'origin impurities' and the Will of the Heavenly Dao's residual power," Chen Fan said in a low voice. "If it is allowed to spread, it will not only harm the academy's disciples, but may also throw the world's origins out of balance again and trigger a new crisis."

Su Muxue nodded and drew the Evil Suppressing Jade Pendant from her storage pouch. Its glow resonated with the Origin Compass and began absorbing some of the impurities in the black current. "We must find a solution as soon as possible. Myriad Arts Fusion is the trend of the age, but if we cannot prevent the formation of origin impurities, this road will not lead very far."

Lin Xiaohu put away the Soul Suppressing Seal as well, determination blazing in his eyes. "Perhaps we need to reexamine the origin insights within the nine Martial Arts Seals and find the 'balance point' for fusing qi-blood and spiritual energy. Only then can we completely resolve the problem of origin impurities."

Chen Fan took a deep breath. He looked at the Chaotic Turbid Current before him, then at the disciples throughout the academy whose eyes were full of expectation for Myriad Arts Fusion, and made his decision. "We'll split up. Miss Su, lead the Fusion Academy's instructors in researching methods to merge qi-blood and spiritual energy, so that no new origin impurities are produced. Xiaohu, use the Soul Suppressing Seal to protect the academy and purify the turbid current already formed. I'll go to the Nine Great Origin nodes to investigate the specific cause of the imbalance and seek a solution within the Martial Arts Seals."