Spiritual Root's Further Evolution

Thump! Thump!

Two muffled thuds, accompanied by the crisp sound of shattering bones.

Two once-arrogant disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect were sent flying like kites with broken strings, spewing blood from their mouths. They crashed heavily onto the rocks in the distance, their auras instantly withering to the extreme, leaving only endless shock in their eyes.

In just one exchange, not even a single breath, two elite outer disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect at the Early Golden Immortal stage were completely and severely wounded!

Zhao Gongming retracted the Sea-Calming Divine Pearls and stood with his hands behind his back, slowly suppressing the aura of his Chaos Divine Art. He looked down at the two prostrate Daoists on the ground, his voice as cold as the frigid winds of the nine netherworlds:

"I'm sparing your lives today out of respect for Senior Uncle Yuanshi. Go back and tell your fellow disciples that no one can bully my Intercepting Sect disciples as they please! If there's a next time, don't blame Zhao Gongming for showing no mercy!"

With that, he didn't spare them another glance. He turned and transformed into a stream of light, directly disappearing into the Sha Qi-filled Fallen Immortal Ridge. All that remained were Chi Xiazi and Mingguang Daoist, groaning and struggling in endless fear and humiliation.

The wind blew across the mountain ridge, carrying a hint of blood.

Zhao Gongming stood deep within Fallen Immortal Ridge, his expression calm, but his heart was in turmoil.

Today's events made him fully realize that the conflict between the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Intercepting Sect had already penetrated to the bone and could not be reconciled.

The Investiture of the Gods War was not an accident but an inevitable eruption of long-standing grievances.

"Strength... I need even greater strength!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his gaze becoming more resolute.

Only by possessing the power to crush everything could he protect himself and his fellow disciples during the impending cataclysmic Great Tribulation, and shatter their predetermined tragic fate!

The Sha Qi of Fallen Immortal Ridge was bone-chillingly cold, but it paled in comparison to the chill in Zhao Gongming's heart at that moment.

He did not linger here. Although the confrontation with the Heavenly Origin Sect disciples was swift, the momentary burst of Magical Power fluctuations could easily attract the attention of other powerful beings.

He shifted his body, transforming into an inconspicuous stream of light, and sped back in the direction he came from, heading towards the East Sea.

The journey was silent, but his mind sank into his body, sensing the changes brought about by the brief exchange.

Although his furious strike just now was like thunder and lightning, it had also pushed his Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art to its limit.

The surging Chaos Magical Power, like a raging river, coursed through his meridians. Each circulation seemed to be cleansing his physical body and Primordial Spirit.

What surprised him even more was that the surging blood and qi, born from his anger, actually resonated mysteriously with the High-grade Innate Spiritual Root deep within his body, which had been deduced by the System!

"Buzz..."

An indescribable tremor emanated from the depths of the spiritual root, as if a slumbering ancient beast was about to awaken, or a seed of Chaos was about to sprout. An unprecedented craving radiated from the spiritual root, transmitting to every inch of Zhao Gongming's flesh and blood, every thought.

It... wanted to transform!

Zhao Gongming's heart trembled, and an unprecedented brilliance erupted in his eyes. He understood that this was an opportunity, a chance inadvertently triggered by the recent conflict!

Without any further hesitation, the speed of his escape light suddenly increased. Like lightning tearing through the sky, he pierced through the vast blue waves of the East Sea and returned to Jin'ao Island.

Zhao Gongming did not alert anyone. He returned directly to his Cave Abode and, with a wave of his hand, set up dozens of restrictions, completely isolating the entire Cave Abode from the outside world.

Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, Zhao Gongming moved his mind, and the familiar System panel instantly appeared in his sea of consciousness.

[Primordial Deduction System]
[Host: Zhao Gongming]
[Cultivation: Mid Golden Immortal]
[Cultivation Technique: Nine Revolutions Chaos Divine Art (Second Revolution)]
[Spirit Treasure: Twenty-Four Sea-Calming Divine Pearls (High-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure)]
[Spiritual Root: High-grade Innate Spiritual Root]
[Primordial Points: 2800]

Looking at the remaining 2800 Primordial Points, Zhao Gongming did not hesitate. His gaze was locked onto the "High-grade Innate Spiritual Root" entry.

"System, deduce the spiritual root!" he thought silently.

[Detected that the host possesses a High-grade Innate Spiritual Root. Can consume 2800 Primordial Points to deduce it to Chaos Spiritual Root (Initial Stage). Confirm?]

"Confirm!"

The moment he confirmed, the 2800 Primordial Points within his body instantly cleared to zero. They transformed into an indescribable primordial essence power, like a divine light of World Creation, which blasted into the spiritual root within his body!

Rumble!

Within Zhao Gongming's Cave Abode, it was as if Chaos was being created, as if a world was being born! An extremely dense aura of Chaos erupted violently from his body, instantly filling the entire Cave Abode.

The originally dense Innate Spiritual Energy in the Cave Abode, in the face of this aura of Chaos, seemed to encounter a king's subjects, retreating, submitting, and even being assimilated!

The spiritual root within his body was undergoing earth-shattering changes.

Its originally crystal-clear form, flowing with Dao patterns, now began to appear ancient and obscure, as if covered by a veil of Chaos.

Intertwined upon it were no longer simple Innate Dao Patterns, but a more fundamental, more ancient divine charm of the Great Dao!

At this moment, Zhao Gongming felt his connection with this world reach an unprecedented level. He could seemingly hear the breathing of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, and touch the intricate workings of the laws.

The surrounding Spiritual Energy no longer required his active guidance but transformed into tangible torrents, pouring madly into his body!

The efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Energy had increased by more than a hundredfold! Moreover, within this torrent of Spiritual Energy, there were even wisps of Chaos Qi, drifting between heaven and earth, which even ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals could hardly capture!

[Ding! Spiritual Root deduction successful. Promoted from High-grade Innate Spiritual Root to Chaos Spiritual Root (Initial Stage)!]

[Ding! The Chaos Spiritual Root, born from the Great Dao, has received "Great Dao Feedback," rewarding 7200 Primordial Points!]

The two consecutive system prompts sent Zhao Gongming's mind into a frenzy!

He quickly looked, only to see that on the System panel, the number in the Primordial Points column had directly surged from zero to 7200!

Great Dao Feedback!

Zhao Gongming took a deep breath, suppressing the elation in his heart. He instantly understood that the grade of the Chaos Spiritual Root had surpassed Innate, reaching a terrifying level of compatibility with the Great Dao's origin. With every breath, every interaction with heaven and earth, he could gain the Great Dao's "feedback," which was another source of Primordial Points!

And at this moment, as the torrent of Spiritual Energy continuously poured in, his realm, which had just broken through to Mid Golden Immortal, was completely consolidated in this short period. His Magical Power became incredibly potent, even faintly touching the threshold of Late Golden Immortal!

"Good! A truly excellent Chaos Spiritual Root!"

Zhao Gongming could feel that outside his physical body, an invisible shield composed of Chaos Qi had already formed.