Chapter 628: Brother Dao's Dao Seed (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 628: Brother Dao's Dao Seed (Please Cast Your Monthly Votes)

After entering the university, Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen's first attempt at exchanging their divine spirit roots took place during the Flying Sword Tournament at Wanfa University, when Bai Zhenzhen infused her divine spirit root into Zhang Yu's body.

The second exchange occurred beneath the civil engineering arena at Tianjian University, where Zhang Yu injected a replicated Azure Lotus Sword Embryo into Bai Zhenzhen, instantly granting her dantian two divine spirit roots.

It was not until this third time that the two truly implanted their spirit roots into each other's dantians, achieving a genuine mutual exchange.

Zhang Yu's Feather Spirit Root began to adapt to Bai Zhenzhen's adaptation.

Bai Zhenzhen's True Spirit Root, in turn, began to adapt to Zhang Yu's adaptation.

Each divine spirit root adapted to the other's root and body, generating new adaptations in response to the shifting changes of its counterpart.

Fierce transformations rippled outward from the divine spirit roots, forcing both Zhang Yu and Bai Zhenzhen to grit their teeth and endure the agony.

But in the next instant, Zhang Yu suddenly exclaimed in alarm, "A-Zhen, your sword qi..."

Bai Zhenzhen was equally astonished to discover that her crimson sword qi, as if drawn by her own divine spirit root, surged straight toward Zhang Yu's body.

The presence of her divine spirit root seemed to make the sword qi recognize Zhang Yu as a part of her own body; the sword qi of the Extreme Emotion Sword Path rushed forth, yet inflicted no harm whatsoever.

Bai Zhenzhen gasped, "Could it be... that after what we did, my sword qi can no longer hurt you?"

"I don't know," Zhang Yu replied. "Let's test it again."

After a series of trials, they quickly realized that this adaptation to sword qi had its limits; if the volume was too great, it would still damage Zhang Yu's body.

Yet Zhang Yu could sense that this was merely because the exchange of divine spirit roots had not lasted long enough; given more time, it would undoubtedly adapt further to Bai Zhenzhen's sword qi.

Perhaps, once she fully unleashed the Extreme Emotion Sword Path, he could even adapt to that black sword qi, brimming with annihilation and ominous aura... in the future.

A sudden thought sparked in Zhang Yu's mind: to maintain this state of spirit root exchange.

The moment he hinted at his intention, Bai Zhenzhen agreed, for she could feel Zhang Yu's divine spirit root continuously reinforcing her flesh with adaptive enhancements, an effect that would only grow stronger with time.

"Mmh..." Feeling the stimulation brought by the divine spirit root, Bai Zhenzhen gritted her teeth and let out a soft groan. "You should hurry and leave, Yu-zi. Don't let anyone notice anything amiss."

Zhang Yu stepped back toward the small opening and said, "I'm off then, A-Zhen. Be careful not to be discovered either."

As Zhang Yu departed, Bai Zhenzhen felt that the changes in her divine spirit root did not cease but grew increasingly violent until reaching a peak, after which they gradually subsided.

Just then, Wen Wuya arrived on Bai Zhenzhen's flying ship and called out curiously, "Zhenzhen? Are you there?"

"I was looking for you earlier, why weren't you online?"

Looking at Bai Zhenzhen in the room, Wen Wuya asked, "Why do you look so strange?"

Feeling the divine spirit root stirring up trouble once more, Bai Zhenzhen endured the mounting reactions within her body and gritted her teeth, "What do you want?"

"I just wanted to discuss the finals with you," Wen Wuya replied.

...

Inside the laboratory of Zhang Yu's flying ship.

Ye Xingli was borrowing the lab to maintain her dharma skeleton.

Seeing Zhang Yu return, Ye Xingli asked curiously, "Junior Brother, you look a bit tired?"

She reminded him, "The final match is only a few days away. No amount of cultivation will improve you much now, so you might as well preserve your condition."

Zhang Yu nodded. "I just want to make more preparations, so I can... achieve a better ranking in the end."

Ye Xingli sighed, "Aside from first place, what real difference is there between second place and the rest this time?"

"It seems now that we are all merely foils for Kuang Tianqing and Dao Qiankun."

Zhang Yu looked at Ye Xingli in surprise, sensing an emotion in her that he had never felt before.

Ye Xingli seemed to notice her own anomaly as well; she smiled faintly and said, "But I'm hardly in a position to lecture you."

"Knowing I'm just a foil, haven't I also been working hard to prepare these past few days?"

"Striving like this seems etched into our very bones. Even when we know there's no hope, we can't help but fight with all our might. Perhaps that is the allure of the Immortal Path, always compelling countless souls to press forward one after another, risking life and death..."

Zhang Yu pondered for a moment before saying, "There's no helping it. Kunxu is like this, and so are we."

"Without this relentless, forward-charging disposition, without making such choices, we could never have climbed this far on the Immortal Path."

"Among all the contestants on this arena right now, who isn't exactly the same?"

...

In Yan Qianji's laboratory, he was remotely operating the factory's production lines, churning out batches of puppets bearing the likenesses of Zhang Yu, Kuang Tianqing, and Dao Qiankun.

In Jiu Tianliu's room, countless streams of data from the Spirit Realm converged, forming a destiny model for his reference, helping him post the occasional video to boost his fortune.

Before Tian Shengong of the Immortal Armament University, the data on all contestants' magical treasures and dharma skeletons materialized within his ocular skeleton for his study and emulation.

Amidst the clouds in the sky, a dragon's shadow flickered in and out of sight, swallowing and spitting the sea of clouds; it was Ying Mingchi of the Heavenly Demon University, his twin dragon eyes gazing down at the floating continent below, blazing with fierce fighting spirit.

Yan Xiang of the Netherworld University soaked in a boiling pool of blood, looking at Kuang Tianqing before him and asking, "Is it still not enough?"

Kuang Tianqing laughed heartily, addressing all the students present, "Come, lend me all your strength! I shall claim first place in the Top Ten League!"

...

Aboard Dao Qiankun's flying ship.

The night before the finals.

Before entering the ship, Zhang Yu faintly saw the divine light of a Deity Transformation Sovereign sweeping across the sky, stirring a trace of curiosity in his heart.

Upon seeing Dao Qiankun standing at the bow with his hands clasped behind his back, Zhang Yu asked directly, "Brother Dao, did a Deity Transformation Sovereign just come to see you?"

"Mhm," Dao Qiankun replied indifferently. "To discuss the Immortal Sect techniques with me." Zhang Yu asked, "Brother Dao... have you not yet decided which Immortal Sect technique to choose after winning the championship?"

Dao Qiankun said faintly, "I have decided, it's just that my thoughts differ slightly from those of the Deity Transformations."

Zhang Yu's mind stirred, and he thought to himself, "Brother Dao and the Deity Transformations failed to reach a consensus?"

"No, it should be said that Brother Dao disagrees with the Deity Transformations' choice?"

Gazing at Dao Qiankun's solitary silhouette as he looked up at the moon, Zhang Yu seemed to sense a bone-deep loneliness emanating from him, a feeling of being utterly out of place with the entire world.

At the same time, he could imagine the immense pressure Dao Qiankun must be under, insisting on his own path while facing a choice different from that of the Deity Transformations.

At the very least, if it were Zhang Yu himself, he knew he would not dare to defy a Deity Transformation.

"As long as they support me in winning the championship and joining the sect, that's enough," Zhang Yu thought. "If it were me, that's probably what I would think, right?"

Dao Qiankun suddenly spoke, "Zhang Yu, do you know why I disagree with the Deity Transformations' idea?"

Zhang Yu was slightly taken aback and replied, "Brother Dao, you once said you wanted to change the world. Is it because the direction you want to change it differs from the direction the Deity Transformations desire?"

Dao Qiankun looked at Zhang Yu with some surprise and said softly, "I have told many people that I want to change the world."

"But you are the only one who truly kept it in your heart."

In a flash of lightning, Dao Qiankun appeared before Zhang Yu, looking at him and saying, "Zhang Yu, I can feel... you are different from the others."

"Hidden deep in your heart is also a dissatisfaction with this world."

"Though it is but a faint spark, it could at any moment burst into a raging inferno, surging with the impulse to burn this world to ashes."

Hearing this, Zhang Yu's figure trembled slightly; feeling Dao Qiankun's candid gaze, he couldn't help but subconsciously turn his head away and said, "Brother Dao, you're joking. How could I have such thoughts?"

Dao Qiankun said indifferently, "Zhang Yu, do not be afraid, and certainly do not feel ashamed of your thoughts."

"The thought of changing the world is not reserved for immortals or those in the Spirit Transformation realm; even those at Foundation Establishment, Qi Refinement, or mere mortals can harbor such a dream."

Dao Qiankun's palm gently patted Zhang Yu's shoulder as he offered a faint smile, saying, "In this world, weakness is now deemed a disgrace."

"Yet every soul begins their journey from a place of weakness."

"No one enters this world already as a peerless powerhouse capable of overturning heaven and earth."

"Even immortals reached their ascension step by step, bolstered by the support of their predecessors and the guidance of the mighty."

"Could it be that their desire to change the world only bloomed after they achieved immortality?"

"No, those seeds were sown and took root in their hearts long ago, back when they were still the weak."

"And compared to the immortals of today, I hold far greater admiration for the very first person in this world to step into the Qi Refinement realm..."

Feeling the calm and sincere gaze of Dao Qiankun, a profound sense washed over Zhang Yu that the man before him spoke no lies.

Zhang Yu parted his lips as if to speak, but thoughts of the state of Kunxu and those high and mighty gods and immortals stifled his words, leaving him in silence.

Dao Qiankun paid it no mind; giving Zhang Yu's shoulder another pat, he stepped behind him and continued, "Pay it no heed, Zhang Yu."

"This world is fraught with peril, and even I cannot guarantee my own absolute safety."

"The Top Ten Tournament ahead will only grow more treacherous."

"Should you face a danger beyond your power to resolve, then flee."

"Preserve your useful vessel, and do not cast your life away lightly."

"You may also flee behind me, and I shall do my utmost to shelter you."

"These are the words I wished to share with you by summoning you here today."

Zhang Yu raised his head to look at Dao Qiankun before him, only to see four words materialize upon the man's chest, reading Descendant of Immortals.

Though Zhang Yu had been dropping by to mooch meals and drinks ever since the tournament began, all for the sake of the other's Dao Seed, this was the clearest the seed had ever manifested.

Yet in the next breath, the Dao Seed flashed and vanished without a trace, denying Zhang Yu any further perception of its hidden lore.

Zhang Yu murmured, "Brother Dao..."

Dao Qiankun offered a gentle smile. "Go now, rest well, and give your all in tomorrow's match."

On his way off the flying ship, a pondering Zhang Yu suddenly looked up to see another vessel docked beside Dao Qiankun's.

"Is that Kuang Tianqing's ship?" Zhang Yu mused inwardly. "What business could he have with Brother Dao on the eve of the match?"

Carrying a sliver of doubt in his heart, Zhang Yu returned to his own ship, resuming his cultivation in preparation for the finals.

...

In the blink of an eye, the night slipped away.

Early the next morning, Li Shiwei hurried aboard Dao Qiankun's flying ship, intending to head to the arena with him.

Yet the moment she stepped aboard, an eerie sense of tranquility washed over her.

"Why is there not a single soul around?"

Driven by a creeping unease, Li Shiwei approached Dao Qiankun's quarters, only to find the door completely unlocked, swinging open at her slightest push.

Then, to her utter shock, she beheld Dao Qiankun sitting cross-legged, a smile gracing his face, yet utterly devoid of any breath of life.

The foremost student of Wanfa University, the mightiest of the Dao Arts Department, the favored champion of the Top Ten Tournament, Dao Qiankun, was dead.

(End of Chapter)