Primal Covenant

Eternal Darkness.

Ning Xiaochuan felt himself floating in a void, with no up, down, left, or right. He could not even feel his own body. Only his thoughts still functioned, yet they were like an insect trapped in amber, unable to move.

"Where is this...?" He wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

Suddenly, a faint glimmer appeared in the distance. The Light Spot rapidly expanded and transformed into a white dragon—the very one he had seen in the Land of Origin. The dragon looked down at him, its eyes holding endless vicissitudes and wisdom.

"Welcome to the space between origins, Son of Sacred Source." The dragon's voice rang directly in Ning Xiaochuan's mind. "I am the last trace of consciousness the Primal Dragon left in this world."

Ning Xiaochuan struggled to "think," "How are Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon? And Dark Current and the Eye of the Deep Sea..."

"Time in the outside world is nearly frozen here." The dragon interrupted him. "We have more important matters to discuss."

The surrounding darkness suddenly shifted, revealing a vast Star Map. Countless light spots represented different worlds. Some blazed brightly, some were dim and lifeless, while several had already gone completely black.

"The World Devourers have already consumed seventeen worlds." The dragon's voice was grave. "Open Source Continent is their next target."

The Star Map enlarged, displaying the outline of Open Source Continent. Ning Xiaochuan was shocked to see spiderweb-like Black Lines spreading across the entire surface of the continent, like cracks corroded by some force.

"The Eye of the Deep Sea is merely the vanguard," the dragon continued. "The true army of World Devourers is still waiting beyond the seal. Once the Primal Gate completely shatters..."

The vision changed, showing the horrifying sight of countless Black Vortices swallowing entire continents.

"What should I do?" Ning Xiaochuan asked urgently. "You said that gathering the Five Primal Fragments could reinforce the seal!"

"Yes, but the method differs from what you imagined." The dragon explained, "The Primal Fragments are actually keys, meant to open the true Primal Gate—not the gate of the seal, but a passage leading to the Land of Origin."

Ning Xiaochuan was completely confused. "I don't understand..."

"The power of the Sacred Origin Tribe comes from the Land of Origin." The dragon spoke patiently. "Only there can you gain the true power to fight the World Devourers."

The Star Map shifted again, revealing a path of light that stretched from Open Source Continent into the depths of the starry sky, ending at a dazzling cluster of light.

"This is your journey," the dragon said. "But time is limited. With every moment that passes outside, the Eye of the Deep Sea's corruption deepens further."

Ning Xiaochuan suddenly thought of a question. "Why me? Are there no others from the Sacred Origin Tribe?"

The dragon fell silent for a moment. "You are the last pure-blooded member of the Sacred Origin Tribe. In that calamity twenty years ago, your mother, Bai Li, sacrificed herself to protect you. All the others were corrupted by the Eye of the Deep Sea."

The truth struck him like a hammer. Ning Xiaochuan had always believed the Sacred Origin Tribe merely lived in seclusion. He had never imagined that...

"Dark Current too?" He remembered that crazed enemy.

"He was once your mother's senior brother, the most dazzling genius of the Sacred Origin Tribe." The dragon sighed. "But his ambition to pursue immortality led him to fall."

As Ning Xiaochuan processed this information, he suddenly remembered what mattered most. "What about Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon? Can I save them?"

"Everything depends on your choice." The dragon's voice began to grow distant. "Remember, Sacred Source Power comes from the Heart of Protection, not the desire to kill..."

Darkness enveloped him once more, and Ning Xiaochuan felt his consciousness begin to blur. In his final Sober Moment, he heard the dragon's last words:

"Awaken, Son of Sacred Source. Your journey has only just begun..."

The blinding sunlight made Ning Xiaochuan raise a hand to shield his eyes instinctively. As his vision gradually cleared, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar plain. The sky was an unusual purplish red, and two suns hung high overhead.

"This is... the Land of Origin?"

He struggled to sit up and looked around. The plain stretched endlessly, with the outline of a forest in the distance and faint mountains farther beyond. An ancient, pure energy filled the air, and every breath made the Sacred Source Power within him more active.

"Little One? Su Linger?" Ning Xiaochuan called out to his companions, but no one answered.

He checked himself. The Dragon Soul Jade and Primal Fragments were gone, leaving him with only a set of worn-out clothes. Yet strangely, the Sacred Source Power in his body was more abundant than ever, as though every inch of air here were nourishing it.

Just as he stood there in confusion, hoofbeats sounded in the distance. Ning Xiaochuan lowered himself alertly and saw a cavalry unit charging toward him. They wore silver-white light armor, and their mounts were not horses, but creatures that resembled horses with single horns growing from their heads.

"Spirit Cavalry! There's someone over there!" The leading knight spotted Ning Xiaochuan and immediately changed direction.

Ning Xiaochuan assumed a defensive stance, but the riders stopped in perfect formation ten paces away. The lead knight lifted his visor, revealing a youthful face—silver hair, blue eyes, and a faint golden mark on his forehead.

"Who are you? How did you end up on the Sacred Source Plain?" the knight asked warily.

Ning Xiaochuan did not know how to answer and could only be vague. "I... got lost."

The knights exchanged strange looks. The young knight dismounted and approached, then suddenly dropped to one knee. "Sacred Source above, the mark on your forehead... Are you of the Sacred Source Royal Family?"

Ning Xiaochuan instinctively touched his forehead. Only then did he discover a burning mark there—a mark similar to the knight's, but clearer and more complex.

"I... don't know what you're talking about," he answered honestly.

But the knights grew even more respectful. "Your Highness, please return to Sacred City with us. The High Priest has been waiting for the royal bloodline to return."

Ning Xiaochuan was utterly baffled, but he had no other choice at the moment. He could only follow them for now. The knights gave him a spirit mount, and the group headed toward the distant mountains.

Along the way, Ning Xiaochuan cautiously asked about this place. The young knight—who introduced himself as Feng Yang of the Cloud Wing Guard—explained that this was the Sacred Source Kingdom in the Land of Origin, a kingdom that had existed for tens of thousands of years.

"Ever since the Great Severance twenty years ago, the Sacred Source Royal Family vanished." Feng Yang's tone was heavy. "Without royal blood to awaken the Sacred Source Spring, the entire Land of Origin has been slowly dying."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. Twenty years ago—that was exactly when his mother had fled with him!

"What happened during the Great Severance?"

Feng Yang shook his head. "Only the High Priest knows the full truth. We only heard that a traitor emerged within the Sacred Source Royal Family and brought forth the Dark Devourers..."

As they spoke, Sacred City came into view. It was a white city built atop a mountain peak. A High Tower rose straight into the clouds at its center, and a massive crystal floated above the top of the tower, radiating a gentle glow even in daylight.

"The Sacred Source Tower." Feng Yang spoke with reverence. "The residence of the royal family, and the location of the Sacred Source Spring."

Upon entering the city gates, Ning Xiaochuan received an unexpected welcome. The streets were lined with kneeling citizens, who shouted, "Sacred Source has returned!" and "Long live the royal family!" Their eyes brimmed with hope.

"They think you are a returning member of the royal family..." Feng Yang explained softly. "Since the Great Severance, the Sacred Source Spring has been drying up. Crops have failed, spirit beasts have died... Everyone has been waiting for a savior."

Ning Xiaochuan felt a heavy weight settle in his heart. He had only come to find the power to save his companions and his world. He had never expected to shoulder the hopes of another world as well.

Before the Sacred Source Tower, a white-haired old man had been waiting for a long time. He wore white-and-gold robes and held a crystal staff topped with a Primal Fragment—Ning Xiaochuan recognized it at once as the Primal Sky Core!

"At last, the final Sacred Source Bloodline has arrived." The old man—the High Priest—spoke in a trembling voice. "I am Star Radiance. Twenty years ago, I served your mother, Queen Bai Li."

Ning Xiaochuan was struck dumb. "My mother was... a queen?"

Star Radiance nodded, gestured for the attendants to withdraw, and led Ning Xiaochuan into the tower. "We'll talk as we walk. There isn't much time."

Murals covered the walls beside the spiraling staircase inside the tower, recounting the history of the Sacred Source Kingdom. Star Radiance pointed to one of them. "Look. This depicts your mother's coronation."

In the mural, Bai Li wore the Sacred Source Crown and held a scepter, looking majestic and beautiful. A little boy stood beside her, his features strikingly similar to Ning Xiaochuan's.

"That was me?" Ning Xiaochuan's voice trembled.

"Yes. Twenty years ago, you had just turned five and were meant to undergo the Sacred Source baptism according to tradition." Star Radiance sighed. "But on the eve of the ceremony, your mother's elder brother, Prince Dark Star, launched a coup. He intended to use the power of the Sacred Source Spring to open a passage to other worlds."

Another mural showed a horrifying scene: a black-robed man stood beside the Sacred Source Spring, whose water had turned black. A crack split open in the sky, and countless Dark Figures poured through it.

"Dark Star summoned the Dark Devourers, which are the World Devourers you know of," Star Radiance continued. "Your mother sacrificed herself to seal the passage and entrusted me with sending you to the distant Open Source Continent for refuge."

Ning Xiaochuan's heartbeat quickened. At last, every clue connected. Dark Current was Dark Star—he had been serving the World Devourers all along!

"Now, the Dark Devourers are preparing to return." Star Radiance brought Ning Xiaochuan to the top of the tower. "Only by awakening the Sacred Source Spring can you gain the power to oppose them."

The top of the tower was a Circular Platform. At its center lay a spring well roughly three meters across, but its water surface was black as ink and without the slightest ripple.

"This is the Sacred Source Spring?" Ning Xiaochuan asked doubtfully. "It looks..."

"It has been polluted." Star Radiance spoke in anguish. "Only pure Sacred Source Bloodline can cleanse it."

He removed the Primal Sky Core from his staff and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "Your mother left this behind. Once all five fragments were gathered, they automatically returned to the Land of Origin."

Ning Xiaochuan took the crystal and suddenly felt the Sacred Source Power within him boil. The other four fragments flew toward him from nowhere, circling around him before finally merging into a five-colored halo.

"Now, step into the spring water." Star Radiance encouraged him. "Accept the Sacred Source baptism and become a true Son of Sacred Source."

Ning Xiaochuan hesitated. "If I do this, can I save Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon? Can I stop the Eye of the Deep Sea?"

Star Radiance looked deeply into his eyes. "Sacred Source Power is not a weapon for slaughter. It is power meant for protection. How you use it depends on your heart."

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath and stepped into the black spring water. In an instant, intense pain swept through his body, as though every inch of his skin were being corroded! He fell to his knees in agony as the spring water submerged his head...

In the darkness, a familiar voice rang out. "Xiaochuan..."

Ning Xiaochuan opened his eyes and saw an image of his mother, Bai Li. She gently stroked his cheek. "My child has grown up."

"Mother..." Ning Xiaochuan choked out. "What should I do?"

"Remember, power comes from the Heart of Protection." Bai Li's image began to fade. "Find your 'Primal Covenant.' It is the deepest bond between the Sacred Origin Tribe and all living things..."

The image vanished, and Ning Xiaochuan shot up from the spring water. The water had turned clear and transparent, radiating a dazzling golden light! The Five Primal Fragments merged into the water, transforming into countless light spots that flowed into his body.

Outside the tower, the entire Land of Origin witnessed the scene—a golden pillar of light shot from the top of the tower into the sky. The purplish-red heavens were dyed gold, withered plants came back to life, and spirit beasts lifted their heads and roared toward the sky.

Star Radiance fell to his knees, tears streaming down his aged face. "The Sacred Source Spring has revived! The kingdom's end has come to an end!"

Within the spring water, Ning Xiaochuan felt the surging power inside him. This was not a simple increase in source energy, but a qualitative transformation—he could sense the life pulses of the entire Land of Origin and could even faintly sense Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon on the distant Open Source Continent!

"I understand now..." Ning Xiaochuan murmured. "The Primal Covenant is not a contract. It is a bond."

He stepped out of the spring water, his entire body radiating a soft golden glow. Star Radiance lowered his head reverently. "Son of Sacred Source, you are now the master of the Land of Origin."

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "No. I must return to Open Source Continent. My companions and my world are still in danger."

Star Radiance seemed to have expected this. "As you wish. The Sacred Source Tower will always welcome your return."

He handed Ning Xiaochuan a small crystal badge. "The Primal Beacon. It can open a passage back and forth at any time."

Ning Xiaochuan accepted the beacon, then suddenly thought of a question. "How do I return?"

Star Radiance smiled. "The Sacred Source Spring has already acknowledged you as its master. Wherever your thoughts reach, you may go."

Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes and focused, imagining Open Source Continent. The figures of Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon appeared especially clearly in his mind. When he opened his eyes again, the scene around him had changed—the Sacred Source Tower was gone, replaced by the night sky of the Death Desert and the fierce glow of battle in the distance!

The Eye of the Deep Sea and the Fire Tribe army were still fighting, while Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon were enveloped in a black light, their lives uncertain.

"I'm back." Ning Xiaochuan clenched his fists as golden light surged around him. "This time, I'll be the one protecting you!"