Taking Form, the World Outside

At last, on a day that seemed ordinary yet carried extraordinary significance, Xiao Teng clearly sensed that his opportunity to take form had arrived.

Filled with anticipation and excitement, he hurriedly circulated the spiritual energy throughout his body, preparing to embrace this moment of transformation.

However, at that very moment, an unexpected change occurred. To his shock, the spiritual energy that had originally filled his body began rapidly draining away beyond his control.

He realized that the spiritual energy within him was surging at an astonishing speed toward the largest calabash.

"Da Wa, what are you doing?" Xiao Teng cried out anxiously.

Da Wa looked equally bewildered and innocent. He shook his body and said helplessly, "Father, I don't know why either. This spiritual energy keeps rushing into my body on its own. I feel like I'm about to burst!"

Before he had finished speaking, an incomparably mysterious halo appeared around Da Wa.

Then, accompanied by a flash of gentle light, Da Wa slowly floated down from the Calabash Vine.

The first calabash ripened and fell to the ground, where it began shaking violently.

A moment later, a dazzling beam of light shot into the sky from within the calabash. Then, with a deafening bang, the calabash split in two, and an adorable, exquisitely carved little child sprang out.

Xiao Teng stared at the scene before him in utter disbelief, his emotions a tangled mess.

Originally, he had always believed these calabashes possessed only a rudimentary consciousness. He had even secretly planned to refine them into seven magical treasures after taking form.

He remembered that these seven calabashes should have been capable of being refined into Supreme Primordial Spirit Treasures.

Roaming the Primordial World with seven Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures—how magnificent would that have been?

Yet he had never expected that they could take form, and that Da Wa would even drain away all the cultivation he had painstakingly accumulated over so long.

Xiao Teng's hopes of taking form were shattered in an instant. Who knew how long he would have to wait for another chance?

Da Wa had no idea what Xiao Teng was thinking. He bounced about and shouted, "Father, Father, I've taken form! I can see the world outside now!"

Xiao Teng looked at Da Wa. Though he felt it was a pity, he bore no resentment. After all, Da Wa was his child.

With a bitter smile, he said, "You little rascal, you've really put your father through hell."

Da Wa seemed not to notice his father's helplessness and continued eagerly, "Father, Father, I want to explore the outside world and see what's out there. When I come back, I'll tell you all about it."

Xiao Teng was immediately horrified upon hearing this and hurriedly tried to stop him. "Da Wa, you're still only a child. The outside world is nowhere near as wonderful as you imagine. It is actually filled with countless dangers."

To the living beings outside, a Primordial Gourd was an unparalleled treasure. They would surely stop at nothing to seize it.

If Da Wa went out now, he would be like a lamb walking into a wolf's jaws. He might never return.

"Don't worry, Father. I'm very strong."

Da Wa curled his lips indifferently, raised his chubby little fist, and slammed it toward the nearby cliff wall.

A heaven-shaking boom rang out. The entire cliff trembled violently, rocks tumbling down one after another and kicking up clouds of dust.

Seeing this, Xiao Teng could not help but marvel inwardly. Mount Buzhou's body is incomparably hard, yet Da Wa can make its cliffs shake with his own strength alone. His power truly is extraordinary.

Even so, the worry in his heart did not lessen in the slightest. He feared Da Wa would act recklessly on impulse.

"Father, Father, just let me go out. Don't worry—if I run into danger, I'll definitely hide," Da Wa promised.

Under Da Wa's relentless pleas, Xiao Teng finally agreed to let him venture into the outside world.

"Father, little brothers, I'm heading out first. Don't worry, I'll take good care of myself. I'll bring you some treasures when I come back."

Xiao Teng earnestly advised Da Wa, "Da Wa, you must be extremely careful on this journey."

Xiao Teng truly had to play both father and mother.

"Everyone, I'll be going now."

After saying that, Da Wa leaped into the air and instantly broke through the restrictions of the Primordial Array, speeding toward the world beyond it.

As Xiao Teng watched Da Wa's receding figure, a trace of envy unexpectedly rose in his heart.

He had been trapped here for a long time and yearned for the world outside.

Suddenly, a strange sight unfolded before him. To his surprise, he seemed able to see the world outside through Da Wa's eyes.

At first, he thought his vision had gone blurry with age, but after repeatedly confirming it, he realized that he could truly share Da Wa's sight.

"Da Wa, can you hear my voice?" Xiao Teng asked softly, testingly.

"Father, I can hear you perfectly clearly."

Da Wa's response left Xiao Teng both shocked and delighted, his heart brimming with excitement.

"Da Wa, walk around more outside so your father can properly see what the world beyond is really like."

"Alright, Father."

At this moment, Da Wa was within Mount Buzhou.

Mount Buzhou towered into the clouds like a giant sword piercing the heavens. One could not see its peak at all.

Xiao Teng had imagined Mount Buzhou's majestic outline countless times, but only when he truly witnessed it through Da Wa's eyes did he feel its boundless, awe-inspiring grandeur.

Da Wa first flew through the air for some distance, then slowly descended to the ground and curiously surveyed everything around him.

His clear eyes were filled with novelty and innocent confusion toward this unknown world.

Spiritual plants flourished across Mount Buzhou, radiating mysterious and captivating auras.

All manner of innate living beings moved among them, some playing and frolicking, others searching for food or resting, creating a scene brimming with life.

"Da Wa, do not easily come into conflict with other living beings. Remember that," Xiao Teng's warning sounded beside Da Wa's ear.

"I understand, Father," Da Wa replied obediently.

After walking for a while, Da Wa cried out in delight, "Father, look over there! There's a glowing stone!"

Da Wa ran toward the glowing stone.

Through Da Wa's vision, Xiao Teng saw the enormous boulder. It stood a full ten zhang tall.

Only when Da Wa drew near did he realize that the light was not coming from the boulder itself, but was shining out from beneath its base.

Clearly, there had to be a treasure beneath this boulder.

Without hesitation, Da Wa stretched out both arms and wrapped them tightly around the boulder. He focused slightly and gathered his strength, his muscles tightening. Though the boulder was several times larger than his body, his seemingly tender arms, which contained limitless strength, slowly shifted it aside as though it were a light toy.

However, the instant the boulder was moved, a black shadow shot toward Da Wa with tremendous speed.

"Da Wa, watch out!" Xiao Teng shouted anxiously.

Da Wa reacted with remarkable agility. His body flashed aside as he twisted away from the attack.

When he got a clear look at the attacker, he found that it was an enormous scorpion.

The scorpion was a full zhang long, its thick tail accounting for more than half its body. The venomous stinger atop it glinted with chilling light under the faint glow.

Seeing that its strike had missed, the scorpion immediately raised its massive tail high. Like a sharp spear, it stabbed toward Da Wa with a piercing howl.