Essence I

One hour later.

Inside the Celebration Hall of the Thunder King Sect's Heart Gathering Division.

The two Yuanjun sat high at the top, and below, in the white jade hall, groups of disciples who had participated in the operation were queuing to receive their Yuanqi rewards. Lin Hui was originally queuing with these people, but halfway through, Hongyu Chun called him to a small door on the side.

There were about thirty people inside the sect, all of whom were close disciples of Junchen Primordial Lord.

Among them was Bai Ming, the fair-skinned senior brother from before. However, he was no longer as cold as he had been before, but instead wore a kind and friendly smile. In the small hall, everyone sat down in two rows, with an Avatar of Junchen Primordial Lord in the main seat.

"This operation has successfully achieved its objectives, and all those who needed to be eliminated have been eliminated smoothly. Now, our people comprise more than 60% of the three departments. Master, when will we be able to completely merge? We are all getting impatient."

Bai Ming picked up his drink, took a sip, and said in a deep voice.

"It's not the right time yet. The Nine Teachings True Lord are keeping a close eye on me, and the Four Seasons' operation isn't going smoothly either. Plus, the Sect Master's offspring is overseeing the formation. It's a bit troublesome. However..." Junchen Primordial Lord paused, his gaze shifting to Lin Hui and another man with a clean-cut face.

"Lin Chengdao, Yuehu, you are the most likely people in the last thousand years to enter the Primordial Corpse. The core of that sub-formation is inside the Primordial Corpse, so I intend to do everything in my power to help you obtain the qualification to enter."

"??!" Lin Hui had remained silent the whole time, but he never expected that something like this would happen to him.

"Can I not go?" Before he could speak, the blue-faced man not far away refused first.

"Of course we won't let you go for nothing," said Junchen Primordial Lord.

"This isn't a matter of going for nothing; rather, at the sect leader level, if we were discovered, we would surely die. To be controlled and forced to revive on the spot until we are completely mutated—the sect leader is capable of doing such a thing," said the blue-faced man, Yuehu, in a deep voice.

"Are you scared?" a woman sneered in a shrill voice.

"Yes, I'm scared. If you're not scared, you can go." Yuehu said coldly.

"... I'd like to go, but I'm not qualified." The woman sneered.

"Actually, I can help you get through this. As long as you fake it and pass the review process, you can..." Junchen Primordial Lord turned his gaze to the woman. "Uh... this disciple... this disciple just misspoke..." The woman shamelessly lowered her head and admitted her mistake.

"Is there not a single person in this huge hall who can hold things together?" Junchen Primordial Lord said disappointedly.

"Master, those who can handle the big picture wouldn't want to become Fusionist," Bai Ming couldn't help but say truthfully.

"... Actually, this disciple also... dare not..." Lin Hui forced himself to speak.

"You're different. You can't escape; you've already entered the sect leader's sights," Junchen Primordial Lord said, shaking his head.

"You, Dinisha, Situ Muran, the three of you, were already on the sect leader's meeting list. This is standard treatment for exceptional geniuses," Bai Ming nodded in agreement.

"..." Lin Hui felt a little numb.

Before, he would have been quite confident. But after being killed by the Blood Number Evil Dragon, he realized that the External Source was not a level he could easily challenge. Now, when he looked at the External Source and the levels above it, his feelings were completely different.

The saying "ignorance is bliss" perfectly illustrates this point.

The more you know, the more you worry and fear, and therefore the greater the resistance you create for yourself.

"But don't worry, remember to keep that bell safe," Junchen Primordial Lord suddenly transmitted his voice.

Lin Hui felt a chill run down his spine and nodded.

He knew there was something wrong with the bell. He could guess it even without the Blood Seal analysis.

Now that Junchen Primordial Lord had mentioned it, the thought of immediately going back and appraising it arose in my mind.

"As is customary, the sect leader's body will receive the three of you in about three hundred years. I will arrange for you to cooperate with the process then," Junchen Primordial Lord continued. "Now, in exchange, if you have any questions or needs, you can tell me. I will try my best to meet them." This Food Court Plan is her and her senior brother's first self-affirmation ceremony, equivalent to a comprehensive trial. Only by completely completing it can they be considered to have officially established themselves within the sect.

My senior brother's side is almost finished; only hers is left to complete.

The words had just been spoken when Lin Hui was seen still keeping his head down and remaining silent, seemingly hesitant.

Junchen Primordial Lord frowned slightly, leaned forward slightly, and transmitted his voice again.

"Speak, what do you need? Even mating is fine. I still approve of your aptitude, and the offspring will not be below my standards."

Lin Hui glanced at Junchen Primordial Lord, who was dressed in a wide, pure black robe with a pure white ribbon tied around his waist. His long legs, covered in white pantyhose, extended from under the robe, and he was barefoot, casually stepping on the jade floor.

Perhaps due to a little alcohol, Yuanjun's cheeks were slightly flushed, and her head was tilted slightly to the left. Her white hair fell to one side, cascading like silk onto the armrest of the chair. Coupled with her flawless face, she possessed a cold and aloof yet dignified air.

Everything about it is so thought-provoking.

Apart from..

Too big, besides.

Yes.

It's too big.

Lin Hui lowered his head, his gaze fixed on the other person's right foot, which was encased in a white sock.

The nail of his right little toe, when placed sideways, is at the same level as him now.

In other words, his toenails and the other person's toenails were the same height.

"Don't worry, to me, our mating is no different than a normal creature being bitten by bacteria," Junchen Primordial Lord comforted her. "I can remain still and set you free."

"... Teacher, you don't need to be like that. I am not what you think."

"I can shrink further, but shrinking too small might be dangerous. My cultivation technique doesn't allow me to create other Avatar, so if I shrink, my every move might be too destructive due to excessive compression, far exceeding my original form," Junchen Primordial Lord continued to persuade him telepathically. "Stop. If Master really wants to reward me, how about some Star Butterfly Fish Eye? This disciple needs them to cultivate my technique," Lin Hui said seriously. "Alright, you seem to have been acquiring these. I'll keep an eye out for you. Since you've asked me, does that mean you need a large quantity?"

"Yes." Lin Hui nodded quickly.

"This thing..." Junchen Primordial Lord paused, seemingly contacting some channel. After a few seconds, her voice transmission sounded again. "Is five thousand enough? It seems the sect is almost out of stock; we'll need to get some from elsewhere. This thing is generally used in small quantities, mostly for decoration. You're the first person to use it for cultivation."

"Enough! Enough!!" Lin Hui quickly agreed.

"Alright, it's settled then," Junchen Primordial Lord said with a smile.

Lin Hui nodded quickly and glanced at his fellow disciples around him.

"Could you give me some first? I'm truly terrified to be going to see the sect master."

"There are still over two hundred years left, what's the rush? Alright, keep it safe." Junchen Primordial Lord transmitted his thoughts silently.

The next second, just as Lin Hui was wondering what was going on, he suddenly noticed a white brocade pouch that had appeared unexpectedly at his waist.

He had no idea when it was hung up.

Startled, he quickly probed the area with his divine sense and discovered exactly two thousand Star Butterfly Fish Eye inside.

"Alright, the deposit has been paid. As for mating, we'll discuss that later when I have time."

"Wait..." Lin Hui wanted to say something, but suddenly the world spun before his eyes, and he had instantly left the Celebration Hall and returned to the gate of his small courtyard. Standing at the gate, he was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses.

"It seems that Junchen Primordial Lord is offering mating and fish eyes as a condition for the exchange..."

Thinking about it, it makes sense. Star Butterfly Fish Eye are only worth a few cents. Even if there are five thousand of them, it's still not as dangerous as this mission. So Junchen Primordial Lord's understanding is actually the conventional logic.

He sighed. He didn't dare to refuse at all. Refusing such a thing would undoubtedly be seen as disdain, and would offend the Yuanjun instead.

He could only silently push open the door and enter.

He took out the bell given to him by Immortal Lord Qingyang, opened the Blood Seal, and took a look.

"Ancestor Cloud Immortal Spirit: A powerful magical artifact that can transform into any object form. Its power is directly proportional to the divine soul and magical power infused into it. It was crafted by Immortal Lord Qingyang. As the craftsman, Immortal Lord Qingyang can remotely locate the holder anytime, anywhere."

Special Effect: Soul Preservation (The cultivation technique practiced by Immortal Lord Qingyang has a special effect: when anyone uses a magic weapon he crafts, one-tenth of the mana and soul power they input will secretly flow into their body).

Evolvable branch: 0. (Non-owner, cannot evolve)

With a silent sigh, Lin Hui put away the bell.

These special effects are truly impressive; they're worthy of being fellow disciples of Junchen Primordial Lord. One is a Intent Preservation, the other a manifestation of Soul Preservation —they're exactly the same.

He tossed the bell into a corner of the yard and left it there.

Lin Hui glanced again at the Star Butterfly Fish Eye that were about to arrive; these, plus what he already had, totaled over three thousand.

"It might not be enough... Some of these things have 30,000 Existence Force each, while others only have 20,000. It's purely a matter of luck."

After thinking for a moment, he activated his communication card again and asked the sisters in the Clear Jade Mountain branch.

After completing three direct transactions in half an hour, Lin Hui Hui's fisheye coins finally broke through 4,200.

But that's already the limit.

The sisters have only managed to catch a few hundred in all this time. The Thunder King Sect's portion of this resource is almost wiped out by them. "If we want more, we probably won't be able to get it from the Thunder King Sect anymore; we'll have to start with the Myriad Stars Tower..."

Lin Hui's thoughts flashed through his mind as he once again activated the hand seals, the Devil Incense, and the small courtyard formation, which was better than nothing.

Only then did they begin to activate the Blood Seal and evolve the Chaos True Order.

He placed great expectations on this evolutionary branch derived from the Ever-Burning Contemplation.

Once the Chaos True Order is determined, the fish eye is taken out and begins to absorb it bit by bit.

A golden Existence Force flowed continuously into his palm.

The remaining time for evolution is also rapidly decreasing.

Eighty million years.

Sixty million years.

Forty million years.

Nine million years...

Three million years...

Reset to zero!

Laugh!!

In an instant, a notification appeared indicating that the evolution of the Blood Seal was complete.

Lin Hui froze instantly.

A few seconds later, the Blood Seal notification reappeared.

"Note: You have altered the Chaos True Order; your soul has changed."

"You have obtained the special effect: Eternal True Order Essence."

"Due to this essential elevation, all your information and possessions are eternally solidified and cannot be altered by external forces. This essence cannot derive into a next level; it only affects one point of the entity and cannot affect multiple points."

"Due to the enhancement, your resistance to chaotic forces has increased by 90%. Your resistance to orderly forces has also increased by 90%."

"Warning: You have initially acquired a small portion of the Celestial Venerable's qualities, attracting the attention of some unpredictable beings."