Origin Fetus Dao Body

"You are Luo Chen?" "I am." The instant he heard the question, Luo Chen responded almost on instinct. Yet almost immediately, he sensed something was amiss. While he had made a modest name for himself in the vicinity of the Jade Cauldron Domain, among the throng of high-realm cultivators assembled for this Pioneering War, he was by no means a prominent figure. Why would she ask after him specifically? Luo Chen knew he had done nothing truly extraordinary during the campaign. Even though slaying three demons on the battlefield and surviving the Golden Wolf King's grasp were remarkable feats, such achievements were hardly worth mentioning before a Nascent Soul-tier Youming Nether Crow. While he stood there rife with doubts, Youquan gave him another thorough inspection. Then, she murmured to herself, "To reverse-refine an Origin Fetus Dao Body using five Nascent Soul cultivators possessing the five elemental spiritual roots... I truly don't know whether to call them geniuses or madmen." At those words, Luo Chen's expression shifted drastically. The Origin Fetus Dao Body! Over the years, having read extensively, he had naturally encountered descriptions of such innate aptitudes in ancient records. A cultivator's natural gifts were generally divided into three categories: spiritual roots, divine soul, and physical constitution. Among the three, spiritual roots were the lowest tier, yet also the most critical, serving as the essential threshold for embarking upon the path of cultivation. Aptitude in the divine soul manifested in comprehension, temperament, innate spiritual foundation, and even past-life wisdom from reincarnation. Those blessed in this regard often enjoyed extraordinary advantages throughout their cultivation. Luoyun Sect alone was renowned for granting preferential treatment to disciples with outstanding soul aptitude; even if their spiritual roots were abysmal, a sufficiently gifted soul would earn them exceptional admission. Beyond these two lay physical constitutions, which were relatively more common. Such constitutions were reflected neither in soul nor roots, but rather in a tangible resonance between the body and the myriad things of heaven and earth. Legends spoke of the Geng Metal Sword Physique resonating with the Sword Dao, the Nine Yang Divine Physique aligning with the Fire Dao, and many others. Of course, those legendary physiques were far beyond reach. In his own journey, however, Luo Chen had crossed paths with individuals bearing special constitutions. Li Yixian possessed a Pagoda Yin Physique—something he had admitted himself—which granted bonuses to stealth, Yin-fiend ghost qi, and wood-attribute cultivation arts. There was also Luotian Sect's elder, Li Yingzhang, who possessed a Ninefold Looping Physique. After cultivating the *Ninefold Origin Restoration*, his chances of breaking through realms increased by twenty percent without relying on a Foundation Establishment Pill. The uniqueness of the Ninefold Looping Physique went far beyond breaking through barriers. Cultivating with it laid an incomparably solid foundation! When Luo Chen had treated Li Yingzhang's injuries in the past, he had noted that the man's foundation was no weaker than his own, brimming with vast, robust magic power. Yet the constitution had a glaring flaw: cultivation speed was excruciatingly slow. Though Li Yingzhang had established his foundation very early, peers like Gu Caiyi and Lou Ying had already overtaken him precisely because of this drawback. Yet above all these miraculous constitutions stood one that was vastly superior. The Origin Fetus Dao Body spoken of by the Youming Nether Crow! Heaven and earth contained spiritual qi that divided into yin and yang, split into the five elements, crackled with wind and thunder, and shifted between light and shadow. In an environment that appeared tranquil, the composition of spiritual qi was actually exceedingly intricate. Consequently, when immortal cultivators meditated, they could rarely optimize their absorption and utilization of spiritual energy. Later, scholars compiling records from the ancient Qi Refiners discovered that the practitioners of antiquity had not absorbed spiritual qi at all. They had refined "Primordial Qi"! This Primordial Qi encompassed spiritual energies of every attribute. With the passage of countless eras and the shifting of heaven and earth, ordinary practitioners lost the ability to utilize Primordial Qi directly, and even their designation changed from "Qi Refiners" to "immortal cultivators." Nowadays, the only beings capable of directly drawing upon Primordial Qi were grand figures who had broken through the Nascent Soul realm to achieve the Soul Formation stage! Freely manipulating the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth was, in fact, one of the defining marks of a Soul Formation cultivator. Yet beyond them, an exception existed: the Origin Fetus Dao Body. Anyone possessing this constitution, provided they practiced a compatible technique, could directly absorb and utilize the world's Primordial Qi even at low realms. Regardless of realm! Regardless of place! There would never be an awkward predicament where someone of upright righteous energy could not cultivate in a place of Yin fiends, or where a frigid domain hampered a fire practitioner. One could say that an Origin Fetus Dao Body was like an unborn child formed by heaven and earth. Walking through this world was akin to resting within the maternal womb. Any resource, any spiritual energy, could be treated as nourishing amniotic fluid to be fully absorbed and refined. As a result, their cultivation efficiency and speed would be unimaginably high! "It seems you know what the Origin Fetus Dao Body is," Youquan said. Luo Chen gave a stiff nod, dread welling within him. He forced his head up. "Senior, you wouldn't..." "Heh heh..." The black crow let out a grating, mocking laugh. "Naturally, I harbor no such mad notion—or rather, such a laughable fantasy. How could a mythical physique like the Origin Fetus Dao Body ever be born in a world like this? The one with that idea is an old fellow from your human race's Five Elements Divine Sect. You need not fear me doing anything to you." Luo Chen breathed a sigh of relief at first, but her subsequent words made his heart leap. The Five Elements Divine Sect! In that single instant, everything clicked. Why Jin Buque had been so exceptionally amiable toward him, why he had been so determined to relocate him to the Five Elements Domain, and why every condition Luo Chen raised had been met with effortless generosity. So this had been the purpose all along! The reason the sect had never resorted to force was likely because, just as the black crow had said, it required the Nascent Soul stage. He was merely at the early Golden Core stage, far from Nascent Soul. Naturally, the Five Elements Divine Sect was in no hurry to abduct him and reverse-refine an Origin Fetus Dao Body. Yet if he ever escaped this predicament... A wry twitch tugged at the corner of Luo Chen's mouth. What "after"? He needed to figure out how to survive the present trial first! Now that the casual chatter was over, a soul-search was probably due... Hmm? Luo Chen sensed that something was off. He cautiously looked up toward the black crow perched on the wide chair. "Senior, why are you not searching my soul?" "Are you that eager for it?" "Er..." The black crow let out a rasping cackle. "You come from no prominent sect, being nothing more than a rogue cultivator by origin. What valuable intelligence could I possibly glean from your memories? Of course, following the principle of killing a thousand rather than letting one slip by, it would indeed be customary to search your soul." Luo Chen's heart instantly leapt into his throat, clear regret flashing across his face. Had he known, he never would have brought it up. Seeing his tense expression, the black crow gave her small wings a dismissive flap. "No need to be nervous. You still possess some minor utility. Searching your soul would only hinder your ability to be useful." Without giving Luo Chen a chance to ask, she demanded flatly, "Do you have any ready-made Emperor's Flowing Syrup on you? Bring it out and let me see." Luo Chen froze, then quickly understood. She had evidently discovered information concerning him from the memories of others. His rise through the cultivation world had been so rapid that many had intentionally gathered intelligence on him. Emperor's Flowing Syrup was one of his core secrets. Yet because he periodically provided the elixir to his subordinates for their Foundation Establishment, the secret had inevitably leaked over time. No wall in this world was entirely windproof. Others might not have noticed, but since the Five Elements Divine Sect harbored ulterior designs on him, Jin Buque had surely investigated him down to the finest detail. In the past, Luo Chen had not cared much; after forming his core, it was only natural for a Rank Three alchemist to concoct miraculous pills to aid Foundation Establishment. He had never imagined this black crow would care so deeply about the syrup. On instinct, he reached to open his storage ring, only for a bitter smile to spread across his face. "Senior, I cannot mobilize my magic power." Understanding immediately, the black crow plucked a pale-green feather from beneath her wing and waved it toward him. In a flash, Luo Chen felt the invisible fetter on his body vanish completely. His soul could move freely, and his Golden Core began to spin once more. Proficiently mobilizing his magic power, Luo Chen retrieved a bottle of Emperor's Flowing Syrup from his storage pouch and offered it with both hands. After taking it, the crow sniffed it carefully before taking a gentle peck. Then— "Bah! Bah! Bah!" "It reeks of rank wolf musk! You brewed this Emperor's Flowing Syrup using demonic wolf flesh, didn't you?" "Senior has discerning eyes indeed; that is precisely the case," Luo Chen flattered without a hint of awkwardness. The black crow seemed rather pleased by the praise. Shaking the small bottle, a humanlike emotion flickered across her face. Luo Chen caught it clearly—was that... sorrow? "That little fox... Why couldn't he stay peacefully on Mount Cangwu? Why did he have to pursue the Alchemic Dao and run off to the human cultivation world? How could he not understand that those not of our kind will never share our heart? Even when sharing a pillow, when confronted with the divide between races, no one would ever trust him. Dying was his own fault!" The sorrow gradually hardened into ruthlessness. Luo Chen lowered his head, an astonishing theory forming in his mind. Emperor's Flowing Syrup, a fox, the Alchemic Dao, the human race. A single name surfaced in his memory: Shanghu. Could the guest alchemist the Ice Fort had taken in all those years ago have been a demon fox? If that were true, it would explain why Fairy Jueqing had disregarded marital bonds and slain her own Dao companion with her own hands. The divide between human and demon superseded the affection between companions. It would also explain why the Ice Fort had relentlessly hunted snow foxes for so many years. However, Luo Chen did not probe further. If she wished to speak, she would; if she did not, would he dare pry? The black crow stowed the bottle and fixed her gaze on Luo Chen. "I have examined it. The quality of this Emperor's Flowing Syrup is decent, but far from sufficient. I want superior-grade Emperor's Flowing Syrup, and the more, the better!" Naturally, Luo Chen dared not object. A man standing under low eaves had no choice but to bow his head. Luo Chen was a prudent man who understood the times. Had he not navigated his entire journey this way? The only difference now was that the entity he bowed to had shifted from human to demon. Others might hold fast to their principles, but decades ago, because of Miao Wen, Luo Chen had come to see clearly what kind of person he was. A gentleman's decorum and adherence to moral codes were things to uphold along the path to immortality only when one possessed the strength to do so. Clearly, he lacked that strength right now! Even so... "Senior!" "Stop with the 'Senior' with every breath. My name is Youquan, Vice Hall Master of Mount Cangwu's Duzhen Hall. You may address me as Vice Hall Master." Luo Chen paused, recalling the three characters inscribed on the plaque before entering. Duzhen Hall! To think a domain of demons would possess a name so rich in human Daoist resonance. He immediately adjusted his address. "Vice Hall Master, refining this elixir is not difficult for me, but gathering the requisite medicinal ingredients will be troublesome." "You need not worry about that. Ingredients may be scarce elsewhere, but Mount Cangwu never lacks for them!" Youquan flapped her wings with overbearing grandeur and took flight from the chair. "Concoct the pills diligently; there will be other tasks for you in the future. Talents like you are precisely what the demon race lacks!" More tasks? Luo Chen moistened his dry lips and accepted the assignment. "Go! From this day forth, you are a member of my Duzhen Hall. Aside from being forbidden from leaving Mount Cangwu and barred from visiting the other two halls without permission, you are free to do as you please. Heqingzi will satisfy any request of yours." Luo Chen bowed respectfully and slowly backed out of the main hall. Only when he stepped outside the main entrance did that lingering, watchful gaze vanish entirely. The very moment it disappeared, Luo Chen's whole body shuddered! A trace of clarity washed over his eyes. *What an eerie illusion technique! From start to finish, I was utterly incapable of harboring a single thought of defying Youquan's words.* Once he fully regained his senses, cold sweat involuntarily soaked his back. Recalling his lapses of composure within the hall, even the mental discipline he had always taken pride in had completely unraveled. Such a display spoke volumes of Youquan's terrifying mastery over spiritual arts. It was no wonder she had disdained searching his soul; a mere trace of illusion had snared him without his knowledge. *If I were at full strength and deployed Mirror Flower, Water Moon, could I resist this sort of illusion?* As Luo Chen murmured to himself, a voice drifted over from nearby. "Your foundation is decent enough, waking so quickly." Luo Chen turned to look; it was Heqingzi. The woman cast a cold glance at him and began walking down the mountain. "Follow me. Your residence has already been arranged." Luo Chen nodded and followed closely behind her. The further they moved from Duzhen Hall, the heavier the mountain-like pressure bore down on Luo Chen. It felt as though, behind him, several Nascent Soul cultivators were staring straight at his back. "This..." Cold sweat broke out on Luo Chen's forehead. Walking ahead, Heqingzi let out a cold scoff. "Do not bother probing. Lady Youquan is by no means the only Nascent Soul demon cultivator in Duzhen Hall. This is a land of a Rank Five spiritual vein. Throughout the million wild mountains, countless avian beasts revere Mount Cangwu above all else, and who knows how many winged demon cultivators dream of cultivating in this sacred ground. Being favored by Lady Youquan is your blessing." Luo Chen sorely wanted to retort: *Would you want this sort of 'blessing' if it were given to you?* Naturally, he could never utter those words. Only after descending the mountain past a certain threshold did that oppressive weight gradually recede. Truly, one could not see the mountain's true face while standing within it. A single leaf had blinded him to the forest! Of course, that leaf had been enormous on its own. If Youquan, who was merely a vice hall master, was already so unfathomable, it was hard to imagine the true hall master's terrifying might. Watching Heqingzi's swaying waist and the icy aura that warned strangers away, Luo Chen suddenly remembered what Youquan had said. Heqingzi would satisfy any request of his?