Nuwa and Fuxi

However, after carefully observing, Yuan Yan suddenly discovered faint traces of unusual Dao essence there.

If his Dao heart had not sensed something as he passed by, prompting him to stop and examine the place closely, he might truly have overlooked it.

After all, those traces of Dao essence were almost imperceptible, exceedingly faint. Unless one was a Great Luo Golden Immortal, they would find them difficult to detect, and he had been rapidly descending the mountain without conducting a thorough search.

Moreover, it was not uncommon for Mount Buzhou to contain Dao essence different from its surroundings, nor did that necessarily mean there was some fortunate opportunity there.

Because too many great supernatural beings had visited Mount Buzhou in the past, searching for treasures, residing there to cultivate, and even fighting upon the mountain. Generally, they would not erase the Dao essence they left behind.

Although Pangu's Dao of Strength reigned supreme on Mount Buzhou, and any Dao essence would be gradually worn away and absorbed by the Dao essence of Pangu's Dao of Strength until it completely dissipated.

The stronger the expert who left behind the Dao essence, the longer it could endure. Many such traces of Dao essence on Mount Buzhou had yet to fully dissipate.

"But why would these faint traces of Dao essence trigger a response from my Dao heart?" Yuan Yan wondered.

With those doubts in mind, Yuan Yan continued to sense those faint traces of Dao essence carefully.

Before long, Yuan Yan understood why those traces of Dao essence had stirred his Dao heart.

They were extremely pure Dao essences of Innate Lesser Yin and Innate Lesser Yang, closely connected to the Dao of Yin-Yang. Naturally, they would trigger an instinctive response from his Dao of Yin-Yang.

"Although it is normal for Mount Buzhou to contain traces of Innate Lesser Yin and Innate Lesser Yang Dao essence, since they have stirred my Dao heart, I should investigate. Perhaps there is an innate spiritual treasure or innate spiritual root here!" Yuan Yan thought.

If there was, that would naturally be for the best!

And if there was not, he would not lose much time over it, so there was nothing to regret.

Yuan Yan raised his right hand, pressed two fingers together, and lightly pointed ahead. A streak of Yinyang Divine Light shot forth, splitting into hundreds of millions and blanketing a vast area like a gentle drizzle.

Buzz! In an instant, a formation barrier spanning hundreds of millions of li rippled like water, blocking the countless strands of Yinyang Divine Light.

No, that was not right. It should be said that it dissolved them!

"An innate grand formation?" Yuan Yan's pupils contracted. "There really is an innate spiritual treasure or innate spiritual root here?"

"Hiss! This innate grand formation is exceedingly profound. It seems no less remarkable than the protective formation at my birthplace, and even more profound than the protective formation of Yinyang Grotto-Heaven."

"Could the treasure nurtured within be on the same level as the Primordial Gourd Vine?"

At that thought, Yuan Yan could no longer suppress the excitement in his heart.

He hurried to a spot not far from the innate grand formation and casually set up another formation, both concealing any unusual phenomena and protecting himself. Then he sat cross-legged and began comprehending the operating principles of the innate grand formation.

Meanwhile, within the innate grand formation!

Buzz! A hum rang out as the innate grand formation reacted defensively, startling awake two figures immersed in comprehending the Dao.

"What is going on?" Fuxi frowned slightly.

But he quickly performed a divination with his fingers and understood. Someone was attacking the protective grand formation around their birthplace, causing it to manifest its defenses in response.

"Brother, our birthplace has been discovered by a Great Luo Golden Immortal," Nuwa said.

Her divine sense passed through the innate grand formation, and she saw Yuan Yan outside preparing to comprehend their protective formation.

She could clearly sense the immortal and indestructible Yin-Yang Dao essence permeating Yuan Yan's body. Naturally, she knew that Yuan Yan was at least a Great Luo Golden Immortal.

"Yes! He is a Great Luo Golden Immortal! But Nuwa, you need not worry. Nothing will happen to us!" Fuxi said confidently.

"When was I worried?" Nuwa shot Fuxi a speechless glance.

Although they had only recently taken form and entered the world, had yet to comprehend their own Dao and break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, and remained at the peak of the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm.

They were protected by an innate grand formation within their birthplace. Even a peak Great Luo Golden Immortal might not be able to do anything to them.

Not to mention that they were top-tier innate sacred beings, carrying immense fortune. So long as they did not court death, they would not easily perish.

As long as they did not bear great karmic sins, and did not take the initiative to provoke conflicts or forge irreconcilable karmic ties, any being who killed them would inevitably suffer a backlash from fortune and be burdened by karmic sin.

Although someone with exceedingly abundant merit and fortune could withstand the backlash, their merit and fortune would still be diminished, greatly affecting their cultivation.

Killing them would only harm oneself without bringing any benefit. Unless there was an irreconcilable blood feud or they were Dao enemies, no one would casually seek to kill them.

Besides, not only did she sense no danger of death, she instead felt faint traces of a fortuitous opportunity, as though an opportunity had come knocking at her door.

If that was the case, the expert outside had likely stumbled upon the innate grand formation and assumed there was some treasure within, which was why he had begun studying how to break it.

Once he learned of their existence, he would probably not only refrain from attacking them, but might even offer them some opportunities to settle this karmic connection.

While Nuwa and Fuxi observed the situation outside through the innate grand formation and bickered with each other, Yuan Yan's brows drew together slightly.

He felt as though someone was watching him, and he could clearly sense that the feeling of being watched came from within the innate grand formation.

What did that mean?

It meant that the innate grand formation before him protected not an innate spiritual treasure or an innate spiritual root, but an innate sacred being. Moreover, it was not an ordinary innate sacred being, but most likely a top-tier one.

In other words, not only had the supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure or supreme-grade innate spiritual root he had hoped for vanished, he had also formed a karmic connection with a top-tier innate sacred being. This was simply rotten luck.

"Forget it, forget it. What I gain is my fortune; what I lose is my fate." Yuan Yan's expression shifted uncertainly before finally turning into a soft sigh.

Although he could not obtain a supreme-grade innate spiritual treasure or a supreme-grade innate spiritual root, and although he had formed a minor karmic connection with a top-tier innate sacred being.

It did not matter. This small karmic connection would be easy to resolve; they only needed to speak things through. So long as the top-tier innate sacred being inside was not foolish, they would not become enemies over such a trivial matter.

Once they had clarified matters and resolved the karma, perhaps they could even become acquainted. In the future, they might discuss the Dao with one another, so it would not be without gain.

With that thought, Yuan Yan called out, "I am Yuan Yan. I entered your territory by mistake, and I ask that the fellow Daoist within forgive me. Would the fellow Daoist inside dare meet with me?"

"Why would we not dare?" A gentle, refined voice answered. The innate grand formation opened on its own, revealing a passage. A man and a woman approached, stopping just before stepping beyond the range covered by the innate grand formation.

The Dao essences of Innate Lesser Yang and Innate Lesser Yin respectively permeated their bodies. Although they had yet to comprehend their own Dao and break through to the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm, they still possessed extraordinary bearing.

"Nuwa/Fuxi, greetings, fellow Daoist!"

"Nuwa? Fuxi? It was actually them?" Yuan Yan was inwardly shocked.

But Yuan Yan was, after all, a Great Luo Golden Immortal who had cultivated for more than a hundred yuanhui. His temperament was exceptional; though startled within, he revealed not the slightest sign on his face.

And after only an instant of surprise, Yuan Yan's heart returned to calm.