Primordial Era: From the Creation Lotus to the First Disciple of the Three Pure Ones

Leaving Penglai and following another wisp of Daoist energy, Qinglian arrived at Fangzhang Immortal Island in an instant.

The scenery on this island is different from that of Penglai. The island has steep mountains and craggy rocks, and the atmosphere of the law of time is particularly evident here, as if the flow of time has changed.

In the center of the island, a small tree, golden in color and no more than ten feet tall, grows quietly.

The tree was leafless, except for nine fist-sized fruits, shaped like infants, with mysterious time-related patterns flowing throughout, emitting a mouthwatering fragrance and abundant life essence!

"Huangzhong Li!"

A glint of light flashed in Qinglian's eyes. Legend has it that this is one of the ten innate spiritual roots, blooming, bearing fruit, and ripening in a single cycle, producing only nine fruits each time! Just smelling it can add ten thousand years to one's lifespan, and eating one can instantly grant one the Great Luo Dao Fruit (for those who haven't yet attained it). Furthermore, it can help one comprehend the profound mysteries of the laws of time! Its value is enough to tempt even a sage!

This tree is sentient. Sensing the intruder, the nine fruits glowed and seemed to vanish into the void!

Qinglian was prepared, and the Qiankun Diagram in her hand unfolded instantly! A miniature phantom of heaven, earth, mountains and rivers descended, freezing a space in place!

At the same time, Qingping's sword intent subtly emanated, carrying a sharp edge that seemed to seize life force; it was not an attack, but a form of intimidation.

Huang Zhongli trembled slightly, sensing the restraint of the Qiankun Diagram, the threat of the Qingping Sword, and the powerful yet harmless aura emanating from Qinglian. Its radiance subsided slightly.

Qinglian dared not forcibly pluck the fruit, lest he damage his spiritual root. He respectfully bowed to the spiritual tree and said loudly, "Spiritual roots possess spirits. I, Qinglian of Kunlun, have been fortunate enough to encounter this opportunity today. I wish to obtain the precious fruit to comprehend the Great Dao, but I have absolutely no intention of destroying my root. If I achieve anything in the future, I will surely repay your kindness in creating this world!"

After speaking, he carefully wrapped his palm with the power of creation, used his supernatural ability to pluck stars and seize the moon, and gently picked nine yellow plum fruits with radiant inner light and complete Dao patterns.

The fragrance intensifies as the fruit falls from the tree.

Qinglian quickly stored it in the spiritual medicine space specially opened within the Qiankun Diagram, nourishing it with the essence of Wu Earth. The Huangzhong Plum Tree lost its nine fruits, and its radiance dimmed slightly, but it did not wither. In the empty spaces of the nine fruits, new flower buds were slowly gestating, but it would take a long time.

The final stop: Yingzhou Fairy Island.

This island possesses a unique atmosphere, subtly conveying a sense of tranquility, serenity, and a Zen-like quality that cleanses the mind and spirit.

There are no blooming flowers on the island, only a lush, verdant, and resilient bamboo forest.

The bamboo leaves rustled, making a sound that seemed to contain the Daoist chants that cleanse the soul and enlighten the mind.

Deep within the bamboo forest, a single bamboo stalk, no more than seven sections long, its entire body a vibrant jade green, naturally inscribed with strange Sanskrit runes, stands silently. It exudes a pure and immaculate, innate Daoist charm that restrains all evil thoughts and dispels illusions.

"Innate Bitter Bamboo!" Qinglian understood. This was also an innate spiritual root. Although it did not bear fruit, its bamboo body was a supreme divine object for refining purifying mental treasures, suppressing inner demons, and dispelling evil spirits! Its pure Daoist sound could also help people comprehend the Dao.

This bamboo may seem harmless, but when Qinglian gets close, she senses a tenacious and unyielding spirit that repels evil.

The rustling sound of bamboo seemed to penetrate directly into one's soul, causing one to feel restless and disturbed.

Qinglian was not surprised but rather pleased, which was the instinct of her spiritual root to protect itself.

He sat cross-legged, not forcibly taking it, but instead circulating the "Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique." Above his head, auspicious clouds descended, bringing countless blessings and auspicious energy. The pure white lotus of the Pure World shone brightly, and the Xuanhuang Pagoda stabilized his Dao heart. He released his own pure source of creation and tranquil Daoist charm, actively seeking to resonate with and soothe the spirituality of the bitter bamboo.

Gradually, the irritating sound of the bamboo became peaceful, and the resistance emanating from the jade-like body of the bitter bamboo slowly dissipated, turning into a gentle acceptance.

Qinglian then stood up, using her hand as a knife, gathering the power of creation and a trace of the sharpness of the Qingping Sword (only for cutting, not to damage the source), and carefully cut off the three sections of bitter bamboo that contained the most Daoist charm from the root upwards.

The bamboo joint was separated from the bamboo, the cut was smooth as a mirror, and it healed instantly. The bamboo itself was still shiny and unharmed.

Qinglian put away the three sections of the innate bitter bamboo and immediately felt her mind and spirit become clear and bright, as if her primordial spirit had been cleansed.

The process of collecting the three islands' treasures took only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, yet it had already exhausted a great deal of Qinglian's mental and spiritual power.

He dared not linger for even a moment. Although Di Jun and Tai Yi were injured, their power was far beyond his ability to contend with. He immediately flew to the core of the void surrounded by the three immortal islands.

"This place is rich in chaotic Daoist energy, and the spatial nodes have loosened due to the great battle, making it an excellent opportunity to set up an array!"

Qinglian's eyes flashed like lightning, and his hands moved with lightning speed, forming hand seals. He first used the Tai Chi diagram to stabilize the earth, water, fire, and wind between the three islands, thus solidifying the spatial nodes;

Then, the Qiankun Diagram is used to evolve a miniature Qiankun, covering the outer perimeter of the three islands and forming a spatial maze;

Finally, the pure and holy energy of the Pure World White Lotus and the pure Daoist rhyme of the newly collected Innate Bitter Bamboo were drawn into the core of the great formation, forming a layer of clear light barrier that could purify the aura, confuse the secrets of heaven, and shield the deductions!

Om-!

A complex array combining spatial folding, cosmic illusion, aura purification, and celestial mystery was instantly formed!

The radiance of the three immortal islands quickly receded, their aura perfectly concealed, and their spatial coordinates were distorted, folded, and hidden layer by layer, completely disappearing from the "perception" of the primordial world!

Unless a sage personally performs the divination or possesses a special artifact related to the origin of the Mishima, it will be extremely difficult to find any trace of him again!

Just as the great formation was completely stabilized and the Three Immortal Islands disappeared, from the direction of Zifu Continent, Di Jun and Tai Yi's incomparably powerful divine sense swept over like a raging sea, filled with violence and a search intent!

Clearly, they have finished the initial battlefield cleanup and have begun to carefully explore the surrounding waters, looking for any possible survivors or hidden opportunities!

Qinglian was no longer where he had been. He merged with the Taiji diagram, like a drop of water merging into the ocean. Taking advantage of the final spatial fluctuations when the great formation was completed, as well as the energy interference brought about by the sweeping of the demon race's divine sense, he silently slipped into the deeper void turbulence and sped away in a direction far from the battlefield without looking back.

A moment later, Di Jun and Tai Yi appeared in the sky above the sea area where the Azure Lotus array had been set up. They scanned the area repeatedly with their divine senses, but could only sense a chaotic spatial current and the violent energy left over from the great battle, as well as a faint and elusive aura of purity (residual from the Bitter Bamboo). They could no longer find any trace of the island.

"Strange, there seemed to be some unusual fluctuation just now..." Taiyi frowned, holding the Chaos Bell in his arms, the bell chiming softly as he tried to trace the source.

Di Jun unfolded the Hetu and Luoshu diagrams for calculation, the star charts shifting, but all he saw was a chaotic mist; the secrets of heaven were completely disrupted. "The chaos is a consequence of the great battle, or perhaps an illusion. The aura of the Wu Clan is stirring in the west; we cannot linger!" He decisively ordered, "Withdraw the troops! Return to the Heavenly Court!"

The demon army, carrying with them the few remaining spiritual materials plundered from the ruins of Zifu Continent (the majority of which had already been destroyed in the self-destruction of the Ten Thousand Immortals Formation) and the dragon-headed cane whose spiritual power was greatly damaged, retreated swiftly from this sea area that had been turned into a scorched wasteland, like the receding tide of black seawater.

All that remained was endless resentment and malevolent energy wailing in the sea breeze, and the mournful cry of the lingering soul of the Eastern King Duke, which was about to completely dissipate.

The first act of the Lich Wars, the destruction of the Celestial Court, ended in the most tragic way.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the treasures of the three immortal islands overseas had quietly fallen into the hands of Qinglian, the chief disciple of Kunlun, planting a seed with far-reaching influence for the primordial world at the onset of this great calamity.

Qinglian, carrying with him immense gains and a profound understanding of the cruelty of the Great Calamity, continued his unfinished journey through the primordial world.