Chapter 122: The Origin of the Dao

The Taixu Demonic Flame within Yun Yuefei was almost extinguished under the greedy absorption of the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment. Sensing that it was no longer strong enough to threaten Yun Yuefei’s safety, Lin Xiaobao withdrew his hand. After all, one had to abide by certain principles, did one not?

Saving someone was one thing, but if he completely drained the source of the Taixu Demonic Flame within Yun Yuefei, how would that make him any different from those demonic cultivators? Lin Xiaobao wished to grow stronger quickly, but he also had principles as a human being.

Having lost the nourishment of the Taixu Demonic Flame, the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment began absorbing the energy within the demon core once more.

The demon core suspended in Lin Xiaobao’s heart began to shrink, little by little. No one knew how much time passed before it finally vanished altogether. Yet the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment still seemed unsatisfied and began drawing in the spiritual power within Lin Xiaobao’s body.

With a flick of Lin Xiaobao’s wrist, a large pile of spirit stones appeared beside him. As he placed his arm upon them, boundless spiritual energy flowed along his meridians, continuously converging within his dantian before surging into the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment.

Lin Xiaobao was neither surprised nor unprepared for this phenomenon. Having experienced it once before, he knew that refining the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment required an enormous amount of energy. The vast store of unusual flames he had accumulated previously had been completely devoured by it.

As pile after pile of spirit stones beside him faded from lustrous jade green to dull gray-white, the fragment’s suction gradually weakened. At last, seemingly having reached saturation, it stopped absorbing.

Looking at the heaps of spent stones in the meditation chamber, Lin Xiaobao felt a sharp pang of grief. Although he had relied on the demon core of a member of the demon race, as well as the innate Taixu Demonic Flame within Yun Yuefei, refining the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment had still consumed two-thirds of his entire reserve of spirit stones.

Yet when he looked inward, Lin Xiaobao discovered that the two fragments of the Primal Chaos Mirror had fused together perfectly. No one could tell that they had ever been broken apart, and the runes upon its surface were now several degrees clearer than before.

As the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment slowly revolved within his dantian, Lin Xiaobao felt waves of invisible power nourishing his entire body. There was even an essence of the Dao contained within that power.

As for what that essence was, Lin Xiaobao could not yet put it into words. Still, he had a vague feeling that when he eventually broke through into the Dao-Heart Realm and needed to comprehend the Heavenly Dao, this power—the essence of the Dao originating from the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment—would surely provide him with tremendous assistance.

The Primal Chaos Mirror fragment ceased absorbing power from the outside world, indicating that its initial refinement was complete. Lin Xiaobao, however, did not stop there. He circulated the Grand Unity True Flame Art, guiding the invisible force radiating from the fragment as it nourished his entire body.

Under the fragment’s power, which pointed directly toward the source of the Dao, Lin Xiaobao felt that every inch of his skin and every cell was filled with strength. An indescribable comfort suffused his entire body.

At the same time, he discovered that the space within his dantian was continuously expanding. Yet as it grew, the outer walls of his dantian did not become weaker or more fragile. Instead, they grew increasingly solid. Lin Xiaobao then seemed to understand why the Great Elder of the Literature Pavilion had placed such importance on the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment.

Under the power of the Dao’s origin, Lin Xiaobao felt his spiritual consciousness becoming steadily more condensed. The sensation was almost as if he had broken through another level.

Just as this feeling arose within him, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly surged wildly into his body. Lin Xiaobao was startled, fearing that the Primal Chaos Mirror fragment was about to begin another round of absorption. Yet after circulating through his cultivation art, the spiritual energy sank into his dantian instead.

Transformed into spiritual power by the cultivation art, it continuously poured into his dantian. Before long, the expanded space was filled to the brim. Even so, the spiritual power still continued to flood into his body.

Could it be…?

Lin Xiaobao’s heart leapt with joy. He began compressing the spiritual power within him without pause. The instant he created a little space, newly generated spiritual power filled it again. He was not worried by this phenomenon. He knew that it was a sign that a breakthrough was imminent.

At that moment, Lin Xiaobao also sensed that his Dao-heart was strong enough to withstand the breakthrough to come. He immediately began circulating his cultivation art with all his might.

While Lin Xiaobao struggled to cultivate, Qin Feng, standing guard outside the meditation chamber, finally understood why Lin Xiaobao had insisted that he guarantee no one would disturb him.

That fellow had already been inside for more than half a month. During that time, every two or three days, someone from Xuan Yang Hall would come to inquire about Lin Xiaobao’s condition.

Qin Feng had managed to hold them off by relying on his extraordinary status within the Blood Victory Empire. If Xuan Yang Hall were allowed to disturb Lin Xiaobao, it would amount to Qin Feng admitting defeat. And having to serve as Lin Xiaobao’s medicine attendant for three years was something Qin Feng simply could not accept. Yet the people Xuan Yang Hall sent had grown increasingly important with each visit, and Qin Feng knew that they were plainly close to losing patience.

Qin Feng had begun to wonder whether this fellow had known all along that Xuan Yang Hall would come looking for him and had deliberately set a trap, making Qin Feng bear the consequences on his behalf.

“Brother Qin, it is not that I do not wish to show you consideration. But surely you know about the auction, and more than half a month has already passed…” This time, the person Xuan Yang Hall had sent was an overseer named Cheng Yi. His words were polite enough, but his tone was unmistakably forceful.

“Brother Cheng, I have already explained the situation to you. Could you wait a little longer? I promise that as soon as matters here are settled, I will personally deliver this fellow to Xuan Yang Hall. How does that sound?” Qin Feng felt a headache coming on.

As for the Yun family, although Yun Keke and Yun Zhongtian were both present, they clearly had no right to intervene in today’s affair.

“Three days. At most, we can wait another three days. That is already the limit of Xuan Yang Hall’s patience. The exchange-treasure conference is about to begin, and this matter must be resolved there. We need to give the people of the world an explanation. Otherwise, others may think that anyone can bully Xuan Yang Hall!” Cheng Yi paused before continuing. Others might not know Qin Feng’s true background, but Xuan Yang Hall understood it perfectly and naturally did not wish to offend him too deeply.

Although Xuan Yang Hall ranked second among the great sects of the Profound Gate, Elder Chen Zhong, renowned throughout the world as the foremost formation master, had been elusive for centuries. Under such circumstances, it would be unwise to provoke too great a conflict with the Pill Dao Hall.

Seeing the clenched-jaw expression on Cheng Yi’s face, Qin Feng knew that if he continued to insist, the other man would no longer show him any consideration. He could only smile and say, “Then I thank you, Brother Cheng.”

“Since that is settled, I shall wait here with you.” Cheng Yi had clearly made up his mind. This time, he was determined to bring Lin Xiaobao back to Xuan Yang Hall.

Seeing Cheng Yi make such a decision, Yun Zhongtian immediately gave orders for the two men to be treated with the utmost care. Although they had come for Lin Xiaobao, if Lin Xiaobao managed to escape this calamity, would that not also be an opportunity for the Yun family to soar to greatness?