Yi Wood Creation, Calabash Vine Evolution

For the past ten thousand years or so, Lingxiao, Zhen Yuanzi, and Hong Yun had started from the most barren Western Lands and gradually traversed the Primordial World step by step.

At the time, the Western Ancestral Vein had shattered, Sha Qi filled the skies, and the land seemed to have become a sieve. Even the innate spiritual qi continuously transformed by the World Womb Membrane could not keep pace with its dissipation, leaving the region more barren with each passing day.

The three did not seek instant success. They merely left Earth Book marks and imprints of their mana at the nodes of the major Earth Veins, linking the scattered branches of those veins and establishing the rudimentary framework of the Primordial Wu Earth Earth Vein Formation.

—The Primordial World possessed its own power of restoration:

So long as the framework of the Earth Veins remained stable, the World Womb Membrane would slowly draw in the currents of Chaos, nourish the mountains and rivers, and purify the Sha Qi.

Seeing that everything had entered the proper course and no longer required their personal attention at every turn, Lingxiao bade the other two farewell and prepared to return to the Sun Star for secluded cultivation.

Yet, as he passed through the Central Lands, a streak of azure light suddenly shot directly toward him.

It turned out that, seeing no other way, the Twenty-Four-Petaled Creation Azure Lotus had ruthlessly cut off its own arm to save itself. It abandoned its main body at the rank of a Chaos Spiritual Root and allowed it to shatter into three parts.

All its remaining Creation vitality then gathered toward the newly born consciousness, ultimately forming this half-mature lotus seed.

In terms of innate foundation, this lotus seed was no inferior to the four half-mature lotus seeds that had given rise to the Twelve-Petaled Merit Golden Lotus and the Twelfth-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

If it could successfully reincarnate into a Twelve-Petaled Creation Azure Lotus, it would have a chance to rise again and attempt transformation once more.

It was only that this time, its innate foundation could at best be like Zhunti, who had transformed from the Bodhi Tree, or Yang Mei Ancestor, who had transformed from the Hollow Willow—it would stop at the level of an Innate Lifeform.

Whoosh!

The azure light flashed and instantly closed in on Lingxiao, then sought to burrow into the space between his brows.

"Stop." Lingxiao's gaze turned cold. Between his brows lay the ancestral aperture of the Niwan Palace, while his Primordial Spirit resided within the Consciousness Sea. How could he allow some unknown thing to barge in?

At once, his vast divine sense carried the scorching heat of Solar True Fire, transforming into a beam of Great Sun Divine Light that directly pinned the azure light in place.

As the azure light receded, Lingxiao finally saw that it was a thumb-sized azure lotus seed. It radiated pure Yi Wood Creation qi, along with an undisguised greed and malice.

"A Twelve-Petaled Creation Azure Lotus Seed?"

"You're trying to rob me?"

Though the Creation Azure Lotus possessed complete intelligence, it had not formed a true Primordial Spirit. Only a trace of its True Spirit remained protected within this lotus seed.

Therefore, with a mere sweep of his divine sense, Lingxiao grasped the other party's emotional fluctuations and general intentions.

This Creation Azure Lotus Seed had sensed the aura of the Creation Gourd Vine, which was why it had aimed for his brow, intending to seize the magpie's nest and devour the Creation source of the Creation Gourd Vine!

"Blinded by profit." Lingxiao shook his head. A wisp of Solar True Fire at his fingertip transformed into a seal, sealing and suppressing the lotus seed like amber.

After all, it had never transformed, and it was innately incomplete. Even with complete intelligence, it hardly possessed any wit.

To be honest, if this lotus seed had fled and found a place to hide from the world, then after endless years, it truly might have transformed and been born with the innate foundation of a top-tier Innate Sacred Being.

Yet it had been greedy. Upon sensing the Creation aura of the Calabash Vine on Lingxiao, it had rushed over to devour it, not taking Lingxiao seriously in the slightest.

In its prime, the newly born Twenty-Four-Petaled Creation Azure Lotus was naturally not something a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal could stop.

But what remained now was merely a lotus seed, possessing not even one ten-thousandth of its former power.

It could bully an ordinary Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal without issue, but it wanted to swallow Lingxiao's treasure of enlightenment right before his eyes?

That was a fantasy beyond fantasy!

"Still, this has reminded me of something."

After flipping his hand and storing the lotus seed in his sleeve, Lingxiao stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.

Since the Creation Azure Lotus Seed wanted to devour the innate Creation source of the Creation Gourd Vine, then conversely... could he use this Creation lotus seed as nourishment for the Great Dao and make this treasure of enlightenment even stronger?

If so, he needed to return to his dojo and cultivate in seclusion for a while.

Cry!

No sooner said than done, Lingxiao transformed into an incomparably majestic Great Sun Golden Crow. With one beat of his wings, he soared into the heavens and flew toward the Sun Star.

Upon the Sun Star, the Fusang Tree stretched across hundreds of millions of miles. Its branches and leaves spread like a canopy, gathering the endless Solar True Fire beneath its crown.

Golden fire-rain drifted down in a rustling shower, landing upon the white jade plaza beneath the tree and scattering sparks. Yet it carried not the slightest heat; instead, it held a gentle warmth.

"Hubby has been gone for thirteen thousand seven hundred and sixty-one years already. Why hasn't he come back yet?"

A slender branch of the Fusang Tree had transformed into an exquisite swing. Changxi sat upon it, gently swaying, her hands propping up her cheeks and her almond eyes filled with longing that could not be dissolved.

"What are you in such a hurry for?" Xihe slowly emerged from Lingxiao Palace, her moon-white gown trailing along the ground. A trace of almost imperceptible softness touched her cool features. "Hubby has his own plans. I imagine he'll be back soon."

Though she claimed not to be anxious, her fingers unconsciously twisted the edge of her sleeve, while her gaze remained fixed on the void beyond the Sun Star.

Ten thousand years was but the snap of a finger to Innate Sacred Beings, yet for them, who had only recently become Dao companions with Lingxiao and were in the throes of love, each day felt like three autumns, every moment filled with concern.

Buzz.

Just then, the entire Sun Star suddenly trembled lightly.

The boundless Solar True Fire surged into towering waves. The Fusang Tree swayed its countless branches and leaves, releasing a rustling cry of joy, while the golden sea of providence clouds churned and formed a rainbow bridge spanning the sky.

"It's hubby!"

The two women exchanged a glance, then simultaneously transformed into two streams of Lunar Moonlight and rushed out of the Sun Star.

Within the void, the Great Sun Golden Crow slowly folded its wings and transformed into human form. Clad in a fluttering golden robe, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, he was none other than Lingxiao, from whom they had been separated for ten thousand years.

"Hubby!"

Changxi gave a delighted cry and pounced into Lingxiao's embrace like a bird returning to its nest. Her jade-like arms tightly wrapped around his neck, her smooth legs naturally hooked around his waist, and she buried her face in the hollow of his neck, refusing to lift her head.

"You little girl." Lingxiao smiled as he supported her pert backside. He then turned and walked before Xihe, reaching out to gently brush away the stray strands of hair by her temple. Lowering his head, he pressed a kiss onto her smooth forehead. "I'm back."

Xihe's beautiful eyes immediately reddened. Rising on her tiptoes, she took the initiative to kiss the corner of his lips.

The three returned to Lingxiao Palace in each other's embrace. After a spell of tenderness, their auras mingled and their mana became one.

Lunar Moonlight and Great Sun radiance intertwined into a golden-and-silver Yin-Yang fish pattern that slowly circulated.

Lingxiao took out the suppressed Green Lotus Seed, then summoned the Creation Gourd Vine, which had long since regressed to an Upper-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure and lingered between life and death.

The Calabash Vine and the Green Lotus Seed were both Innate Yi Wood and possessed Creation source. The instant they met, they produced a powerful resonance.

Lingxiao used Solar True Fire as the guide and Yin-Yang qi as the furnace, while Xihe and Changxi urged Lunar Divine Water to regulate the heat. Working together, the three gradually transferred the Chaos Creation power within the Green Lotus Seed into the Calabash Vine.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

The Green Lotus Seed slowly melted amid unwilling struggles, transforming into pure azure Creation spiritual qi that flowed along the veins of the Calabash Vine.

Its once-withered yellow branches and leaves became lush and verdant once more. Yin-Yang fish markings and Five Elements runes emerged upon its vines, while Creation rosy light faintly flowed around it.

Buzz!

Forty-nine days later, the Calabash Vine suddenly shuddered and erupted with radiant light stretching ten thousand zhang—it had devoured the innate source of the lotus seed, restored its dim and dormant Innate Treasure Restrictions, and officially returned to the rank of a Supreme-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!

Its vine body was divided into seven sections, corresponding to the Yin-Yang Five Elements. Its nodes echoed from afar with the Starry Sky Gourd, and faint innate rosy light circulated around its body.

"So beautiful!" Changxi poked her head out from Lingxiao's embrace, her eyes sparkling as she watched the completely renewed Calabash Vine. Her little hand could not resist lightly touching one of its emerald leaves.

Xihe also nodded slightly, her cool eyes filled with admiration. "It can actually restore Innate Treasure Restrictions. The Creation power within this Green Lotus Seed truly is extraordinary."

"This is not the only gain from this. I also created a divine ability that perfectly matches this treasure." Lingxiao smiled faintly.

At those words, the two women grew even more curious.