Foundation Transformation, Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun's Goodwill!

A gentle breeze drifted by, and clouds and mist curled through the air.

The Jade Nectar in the jade cup shimmered with crystalline light.

Ling Xiao raised the jade cup and drained the Jade Nectar in a single gulp.

Immediately, immense life force surged forth, giving Ling Xiao's ruined body the semblance of a withered tree blooming anew in spring. Yet in the next instant, that dense energy dissipated and vanished.

"Rich and lingering, fragrant and aromatic—truly worthy of the Jade Nectar treasured by the Celestial Venerable. To savor such fine wine on the eve of parting has allowed this poor Daoist to shed a regret."

Ling Xiao looked up at Perfected Lord Jade Tripod, his expression gentle.

After cultivating for countless ages and exhausting all his heart and effort for the Sect of Interception, he had ended up alone and friendless. Yet it was a disciple of the Sect of Enlightenment who had come to see him off. The thought was both helpless and amusing.

Perfected Lord Jade Tripod, who witnessed this scene, was filled with concern.

"Your source has dried up, Dao Wounds cover your body, and your Primordial Spirit is about to perish! Your body cannot even withstand the restorative effects of this Jade Nectar now. It seems that during your hundred thousand years within the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, Dao Friend endured pain beyond all imagining."

"Martial Uncle Tongtian cast you aside once you had outlived your usefulness, and so many Sect of Interception disciples repaid kindness with enmity. When the Investiture of the Gods Tribulation arrives, this poor Daoist and my fellow disciples will help Dao Friend vent this grievance."

Perfected Lord Jade Tripod first let out a long sigh, then indignation appeared on his face.

Ling Xiao's actions had moved the Sect of Enlightenment.

Yet he had met such a miserable end!

Hearing this, Ling Xiao smiled calmly. "The Great Dao has fifty; Heaven evolves forty-nine, with one that escapes! Does the Sect of Interception not prize seizing that single thread of heavenly opportunity? Perhaps before long, this poor Daoist will cast off this mortal shell and emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly!"

Once he finished speaking,

Ling Xiao simply continued drinking, leaving Perfected Lord Jade Tripod somewhat at a loss.

A moment later,

Perfected Lord Jade Tripod finally asked hesitantly, "Could it be that Dao Friend already has a method to restore your source? But given your current condition, even if my master acted, I fear there would be no remedy."

Yuding stared at Ling Xiao, disbelief written all over his face.

At this moment!

His thoughts surged like tides, setting off stormy waves.

Severing karma and leaving the Sect of Interception!

If Ling Xiao restored his source and embarked upon cultivation anew,

then the Sect of Interception and Tongtian would likely become the laughingstock of the world.

After all, Ling Xiao's Twelve-Grade Pure World White Lotus foundation had shone brilliantly during the Lich Tribulation and the era of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, suppressing all other Mystic Sect disciples.

Ling Xiao's talent and fortune were plain for all to see!

"Only by severing the old shackles of the past does one realize today that I am myself."

"Dao Friend Yuding, there is still a long road ahead..."

Ling Xiao did not answer. Instead, he rose to his feet and performed a Daoist salute to Perfected Lord Jade Tripod.

Then he departed beneath the fading afterglow of the setting sun.

"Severing karma, only then realizing one's true self!"

"Wonderful!"

Watching Ling Xiao's retreating figure, Perfected Lord Jade Tripod seemed to understand something. The smile on his lips deepened.

A fine show was about to begin!

After leaving the territory of Kunlun Mountain, Ling Xiao found an immortal mountain.

Sitting cross-legged atop its peak, he drew the spiritual energy of heaven and earth from every direction.

The Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source, wrapped in Great Dao order, floated before him. Merely sensing its vast Dao rhythm caused Ling Xiao's injuries to improve.

"Pangu exhausted his strength opening heaven and earth and died. The Primordial Chaos Green Lotus shattered apart and transformed into various spiritual treasures. One lotus seed fell into the Primordial World and became the Twelve-Grade Pure World White Lotus. That is my foundation."

"The energy and vitality contained within this mass of Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source are enough to restore my shattered source, erase my Dao Wounds, and condense my Primordial Spirit anew."

"Whether it can restore my cultivation to the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao realm will depend on luck..."

Ling Xiao's eyes were deep as he muttered to himself.

Had this been a hundred thousand years ago, before he entered the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, this Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source would have been sufficient for him to break through the limits of his realm and step into the Golden Immortal of Hunyuan realm.

But now, Ling Xiao was on the verge of death. He could only refine his foundation anew and reconstruct his source.

After pondering for a moment,

Ling Xiao circulated his mana and absorbed the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source into his body.

As mystic light flickered and Dao Sounds rang out, the meridians riddled with cracks within him brimmed with life. The Dao Wounds in his body gradually healed beneath the cleansing flow of the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source.

Streaks of green light flickered and transformed, while laws of order wrapped around Ling Xiao.

His source, body, and Primordial Spirit greedily absorbed the vast source energy. At the same time, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within millions of miles poured into Ling Xiao's body, transforming into pure mana.

His lost cultivation gradually recovered.

In the blink of an eye, Ling Xiao's cultivation reached the Golden Immortal realm. Then it broke through its restraints and stabilized at the early stage of the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao realm.

"Why has my cultivation stopped moving?"

Ling Xiao furrowed his brow, puzzled.

The energy contained within the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source was enough to push his realm to the peak of the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao, or even to the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao realm. Yet his cultivation had now encountered a bottleneck.

Just as Ling Xiao was wondering about this, the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source transformed into a torrent and fused with his own source. Then, his Innate Dao Body vanished, replaced by a sacred white lotus ten thousand zhang tall.

Its petals were like frost, its stalk upright and fragrant. Mist coiled around its immortal form, radiating the light of world purification.

Crystal-clear, its radiance was gentle and sacred.

"The Twenty-Four Grade Pure World White Lotus—my foundation has actually advanced. With my current potential and talent, I have already surpassed every disciple of the Sect of Interception and Sect of Enlightenment, rivaling the foremost Primordial Gods."

"If I cultivate to the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao realm, I will surely condense a Great Dao Flower greater than before. My potential will certainly not stop at the Golden Immortal of Grand Dao or Golden Immortal of Hunyuan realms, but reach that elusive Hunyuan Great Dao..."

Transforming back into his Innate Dao Body, Ling Xiao's voice carried excitement and exhilaration.

Heaven and earth evolved, and all things were born.

The foundation of an innate being could no longer improve or transform once its consciousness was born. But perhaps because he was a Pure World White Lotus, originally a part of the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus, Ling Xiao's foundation had forcibly broken through its limitations after refining the Primordial Chaos Green Lotus Source.

In terms of foundation, aside from Primordial Gods such as the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa, Ling Xiao was inferior to no one.

Suppressing his aura, Ling Xiao swept his body with his Divine Sense.

His temperament was otherworldly, detached from the mundane world.

The karma and karmic debt entwined around him had dissipated after he severed karma with the Sect of Interception. Now, he was like a piece of natural uncut jade newly transformed into the world, requiring careful carving.

Yet after all he had experienced in the Sect of Interception, Ling Xiao's Dao Heart had become incomparably steadfast.

"The Primordial Wilderness is so vast. Where should this poor Daoist go?"

Ling Xiao murmured, pondering inwardly.

For countless ages, he had sought blessings for the Sect of Interception. Most of the factions and cultivators he had befriended were inextricably tied to the Sect of Interception, so he naturally ruled them out.

"Little Friend Ling Xiao, why not return to Five Villages Temple with me, so this poor Daoist may fulfill the duties of a host?"

"Sever karma to attain your true self; break before rebuilding and reveal divine ability! Perhaps before long, Little Friend Ling Xiao will cultivate to the Quasi-Sage realm and be able to address this poor Daoist as Dao Friend."

A kindly voice echoed out of thin air.

Two figures descended and landed a little over a zhang before Ling Xiao.

Zhen Yuanzi wore a green robe with flowing sleeves and broad cuffs. An immortal bearing shone between his brows; he was tranquil as a pine tree and elegant as a clear breeze.

Beside Zhen Yuanzi stood Hong Yun, dressed in a red robe embroidered with cloud patterns, a benevolent smile on his face.

"This junior, Ling Xiao, pays respects to Great Immortal Zhen Yuanzi and Senior Hong Yun!"

Ling Xiao performed a Daoist salute, respectful and humble.

Having transmigrated into the Primordial World, he had naturally altered certain great trends of the Heavenly Dao. Hong Yun had originally been destined to perish completely, but through Ling Xiao's efforts, he had preserved his life.

Even the Hongmeng Purple Energy had not vanished without a trace. Instead, it had fallen into Zhen Yuanzi's hands.

Only Zhen Yuanzi, Hong Yun, and Ling Xiao knew of this matter.

Because of this, Ling Xiao had formed a good karmic bond with Zhen Yuanzi and Hong Yun.

"Little Friend Ling Xiao, there is no need for such courtesy between us. After you made a Heavenly Dao Oath and severed your ties with Tongtian and the Sect of Interception, we intended to find you and bring you back to Five Villages Temple."

"Zhen Yuanzi and I originally planned to use that wisp of sacred substance to help you embark upon cultivation anew. But seeing that you have now turned misfortune into fortune and undergone a transformation of foundation, we can finally breathe easy."

"Tongtian cannot judge people clearly, and the Sect of Interception has no place for Little Friend. Then the two of us shall be your steadfast support..."

Hong Yun's brow relaxed as he patted Ling Xiao's shoulder.

His conduct was wild and uninhibited, yet never irritating.

Seeing Hong Yun's solemn expression and Zhen Yuanzi beside him stroking his beard with a smile, Ling Xiao's heart was filled with comfort and warmth, deeply moved as well.

Not all living beings were ingrates like the disciples of the Sect of Interception...