Ruined Old Land Seeks Remnants, System's New Journey Points to Sea of Blood

The spatial turbulence was like a ferocious beast, tearing apart any intruder. Strange, dazzling colors flashed past at high speed, sometimes as hot as lava, sometimes as cold as the Netherworld, and countless tiny spatial fragments acted like the sharpest blades, cutting at the water-blue immortal light that Kui Niu held up.

Tongtian lay on Kui Niu's broad back, feeling its slight tremors. Although Kui Niu was an extraordinary innate divine beast, carrying him, a heavily injured being, through such an unstable, temporary spatial passage had pushed him to his limits.

He laboriously raised his hand, slowly channeling the remaining Quasi-Saint Method Power within him into Kui Niu, helping it stabilize its protective immortal light. Each circulation of Method Power pulled at the cracks spread across his Saint Body, bringing excruciating pain.

"Soon, we'll be there," Tongtian whispered, soothing his loyal companion, his gaze piercing through the chaotic stream of light, trying to discern the scene ahead.

He could vaguely sense it, at the end of the passage, that familiar yet strange aura—the Primordial World! Although the exact landing spot was unknown, as long as he could return to the Great Desolation, he would have a chance to breathe!

Finally, with a weary yet resolute long cry from Kui Niu, a blinding white dot suddenly appeared ahead!

BOOM!

A tremendous repulsive force surged, Kui Niu's immortal light flickered violently, and it shot out of the light dot!

The dizzying sensation vanished instantly, replaced by a heavy feeling of solid ground beneath his feet, and... an overwhelming concentration of innate spiritual energy. However, mixed within this spiritual energy was an indescribable sense of decay, deathly stillness, and resentment.

Tongtian's eyes snapped open, and the sight that greeted him made his heart clench. Boundless sorrow instantly drowned out the slight relief of having escaped danger.

Broken walls and ruins, scorched earth stretching for miles.

What was once a sacred land of immortal light reaching the heavens, where myriad immortals paid homage, was now a dead, silent ruin.

Palaces that once towered into the clouds had turned into broken colossal stones, piled up in disarray, covered in the terrifying marks of blades and divine attacks. Spiritual veins had been forcibly severed, spiritual springs had dried up, leaving only stagnant, murky water. The medicinal gardens that once cultivated exotic flowers and immortal herbs now held only withered roots, with tenacious weeds sprouting from the cracks in the ruins, exuding a desolate vitality.

Fragments of shattered magical treasures were scattered everywhere, dull and lifeless, their spiritual essence lost. On some of the scorched earth, one could even see long-dried, blackened bloodstains, and scattered among them, incomplete skeletal remains belonging to the original forms of some horned and furred cultivators...

The air, besides the decaying spiritual energy, was filled with an inescapable miasma of resentment and unwillingness. This was the lingering will of the True Spirits of countless Intercepting Sect disciples who had perished here, unable to dissipate, clinging to the land they loved and had sworn to protect with their lives.

This was Golden Ao Island in the East Sea, the former site of Biyou Palace!

Tongtian slid off Kui Niu's back, his steps faltering as he stepped on a piece of shattered glazed tile, which let out a "crunch" – an exceptionally jarring sound in the dead silence.

He looked around, his body trembling slightly from weakness and emotional turmoil.

This was once the place where he preached the Great Dao, where he taught without discrimination, intercepting a sliver of Heavenly Secrets for all beings. His disciples, regardless of their origins, had all listened to the profound teachings here, their cultivation advancing. When the Myriad Immortals Formation was set up, myriad immortals paid homage, the sect's fortune overwhelming the Great Desolation!

And now, only these ruins remained, speaking of endless desolation and cruelty.

"Biyou Palace, Golden Ao Island," Tongtian's voice was hoarse and dry, each word squeezed out from his chest with the weight of blood and tears.

Kui Niu seemed to sense its master's grief, lowering its head and gently nudging Tongtian's arm with its nose, letting out a low whimper, its massive bovine eyes filled with sorrow. It had witnessed the ultimate glory of this place, and compared to the current desolation, its spirit as a divine beast felt the same pain.

Tongtian closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The air, filled with decay and resentment, stung his lungs, but it also made him more acutely aware of the harsh reality.

The Great Tribulation of Investiture of the Gods had not only annihilated the disciples of the Intercepting Sect but had also utterly destroyed the foundation of their dojo. The Saints had acted, leaving no room for anything else. The fact that these ruins remained was likely Dao Ancestor Hongjun's final "leniency," or perhaps he simply couldn't be bothered to waste more effort in completely obliterating it.

"This revenge, this hatred..." Tongtian's eyes snapped open, the sorrow in them replaced by an almost tangible icy killing intent and determination. "I, Tongtian, swear here and now, as long as I draw breath, I will make you all repay this a hundredfold!"

A Saint's oath is followed by action. Even though he had abandoned his Saint Position, the former status and his powerful will, when invoked, caused the residual laws of this world to resonate slightly. The resentment in the ruins seemed to condense for a moment.

[Detected host's strong will, Dao Heart tempering progress increased. Current injuries stabilized, cultivation remains at early Quasi-Saint stage.] The System's cold prompt sounded at the opportune moment. [New quest issued: Explore the ruins of Golden Ao Island, search for any surviving Intercepting Sect members, and gather strength.]

[Quest Reward: Based on the number and condition of personnel found, distribute corresponding "Origin Repair Fluid" (can slowly repair Saint Body damage).]

The System's quest brought Tongtian back from his overwhelming hatred.

Indeed, the immediate priority was to stabilize his injuries, recover his strength, and find any surviving disciples. Hatred needed strength to support it; impotent rage was meaningless.

He patted Kui Niu. "Old friend, can you sense if there are any familiar auras on this island?"

Kui Niu was intelligent, especially sensitive to the auras of Intercepting Sect members. Upon hearing this, it immediately raised its head, its massive nostrils flaring. Faint water-blue ripples emanated from its body, spreading outwards like sonar, carefully sensing the surroundings.

Tongtian himself endured the severe pain in his Primordial Spirit and slowly extended his divine sense. Although the range was limited and the perception vague, he hoped to find something with Kui Niu's help.

Time passed, and the ruins remained silent, with only the mournful sound of the wind, like the weeping of lost souls.

A flicker of disappointment crossed Kui Niu's eyes, and it let out a low moo, shaking its head. Within its range of perception, apart from the dense deathly stillness and resentment, there were no familiar auras of vibrant life.

Tongtian's heart sank. Could it be... that there wasn't a single one left? Not even any hiding?

Just as he was about to give up, suddenly—buzz, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible fluctuation emanated from deep beneath the ground.

This fluctuation was not a life aura, but more like the residual rhythm of an extremely hidden formation, and it carried a trace of the familiar Shangqing Immortal Method!

"Below!" Tongtian's eyes sharpened as he pointed to the direction of the fluctuation—directly beneath the ruins of the main hall of Biyou Palace.

Kui Niu also sensed it and immediately began digging at the ground with its hooves, making anxious sounds.

This was originally the core area of Biyou Palace, and also the eye of the sect's protective formation. Could it be...

Tongtian did not hesitate. "Dig!" he commanded Kui Niu.

Upon receiving the order, Kui Niu's horn glowed intensely blue, condensing a focused Kui Water Divine Thunder. It carefully controlled its power, acting like a drill as it struck the ground of the ruins.

BOOM! BOOM!

Flying debris and dust billowed. Kui Niu controlled its strength, continuously digging downwards.

Tongtian stood at the edge of the pit, watching nervously. He could feel that the faint formation fluctuation became slightly clearer as the digging deepened.

Finally, after digging about a hundred zhang deep, Kui Niu's lightning strike seemed to hit something hard, emitting a crisp "clang," and a faint green light flashed and disappeared!

"Stop!" Tongtian immediately shouted.

Kui Niu ceased its actions. At the bottom of the pit, a heavily damaged bluestone platform was revealed. Intricate runes were inscribed on the platform. Although most of them were dim and broken, a few runes at the core were still stubbornly flickering with a faint light, supporting an extremely thin protective barrier.

Beneath the light barrier, it seemed to be a deep cave entrance, leading further in.

"This is the entrance to Biyou Palace's underground secret realm!" Tongtian recognized it at a glance. "This residual formation was Wudang's doing!"

Saint Mother Wudang, one of his four attendant disciples, was proficient in formations and possessed a calm, meticulous personality. When the Myriad Immortals Formation was defeated and the Saints purged Golden Ao Island, it was she who had secretly laid this final hidden defense line?

Hope surged in Tongtian's heart. He shouted into the cave, "I am Tongtian! Is Wudang within the cave?"

His voice, imbued with Method Power, pierced the thin protective light barrier and entered the deep cave.

The cave was deathly silent.

After a full ten seconds, just as Tongtian thought he had made a mistake, an extremely weak voice, trembling with disbelief, faintly echoed from within the cave:

"Master? Is that really you? How did you..."

Before she could finish, the weak protective light barrier rippled, parting like a water curtain to reveal a gap.

Tongtian didn't hesitate and immediately stepped in with Kui Niu.

Entering the light barrier, they followed a rough stone staircase leading downwards for a while before the scene suddenly opened up into a not-too-large underground cavern.

The cavern was dimly lit, with only a few Luminous Pearls providing faint illumination. The air was damp, and the spiritual energy was thin, barely sustained by a small Spirit Gathering Formation.

And in the center of the cavern, a figure was struggling to rise from a meditation cushion.

She wore a tattered grey daoist robe, her face was as pale as paper, and her aura was weak and listless. She was clearly severely injured and had not recovered for many years. Her Dao Foundation seemed to have suffered irreparable damage, and her cultivation had fallen from the Heavenly Immortal realm to the True Immortal level, and it was extremely unstable.

However, the moment her eyes fell upon Tongtian, they erupted with disbelief, ecstasy, excitement, grievance, and deep worry.

It was Saint Mother Wudang!

"Master!" Upon seeing Tongtian's equally damaged Saint Body and his fallen aura, Saint Mother Wudang was stunned for a moment. Tears immediately welled up. She struggled to fall to her knees, sobbing, "Your disciple Wudang... greets Master! You... how did you become... This place is dangerous, you shouldn't have returned!"

Her words were incoherent, clearly indicating she was extremely agitated and worried. She knew well the Saints' suppression of the Intercepting Sect. Her Master's return in his current state was undoubtedly walking into a trap!

Seeing Saint Mother Wudang in such a pitiful state, Tongtian's heart felt as if it were being tightly clenched by a large hand, making it difficult to breathe. He quickly stepped forward to help her, but he himself stumbled.

Kui Niu quickly used his head to steady Tongtian.

"Wudang, you've suffered," Tongtian's voice was hoarse. A thousand words were stuck in his chest, finally condensing into this single sentence. He could imagine how Saint Mother Wudang had hidden herself under the Saints' noses, how she had endured in this dark, sunless underground with her injuries, guarding this last stronghold.

"This disciple has not suffered!" Saint Mother Wudang raised her head, her eyes tearful, but she forced a smile. "To see Master again, this disciple has no regrets even in death! Master, your injuries..."

"It's nothing. The Saint Position is abandoned, the Dao Foundation is damaged, but my life is saved," Tongtian said concisely, yet it contained endless information.

Hearing this, Saint Mother Wudang's pupils contracted, and she was utterly shocked. Self-abolishing the Saint Position? What a world-shattering matter! But looking at Tongtian's eyes, though weak, were incredibly firm and no longer suppressed as they once were, she seemed to understand something.

"What about the others?" Tongtian asked the most crucial question, "Who else?"

Saint Mother Wudang's expression instantly dimmed, her eyes filled with endless grief. "Almost no one... the Myriad Immortals Formation was broken, the Saints settled the score. My senior brothers and sisters either ended up on the Investiture of the Gods or were utterly annihilated."

Her voice choked with sobs, "Senior Sister Guiling... she was by that Western Daoist Mosquito..." At this point, she was already weeping uncontrollably.

Tongtian's body trembled. Although he had expected it, hearing it firsthand was still unbearable.

"However!" Saint Mother Wudang suddenly remembered something, forcing back her grief. "Senior Sister Guiling's True Spirit did not completely dissipate! A wisp of extremely weak remnant soul was collected by this disciple in time using Soul Nurturing Jade, but... it's just too weak, it's fallen into a deep sleep, and I don't know when it will awaken."

As she spoke, she carefully took out a piece of warm jade pendant from her embrace. In the center of the pendant, there was a nearly invisible faint yellow thread of light, weakly flickering.

Holy Mother Guiling's remnant soul!

Tongtian carefully took the Soul Nurturing Jade, feeling the extremely faint soul fluctuations. His heart was filled with both grief and relief. Fortunately, there was still a glimmer of hope!

"You've done well, Wudang." Tongtian solemnly put away the Soul Nurturing Jade. "As long as the True Spirit still exists, your Master will find a way to bring her back to this world!"

Just then, the System's prompt sounded:

[Mission Complete: Found surviving disciple Saint Mother Wudang, Holy Mother Guiling's remnant soul. Rewards are being calculated...]

[Rewards Issued: Origin Repair Fluid (Small) x3. Stored in System Space, can be extracted and used at any time.]

[New Mission Issued: Repair injuries, increase strength. Head to the Netherworld Sea of Blood, search for the Chaos Bead (Fragment). This is a crucial item for retreading the path to Primordial Unity.]

[Mission Hint: The Lord of the Sea of Blood, Old Ancestor Minghe, is at the peak of Quasi-Saint cultivation, wielding the two great killing swords Yuantu and Abi, as well as the Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus. His strength is formidable, and caution is advised. The approximate location of the Chaos Bead (Fragment) is: deep within the Sea of Blood, beside Reincarnation.]

Tongtian's gaze sharpened.

Chaos Bead? Such a Chaos Supreme Treasure, and fragments of it still exist? And it's in the Netherworld Sea of Blood?

He knew the danger of this trip. Old Ancestor Minghe was a powerful being born at the beginning of creation, who founded the Asura race, established the Asura Sect, and was known as "As long as the Sea of Blood doesn't dry up, Minghe will not die." He was one of the most troublesome figures in the Great Desolation. His strength was absolutely top-tier among Quasi-Saints, and he had even contended with Empress Nuwa before she became a Saint.

Going to the Sea of Blood in his current state would be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth.

But the System mission had been issued, and the Chaos Bead was related to the Primordial Dao. He had no other choice!

"Wudang." Tongtian looked at his severely injured disciple and took out two of the three drops of Origin Repair Fluid from the System reward, handing them to her. "This item can repair Dao injuries to the origin. You and Kui Niu each take one drop and heal as quickly as possible. I need to go into seclusion for a few days to recover some vital energy."

Saint Mother Wudang felt the incomparably pure life origin aura contained within the two drops of liquid and was shocked. Such a treasure was unheard of! She quickly refused, "Master, your injuries are more severe, you..."

"Take it!" Tongtian's tone was unquestionable. "This is an order. Recover quickly, this place is not suitable for staying long, we need to leave as soon as possible."

He had to go to the Sea of Blood, but he couldn't take the severely injured Wudang and Kui Niu with him. He could only have them heal here first, recover some strength as quickly as possible, and then go to the Netherworld Sea of Blood alone, gambling on that sliver of opportunity!

Seeing Tongtian's resolute attitude, Saint Mother Wudang could only accept with tears. "Your disciple obeys! Master, you must be careful!"

Tongtian nodded, said no more, walked to a corner of the cavern, sat down cross-legged, swallowed the last drop of Origin Repair Fluid, took out some ordinary pills obtained from Zixiao Palace, and began to fully circulate his energy to heal.

Chaos Bead, Old Ancestor Minghe, Sea of Blood...

The road ahead was perilous, but he had no other retreat.

The path to Primordial Unity begins underfoot. This Netherworld Sea of Blood would be his first trial!