Tang Xiaoqi's exposition of the "Green Lotus Way" on the Discourse Platform, with its lofty and origin-pointing insights, caused a tremendous sensation among the overseas immortals.
After the assembly, many immortals and demon kings proactively approached him to exchange ideas—some exploring purification's subtleties, others inquiring about Central Plains' recent affairs, or simply expressing admiration. Xiao Qi treated all with courtesy, responding composedly; his modest, steady bearing and profound wisdom earned him respect from many overseas powers.
The Discourse on the Dao Assembly wasn't only about sitting and discussing the dao. As hosts, the Overseas Alliance also provided attendees various benefits, one being opening some Penglai secret realms for those with fate to seek fortune. These secret realms were remnants from ancient times, containing countless natural treasures and even inheritances from senior immortals, but also accompanied by unknown risks.
This day, one called "Origin of All Laws" was opened. Legend said this secret realm was where an ancient great power once taught the dao; its internal space was chaotic, laws interwoven, ancient divine power remnants' shadows sometimes visible. It also nurtured some treasures hard to find outside.
Xiao Qi wasn't very interested in inheritances and divine power shadows; he wanted to see the overseas secret realm's unique aspects, perhaps finding some treasures useful for compiling the "Scripture of World Purification" or his own cultivation. So he followed the flow into the "Origin of All Laws" secret realm.
Inside the secret realm, the scenery was bizarre. The sky was twisted colorful flowing light; on the ground, sometimes raging fires, sometimes ice-sealing thousands of miles, sometimes sword qi crossing, sometimes Buddhist chants echoing—all manifestations of ancient divine power remnants' laws, their power, even now, still not to be underestimated. Cultivators entering here were all careful, displaying various powers, avoiding dangerous energy torrents, searching for possible treasures.
Xiao Qi's Green Lotus halo naturally radiated, easily dispelling those chaotic law energies, his steps unhurried. His divine sense spread out, carefully perceiving energy fluctuations within the secret realm. The rabbit spirit was also released; the little creature, upon entering the secret realm, immediately excitedly pricked up its ears, red eyes shining—clearly sensing many "treasures." But it knew the danger here, so merely stayed close to Xiao Qi, occasionally pointing with its paws.
Following the rabbit spirit's guidance and Xiao Qi's own perception, they avoided several obvious dangerous areas, arriving at a relatively calm valley.
In the valley was a milky-white pool merely about a zhang across, its water clear, radiating rich vitality and an indescribable creation aura. In the pool's center, a raised blue stone had on it a thumb-sized, perfectly round, jade-like liquid drop, with gorgeous purple qi flowing within! Though small, that liquid seemed to be the convergence point of the entire secret realm's vitality and laws, radiating energy fluctuations that made one's heart tremble.
"Gulp!" The rabbit spirit staring at that liquid, swallowed hard, both front paws excitedly rubbing: "Xiao Qi! Great stuff! Absolutely great! I feel it... can make my fur shinier! Make my treasures more spiritual!"
Xiao Qi's gaze firmly fixed on that jade-like liquid. With his current experience and Green Lotus source's perception, he clearly sensed the liquid contained extremely pure, high-level "creation" and "nourishment" power! Its grade far exceeded any natural treasure he had seen before!
"This thing... could it be the legendary 'Creation Jade Marrow'?" Xiao Qi's heart stirred. He recalled glimpses from an extremely ancient jade slip. Legend said this item was condensed from chaotic creation power when heaven and earth first formed, containing supreme vitality, with miraculous effects of nourishing all things, awakening spirituality, repairing origins—truly heaven-defying! It was a rare treasure one might not encounter in a lifetime! He hadn't expected to casually encounter a drop in this overseas secret realm!
Almost the moment he recognized this "Creation Jade Marrow," the first thought in Xiao Qi's mind was the broken Crimson Flame Sword and flat pan fragments stored in jade boxes !
The Crimson Flame Sword's spirituality was severely damaged, nearly silent; the flat pan even more had lost all spirituality, fragments cold. Ordinary refining materials and nurturing methods, wanting them to regain new life, would take countless years and effort, might even never restore to original state.
But this "Creation Jade Marrow" was different! Its supreme creation and nourishment power was precisely the key for awakening silent spirits, repairing origin damage! Using this as core, supplemented by other rare materials, to reforge Crimson Flame Sword and Black Pan— not only might restore them, but even, absorbing the creation jade marrow's power, produce unexpected transformation and sublimation!
Thinking of this, even Xiao Qi's current state, couldn't help excitement. He took a deep breath, suppressing his heart's waves.
Such heavenly treasures must have guardians or tests nearby. His divine sense carefully scanned around the pool—and indeed found several "spirit-devouring water leeches," their auras almost merged with pool water, barely noticeable even to Xiao Qi's sharp divine sense. These leeches could silently devour approaching beings' spiritual power and souls, extremely troublesome. Moreover, the blue stone itself also formed a natural guarding array, invisible, creating an invisible barrier.
However, these obstacles for Xiao Qi's current cultivation were not insurmountable. He gestured for the rabbit spirit to back off slightly, then, his Green Lotus halo suddenly expanded, transforming into a soft yet resilient purifying domain, shrouding the entire pool. Within the domain, all laws were repelled. Those leeches, upon being bathed in pure purifying power, immediately like meeting their nemesis, dissolved, soon turning to wisps of blue smoke. The blue stone's natural array, under the Green Lotus domain's erosion, also quickly collapsed.
Obstacles cleared, Xiao Qi carefully approached, taking out a jade bottle carved from warm yang spiritual jade, prepared long ago. His fingertip condensed a wisp of pure spiritual power, like the most nimble hand, gently lifting that drop heavy as mountain "Creation Jade Marrow," slowly guiding it into the jade bottle. The jade marrow entering the bottle immediately glowed, illuminating the entire bottle, the bottle body even warmed, as if the jade marrow had also found a suitable home.
Successfully obtaining the Creation Jade Marrow, a heavy stone fell from Xiao Qi's heart. He didn't linger for other treasures in the secret realm, quickly leaving the "Origin of All Laws" secret realm with the excited rabbit spirit constantly rubbing its paws.
Returning to his assigned quarters on Penglai Immortal Island, Xiao Qi held that warm jade bottle, feeling that drop of Creation Jade Marrow's vitality and creation power, his eyes shining with resolute light.
Crimson Flame Sword, Black Pan... long time no see. This overseas fortune's creation jade marrow let him see hope for their rebirth. After the Discourse Assembly concluded, he would begin preparing for these two old companions' reforging!
This drop of jade marrow was not merely a rare treasure, but bore his emotional bond with past tumultuous years, and his anticipation for companions walking side by side once more.