Chapter 125: Primordial Origin Spirit

At this point, Qingxu no longer held on to any hope of luck. The Renkui Radiant Silk had clearly slipped beyond his control and was certainly being wielded remotely by Daoist White Dragon.

“Is Daoist White Dragon truly only at the early stage of the Great Principle Golden Immortal realm?” Deep suspicion welled within him. Possessing one of only three Primal Chaos Dao Runes since time immemorial—something even the Sages of the Heavens and Dao Ancestor Hongjun did not possess—how could he be as simple as he appeared? And if every move Qingxu made had truly fallen within Daoist White Dragon’s calculations, then all those experts of the Northern Dark Sea, including the Ice Ancestor before him, a peak Quasi-Sage, had already been drawn into White Dragon’s scheme. How terrifying must his cultivation be? He was probably not far from becoming a Primal Chaos Sage.

What Qingxu feared most was Daoist White Dragon’s true identity. Possessing a Primal Chaos Dao Rune, he was almost certainly connected in some way to Pangu, the Primal Chaos Sacred Dragon King, or the Heavenly King of Creation and Eternal Life. He might even be a descendant of one of the three, or at least of their surviving bloodlines.

Gazing at the Primal Chaos Dao Runes binding the Ice Ancestor, Qingxu felt his scalp grow numb. They were simply too powerful. The primordial spirit and demonic soul of a peak Quasi-Sage had been rendered utterly powerless, without the slightest ability to resist. It was almost monstrously overwhelming.

“If I could possess a Primal Chaos Dao Rune as well, would I not be able to run rampant throughout the Great Thousand Primordial Wilderness? It is even more formidable than any innate spiritual treasure!”

The power of innate spiritual treasures aside, their requirements for refinement alone were exceedingly demanding. Without profound cultivation and a sufficiently lofty realm, even a high-grade innate spiritual treasure was difficult to refine completely. And even after refinement, few could compare with a Primal Chaos Dao Rune.

The power displayed by the Primal Chaos Dao Rune for now already required at least a supreme innate treasure to contend with. As for how formidable it would become once fully developed, that remained unknown.

While Qingxu’s thoughts churned and his imagination ran wild, his vision suddenly brightened. His feet touched solid ground. The boundless radiance around him, flawless as jade, dispersed as the drifting clouds of mist gathered into a half-meter-wide veil suspended in the air. Streams of light poured from it, enveloping the Ice Ancestor, whose entire body was wrapped in Primal Chaos Dao Runes.

Once he was free, Qingxu surveyed his surroundings. He found himself standing atop a steep cliff beside the sea. Looking down, he saw vast waves surging toward the foot of the cliff, sending countless muddy sprays skyward. Across the heavens flew all manner of strange and exotic birds, their feathers brilliant with every color. Turning around, he saw ranges of overlapping mountains, peaks jutting upward like halberds and precipitous cliffs unfolding like screens.

“What a paradise on earth!”

After taking in the general surroundings, Qingxu realized that he was on an island in the sea. As for which of the Four Seas it lay in, he had no idea.

“Daoist Brother Xuanhuang, it has been some time!”

At the sound of hearty laughter, a flash of light crossed Qingxu’s vision. Daoist White Dragon then appeared from thin air, accompanied by two female cultivators.

White Dragon still wore the same refined and scholarly appearance he had shown in the Northern Reed Continent. The two women following behind him, one on either side, each possessed her own distinctive air. One wore a plain white Daoist robe, while the other was dressed entirely in deep black. Both were breathtakingly beautiful, capable of overturning kingdoms with a single glance.

“These are my two unruly disciples, White Spirit and Black Spirit. Why have you not hurried to pay your respects to Uncle-Master Xuanhuang?” The last sentence was directed sharply at the two women.

“White Spirit pays her respects to Uncle-Master!”

“Black Spirit pays her respects to Uncle-Master!”

Under Daoist White Dragon’s reprimand, the two women hurriedly performed a respectful bow before Qingxu, their expressions nervous and apprehensive.

“No need for such ceremony.” Qingxu waved his hand, raising them from the air, then produced two fairly powerful acquired spiritual treasures as gifts.

“A gift from an elder must not be refused. Since he has given them to you, accept them,” Daoist White Dragon said with a smile when he saw their hesitation.

The two women happily accepted the acquired spiritual treasures.

“Daoist Brother, is this White Dragon Island?”

Considering his present circumstances, Qingxu was deeply uneasy. He had essentially concluded that Daoist White Dragon had harbored ill intentions toward him from beginning to end. Yet the situation was stronger than the man. His cultivation was inferior, and to turn against White Dragon abruptly would be no different from courting death. His immediate priority was to find a way to escape and seek revenge later.

“Indeed. It is my Daoist abode—the White Dragon Island of the Southern Sea.” Daoist White Dragon’s smile did not change. His eyes were deep and still, revealing nothing and making him seem unfathomable.

Having received confirmation, Qingxu could only laugh bitterly inwardly. Now that he had entered Daoist White Dragon’s own abode, escaping would likely be extremely difficult. Every reclusive cultivator’s residence in the present Primordial Wilderness was protected by countless formations and restrictions. Once one entered and the master activated them, the chances of survival became exceedingly slim.

Daoist White Dragon glanced at the Ice Ancestor, still imprisoned by the Primal Chaos Dao Runes, and his eyes grew noticeably heated. He made no attempt to conceal his excitement. He looked like a lecher who had been celibate for years suddenly confronted by an unparalleled beauty, or a starving beggar who had gone without three meals a day and suddenly found himself before a lavish banquet—like someone ready to pounce at any moment.

Then, as though remembering something, White Dragon restrained his excitement and smiled apologetically at Qingxu.

“Please do not make fun of me, Daoist Brother.”

“It is nothing.” Qingxu tugged awkwardly at the corners of his mouth. His smile was strained. No one would feel comfortable being schemed against and then forced to put on a smiling face. Besides, ever since crossing into the Primordial Wilderness, Qingxu had enjoyed smooth sailing. Though he was not as arrogant and contemptuous as the disciples of the other Sages, he still possessed an innate sense of superiority. He had always held his gaze high, rarely taking anyone other than the few Primal Chaos Sages seriously.

“I understand that you are displeased, Daoist Brother. In the end, I did make use of you this time, but I truly had no choice. The Ice Ancestor’s primordial ice essence is perfectly compatible with the innate trace of Renkui Water Essence within me. With the two working together, my Dao can be completed. Still, this was ultimately my fault. In that case, merely giving you the Renkui Radiant Silk would seem insufficient. I shall also present you with the Ice Ancestor’s primordial spirit. With the primordial spirit of a peak Quasi-Sage, you need only spend some time absorbing and devouring it. At the very least, your magical power should advance by leaps and bounds, allowing you to reach the Quasi-Sage realm in one step. As for the corresponding cultivation and insight, you will have to comprehend those yourself.”

Daoist White Dragon spoke with a smile, as though the matter were of no importance. Yet to Qingxu, his words struck like thunderbolts.

What?

Qingxu almost wondered whether he had misheard. What exactly had Daoist White Dragon said? He would return the Renkui Radiant Silk to him, and even give him the Ice Ancestor’s primordial spirit? That was the primordial spirit of a peak Quasi-Sage! If he absorbed and devoured it, its benefits would far surpass those of any immortal pill, divine medicine, or natural spiritual treasure.

“Daoist Brother, you are far too generous. We have merely become acquainted and found ourselves congenial. How could I possibly accept such priceless treasures from you?” Qingxu replied politely. He did not believe for a moment that White Dragon was truly so generous. What if this was merely a test?

“You took an enormous risk for my sake this time and nearly lost your life. The debt of gratitude is simply too great. If you refuse even this small compensation, I shall truly feel guilty.”

Seeing the seriousness in White Dragon’s expression, Qingxu frowned. What was this fellow trying to do? He had benefits to spare, yet insisted on pressing them into Qingxu’s hands.

After what had happened, Qingxu could now be certain that Daoist White Dragon was no ordinary person, nor was he kind or easy to deal with. His mind was sinister, his smile concealed a blade, and anyone who associated with him carelessly might well be sold off while still helping the seller count the money. Dealing with such a person was truly frightening, for one could never guard against him completely.

“By the way, you mentioned something called the primordial ice essence earlier?” Qingxu deliberately changed the subject, unwilling to continue arguing over the matter.

White Dragon glanced at him but did not take offense. He explained, “The primordial ice essence differs from the true spirit of an ordinary Primordial Wilderness cultivator. A true spirit is merely the origin of the three souls and seven spirits. Primordial essence, however, is not only the gathering of the soul and spirit; it also contains the resonance of the Great Dao, profound and unfathomable. One could say that anyone possessing primordial ice essence cultivates a primordial spirit. Since the Ice Ancestor belonged to the faction of Primal Chaos demonic souls, what he refined was therefore a primordial demonic-soul spirit...”

After hearing White Dragon’s explanation, Qingxu understood. He could not help cursing inwardly. The true prize had still fallen into White Dragon’s hands. Qingxu had merely followed behind and sipped a little of the leftover broth, yet he had actually thought he had gained some enormous advantage.

The primordial ice essence was the foundation of the Ice Ancestor. All the Dao he had cultivated since the beginning of the Primal Chaos was contained within it, while the resonance of the Great Dao served to unify his soul and spirit.

Once Daoist White Dragon obtained the Ice Ancestor’s primordial ice essence and refined it into his own primordial spirit, he could instantly form a primordial demonic-soul spirit. Not only would he be able to replicate everything the Ice Ancestor possessed, he would also retain his own foundation. Truly, the student would surpass the master. The magnitude of this benefit was immeasurable. It might even allow him to break through the shackles of the peak Quasi-Sage realm in one stroke and attain the station of a Primal Chaos Sage.

Only now did Qingxu understand. It was not that Daoist White Dragon was generous; rather, the energy of the Ice Ancestor’s primordial spirit was incompatible with him and could not be used. He simply could not understand why White Dragon did not give it to either of his two disciples.

Since he could not figure it out, he decided not to dwell on it. So long as he obtained the benefits and escaped, that was enough.

Events unfolded exactly as Daoist White Dragon had said. He kept Qingxu on White Dragon Island for several days. After entering seclusion and extracting the Ice Ancestor’s primordial ice essence, he accompanied Qingxu on a leisurely tour of the island. Then he readily handed over the Renkui Radiant Silk, now stripped of its Primal Chaos Dao Runes, along with the Ice Ancestor’s primordial spirit.

Nor was that all. He personally escorted Qingxu several thousand miles away from the island before finally parting from him with evident reluctance.

Even after he had truly put a great distance between himself and White Dragon Island, Qingxu still felt as though he were dreaming. The more he thought about it, the less he understood Daoist White Dragon’s intentions.

* * *

Atop the seaside cliff of White Dragon Island, Daoist White Dragon stood gazing into the direction in which Qingxu had departed. He murmured to himself, “Which Primal Chaos Sage helped him in the end? And who spread the false rumor about the Godslaying Spear? Still, none of that matters now. It has saved me quite a bit of effort. Heh heh, did you think obtaining the Ice Ancestor’s primordial spirit was some tremendous blessing? How naive!”

Amid his crafty, sinister laughter, Daoist White Dragon transformed into a streak of white light and flew toward the summit of White Dragon Peak, the island’s main mountain.

Only a trace of sinister and mysterious scheming seemed to linger upon the cliff.