Inside the cave abode at Three-Tier Falls, Zhou Fuyou cultivated in quiet stillness.
Unlike in the past, when he would quickly stabilize his realm after a breakthrough, he did not rashly depart this time, even though his foundation felt rock-solid. Instead, he patiently settled down to polish his mana bit by bit.
Such uncharacteristic caution stemmed from the unknown—and from fear.
He did not know where the spring eye within him had come from, and he was terrified of the horrifying power it contained.
Only by tempering his mana to the absolute limit and mastering every shred of his own strength could he possess the confidence to face that spring eye.
Yet, as year after year passed in refining his realm, he was astonished to discover that his mana was swelling like an incoming tide, surging at a speed visible to the naked eye.
It had already far surpassed the total sum of spiritual energy he had absorbed from the outside world!
Energy in this world could not arise from nothing; it had to possess a source.
And for Zhou Fuyou at this moment, uncovering that source was all too simple.
It was that very spring eye!
Strands of origin power trickled forth from the spring, eventually coalescing into raging rivers that surged through his meridians and purple mansion with tremendous vigor.
His cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds!
First layer of Nascent Soul, second layer, third layer...
Amid this near-frenzied ascent through the realms, a sudden realization struck Zhou Fuyou: why had his mana been so profound since childhood?
He had clearly cultivated the Dew Cicada Art—a technique that sought shortcuts at the cost of meager mana—yet his reserves had consistently overwhelmed his peers. The root of it all lay in this spring eye.
It truly seized the fortune of heaven and earth, capable in itself of birthing vast rivers and seas.
Thus, even the faintest trickle leaking out now and then had been like a towering tidal wave to his once-humble cultivation.
The Dew Cicada Art was merely a key—a key that continually unlocked higher realms. With every bit further it opened the gate, the spring eye provided him with even more power.
Until he entered the Nascent Soul realm!
Until he perceived the law true intent of the Water Origin!
"Though I do not know what kind of entity this spring eye is, I must never let it consume me!"
Zhou Fuyou took a deep breath, quieted his mind, and focused entirely on comprehending the Water Origin.
He had a feeling that as long as he deepened his mastery over the Water Origin, he would have the chance to achieve complete control over the spring eye.
...
Fifty years later!
The area surrounding Three-Tier Falls had become a forbidden zone, devoid of any living creatures.
Even from a hundred li away, one could faintly hear vibrations echoing from within the towering mountain and its waterfall.
It sounded like a beating heart, yet also like crashing waves.
On this day!
*Crash...*
Boundless mana surged out from Three-Tier Falls, transforming into immense black waves that swept across the surroundings in all directions.
Wherever they passed, vegetation withered instantly, rocks decayed into sand, and an expanse of a thousand li turned into a submerged swamp.
A lone figure floated amidst the vast waters, his lips pressed tightly together.
"It's Ming Water!"
"This spring eye not only contains the Water Origin, but it was also condensed from the purest Ming Water True Essence."
"No wonder I was born with the Xuanming Dao Body. This body of mine was nourished into being, bit by bit, by the Ming Water Spring Eye!"
Alongside his sudden understanding, Zhou Fuyou felt profoundly fortunate.
At the very least, he could now exercise a measure of control over the spring eye.
With a shift of his thought, the boundless mana abruptly reversed course, rushing back into his body.
Outside lay desolation, but inside his purple mansion, things were quite different.
Aside from his natal Nascent Soul holding the Sea-Calming Bead in its mouth, a spring eye was firmly rooted within, bubbling forth streams of black liquid.
These black waters affectionately curled around the Nascent Soul, allowing the infant form to frolic and drink freely.
Returning to his senses, Zhou Fuyou exhaled a long breath.
Counting on his fingers, roughly eighty years had passed since he entered the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven.
Such a vast span of time was an entire mortal lifetime, but to a high-stage cultivator, it was merely a single period of secluded cultivation.
By now, Zhou Fuyou was actually eager to leave the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven.
Even if only ten months had passed in the outside world, he could hardly wait.
He had reached the Nascent Soul realm, living up to the Old Ancestor's expectations and not letting his master's guidance go to waste. He also wanted to share this joy with Eldest Martial Sister, Second Martial Brother... and his little sister, Zhou Qingyu.
Before that, however, there was one matter left to handle.
Zhou Fuyou retrieved a voice transmission talisman, from which Martial Uncle Li's voice still echoed.
A senior had asked for his assistance, hoping he would contribute to the sect; naturally, he could not refuse.
After orienting himself, Zhou Fuyou flew toward the very center of the grotto-heaven.
As he passed by a certain valley, Zhou Fuyou paused mid-step, his gaze narrowing slightly.
Though the place seemed unremarkable at first glance, to someone like him who had comprehended law true intent, the valley appeared exceedingly strange.
Instead of spewing spiritual energy outward, it was voraciously drawing it in.
Countless strands of free-floating spiritual energy were absorbed into it, vanishing like clay oxen sinking into the sea.
"Intriguing!"
His curiosity piqued, Zhou Fuyou shifted his form and appeared at the mouth of the valley.
Just as he was about to step inside, a familiar, graceful figure walked out from within.
"Gu Muyu?"
Gu Muyu froze upon seeing Zhou Fuyou. When she sensed the undisguised mana fluctuations radiating from him, shock washed over her face.
"Senior Brother Zhou, you broke through to the Nascent Soul realm?"
Zhou Fuyou gave a slight nod, then cast a curious glance toward the valley behind her.
Gu Muyu felt a twinge of nervousness, but remembering the prominent Gu family behind her, she regained some confidence.
"This is a medicinal garden specially opened by my Gu family in the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven to cultivate spirit herbs. I hope Senior Brother Zhou can keep this a secret for me."
Using a grotto-heaven secret realm to grow spirit herbs?
Such a practice was not unheard of, but the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven differed from ordinary secret realms. It was the cradle for nurturing high-stage talents of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, and the power within had to be continuously accumulated.
Normally, none of it was squandered on spirit herbs or vegetation; it was typically opened only once every five hundred years for newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivators to comprehend law true intent.
The Gu family dared to do such a thing in secret?
Zhou Fuyou remarked calmly, "If it needs to be kept secret, why tell me the truth?"
Gu Muyu let out a wry smile. "Actually, others have tried this before. But every opening requires five hundred years. Inside the grotto-heaven, that amounts to fifty thousand years. Over such a vast span of time, the spirit herbs planted by predecessors either wither away or get destroyed by mirage beasts, yielding meager harvests. Because of that, the sect's upper echelons turn a blind eye and never pursue the matter. I told you only in the hope that you won't spread the word, lest the Gu family face idle gossip."
"I see." Zhou Fuyou nodded, then looked curiously inward. "May I take a look inside?"
Gu Muyu hesitated briefly before stepping aside.
"Please!"
She had considered it carefully. Given Zhou Fuyou's age and talent, especially now that he had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, he was destined to become a high-ranking figure in the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
Such a person was not someone to offend lightly.
Besides, he only wished to look around.
Led by Gu Muyu, Zhou Fuyou entered the valley.
The moment he stepped inside, the environment felt completely different.
An intensely pure and ethereal spiritual aura suffused the area. Taking just a single breath left one feeling refreshed and invigorated.
Looking around, Zhou Fuyou could not help but marvel inwardly.
There was flourishing Lightning-Struck Wood, a Blazing Flower resembling a flame, and an expansive patch of grass as sharp as swords...
"Did you plant all of these, Junior Sister?" Zhou Fuyou asked in slight disbelief. With his discernment, he could naturally tell that most of these rare treasures had already matured.
Gu Muyu shook her head. "Senior Brother overestimates me. I have been in the grotto-heaven for only eighty years. These were planted two hundred years ago by a senior of my Gu family named Gu Yuan, when he participated in the Grotto-Heaven Tournament."
Understanding dawned upon Zhou Fuyou, and he thought to himself, *Two hundred years ago—that was the same Grotto-Heaven Tournament Master participated in.*
By that calculation, the medicinal herbs here were likely all ten-thousand-year spirit herbs!
Their medicinal potency, their grade...
"Strange, why haven't these flowers and plants gained spiritual awareness?"
"That, I do not know. I merely followed the instructions of my clan elders to look after them while I was here. After all, no one expected the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven to open early before the five hundred years were up."
Zhou Fuyou nodded. Indeed, few could have anticipated this.
After touring the valley, Zhou Fuyou did not linger for long. Exchanging a few pleasantries with Gu Muyu, he took his leave in haste.
Once he was gone, Gu Muyu finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Everyone said this peer-generation prodigy was aloof and difficult to get along with, but in person, he seemed pleasant enough.
Was it because he had broken through in realm?
She had no time to dwell on it. As long as she endured the final twenty years, her task would be complete.
When she left and reported the state of the Spirit Herb Valley to her clan elders, she would surely be rewarded, securing the clan's full support when she broke through to the Nascent Soul realm.
***
Meanwhile, having departed the Spirit Herb Valley, Zhou Fuyou was still reflecting on the sight.
*These prominent great clans truly think far ahead. While ordinary families are still squabbling over petty gains, they have already laid out plans to cultivate ten-thousand-year spirit herbs. Once successful, the future benefits will be immense.*
*Thinking about it, my Zhou family's development may have been rather short-sighted.*
*Once I go outside, I need to make a trip back to the Zhou family and implement some changes suited to our actual circumstances. That way, I will not fail the Old Ancestor's parting words to me.*
Perhaps because his realm had broken through, his outlook had broadened considerably.
Where Zhou Fuyou had once cared only for himself and his little sister, his thoughts had gradually expanded to encompass the clan as well.
Perhaps this was what it meant to cultivate oneself in obscurity, yet aid the world upon attaining success—even if that "world" was currently limited to his kin.
Carrying these thoughts, Zhou Fuyou journeyed onward, finally arriving at his destination before sunset.
Looking down from high above, thirty-seven figures were scattered across the flawlessly flat plain like chess pieces on a board.
A magnificent, expansive sensation welled up within him.
It seemed as though they were not merely cultivating here, but suppressing something.
With a slight stir in his thoughts, Zhou Fuyou called out clearly to the crowd, "Disciple Zhou Fuyou pays his respects to all senior and junior martial uncles!"
His arrival had long been noticed by everyone.
Someone chuckled. "Now that you have achieved the Nascent Soul realm, we are of the same generation. A simple 'Senior Brother' will suffice."
Another disagreed, saying, "No, no, no. Though Nephew Zhou hails from an aristocratic family, he follows the master-disciple lineage within the Dao Sect. How can he casually alter how he addresses us and disrupt seniority?"
"Why should cultivators like us care about such trivialities?"
A familiar voice rang out as Martial Uncle Li waved to Zhou Fuyou from afar.
"Come, let me take you to meet someone!"
Zhou Fuyou cupped his hands toward the cultivators all around, then followed behind Martial Uncle Li toward the very center.
Only when his feet touched the ground did he feel the immense power latent beneath.
It was an extraordinarily vast force, even more terrifying than the Ming Water Spring Eye inside him. Standing upon it filled one with trepidation.
"You feel it?" Martial Uncle Li asked with a smile.
Zhou Fuyou nodded, deeply curious. "What is this? And what are all of you doing?"
Martial Uncle Li stroked his beard and smiled. "Once you meet Senior Brother Ke, you will understand everything."
Senior Brother Ke?
Zhou Fuyou's eyes lit up. "Could it be the legendary Chess Saint, Senior Martial Uncle Ke Lianshan?"
Martial Uncle Li gave an affirmative grunt, offering no further explanation as he led Zhou Fuyou forward.
Before long, the two arrived at the very center of the wasteland.
There, an ancient, simple high platform had been erected at some unknown point. An elderly man sat cross-legged atop it, letting the evening breeze brush against his face.
Seeing this elder, reputed to be on par with the Alchemy Saint, Zhou Fuyou bowed deeply. "Disciple Zhou Fuyou greets Senior Martial Uncle Ke."
Ke Lianshan appraised him intently, speaking slowly only after a long pause: "Good, you are very good. Newly advanced to Nascent Soul, yet your mana is already this solid and profound. At your age, that is truly rare. It seems Junior Sister Qinglan did not rush your growth, but taught you with great care."
"Thank you for the praise, Senior Martial Uncle. Master has indeed been very protective of me." After exchanging courtesies, Zhou Fuyou could not resist asking, "May I ask why Senior Martial Uncle summoned me here?"
Ke Lianshan's smile faded, and he said solemnly, "Beneath our feet lies one of our Dao Sect's three treasures: the Lanke Chessboard!"
Zhou Fuyou was struck with realization. No wonder he had felt such a presence earlier.
Yet could a single spirit treasure truly be so formidable?
The elder continued to explain, astonishing Zhou Fuyou even as it resolved his doubts.
"This spirit treasure once suppressed the Central Plains for nearly four thousand years. Even though it suffered damage and collapsed at one point, that did not alter its essence of suppressing the earth's veins and governing the continent's spiritual opportunities."
"We gathered here to draw upon spiritual opportunities and commune with the Central Plains through this spirit treasure and the formation array."
"When the time is right, we will exhaust the creative power of heaven and earth to draw the four continents back together, re-creating the continent of the Central Plains!"
"Such an act defies the heavens far too greatly, so it demands an enormous amount of power. Everyone present gathered here for this purpose. To ensure our efforts do not fall short, you may stand guard nearby. At the critical moment, you will serve as a reserve to lend us a hand."
Having said that, Ke Lianshan extended a withered right hand that resembled tree bark toward Zhou Fuyou.
"Before that, I will extract a strand of your life soul to link you with this spirit treasure. When the time comes, your strength can be integrated seamlessly. Are you willing to contribute your strength to the sect?"
Extracting a strand of his life soul!
To ordinary people, such a thing sounded terrifying.
Yet to the true disciples of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, it was a commonplace practice.
Anyone who attained the Nascent Soul realm would offer a strand of their life soul to reside within a spirit treasure.
This was not merely the control that outsiders presumed it to be; it was a form of protection!
Should a True Person of the Dao Sect go missing or perish in the outside world, the sect would receive immediate notification. If they were willing to pay an immense price, they could even resurrect the fallen!
And upon attempting to break through to the Deity Transformation realm, a Dao Sect True Person could apply to the Sect Master to retrieve their life soul, allowing them to make a full push toward Deity Transformation.
Perhaps fearing the young man might dread this, Ke Lianshan added kindly, "This matter also brings benefits to you. When the Central Plains is reunited, it will stir a vast ocean of spiritual opportunities. I will seize that moment to break through to the Deity Transformation realm in one stroke, and you will all be able to perceive and experience it firsthand through your connection to the Lanke Chessboard. In the future, when you attempt Deity Transformation, you will have relevant experience to draw upon."
Zhou Fuyou was taken aback. "That is possible?"
Ke Lianshan smiled. "It would not be possible for others, but I am the acknowledged master of the Lanke Chessboard. For me to accomplish this is not difficult."
Zhou Fuyou drew a deep breath. "How could this disciple dare shirk his duty? I am willing to contribute my strength to the sect!"
"Good!"
With that, Ke Lianshan curled his right hand, extending a single finger to press gently against Zhou Fuyou's glabella.
In an instant, a tearing agony erupted, nearly causing Zhou Fuyou to black out.
At the same time, however, an unexpected sensation of fullness abruptly emerged.
Staggering, Zhou Fuyou collapsed onto the platform.
Ke Lianshan noticed nothing amiss. Although he was the master of the Lanke Chessboard, his control over the spirit treasure had not reached perfection because he had not yet advanced to Deity Transformation.
In the past, when Sect Master Mo Shouzhuo used the spirit treasure to harvest life souls, others had occasionally displayed similar reactions. Ke Lianshan merely assumed Zhou Fuyou had cultivated for too few years, leaving his divine soul insufficiently resilient.
"Junior Brother Li, take Zhou Fuyou to rest. There is still time before the spirit treasure is activated."
Junior Brother Li acknowledged the order, led Zhou Fuyou down from the high platform, and settled him at the periphery of the wasteland.
The young man was, after all, merely a reserve; unless an accident occurred, he would not be needed.
Yet inside the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven, shielded from external interference, what could possibly go wrong?
"Fuyou, rest well."
Zhou Fuyou sat cross-legged on the ground with his head lowered, his features hidden from view. He merely offered a faint grunt of assent.
Martial Uncle Li departed calmly, never noticing the eyes beneath the young man's lowered face—eyes as cold and deep as an abyssal pool.
Within the purple mansion, the once-placid Ming Water Spring Eye began to boil violently.
A restless, uneasy aura permeated the purple mansion.
Furthermore, a strand of golden light radiated from the spring eye, enveloping the infant Nascent Soul.
The infant began to struggle, but a sudden will descended. The little Nascent Soul stiffened and closed its eyes.
When they opened once more, its gaze matched the physical body's eyes completely.
Deep, chillingly cold, and seemingly capable of devouring all things!
Chapter 1074