Chapter 806: From the Immortal Source's Harvest

Xu Qing's heart was churning. He hadn't imagined that such a wondrous existence as the Immortal Source could exist in this world. The function of this Immortal Source, which surpassed the Dao of Heaven, was even more unbelievable and astonishing!

"The origin of all cultivation methods..."

Xu Qing took a deep breath and instinctively looked towards the ground. He already knew that below the Wanggu Continent was the former Imperial Heaven, and that beyond the Wanggu Continent, this entire starry sky belonged to the Grand Heaven. The Wanggu Continent suppressed only one of the many Grand Heaven Divine Realms, and even Houtu, the homeland of the Summer Immortals, was also associated with the Wanggu Continent.

Now, the true origin of all myriad races lay even deeper! That place must be boundless and immensely vast, containing countless lives. All their cultivation methods, divine abilities, and techniques were formed from the Immortal Source, which was jointly created by the nine most ancient Summer Immortals! It could analyze, collect, organize, and disseminate! This allowed the flower of cultivation to perpetually bloom across the hundred thousand realms, leading to a myriad of diverse cultivation methods.

Too many people had, by chance, acquired cultivation methods whose origins traced back to this Immortal Source. This phenomenon, and its function, utterly shook Xu Qing's mind. He couldn't describe it; only the word "magnificent" came to mind.

At the same time, Xu Qing also thought of Little Butterfly's attacks when she transformed into human form, whether it was the Dry Flame Demonic Art of the True Form Path or the Water Marsh Kingdom. Evidently, they all originated from the Immortal Source! It was conceivable that anyone who mastered and utilized such a high-level divine ability to its extreme must be an outstanding figure of Houtu!

"So, I wonder if there's something similar on the Wanggu Continent..." Xu Qing fell into contemplation. Little Butterfly seemed to guess his thoughts, and her voice echoed.

"Are you wondering if there's a similar Immortal Source on the Wanggu Continent? Let me tell you, because of the will of the Grand Heaven, the Immortal Source's function on the Wanggu Continent is limited. It can only collect; it cannot evolve or disseminate!"

"Only the inheritors of each clan's Summer Immortal Palace can conditionally gain insights from the Immortal Source by utilizing their respective authorities. Outsiders have no such opportunity!"

"Even I have to pay a price to gain access to the Immortal Source. All rules are based on equivalent exchange."

"Last time, at the Star Emperor's sub-sect, I nearly killed myself just to secretly bring a treasure to the Immortal Source. Yet, here it's so easy..."

Inside the ancient temple, Little Butterfly's clear voice, clearly tinged with a hint of dissatisfaction, echoed, adding a touch of vibrancy to the ancient hall. Xu Qing glanced at the Summer Immortal Palace Lord, then at Little Butterfly. A guess involuntarily arose in his heart: perhaps this was one of the reasons the Summer Immortal Palace Lord took Little Butterfly as a disciple!

This place was submerged in the river of time, its colors too plain and monotonous within ancient history. Loneliness and the weight of ages permeated it. All of this meant that those who remained here for a long time would inevitably be affected, naturally acquiring an air of antiquity. Yet, the existence of their mission ensured that the Summer Immortal Palace, generation after generation, could only continue to exist in this way.

"One day, when Little Butterfly becomes the Summer Immortal Palace Lord, she might also become like the current Palace Lord." Living within the life mission of ancients, embracing the passage of time!

Xu Qing shifted his gaze from Little Butterfly, not dwelling on her tone, but instead looked at the Summer Immortal Palace Lord, cupped his hands, and said, "Senior, your intention is clear to this junior!"

"This matter is acceptable, but this junior wishes to see the Immortal Source with his own eyes!"

The Summer Immortal Palace Lord said nothing. She simply raised her jade hand and subtly gestured towards the candles on the altar. Immediately, the flames of the six burning candles surged and spread outwards. Though merely candlelight, under this expansion, it formed a swirling sea of fire in the ancient temple's mid-air. As it rumbled and spun, it became far brighter than before, illuminating the dim ancient temple completely. On the surrounding murals, ancient emperors seemed to come alive in this light, emanating their presence. Imperial might from the Human Race!

This might merged with the sea of fire in the temple's mid-air, eventually forming a scene within it. The true location of this scene was unknown; what was revealed now seemed to be merely a window. Through this window, one could see a splendid void! Within it grew an enormous plant! It was a... dandelion! Its trunk was branded with countless marks, each exuding terrifying and astonishing power. When converged, these marks made the dandelion exceptionally unique and miraculous!

Below it, there was a muddy surface providing nourishment. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a mire of flesh and blood, formed by the corpses of countless deities! It seemed that all the deities slaughtered by the nine ancient and powerful Summer Immortals of the Immortal Palace, after they overthrew this Grand Heaven Divine Realm, had been buried here, forced to provide eternal power to the dandelion! At the same time, the souls of these deities were also bound here, forced to kneel and utter ghastly and terrifying wails. Their divine sounds could better facilitate the dandelion's operation!

This was the Immortal Source! The Immortal Source was created by the nine Great Summer Immortals, formed from the burial of a divine realm. Occasionally, within the mire of divine flesh and blood, there were still hundreds of bodies. They hadn't fully disintegrated, as if their existence was so extraordinary that the time required for their dissolution was infinitely long!

Among these corpses, Xu Qing's mind boomed with a single glance, and his body showed signs of collapsing. Even the divine source within him trembled! This sight made Xu Qing's breath hitch. That corpse was the largest among all the bodies in the mire of flesh and blood. Without a reference point, it was difficult to truly grasp its actual size! However, the aura it emitted was the strongest Xu Qing had ever encountered. Compared to it, even the Red Mother was like a firefly, and the Sword-Wielding Great Emperor was merely a firefly. This deity possessed Imperial Qi.

"That was the Divine Emperor of this former Divine Realm!" the Summer Immortal Palace Lord's ethereal voice resonated.

Xu Qing's turbulent emotions eventually subsided, and his gaze returned to the dandelion! It was in full bloom, emitting countless fluffy seeds, which were not white. Each seed was tri-colored—red, yellow, and blue—and was continuously drifting outwards into the surrounding void, going further and further. It was conceivable that these seeds were the cultivation methods and divine abilities, disseminating into the myriad realms. At the same time, some seeds were returning from the void, merging into the dandelion, being absorbed and transformed, and then scattering once again! A cyclical process!

Xu Qing gazed at this scene, his heart filled with deep respect for the Immortal Source. He then slowly released a soul seed from his body, allowing it to float. The soul seed glowed with purple light, and under Xu Qing's divine sense, it flew through the window towards the void where the dandelion resided. The moment it entered, it transformed into the likeness of a dandelion seed, fluttering as it approached the dandelion. The next instant, it merged within!

As for Xu Qing's divine consciousness contained within the soul seed, it should have been instantly wiped clean, rendering the seed blank. However, with a wave of the Summer Immortal Palace Lord's hand, the burning power of the candlelight intervened, slowing down this process!

"Outsiders cannot directly comprehend the Immortal Source. Only by offering a contribution does one get this fleeting opportunity. However, with my authority, I can allow your soul seed's consciousness to persist for ten breaths. What divine ability you obtain depends on your own fortune!"

The Summer Immortal Palace Lord's voice echoed in Xu Qing's mind. Xu Qing heard her but was unable to respond! This was because his mind was violently churning at that moment, countless heavenly thunders exploding in his ears, and his entire perception had entered an indescribable state!

He felt as if he had entered the void where the dandelion resided: below him was the mire of flesh, and before him was the dandelion, reaching as high as the heavens! As for his size, he was as insignificant as a dandelion seed! Around him were countless dandelion seeds, each containing numerous blurry figures. These figures were all demonstrating divine abilities and techniques! They were densely packed, and each seemed to offer boundless knowledge to learn. However, there were too many cultivation methods, disparate and mixed, making it unrealistic to examine them one by one. Within this short time, it was impossible for him to find the most suitable technique by examining each one. Therefore, Xu Qing chose to observe, rather than inspect every single seed. He observed everything within the range of his divine sense, both near and far. He swept his gaze across each dandelion seed.

After a few breaths, Xu Qing's eyes suddenly narrowed! He saw a dandelion seed that was different from the others; it wasn't dispersing outwards but returning! Although there were figures inside, this particular seed, compared to the others, contained only two figures, seated cross-legged on either side. Moreover, the moment Xu Qing looked at this seed, the power of the purple moon within him actually reacted!

Time was limited, not allowing Xu Qing to ponder further. He decisively probed, controlling his divine sense to rapidly approach that dandelion seed. However, the process was not smooth! The seed was quite far away! Most importantly, it was drifting directly above the Divine Emperor's corpse. Although still far, the pressure seemed incredibly strong! But if he waited for the seed to drift closer on its own, there wouldn't be enough time! Xu Qing could feel his divine sense beginning to dissipate; he knew time was running out!

"I'll risk it!" Xu Qing's spiritual body darted forward, displaying extreme speed, swiftly approaching while dodging other seeds. The Divine Emperor's corpse below became increasingly clear! Its size finally provided a reference: compared to it, Xu Qing was like a single strand of hair on a body. The pressure emanating from the Divine Emperor's corpse was terrifyingly immense. Even though Xu Qing was still far above it, he was affected, and the heavenly thunder in his mind instantly reached its peak. At this point, his manifestation formed by divine sense was also on the verge of collapse!

Xu Qing's heart hardened. Without waiting for the pressure to crush him, he chose to ignite himself first. Amidst the roaring, his divine sense manifestation shattered, and using the power of this self-immolation, he surged forward a certain distance! He finally made contact with the drifting dandelion seed. The moment they touched, an ancient and majestic voice, full of the weight of ages, echoed within Xu Qing's mind!

"This realm of heaven and earth can be seen as a..."