Innate Immortal Seed

The ball of Thunder Radiance seemed calm and harmless, but Bai Zichen’s palm was already covered in a five-colored luster as he activated his Five Crystal Glaze Body at full power.

He gathered his Magical Power, ready to retreat instantly if anything went wrong.

Unlike the Jade Pendant, which was so fragile it seemed ready to crumble at any moment, this crackling ball of Thunder Radiance was clearly an Exotic Treasure that still possessed considerable power.

If it were to erupt, it would likely harm anyone attempting to claim it.

The moment Bai Zichen took the Thunder Radiance in his hand, his expression shifted. From within the crackling light, he felt waves of familiarity and longing.

He channeled a sliver of Magical Power into it, and it was as if thousands of lightning bolts stirred within the small orb, awakening from a deep slumber.

It was like a traveler in the desert drinking a long-awaited drop of sweet rain.

The Thunder Radiance took the initiative and plunged into Bai Zichen’s body, following his meridians straight into his Qi Sea.

It submerged itself in the shallow pool of Spiritual Liquid, settling in obediently to bask in the nourishment of his Liquid Magical Power.

In just a short while, he could feel that the ball of crackling light had already recovered a good portion of its vitality.

While it absorbed his Magical Power, wisps of electricity were already seeping out, slowly increasing the purity of the Spiritual Liquid in his Qi Sea.

’It acknowledged a master this easily...’

Bai Zichen had a strange look on his face; he had never expected the Thunder Radiance to have retained a trace of its Spiritual nature.

After tens of thousands of years without the nourishment of Spiritual Qi, it immediately pledged allegiance the moment a Cultivator who could nourish it with Magical Power appeared.

’Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo... I suppose it has degraded to a Tier Three Flying Sword.’

After the Thunder Radiance acknowledged him as its master, he automatically learned some basic information about it.

It was originally the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword, its original Tier unknown.

After being left in the Secret Realm for tens of thousands of years, its Tier couldn’t be maintained. It was forcibly regressed from a High-Tier Flying Sword back into a Sword Embryo, but it was still at Tier Three.

Moreover, since it was once a High-Tier Flying Sword, it wasn’t impossible for it to advance back to its former glory if nourished properly.

’I just don’t know what Tier the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo was originally... A Tier Four Flying Sword definitely couldn’t have survived for so long. Could it have been a Tier Five Flying Sword, or even higher...?’

Bai Zichen’s heart trembled. He couldn’t use it now, and he estimated it would take decades just to nourish the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo to the point where it could take the form of a sword.

But as a Sword Cultivator, how could he not be thrilled to have such a High-Tier Flying Sword in his possession?

Normal Spiritual Artifacts couldn’t be stored in the Qi Sea; only items of the Magical Treasure level could.

Nourishing a Magical Treasure in the Qi Sea day and night would increase its power the longer it was done.

After a hundred years of nourishment, it would become a Lifebound Magical Treasure, its power multiplying many times over.

The Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo had, after all, fallen from the level of a High-Tier Flying Sword, so it was amazing that it could be taken directly into his body after acknowledging a master.

Once Bai Zichen restored the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo through nourishment, he might even be able to wield the Tier Three Sword Embryo without needing Core Formation Cultivation.

Having obtained the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo, and considering that the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques he couldn’t use were also top-tier Body Refining Techniques, his anticipation for the remaining long box grew even greater.

When Bai Zichen picked up the long box of unknown material, his hand sank, and he almost dropped it.

He hastily channeled his Magical Power; the unremarkable long box unexpectedly weighed over ten thousand catties.

He turned it over and over but couldn’t figure out the long box’s purpose.

It wasn’t until he infused a stream of Magical Power that, although the long box remained motionless, the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo in his Qi Sea transmitted a feeling of joy.

’Strange, not even a twitch... But given the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo’s reaction, could this long box also be a Flying Sword that’s concealing its true form...?’

While Bai Zichen was still pondering, the burial mound suddenly shook. He hastily retreated, only to discover that the entire Secret Realm was trembling violently.

Cracks spiderwebbed across the ground, and large chunks of the ceiling collapsed, revealing an endless darkness that exuded an immense, dangerous aura.

’This Secret Realm can’t hold on any longer! It’s about to fall apart!’

Bai Zichen’s expression changed drastically. ’Could this have something to do with me taking the three Treasures?’

Otherwise, it would be too much of a coincidence for this Ancient Secret Realm to reach its end in the short time he’d been here.

After all, a Secret Realm that was "about to collapse" would typically take decades, or even centuries, to finally disappear and turn into spatial fragments.

The collapse would only accelerate if a major event occurred within the Secret Realm—like losing its foundational support, fulfilling its intended purpose, or having no further reason to exist.

Although the Black Flame on Lu Songx’s body had faded considerably, a final layer remained, and he had yet to wake up.

The method to enter and exit the Secret Realm was surely tied to him, the one who inherited the Ink Jade Ring.

Bai Zichen grabbed Lu Songx and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

Sure enough, when another piece of the space vanished and the Secret Realm had shrunk to half its size, the Black Flame appeared once more, and the two of them were sucked in again.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the entire Secret Realm collapsed completely, turning into scattered spatial fragments that vanished into the endless darkness.

Bai Zichen appeared abruptly in mid-air. Luckily, he managed to channel his Magical Power to catch Lu Songx; otherwise, the still-unconscious man might have fallen to his death.

’The exit was so fast, we were back in an instant... I was hoping to take the opportunity to do another round of Visualization and improve my Divine Sense.’

Bai Zichen felt a small pang of regret for not being able to take advantage of that minor opportunity during the Secret Realm’s return trip.

About an hour later, Lu Songx finally regained consciousness, an irrepressible joy shining in his eyes.

"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Bai, for acting as my Dharma Protector and allowing me to receive this opportunity from the Secret Realm."

"You absorbed that Black Flame. Did you gain any benefits?"

Bai Zichen was curious. Judging from the other three Treasures, this Secret Realm was of a very high level, so the benefits from the Black Flame’s infusion should have been substantial.

"The Black Flame replenished my Essence and refined my Magical Power. As soon as I go back and enter seclusion, I’ll be able to break through to the Late-Stage Qi Refining!"

Lu Songx rolled up his sleeve, revealing an arm where a jade-like luster had not yet completely faded.

"And it transformed me into a Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body, which can permanently lock my body in its peak state until the day I die... That means the restriction where your vitality declines after fifty and your chances of Foundation Establishment plummet no longer applies to me!"

"As long as I cultivate to Qi Refining Great Perfection, my physical vitality won’t be an obstacle, even if I’m sixty or seventy years old!"

Lu Songx pumped his fists in excitement, his thick eyebrows dancing. This was truly incredible news for him.

It meant the gates to Foundation Establishment had opened for him once more.

’A Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body, hmm? From the sound of it, that’s certainly impressive...’

It was another Spirit Body he had never heard of. There were thousands of Spirit Bodies in the Cultivation Realm, and this one was an Acquired type created through special means from Ancient Times, so it was normal not to have heard of it.

Bai Zichen knew that the Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body’s effect of preventing physical decline before death wasn’t limited to just the Qi Refining Stage.

There was also an optimal age for breaking through to Core Formation.

Once past the threshold of one hundred and twenty years, the probability of achieving Core Formation would also drop sharply.

As for reaching the Nascent Soul realm, the optimal age was before three hundred.

The Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body effectively gave its owner a third more time than a normal Cultivator to keep Breaking Realms. At the very least, they would benefit from it all the way up to the Nascent Soul Stage.

As for the step beyond that, according to the Ancient Texts, there were no longer any age restrictions.

"Nephew Lu, while you were unconscious, I collected a total of three Treasures... a Flying Sword, a Body Refining Technique, and an unknown long box that seems to be related to the Sword Dao."

Bai Zichen explained what he had found.

’According to our agreement, sharing the Body Refining Technique is no problem. But the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo has already acknowledged me as its master and entered my Qi Sea, so it’s obviously impossible to take out. That just leaves the long box of unknown purpose. Although we agreed that Combat Treasures would go to me and cultivation-enhancing Treasures would go to Lu Songx, if I take this long box of unknown purpose and Tier, I truly don’t know what I could use to compensate him. But to give it up... when I think of the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo’s joy, it’s clear the long box is related to the Flying Sword, and I’m reluctant to part with it.’

"Junior Martial Uncle Bai is truly a man of his word."

Lu Songx gave a long, deep bow, a look of shame on his face.

"I thought you might hide one of the Treasures. After all, I was unconscious the whole time, and even if I were awake, how could I compete with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?"

"To let you know, Martial Uncle, that long box is a Sword Box. I don’t know its specific function either."

It turned out that while Lu Songx was being infused by the Black Flame, he had also received a portion of the Secret Realm’s legacy, which informed him of the true Treasures within.

A sword, a Sword Box, and a Cultivation Technique.

As for the Secret Realm’s origin, it was created a hundred thousand years ago by a mysterious Great Power.

He didn’t know any further details.

"I have no use for the Flying Sword or the Sword Box, so Junior Martial Uncle Bai should keep them. As for the Body Refining Technique, I will make a copy of it after I reach Foundation Establishment."

Lu Songx came from a Loose Cultivator background and had tasted the bitterness and warmth of human relationships. The Secret Realm he’d discovered in his youth had also put him through a rollercoaster of great joy and sorrow, giving him a very clear understanding of his own talent.

Even with the Seven Luminaries Spiritual Body, he didn’t feel that his chances of reaching Foundation Establishment were guaranteed.

He knew he had to cling to this powerful patron.

"I only ask one thing of you, Junior Martial Uncle Bai. When I attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment, I hope you can help me obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill."

After much deliberation, Lu Songx made what he felt was his boldest request.

He had originally wanted to ask for all the Elixirs needed to cultivate to Qi Refining Great Perfection and a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, but considering his own aptitude, he simply didn’t have the confidence to attempt Breaking the Realm without a Foundation Establishment Pill.

So, mustering his courage, he made this request and looked at his Junior Martial Uncle Bai, his eyes full of hope.

"A Foundation Establishment Pill... Don’t worry. No matter when you reach Qi Refining Great Perfection, I will definitely get a Foundation Establishment Pill for you!"

Bai Zichen chuckled, taken aback.

’Even though the purpose of the mysterious long box—or rather, the mysterious Sword Box—is still unknown, the fact that it was listed as one of the Secret Realm’s three Treasures means its Tier is definitely not low. Lu Songx is currently only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Even if he breaks through immediately upon returning, it will still take him over ten years at the fastest to cultivate to Qi Refining Great Perfection. I believe that in ten years, given my future status in the Sect, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill will not be a difficult task. I hadn’t expected Lu Songx to be willing to give up the Treasures right in front of him for the promise of a future Foundation Establishment Pill. It just goes to show that the man knows how to make sacrifices and understands what’s truly useful to him.’

It was also a testament to Bai Zichen’s trustworthy character that a single promise, without needing a Dao Heart Oath, was enough for Lu Songx to believe he would deliver.

"I’ll take you to the transit station first so you can immediately enter seclusion... Then I’ll head to Monkey Mountain."

Bai Zichen glanced at the sky. He had lost all track of time while inside the Secret Realm and truly didn’t know how many days had passed.

Right now, Lu Songx’s body was overflowing with Magical Power. If he didn’t enter seclusion soon, he would lose this opportunity to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining. Returning to the Sect was too far, so the only option was to take him to the nearest station, Transit Station Three.