Within the cultivation chamber of the Zichen Cave Abode, spiritual energy permeated the air as Dao Resonance flowed without end.
Nüwa sat cross-legged atop a meditation cushion, her body wreathed in pearly-white Creation Power and the seven-colored essence of the Seven-Colored Wood Spirit. The Flat Peach Tree mark and the Seven-Colored Wood Spirit mark between her brows reflected one another, radiating dense vitality. At that moment, she was doing all she could to refine the Seven-Colored Wood Spirit's origin power while comprehending the "Creation Derivation" chapter of the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture.
As time passed, the Creation Power and Wood Spirit essence within Nüwa gradually fused, circulating with ever greater ease and fluidity. The profound truths of the "Creation Derivation" chapter surged into her sea of consciousness like a rising tide, elevating her understanding of the Creation Dao to an entirely new level. She could clearly sense that her Creation Power could not only nurture living beings, but also derive all manner of offensive and defensive techniques. It could even draw upon the power of other Dao laws to strengthen her own Dao Resonance.
On this day, dazzling rosy light suddenly erupted within the cultivation chamber. Nüwa's aura abruptly soared, breaking through the bottleneck at the peak of the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal and charging toward a higher realm. The two marks between her brows lit up at once, the emerald green of the Flat Peach Tree intertwining with the rosy glow of the Seven-Colored Wood Spirit to form a strange energy vortex that frantically absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy.
Xuan Chen had been forging a magical artifact in the artifact-refining chamber. Sensing the disturbance from the cultivation chamber, he immediately set down his work. With a flash of his body, he arrived outside its door. He did not rashly enter, merely standing guard in silence outside to prevent outside auras from interfering with Nüwa's breakthrough.
Within the cultivation chamber, Nüwa's aura grew ever more powerful. Her meridians were continuously broadened and strengthened by Creation Power and Wood Spirit essence, while the spiritual power in her dantian rapidly transformed into purer immortal essence. Her Primal Dao Body became increasingly solid, her skin lustrous as jade and suffused with faint chaotic radiance. The Chaos Dao Resonance around her also grew richer and denser.
Boom—!
A soft rumble sounded, and Nüwa's aura completely stabilized. She shattered the shackles of the Golden Immortal Realm and officially entered the Heavenly Immortal Realm! Her cultivation steadily settled at the Early Heavenly Immortal stage, yet the power contained within her far surpassed that of an ordinary Early Heavenly Immortal cultivator. She could even contend against a Mid-Stage Heavenly Immortal—such was the advantage bestowed by the Primal Creation Body and dual Innate Spiritual Roots.
After breaking through, Nüwa slowly opened her eyes. Rosy light flowed through them, while the two marks between her brows gradually faded away. She could distinctly feel that her senses had become sharper, her control over the surrounding spiritual energy more precise. She could even initially mobilize a small amount of Chaos Power and incorporate it into her Creation divine abilities.
"Disciple... broke through?" Nüwa rose to her feet, feeling the surging power within her, and an excited smile appeared on her face.
She walked to the cultivation chamber door and bowed to Xuan Chen. "Thank you for protecting me, Master. Your disciple has successfully broken through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm!"
Xuan Chen looked at Nüwa, a trace of relief and delight flashing through his eyes. "Good! Good! Good! In merely a few months, you have advanced from the Early-Stage Golden Immortal to the Heavenly Immortal Realm. Even among the Primordial Divine Beings of the Primordial World, such speed would count as first-rate!"
He stepped forward and carefully examined Nüwa's condition, nodding in satisfaction. "Your Primal Dao Body has become increasingly solid, and your Chaos Dao Resonance has grown denser. You can even make preliminary use of Chaos Power—this is tremendous progress. The Heavenly Immortal Realm is utterly different from the Golden Immortal Realm. Immortal essence is purer, and one's comprehension of Dao laws is deeper. This will be of immense help to your future understanding of the Water Dao."
A bashful smile appeared on Nüwa's face. "This is all due to Master. If Master had not found Innate Spiritual Roots for your disciple and imparted superior cultivation techniques, your disciple could never have progressed so quickly."
"Your talent and diligence are equally important." Xuan Chen shook his head. "The Primordial World has no shortage of opportunities, yet those who can seize them are few and far between. To refine the origins of two Innate Spiritual Roots in such a short time and grasp the core profundities of the cultivation technique—this comprehension and perseverance are the true foundation of your rapid growth."
He paused, then continued, "Your breakthrough into the Heavenly Immortal Realm today is a joyous occasion. Your master will celebrate it for you! Once you have consolidated your Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation, we will set out for the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea to comprehend the Water Dao."
"Thank you, Master!" Nüwa bowed, anticipation glittering in her eyes.
Xuan Chen brought Nüwa to the main hall, took out the Spiritual Vein Fortification Fluid he had refined earlier, and poured it into the cave abode's spiritual spring. The spring instantly erupted with dazzling light, and the spiritual energy concentration throughout the cave abode rose once more, becoming even purer.
"You should consolidate your realm beside the spiritual spring and absorb the essence of the Spirit Veins," Xuan Chen said. "The foundation of the Heavenly Immortal Realm is of vital importance. You must make it solid and stable; do not rush for quick success. I will finish forging the magical artifact, then teach you a basic water-element cultivation technique in preparation for our journey to the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea."
"Your disciple understands!" Nüwa nodded firmly, then walked to the spiritual spring and sat down cross-legged. She circulated the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture and began stabilizing her realm. After consolidating her Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation, Xuan Chen returned to the artifact-refining chamber and continued forging a magical artifact to assist in comprehending the Water Dao. With his prior accumulation and the insights brought by Nüwa's breakthrough, his artifact refinement proceeded exceptionally smoothly. Before long, a jade pendant, pearly-white throughout and rippling with faint water patterns, was successfully forged.
The jade pendant was oval-shaped, carved with intricate water-gathering and essence-absorbing runes. It was the auxiliary magical artifact Xuan Chen had tailored for Nüwa—the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant. The instant it took shape, it emitted a dense watery aura that echoed with the surrounding spiritual energy, appearing especially lively and nimble.
Xuan Chen picked up the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant and inspected it carefully. Afterward, he nodded with satisfaction. "Though this Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant is not an innate spiritual treasure, it can still be considered a high-grade magical artifact. Not only can it assist in comprehending the Water Dao, it can also condense a water curtain for defense and withstand Heavenly Immortal-level attacks. It will be sufficient for Nüwa's use at the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea."
He put away the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant and went to the spiritual spring. By then, Nüwa had already stabilized her Heavenly Immortal Realm cultivation. She sat cross-legged beside the spring, sensing the surging immortal essence within her.
"Master." Seeing Xuan Chen approach, Nüwa hurriedly rose and bowed.
Xuan Chen nodded. "Your realm has already been stabilized. Now, your master will give you the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant and teach you a basic water-element cultivation technique, the Water Origin Art, laying a solid foundation for your journey to the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea to comprehend the Water Dao."
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