The Sun Clan's Dao Integration Fetus

The Sacred Emperor's words were no hollow promise. Whether it was Archmage Tiandu or the beings secretly watching Xuanhuang, none of them had transcended the realm of an Immortal. Though Li Ping was currently only at the Longevity realm of the Xuanhuang Realm, as an Avatar of the Heavenly Dao on this land where so many bizarre events had unfolded, he held the means to drag down everything in mutual destruction—a potent deterrent. Li Ping needed some time to sort through what he had gained from Stone Slab and the Crossing Adversity Sect. He put away the Book of Crossing Adversity, suppressing it in the treasury, and granted Stone Slab some rare leisure time to relax, letting him roam the Xuanhuang Realm disguised as a mortal. Li Ping himself traveled first to the Xuanhuang Realm. Fuguang Province, the Great Rift Valley. Deep underground. Ignoring the rudimentary protective formations around him, Li Ping made his way deep into the ruins. Here, he sensed two terrifying lingering forces that stirred a faint unease even in him. The first came from two statues—or rather, two skeletal remains—within the ruins. The second came from the ruins of the Yishi Sect itself. "The lingering worries I harbor can all find their solutions here," Li Ping mused as he gazed at the ruins, which looked as though they had been deserted for ages yet somehow seemed to have fallen only recently. Instead of drawing upon the golden essence of Origin Energy, he called out silently in his heart, *"Maobao."* At that moment, down in the treasury beneath the Holy Emperor Throne, Maobao was pawing at the shivering Book of Crossing Adversity. Sensing Li Ping's summons, the silhouette pinning the book down did not vanish, while another small feline body materialized on Li Ping's shoulder. "Meow~" Maobao let out a cry in response. "Take everything here away." Li Ping patted its head. Maobao glanced at the Yishi Sect ruins, a flicker of disdain crossing its eyes, but it did not disobey Li Ping's command. Its body abruptly dissolved into a void resembling blue data light, and it slightly opened its mouth. Specks of blue starlight expanded outward, enveloping the entire subterranean ruin. By the time Maobao reverted to its original form, the site of the Yishi Sect ruins—including the architecture, formations, space, and everything within—had vanished completely. Nothing remained except pure emptiness. Maobao yawned and looked somewhat listless. The Yishi Sect ruins had not been destroyed directly; rather, they had been stored intact inside Maobao's "belly." With a single thought from Li Ping, they could be released once more. In fact, purely in terms of spatial excision and transference, Li Ping's current strength alone was fully capable of accomplishing the feat. The reason he had Maobao do it was, first, to prevent the power of his Origin Energy essence from disturbing the wind calamity lingering in the ruins. And second... It was to test the nature of Maobao's power. *"Not only were the remains of Archmage Tiandu completely undisturbed, but even the wind calamity, which is exceptionally sensitive to Immortal power, showed no reaction whatsoever."* *"Though Maobao is not an immortal artifact, it seems to walk an entirely different path."* Scenes of his disciple Sun Erlang's experiences in the Kingdom of Reality surfaced one after another before Li Ping's eyes. ... While the Sacred Dynasty Great Qi grew increasingly formidable under the direction of the great Faceless Sacred Emperor, far across the star sea, Holy Embryo Li Fan also welcomed an immense harvest. On this day, the echoing astral power originating from the invisible high wall erupted once more. Hidden within the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds, Holy Embryo Li Fan could faintly feel the slight tremors of the surrounding worlds. The tremors of the various fragments blended and harmonized with one another, congealing into a peculiar force that resisted the vast immortal power capable of effortlessly annihilating the sea of stars. Under the influence of the echoing astral power, Holy Embryo Li Fan's body was involuntarily drawn toward the high wall, yet his eyes held none of the astonishment and panic he had felt during his first encounter. Instead, they reflected deep immersion and the joy of enlightenment. *"The echoing astral power is the residue of a True Immortal's might."* *"And the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds is the corpse of mortal cultivation worlds. Though cultivation worlds are utterly vulnerable before the power of Immortals in life, in death they can unite to resist it together."* Holy Embryo Li Fan's eyes grew brighter and brighter. *"This is the Dao of the entire Pitch-Black Star Sea undergoing spontaneous evolution."* *"It is no longer what was once called the Lower Realm when the Immortal Realm still stood. It is a nascent tradition reborn from ruin."* *"The fall of the Immortal Realm, whatever the reason, proves that it had diverged from the world's most fundamental Dao. Meanwhile, the surviving Pitch-Black Star Sea instinctively and slowly evolves toward that most fundamental Dao."* *"As one wanes, the other waxes. That is why the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds can actually contend against the power of the True Immortal seal characters. The Pitch-Black Star Sea is still far from completing this sublimation, but given enough time..."* *"Perhaps this Pitch-Black Star Sea behind the high wall could evolve into an existence rivaling the Immortal Realm of old."* Holy Embryo Li Fan had a sudden realization. In his perception, the overarching rhythm of the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds grew clearer and brighter, like a resonant song. The speed at which he drifted toward the invisible high wall gradually slowed. *"One day of comprehension here is worth a hundred years in the Xuanhuang Realm."* *"In that sense, calling this place an 'Immortal Realm' would not be wrong either."* Holy Embryo Li Fan's body came to a complete halt, suspended among the fragments of various worlds. A flash of sword light slashed out behind him, and he drifted in the opposite direction. Curiously, after traveling straight for some distance, the sword light shifted from its original trajectory. It flew toward the nearest world fragment. Having locked onto its target, it accelerated, plunging deep into the fragment like a thread of silvery-white spider silk. Moving steadily away from the high wall, Holy Embryo Li Fan stepped out of the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds step by step. Behind him remained tens of millions of threads of sword light, slowly fading into the darkness. *"With the Great Wall of Shattered Worlds as an anchor, not only do I no longer have to worry about being drawn in by the high wall, but I can also traverse the star sea much faster."* Holy Embryo Li Fan transformed into an invisible ray of light, racing back toward the Xuanxian Boat. The divine sense he had left behind earlier was no longer sufficient to handle the increasingly complex situation. It was time for him to take the stage. ... Both the clone and the sacred embryo were steadily building their reserves. Meanwhile, the arrangement Li Fan had left with the Sun Clan had finally arrived at its moment of fruition. Sun Luyuan looked at Wu Ninglu with a solemn expression, giving her careful instructions on the numerous precautions needed during the Dao Integration process. Wu Ninglu merely nodded out of reflex, the vast majority of her attention fixed on the tightly bound Heaven-and-Earth Essence not far away. Heaven-and-Earth Essence: White Silk. It drifted like light smoke, flowed like radiant light. It lacked a physical form, yet was extraordinarily magnificent, emitting a mesmerizing glow that captivated the minds of cultivators. "This is one of the foundation treasures of our Sun Clan. I went through immense hardship to find it, originally intending to compensate Sun Ang. Who would have guessed he would achieve Dao Integration through his own fortune later on..." "Now that Lu'er has taken up duties in Protector Hall, this Heaven-and-Earth Essence belongs to you as compensation." "If you achieve Dao Integration, it will also be of immense benefit to the child in your womb." Sun Luchang spoke the words, but the expression on his face betrayed his reluctance. Only when Sun Luyuan let out a cold snort did he reluctantly restrain himself. In the Sun Clan, Sun Luyuan still had the final say. "Ninglu, begin. We will protect you," Sun Luyuan said gravely. Wu Ninglu glanced at the three Dao Integration cultivators of the Sun Clan, unable to hide the excitement in her heart. After lying low in the Sun Clan for so long, the time of harvest had finally arrived. Though this harvest differed somewhat from her original objective, still... *"Once I become a Dao Integration cultivator, why would I ever have to walk on eggshells around them again? The world is vast—where couldn't I go? Besides, formally joining the Sun Clan wouldn't be an unwise move either."* *"Counting both of us, that would make five Dao Integration cultivators in a single household. Even within the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, we would be a prominent clan among the very best."* Her mind fluttered with excitement, and in a momentary lapse, she was nearly struck by the illusory light of White Silk. "Ninglu, focus!" Fortunately, the three Dao Integration experts of the Sun Clan acted swiftly to neutralize the attack. Wu Ninglu dared not be careless any longer. Composing her thoughts, she earnestly set to work dealing with the Heaven-and-Earth Essence before her. Though White Silk's offensive power was unremarkable, its illusory light was truly troublesome. Not only did it inflict physical harm, but it also corroded the minds of cultivators it struck. Even if one evaded all the attacks, being encircled by the white light for too long made it inevitable that successive illusions would take hold. However, the three Dao Integration cultivators of the Sun Clan had prepared for a long time. A stick of incense was lit, instantly dispelling every illusion before Wu Ninglu's eyes. They also had specialized Dharma treasures to counter White Silk's illusory light. Even though Wu Ninglu's strength was worlds apart from its, it was gradually worn down to the verge of death. Seeing the Heaven-and-Earth Essence drawing its dying breaths and her own path to Dao Integration within reach, Wu Ninglu was ecstatic. *"So this is how the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals gets so many young Dao Integration cultivators! With treatment like this, even a pig could reach Dao Integration!"* *"To think I actually believed they were peerless geniuses before..."* With these thoughts running through her mind, the sharp blade in Wu Ninglu's hand finally pierced through White Silk's body. *Boom!* A violent radiance erupted from the entity, and Wu Ninglu felt an overwhelmingly immense power transfer continuously into her body. "So this is the taste of Dao Integration." Wu Ninglu's eyes were filled with enraptured longing, completely intoxicated. While immersed in this unprecedented power, she did not even notice that the fetus in her womb was sharing in it. Li Fan's divine sense, attached to the unborn child, was somewhat dissatisfied with the quality of the Heaven-and-Earth Essence White Silk. *"Still a bit weak. Leaving aside Mo Sha, it doesn't even compare to Chi Yan."* *"Perhaps I can lend a hand."* Watching the essence pouring into the fetus, Li Fan's divine sense separated out a portion of itself and surged in as well. This strand of divine sense was already an infinitesimal sliver, faint enough to be negligible. At least to Li Fan. To the unborn child, however, it was an immense tonic. More importantly, this wisp of Li Fan's divine sense contained countless insights into the principles of Heaven and Earth of the Xuanhuang Realm. Intertwined with the origin of the White Silk essence, it was devoured by the fetus. The most direct consequence was that the child, instantly fortified, began competing with the mother for resources. "Hm?" Wu Ninglu was no fool; she eventually noticed the abnormality inside her body. Mother though she was, when it came to the fruit of Dao Integration, how could she willingly yield it?! Instinctively, Wu Ninglu fought the fetus for ownership of the essence's origin. Yet... Wu Ninglu soon made a terrifying discovery: she was actually losing to this spawn! *"Damn it, if this continues..."* Her expression shifted drastically. Hesitating for only an instant, she made her resolve. Just as she prepared to strike ruthlessly and extinguish the life in her womb— "What are you doing!" Sun Luyuan's furious roar cut short her actions. To her shock, Wu Ninglu found herself instantly losing control over her body. Not yet having achieved Dao Integration, how could she possibly match three Dao Integration experts of the Sun Clan?! Unable to speak, she could only plead with Sun Luyuan through her eyes. Yet Sun Luyuan, Sun Luchang, and Sun Lujiu cared nothing for her life or death. Their eyes burned with fervor, fixed entirely on the fetus in her belly. Ignoring Wu Ninglu completely, the three began conferring among themselves. "Eldest Brother, have you ever heard of such an anomaly?" "To seize the fortune of Heaven and Earth with an innate body... this child's future achievements will be limitless!" "Could it be possible for him to be born directly at Dao Integration?" "It is worth trying. Even if that fails, being born at Soul Formation is an absolute certainty." "Splendid, splendid! Our Sun Clan welcomes another prodigy!" The eyes of the three Sun Clan elders sparkled. Listening to their conversation, Wu Ninglu's heart turned completely cold. Things had come to this; there was no room left for regret. Feeling her power continually draining away yet concentrating in her abdomen, Wu Ninglu's consciousness slowly faded amidst the bitter contradiction. ... The Heaven-and-Earth Essence, White Silk, perished. The mother, Wu Ninglu, met her demise, her Dao extinguished. In the chamber, only a single child was born from the mother's body. Neither crying nor fussing, pointing one hand to the heavens and the other to the earth, it quietly looked upon the three Dao Integration cultivators of the Sun Clan. Sun Luyuan and the others were overjoyed. "Does this child have a name yet?" "No, I originally intended to ask Lu'er the next time we went to visit him." "No need to ask him! He may be his son, but more importantly, he is an heir of our Sun Clan. Can we as elders not make the decision?" "I say we call him Sun Wei. Born into Dao Integration, he will surely display the might of our Sun Clan!" "Utterly vulgar! Utterly vulgar! I think he should be named..." None of them felt the slightest pity for Wu Ninglu's demise. They simply gathered around the Sun Clan's prodigy, utterly elated. Yet the newborn infant looked upon the corpse of his mother, a flicker of sorrow passing through his eyes. ... In a space of absolute darkness. "Am I..." "Dead?" "Where is this?" After an endlessly long slumber, a consciousness finally revived. First came confusion, then memories from life surfaced rapidly in her mind. A sky-soaring resentment welled up instantly. "The Sun Clan!" "And that damned little bastard!" "Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill..." Her mind could hold nothing else, consumed entirely by the intent to take revenge. "Do you want to take your revenge on them?" Right then, a voice suddenly rang out beside Wu Ninglu's ear. "Who is it?" Wu Ninglu jolted awake, looking around with venomous spite.