Primal Covenant

Darkness, illusion! Ji ~ Geng Xin · Sin, chopsticks _ eternal darkness.

Ning Xiaochuan felt himself floating in the void, with no up, down, left, or right. He couldn't even feel his own body. Only his thoughts were still active, but they were like insects trapped in amber, unable to move.

"Where... is this?" He wanted to speak, but couldn't make a sound.

Suddenly, a tiny speck of light appeared in the distance. The light spot rapidly expanded, transforming into a colossal white dragon, the very one he had seen in the Land of Origin. The dragon looked down at him, its eyes filled with infinite vicissitudes and wisdom.

"Welcome to the Primal Interstice, Son of Sacred Source." The dragon's voice echoed directly in Ning Xiaochuan's mind. "I am the last trace of consciousness left in the world by the Primal Dragon."

Ning Xiaochuan tried hard to "think" his words: "What about Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon? The Dark Current and the Eye of the Deep Sea..."

"Time outside is almost 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 were as bright as torches, others dim, and several were already completely black.

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

The star map zoomed in, showing the outline of the Open Source Continent. Ning Xiaochuan was shocked to see that spiderweb-like black lines had already appeared on the surface of the entire continent, like cracks being eroded by some power.

"The Eye of the Deep Sea was just a vanguard," the dragon continued. "The true World Devourer army is still waiting beyond the seal. Once the Primal Gate is completely shattered..."

The scene changed, showing terrifying images of countless black vortices devouring the continent.

"What can I do?" Ning Xiaochuan asked urgently. "You said collecting five Primal Fragments could reinforce the seal!"

"Yes, but the method is different from what you imagine," the dragon explained. "The Primal Fragments are actually keys, used to open the true Primal Gate—not the gate of the seal, but a passage to the Land of Origin."

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

"The power of the Sacred Origin Tribe originates from the Land of Origin," the dragon said patiently. "Only there can you obtain the true power to fight the World Devourers."

The star map changed again, revealing a path of light extending from the Open Source Continent into the depths of space, its endpoint a dazzling ball of light.

"This is your journey," the dragon said. "But time is limited. Every moment that passes outside, the erosion by the Eye of the Deep Sea deepens by one point."

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

The dragon was silent for a moment. "You are the last pure-blooded member of the Sacred Origin Tribe. During the catastrophe twenty years ago, your mother, Bai Li, sacrificed herself to protect you. All other tribe members were corrupted by the Eye of the Deep Sea."

This truth hit him like a heavy hammer. Ning Xiaochuan had always thought the Sacred Origin Tribe had merely gone into seclusion, but he never imagined...

"Including the Dark Current?" He remembered that mad enemy.

"He was once your mother's senior disciple, the most brilliant genius of the Sacred Origin Tribe," the dragon sighed. "But his ambition for eternal life led him astray."

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

"Everything depends on your choice," the dragon's voice began to fade. "Remember, Sacred Source Power comes from a heart of protection, not a desire for slaughter..."

Darkness enveloped him again, and Ning Xiaochuan felt his consciousness begin to blur. In his last moment of clarity, he heard the dragon's final words:

"Wake up, Son of Sacred Source. Your journey has just begun..."

The dazzling sunlight made Ning Xiaochuan instinctively raise his hand to shield his eyes. As his vision gradually cleared, he found himself lying on an unfamiliar grassland. The sky was a strange purplish-red, and two suns hung high in the sky.

"Is this... the Land of Origin?"

He struggled to sit up and looked around. The grassland stretched as far as the eye could see, with the silhouette of a forest in the distance and mountains faintly visible even further away. An ancient and pure energy permeated the air, and with every breath, the Sacred Source Power within him became more active.

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

He checked his body. The Dragon Soul Jade and the Primal Fragments were gone, leaving only tattered clothes. But strangely, the Sacred Source Power within him was more abundant than ever, as if every inch of air here was nourishing it.

While he was lost in thought, the sound of hooves came from the distance. Ning Xiaochuan alertly crouched down and saw a troop of cavalry galloping towards him. They wore silver-white light armor, and their mounts were not horses, but creatures that resembled horses but with a single horn on their heads.

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

Ning Xiaochuan adopted a defensive stance, but the knights stopped neatly about ten paces away. The leading knight lifted his helmet, revealing a young face—silver hair, blue eyes, and a faint golden mark on his forehead.

"Who are you? Why are you on the Sacred Source Plain?" the knight asked warily.

Ning Xiaochuan didn't know how to answer, so he vaguely replied, "I... I'm lost."

The knights exchanged a strange glance. The young knight dismounted and walked closer, suddenly kneeling on one knee. "Sacred Source above, the mark on your forehead... Are you of the Sacred Source royal bloodline?"

Ning Xiaochuan subconsciously touched his forehead, only to discover a burning mark he hadn't noticed before—similar to the knight's, but clearer and more complex.

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

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

Ning Xiaochuan was bewildered, but he had no other choice at the moment and decided to follow them. The knight offered him a Spirit Cavalry mount, and they set off towards the distant mountains.

Along the way, Ning Xiaochuan tentatively inquired about the situation. The young knight—who called himself Feng Yang of the Cloud Wing Guard—explained that this was the Sacred Source Kingdom in the Land of Origin, which had existed for tens of thousands of years.

"Since the 'Great Severance' twenty years ago, the Sacred Source royal family has disappeared," Feng Yang's tone was heavy. "Without the royal bloodline to activate the Sacred Source Spring, the entire Land of Origin is slowly dying."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart trembled. Twenty years ago, that was precisely when his mother had taken him and fled!

"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 within the Sacred Source royal family led the 'Dark Devourers' here..."

As they spoke, the Sacred City came into view. It was a white city built on a mountaintop, with a central tower piercing the clouds. A massive crystal hovered above the tower, emitting a soft glow even in the daytime.

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

As Ning Xiaochuan entered the city gates, he received an unexpected reception. The streets were lined with kneeling citizens, shouting, "Sacred Source returns!" and "Long live the royal family!" Their eyes were filled with hope.

"They think you are the returning royalty..." Feng Yang whispered, explaining, "Since the Great Severance, the Sacred Source Spring has been drying up, crops have failed, and spirit beasts have died... Everyone is waiting for a savior."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart felt heavy. He had only come to find the strength to save his companions and the world, and now he was burdened with the hope of another world.

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

"You've finally arrived, the last Sacred Source Bloodline." The elder—the High Priest's voice trembled—"I am Star Radiance, I served your mother, Queen Bai Li, twenty years ago."

Ning Xiaochuan was struck as if by lightning: "My mother was... a queen?"

Star Radiance nodded, signaled his attendants to withdraw, and then led Ning Xiaochuan into the tower. "Let's talk as we walk. There isn't much time."

The spiral staircase inside the tower was carved with murals depicting the history of the Sacred Source Kingdom. Star Radiance pointed to one of them: "Look, this is the scene of your mother's coronation."

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

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

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

Another mural depicted a terrifying scene: a man in a black robe stood by the Sacred Source Spring. The spring water turned black, the sky cracked open, and countless dark figures poured in.

"Dark Star summoned the Dark Devourers, what you call the World Devourers," Star Radiance continued. "Your mother sacrificed herself to seal the portal and ordered me to send you to the farthest Open Source Continent for refuge."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart raced; all the clues finally connected. Dark Current was Dark Star, and he had been serving the World Devourers all along!

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

The top of the tower was a circular platform with a spring about three meters in diameter in the center. However, the water was as black as ink, without a ripple.

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

"Polluted," Star Radiance said painfully. "Only a pure Sacred Source Bloodline can purify it."

He removed the Primal Sky Core from his staff and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "This was left by your mother. When all five fragments are gathered, they will automatically return to the Land of Origin."

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

"Now, step into the spring," Star Radiance encouraged. "Receive the Sacred Source baptism and become the 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 at him deeply: "Sacred Source Power is not a weapon for killing, but a power for protection. How you wield it depends on your heart."

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath and stepped into the black spring water. Instantly, excruciating pain engulfed his entire body, as if every inch of his skin was being corroded! He knelt in agony, the water submerging his head...

In the darkness, a familiar voice echoed: "Xiaochuan..."

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

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

"Remember, strength comes from a heart of protection." Bai Li's image began to blur. "Find your 'Primal Covenant,' it is the deepest bond between the Sacred Origin Tribe and all things..."

The image vanished, and Ning Xiaochuan suddenly stood up from the spring. The water had turned clear and transparent, emitting a dazzling golden light! The five Primal Fragments merged into the water, transforming into countless light points that flowed into him.

Outside the tower, the entire Sacred Source Land witnessed this scene—a golden pillar of light shot from the tower's peak into the sky, turning the purplish-red sky golden. Withered plants regained their vitality, and spirit beasts let out long roars.

Star Radiance knelt on the ground, tears streaming down his face: "The Sacred Source Spring has been revived! The kingdom's doomsday has ended!"

In the spring, Ning Xiaochuan felt the surging power within him. This was not a simple increase in Source Qi, but a qualitative leap—he could sense the life pulse of the entire Sacred Source Land, and even faintly sense the presence of Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon on the distant Open Source Continent!

"I understand..." Ning Xiaochuan murmured to himself. "The Primal Covenant is not a contract, but a bond."

He walked out of the spring, his body emanating a soft golden light. Star Radiance bowed his head in reverence: "Son of Sacred Source, you are now the master of the Sacred Source Land."

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head: "No, I need to return to the 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: "Primal Beacon, it can open a return portal at any time."

Ning Xiaochuan accepted the beacon and suddenly thought of a question: "How do I get back?"

Star Radiance smiled: "The Sacred Source Spring has recognized you as its master. Wherever your heart desires, you can reach."

Ning Xiaochuan closed his eyes and concentrated, imagining the Open Source Continent. The figures of Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon were particularly clear. When he opened his eyes again, the surroundings had changed—the Sacred Source Tower was gone, replaced by the night sky of the Death Desert and the distant glow of fierce battle!

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

"I'm back," Ning Xiaochuan clenched his fist, his body radiating golden light. "This time, it's my turn to protect you!"