Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit

"This vine really isn't dead yet," Xuan Heng thought to himself. After all, the Innate Gourd Vine was an essential treasure for Nuwa's future creation of humanity. How could it wither so easily?

Xuan Heng did not make a fuss. He directly stored the gourd vine within the World-Purifying White Lotus at his brow. Yet the moment the vine left Mount Imperfection's earth veins, its vitality weakened further. Xuan Heng hurriedly activated the World-Purifying White Lotus, shielding the last thread of life remaining in the Innate Gourd Vine.

The others saw Xuan Heng's actions but said nothing. It was merely an innate spiritual root that looked as though it had no hope of revival. There was no need to contend with Xuan Heng, who had the Three Pure Ones as his elder brothers.

Nuwa stood some distance away, her gaze resting upon the gourd vine. Suddenly, the aura of creation around her stirred slightly, but only for an instant before settling again.

"Little sister, what is it?" Fuxi keenly noticed the change in his younger sister and asked.

"It's nothing. I only feel that the gourd vine seems to have some affinity with me, but the feeling is very faint. Perhaps I sensed it wrong."

Nuwa shook her head as she spoke.

"It's good that it's nothing." Though Fuxi was puzzled, he said no more after hearing that Nuwa merely felt an affinity with the gourd vine. There were countless treasures in the world, and many could evoke a sense of affinity. Who could possibly gather them all into their hands?

"Since it has been taken, let us return first," Taiqing said mildly when he saw that Xuan Heng had stored the gourd vine within the World-Purifying White Lotus.

"Indeed. You have suppressed your opportunity for breakthrough for far too long. You must not delay any further." Yuanshi nodded as well.

Tongtian smiled. "That's right, little brother. Once we return to Kunlun, we'll protect you while you break through. We can study this withered vine afterward."

Xuan Heng nodded, then cupped his hands toward everyone present. "Fellow Daoists, Xuan Heng shall take his leave first."

Red Cloud returned the gesture with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng, remember to visit my Fire Cloud Cave when you have the time."

Nuwa glanced at Xuan Heng and said, "The withered vine Fellow Daoist Xuan Heng took away is rather unusual."

Xuan Heng smiled. "I simply felt that it still had a thread of life left. It would be a pity to abandon it."

Nuwa said nothing more. Fuxi gave it a long look but did not ask further.

Di Jun and Taiyi had just obtained their gourds, so they did not remain any longer either.

On the Witch Clan's side, Zhurong still found Taiyi displeasing to the eye. However, with Houtu keeping him in check, no further conflict arose in the end.

Beneath Mount Imperfection, mighty figures from every direction departed one after another, and the mountain returned to tranquility once more.

The Three Pure Ones left Mount Imperfection with Xuan Heng and returned to Kunlun. Along the way, the opportunity for breakthrough within Xuan Heng grew ever clearer. From the peak of the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm to the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, only the final step remained.

This step was not an ordinary accumulation of mana, but the condensation of his own Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit.

After returning to Kunlun, Xuan Heng did not go back to his own abode. Instead, he returned to the lotus pool where he had once been nurtured.

"The Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit concerns the foundation of your future path. The closer you are to the final step, the less you must rush," Taiqing said as he looked at Xuan Heng.

Xuan Heng nodded. Naturally, he understood the importance of the Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit.

Yuanshi personally laid down Jade Pure One restrictions around the area, severing it from the outside world's aura.

Tongtian directly carried the Green Duckweed Sword to the entrance of Kunlun Mountain, saying with a smile, "Break through in peace, Fourth Brother. If any blind fool comes from outside, I'll block them for you."

Taiqing suspended the Heaven and Earth Mystic Yellow Pagoda above the lotus pool. Mystic Yellow merit qi descended, protecting both Xuan Heng and the entire lotus pool.

Xuan Heng sat cross-legged at the center of the lotus pool. The Twelve-Rank World-Purifying White Lotus beneath him slowly unfurled. He temporarily placed the severed root of the Innate Gourd Vine at one side of the pool, using world-purifying white light to preserve its vitality. For now, he had no time to inspect it closely and could only keep it from withering further.

Time slipped away swiftly, and soon a hundred years had passed.

Over those hundred years, Xuan Heng once more sorted through the Five Qis within his chest. The Five Qis reaching completion did not mean they had truly become one. The gap between the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal and the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal had never been merely a matter of mana.

As Xuan Heng sorted through the Five Qis in his chest again and again, his Dao foundation grew ever more perfect.

Soon, the second hundred years arrived.

The phantom forms of Three Flowers gradually emerged above Xuan Heng's head. One shimmered with clear light, one was entwined with the pure radiance of a white lotus, while the last carried an exceedingly faint hint of green.

The instant the Three Flowers appeared, the spiritual currents within the valley trembled violently.

Yuanshi stood not far from the lotus pool. Seeing the Three Flowers Above Xuan Heng's Crown, his brows furrowed tightly.

"Xuan Heng's origin is too mixed."

Tongtian stood atop a nearby peak, equally worried. "Indeed. Little brother's origin is too mixed. There is a great chance he will be unable to suppress it, causing the Three Flowers to fail in condensing and his cultivation to fall back."

"Trust him. He can hold it down."

In the blink of an eye, another hundred years passed. It was now the third hundred year of his breakthrough.

Xuan Heng began to condense his true Zenith Heaven Dao Fruit, the most difficult step of this breakthrough. Deep within his Primordial Spirit, the World-Purifying White Lotus slowly turned, its white light washing over every stray thought within him.

Those memories of his previous life—the scenes concerning the fates of the Three Pure Ones, the Investiture of the Gods Calamity, and the rise of the West—surfaced again and again, only to be pressed down again and again. He did not evade these things. They were his greatest burden since coming to the Primordial World, but they were also the direction he had to grasp firmly.

If he did not even dare acknowledge his obsession with rewriting the Three Pure Ones' fate, then he, their youngest brother, would be nothing but a spectator hiding behind his elder brothers.

In the four hundred and twentieth year, clear qi surged into the heavens above the lotus pool on Kunlun Mountain's main peak.

Taiqing, seated cross-legged atop the clouds, opened his eyes. Yuanshi also looked toward the lotus pool where Xuan Heng was in seclusion. Tongtian gripped the Green Duckweed Sword, a smile appearing on his face.

At the center of the lotus pool, the Three Flowers above Xuan Heng's head finally solidified completely.

Above the Three Flowers, clear qi, pure radiance, and green intent simultaneously returned to the depths of his Primordial Spirit, condensing into a Dao Fruit that belonged to him alone.

"The Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm is achieved!"

Xuan Heng slowly opened his eyes, and the white light of the World-Purifying White Lotus beneath him gradually receded.

But just as Xuan Heng was about to rise, the World-Purifying White Lotus beneath him trembled lightly. Then Xuan Heng felt that it seemed to have become different from before his breakthrough.

He could feel that, as the Great Luo Dao Fruit condensed, the Purifying White Lotus had finally fused completely with his Dao Fruit. Before this, the Purifying White Lotus had been more like an innate lotus platform that had nurtured him.

But now, Xuan Heng truly felt that this supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure no longer merely protected him—it had become his natal supreme treasure.

The white lotus slowly turned, purifying light flowing from its heart and washing the aura around him until it was utterly clear and flawless. Deep within his brow, the Dao Beyond Dao Mark stirred faintly, echoing the lotus's purifying light.

Then, a clear light that had never appeared before emerged from Xuan Heng's brow.

That clear light was neither the pale white of Taiqing's Immortal Light, nor the golden radiance of Jade Pure One's Immortal Light, much less the azure gleam of Supreme Pure One's Immortal Light.

It was a profound blue, like a pool of pristine water untouched by dust in the depths of night.

As the clear light flowed, faint silver lotus patterns surfaced within it. Though it was not dazzling, the remaining chaotic spiritual currents throughout Kunlun Mountain gradually settled. Tribulation qi met it like dust falling into water; demonic thoughts drew near it like snow entering a furnace.

Enlightenment naturally arose in Xuan Heng's heart.

This was the Profound Pure Immortal Light.