Pfft! Pfft!
Two dull thuds rang out, accompanied by the crisp sound of bones cracking.
The two arrogant Chan Sect disciples flew backward like kites with their strings cut. Blood sprayed from their mouths as they crashed hard against the rocks in the distance. Their auras instantly dwindled to almost nothing, and their eyes held nothing but sheer terror.
In a single exchange—not even lasting a full breath—the two Early Golden Immortal elite outer disciples of the Chan Sect had been gravely wounded!
Zhao Gongming recalled the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and stood with his hands behind his back. The aura of the Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art slowly faded as he looked down at the two Daoists sprawled on the ground. His voice was cold as the winds of the Netherworld:
"I'm sparing your lives today for the sake of Uncle-Master Yuanshi. Go back and tell your fellow disciples that Jie Sect Disciples are not to be bullied at will! If there's a next time, don't blame me, Zhao Gongming, for showing no mercy!"
With that, he didn't spare them another glance. He turned and transformed into a streak of light, plunging straight into the baleful-qi-shrouded Fallen Immortal Ridge. He left Chi Xiazi and Daoist Mingguang behind, groaning and struggling in their boundless fear and humiliation.
The wind swept across the ridge, carrying a hint of blood.
Zhao Gongming stood deep within Fallen Immortal Ridge, his expression calm, though his heart churned.
What had happened today made him fully realize that the conflict between the Chan and Jie Sects had penetrated to the bone. There was no reconciling it.
The Investiture of the Gods War wasn't a coincidence. It was the inevitable eruption of long-standing resentment.
"Strength... I still need greater strength!"
He clenched his fists, his gaze growing ever more resolute.
Only overwhelming power could protect him and his fellow disciples amid the coming cataclysm—and shatter the cruel fate that had been laid out for them!
The baleful qi of Fallen Immortal Ridge was cold to the bone, but it was nothing compared to the chill in Zhao Gongming's heart.
He didn't linger. Though his clash with the Chan Sect disciples had been brief, the sudden burst of magical power might still draw the attention of other powerful beings.
He turned and became an inconspicuous streak of light, speeding back the way he had come, toward the East Sea.
He traveled in silence, his mind sinking into his body as he sensed the changes brought on by that brief clash.
In his fury, he had unleashed a thunderous attack, driving the Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art within him to its limits.
His surging Chaos Magical Power rushed through his meridians like a mighty river. With every cycle, it seemed to cleanse his flesh and Nascent Soul.
What astonished him even more was that the surging qi and blood stirred by his anger had formed a subtle resonance with the High-grade Innate Spiritual Root within him—the one the system had deduced!
"Hmm..."
An indescribable tremor stirred from deep within the spiritual root. It was as if an ancient beast was waking from slumber, or a seed of chaos was about to break through the soil. An unprecedented yearning emanated from the root, reaching every inch of Zhao Gongming's flesh and every one of his thoughts.
It... wanted to transform!
Zhao Gongming's heart jolted, and an unprecedented brilliance flashed in his eyes. He understood: this was an opportunity, one accidentally awakened by the battle he had just fought!
Without the slightest hesitation, he abruptly accelerated. Like a lightning bolt tearing through the sky, he crossed the vast blue waters of the East Sea and returned to Jin'ao Island.
Zhao Gongming disturbed no one. He went straight back to his cave abode and, with a wave of his hand, laid down dozens of wards, completely sealing it off from the outside world.
Seated cross-legged on his meditation cushion, Zhao Gongming merely moved his thoughts, and the familiar system panel appeared in his sea of consciousness.
[Primordial Deduction System] [Host: Zhao Gongming] [Cultivation: Mid Golden Immortal] [Technique: Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art (Second Revolution)] [Spiritual Treasures: Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls (High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure)] [Spiritual Root: High-grade Innate Spiritual Root] [Primordial Points: 2800]
Seeing that only 2800 Primordial Points remained, Zhao Gongming didn't hesitate in the slightest. His gaze fixed firmly on the "High-grade Innate Spiritual Root" entry.
"System, deduce my spiritual root!" he silently commanded.
[Host possesses a High-grade Innate Spiritual Root. Deduct 2800 Primordial Points to deduce it into a Chaos Spiritual Root (Initial Stage). Confirm?]
"Confirm!"
The moment he confirmed, all 2800 Primordial Points within him vanished. They transformed into an indescribable power of the Primordial Origin, which surged into the spiritual root inside him like a world-creating divine radiance!
Rumble!
It was as if chaos was opening and a world was being born inside Zhao Gongming's cave abode! An overwhelming aura of Chaos Qi erupted from within him, instantly filling the entire cave.
The dense Innate Spiritual Energy in the cave retreated and submitted before this Chaos Qi as if it were a subject before its sovereign—even becoming assimilated by it!
The spiritual root within him was undergoing a complete transformation.
Its original form, crystalline and suffused with Daoist resonance, now began to grow ancient and inscrutable, as if veiled by a thin layer of chaos.
What intertwined across it was no longer merely innate Dao Patterns, but an even more primordial and ancient resonance of the Great Dao!
At that moment, Zhao Gongming felt his connection to the world around him reach an unprecedented level. He seemed able to hear the breath of the Great Dao and touch the currents of the laws as they moved.
He no longer needed to draw in the surrounding spiritual energy himself. It became a tangible torrent that poured into his body with frenzied force!
His efficiency at absorbing spiritual energy had surged by more than a hundredfold! Even more astonishingly, the torrent carried wisps of Chaos Qi drifting between heaven and earth—something that even ordinary Grand Unity Golden Immortals could scarcely detect...
[ Ding! Spiritual root deduction successful. High-grade Innate Spiritual Root has advanced to Chaos Spiritual Root (Initial Stage)!] [ Ding! The Chaos Spiritual Root was born in accordance with the Great Dao and has received "Great Dao Feedback." Reward: 7200 Primordial Points!]
The two consecutive notifications sent Zhao Gongming's mind reeling!
He hurriedly looked. On the system panel, the number of Primordial Points had soared from zero to 7200!
Great Dao Feedback!
Zhao Gongming took a deep breath, suppressing his elation. He understood at once: the Chaos Spiritual Root had surpassed the innate level, and its affinity with the origin of the Great Dao had reached a terrifying degree. Every breath he took, every communion with heaven and earth, could earn him the Great Dao's "feedback." That was another source of Primordial Points!
Meanwhile, as the torrent of spiritual energy continued to pour into him, the Mid Golden Immortal cultivation he had just attained was completely stabilized in a mere instant. His magical power had grown unimaginably profound, and he had even begun to sense the barrier to the Late Golden Immortal stage!
"Excellent! What a Chaos Spiritual Root!"
Zhao Gongming could feel an invisible shield made of Chaos Qi taking shape around his body.
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