Heavenly Dao Exemption, Unlocked for the First Time

On the beach by the Eastern Sea, Xuan Chen and Nüwa stopped to rest for a while. The sea breeze brushed gently past them, carrying a faint briny scent. The distant ocean was still surging with towering waves, but the dangers beneath its surface were gone.

Nüwa sat cross-legged and circulated the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture, consolidating her newly attained Golden Immortal Realm. She could clearly feel the Water Law and Creation Dao within her intertwining, their circulation becoming ever smoother and more natural. The newly unlocked composite divine ability, "Nourishing Creation," delighted her even more. It could nurture spiritual plants, heal living beings, and purify evil filth, perfectly aligning with her Dao conviction of "saving the world and helping others."

Xuan Chen stood nearby, spreading out his divine sense to probe the surroundings in case Dragon Clan experts came after them. At the same time, the system's notification sounded in his mind.

[System Notification: Main quest "Help disciple comprehend the first Law" successfully completed!]

[Calculating quest rewards...]

[Reward 1: Heavenly Dao Exemption ×1 (issued to system storage space)]

[Reward 2: Primordial Origin Essence Fragments ×3 (can be used to increase cultivation and repair one's Dao foundation)]

[Reward 3: Dao Comprehension ×1 (contains the profound fusion principles of the Water Dao and Creation Dao)]

[Additional Notice: Disciple Nüwa has comprehended a Law, and her Dao aura has begun to take shape, drawing the Heavenly Dao's initial attention. Future cultivation must be more cautious. Avoid acts that defy Heaven, or you may trigger a Heavenly Dao backlash.]

[Heavenly Dao Exemption Description: Can be used proactively to negate one Heavenly Dao warning or minor Heavenly Dao backlash. After use, it requires a thousand-year cooldown before it can be activated again.]

A flash of delight passed through Xuan Chen's eyes. The reward of a Heavenly Dao Exemption far exceeded his expectations. In the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao was everywhere. Every breakthrough a cultivator made, every act of defiance against Heaven, could draw its attention. If one carelessly triggered a Heavenly Dao backlash, the lighter consequence would be a drop in cultivation; the heavier would be death and the dissipation of one's Dao. This Heavenly Dao Exemption was equivalent to giving Nüwa another life-saving talisman, one that could produce unexpected results at a critical moment.

"The system rewards have been issued. Among them, the Heavenly Dao Exemption is exceedingly precious. It can negate one Heavenly Dao warning or minor backlash," Xuan Chen said to Nüwa through divine sense. "You have already drawn the Heavenly Dao's initial attention. From now on, you must be extremely cautious in your cultivation and must not casually commit acts that defy Heaven, such as excessively interfering with the life and death of living beings or forcibly seizing the opportunities of Heaven and Earth."

Nüwa opened her eyes, a trace of gravity flashing within them. "This disciple understands! Thank you for your reminder, Master. From now on, this disciple will certainly be prudent in word and deed, follow the laws of the Heavenly Dao, and practice the great Dao of saving the world and helping others."

Xuan Chen nodded. "Very good. The system also rewarded three Primordial Origin Essence Fragments and a Dao Comprehension. The Primordial Origin Essence Fragments can raise cultivation and repair one's Dao foundation. You have only just broken through to the Golden Immortal Realm, and your Dao foundation has yet to be fully stabilized, so they are perfect for consolidating it. This Dao Comprehension contains the profound fusion principles of the Water Dao and Creation Dao, and it will greatly benefit you in perfecting your own Dao aura system."

With that, Xuan Chen handed the three Primordial Origin Essence Fragments and that Dao Comprehension to Nüwa. The Primordial Origin Essence Fragments were golden all over and emitted a dense primordial aura; the Dao Comprehension transformed into an invisible strand of divine sense and merged into Nüwa's sea of consciousness.

Nüwa accepted the Primordial Origin Essence Fragments and immediately circulated the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture, drawing the Primordial Unity Origin Power within the fragments into her body. Like the purest nourishment, the Primordial Unity Origin Power continuously nurtured her Dao foundation, making her newly attained Golden Immortal Realm increasingly stable. At the same time, the Dao Comprehension in her sea of consciousness began to take effect, granting her a deeper understanding of the fusion between the Water Dao and Creation Dao.

"Master, this Dao Comprehension is too exquisite!" Nüwa said excitedly. "This disciple now feels that the fusion of the Water Dao and Creation Dao has become even smoother, and the power of the 'Nourishing Creation' divine ability has increased considerably as well!"

"That is only natural." Xuan Chen smiled faintly. "This Dao Comprehension was tailored by the system according to your Dao aura system. It can spare you many winding paths. However, Dao Comprehension is ultimately only external assistance. True cultivation still depends on your own constant practice and continual realization."

He paused briefly before continuing, "We have already left the Eastern Sea, so the Dragon Clan should no longer pursue us. Next, we will return to the Zichen Cave Abode. You have just comprehended a Law and broken through in realm, so you need time to absorb the rewards and stabilize your cultivation. Once you are fully prepared, we will consider the next stage of your cultivation plan."

"This disciple will follow Master's arrangements!" Nüwa nodded heavily.

The two rested briefly on the beach before transforming into a streak of golden light and racing toward Mount Buzhou. Along the way back, Xuan Chen traveled while explaining knowledge related to the Heavenly Dao to Nüwa. "Within the Primordial World, the Heavenly Dao is the supreme existence. It maintains the balance of Heaven and Earth and governs the life and death of all things. In essence, a cultivator's cultivation is a journey against the current of the Heavenly Dao, constantly breaking through the restrictions it has set. However, the Heavenly Dao is not utterly without compassion. So long as cultivators follow its laws and practice the Dao they have realized, they can gain its recognition and may even receive its blessings."

"Then what kinds of actions will trigger a Heavenly Dao backlash?" Nüwa asked.

Xuan Chen replied, "Actions such as excessively slaughtering living beings, destroying the spiritual veins of Heaven and Earth, or forcibly changing another's fate will all disrupt the balance of Heaven and Earth and thereby incur the Heavenly Dao's displeasure. In lighter cases, one will receive a Heavenly Dao warning, causing cultivation to stagnate; in severe cases, one will suffer a Heavenly Dao backlash and meet the end of death and Dao dissipation. You previously took in the early aquatic living beings and accumulated Living-Beings Karmic Affinity. That was an act in accordance with the laws of the Heavenly Dao, and it will earn its secret assistance. But if you slaughter innocents wantonly to increase your own strength, you will trigger a Heavenly Dao backlash."

Nüwa listened attentively, committing every word Xuan Chen spoke to heart. "This disciple understands! In the future, this disciple will certainly hold fast to the original intention of saving the world and helping others, follow the laws of the Heavenly Dao, and never do anything that disrupts the balance of Heaven and Earth."

Xuan Chen nodded in satisfaction. "It is good that you understand. Do not use that Heavenly Dao Exemption for now. Save it for a critical moment. For example, if you trigger a Heavenly Dao backlash while breaking through an important realm in the future, you can use it to negate the backlash."

"This disciple understands!"

The two sped onward without pause. The scenery along their path shifted constantly, from the boundless ocean to towering mountain ranges, then to lush and verdant forests. Several days later, they had traveled far beyond the Eastern Sea and entered the inland regions of the Primordial World.