108: A stranger brings news to the academy, seeking the origin of life and nourishing the earth, embarking on a new journey of cross-disciplinary exploration.

Chapter 108:

Morning frost covered the vine walls of Shengxi Academy. Little Kite, in its nest, fluffed its feathers. The golden light was rendered faint by the frosty air.

Nian Xue wiped the frost from the shed roof with a life-breathing towel. Little Color crouched on her shoulder: "The frost is so cold! The seedlings won't freeze once it's wiped away, right?"

A Qing blew warm Dragon Breath, melting the frost at the base of the wall: "My Qi can dissolve the frost. Once the sun comes out, it will all be gone."

Suddenly, movement came from outside the academy gate. Two figures stood by the boundary marker, their clothes dusty from travel, each holding half of a bronze tablet in their palms.

"Messengers from the Yuanwai Realm!" exclaimed a Star Spirit Clan student, raising a crystal stone that shone unusually brightly. "They bring urgent news."

The messengers hurried in. The bronze tablets were joined together, projecting an image: the life-breathing trees of the Yuanwai Realm were withering, their leaves scattered on the ground, turning gray and black.

"The life-breathing seeds within our realm have withered! With no seeds to draw Qi, the trees are all wilting. We beg the academy for help in finding a new Origin Seed," the messenger said urgently.

Lin Chen took the bronze tablet, probing it with Life-Breathing Qi from his fingertip: "The seeds withered because the Life-Breathing Qi was severed. We need to find an Origin Seed of the same source to reconnect the Qi."

The Dao Source Clan Leader pondered with his staff: "Origin Seeds only grow in the 'Seed Source Valley'. The valley lies beyond the Three Realms. The path is perilous, guarded by Seed-Protecting Beasts."

Clear Snow unfurled the Ice and Snow Dao Origin Formation. The formation's patterns projected the valley's outline: "Miasma surrounds the valley. Inside, the Seed-Protecting Beast is the Origin Seed Lion, not one to be trifled with."

Nian Xue grabbed Lin Chen's hand: "Let's go find the seed! The trees of the Yuanwai Realm cannot wither. The little creatures there are still waiting for the trees to bear fruit."

Little Color rubbed against her hand, its crystal fur glowing gold: "I'll go too! My Qi can dispel the miasma and help everyone find the seed."

A Qing spread its wings: "I'll carry you all! No distance is too far. My Dragon Breath can hold off the Seed-Protecting Beast."

Each clan selected ten elite members to accompany them. The Metal Clan brought life-breathing cannons, the Stone Spirit Clan prepared life-breathing shields, and the Spirit Plant Clan packed ample life-breathing pills.

Before departure, a Spirit Plant Clan Seedling Cultivation Master pressed a pouch of seeds into Nian Xue's hand: "These are 'seed-seeking grass seeds'. Scatter them anywhere, and they will grow, able to attract Seed Source Qi."

The group set off on A Qing's back. The wind, carrying frosty air, swept over the Hongmeng Plain' sea of golden flowers, the blossoms seeming to wave farewell.

Flying to the realm rift zone, gray miasma swirled within the gaps. A Qing's Dragon Breath forged a path, a golden pillar of Qi that scattered the miasma on contact.

Nian Xue scattered the seed-seeking grass seeds. The seeds fell into the miasma, took root, and sprouted. Their golden-tinged leaves became guiding markers.

"The grass can grow in the miasma!" Little Color pecked at a leaf. The golden Qi on the leaf clung to its crystal fur, making it seem even brighter.

Arriving outside the Seed Source Valley, the miasma was thick as ink. Two stone beasts stood at the valley entrance, their eyes glowing red as if watching the newcomers.

"Stone statues of the Valley-Protecting Beasts! They activate upon touch. We must detour and enter through a stone crevice on the valley's west side," the Dao Source Clan Leader pointed.

The group circled to the crevice, barely wide enough for two people. Metal Clan warriors with shields led the way, their shield patterns glowing gold, deflecting falling rocks.

Inside the valley, the miasma vanished. The ground was covered in life-breathing grass. At the center stood a giant tree, its crown bearing a golden-glowing fruit—the Origin Seed.

"The seed is on the tree!" Nian Xue was about to run when the Origin Seed Lion leaped from behind the tree. Its body was covered in golden patterns, its eyes like lanterns, its roar shaking the valley.

"The Seed-Protecting Beast! Don't harm it. It's only guarding the seed, not an enemy!" Lin Chen shouted, gathering Life-Breathing Qi in his palm for defense, not attack.

The Origin Seed Lion pounced. A Qing blocked with its wing. The lion's claw struck the wing and was repelled by Dragon Breath. The lion roared even more fiercely but did not pounce again.

Clear Snow tossed a life-breathing fruit, which landed before the lion: "We are not here to steal the seed, but to borrow it to save a realm. We will return it after use."

The lion sniffed the fruit, picked it up in its mouth, and placed it at the base of the tree. Seeming to relent, it turned and lay down beside the tree, watching the group without moving.

Nian Xue scattered seed-seeking grass seeds. The grass grew around the tree, its golden leaves winding towards the seed fruit, which swayed slightly as if about to fall.

Little Color jumped onto the tree, lightly tapping the fruit with its crystal claw: "Seed fruit, come down quickly! The trees of the Yuanwai Realm are waiting for you to save them!"

The fruit swayed and fell from the tree. Lin Chen reached out and caught it. The fruit glowed with golden radiance, wrapped in dense, concentrated Life-Breathing Qi.

The Origin Seed Lion stood up, rubbed against Lin Chen's hand as if entrusting the seed, then lay back down beside the tree, closing its eyes in feigned sleep.

Thanking the lion, the group retraced their path. A Qing flew even faster, fearing to delay the critical time to save the trees.

Arriving in the Yuanwai Realm, the life-breathing trees were indeed withered, their leaves curled like tubes. Little creatures huddled by the roots, their eyes listless.

Lin Chen buried the Origin Seed beside the tree, injecting Life-Breathing Qi into the soil. The seed broke through the earth and sprouted, vines wrapping around the tree trunk, golden patterns climbing up the bark.

The tree's withered branches turned green, leaves slowly unfurled, and golden buds emerged. The little creatures at the base stood up and circled the tree.

The messenger wept with joy: "The tree lives! Thank you! From now on, the Yuanwai Realm is also part of the Guardian Alliance!"

Nian Xue crouched by the tree. Little Color rubbed against the trunk: "Grow quickly, tree! When you bear fruit later, we'll come back to eat it."

A Qing blew Dragon Breath towards the treetop: "My Qi can help the tree grow. Next time we come, it will surely be much taller."

The group laid a Life-Breathing Formation around the tree. The formation's patterns enveloped it, intensifying the Life-Breathing Qi. The tree's golden patterns shone dazzlingly, as if expressing gratitude.

On the return journey, the wind from the Yuanwai Realm carried the fragrance of fruit, warm against their faces. The leaves on the treetops seemed to wave farewell.

Returning to the academy, the sunset had already faded. The seedlings in the shed glowed gold. A Seedling-Urging Butterfly landed on A Qing's wing, as if inquiring about the journey.

Nian Xue told the story of the Seed-Seeking Grass to the students. They gathered around her, their eyes shining like stars.

Lin Chen and Clear Snow stood in the center of the courtyard, the marks on their palms glowing gold, resonating distantly with the life-breathing tree of the Yuanwai Realm, a warmth that lingered.

This seed-seeking journey gained the academy a new ally, tightening the protective web across the myriad realms. The warmth of Life-Breath, carried by the wind, was blowing towards even more distant places.