Chương 233: Chapter 122: Seed of the Heavenly Dao, Mystery of the Spirit Roots

Deep within the subterranean stone grotto far beneath the Mu Family's Hall of Ten Thousand Longevities, Reyn sat cross-legged in absolute silence. As his Primordial Soul completed its final, miraculous metamorphosis into a brilliant, translucent hue of pale gold, a staggering change came over his consciousness. The vast world before his inner vision suddenly seemed transformed, revealing intricate layer upon layer of hidden truths and celestial flow.

A profound, crystal-clear sense of absolute mastery blossomed within his Primordial Soul—a sensation so profound that it felt as though, with a single unhurried movement of his thought, he could effortlessly command and mobilize the vast, endless sea of spiritual energy pulsing outside his physical frame. This sensation was incomprehensibly subtle, transcendent beyond mortal language.

Yet, before Reyn could even begin to savor or internalize this newfound level of power, an extraordinarily bizarre and terrifying fluctuation of Heavenly Dao Laws abruptly descended from the highest reaches of the void. This fluctuation radiated a supreme, untouchable, and utterly divine authority—an imperious aura that seemed to originate from the most primordial, powerful entity in all of existence.

Amidst this majestic ripple of celestial energy, a singular seed, translucent and shimmering with a pale golden hue, rapidly condensed into physical reality directly within the spatial fluctuations.

"Obtain the Seed of the Heavenly Dao, receive the supreme favor of the Heavens, wield the boundless authority of the celestial Dao, and bear the eternal protection of the divine cosmic order!"

"Accept the gracious reward of the Heavenly Dao, and from this day forward, your journey along the Great Dao shall be smooth, boundless, and free from every calamity and tribulation, guaranteeing your ultimate ascension to an immortal realm!" In a hazy, dreamlike realm of consciousness, Reyn suddenly felt his soul plucked from his physical form and cast into a vast, boundless ocean of stars.

A reverberating, ancient voice echoed from the infinite, uncharted star domains of this cosmic sky, carrying a supreme, highborn nobility. Beneath the weight of this celestial voice, even the swirling nebulae and drifting interstellar dust trembled softly before erupting into a dazzling display of starlight. In the span of a single heartbeat, those endless starlights swirled together, rapidly condensing into the translucent, towering phantom of a man.

The very instant this phantom figure materialized, Reyn's face changed drastically, turning deathly solemn. An aloof, insurmountable aura of divine nobility swept outward from the phantom's form. Though it was merely a few faint strands of aura, it bore a terrifying weight that seemed capable of stomping all creation beneath its feet! It felt as though, throughout the vastness of the cosmos, this figure was the highest, most sacred, and untouchable existence.

Reyn's entire body shuddered uncontrollably, his face twisting into an expression of agonizing resistance. Standing before this towering entity, he felt an invisible, crushing grand aura violently slam down upon his shoulders, attempting to forcibly force a subservient thought into his soul—an irresistible urge to fall to his knees, bow his head in total submission, and offer eternal worship to this figure. But at that exact, perilous second, his pale-golden Primordial Soul surged with tempestuous fury!

An unyielding, fiercely rebellious spirit erupted like a golden spear thrusting directly into the heavens, clashing with relentless ferocity against that overwhelming pressure! An overwhelming swell of sorrow, disgust, and deep-seated hatred surged from the bottom of his heart. Reyn had no idea who this starlight-condensed phantom was, but gasping heavily for air through clenching teeth, he threw his head back and uttered a thunderous, savage roar: "I don't give a damn who you are!

Don't you ever dare dream of controlling my mind—get the hell out of my sight!" That furious roar transformed into a rolling, deafening wave of sound that rushed outward across the starry expanse, carrying within its core a subtle, sparkling thread of pale gold. The moment this golden light made its appearance, Reyn felt the crushing, thousand-jin weight pressing down on his soul instantly drop by a tremendous degree. Crack! The thread of pale gold smashed straight into the towering phantom.

The instant they made contact, it was as if two sworn, mortal nemeses had collided, sparking a chaotic, violent tempest of spiritual energy.

"Hmph!" The towering phantom uttered a cold, indifferent snort. A brilliant beam of divine light erupted from its spectral body, completely obliterating the pale golden thread in the blink of an eye.

"To refuse worship to the Heavenly Dao is to render oneself a traitor to the Heavens! In the days to come, you shall surely face the absolute doom of Heavenly Scorn!" The voice converged thunderously from every direction across the endless expanse. Laced within its supreme, unquestionable majesty was a chilling trace of deadly intent, causing the starry sky to instantly undergo a catastrophic upheaval.

Space fractured into jagged black void tears, nebulae were vaporized into nothingness, and an apocalyptic scene of collapsing heavens and shattering earth unfolded in every direction! A single moment of wrath, and the entire universe was brought to ruin! Just what kind of terrifying, divine being was this figure? The mountain-like pressure weighing down on Reyn skyrocketed to unimaginable heights.

His face turned paper-white, and though he mustered every drop of his unyielding willpower to stand tall, his body was still forced to bend slowly beneath that apocalyptic weight. But right at this critical juncture, a violent spatial distortion erupted directly above Reyn's head, and a dazzling, blinding golden light exploded outward! This golden radiance was unbelievably dense and majestic, radiating an aura of absolute, inviolable nobility that surpassed the towering phantom's aura by several times over!

The instant this golden divine light appeared, the towering phantom was instantly shattered into dust before it could even react, causing the entire starry realm to completely crumble into pieces. As Reyn felt the world violently shuddering, right before his consciousness faded back into reality, he faintly heard several broken, disjointed sentences echoing across the collapsing void.

"How... is it possible... for the mortal realm... to birth... such an existence?!"

"In my eyes... also... an ant... destroyed..."

"... In the end... I shall... return..." Immediately following those words, every trace of light and sound was thoroughly annihilated into complete oblivion.... Far away, inside that ten-thousand-zhang-tall, extraordinarily towering grand palace, a soft, amused chuckle suddenly echoed through the vast halls: "Not a bad little fellow." In a world of perpetual flame, the wildly churning magma that had temporarily frozen in place suddenly resumed its fierce, chaotic rampage.

Deep within its abyssal depths, a faint, deeply gratified sigh echoed out softly into the inferno. Meanwhile, sitting atop his giant floating wine gourd, the young man's expression froze in astonishment before he blurted out in loud amazement: "Holy crap! He actually shattered that bastard's spatial projection! That's way more fierce and brutal than when I did it back in the day!"

"Hehe, Old Alcohol Ghost must be in an exceptionally good mood right about now. I'd better hurry up and get over there fast, otherwise I'll end up missing a golden opportunity!" Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. Far beyond the atmosphere of the planet itself, Suan Wuqiong (The Boundless Reckoner) wore a look of unbridled exhilaration on his weathered face.

Ultimately, he could no longer hold back his sheer delight, throwing his head back and laughing uproariously toward the infinite void of space:"In this grand, endless pursuit of the Dao, I am no longer alone!" The moment Reyn's consciousness snapped back to reality, he felt the newly condensed golden seed suddenly become covered in a dense web of infinite cracks. In the span of a single breath, it collapsed completely, shattering into nothingness.

Along with its demise, those mysterious and profound law fluctuations of the Heavenly Dao gradually ebbed away into the surrounding void, vanishing without a trace. A ripple went through Reyn's mind, giving rise to an endless sea of perplexity and confusion. Who was that enigmatic figure? Where had he come from? What was that golden seed, truly? And just what kind of transcendent entity was the Heaven-Defying Golden Seal, that it possessed such terrifying, awe-inspiring power?

Questions rushed into his mind like a surging tide, leaving him feeling as though he were trapped in an impenetrable, suffocating fog, where both the path ahead and the road behind were shrouded in total uncertainty.

"We, as cultivators, walk a path of defying heaven to change our foolish destinies! By nature, we must endure monumental tribulations and terrifying crises before we can forge true fortune and supreme enlightenment! Just because I cannot penetrate this mystery now does not mean I will remain blind forever. One day, I, Reyn, will surely stand at the absolute pinnacle of this universe! I will tear away every single layer of mist before my eyes and gaze upon the vast, untamed cosmos!"

A surge of lofty, soaring ambition welled up within his chest, swelling until it filled his entire soul. Having untangled his thoughts, Reyn felt a profound sense of clarity wash over him. Slowly, he opened his eyes, only to see Yu Meiren standing nearby, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, her beautiful eyes brimming with deep anxiety as she looked down at him.

The moment she saw Reyn awaken, the corners of her lips curled up into a soft, breathtaking smile—resembling a pristine lotus blooming atop a snowy peak, possessing a stunning, nation-toppling beauty that defied any description.

"Little brother, what happened just now?" Yu Meiren asked softly, a trace of bewilderment flickering in her radiant eyes.

"Why did I feel as though the aura emanating from your body suddenly underwent a drastic, terrifying transformation?" As she spoke, her deep eyes shimmered with perplexity. Standing before Reyn at this moment, an inexplicable sense of faint, instinctual reverence had actually taken root in her heart. This feeling did not stem from any physical bloodline pressure; rather, it seemed to originate from the deepest depths of her Primordial Soul—a primordial force of absolute origin suppressing her very spirit.

Reyn's eyes flickered with a subtle light upon hearing her words. What had transpired was a complete mystery even to him, and the incredible sights he had witnessed earlier had set off tempestuous waves within his heart. Yet, for reasons he could not fully explain, a strong intuition warned him that this matter must never be revealed to another soul. Keeping it hidden would bring Yu Meiren every benefit without a single shred of harm.

"It might simply be a subtle shift caused by the breakthrough in my cultivation," Reyn replied with a casual, gentle smile, glossing over the matter naturally.

"To be honest, I am not entirely clear on it myself." A momentary flicker of doubt passed through Yu Meiren's beautiful eyes, but she knew that if Reyn chose not to speak, he surely had his own reasons. Thus, despite her intense curiosity, she tactfully restrained herself and did not press the subject any further. Seeing her drop the topic, Reyn felt a weight lift from his heart. He genuinely harbored no desire to deceive Yu Meiren, but the sheer strangeness surrounding the event made it inappropriate to disclose.

This outcome was undeniably the best for both of them.

"Little brother, the Spirit-Devouring Array has not been fully completed yet," Yu Meiren said, adjusting her focus back to the matter at hand.

"Regarding the Seventh Suction... should we continue?" Though she could not fathom what had just occurred within Reyn's body, the Seven Suctions of Spirit-Devouring still lacked its final, ultimate step. Whether to proceed or abort was a decision only he could make. Reyn suddenly lifted his head, his gaze bearing a terrifying, piercing clarity that felt as though it could see through every truth and secret of the world.

Ever since his Primordial Soul underwent that bizarre mutation, a profound sense of enlightenment had blossomed in his mind. Establishing his foundation would no longer present the slightest difficulty! Yet, after a moment of quiet deliberation, he spoke in a calm, deliberate tone: "Although I no longer require a Spirit Root to successfully complete my Foundation Establishment, there are a few lingering doubts I wish to verify. Therefore... let us begin the Seventh Suction!"

Though Yu Meiren did not fully comprehend what Reyn meant by verifying his doubts, seeing the solemn, rigorous expression on his face, she gave a firm nod. Turning toward the towering form of the Spirit-Devouring Fiend, she pointed a slender, jade-like finger and let out a sharp, commanding cry: "Spirit-Devouring Fiend! Initiate the Seventh Suction! Plunder the fortune of Heaven and Earth, and reverse the forces of Yin and Yang!"

As her finger fell, the colossal Spirit-Devouring Fiend unleashed an earth-shattering roar! Instantly, the crimson tendrils plunging into Mu Nianxing's lifeless body burst with a sinister, haunting red luminescence. Under the mysterious attraction of this red light, faint wisps of golden energy began to coalesce from deep within Mu Nianxing's remains.

At last, these golden threads fused into a winding, intricate structure resembling the intricate roots of an ancient plant—the legendary Spirit Root residing within a cultivator's body! This golden Spirit Root was exceedingly dim, speckled only with tiny, flickering embers of light. Yet, the moment it took form, it radiated a subtle aura that struck Reyn with an overwhelming sense of familiarity.

"So it truly is... the exact same essence as that so-called Seed of the Heavenly Dao?!" Reyn's pupils contracted violently. Although the strength of this aura was merely a fraction of a fraction—perhaps one ten-thousandth—of the aura belonging to the golden seed, the fundamental, identical origin of their essences was unmistakably, unequivocally identical!

As he murmured under his breath, the golden Spirit Root whistled through the air, traveling along the tendrils of the Spirit-Devouring Fiend and plunging directly into Reyn's physical frame. Its ethereal form quivered slightly as it prepared to take root within his flesh and meridians! But at that precise moment, Reyn's pale-golden Primordial Soul suddenly flared with a soft, pristine golden illumination.

The moment this light radiated outward, it completely enveloped the incoming Spirit Root and unleashed a frantic, relentless wave of annihilation! Although the light emitted by Reyn's Primordial Soul was incomparably weaker than the blinding brilliance of the Heaven-Defying Golden Seal, obliterating a mere stolen Spirit Root was effortless! Crack! The fragile golden Spirit Root shattered instantly, dissolving into a meaningless phantom silhouette before vanishing into complete nonexistence!

A look of deep contemplation settled into Reyn's eyes as he softly muttered to himself, "Spirit Roots... Spirit Roots... Only those blessed with a Spirit Root can embark on the grand avenue of cultivation, command spiritual mana, and enjoy boundless longevity... I am afraid this matter is far, far from simple!" Reyn could instinctively feel that the mystery he had caught a glimpse of was undoubtedly an earth-shattering, cosmic secret!

"Even if I currently lack the strength and qualifications to uncover the ultimate truth behind this secret," he declared quietly to himself, "the day will surely come when I lay everything bare and solve this riddle once and for all!" Pausing for a brief moment, Reyn shook his head slowly, setting these heavy thoughts aside for now. The most pressing matter confronting him at this very instant was finding a way to escape the clutches of the Mu Family!

The Mu Family Ancestor was currently standing right outside this subterranean grotto. With his formidable cultivation at the Nascent Soul realm, if he were to discover the catastrophic turn of events inside and strike out in rage, both Reyn and Yu Meiren would be crushed without a shadow of a doubt! Reyn pondered briefly before succinctly informing Yu Meiren of the grave situation outside.

Upon learning that a genuine Nascent Soul cultivator was lurking right beyond the stone entrance, Yu Meiren's expression changed visibly. Though she had recovered a portion of her strength, she was still nowhere near powerful enough to fight a Nascent Soul powerhouse! The two exchanged a look, both reading the deep apprehension in each other's eyes. The Spirit-Devouring ritual was now complete; if the stone door remained sealed for too long, it would inevitably arouse the suspicion of that old monster Mu Daguang.

Once that happened, the terrible fate awaiting them required no imagination. However, right at that precarious moment, the earth beneath them violently trembled! Violent shockwaves rocked the grotto as an insanely arrogant, booming voice thundered from the distance!

"You damned old ghost of the Mu family! What the hell have you done to this deity's master?! If anything has happened to him, this deity swears to slaughter your Mu Family down to the last chicken and dog, ensuring you never know a single day of peace again!" Hearing those absurdly arrogant words, the corners of Reyn's mouth curled up into a faint smile. Under Yu Meiren's bewildered gaze, he chuckled softly and whispered, "You damned fellow... in the end, you didn't disappoint me after all."