When the Dao Seed Broke Ground

Deep within Sunset Forest, where a crimson meteor had fallen, the earth churned and writhed like a living thing. That blood-colored seed had embedded itself deep within the earth veins, its roots spreading outward like blood vessels. Wherever they passed, vegetation withered, soul beasts grew frenzied, and even the air filled with a cloying, rotten stench.

Three days later, a Spirit Hall hunting party passed through the area. Its captain was a Soul Sage. The moment he stepped into the region shrouded in bloody light, before he could even release his martial soul, he felt his Soul Power turn chaotic and his mind grow hazy. To his horror, he discovered that his shadow had separated from his body, twisting into a savage face that whispered, "Offer yourself... become nourishment for a god..."

In an instant, blood flowed from his seven orifices. His body shriveled like dead wood, and his soul was torn away and poured entirely into the Blood Seed beneath the earth.

At the same time, within Spirit Hall's Secret Chamber.

Bibi Dong sat upon a throne of black jade, her fingertips lightly stroking a blood crystal. Within it appeared the scene of that Soul Sage's final moments. Her lips curled slightly as she murmured, "The first Soul Devouring Dao Seed has taken root... Next will be Star Dou Great Forest, Heaven Dou Imperial City, Sea God Island... The entire continent will tremble beneath my feet."

She rose and looked toward the night sky beyond the hall, bloodlight swirling in her eyes. "Tang San, do you think you are protecting order? No. You are only protecting the ruins of a bygone age. And I—I will create a new divine era, with souls as sacrifice and blood as the path."

Star Dou Great Forest, before the Dao Seed Stele.

Xiao Wu was practicing the coordination methods of the Plow Array with the villagers. Suddenly, the ice crystals on the stele shook violently, and its dim blue light flickered erratically.

"Alert! An abnormal soul pressure is coming from the direction of Sunset Forest!" Old Plowman hurried over, his face grim. "The Dao Seed has sensed it... Something is devouring souls at an incredible speed. It has already consumed seven soul masters!"

Xiao Wu's pupils contracted. "It's an upgraded version of Spirit Hall's Soul Devouring Gu! They actually dare..."

Before she could finish, the Dao Seed Stele flared brightly and automatically projected a curtain of light. Within it, the blood-red region continued expanding, and every living thing in its path turned into withered bones.

"This is bad!" Tang Hao descended from the sky, his Soul Power as imposing as a mountain. "This is a Blood Seed, a seed said to have been used by ancient evil gods to harvest souls. Bibi Dong... she actually revived such a forbidden thing!"

Xiao Wu clenched her fists. "We have to inform Yang Jun! Can the Farmer's Alliance's Dao Seeds stop it?"

Tang Hao said heavily, "Ordinary soul formations cannot. But if the Dao Seeds resonate with the Plow Array and draw upon the ice thunder of the earth veins... they may be able to seal it temporarily."

Within Solitary Cultivation Hall, Yang Jun and Yu Xiaogang were studying a new section of the Record of Cultivating the Dao. Suddenly, Yang Jun's chest jolted, and the Shennong Hoe moved without wind, its plow tip pointing south.

"The Dao Seeds have resonated," Yang Jun murmured. "Star Dou Great Forest is in danger."

He closed his eyes and focused. In an instant, countless scenes flooded into his mind—blood-red corruption spreading, souls being extracted, the Dao Seed Stele crying out in grief. What alarmed him even more was that every soul master being devoured looked toward the far north before dying, as though calling for something.

"They... are asking for help." Yang Jun opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as lightning. "Not from me. From the Dao."

Yu Xiaogang said gravely, "Bibi Dong intends to use the Blood Seed as a catalyst to refine the Soul Power of the entire continent and forge her Evil God's Body. If she succeeds, all living beings will become sacrifices."

Yang Jun rose to his feet and gripped the Shennong Hoe. "Send the order: all Dao Seed Steles of the Farmer's Alliance are to activate Resonance Mode. Use the earth veins as lines and willpower as the guide to construct the Dao Seed Great Wall—from Star Dou to the far north, from Heaven Dou to Star Luo. Wherever there is a Dao Seed, there will be a defensive line!"

Within Sea God Palace, Tang San stood before the divine statue, the Sea God's Scepter trembling lightly.

"Father." Xiao Wu's figure appeared through Sea God's Light. "Yang Jun requests support. Spirit Hall is using Blood Seeds to devour souls, and the Dao Seed Stele has issued a Dao Destruction Alert."

Tang San closed his eyes and sensed the situation. After a moment, he opened them, his gaze like a tidal wave. "Blood Seeds... they were formed from the remains of the ancient evil god, the Soul Devouring Main God. Even the Divine Realm was once shaken by them."

Bo Saixi entered the hall, her expression solemn. "If Bibi Dong gains Control of the Blood Seeds, she will surpass God Level and become a pseudo-god. When that happens, even Sea God Island will not be able to stop her."

"But if we intervene," another elder said worriedly, "we will violate the iron law that gods do not interfere with the world."

Tang San looked toward the snowy northern horizon and said slowly, "Gods do not interfere with the world, but gods cannot stand by and watch others die. Send the order: the Sea God Envoy Team is to depart immediately. Target—Star Dou Great Forest. If they encounter Blood Seeds, purify them with Sea God's Light and seal them with the Power of Divine Oracle."

He paused, then murmured, "Yang Jun, this time... we fight side by side."

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, imperial court meeting.

"Solitary Cultivation Academy is requesting that the royal family deploy troops to help seal off Sunset Forest!" a general snapped. "Who do they think they are? How dare they order the royal family around?"

The prime minister said gravely, "Your Majesty, if the Blood Seeds spread to the imperial capital, millions of citizens will become dry bones. Though Solitary Cultivation Academy governs itself, if its Dao Seed Great Wall can block the Blood Seeds, then it will be protecting Heaven Dou!"

The emperor rose and looked northward, remaining silent for a long time. At last, he pulled the jade pendant from his waist and threw it onto the table. "Issue the decree: all cities of the Heaven Dou Empire are to open access to their Dao Seed Steles and permit the Farmer's Alliance's Plow Arrays to use the earth veins for defense. If Spirit Hall attacks, soldiers and civilians will strike them together!"

The officials were stunned, but none dared disobey.

Seven days later, at the edge of Star Dou Great Forest.

Countless Dao Seed Steles stood like stars, their icy crystal light joining together to form a barrier of light stretching thousands of miles. Farmers, craftsmen, healers, and independent soul masters all stood at their assigned positions, tools in hand.

Xiao Wu stood at the heart of the formation and shouted, "Dao Seeds connect our hearts, Plow Array, resonate!"

In an instant, the earth veins trembled. Ice Thunder Runes spread across the ground like veins, intertwining with the light of the Dao Seed Steles to form a massive Dao Net. Wherever the net reached, frost covered the land, and the blood-red spread was forcibly halted!

"It worked!" an old farmer shouted excitedly. "Our Dao Seeds have blocked the power of the evil god!"

Just then, a piercing shriek rose from deep within the blood-red region. Three Blood Seed Puppets charged forward atop waves of blood. They had once been Spirit Hall elites, but now the Blood Seeds controlled them. Their Soul Power had surged, but their minds were gone.

"Prepare for battle!" Tang Hao barked, the Clear Sky Hammer appearing in his hand.

Yet Xiao Wu stepped forward, the ice crystal Dao Seed in her hand glowing. "We can protect ourselves without martial souls."

She drove the Dao Seed into the earth and shouted, "Will of the People, become the Dao Shield!"

In an instant, every Dao Seed Stele resonated at once. Their light converged into a dim blue wall that firmly blocked the Blood Seed Puppets beyond the border.

Solitary Cultivation Hall, beside Ice Lotus Pond.

Yang Jun looked at the curtain of light in the south, the radiance of the Dao Seed Great Wall reflected in his eyes. Yu Xiaogang said softly, "They did it... Ordinary people really can protect themselves."

Yang Jun slowly raised his hand. A drop of water fell from the plow tip of the Shennong Hoe into Ice Lotus Pond.

"The Dao Seed has broken ground," he murmured. "From now on, humanity will no longer need gods to save it."

The ice lotus suddenly bloomed. Points of light in its heart shone like stars, revealing countless scenes—ordinary people working in the fields, swearing oaths before Dao Seed Steles, and standing shoulder to shoulder within Plow Arrays.

"This is the true Dao," Yu Xiaogang said with emotion.

"No." Yang Jun shook his head. "This is the beginning of the Dao."

He looked toward the heavens as though speaking to some unseen presence. "Bibi Dong, no matter how powerful your Blood Seeds are, they can never surpass the will of countless people who refuse to be slaves."

Night, Star Dou Village.

Before a Dao Seed Stele, a child wrote in clumsy handwriting: "When I grow up, I want to become a Dao Protector of the Farmer's Alliance."

At the village entrance, an old farmer lit a bonfire and began singing a newly composed ballad:

The wind swept across the continent.

The light of the Dao Seed Steles spread like a prairie fire, joining into one vast expanse.

And deep within the distant Sunset Forest, the blood-red seed continued struggling, as though foretelling that the final battle was about to begin.