Dawn broke, and before the sun had risen above the horizon, all creation was awakening for a new day.
"Huh?"
In a room littered with disheveled clothing, the dim light of pre-dawn shrouded everything. A surprised exclamation shattered the morning calm.
"What is it?"
From within the man's embrace, a woman's languid voice emerged, mingled with softness and a touch of weariness.
"I just received some incredibly good news, and it's rather unexpected!"
Ye Ming got up, quickly dressed, then turned to cover the beauty with the quilt. A smile of satisfaction played on his lips.
"It seems you don't plan on telling me right now?" Fang Junxue, lying on her side in bed, her eyes sparkling, sleep now fully vanquished.
"I just wanted to give you a surprise!"
Ye Ming stepped forward, gently took her hand, and crouched down. "I promise, this will be a tremendous surprise."
"Oh! Then I really must look forward to it!"
Fang Junxue's eyes crinkled at the corners. She could feel the joy radiating from him through their clasped hands.
"Alright! Wait for me to return!"
Ye Ming leaned down, leaving a warm kiss on her forehead, and then his body dissolved into starlight, vanishing from the room.
...
Crescent Mountain.
This was an unremarkable peak on the fringes of Hua'an Province. Its summit, combined with the mountain's contours, bore a striking resemblance to a broken crescent moon, hence its name – Crescent Mountain.
Due to its location on the provincial border, surrounded by dense wilderness, ferocious wild animals had long made it their home, drastically increasing its danger level. Over time, human footprints here became increasingly scarce.
However, outsiders were unaware that within the rarely visited Crescent Mountain lay a reclusive ancient martial sect – the Xuan Yue Sect.
This sect had been passed down for nearly a century.
While it couldn't compare to major sects like the Dragon Gate, its strict rules and disciplined disciples had allowed them to secure a firm footing in this secluded haven.
Yet, just half a month prior, the Xuan Yue Sect had been struck by a sudden calamity.
A group of mysterious cultivators had suppressed them with overwhelming force, killing the Sect Master of Crescent Mountain and taking complete control of the sect.
Strangely, after occupying Crescent Mountain, these mysterious individuals did not engage in further slaughter. Instead, they merely ordered the Xuan Yue Sect disciples to monitor one specific area.
That area was a wilderness hundreds of miles away, inhabited by a pack of wolves.
This left the Xuan Yue Sect disciples utterly bewildered.
But they had no other choice. They could only obey, to preserve their lives.
Finally, on this day, half a month later, a disturbance finally occurred in the area the mysterious group had been watching.
"Your... Your Exalted Immortals, there's... there's news!"
In front of a grand hall of ancient architecture, several Xuan Yue Sect disciples were gathered. They bowed deeply, addressing the hall with deference.
The title "Exalted Immortal" was one bestowed upon them by the mysterious group.
"Speak!"
A deep, resonant voice emerged from within the hall.
The oppressive aura emanating from that voice caused the Xuan Yue Sect disciples to collapse to their knees, unable to stand.
"Reporting... Reporting to the Exalted Immortals! A disciple previously reported that a strange azure light emanated from the maple forest, and distinct energy fluctuations could be felt."
The leading disciple of the Xuan Yue Sect spoke from his prone position. "We wonder if this is the anomaly Your Exalted Immortals have been waiting for?"
After speaking, they all prostrated themselves, their backs slick with cold sweat.
They were all ancient martial artists. The strongest among them had reached the Martial Ancestor realm. Yet, even so, facing these mysterious newcomers, they possessed no power to resist, being utterly crushed from the start.
Even their Sect Master, the sole Martial Emperor, had been casually annihilated with a single strike.
This demonstrated the terrifying power of these mysterious individuals.
"Good! You have done well!"
At this moment, everyone felt a ripple in the air before them, and several formidable presences surged forth from the hall. Their appearance seemed to dim the very heavens.
A total of five people.
Four men and one woman.
Among them were two white-haired elders, whose terrifying auras were enough to make one feel suffocated.
Clearly, they were the strongest among this group.
"Hahaha! Good! After waiting so long, it finally pays off!"
A young man holding a spear roared with laughter, his pupils burning with a mixture of excitement and greed.
"Indeed! It was worth the wait!"
Another young man, holding a feather fan and sporting a refined smile, also spoke slowly, his tone betraying his agitation.
"You two, behave yourselves. What we've discovered this time must not be complicated further."
Seeing the two men grow restless, the stunningly cold woman standing between them glanced back. Her beautiful eyes were filled with a warning.
The woman wore a black dress, her eyes shimmering with a faint, dark light. While not stunningly beautiful, she possessed a captivating allure that grew with observation. Her figure was perfectly proportioned, with curves that complemented each other, not ostentatious but precisely right.
Only upon prolonged observation could one perceive the charm she exuded, like that of someone dancing on the edge of a blade.
Of course!
This was only if one possessed the strength to approach such allure. Otherwise, the shimmering darkness in her eyes alone was enough to pierce one's body.
Hearing the black-clad woman's words, the two men beside her dared not act out. They cupped their fists and respectfully said:
"Everything will be as the Young Master commands."
Young Master!
The title alone indicated their respective statuses.
"Elder Bai, Elder Huang, have you perceived anything?"
The black-clad woman turned to the two elders behind her, her tone calm, respectful yet unafraid.
"The distance is too great. We need to get closer to investigate thoroughly!"
One of the elders, clad in simple cloth, said gravely.
"Alright! Then let's go and investigate!"
However, before they departed, the black-clad woman reminded them again, "Remember, although this discovery was purely accidental, it represents a great opportunity for our Heavenly Pavilion. I have a premonition that we may become entangled in some karma. You must be prepared."
Entangled in karma.
Upon hearing these four words, the expressions of the other four instantly turned solemn.
"Young Master, although we are merely a vanguard team on this mission, if we truly encounter matters of karma, perhaps we should report back to the Pavilion and request reinforcements."
Elder Huang, the elder in cloth, offered a suggestion.
He was well aware that the black-clad woman's cultivation technique was unique, granting her a far greater sensitivity to danger than ordinary people. It was precisely this foresight that made him particularly cautious.
"Elder Huang! It shouldn't be that dire, should it?" the spear-wielding man interjected. "Among us five, you two have reached the Origin Soul realm, and the three of us are in the Origin Heart realm. In this mortal world, who could possibly threaten us?"
The lineup was indeed formidable.
"Yes! Surely there are no Heavenly realm experts in this mortal world!" the fan-wielding man chuckled. "As long as we don't encounter anyone from other sects, acquiring this opportunity should be no problem."
"But if we report back, and the news leaks during the process, it might become even more troublesome then!"
The feather fan man's reasoning was not without merit.
The black-clad woman fell into silence.
After half a minute, she opened her eyes and said indifferently, "Let's go and investigate first. Once we understand the situation, we'll decide!"
"Yes!"
With that, the five individuals transformed into streaks of light, vanishing from their positions.
As soon as they left, the disciples of the Xuan Yue Sect finally let out a collective sigh of relief.
"Heavens! Flying through the air! These people are all Martial Gods! Too terrifying!"
"And three of them are so young! Such monsters!"
"Has the world outside changed?"
"..."
Witnessing the power of those individuals, the disciples of the Xuan Yue Sect's spirits visibly sank.
"Everyone remember! Today, we saw nothing and heard nothing. Nothing has happened in our Xuan Yue Sect. Do you understand?"
A middle-aged man stepped forward and commanded sternly.
He knew that facing such terrifying beings, all they could do now was forget everything.
As for revenge!
Heh heh heh! That would be no different from seeking death.
...
"We've arrived, it's here!"
High in the sky, the five individuals' gazes converged on a tranquil lake nestled within a desolate landscape.
The lake was not large, only about a hundred square meters in area. The water was clear and azure, sparkling under the light. A dense aura of vitality hung in the air like mist, and everything here grew luxuriantly, a verdant paradise.
In the center of the lake was a massive lotus leaf. Mystical energy swirled around it, and an abundance of life force converged towards the bud within the leaf. The energy of all things was contained within.
Brilliant light filled the sky, a perfect azure.
Dreamlike and picturesque, connecting the hearts of the myriad phenomena.
This was the resonance of all things, and their crystallization.
But what lay hidden within the bud, nurtured by all things, remained unknown?
This was precisely what the owners of those five gazes urgently needed to discover.
"Such pure energy! What is being nurtured here?"
The elder in cloth stared intently at the center of the lake, his body trembling slightly, his breathing growing ragged.
He was incredibly excited.
He swore that this was the purest energy he had ever witnessed in his life. To put it plainly, if he could absorb this energy into his body, not only would his cultivation skyrocket, but his lifespan would also be extended by at least a thousand years.
Who wouldn't be tempted by such a prospect?
Indeed, the other elder, clad in red robes, standing beside him, found his eyes overflowing with fervent desire and greed. His withered hands clenched tightly.
"Elders, please calm yourselves!"
The black-clad woman in front, sensing the surging desires of the two behind her, sternly warned, "Pay attention to the surroundings of the lake. It is very dangerous."
Upon hearing this, the two elders temporarily regained their composure.
As expected, under their meticulous observation, numerous invisible formation patterns emitting terrifying auras were hidden around the giant lotus.
This was a grand formation.
To rashly trespass would undoubtedly invite an attack.
"Th-Thank you, Young Master, for the reminder!"
They wiped the cold sweat from their brows. They had nearly let desire blind them.
With their strength, they should have noticed this earlier if they had observed carefully.
But the temptation before them was simply too great.
"It seems this was deliberately set up!"
The black-clad woman frowned slightly, instantly analyzing the situation. "The one who possesses such mastery in formations is certainly no ordinary individual."
The grand formation gave her a dangerous feeling.
"What do we do now?"
The spear-wielding man said gravely, "Based on the current situation, the object being nurtured by that pure energy has not yet been born. Should we just wait here?"
"We must wait! Even if we could break the formation, we can't act yet," the feather fan man continued, looking at the unbloomed bud. "We must wait for the nurtured object to appear before we can take it. Otherwise, it will lose its value."
This point, the black-clad woman naturally understood.
However, would it really be that smooth sailing?
"Since someone set up such a grand formation, they must have also received news," the black-clad woman worried. "If we wish to obtain this opportunity, we will inevitably encounter them. At that time..."
The outcome would be uncertain.
"Young Master! Perhaps we should hide first?"
At this moment, Elder Huang's eyes narrowed, a fierce glint flashing within them.
"Elder Huang, you mean to..."
The black-clad woman looked at him, understanding his intention.
"We five will conceal ourselves and, as soon as the formation setter appears, we will immediately strike, killing them by surprise," Elder Huang said grimly. "Even if they are a peak Origin Soul realm expert, they won't be able to withstand us!"
With their combined strength, the five of them could indeed achieve a swift kill.
"Excellent idea!"
The spear-wielding man's eyes lit up, readily agreeing with Elder Huang's plan.
"With the five of us united, we are absolutely invincible below the Heavenly realm!" the feather fan man also nodded.
However, the black-clad woman did not immediately make a decision.
She could still feel that if they acted, they would become entangled in a trace of bad karma.
This made her particularly wary.
"Young Master, we cannot delay any longer. Time..."
"No need to say more!"
The black-clad woman raised her hand, interrupting Elder Huang.
"Send the message back to the Pavilion. I have a spatial coordinate on me, and Father and the others can arrive in time!"
She made her final decision.
"Young Master! What if the message..."
Elder Hongpao clearly disagreed with her decision, but as soon as he spoke, he met the cold gaze of the black-clad woman.
"Yes! Young... Young Master!"
Seeing this, Elder Hongpao felt a chill down his spine and immediately lowered his head.
This was the power of status.
Furthermore, the black-clad woman's strength was not necessarily weaker than his.
After sending the message, the black-clad woman's expression grew solemn again. "Everyone, be prepared. I have a premonition that this place of nurturing may very well be... a living being!"
A living being!
Upon hearing this, the other four exchanged glances, their eyes wide, seeing the shock and excitement in each other's eyes.
Clearly, they were all thinking along the same lines.
"You... Young Master! Do you mean..."
The spear-wielding man swallowed hard, his body trembling uncontrollably.
"This nurtured object could very well be... a Heavenly Spiritual Root!"