Return to Zichen, Giving Nüwa a Protective Treasure

Deep within Mount Buzhou, outside the Zichen Cave Abode, clouds and mist curled through the air, spiritual herbs carpeted the ground, and immortal cranes danced in flight—a scene straight from an immortal realm. At the entrance to the cave abode, Nüwa and Fuxi stood side by side, their gazes fixed tightly on the distant horizon, their expressions carrying both anxiety and anticipation. Ever since Xuan Chen had gone to the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea to seize a treasure, the two had waited here day and night, fearing that he might meet with disaster.

"Master has been gone for so long. Why hasn't he returned yet? Could something have happened?" Nüwa said softly, a trace of worry in her voice. Though she knew Xuan Chen was immensely powerful, far surpassing cultivators of the same realm, the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea was, after all, the Dragon Clan's lair. Its foundations ran deep, and powerful experts were as numerous as clouds. She could not help worrying.

Fuxi patted her shoulder and comforted her. "Rest easy, Junior Sister. Master possesses boundless divine abilities and has a Chaos spiritual treasure to protect him. Nothing will happen to him. Perhaps something delayed him along the way. Let's wait a little longer." Though he spoke thus, a trace of anxiety lingered in Fuxi's eyes as well—the battles of the Dragon-Han Calamity were growing fiercer by the day, and he could sense the calamity aura between heaven and earth becoming increasingly dense. If Xuan Chen failed to return for a long while, they might find themselves stretched beyond their strength when facing the dangers to come.

Just as the two were speaking, a streak of chaotic light suddenly appeared on the distant horizon. Swift as lightning, it shot toward the Zichen Cave Abode. Wherever the streak passed, the clouds and mist parted of their own accord, and it radiated a familiar aura of Primordial Unity Power.

"It's Master! Master has returned!" Wild delight flashed through Nüwa's eyes, and she hurriedly waved at the streak of light and cried out.

Joy appeared on Fuxi's face as well, and the heart that had been hanging in suspense finally settled. He could sense that Xuan Chen's aura was even more profound than when he had departed. Clearly, not only had this treasure-seizing journey gone smoothly, but he had also gained greatly from it.

The chaotic streak arrived in the blink of an eye and descended before the Zichen Cave Abode. As the light faded, Xuan Chen's figure emerged. His robes were neat, his aura steady, and a faint smile rested on his face. There was not the slightest sign of injury.

"Master! You've finally returned!" Nüwa hurried forward, her voice brimming with joy and concern. "You must have had a difficult journey. Did you encounter any danger? Did you obtain the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron?"

Xuan Chen smiled faintly and reached out to rub the top of Nüwa's head. "Rest easy. Your master is unharmed, and the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron has naturally fallen into my hands." As he spoke, he took out the three-foot-long iron needle from his storage space and held it out before Nüwa.

The iron needle was black from end to end, its surface covered in fine, intricate patterns. It emitted a gentle yet majestic aura of water. Though it was not large, it gave off a weighty, steadfast feeling, as though it could suppress the four seas and eight wildernesses. As Nüwa looked at the needle before her, a trace of fascination flashed through her eyes. She could clearly sense that the water-element origin power contained within it was extraordinarily compatible with her Creation Dao. There was even a faint feeling as if they were bound by blood.

"So this is the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron? It truly is a peerless treasure!" Fuxi stepped closer as well, his eyes full of amazement. Activating his divine sense to inspect it, he discovered that the needle contained endless potential. Not only was it incomparably hard, but it could also change size according to its master's will. It combined offense and defense as one and was undoubtedly a rare Innate spiritual treasure.

Xuan Chen nodded and said to Nüwa, "This treasure is called the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron. It was transformed from the Innate Spiritual Root, Seabed Divine Iron, and has absorbed the essence of the Eastern Sea's waters for hundreds of millions of years. It contains pure water-element origin power. It has already acknowledged a master. From this day onward, it will be your weapon for protecting yourself."

"Thank you, Master!" Nüwa solemnly accepted the iron needle, warmth filling her heart. She could feel Xuan Chen's care and expectations for her, and this affection moved her beyond measure.

Looking at her, Xuan Chen continued, "Using this treasure is exceedingly simple. You need only sink your divine sense into it and establish a connection with its artifact spirit, and you will be able to control its changes in size as you please. It may become large or small. When large, it can pierce heaven and reach earth, suppressing the four seas; when small, it can become as fine as a strand of hair and hide at your fingertips. Moreover, the water-element origin power it contains can complement your Creation Dao. Not only can it strengthen your battle power, it can also help you comprehend the Water Dao more deeply and perfect the Dao of Creation."

Upon hearing this, Nüwa immediately followed Xuan Chen's guidance. She circulated her divine sense and sank it into the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron. The artifact spirit within the iron needle had long since acknowledged Xuan Chen, while the aura of creation on Nüwa's body and the Water Dao were both exceptionally compatible with the needle. The moment her divine sense entered, it formed a close connection with the artifact spirit.

Buzz! The iron needle trembled lightly, and the patterns on its surface began to shine, releasing a soft blue radiance. Nüwa could clearly feel that an invisible bond had formed between herself and the needle. She could control its changes in size at will. With a thought, the iron needle instantly transformed into a massive pillar several zhang long, radiating overwhelming pressure that made the entire cave abode tremble faintly. With another thought, the giant pillar reverted to a three-foot iron needle and floated above her palm, nimble and obedient.

"This is wonderful! At last, I have a proper magical treasure to protect myself!" Nüwa was overjoyed. Unable to restrain herself, she swung the iron needle, and a vast surge of water-element energy burst forth from it, transforming into a water dragon that sped toward the open ground outside the cave abode. With a boom, it smashed a huge, deep crater into the earth.

Watching her excited appearance, a gratified smile appeared on Xuan Chen's face. He knew that with the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron, Nüwa's battle power would undergo a qualitative leap. When she faced attacks from cultivators of the three clans in the future, she would have an additional measure of security.

Fuxi was delighted for Nüwa as well. "With this treasure, Junior Sister's strength has risen greatly. We will also have better odds of overcoming the coming calamity."

Xuan Chen nodded, his expression turning solemn. "The battles of the Dragon-Han Calamity are growing fiercer, and the calamity aura between heaven and earth is becoming denser. The next period will be the most violent stage of the great calamity. The three clans' peak experts may enter the fray at any time, and the Primordial World will face even greater upheaval. We must raise our strength as quickly as possible if we are to protect this patch of pure land amid the chaos."

At this point, Xuan Chen took out the jade bottles of three-clan essence blood he had gathered earlier from his storage space and handed them to Fuxi. "This is the essence blood of the Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, and Qilin Clan that I collected on my return journey. It contains the origin power of the three clans. I intend to use this essence blood, together with Chaos True Water and Primordial Unity Origin Power, to refine a batch of Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills. These pills possess boundless efficacy and can greatly raise a cultivator's cultivation and battle power. They will be of enormous help to both you and Nüwa."

Fuxi accepted the jade bottles and opened them for a look. Within the three bottles were pale gold, fiery red, and earthy yellow essence blood respectively, each radiating dense origin power. He could not help but rejoice. "Thank you, Master! With these essence-blood pills, Junior Sister and I will surely be able to break through our realms and increase our strength as soon as possible!"

Xuan Chen said, "Next, we will enter the depths of the cave abode for secluded cultivation. I will refine the pills, while you and Nüwa must seize the time to cultivate and strive to break through your current realms in the shortest possible time. Once the pills are successfully refined, your cultivation will surely rise to another level after you take them, and you will be able to face the dangers ahead with greater composure."

"Yes, Master!" Nüwa and Fuxi answered in unison, their eyes brimming with unwavering conviction. They understood that now was not the time to slacken. Only by raising their strength as quickly as possible could they survive the Dragon-Han Calamity and live up to Xuan Chen's expectations.

Afterward, Xuan Chen led Nüwa and Fuxi into the core region of the Zichen Cave Abode—the Primordial Unity Hall. The Primordial Unity Hall was the hub of the cave abode, constructed from chaos stone. Countless Spirit-Gathering Formations and cultivation formations were inscribed within it, and its spiritual energy was dozens of times denser than that of the outside world, making it exceptionally suited for secluded cultivation.

At the center of the Primordial Unity Hall, Xuan Chen arranged an alchemy formation. He took out the three-clan essence blood, Chaos True Water, and other materials one by one, placing them in orderly fashion. He drew a deep breath and circulated the Chaos Dao Art. Chaotic mist around his body surged violently, while Primordial Unity Power flowed endlessly into the alchemy formation and activated it.

Buzz! The alchemy formation gave a low roar and emitted dazzling chaotic light, enveloping all the materials within. Xuan Chen's gaze was focused, his divine sense concentrated to the utmost, as he carefully controlled the formation's temperature and energy, guiding the origin powers within the materials to merge with one another.

Refining the Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills was no easy task. The essence blood of the three clans possessed differing attributes and repelled one another. To fuse them together and form pills required extraordinarily exquisite flame control and energy control. Yet Xuan Chen possessed Primordial Unity Power, which could harmonize all laws. Combined with the aid of Chaos True Water, it was perfectly capable of dissolving the repulsive force between the three clans' essence blood.

Meanwhile, Nüwa and Fuxi sat cross-legged on opposite sides of the Primordial Unity Hall and began their secluded cultivation. Nüwa held the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron in her hand. While comprehending the water-element origin power within it, she circulated the Creation Dao Art and tempered her cultivation. The water-element origin power in the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron continuously flowed into her body, intertwining with her Creation Power. This deepened her understanding of the Water Dao, and her cultivation steadily advanced.

Fuxi took out the Innate spiritual treasure Xuan Chen had previously given him, the "Bagua Mirror," and circulated the Bagua Dao Art to deduce the great Dao of heaven and earth and comprehend the changes in the calamity aura. With the Bagua Mirror's power, he could clearly perceive the paths along which calamity aura flowed through heaven and earth, predict the direction of the three clans' war, and at the same time grasp the true essence of the great Dao from it, raising his cultivation and realm.

Within the Primordial Unity Hall, spiritual energy swirled thickly, while chaotic light flickered without cease. Xuan Chen devoted himself wholly to refining the pills. Within the alchemy formation, the three clans' essence blood gradually fused under the harmonizing effects of Chaos True Water and Primordial Unity Power, becoming a mass of interwoven three-colored liquid that radiated dense origin power. Nüwa and Fuxi immersed themselves in cultivation, their auras growing more profound as their cultivation repeatedly broke through bottlenecks.

Time slipped away quietly, and the fragrance of pills within the Primordial Unity Hall grew ever richer. The three-colored liquid gradually condensed into round, lustrous pills, their surfaces covered in delicate patterns and radiating dazzling light. The Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron in Nüwa's hand grew increasingly bright, and the aura of the Water Dao around her became increasingly dense. There were faint signs that she was about to break through to the Mid-Stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. Fuxi's aura also became steadier. The Bagua Mirror revolved in his hand, radiating mysterious light, and his understanding of the great Dao of heaven and earth reached a new height.

Xuan Chen sensed that the pills within the alchemy formation were about to take shape, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. He increased his output of Primordial Unity Power and guided the pills through their final condensation. At last, amid a crisp roar, the alchemy formation's light faded. Dozens of three-colored pills floated at the center of the formation, radiating majestic origin power—the Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills had been successfully refined!

Xuan Chen put away the alchemy formation and collected the pills into jade bottles, a satisfied smile appearing on his face. This batch of Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills was of extremely high quality. Every pill contained the origin power of the three clans. Taking one would not only rapidly increase cultivation, but also strengthen the body and even enable one to comprehend a trace of the true essence of the three clans' Dao. They would be of immense benefit to Nüwa and Fuxi.

He turned to look at Nüwa and Fuxi and discovered that both had already awakened from cultivation, their eyes gleaming with the brilliance of breakthrough. Nüwa's cultivation had successfully broken through to the Mid-Stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm. The Water Dao aura around her had perfectly fused with the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron, greatly increasing her battle power. Fuxi's cultivation had also broken through to the peak of the Early-Stage Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal realm, only one step away from the middle stage, and his comprehension of the Bagua Dao had grown deeper as well.

"Master, have the pills been successfully refined?" Nüwa rose to her feet, her voice full of expectation.

Xuan Chen nodded, took out two Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills, and handed one each to Nüwa and Fuxi. "These are Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills. After taking them, refine the origin power within as quickly as possible, stabilize your cultivation, and strive to break through to higher realms soon."

Nüwa and Fuxi accepted the pills. After offering their thanks, they immediately swallowed them. The pills melted upon entering their mouths, transforming into a vast surge of origin power that poured into their bodies. The two sat cross-legged once more, circulated their cultivation arts, and began refining the pills' power.

Xuan Chen watched them, a gratified smile on his face. He knew that with this batch of Three-Clan Essence-Blood Pills, along with the aid of the Proto-Dinghai Needle Iron, Nüwa and Fuxi's strength would undergo a qualitative leap. As for himself, he also needed to use this period to continue refining Primordial Unity Origin Power, comprehend the Water Control divine ability, and increase his own strength.

The most violent stage of the Dragon-Han Calamity was about to arrive, and the three clans' peak experts would soon take the stage one after another. The Primordial World was about to face unprecedented upheaval. Yet Xuan Chen firmly believed that so long as the three master and disciples worked together as one and continuously raised their strength, they would surely be able to gain a firm foothold amid the chaos, protect the pure land of the Zichen Cave Abode, and even seize greater opportunities within the great calamity, laying the foundation for the Primordial World's future order.

Within the Primordial Unity Hall, silence descended once more. Only dense spiritual energy and the fragrance of pills permeated the air, accompanied by the steady breathing of the three. It heralded a storm soon to come, along with their unwavering resolve to face it.