He put away the Innate Spiritual Treasure before him, then solemnly brought out the supreme-grade Innate Spiritual Root—the Five Elements Pine Needle Tree!
As soon as the tree appeared, the entire valley was instantly filled with dense Innate Five Elements Essence Qi!
Its verdant trunk and multicolored pine needles both radiated vigorous life and a harmonious Dao Rhythm.
Ao Chen did not refine it. Instead, he planted it directly beside the spring's source.
The Five Elements Pine Needle Tree immediately took root in the earth, connected with the spiritual leyline beneath the valley, and began absorbing vast amounts of Spiritual Energy of Heaven and Earth. It transformed the energy into the purest Innate Five Elements Origin Qi, nourishing the entire valley in turn.
Ao Chen opened his mouth and inhaled like a giant whale drawing in water. The immense Five Elements Origin Qi, mingled with the valley's dense Innate Spiritual Qi and the Pangu Dao Rhythm insights he had accumulated, was swallowed in its entirety!
The Star River Dragon Palace within him thundered into motion, and the foundation of his Mythical Heavenly Immortal cultivation was completely ignited!
He circulated his Mystic Art according to the methods of the Mythical Heavenly Immortal, while drawing on the ideas of immortality and independence in the newly perfected True Immortal Chapter. He guided the enormous energy as it coursed through him, strengthening his foundations.
His aura began to rise steadily!
"Transcending eternity, the sole one throughout all ages..." Supported by the immense energy and guided by the principles of the True Immortal Chapter, the defining traits of the Heavenly Immortal Realm became even more profound!
He felt his connection to the River of Time grow more subtle, and the mark of his own uniqueness grow more solid, as though his presence stood out more vividly throughout the endless ages!
"Across the ages, I alone bear witness; none can compare..." His command over his own Dao was also improving rapidly, and his ability to "preserve his own Dao" across the dimensions of time and space was growing ever more secure!
Rumble!
It was as if he had broken through some invisible barrier!
The Star River Dragon Palace within Ao Chen suddenly expanded, its stars shining more brilliantly as its workings grew more profound.
An aura far more powerful than before erupted from him!
Mythical Heavenly Immortal, mid-stage—achieved!
Ao Chen slowly opened his eyes. Countless stars seemed to revolve within them, while visions of Chaos unfolding and eras rising and falling flickered past.
Feeling the surging power within him and the now-complete Mythical True Immortal Chapter, a satisfied smile finally appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The Intruding Zhu Rong, Subduing an Ancestor Witch with One Finger
Within the secluded valley, spiritual energy shimmered in the air, and the Five Elements Pine Needle Tree swayed gently, brimming with vitality.
On the bluestone platform, the vast aura Ao Chen had just unleashed upon reaching the mid-stage of the Mythical Heavenly Immortal Realm had completely subsided, blending into his limbs and bones without the slightest trace escaping.
During this seclusion, he had perfected his cultivation method and advanced his realm, reaping a tremendous harvest.
Feeling the power surging within him and the clarity of his path, Ao Chen's heart was peaceful. The future seemed bright.
However, just as he was about to further stabilize his realm—
"Hm?"
Ao Chen suddenly opened his eyes. A cold glint flashed through his deep gaze.
Several layers of concealment and warning restrictions he had set up had just been disturbed from outside by an extremely domineering, violent force!
Worse, that force was hurtling toward the valley at astonishing speed, crashing its way inside!
"What a powerful aura... The Wu Clan?"
Ao Chen immediately sensed the unrestrained, tangible baleful aura surrounding the intruder, along with violent fluctuations of a law that seemed capable of burning the eight directions and destroying all things!
He had recently "observed" an aura like this from afar—the first battle between the Wu and Yao!
"I have no enmity with the Wu Clan. How did they find this place?"
Ao Chen slowly rose to his feet. His expression was calm, though deep in his eyes lay a trace of confusion.
He had chosen this place for seclusion because of its concealment and natural defensive formations. With the restrictions he had set up as well, even an ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortal would find it difficult to discover, let alone intrude upon.
There was no time to think. Ao Chen's figure flashed, and he vanished from the spot.
The next moment, Ao Chen appeared outside.
Immediately, a burly figure wreathed in blazing flames came into view.
The newcomer had long red hair draped over his shoulders and a resolute face. Muscles bulged across his body, radiating explosive strength.
Flames surged around him, and the laws instinctively circled his form. Illusory fire serpents and dragons coiled around his feet and ears. He was none other than Zhu Rong, the Southern Flame Ancestor Witch!
Zhu Rong had been drawn here by the Mythical Dao Rhythm and energy fluctuations Ao Chen had released when he broke through to the mid-stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm—an outburst he had been unable to conceal completely.
Buzhou Mountain was sacred ground for the Wu Clan. Any powerful disturbance in energy could draw their attention.
He strode into the valley, his gaze immediately locking onto Ao Chen, who was seated on the bluestone platform.
"Hm?" Zhu Rong raised his coarse eyebrows, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
He had expected to discover an Innate Spiritual Treasure coming into the world, or some reckless Demon God cultivating there. He had not expected to find a member of the Dragon Race!
And the aura of this Dragon was unusual!
His realm seemed to be only at the mid-stage of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, yet his presence felt exceptionally solid and profound. There was even a transcendent Dao Rhythm about him that made an Ancestor Witch like Zhu Rong feel a trace of unease.
"What an unusual Dragon."
Zhu Rong raised an eyebrow, baring a row of gleaming white teeth. His eyes held little malice; instead, they brimmed with keen interest and fervent fighting spirit!
The Wu Clan was born to love battle. For an Ancestor Witch like Zhu Rong, who wielded destructive power, encountering an opponent who seemed "not bad" rarely made him think of driving them away or killing them. His first thought was usually—fight them first!
As far as he was concerned, it didn't matter if this fellow was of the Dragon Race or some other race. If he could cause such a stir and seemed even a little interesting, he was worth a personal assessment by Zhu Rong!
"Ha ha ha! Interesting! Very interesting!"
Zhu Rong looked Ao Chen up and down as if he had discovered a fascinating new toy, his fighting spirit surging.
"You Dragon are quite the curiosity. Your cultivation and Dao Rhythm are unusual too! You're merely a Heavenly Immortal, yet you've stirred up such a disturbance on Buzhou Mountain."
Ao Chen frowned as he looked at Zhu Rong.
It was hard to say that the Wu Clan had much malice in acting this way, but it was truly irritating.
Cultivators stood everywhere across the Primordial Wilderness.
In most cases, a place surrounded by formations and radiating an aura clearly had an owner. No one would meddle without good reason.
After all, meddling meant incurring karma. Incurring karma without gaining anything was obviously not worthwhile.
But Zhu Rong was clearly incurring karma with him. Worse, Zhu Rong acted as if he couldn't care less. Ao Chen found it deeply distasteful.
Still, at this point, there was no way he could continue his seclusion.
"Enough. It's time to leave."
"Now that the True Immortal Chapter is complete, the key is to build up my cultivation. There's nothing more to be gained from continuing to study Buzhou Mountain."
Ao Chen shook his head slightly, then turned to leave.
But although he wanted to go, Zhu Rong had no intention of letting him.
The Wu Clan was naturally fond of battle, and Zhu Rong could no longer hold back after encountering such an unusual being as Ao Chen.
"Dragon brat, fight me!"
He didn't care whether Ao Chen agreed. The Flame Law around him instantly gathered, forming a condensed crimson fist that hurtled toward Ao Chen with an overwhelming, violent force!
The punch held no killing intent—only the pure desire to see who was stronger!
Faced with this sudden "challenge," a trace of irritation flashed through Ao Chen's eyes, quickly hardening into a cold, sharp glint.
He had wanted to cultivate in peace. It was bad enough that Zhu Rong had disturbed him, but now the other man refused to let up.
"Absurd."
Ao Chen gave a cold snort and extended one finger.
His fingertip lightly touched Zhu Rong's fist, despite the wildly disproportionate size between them.
There was no earth-shattering explosion.
No roar of clashing laws.
Not even a ripple of energy.
Time seemed to freeze in that moment.
The fury on Zhu Rong's face instantly stiffened!
For the first time, disbelief and shock filled his enormous, flame-lit eyes!
His Innate Divine Fire, powerful enough to scorch mountains, boil seas, and melt metal, met the faint starlight at Ao Chen's fingertip—and went out in an instant, like snow beneath the blazing sun!
Then an indescribable, incomprehensible force, seemingly above all laws, surged up his arm from his fist, sweeping through it like a wrecking ball!
Crack! Crack! Boom!!
His Ancestor Witch arm, harder than divine metal and strong enough to shake mountains, shattered inch by inch, starting at the fist!
Bone, tendons, flesh, and even the Flame Law contained within them were utterly and mercilessly erased before that pinpoint of starlight!
"Pfft—!"
The immense force struck Zhu Rong. His massive body was as if hit head-on by a Primordial Divine Mountain. He spewed out a mouthful of Wu blood infused with his origin power, then flew uncontrollably backward and slammed into the cliff at the end of the valley!
"Hm?"
Ao Chen looked at Zhu Rong as he flew away, a trace of surprise crossing his face.
Before you continue