Several days later, in the valley outside Zichen Cave Abode, two streaks of light raced in like lightning and landed steadily upon the ground. They were Xuan Chen and Nüwa, weary from their journey.
Upon returning to the familiar cave abode, a deep sense of warmth rose within Nüwa. This was where she had been born, where her cultivation had begun, and the only haven she possessed in the perilous Primordial World.
With a wave of his hand, Xuan Chen removed the defensive restrictions outside the cave abode, then led Nüwa inside. The spiritual energy within remained exceptionally dense, while the essence of the Spirit Veins flowed through the air. It was even purer than when they had left—clearly, although some of the Spiritual Vein Fortification Fluid he had placed here had been used up, it had still strengthened the cave abode's Spirit Veins to some extent.
"Master, shall we go search for the final mid-grade Innate Spiritual Root and complete the system mission now?" Nüwa asked, her eyes filled with anticipation.
Xuan Chen shook his head. "No rush. You have only just fused with the Flat Peach Tree Seedling. Your cultivation has broken through from the peak of the Early-Stage Golden Immortal to the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal, yet your realm has not stabilized. The Creation Power and spiritual root origin within your body have not fully fused either. If we rashly set out to search for an Innate Spiritual Root now, it may not only affect the absorption, but could even cause a backlash in your realm."
After a pause, he continued, "We will enter seclusion for a time. You will stabilize your realm and fuse with the spiritual root origin. I will also take this opportunity to consolidate my cultivation and digest the insights I gained in my battle with Luo Hou's remnant soul. Once we are both fully prepared, we will seek out the final Innate Spiritual Root and complete the system mission."
"This disciple will follow Master's arrangements!" Nüwa nodded heavily. She could feel that the power within her was somewhat unstable; she truly needed time to consolidate it.
Xuan Chen led Nüwa to a cultivation chamber behind the main hall. The spiritual energy there was even denser than in the hall. A massive meditation cushion sat at its center, surrounded by inscriptions of Spirit-Gathering runes. This was the place Xuan Chen had previously prepared for his own cultivation.
"You will enter seclusion here. Circulate the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture, stabilize your realm, and fuse with the spiritual root origin," Xuan Chen said. "Master will guard you from the side while cultivating as well. During your seclusion, no matter what happens, do not interrupt your cultivation. With Master here, no one will disturb you."
"Thank you, Master!" Nüwa bowed, then sat cross-legged upon the meditation cushion, closed her eyes, and began circulating the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture.
A lustrous white Creation Power flowed from within her body, casting a faint halo around her. The Flat Peach Tree mark between her brows flickered with emerald light. Her aura gradually steadied, the unstable power within her slowly settling, while the spiritual root origin quietly fused with her Dao body.
Xuan Chen sat cross-legged not far from Nüwa and took out a Chaos Origin Fragment. He had collected this fragment from the chaotic currents earlier. It contained a pure aura of the Chaos Dao, making it the perfect material for consolidating his cultivation.
He closed his eyes and circulated the Primordial Dao-Seeking Formula, merging the Chaos Origin Fragment into his body. The pure Chaos Power was like a trickling stream, slowly nourishing his meridians and soul. Xuan Chen could clearly feel that the Primordial Unity Origin Power within him was becoming increasingly condensed, while his comprehension of the Primordial Unity Great Dao deepened bit by bit.
Although his current cultivation was at the Late Immortal Golden Immortal stage, the Primordial Unity Origin Power hidden within his body had long reached the level of a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal. He had merely suppressed it deliberately, lest he draw the Heavenly Dao's attention too soon. Within the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao was both utterly impartial and utterly selfish. The more heaven-defying one's existence, the more easily one would suffer its suppression. Xuan Chen understood this well, which was why he had always concealed his true strength, unsealing only a portion of his origin at critical moments.
During their seclusion, the cultivation chamber was silent. Only the faint sound of spiritual energy flowing and the rhythm of master and disciple's breaths could be heard. Nüwa's aura steadily rose, gradually advancing from the early phase of the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal toward its peak. The fusion of the Creation Power around her and her spiritual root origin grew deeper and deeper, while the Flat Peach Tree mark between her brows became increasingly distinct.
Xuan Chen's aura, meanwhile, grew ever more restrained, as tranquil and rippleless as a deep pool. Yet beneath that calm lay vast, surging power. Nourished by the Chaos Origin Fragment, his Primordial Unity Origin Power became purer and more condensed. His command of the Primordial Unity Great Dao also grew more proficient, and there were even faint signs that he might break through his current state of suppression.
Time trickled away, and in the blink of an eye, half a month had passed.
On this day, dazzling white light suddenly erupted within the cultivation chamber. Nüwa's aura surged, breaking through the bottleneck at the peak of the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal. Though she had not reached the Late Immortal Golden Immortal stage, her realm was now completely stabilized. The Creation Power and spiritual root origin within her had fully fused, flowing smoothly and freely.
She slowly opened her eyes, rosy radiance swirling within them. She bowed to Xuan Chen. "Thank you for guarding me, Master. This disciple's realm has stabilized, and the spiritual root origin has fully fused as well."
Xuan Chen opened his eyes and looked at Nüwa, an approving smile appearing on his face. "Very good. Your progress has far exceeded Master's expectations. Now, your strength is sufficient to handle ordinary Late-Stage Golden Immortal cultivators."
He rose to his feet. "Master's cultivation has also stabilized. Next, we shall depart at once to seek the final mid-grade Innate Spiritual Root and complete the system mission."
Nüwa nodded, anticipation gleaming in her eyes. She could feel that her current condition was better than ever before. So long as she completed the system mission and unlocked the "Creation Derivation" chapter of the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture, her strength would surely rise to another level.
Xuan Chen led Nüwa out of the cultivation chamber, preparing to head for the final secret realm indicated by the system—Myriad Woods Valley. There grew a mid-grade Innate Spiritual Root known as the "Seven-Colored Wood Spirit." It contained pure wood-element origin and was quite compatible with Nüwa's Creation Dao.
Just as the two were about to depart, Xuan Chen suddenly had a thought. Looking toward Nüwa, he said, "Disciple, you have just emerged from seclusion, so you must have gained some new insights into the path of cultivation. Before we depart, is there anything you wish to ask? Master will certainly hold nothing back."
A trace of hesitation flashed through Nüwa's eyes. Then, as if she had made up her mind, she asked, "Master, this disciple has always had a question in her heart. What is the Great Dao? What, in the end, do we cultivate for?"
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