The news that an original species of the Heavenly Spirit Flower had appeared in Tianling Prefecture spread like a whirlwind throughout the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance.
All the cultivators who had just been admiring and playing with their so-called top-grade or first-grade Heavenly Spirit Flowers suddenly found them dull and uninteresting.
“So, an original species truly exists in this world…”
With this thought in mind, they discarded their previously prized Heavenly Spirit Flowers like worthless trash and began frantically searching for the original species.
However…
Days turned into weeks.
Despite mobilizing nearly half the forces of the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, they were still unable to locate the legendary original species of the Heavenly Spirit Flower.
This led many to doubt the credibility of the rumor.
But after thorough interrogation of those cultivators who had personally witnessed the event, they finally confirmed—the news was real!
Now, things were getting interesting.
It was known that the environment of Tianling Prefecture had changed, and no more Heavenly Spirit Flowers without blood essence could be born.
Yet, the one displayed by that mysterious white-clad cultivator was unlike any ordinary Heavenly Spirit Flower.
It appeared to be sealed within a thin piece of paper.
This led to a shocking conclusion—
Before the great battle in Tianling Continent, that white-clad cultivator had somehow preserved a seventeen-petaled Heavenly Spirit Flower!
And most crucially—
This might be the only original species left in existence!
Unlike other short-lived original species that could only appear for a few brief moments before vanishing, this one could be preserved indefinitely and taken out for viewing at any time!
The implications of this…
The value of something is determined by its rarity.
And something truly unique in the world—
Is priceless.
The world went into a frenzy, searching for the white-clad cultivator who had possessed the original Heavenly Spirit Flower that day.
Yet, to everyone’s bewilderment, after that day, this person seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth. His past was shrouded in mystery, as if he had suddenly dropped from the sky. No one knew his background or identity.
Even Dao Integration Realm cultivators attempted to divine his whereabouts using fate-tracing techniques, but they found nothing.
This led to endless speculation.
Some claimed he was a spy from the Five Elders Association, and that the Heavenly Spirit Flower original species was a fabrication meant to disrupt and destroy the newly booming Heavenly Spirit Flower market.
Others believed he might be a reclusive rogue cultivator, living in seclusion within a hidden realm. His sudden appearance and equally abrupt disappearance could mean he was waiting for the highest bidder.
As the outside world grew increasingly curious about this mysterious cultivator, Xu Bai had already returned to the Beast Realm.
His own fortune was now merged with the world’s fortune, making him one with his small world, resisting any external attempts to trace or predict him.
“Rest assured, Young Master. Since you are within this small world, the outside world’s ability to sense you is already weakened. Moreover, with both myself and Old Fang working together to conceal your heavenly fate…”
Elder Liu San stroked his beard confidently. “Unless a Longevity Immortal Heavenly Sovereign takes action personally, they will never be able to locate this place.”
Xu Bai, however, wasn’t worried at all.
Besides the protective measures Elder Liu mentioned, he also had his own [Sky-Shrouding Hand] secret technique. Even Heavenly Net had been deceived, so within the current Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, no one should be able to deduce his existence.
Of course, if Dharma-Transmitting Immortal Ancestor were to personally descend just for this trivial matter—
Well, so be it.
After all, his true body was in the Great Vortex, millions of miles away, completely safe.
“Master, your strategy of ‘playing hard to get’ is truly brilliant! According to reports from our disciples outside, those people are getting desperate. They are scratching their heads in frustration, willing to offer outrageous prices just for a glimpse of the legendary original species of the Heavenly Spirit Flower!”
Fang Zaiji looked at Xu Bai with admiration, his voice filled with excitement.
“Some cultivators have even spoken out, willing to exchange a Dao Integration True Technique with the Sect Master in return for the Primal Seed. Tsk tsk…”
Xu Bai’s expression remained unchanged as he said indifferently, “No rush, let them wait a little longer.”
“The Sect Master is wise,” Fang Zaiji responded with a knowing smile.
“However, Sect Master, the commotion you caused this time is quite significant. I fear that when you go out again, the few magical treasures I crafted for you may not be able to withstand the pressure.” He suddenly furrowed his brows, expressing concern.
“If three to five Dao Integration cultivators conspire together to seize it by force, then your clone, Sect Master, would indeed be in real danger.”
Xu Bai’s face twitched slightly.
“Don’t worry, I have my own plans. Mr. Fang, you should focus on researching the True Cauldron of the Medicine King.”
Fang Zaiji chuckled before his figure flickered and disappeared.
“Elder Liu, there is something I need you to do.” After Fang Zaiji left, Xu Bai suddenly turned to Liu San.
“Young Master, please instruct me,” Liu San said solemnly.
“Find this person for me.” Xu Bai projected an image of Jiao Xiuyuan into the air.
“He has countless incarnations, with clones spread throughout the entire Xuanhuang Realm. In every state’s Heavenly City, there is a branch of the Qianli Hall where one of his clones resides. Normally, I could contact him directly, but at the moment, both my true self and my clone are preoccupied.”
“And since you do not yet have an official identity within the Ten Thousand Immortal Alliance, you are unable to enter the Immortal Alliance’s Heavenly City. Therefore, you will have to trouble yourself by searching for him in the wilderness.”
“Focus on the ruins of ancient sects; it shouldn’t be too difficult.”
“When you find him, give him this item and tell him I have a business proposition to discuss.”
Xu Bai instructed carefully.
“Young Master, rest assured.”
After receiving the order, Liu San immediately left Longevity Valley to track down Jiao Xiuyuan.
Meanwhile, Xu Bai’s attention was mainly focused on his true self.
Lingxu Prefecture, The Great Vortex.
“Fellow Daoist, look! Could that be the Time Mirage you spoke of?”
Dongfang Yao pointed excitedly at the massive pillar of light rising from the center of the vortex.
Even though he was practically shouting at the top of his lungs, his voice was barely audible in the midst of the raging storm.
Even spiritual voice transmissions were being distorted by the twisted spiritual energy in the surroundings.
During the past few months of Dao comprehension alongside Dongfang Yao, Li Fan had sensed that something unusual was brewing within the Great Vortex.
Dongfang Yao had not noticed anything amiss, but Li Fan felt an inexplicable premonition.
Sure enough, on this very day, as Dongfang Yao was tempering his body in the black rift at the Vortex’s core, he suddenly froze in place.
The rift’s energy tore several deep wounds into his body, and blood streamed freely, yet he remained motionless.
Within the vortex, an inexplicable towering mountain suddenly appeared.
Scarlet serpents coiled around the peak.
Then, from the summit, a dazzling white light erupted—
Like the sharpest blade, it ripped through space.
It surged forth, piercing straight into the heavens.
Heaven and earth trembled, and the mountain began to crumble.
The scarlet serpents, hissing furiously, were forced to retreat.
“The World Rift… This is the true World Rift…”
Dongfang Yao stared at the breathtaking spectacle in a daze, murmuring to himself.
Meanwhile, Li Fan’s expression grew solemn.
“A Time Mirage… something that only appears once in a century, and yet, I encountered it so effortlessly…”