Return of the Sacred Source

The night sky over the Death Desert was reddened by war. Ning Xiaochuan hovered in midair, bathed in golden light. Sacred Source Power surged through his body, granting him unprecedented senses—he could clearly see every warrior's expression miles away, hear the sounds of fighting from every corner of the battlefield, and even feel the faint life auras of Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon.

"Hold on, I'm coming..." With a thought, Ning Xiaochuan streaked across the night sky like a meteor, charging toward the heart of the battlefield.

Below, the Fire Tribe army was locked in fierce battle with the black tide forces. King Yan Jin swung his blazing battle axe, every strike unleashing towering flames. Chi Yan led elite warriors in a wall-of-fire formation, blocking the endless stream of Black Robes. But the situation was grim—the bloody pupil of the Eye of the Deep Sea floated above the battlefield, constantly releasing corrosive red light. Fire Tribe warriors fell one after another.

Ning Xiaochuan's gaze locked onto the edge of the battlefield. Su Linger lay beside a giant rock, her chest rising faintly. The Sacred Spirit Dragon curled up beside her, its scales dull and lusterless. Dark Current stood before them, a black blade raised high in his hand!

"Stop!" Ning Xiaochuan roared, his voice like thunder, silencing the entire battlefield.

Dark Current looked up in shock. When he saw Ning Xiaochuan within the golden light, his face changed drastically. "Impossible! How did you return from the Primal Land?"

Ning Xiaochuan did not answer. He appeared before Dark Current in an instant and threw a punch! Dark Current hurriedly raised a guard, but the blow sent him flying dozens of yards before he crashed heavily into a sand dune!

"Ning... Xiaochuan?" Su Linger weakly opened her eyes, unable to believe what she was seeing.

Ning Xiaochuan gently stroked her cheek. Sacred Source Power brushed over her like a spring breeze, healing her wounds. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon sensed its master's aura and struggled to lift its head. With a "Goo Chu," its little claws grasped his sleeve. Ning Xiaochuan transferred a thread of Sacred Source Power into Little One's body, and its scales immediately regained their sheen.

"Protect her," Ning Xiaochuan softly instructed before turning to face the battlefield.

Dark Current had already crawled out of the sand dune. The blood eye on his chest spun madly. "Kill him! At any cost!"

Hundreds of Black Robes lunged at him at once, unleashing all kinds of dark source techniques like a torrential downpour. Ning Xiaochuan neither dodged nor retreated. He merely raised a hand—a golden light screen spread out, and every attack shattered upon contact!

"Th-this... what kind of power is that?" King Yan Jin stared at the scene in shock from afar.

Ning Xiaochuan walked forward slowly. With every step, a golden lotus bloomed beneath his feet. Wherever the lotuses passed, injured Fire Tribe warriors recovered, and exhausted bodies filled with strength once more.

"Dark Current—or should I say, Dark Star." Ning Xiaochuan's voice was not loud, yet it echoed across the entire battlefield. "Traitor of the Sacred Source Land. Sinner who invited wolves into the house."

Dark Current sneered. "The weak are prey to the strong. That is the law of nature! The Eye of the Deep Sea granted me immortality, while the Sacred Origin Tribe only knows how to stagnate!"

He suddenly tore open his shirt, exposing his chest and abdomen. Four Primal Fragments were embedded there, linked by black veins to form an incomplete ring!

"Look!" Dark Current laughed wildly. "The Primal Fragments have already acknowledged me as their master! The Eye of the Deep Sea is about to descend completely!"

The bloody eye floating in the sky swelled to twice its size, releasing a suffocating pressure. Fire Tribe warriors retreated one after another, and even King Yan Jin's expression turned grave.

Yet Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "You are wrong. Primal Fragments will never acknowledge a thief as their master."

He stretched out his hand and softly called, "Return."

In an instant, the four fragments on Dark Current's body shook violently, and the black veins snapped apart inch by inch! The fragments broke free and flew toward Ning Xiaochuan, spinning above his palm and radiating pure light.

"No!" Dark Current lunged forward in horror. "Those are mine!"

Ning Xiaochuan merely waved his hand lightly, and Dark Current seemed to collide with an invisible wall before being sent flying again.

"The Eye of the Deep Sea deceived you." Ning Xiaochuan looked up at the bloody eye in the sky. "The Primal Fragments are not keys. They are part of the seal."

He raised the fragments high. Five-colored light intertwined into a net, enveloping the bloody eye. The eye let out a piercing shriek and struggled madly, but it could not break free from the light net.

"Impossible!" Dark Current shouted in despair. "The divine eye is invincible!"

Ning Xiaochuan ignored him and focused on guiding Sacred Source Power. The light net tightened further and further, and the bloody eye continually shrank until it was compressed into a small red sphere that fell into Ning Xiaochuan's hand.

"This is only the beginning." Ning Xiaochuan looked at the horrified Dark Current. "The true body of the Eye of the Deep Sea remains beyond the seal. But today, I will first deal with you, traitor."

Dark Current suddenly dropped to his knees and begged. "Wait! I'm your uncle! Your mother's elder brother!"

"The moment you betrayed the Sacred Origin Tribe, you forfeited the right to that title." Ning Xiaochuan's voice was cold. "But I will not kill you. Sacred Source Power is not meant for slaughter."

He pressed a hand to Dark Current's forehead, and Sacred Source Power poured in. "I will cleanse the darkness in your body and make you face judgment in your true form."

Dark Current let out a shrill scream. The blood eye on his chest was forcibly stripped away, turning into black smoke that dissipated. When it was over, he collapsed limply onto the ground. His face had become much younger and bore a slight resemblance to Ning Xiaochuan's.

"I... what have I done..." Dark Current—now he should be called Dark Star—stared blankly at his hands. "Those memories... those crimes..."

Ning Xiaochuan did not explain. He turned and walked toward Su Linger. The battle was already over. Seeing their leader captured, the black tide forces scattered and fled. The Fire Tribe warriors respectfully made way for him, and even King Yan Jin lowered his head slightly in salute.

"It's over?" Su Linger stood with the Sacred Spirit Dragon's support.

Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "No. This is only the beginning. The true body of the Eye of the Deep Sea remains beyond the seal. I must return to the Primal Land and reinforce the seal completely."

He briefly explained what had happened in the Sacred Source Land. Su Linger listened in stunned disbelief. "So you are... the heir of the Sacred Source Royal Family?"

"Just someone who bears responsibility," Ning Xiaochuan said softly. "But I need your help."

Su Linger did not hesitate. "Wherever we go, we go together."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also gave a "Goo Chu" and jumped onto Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder, making its position clear.

King Yan Jin stepped forward. "Son of Sacred Source, the Fire Tribe will forever be your ally. If you have need of us, the entire Molten Mountain Range will answer your command."

After thanking him, Ning Xiaochuan took out the Primal Beacon. "We will return to the Sacred Source Land first. There is something there that I need."

The beacon shone with dazzling golden light, forming a portal in the air. Ning Xiaochuan held Su Linger's hand in one hand and carried the Sacred Spirit Dragon in the other as they stepped through the gate of light amid everyone's astonished gazes.

At the top of the tower in the Sacred Source Tower, High Priest Star Radiance was praying when he suddenly sensed something. He turned around in delight. "Your Highness has returned!"

Golden light flashed, and Ning Xiaochuan's group of three appeared beside the Sacred Source Spring. Star Radiance was just about to bow when he saw Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon, leaving him stunned. "This is..."

"My Primal Covenant." Ning Xiaochuan smiled as he explained. "The deepest bond between the Sacred Origin Tribe and all living things."

Star Radiance suddenly understood. "No wonder you mastered Sacred Source Power so quickly! You had already found your destined covenant partners!"

Su Linger looked utterly confused. "What covenant?"

Ning Xiaochuan took her to the spring. "The Sacred Origin Tribe has an Ancient Ritual that can establish a Soul Link with one's closest companions, allowing them to share power and life." He paused. "Are you willing to become my Primal Covenant?"

Su Linger's cheeks reddened slightly, but her gaze remained firm. "If it can help you, then I am willing."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also cried out eagerly, "Goo Chu," declaring that it wanted to join as well.

Star Radiance excitedly prepared the items needed for the ritual. "Perfect! A Son of Sacred Source forming Primal Covenants with two lives at once is exceedingly rare even in all of history!"

The ritual was simple—the three of them placed their hands in the Sacred Source Spring while Ning Xiaochuan guided Sacred Source Power to establish a connection on the level of their souls. But when it truly began, Ning Xiaochuan understood just how overwhelming it was.

Su Linger's consciousness was like a crystal-clear icy spring, resilient and pure. The Sacred Spirit Dragon was like a leaping flame, innocent yet powerful. Under the harmonization of Sacred Source Power, the three completely different souls fused perfectly, forming a stable triangular bond.

"How wonderful..." Su Linger opened her eyes and discovered in surprise that her Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul had become even more solid. Golden markings had appeared on its feathers.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon's transformation was even more obvious—it had grown a full size larger, icy patterns had emerged on its scales, and the dragon horn on its forehead had become longer and sharper.

Star Radiance knelt beside the spring, tears streaming down his aged face. "Sacred Source above! This is a perfect covenant unseen for a thousand years!"

Ning Xiaochuan felt the surging power within him. Unlike the simple Sacred Source Power from before, this new power was more balanced and contained the characteristics of both ice and fire.

"Now, it is time to deal with the Eye of the Deep Sea." He looked toward the sky beyond the tower. "I can feel that the seal is weakening."

Star Radiance nodded. "That is indeed the case. Ever since you left, black spots have begun appearing along the edges of the Sacred Source Land. They are signs of the Dark Devourers' corruption."

He led Ning Xiaochuan to the Star Gazing Platform at the top of the tower and pointed into the distance. Several patches of sky along the horizon had turned an unnatural black, as though something had corroded them.

"Where is the Primal Gate?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.

"In the Sacred Source Forbidden Land, guarded by the last Sacred Source Knight," Star Radiance answered. "But it has been sealed off by dark power for many years. Ordinary people cannot approach it."

Ning Xiaochuan looked at Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon. "We are not ordinary people."

Star Radiance hesitated. "Your Highness, there is one more thing you should know... The Sacred Source Forbidden Land does not only seal the Primal Gate. It also seals..."

"The vanguard army of the Dark Devourers." Ning Xiaochuan finished for him. Sacred Source Power had allowed him to sense much information. "Including those Dark Star summoned twenty years ago."

Su Linger took his hand. "No matter what we face, we face it together."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also let out a determined "Goo Chu," expanding into its Combat State to show that it was ready.

Ning Xiaochuan took a deep breath and activated the Primal Beacon. A beam of golden light shot from the top of the tower, pointing toward a place deep in the distant mountains.

"Let's go to the Sacred Source Forbidden Land." His gaze was resolute. "It is time to end all this."

Star Radiance respectfully handed him a key-shaped crystal. "The Sacred Source Key. It can open the gate to the forbidden land. May the Sacred Source bless you."

Ning Xiaochuan accepted the key and exchanged a glance with his companions. The three of them stepped into the portal opened by the beacon at the same time. In the next instant, they appeared before a gloomy valley—the entrance was sealed by Black Thorn, and the air was thick with the stench of decay.

"So this is the Sacred Source Forbidden Land?" Su Linger frowned. "It feels... very unpleasant."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also raised its scales and released a low warning growl.

Ning Xiaochuan raised the Sacred Source Key. Wherever the golden light passed, the Black Thorn receded like a tide, revealing a narrow path into the valley.

"Stay close to me," he warned in a low voice. "Besides the Dark Devourers, there may be other dangers within the forbidden land."

The three advanced cautiously. The valley's interior was far broader than they had expected. Ancient murals covered the rock walls on both sides, recording the thousand-year war between the Sacred Origin Tribe and the Dark Devourers.

"Look there." Su Linger suddenly pointed to one mural, which depicted a group of creatures extremely similar to the Sacred Spirit Dragon. "Those are..."

"Descendants of the Primal Dragon." Ning Xiaochuan deciphered the murals through Sacred Source Power. "Guardians of the Sacred Origin Tribe. But nearly all of them perished in a great war..."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon seemed drawn to the mural. It flew closer to inspect it, then suddenly let out a sorrowful "Goo Chu." Ning Xiaochuan sensed its emotional turmoil—Little One had recognized its ancestor.

As they continued onward, a massive stone gate appeared at the end of the valley. Complex celestial patterns were carved across it. Before the gate stood a knight clad from head to toe in armor, holding a greatsword and utterly motionless.

"A Sacred Source Knight?" Su Linger drew her sword warily.

But Ning Xiaochuan shook his head. "No. He has been... dead for many years."

Sure enough, when the three approached, they discovered that there was nothing inside the armor. Only a cloud of Black Qi supported its movements. Two red lights flickered beneath the knight's helmet, while its greatsword blocked the gate.

"Living ones... halt..." The armor issued a hollow voice. "Forbidden land... dangerous..."

Ning Xiaochuan stepped forward. "I am Ning Xiaochuan, Son of Sacred Source. I have come to reinforce the seal."

The armored knight seemed to sense something and dropped to one knee. "Your Highness... has finally... returned..." Its voice suddenly became clear. "Be careful... the Dark Devourers... have controlled my... corpse..."

Before the words faded, the armor suddenly trembled violently as Black Qi surged! A chilling voice rang out from within. "Sacred Source Bloodline! You came at the perfect time!"

The knight's armor abruptly rose, and its greatsword slashed straight down! Ning Xiaochuan dodged hastily as the blade cleaved a deep trench into the ground.

"He's being controlled!" Su Linger immediately summoned the Mysterious Ice Phoenix. Ice spikes shot toward the armor like rain.

The Sacred Spirit Dragon also exhaled Dragon Breath, but the attacks passed through the gaps in the armor and seemed to have little effect on the Black Qi within.

"Useless... Sacred Source Knight... impervious to blade and spear..." The voice inside the armor sneered. "Unless... you find... the core..."

Ning Xiaochuan activated Sacred Source Vision and discovered a pulsing black light in the armor's chest—that was the control core!

"Aim for the chest!" he shouted. Sacred Source Power condensed into a golden spear in his palm, and he hurled it with all his strength!

The spear struck the black light precisely, and the armor immediately froze. Su Linger and the Sacred Spirit Dragon seized the chance, unleashing an Ice Fire Combined Attack upon the same spot!

"Aah!" With a scream, the black light exploded, and the armor clattered apart onto the ground.

Ning Xiaochuan picked up the knight's helmet. A wisp of faint white light floated out, forming a blurry human face. "Thank you... Your Highness... now... I can rest..."

Before the white light dissipated, it pointed toward the stone gate. "The seal... has already... loosened... the Dark Devourers... will soon... break through..."

Ning Xiaochuan solemnly placed the helmet beside the armor. "Rest in peace, Knight. I will inherit your duty."

He took out the Sacred Source Key and inserted it into the keyhole at the center of the stone gate. With a heavy rumble, the gate slowly opened, revealing a horrifying sight within—

At the center of a vast underground chamber floated a Black Rift like a crack in space. It was the Primal Gate! Around it stood thousands upon thousands of mummified corpses wrapped in Black Qi—the vanguard army of Dark Devourers Dark Star had summoned twenty years ago!

Even more terrifyingly, the rift was slowly expanding. Fresh Black Qi seeped from it from time to time, merging into the mummified corpses. Dozens of corpses had already begun to move, red lights dancing within their hollow eye sockets.

"We arrived just in time," Ning Xiaochuan said gravely. "A few days later, and they would all have awakened."

Su Linger drew in a sharp breath. "There are so many... How can we deal with them?"

"We do not need to deal with all of them." Ning Xiaochuan pointed toward the Primal Gate. "As long as we reinforce the seal and cut off their source of power, the Sacred Source Land can handle the rest."

The Sacred Spirit Dragon suddenly let out a "Goo Chu" and pointed behind the mass of mummified corpses. There was an altar there, holding a massive crystal—the core of the seal!

"I understand." Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "Little One and I will go to the altar. Ling'er, hold back the reviving corpses here."

Su Linger was about to object, but Ning Xiaochuan took her hand. "Trust me. This is the most reasonable division of labor. Your ice abilities are best suited to controlling large groups."

She finally nodded in agreement. "Be careful."

Ning Xiaochuan and the Sacred Spirit Dragon quietly circled toward the altar, while Su Linger released an icy domain and froze the first few dozen awakened mummified corpses in place.

However, just as Ning Xiaochuan was about to reach the altar, the Primal Gate suddenly shook violently. A familiar red light shot out—it was the Eye of the Deep Sea! It had actually projected part of its power through the rift!

"Son of Sacred Source!" The bloody eye took shape in the air, its voice filled with hatred. "This time, you will not escape!"