Returning to Zichen, Secluded Cultivation to Digest Insights

Inside the cultivation chamber of the Zichen Cave Abode, spiritual energy was so dense it formed visible mist. Nüwa sat cross-legged on a cushion at the center, surrounded by pearly-white Creation light and pale-blue Water Law. The three marks between her brows echoed one another, emanating a rich aura of Dao essence.

Ever since she had formed a Daoist companion pact with Fuxi, Nüwa had entered secluded cultivation. She needed to digest the insights from her journey to the Eastern Sea, consolidate her Early-Stage Golden Immortal cultivation, and fuse the mysteries of the Water Dao and Creation Dao to refine her own Dao essence system.

Xuan Chen set up a Spirit-Gathering Formation for her, continuously drawing the cave abode's spiritual energy into the cultivation chamber to provide ample cultivation resources. At the same time, he once again infused the system's reward of Dao insights into Nüwa's sea of consciousness, helping her better fuse the two Great Daos.

Nüwa's mind was wholly immersed in cultivation. Within her sea of consciousness, the Water Law and the mysteries of the Creation Dao constantly collided and merged. The Water Law's "flow" and "tolerance" meshed perfectly with the Creation Dao's "endless vitality," forming an entirely new Dao essence. This Dao essence contained both water's nourishing power and life's creative power, making her Nourishing Creation divine ability increasingly complete.

As her cultivation deepened, the immortal essence within Nüwa's body became ever purer, and her Dao foundation grew increasingly stable. She could clearly feel her control over the Water Law steadily rising, gradually increasing from the initial 10% to 15%. Though the increase was not great, every improvement signified a deeper understanding of the Great Dao.

Meanwhile, in another cultivation chamber within the Zichen Cave Abode, Xuan Chen sat cross-legged in meditation, three Primordial Origin Essence Fragments placed before him. His eyes were closed as his divine sense sank into his sea of consciousness, sorting through the insights from this journey to the Eastern Sea while deducing the Primordial World's future course.

During the Eastern Sea journey, he had not only witnessed Nüwa comprehend the Water Dao and break through into the Golden Immortal Realm, but had also clashed with Dragon Clan experts, gaining a clearer understanding of the Primordial World's distribution of power. As one of the Primordial World's three great clans, the Dragon Clan was immensely powerful. It controlled the water veins of the Four Seas and was a formidable force that could not be ignored. Yet the Dragon Clan was arrogant by nature and possessed a strong desire to expand; in the future, it would inevitably come into conflict with the other two clans.

Xuan Chen's divine sense transformed into an invisible sharp blade, piercing through the barriers of time and space as it deduced the Primordial World's future. He could see that the conflicts among the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan were steadily escalating. In their struggle for the Primordial World's territory and resources, the three clans had already been secretly amassing strength, with friction arising without cease. Like a volcano gathering pressure, this conflict would erupt sooner or later, becoming a great calamity that swept across the entire Primordial World—the Dragon-Han Calamity.

The Dragon-Han Calamity is the Primordial World's first large-scale conflict among clans, and also the Heavenly Dao's reshuffling of the Primordial World's powers, Xuan Chen thought to himself. The three clans are evenly matched, each with its own advantages. Once a full-scale conflict erupts, they will surely wound one another severely, giving other forces an opening to exploit. And Nüwa and Fuxi, rising stars among the innate sacred beings, will certainly face severe trials in this great calamity as well.

He deduced the time when the great calamity would erupt and discovered that the conflict among the three clans had already reached its critical point. Within a thousand years, the Dragon Clan would certainly engage the Phoenix Clan and Qilin Clan in direct conflict over inland spiritual veins, thereby triggering the Dragon-Han Calamity.

A thousand years—neither long nor short, Xuan Chen calculated inwardly. Nüwa has only just broken through to the Early-Stage Golden Immortal. Though she has comprehended the Water Dao, her strength is still insufficient to face the dangers of the great calamity. Fuxi's cultivation is only at the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal. His art of deduction is formidable, but his combat strength is lacking. Within these thousand years, their strength must improve greatly, and preparations must be made to guard against the calamity.

Xuan Chen circulated his Primordial Unity Origin Power and absorbed the three Primordial Origin Essence Fragments into his body. The pure Primordial Unity power nourished and stabilized his Dao foundation, making his cultivation more solid and slightly enhancing his deductive abilities. He continued deducing the details of the Dragon-Han Calamity, striving to find ways to avoid danger and accumulate opportunities.

Though the Dragon-Han Calamity is extraordinarily perilous, it also conceals immense opportunities, Xuan Chen mused inwardly. The war among the three clans will inevitably spread throughout the Primordial World, causing countless living beings to perish. Yet it will also give rise to numerous heavenly materials and earthly treasures; innate spirit treasures may even emerge. As long as the timing is grasped well, sufficient resources can be accumulated amid the great calamity, allowing Nüwa and Fuxi to rapidly increase their strength.

At the same time, he realized that the Dragon-Han Calamity was the Heavenly Dao's selection of the Primordial World. Only cultivators with steadfast Dao hearts, formidable strength, and harmony with the laws of the Heavenly Dao could survive the great calamity and perhaps even receive the Heavenly Dao's blessings. Nüwa's original intent to save the world and rescue its people happened to align with the Heavenly Dao's laws. So long as she could protect living beings during the great calamity and accumulate merit, she would surely gain the Heavenly Dao's favor, laying a solid foundation for her future sainthood.

It seems it is time to formulate a detailed cultivation plan for Nüwa and Fuxi, Xuan Chen pondered inwardly. Not only must their strength be improved, they must also accumulate sufficient merit and karmic ties, preparing themselves for the Dragon-Han Calamity.

Just then, Nüwa's voice came from outside the cultivation chamber. "Master, this disciple has successfully completed her secluded cultivation!"

Xuan Chen opened his eyes, a trace of gratification flashing through them. "Come in."

Nüwa pushed open the door and entered. Her aura was more stable than before, and her Dao essence had grown even richer. Her cultivation had completely stabilized at the Early-Stage Golden Immortal, her control over the Water Law had risen to 15%, and her affinity with the Creation Dao had improved as well.

"Master, this disciple has fully digested the insights from the Eastern Sea journey, and her cultivation has also stabilized at the Early-Stage Golden Immortal." Nüwa bowed in salute. "Moreover, this disciple has become increasingly proficient in using the Nourishing Creation divine ability, and can also use the Water Law to perform several new minor divine abilities."

"Very good." Xuan Chen nodded. "Your progress has been rapid, and you have not disappointed your master. Next, I will devise an entirely new cultivation plan for you, helping you increase your strength within a thousand years and face the impending great calamity of the Primordial World."

"A great calamity of the Primordial World?" A trace of confusion flashed through Nüwa's eyes.

Xuan Chen said, "That is right. According to my deductions, within a thousand years, the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan will erupt into full-scale conflict, thereby triggering the Dragon-Han Calamity. This great calamity will sweep across the entire Primordial World, leaving living beings in misery and forcing every power to reshuffle. As innate sacred beings, you and Fuxi will surely be drawn into it and face severe trials."

A trace of gravity flashed through Nüwa's eyes. "This disciple understands! This disciple will certainly race against time to improve her strength and prepare to face the great calamity!"