Xuanyuan stood silently by the lake, gazing intently at the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus on its surface. A wave of emotion stirred in his heart.
This Qinglian had formed from the only mature seed among the five seeds of the Chaos Qinglian, and contained immense Power of Creation.
As he gazed at it, he suddenly heard a faint voice.
"Who... are... you...?"
The voice seemed to come from the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus, yet also seemed to reach him from some distant place. It carried an irresistible aura, as if he might soon be drawn into it and lost forever.
Xuanyuan's heart jolted, and a trace of surprise appeared on his face.
He couldn't help wondering: Had the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus already developed sentience?
Or was it trying to convey something to me?
At the thought, Xuanyuan's gaze sharpened as he tried to peer through the Qinglian's exterior and glimpse its inner world.
Yet the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus remained shrouded in a seven-colored halo. The halo seemed to possess a wondrous power that could block all attempts to probe it with Spiritual Sense.
No matter how intently Xuanyuan focused or how hard he tried to pierce the halo, his Spiritual Sense could never get through.
Whenever he tried to draw closer, the seven-colored halo was like an unyielding wall, rebounding his Spiritual Sense and leaving him dizzy.
After a moment's thought, Xuanyuan decided to break through the obstacle by force.
After all, the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus was a Supreme Grade Innate Supreme Treasure. With his current strength, he couldn't destroy it, so there was no need to worry about damaging it.
With that in mind, Xuanyuan circulated the Spiritual Power throughout his body, gathered it at his fingertips, and sent a fierce sword aura toward the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus.
Sword Dao Law!
And he had mastered fifty percent of the Sword Dao Law.
This strike could easily kill a mid-stage Quasi-Saint.
Yet when the sword aura struck the Qinglian, it vanished like a stone sinking into the sea. The seven-colored halo merely trembled slightly and remained otherwise unaffected.
Xuanyuan was startled. This Qinglian was astonishingly powerful!
He took a deep breath, preparing to attack again.
Just then, the faint voice sounded once more. "Don't waste your strength..."
This time, the voice was much clearer. Xuanyuan was certain it came from the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus.
He stopped and stared at the Qinglian. "What exactly are you? Why can you speak?"
The Qinglian fell silent for a moment, then slowly replied, "I was born from the Chaos Qinglian. I have now awakened my spiritual awareness. If you wish to explore my inner world, you must pass my test."
Xuanyuan frowned. "What test?"
The Qinglian replied, "It's simple. Use your finger as a sword and paint a complete landscape across the surface of this lake. Then you will pass."
Xuanyuan gave it some thought, then nodded in agreement.
He extended a finger and began to draw lightly across the lake's surface.
His strokes flowed like clouds and running water, each one full of life.
As he sketched, a landscape gradually emerged across the lake.
Mountains rose and fell, trees grew lush, and streams burbled through the scene, like a fairyland.
When he laid down the final stroke, the painting was complete.
The seven-colored halo around the Qinglian flickered several times, then slowly faded away.
"Congratulations. You've passed the test."
The voice of the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus sounded in Xuanyuan's ear.
Xuanyuan felt a surge of joy and looked at the Qinglian expectantly.
The Qinglian slowly floated up, transformed into a streak of green light, and shot toward Xuanyuan.
His vision flashed bright, and then he found himself in a wondrous space.
Countless lotus flowers surrounded him, each radiating a unique aura.
He wandered among them, sensing their mysterious power.
Suddenly, he spotted an enormous lotus pod ahead, radiating dazzling light.
As Xuanyuan approached, the lotus pod slowly opened.
A figure sat upon the lotus seat.
The figure's upper body was bare, while a beast hide was wrapped around the lower half. He looked powerfully built and broad-shouldered, his bulging muscles brimming with explosive strength.
He gave off an exceptionally formidable aura.
"What terrifying physical strength!"
Xuanyuan cultivated the Nine Revolutions Mysterious Origin Technique, created by Great God Pangu. His body was already exceptionally powerful, comparable to an Innate Spiritual Treasure.
But compared to the giant before him, the difference was enormous!
As Xuanyuan marveled at the sight, the scene around him suddenly changed.
The entire world turned into chaos, without light or darkness.
Silence reigned all around.
He couldn't even feel the passage of time.
There was no distinction between heaven and earth, only an endless expanse of chaotic energy.
"This is..."
Xuanyuan was stunned. He murmured in disbelief, "Is this the chaotic world before Great God Pangu split heaven and earth?"
Suddenly, a gigantic figure appeared before Xuanyuan.
The giant stood with his head in the heavens and his feet on the earth, his frame towering and imposing as boundless majesty radiated from him.
His eyes held an air of resolve and determination, as though he bore some great mission.
"Great God Pangu! It has to be Great God Pangu!"
Xuanyuan had never imagined that the Thirty-Six-Petaled Creation Green Lotus would bring him to the scene of Great God Pangu splitting heaven and earth.
For all the living beings of the Primordial World, witnessing Great God Pangu split heaven and earth with their own eyes would be an extraordinary opportunity—greater and rarer even than the chance to hear Hongjun preach at Zixiao Palace.
Seeing the boundless chaotic energy, Xuanyuan's thoughts stirred. He quickly brought out the Chaos Bead and began absorbing it frantically.
After Pangu split heaven and earth, all the chaotic energy vanished.
Although a vast amount of chaotic energy still remained in the Chaos Void beyond the Outer Heavens, its quality was more than ten times lower than that of the chaotic energy from before heaven and earth were split.
If the chaotic energy in the Chaos Void today were likened to acquired chaotic energy, then the chaotic energy from before Great God Pangu split heaven and earth was innate chaotic energy.
The two were hardly comparable.
For other races, innate chaotic energy might not be of much use.
But for the Witch Clan, it was a rare treasure.
After all, the Witch Clan focused on cultivating their physical bodies, and chaotic energy could temper the flesh.
Innate chaotic energy, in particular, was especially effective.
It could make the Witch Clan members' bodies stronger and greatly increase their strength.
If they had enough innate chaotic energy, the strength of the entire Witch Clan would rise by at least one level, far surpassing the other races and becoming the most powerful force between heaven and earth.
After finishing this, Xuanyuan focused all his attention on Great God Pangu.
Innate chaotic energy was precious, but to him it was merely a supplementary resource. What truly mattered was carefully observing Great God Pangu splitting heaven and earth.
This was not only a visual spectacle, but also a rare opportunity to learn.
By observing and analyzing it closely, he might learn something about the mysteries of the Dao and the use of its laws.
How much he ultimately comprehended would depend entirely on his own aptitude.
Before you continue