Luo Hou's Remnant Spied from the Shadows, Killing Intent Lurked

Outside the Zichen Cave Abode, the chaos currents remained turbulent and violent. The shrubs at the valley entrance swayed with the wind, cleverly concealing the cave abode's traces.

Xuan Chen had just replenished his depleted origin power and was about to continue cultivating the Primordial Dao-Seeking Formula when a warning abruptly rose in his heart. An exceedingly obscure, evil aura, like a hidden venomous snake, silently enveloped the entire valley.

That aura was cold and vicious, brimming with the intent of destruction and slaughter. It stood utterly at odds with the vitality and Dao of creation within the Primordial World, making every hair stand on end and causing even one's soul to tremble.

"Not good!" Xuan Chen's expression changed sharply. He rose to his feet at once and fixed a piercing gaze beyond the cave abode.

He pushed the Chaos Breath Concealment Art to its limit, concealing his own aura while cautiously releasing a thread of divine sense to investigate the outside. Like an invisible strand of silk, his divine sense passed through the cave abode's defensive runes and extended beyond the valley.

The chaos currents outside the valley seemed even more violent than usual. A faint scent of blood and decay permeated the air. Xuan Chen's divine sense carefully searched the area around the valley and soon detected the source of that evil aura atop a mountain peak west of the valley.

It was an exceedingly faint wisp of black mist, hidden among the chaos currents like a ghostly specter. Within the mist was wrapped a fragment of a remnant soul. Though this remnant soul was incredibly weak, it emanated a terrifyingly evil aura. Its invisible eyes were fixed firmly in the direction of the Zichen Cave Abode, filled with greed and killing intent.

Luo Hou's remnant!

Luo Hou had been one of the Chaos Gods and Devils, cultivating the Destruction Great Dao. When the Primordial World had first opened, he had stirred up the war between Gods and Devils, attempting to prove his Dao through slaughter. In the end, Ancestor Hongjun had joined forces with other innate sacred beings to slay him. Yet legend had it that before Luo Hou's death, he had split off several fragments of his remnant soul and hidden them throughout the Primordial World, awaiting a chance to revive.

He had never expected to encounter a fragment of Luo Hou's remnant soul here!

Xuan Chen could sense that the target of this fragment of Luo Hou's remnant soul was the Nuwa Stone within the cave abode. As a Chaos Relic Pearl, the Nuwa Stone contained pure Chaos Origin Essence and Creation Power. To Luo Hou, who cultivated the Destruction Great Dao, it was undoubtedly an excellent tonic. If this remnant soul seized the Nuwa Stone's origin essence, not only would Nüwa perish and her Dao vanish, but the remnant soul might also use the Creation Power to revive and once again bring calamity upon the Primordial World.

Damn it! Xuan Chen cursed inwardly. He had never expected that merely clearing the spirit veins would cause the Nuwa Stone's creation aura to attract such a terrifying existence. Although this fragment of remnant soul was exceedingly weak, with strength at most on the level of a Golden Immortal, Luo Hou's Destruction Great Dao was bizarre beyond measure. One misstep could lead to a terrible disaster.

Xuan Chen did not dare relax in the slightest. He immediately circulated the spiritual energy within his body and reinforced the cave abode's defensive restrictions. His hands rapidly formed seals, and streams of golden runes flew from his fingers, merging into the defensive barrier at the cave abode's entrance. The already formidable barrier blazed with light under the runes' reinforcement, its defensive strength instantly doubling.

At the same time, he took out the innate spirit treasure, the Primal Chaos Pearl, and suspended it above the cave abode's main hall. The Primal Chaos Pearl emitted a faint black radiance, forming an invisible defensive shield that enveloped the entire hall. The Chaos Power contained within the Primal Chaos Pearl happened to counter the destructive aura of Luo Hou's remnant soul, adding another layer of protection for the Nuwa Stone.

After finishing all this, Xuan Chen released his divine sense again to observe the movements of Luo Hou's remnant soul. The black mist hovered restlessly atop the mountain peak, seemingly hesitating over whether to launch an attack. Clearly, it too had noticed that the Zichen Cave Abode's defensive restrictions would not be easily breached. It had also sensed the chaos aura emitted by the Primal Chaos Pearl and was wary of it.

Xuan Chen's expression remained grave. He understood that although Luo Hou's remnant soul was weak, the strangeness of the Destruction Great Dao far exceeded imagination. Since the other party had discovered the Nuwa Stone's existence, it would never give up so easily. If it found a flaw in the defensive restrictions, or waited until other covetous beings appeared and joined forces to attack, the consequences would be too dreadful to contemplate.

The dangers of the Primordial World truly lived up to their reputation! Xuan Chen sighed inwardly. He had thought he had found a hidden sanctuary for cultivation, only to draw such a terrifying enemy nonetheless. He understood more deeply than ever that if he wished to protect Nüwa as she grew in the Primordial World, relying solely on a hidden cave abode and defensive restrictions was far from enough. He had to rapidly increase his own strength and help Nüwa take form as soon as possible.

Once Nüwa took form, with the foundation of the Primal Creation Body and the inheritance of the Heaven-Mending Genesis Scripture, her cultivation would surely rise swiftly. At the very least, she would possess the strength of a Golden Immortal. By then, master and disciple could join hands and face these covetous foes with far greater confidence.

I must go to the Kunlun Ruins as soon as possible, find the Immortal Apricot, and help Nüwa take form! Xuan Chen made up his mind. The current situation no longer allowed him to cultivate slowly and raise his strength bit by bit. He had to risk going to the Kunlun Ruins to obtain the Immortal Apricot. Only by helping Nüwa take form as quickly as possible could he resolve the present crisis at its root.

He looked toward the Nuwa Stone in the center of the main hall. The spiritual intelligence within the stone seemed to have sensed the danger outside as well. Its humanoid outline had grown somewhat tense, and through their soul contract, it sent him an uneasy thought.

"Disciple, do not be afraid. Your master will surely keep you safe," Xuan Chen comforted her softly. "There is a small trouble outside. Your master has already made preparations and will never let it harm you in the slightest. Once I have dealt with matters here, I will take you to seek opportunities and help you take form soon. Then, master and disciple will stand together in this Primordial World, and no one will dare bully us!"

Perhaps sensing Xuan Chen's resolve and confidence, the spiritual intelligence within the Nuwa Stone gradually calmed down. The humanoid outline gave him a slight bow, conveying a thought of trust.

Xuan Chen took a deep breath, his gaze becoming incomparably resolute. He knew that the days ahead would grow ever more difficult. Not only did he have to deal with Luo Hou's remnant soul spying upon them, but he also had to increase his strength quickly and travel to the Kunlun Ruins in search of the Immortal Apricot. Yet he had no path of retreat. For Nüwa, and for his own path through the Primordial World, he had to press forward bravely.

He sat down cross-legged once more and began cultivating the Primordial Dao-Seeking Formula. This time, however, his mind did not wholly immerse itself in cultivation. He split off a portion of his divine sense to remain alert to the movements outside at all times, guarding against a sudden attack from Luo Hou's remnant soul.

Outside the cave abode, that wisp of black mist still wandered atop the mountain peak. Like a lurking venomous snake, it waited for an opportunity, biding its time for the best moment to strike. Killing intent lurked on every side. The peace of the Zichen Cave Abode had been utterly shattered, and an invisible contest had quietly begun.