Holding the Seed of Balance, Xiao Yan could clearly feel the changes in the laws within his body. The flames were still blazing, but they had gained a gentler sense of balance, and even the guidance of the Compass of Order had become clearer. According to the star map, the Sea of Life, where the Seed of Life was located, was situated at the edge of the All Heavens and Myriad Realms. It was an ocean composed of pure life energy and the birthplace of countless strange creatures.
Upon arriving at the edge of the Sea of Life via the teleportation array, an overwhelming aura of life washed over them. There was no land before them, only an endless expanse of emerald green ocean. The seawater, like the purest jade, rippled with a soft light. Giant lotus leaves floated on the surface, upon which grew glowing flowers. Schools of winged fish occasionally swept across the sky, creating a fantastical and magnificent scene.
"Such rich Power of Life." Xiao Yan took a deep breath and felt the Heart of the Flame Realm within his body become more active, and even the "Balance" Seed felt slightly warm, clearly resonating with the environment here.
The pointer of the Compass of Order pointed steadily into the depths of the ocean, where life was most abundant, yet there was also a faint sense of oppression, as if something was sleeping.
He summoned the Heaven Burning Sword, and flames condensed beneath his feet into a small fiery boat, which sailed into the depths with the ocean current. The creatures along the way did not seem to be hostile to him, an outsider; some curiously swam around the boat, while others quietly lay on lotus leaves, creating a peaceful scene.
But as he ventured deeper, Xiao Yan gradually discovered something unusual. The closer he got to the core of the Sea of Life, the fewer living beings there became. The color of the seawater changed from emerald green to dark green, and the light dimmed. Although the life force in the air was still strong, it had a slightly "rigid" feel to it—as if the Power of Life here was too abundant, and had lost its circulation and change, becoming stagnant.
"Is this... an imbalance caused by an excess of Power of Life?" Xiao Yan wondered, taking out the "Balance" Seed. The gray crystal emitted a soft light, merging into the surrounding seawater, causing ripples to appear in the deep green water, restoring some vitality.
It seems that the Power of Balance of the "balance" seed can play a special role here.
After traveling for another three days, a huge island made of coral appeared ahead. In the center of the island stood a towering ancient tree, its trunk so thick that it would take hundreds of people to encircle it. Its canopy blocked out the sky and reached into the clouds, and its branches were covered with fruits like stars, radiating life energy of the purest kind.
"That must be the ' Tree of Life '." Xiao Yan's heart stirred, and the star map showed that the seed of "life" was on this tree.
But he did not approach rashly. Countless transparent bubbles floated in the waters surrounding the island, each bubble containing the phantom images of various creatures, their expressions pained, as if bound by some force. The island's edge was covered with thorny vines, their barbs radiating an aura of "death" completely different from the Power of Life.
"It's the ' Stagnant Life Vine '." Xiao Yan recognized the plant. It was recorded in the Forbidden Archives. They were products of an imbalance of Power of Life, capable of absorbing the life force of living beings, trapping them in bubbles, and converting them into their own nutrients.
These vines were clearly the guardians of the "seed of life," but due to an excess of Power of Life, they mutated, transforming from guardians into imprisoners.
Xiao Yan urged the flaming boat closer to the island, Stagnant Life Vine immediately reacted, coiling towards him like a serpent. The barbs on the vine gleamed with an eerie light, clearly containing deadly poison.
" Heaven Burning Purification!"
Golden flames transformed into a curtain of light, blocking the entangling vines. The flames contained the Power of Balance of the "Balance" seed. When the Stagnant Life Vine came into contact with the flames, they did not burn like ordinary plants. Instead, the deathly aura on their surface quickly dissipated, revealing their original emerald green color, and their movements became sluggish.
"It really works." Xiao Yan was overjoyed. The power of the "Balance" Seed could harmonize the unbalanced Power of Life and restore the Stagnant Life Vine to normal.
He manipulated the fiery light barrier to slowly advance, and the Stagnant Life Vine along the way retreated under the Power of Balance, revealing a path to the island. The phantom creatures in the bubbles saw him and their eyes shone with gratitude, as if they were pleading for his help.
"Once I retrieve the Seed of Life, I will definitely come to save you," Xiao Yan murmured to himself, quickening his pace.
Upon arriving at the Tree of Life, he discovered that the tree was even larger than it appeared from afar. Its trunk was covered with wrinkles, like the skin of an old man, yet new buds sprouted from within these wrinkles, brimming with the vitality of "the alternation of withering and flourishing." At the very top of the canopy, a fruit radiating seven-colored light stood out prominently, as if a small world was being nurtured within it—the very essence of the seed of "life"!
But just as he was about to take off and pluck it, the Tree of Life suddenly trembled violently. The wrinkles on its trunk opened up, revealing countless eyes staring intently at him. At the same time, a roar came from the roots, and a huge humanoid creature made of countless roots burst out of the ground and blocked his way.
This creature was entirely composed of emerald green roots, its body reaching a height of a hundred feet. It held a giant staff woven from vines in its hand, and its aura had reached the Peak Supreme Realm, even stronger than the Corrupted Rotten Realm Spider Guardian of the Abandoned Star Domain. There was no malice in its eyes, only an ancient and stubborn majesty, as if it were scrutinizing whether Xiao Yan was qualified to approach the Seed of Life.
"Who are you? Why do you want to take the seed of 'life'?" the humanoid creature asked, its voice as soft as rustling leaves in the wind, yet carrying an undeniable power.
"This junior, Xiao Yan, has come to protect the order of the heavens," Xiao Yan said, cupping his hands. "Now that the Gate of Annihilation has appeared and the Rotten Realm Spider have revived, only by gathering the three Seed of Creation can we strengthen the Power of Order and suppress the corruption."
"Order? Decay?" The humanoid creature paused for a moment. "For billions of years, I have only known how to protect the seed of 'life' and maintain the balance of the Sea of Life. Your wars are none of my concern."
"If the Power of Life loses the restraint of order, it will eventually become rigid and unbalanced, just like those Stagnant Life Vine." Xiao Yan pointed to the vines on the edge of the island. "The power of the 'seed of life' should not be confined here, but should nourish all the heavens, allowing life to cycle endlessly within order."
A flicker of emotion crossed the humanoid creature's eyes. "You have a point, but if you wish to obtain the Seed of 'Life,' you must pass my trial—prove that you can control the power of 'Life,' and not abuse it."
As soon as he finished speaking, he gently tapped the ground with the giant staff in his hand. The roots of the Tree of Life suddenly spread out, forming a huge array in front of Xiao Yan. Countless phantoms of living beings appeared in the array. Some were being born, some were growing, some were aging, and some were dying, enacting the cycle of life.
"This is the ' Samsara Formation '," the humanoid creature said. "You must comprehend the true meaning of life within the array. If you can allow these illusory figures to reincarnate An Ran, you will have passed the trial."
As Xiao Yan stepped into the formation, he felt a surge of immense Power of Life flow into his body. Countless fragments of memories from living beings flashed through his mind—the short lifespan of flowers and plants from growth to withering, the long years of giant beasts from cubs to old age, the joys and sorrows of humans from birth to death... These memories contained the joys, pains, hopes, and despair of life, impacting his mind.
He initially tried to protect the withering creatures with the Law of Flame, but found that the more he intervened, the faster the phantoms disappeared. It wasn't until he remembered the Power of Balance of the "Balance" seed that he suddenly realized that the true meaning of life is not eternal life, but the cycle of life and death, the alternation of prosperity and decline, just as fire can both burn and give birth to new sparks.
Xiao Yan extinguished the flames and infused the power of the "Balance" Seed into the formation. Gray light flowed, soothing the fading phantoms, which were about to dissipate, and allowing them to peacefully move towards reincarnation; those overly vigorous lives, under the Power of Balance, slowed their growth and exhibited a natural rhythm.
The illusory figures of living beings within the formation gradually became harmonious, and the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death flowed smoothly like water, exuding an aura of perfection.
"You've passed." The humanoid creature's voice carried a hint of approval. "You understand 'life' and 'balance,' and you are indeed qualified to possess the seed of 'life.'"
With a wave of its hand, the seven-colored fruit at the top of the tree canopy slowly fell and hovered in front of Xiao Yan. The fruit's skin cracked open, revealing a bright green seed inside. It seemed as if billions of living beings were breathing within the seed, radiating a warm and inclusive aura.
The moment Xiao Yan reached out and grasped the Seed of Life, a surge of immense Power of Life flowed into his body, intertwining with the Power of Balance of the Seed of Balance. His Heart of the Flame Realm pounded violently, and miraculously, a tender sprout grew on the Flame Mountain Peak in the small world of his sea of consciousness, symbolizing the fusion of the Law of Flame and the Power of Life.
"Thank you for your kindness, senior."
The humanoid creature shook its head. "Go, take the Seed of 'Life,' and let life bloom throughout the heavens. Remember, true life grows freely within order, not through eternal confinement."
It waved its hand and released the Stagnant Life Vine from their restraints. The phantom creatures in the bubbles regained their freedom, transforming into starlight that merged into the Sea of Life. The seawater returned to its clear, turquoise color, and the Stagnant Life Vine on the island regained their normal vitality.
Xiao Yan bid farewell to the humanoid creatures and sailed away from the Sea of Life aboard a small fiery boat. Holding two Seed of Creation in his hands, he could feel the Power of Order in the heavens slowly increasing, and his heart was filled with more confidence in the future.
Next, there is the last one—the "Seed of Order" located in the Ruins of Laws.
He looked at the Compass of Order, whose pointer pointed to a chaotic Star Domain where laws intertwined and Space: Shattering —one of the most dangerous places in the heavens.
But Xiao Yan's gaze remained unwavering.
The more arduous the road ahead, the more we must persevere.
Because he carries on the hopes of the heavens.