At the outskirts of the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea, the currents surged with furious force, and whirlpools lay scattered like stars across the sky. White mist spread through the seawater, reducing visibility to almost nothing. Xuan Chen and Nüwa were shrouded in chaotic halos as they cautiously threaded their way between the whirlpools, slowly drawing closer to the Tide Eye's core.
The nearer they came to the core, the more violent the tidal force became. The surrounding seawater seemed to be violently churned by an invisible power, forming towering walls of water that came crushing down upon them. Xuan Chen circulated his Primordial Unity Origin Power and erected a sturdy golden barrier around them, struggling to withstand the berserk tidal force.
"Master, the tidal force here is incredibly powerful!" Nüwa said through divine sense, a trace of gravity appearing on her face. She could clearly sense the terrifying tearing force contained within the surrounding tides. Even her Primal Dao Body felt a measure of pressure.
Xuan Chen nodded. "The Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea is the source of the tidal force of the Four Seas, so naturally the tides here are violent beyond measure. Yet amid this violence lies the supreme truth of the Water Dao. Feel it carefully, and you will discover that although these raging tidal forces appear chaotic, they actually follow strict patterns of circulation, echoing the movements of the stars of heaven and earth."
After a brief pause, he continued, "The rise and fall of the tides are the ultimate manifestation of the Water Dao's 'flow' and 'cycle.' At high tide, water-origin energy gathers, displaying the might of rushing torrents; at low tide, water-origin energy disperses, revealing the charm of stillness. This ceaseless cycle, this recurring transformation, is the embodiment of the Water Dao's endless renewal. It shares the same wondrous essence as your Creation Dao, though the paths differ."
Nüwa closed her eyes and, following Xuan Chen's guidance, focused on sensing the tidal force around her. She could truly feel that within the violent tides lay a strange rhythm. This rhythm echoed the cadence of heaven and earth, of nature itself, causing her mind and spirit to rise and fall along with it.
As they continued deeper, the two finally reached the core of the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea. There were neither massive whirlpools nor violent walls of water here. Instead, it was strangely calm. In the seawater at the center stood a huge spring, endlessly gushing forth incomparably pure water-origin energy and forming a pillar of white light that shot straight toward the seabed.
The water-origin energy in the seawater around the spring was so dense that it had condensed into a viscous liquid, emitting a faint blue radiance. The surrounding seawater was an unusual blue-violet, as though it contained Stellar Power.
"This is the core region of the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea," Xuan Chen said through divine sense. "The central spring is the source of the tidal force of the Four Seas and contains the purest water origin. Sit cross-legged here now. Observe the rising and falling tides of the Four Seas, and sense the flow and changes of the Water Law. I will stand guard nearby and remain alert for hidden dangers."
"This disciple understands!" Nüwa replied through divine sense.
She walked beside the spring and sat cross-legged, holding the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant in her hand while taking out the system reward, "Origin Blessing." Xuan Chen had previously told her that using Origin Blessing within the Tide Eye's core region would maximize her efficiency in comprehending the Water Dao.
Nüwa took a deep breath and activated Origin Blessing. A gentle white radiance surged from within her body, resonating with the surrounding water-origin energy to form a strange energy field. With the support of Origin Blessing, Nüwa's perception of the Water Dao became extraordinarily keen. The movements and transformations of the surrounding Water Law were clearly displayed within her sea of consciousness.
She closed her eyes, her mind wholly immersed in comprehending the Water Dao. She could sense that the water origin flowing from the spring carried a rhythm of endless renewal and recurring cycles. This rhythm merged with the Creation Power within her body, giving her a deeper understanding of the Dao rhythm of "endless renewal."
As time passed, a faint blue glow emerged around Nüwa, blending with the surrounding water-origin energy. Her breathing became long and steady, keeping pace with the rise and fall of the tides. The Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant in her hand also became increasingly spirited, emanating dense water aura as it aided her comprehension of the Water Dao.
Xuan Chen sat cross-legged nearby, releasing his divine sense to closely monitor the surroundings. He could sense that the Water Law within the Tide Eye's core region was exceptionally active and contained endless mysteries. At the same time, he could detect powerful auras lurking in the surrounding seawater. They were clearly aquatic ferocious beasts guarding the Tide Eye, as well as occasional Dragon Clan patrols passing by.
Xuan Chen did not provoke these beings. He merely concealed his own aura to the utmost while releasing a faint Primordial Unity pressure, warning any living creatures that tried to approach. Under his deterrence, the aquatic ferocious beasts and Dragon Clan patrols lurking nearby did not dare approach the Tide Eye's core region lightly, merely watching from afar.
Time trickled away, and in the blink of an eye, seven days had passed.
Throughout those seven days, Nüwa remained seated cross-legged, carefully observing the tides of the Four Seas and deeply sensing the flow and transformations of the Water Law. With the threefold aid of Origin Blessing, the Water-Rhyme Jade Pendant, and the Tide Eye's water origin, her comprehension of the Water Dao advanced by leaps and bounds. The water-origin energy in her body grew ever purer, and her circulation of the Water Origin Art became increasingly skillful.
She could clearly sense that the flow and transformations of the Water Law were closely connected to the workings of heaven, earth, and nature. The rise and fall of the tides were not only influenced by the sun, moon, and stars, but were also intimately linked to the distribution of Spirit Veins throughout the Primordial World and changes in the fortune of heaven and earth. This realization elevated her understanding of the Water Dao from merely "balancing hardness and softness" to the realm of "following heaven and earth, merging with nature."
On this day, the water-origin energy in the Tide Eye's core region suddenly began to churn violently. Dazzling blue light erupted from Nüwa's body, and the water-origin energy around her gathered into an enormous Water Dragon that circled and danced around her. Her aura steadily rose, and her command of the Water Law reached a new height.
A trace of gratification flashed through Xuan Chen's eyes. He could sense that Nüwa had already gained an initial grasp of the Water Dao's core mysteries. Although she had yet to master them completely, she had already taken the crucial first step. All she needed next was continual consolidation and practice. Then she would be able to perfectly merge the Water Dao with her own Creation Dao, forming a unique system of Dao rhythms.
Just then, a powerful fluctuation of aura suddenly came from the distant seawater. Clearly, a powerful being was approaching. Vigilance flashed through Xuan Chen's eyes as he immediately gathered his thoughts and prepared for battle. He knew well that the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea was Dragon Clan territory. Having remained here for seven days, they had ultimately drawn the Dragon Clan's attention.
It seems a spot of trouble cannot be avoided. Xuan Chen fixed his gaze tightly upon the direction from which the aura came. He could sense that the newcomer was formidable, at least at the Early-Stage Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm, perhaps even stronger.
Nüwa also sensed the distant fluctuation of aura and slowly opened her eyes, a trace of gravity flashing through them. She could feel that the newcomer's aura contained dense dragon might. It was clearly a Dragon Clan expert.
"Master, have people from the Dragon Clan come?" Nüwa asked through divine sense.
Xuan Chen nodded. "That is right, it is a Dragon Clan expert. It seems we remained here too long and caught their attention. But you need not be afraid. With your master here, I will not let them harm you. Continue consolidating your understanding of the Water Dao. Leave this matter to me."
"This disciple understands!" Nüwa nodded heavily, then closed her eyes again and focused on consolidating her insights. She knew that the most important thing now was to quickly master the core mysteries of the Water Dao and strengthen herself. Only then would she avoid becoming a burden to her master in the coming conflict.
Xuan Chen looked at Nüwa's focused figure, a trace of gratification flashing through his eyes. He rose to his feet as the golden halo around him surged violently. Primordial Unity Origin Power slowly began to circulate, and he prepared himself to face the Dragon Clan expert. He knew the Dragon Clan was proud by nature. Intruding upon their territory would inevitably provoke conflict. Yet for Nüwa to successfully comprehend the Water Dao, he had no choice but to fight the Dragon Clan.
In the distant seawater, a colossal figure rapidly approached. Its dragon might grew ever stronger, shaking the surrounding seawater into violent turbulence. A conflict over territory, opportunity, and the Dao Path was about to erupt at the Tide Eye of the Eastern Sea.
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