Half a day later, ten people stood by a purple pond.
Rich spiritual energy rose from the bottom of the pond, transforming into water that seemed to descend from the heavens, carrying a dense chaotic aura.
"This is incredible! The spiritual energy is so concentrated it could create life!" Shangguan Yulin exclaimed in shock.
"Indeed! I've never seen such potent spiritual energy before!" Rong Guang echoed with awe.
Xuanyuan Xun, Shen Liuxing, Elder Du, Dan Qianqiu, Xi Jingran, and Du Zihao remained silent, but their wide eyes, agape mouths, and exaggerated expressions all spoke of their astonishment.
Only Zi Linling, staring at the purple hue that everyone else overlooked, remained lost in thought.
This purple was none other than chaotic purple energy, as abundant as the purple space she possessed.
Seeing the stunned expressions of the group, Feng Wuchen's face flashed with a proud smile.
"This pond directly connects to the Chaotic Wind Eye, formed by the purest chaotic elements, and its existence is vital to the life and death of the Azure Star."
"Therefore, to preserve its vitality, Mother Venerable planted the ultimate chaotic treasure – the Seed of Origin within it."
"This way, the chaotic elements from the Chaotic Wind Eye nourish the Seed of Origin, helping it sprout and grow. As the Seed of Origin matures, it, in turn, feeds its own Origin Force back into the Chaotic Wind Eye."
"The two entities mutually transform, in a cycle of life and death, achieving immortality and the fusion of the ethereal and the real. However, later, Mother Venerable became preoccupied with dealing with invaders from beyond the domain and could no longer attend to this matter."
"When Mother Venerable finally had the time to return, the Seed of Origin had vanished, leaving only the Chaotic Wind Eye."
Feng Wuchen then looked at Zi Linling and said, "Miss Zi, the Seed of Origin was nurtured by Mother Venerable. Only those with Mother Venerable's original bloodline can locate its whereabouts."
"Therefore, whether you are Mother Venerable herself, her reincarnation, or an independent consciousness of Mother Venerable, it matters not. What is crucial is that you possess Mother Venerable's bloodline, and thus, the task of finding the Seed of Origin falls upon you!"
Hearing this, Zi Linling frowned and asked, "What exactly is the Seed of Origin?"
Feng Wuchen shook his head, "I do not know. Mother Venerable conveyed this to me in a dream, and that is all I was told."
"Ah, yes, Mother Venerable also left behind a saying: 'Origin of all things, reshaping of myriad realms, the Heavenly Way and the Human Way, the Human Way and all Ways!'"
These sixteen characters left Xuanyuan Xun and the others staring blankly at each other.
Zi Linling, too, had no clue. She repeatedly murmured, "Seed of Origin! Seed of Origin! Seed of Origin…"
As she chanted, she gazed at the purple pond, deep in thought.
Ten days passed in a blur. Zi Linling transitioned from standing to sitting, and then back to standing.
Meanwhile, the other eight closed their eyes and began to cultivate diligently.
These primal chaotic elements were undoubtedly superb for cultivation. They did not wish to waste this precious time.
Moreover, lacking Mother Venerable Feng Liqi's original bloodline, they could not assist Zi Linling.
As Zi Linling pondered, she suddenly seemed to lose consciousness, her gaze vacant as she walked towards the pond.
Then, she sat down cross-legged and, without volition, closed her eyes.
Another ten days flashed by.
Zi Linling's body gradually began to fade, becoming ethereal.
However, as everyone else was cultivating, no one noticed.
Zi Linling's body grew fainter and fainter until it finally vanished completely.
Yet, though her body disappeared, her aura did not dissipate.
Soon, another ten days passed.
Where Zi Linling had been sitting, there was only spiritual energy and chaotic purple energy, nothing else.
Suddenly, a seven-colored auspicious cloud slowly emerged from the pond.
Upon this seven-colored cloud, a nascent world slowly took shape.
Xuanyuan Xun and the others, jolted from their cultivation, all turned their gazes towards the center of the pond.
More accurately, they looked at the seven-colored cloud, and even more precisely, at the nascent world.
Elder Du's face turned pale with shock.
Others might not know this nascent world, but he was acutely aware of it.
Because this nascent world was the same as the one within Zi Linling's dantian.
"What's happening? Where is that girl Zi?"
Elder Du's heart trembled as he frantically scanned his surroundings, searching for Zi Linling.
But his search was destined to be in vain.
The nascent world began to slowly rotate, becoming translucent.
Xuanyuan Xun, Shangguan Yulin, Rong Guang, Shen Liuxing, Dan Qianqiu, Xi Jingran, Du Zihao, and Elder Du all saw the interior of the nascent world.
Mountains and rivers, hills and deserts, green trees and small grasses, plains and white snow, lakes and castles, the void of heaven and earth…
Unfortunately, they could only glimpse one or two of these scenes, unable to see them all.
The translucent color of the nascent world gradually turned purple, then green, black, gray, and blue. Finally, it took on the appearance of a seed, bobbing up and down in the purple pond as if in a watery swell.
Could this be the "Seed of Origin"?
The group speculated amongst themselves.
But as soon as these thoughts crossed their minds, the nascent world suddenly vanished.
Zi Linling's figure slowly reappeared, transitioning from ethereal mist to solidity.
She stood up, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I understand! I understand what the Seed of Origin is!"
"Really?"
"What is it?"
"Tell us quickly!"
"…"
Everyone bombarded her with questions.
Zi Linling intended to tell them that the Seed of Origin was the nascent form of a world, the seed of all things.
However, as she opened her mouth, no words came out.
A force in the void seemed to bind her voice.
A voice in the void cautioned her, "You may not speak! You cannot speak! You must not speak!"
Zi Linling knew this was the will of the Heavenly Dao. Some things, without reaching a certain realm and possessing adequate fortune, could not have their secrets revealed.
She apologized, "I cannot say!"
Xuanyuan Xun and the others were taken aback.
But they did not press Zi Linling further. As cultivators, they naturally understood the principle that heavenly secrets should not be revealed.
With a thought, Zi Linling established a connection between the nascent world and the Chaotic Wind Eye.
This connection was like an invisible chain, linking the two together.
Henceforth, no matter where Zi Linling went, this nascent world, the Seed of Origin, would remain connected to the Chaotic Wind Eye, mutually transforming, cycling through life and death, and embodying the fusion of the ethereal and the real. This connection and bond transcended distance.
The dust settled. Zi Linling emerged from the purple pond and addressed the group, "Our task here is done. It is time for us to head to Nine Saint City!"