Innate Dao Body, Baby Version

With the Three Pure Ones' abilities, a sweep of their Spiritual Sense was enough to perceive every detail.

The girl child before them had origins as clear as day.

Her source was pure and vast, beyond doubt.

It also matched the Heavenly Dao Proclamation perfectly.

Yet—

The form of her existence completely overturned the Prehistoric World's established understanding!

Among all things in the Prehistoric World, once spiritual intelligence was awakened and they transformed,

whether their origins were Innate Divine Beings, mountain spirits and water monsters, or vegetation and stone,

the ultimate form they pursued upon transformation

was always the Innate Dao Body, a shape that conformed to the Great Dao and facilitated cultivation.

And once transformation succeeded,

even if the transformation was incomplete and retained certain traits of their original form, they would still possess the appearance of an adult,

symbolizing maturity and completeness, allowing them to cultivate freely and comprehend heaven and earth.

Even child attendants deliberately enlightened by Great Experts mostly took the form of youths, making them more convenient for tending to Cave Abodes.

Never had anyone heard of someone transforming into a Milk Baby!

But before them...

Yuanshi's brows furrowed tightly once more, more deeply than at any previous moment.

His eyes, capable of seeing through the Rules of all things, were filled with profound confusion and incomprehension.

This girl child was indeed an Innate Dao Body—not some illusion technique, nor some half-human, half-demon aberration.

Yet although her form was complete, it had been fixed at the infant stage of an Innate Dao Body!

Her body was smooth and lustrous, containing immense Vitality and pure spiritual essence. It was practically flawless,

even more stable and profound in foundation than most Innate Divine Beings he had seen!

But the problem lay deeper still.

His Spiritual Sense could clearly see

that several faint yet glaring cracks were wrapped around the origin of her soul within that tiny body!

They were not fresh wounds. Rather, they seemed to be old injuries intertwined with hidden dangers left behind by a hasty transformation.

It was precisely this flaw in her soul

that had caused her transformation to be incomplete.

Tongtian had not considered so many twists and turns.

He widened his eyes and nearly blurted out, his voice brimming with incredulous astonishment.

"Strange!

Truly strange!

When Innate Divine Beings transform, which one does not possess an Immortal Posture Dao Body, with an innate air of majesty?

How did she end up becoming such a tiny Milk Baby?

This... does this count as a failed transformation?

Or did she succeed, but not completely?"

His Spiritual Sense made a half-circle around the Little One still playing with the water.

Like he was studying some peerless rarity, his face was full of disbelief.

Tongtian's words brought Yuanshi back to himself.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions as he analyzed in a solemn tone.

"It is not a simple failure.

Judging by her foundation, it is incomparably robust, far beyond that of ordinary living beings.

She must have accumulated unimaginable, immense energy during her transformation.

It seems... the origin of her true spirit bears old wounds,

and she hastily forced herself into the realm of transformation, unable to maintain control.

This caused an imbalance in the release of energy, fixing her form in this infant state."

He spoke calmly, but waves surged within his heart.

Her soul was damaged?

What had she gone through?

Why had she transformed with old injuries?

An indescribable ache and pity quietly eclipsed his initial shock and sense of absurdity.

When he looked again at that tiny figure playing in the water, his gaze had unconsciously softened.

Laozi nodded slightly, his profound gaze seeming capable of piercing through all appearances.

His observations were even more meticulous, and he noticed details Yuanshi and Tongtian had overlooked.

"Though she possesses an infant body, the flow of her Dao rhythm is naturally complete, without the suffering of stagnation.

Though her body and soul have not perfectly fused, they have instead achieved a strange balance and stability."

Laozi spoke slowly, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding Immortal Island.

"More remarkable still, her aura has perfectly melded with this island,

with this Innate Grand Formation, and even with the Spiritual Qi of the Earth Veins.

She is the heart of this island and the soul of this formation."

He paused before speaking the most crucial words.

"Though such a form has never been heard of,

it seems to be the mode of existence best suited to her current state.

Forcing an adult Dao Body upon her

might instead break this balance and damage her foundation."

At those words, Yuanshi and Tongtian both fell silent.

They had never doubted Laozi's judgment.

Eldest Brother meant that this seemingly "failed" infant form

might instead be another kind of "perfection" for this little one with a damaged soul?

Tongtian stroked his chin, his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"So, does that mean we've gained a little Treasure who will never grow up?

Heh! That doesn't sound bad!"

He had already begun imagining having such a rare little cutie in their family,

and found that far more interesting than having some solemn peer of their own generation appear.

Yuanshi's feelings were far more complicated.

On one hand, learning that this was not simply an accident but rather some kind of optimal solution made him breathe a small sigh of relief.

But on the other hand,

never growing up—

that realization made his shoulders sink for no apparent reason.

It meant she would need more protection,

more guidance, more... care.

He looked at the little one smiling without a care in the world,

and a heavy sense of responsibility quietly settled in his heart.

Perhaps the Three Pure Ones' emotions had fluctuated too intensely just now, leaking a trace of exceedingly faint aura that disturbed Su Miao.

Or perhaps she had simply grown tired of playing and wanted to rest.

Su Miao, who had been directing the waves through a sharp turn, suddenly stopped without any warning.

The Profound Origin Water Control Banner obediently supported her,

while the Sea Calming Bead hovered motionlessly at her side.

She seemed to sense something, and her tiny body stiffened slightly.

Then,

slowly, with a trace of confusion and wariness,

she turned her delicately sculpted little face, still dotted with glistening droplets of water.

Her large, round eyes, clear as the purest black gemstones,

blinked twice,

then precisely caught sight of the three extraordinary figures standing beside the immortal herbs, who were clearly outsiders.

Eight eyes met.

The air seemed to freeze at that moment.

Su Miao's little mouth hung slightly open, and the excited flush from her play still lingered on her face,

but within those large eyes,

curiosity was swiftly replaced by the alertness of a small animal.

She tilted her tiny head,

her fine, soft hair clinging to her forehead,

then asked in a milky voice, her tone clearly probing,

"Y-you... who are you?"