Innate Spiritual Treasure Embryo

Chapter 41: Innate Spiritual Treasure Embryo

Seeing Yin Yang Spirit leave, Xuanji glanced at the Yin Yang ropes binding him and sneered. He summoned the Ancient Wild World Power, and with a whoosh, the ropes were drawn into the Ancient Wild World, where they transformed into Yin Yang energy and merged with the Heavenly Dao, evolving into Yin Yang laws.

Once free, Xuanji did not hold back. He used the Ancient Wild World Power to absorb the Yin Yang energy here with all his might. The Ancient Wild Heavenly Dao also stopped its deductions and evolution to help improve his efficiency. At once, streams of black-and-white energy surged toward him and gathered. The Yin Yang energy here was terrifyingly abundant. Even after it had formed thick clouds inside the Ancient Wild World, the energy in this place had only grown slightly thinner.

As the Yin Yang energy inside the Ancient Wild World continued to increase, Xuanji had no choice but to stop absorbing it. The energy around him was still astonishingly rich. Seeing this, he was both surprised and delighted. He sat cross-legged and began drawing the energy into his body to temper and transform himself. At the same time, he gathered Yin Yang energy to cultivate the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda and Yin Yang Pupil Light.

Streams of black-and-white Yin Yang energy poured into Xuanji from all directions, coursing through every bone and sinew. Under the power of his twenty-four Inner Mansion Primordial Spirits, it steadily merged into his entire body. A faint black-and-white light shone from him as his constitution grew stronger with every infusion of Yin Yang energy. Meanwhile, black-and-white light glimmered faintly from his tightly shut eyes, and a black-and-white speck at the center of his brow flickered without pause. As time passed, the Yin Yang light grew ever brighter.

With the help of the incredibly abundant Yin Yang energy, black-and-white light gradually rippled across Xuanji's entire body. The rudiments of a Yin Yang body had taken shape. He opened his eyes, and his pupils became two Taiji symbols, their black-and-white light flowing together in harmony, faintly containing the profound principles of Yin Yang. Xuanji focused his gaze, and two beams of black-and-white light shot from his eyes, piercing the dense Yin Yang energy before him. They traveled an unknown distance, and the faint sound of a mountain wall cracking could be heard.

"A Yin Yang body comparable to an early-stage Loose Immortal? And such sharp Yin Yang pupils? Excellent, truly excellent!" Xuanji was very pleased with these two gains. With his primordial spirit at its peak, possessing a body comparable to that of an early-stage Loose Immortal was practically inconceivable. His physical strength increased along with his cultivation, and this had greatly narrowed the gap between him and those gifted Primordial World deities.

Yin Yang Pupil: Though still in its rudimentary form, its effects were extraordinary. It could break countless illusions. Even Heavenly Dipper and Earthly Fiend Transformation could be seen through at a glance if the user failed to capture its true essence. It could also establish an illusory Yin Yang Domain. Those with insufficient cultivation would be dragged straight into it, their primordial spirits trapped in an evolved myriad-heavens illusion. Those with weak minds would lose themselves within it, their consciousness crumbling and their primordial spirit energy merging into the Yin Yang pupils, further increasing their might. It could also shoot out Yin Yang Pupil Light, which was formidable in its own right.

Whoosh!

The black-and-white speck at Xuanji's brow shot out and hovered above his head. Streams of Yin Yang energy spilled from it, twisting and coiling together until they gradually formed a twenty-four-tiered Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda. An illusory divine figure appeared on each tier, empowered by Yin Yang energy to protect him and repel demons at the merest thought.

Each tier of the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda was one inch tall, making it twenty-four inches in total. Countless talismans appeared across its surface, while black-and-white radiance swirled around it. The moment it appeared, Yin Yang energy from every direction rushed toward it like birds returning to their nest or a giant whale sucking in water, all of it vanishing into the pagoda. The pagoda seemed bottomless, accepting everything that came and devouring the Yin Yang energy at astonishing speed.

As the Yin Yang energy flowed into and empowered the pagoda, its grade continued to rise.

Low-grade magic artifact—mid-grade magic artifact—high-grade magic artifact—low-grade treasure artifact...

Whoosh!

As the final stream of Yin Yang energy surged into the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda, its grade finally stopped rising.

High-grade Immortal Artifact!

In just a few breaths, it had risen all the way from a low-grade magic artifact to a high-grade Immortal Artifact. The speed was terrifying. Xuanji was stunned, his heart brimming with delight. A high-grade Immortal Artifact was just one step away from a Post-Heaven Spiritual Treasure, and its might was immense. Even an Earth Immortal would likely struggle to unleash its full power.

"In Investiture of the Gods, Jieyin Daoren, the Western Sect Leader, condensed his twelve layers of glassy radiance into the Jieyin Treasure Banner and entrusted it with the bodies of the Past Buddhas of the three ages. Its power was inconceivable. I could imitate him and entrust my twenty-four Inner Mansion Primordial Spirits to the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda. Once the might of twenty-four worlds empowers it, it may well rival an Innate Spiritual Treasure!" Xuanji mused. Yin Yang energy was in no way comparable to Jieyin's twelve layers of glassy radiance. After all, those twelve layers had evolved from the essence of the Twelve-Petaled Golden Lotus, an Innate Spiritual Treasure, through the power of the Western believers' wishes. But if his twenty-four primordial spirits could each possess the power of a world, the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda would be no weaker than the Jieyin Treasure Banner—and might even surpass it.

Whoosh!

At a thought, the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda turned into a streak of rainbow light and vanished into the space between Xuanji's brows, entering the Ancient Wild World. At the same time, the Yin Yang light in his eyes and across his body instantly withdrew. He had absorbed all the Yin Yang energy, leaving his surroundings crystal clear. Far away, rock and earth walls came into view.

"This place is no longer safe. If Yin Yang Spirit comes back, the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda might not be able to take him in!" The Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda could absorb all things, especially Yin Yang energy, but Yin Yang Spirit's cultivation was unfathomably deep—at the very least, that of an early-stage Heavenly Immortal. The chances of capturing him were slim. And if the pagoda failed, Xuanji would surely die.

Just as he was about to leave, he suddenly felt faint traces of Yin Yang energy emanating from beneath the ground. The Yin Yang energy aboveground had all been absorbed, and though what seeped from below was exceedingly faint, Xuanji still sensed it. His thoughts stirred.

"Is there something underground?" Xuanji scanned the area with his divine sense, immediately pinpointing its location. He moved and then summoned the Xuanji Sword, slamming it hard into the ground.

Bang!

Sparks flew as the Xuanji Sword bounced away. The ground trembled slightly, but only a faint sword mark appeared.

"How is this possible? It's far too hard! A low-grade spirit weapon barely made a scratch. What kind of soil is this?" Looking at the faint sword mark in the ground, Xuanji stiffened, staring in astonishment. He could hardly believe it. He had not used any magical power in that strike, but it was still a low-grade spirit weapon. Even a hundred-fold-refined piece of steel would have fared little better than tofu—and the ground was made of soil.

"Nine-Heaven Breathing Soil? I can't be that lucky, can I?" Among the famous, formidable soils of the Primordial World, the only one Xuanji knew of was the Nine-Heaven Breathing Soil. It was said to be the material Nuwa used to create humans, and it was in no way inferior to an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

Though he did not know what kind of soil it was, anything that could withstand a strike from a low-grade spirit weapon was certainly extraordinary. Now that he had discovered it, Xuanji would never leave it behind. He poured magical power into the Xuanji Sword and struck the ground hard once more. Empowered by his magic, the sword's might more than tripled. The mysterious soil was incredibly hard, but it still crumbled apart beneath the Xuanji Sword.

Chunks of soil of various sizes flew into the air. Xuanji controlled the digging with his divine sense while the Ancient Wild World Power continued collecting each clod. He was so busy that he could barely contain his delight.

The mysterious soil covered only a few meters; everything beyond it was ordinary dirt, which saved Xuanji a great deal of effort. Soon, he had dug several feet down through the mysterious soil. The deeper he went, the harder it became, and he could only dig with the Primordial Avatar's magical power strengthening his sword.

Bang!

After digging several feet down, faint black-and-white radiance suddenly emerged from beneath the earth. Xuanji froze, and his divine sense had already slipped inside. The senses of the divine sense were ten times sharper than those of the physical body. It could also see through things, move objects, control minds, command magic, and perform countless other feats too numerous to describe.

As soon as his divine sense entered the ground, Xuanji saw dazzling black-and-white radiance. He could make out little, but Yin Yang energy filled the area, and the hazy glow contained the promise of great creation. Just as he was marveling at the sight, a torrent of information suddenly followed his divine sense into his mind.

He absorbed and digested the information in an instant, immediately understanding everything. His eyes widened again, and he could hardly believe it. The mysterious soil was Yin Yang Soil. It was far inferior to the Nine-Heaven Breathing Soil, of course, but it contained Yin Yang energy and was still a treasure. What truly shocked Xuanji was the thing underground.

An Innate Spiritual Treasure!

An upper-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Sun Moon Pearl, was being nurtured underground. Xuanji knew quite a bit about this pearl. In Investiture of the Gods, the Sun Moon Pearl was the treasure of Holy Mother of the Turtle Spirit, one of the four foremost disciples of Master Tongtian of the Interception Sect. It contained the creation of Yin Yang and possessed immense power, no weaker than the Primordial Golden Ladle, Sea-Calming Divine Pearls, Four Symbols Pagoda, or Dragon Tiger Ruyi. Holy Mother of the Turtle Spirit had wielded it to great effect during the Investiture of the Gods War, fighting several Golden Immortals of Kunlun and pursuing Juliusun of the Twelve Golden Immortals of Chan Sect. After leaving the Myriad Immortals Formation, she even confronted Jieyin Daoren, the Western Sect Leader. Alas, Jieyin Daoren stood as a Saint. She was defeated and captured, then had all her blood essence, magical power, primordial spirit, and soul drained by Mosquito Daoist, ending up like a painted cake.

"What a tremendous stroke of fortune! Truly, a tremendous stroke of fortune!" The Sun Moon Pearl would be immensely useful to Xuanji. The Ancient Wild World had never had a sun, moon, or stars, and the Sun Moon Pearl could evolve into a sun and moon. It could also increase the Yin Yang Treasure Pagoda's power. Most precious of all were the laws contained within this Innate Spiritual Treasure. With the help of the Ancient Wild Heavenly Dao, grasping the Yin Yang laws within the Sun Moon Pearl was just a matter of time. Xuanji could not yet fathom all the countless wonders it might bring.

The Sun Moon Pearl was still being nurtured, nothing more than the rudimentary form of an embryo. No one knew how many tens or hundreds of thousands of years it would take to be born. But thanks to the Ancient Wild World, Xuanji did not have to gaze at the treasure and sigh in frustration before leaving.

Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!...

He split open the enormous mass of earth and drew all the Yin Yang Soil and the Sun Moon Pearl embryo into the Ancient Wild World. He truly did not leave Yin Yang Spirit so much as a single hair!

With every treasure now gone, Xuanji sneered. "Yin Yang Spirit, every cause has its effect. You captured and tormented me, and now I've taken your treasures. This is your comeuppance. I'll settle the rest with you another day." With that, he moved, and a flash of three-colored light transformed him into a tiny mosquito that flew upward.

Long after Xuanji had left, a streak of Yin Yang rainbow light stretched across the sky. It was Yin Yang Spirit returning. The rainbow light dissipated, and Yin Yang Spirit floated in midair like a cloud of smoke, his body wavering. Clearly, his heart was in turmoil; he must have confirmed what Xuanji had told him.

"Ah! This is bad!" Yin Yang Spirit cried as he slowly descended, then sped into the Yin Yang Domain. Not a trace of Yin Yang energy remained there, and a huge chunk of earth was missing from the middle of the ground.

Bang! Crack! Crack! Crack-crack!...

Seeing what lay before him, Yin Yang Spirit unleashed an overwhelming aura. Under its force, cracks spread across the ground and the surrounding walls. His fury was plain to see.

"That damned brat from the Illusion Clan! The Illusion Clan? I won't rest until this grudge is avenged!" Yin Yang Spirit was now certain the Illusion Clan was responsible. The Illusion Clan could transform into anything, and only members of its royal bloodline could assume physical form. When he had captured Xuanji and brought him down, he had noticed that Xuanji was not a transformed illusion, but a real body. So he had taken him for a member of the Illusion Clan's royal family. Now, seeing that the Yin Yang energy, Yin Yang Soil, and Sun Moon Pearl had all vanished, he could only assume the Illusion Emperor had coveted the Sun Moon Pearl.

"The old ancestor understands now. He used the Shadow Clan affair to lure me away, then snatched my treasures himself. What a scheme, what a plan! That brat from the Illusion Clan must have disappeared by now, too. But Illusion Emperor, I'll remember this grudge. If I don't make you repay it tenfold one day, then I'll be your son! Hmph!" Yin Yang Spirit looked at the Yin Yang Domain where he had once lived. It held no value anymore, so he turned into a rainbow and departed in pursuit of Xuanji. He knew the chances of finding him were practically nil, but he could not bear to leave without trying. His heart bled at the loss. What a colossal—loss!