Chapter 508: Seed Formation

Time flowed quietly within the Cangxuan Sect, and before he knew it, another half month had passed.

Deep in the mountains, Zhou Yuan sat on a bluestone, his expression serious as he gazed at the orb of light between his palms. Within the chaotic orb, mysterious fluctuations continuously emanated. After nearly a month of refinement, the Sacred Spirit Seed was gradually nearing its initial completion.

“Eighty-nine beast souls have already been integrated…” Zhou Yuan licked his lips, his eyes burning with intensity. All his energy during this period had been devoted to refining the Sacred Spirit Seed, and the results were quite substantial.

Now, with just one more successful integration of a beast soul, the Sacred Spirit Seed would be nearing initial completion. It could then be absorbed into his body, allowing him to preliminarily unleash the power of the Taixuan Sacred Spirit Art.

Zhou Yuan carefully cupped the orb of light. With a gesture of his hand, a beast soul crystal whistled towards him. He crushed it, and a beast soul roared as it emerged.

Zhou Yuan swiftly erased the sentience from the beast soul. He then took a deep breath, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. Without hesitation, he slammed his palm down, forcibly pushing the beast soul into the Sacred Spirit Seed.

A violent hum vibrated through the air. The moment they connected, chaotic fluctuations erupted. The Sacred Spirit Seed, previously stable, immediately swelled, showing signs of an imminent explosion.

Deep within Zhou Yuan’s pupils, sacred patterns rotated as his spiritual perception spread, skillfully infiltrating the Sacred Spirit Seed. He poured all his effort into suppressing and balancing the chaotic sources within.

With the beast souls integrated to this extent, the Sacred Spirit Seed had become incredibly complex internally. Even with over a month of adaptation, cold sweat continued to drip from Zhou Yuan's forehead.

Yet, he dared not relax even for a moment. This Sacred Spirit Seed represented over a month of his painstaking effort. The slightest error now could negate all his previous hard work.

Zhou Yuan had experienced such failures many times before, situations that were enough to cause utter despair.

By the cliffside, silence reigned, broken only by the whistling mountain wind.

Zhou Yuan had by now blocked out all external distractions. In his sight, only the chaotic orb of light remained. To his perception, countless turbulent ripples constantly emerged, attempting to spread. He acted like a firefighter, constantly suppressing them in every direction, needing to quell them before they could completely diffuse.

This high-intensity containment demanded Zhou Yuan push his mental focus to the absolute limit. It was akin to a battle against a peak expert, and even Zhou Yuan began to feel a hint of fatigue.

However, knowing that he absolutely could not falter now, he immediately suppressed the fatigue.

On the bluestone, the chaotic orb of light between Zhou Yuan's palms grew progressively brighter as time passed. Within the chaos, something seemed to be gradually taking shape.

Not far away, Elder Xuan leaned against a tree trunk, exhaling plumes of smoke. His cloudy eyes watched Zhou Yuan, and the surprise on his aged face intensified with each passing moment.

“This young man…”

Time passed quickly; the duration of an incense stick burning soon elapsed. By now, Zhou Yuan was drenched in cold sweat, his clothes soaked. Veins pulsed on his forehead, giving him a slightly fierce appearance, and even his breathing had grown heavy.

Clearly, he was nearing his limit.

“Suppress it!” Zhou Yuan suddenly roared from his throat, slamming his palms down forcefully onto the chaotic orb of light.

A dull thud resonated. The chaotic orb of light seemed to burst apart from Zhou Yuan’s strike, unleashing an incredibly violent fluctuation that jolted his body and sent him flying backward.

He quickly regained his balance, his eyes intently fixed on the center of the violent light.

There, a beam of light slowly ascended, unfurling to vaguely form a shapeless, radiant shadow.

The shadow stood silently in mid-air, subtly exuding a wondrous aura.

“Young man, quickly refine it with your blood!” Elder Xuan’s quiet shout pierced Zhou Yuan’s momentary daze.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan immediately surged forward, bit his tongue, and spat out a mouthful of vital blood. Enveloped in Genesis Qi, the blood landed on the light shadow and swiftly integrated.

The Sacred Spirit Seed had been painstakingly refined by Zhou Yuan, making him intimately familiar with it. Thus, when his vital blood landed on it, the refinement process proceeded exceptionally smoothly.

As his vital blood merged into the Sacred Spirit Seed, Zhou Yuan felt a wondrous connection form with the light shadow before him.

Before he could fully appreciate the sensation, the light shadow shot towards him with a whoosh, transforming into a faint glow that plunged into his body and settled within his Qi Manor.

Zhou Yuan quickly turned his awareness inward. Within his Qi Manor, amidst the flowing golden Genesis Qi, a blurry light shadow sat cross-legged. Wisps of Genesis Qi surged towards it, being absorbed and exhaled. As it assimilated the Genesis Qi, the blurry light shadow subtly grew brighter.

Within this blurry light shadow, Zhou Yuan could sense an immense power.

“This… is the Sacred Spirit Seed in its initial form?” Zhou Yuan opened his eyes, a pleasant surprise evident within them, and murmured.

“I truly didn’t expect you, young man, to initially refine the Sacred Spirit Seed in such a short time…” Elder Xuan’s voice reached him. He gazed at Zhou Yuan in astonishment. “Once you integrate nine more primary beast souls, the Sacred Spirit Seed will fully take shape, and its form will naturally evolve then.”

Zhou Yuan clicked his tongue. Integrating these ninety auxiliary beast souls had already pushed him to his limits. How much more challenging would the nine primary materials be? Just the thought sent a shiver down his spine.

He sighed, knowing that integrating those final nine primary materials would require a step-by-step approach; he couldn't rush it.

“Your progress is already the fastest I’ve seen among my disciples. There’s no need to rush. Moreover, with the Sacred Spirit Seed now partially complete, the Taixuan Sacred Spirit Art can already demonstrate some of its power.” Elder Xuan nodded, advising him not to be impatient.

“Go on, someone is waiting for you down the mountain,” Elder Xuan said, waving his hand.

Hearing this, Zhou Yuan nodded, bowed with cupped fists, and then ascended into the air using Genesis Qi, heading out of the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, he found Zhou Tai, Zhang Yan, and Lu Yan.

“What’s wrong?” Zhou Yuan landed and asked, looking at the three.

The three exchanged glances. Lu Yan’s red lips parted slightly as she spoke, “Earlier, Baili Che from Sword Come Peak sent a message. He said they’re giving our Saint Genesis Peak one last chance: if you regret your stance, you should go to Sword Come Peak yourself to settle the matter.”

“And if you don’t go this time, then Sword Come Peak will no longer be courteous.”

“This Baili Che is truly going too far,” Zhou Tai said in a low voice.

Forcing Zhou Yuan to go to Sword Come Peak himself would surely lead to considerable humiliation.

Zhou Yuan smiled, his expression calm. “Send a disciple to Sword Come Peak to deliver a message to Baili Che,” he said.

“What message?”

Zhou Yuan walked directly away from the mountain, his voice carrying back. “Tell him that I’m also giving their Sword Come Peak one last chance: tell Baili Che to come to Saint Genesis Peak to apologize. If he doesn’t come this time, then during the Genesis Pool Festival, I’m afraid I won’t hold back either.”

Zhou Yuan’s voice faded into the distance. Lu Yan, Zhou Tai, and the third person exchanged bewildered glances, clearly taken aback by Zhou Yuan’s assertive demeanor.

“Is he serious?” Lu Yan couldn’t help but ask.

“If that message gets out, won’t Sword Come Peak absolutely erupt?”

Zhou Tai paused, then shrugged. “Junior Brother Zhou Yuan is the chief now,” he said. “We’ll just do as he says. Besides, I actually find it quite satisfying, haha!”

Lu Yan offered a helpless, wry smile and couldn’t help but sigh.

She truly wondered if Saint Genesis Peak could withstand Sword Come Peak’s fury once the Genesis Pool Festival began…

Because in her view, Zhou Yuan seemed to be acting rather recklessly now.