100: Chapter 100 The Return of the Nine Sources

Qingyun City, the ancestral grounds of the Ling Family.

When Ling Hao led the team back from the Black Demon Ridge, the eastern horizon was just beginning to pale. The faint morning light spilled onto the pale golden halo of the Grand Array of Myriad Source Protection, refracting a magnificent nine-colored glow.

The Ling Family Disciples on duty on the city walls saw the returning team from afar; they were wary at first, but then erupted into earth-shaking cheers!

"The Young Lord has returned!!"

The wave of sound spread rapidly across the entire city.

On the martial arts plaza, the members of the Ling Family who had heard the news were already lined up to welcome them, their eyes burning with excitement and anticipation. The Young Lord had not only returned safely but had also displayed overwhelming strength in the battle at the Black Demon Ridge; for the current Ling Family, this was nothing less than a shot in the arm.

Ling Hao landed, still wearing his green robes, but the aura around him was deeper and more restrained. If he did not deliberately release it, he looked just like an ordinary young man. However, all the Cultivators at the Nascent Soul Stage or above in the plaza could faintly sense that beneath that calm exterior lay a terrifying power, deep as an abyss and heavy as a prison.

"Welcome back, Young Lord!" Ling Xiao bowed first, his voice trembling slightly with excitement.

"Welcome back, Young Lord!!" Thousands of people shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Ling Hao scanned the crowd, his gaze lingering for a moment on those young faces. He saw the adoration in Ling Feng's eyes, the excitement on Ling Yan's face, and the determination in Ling Qing's eyes. These clansmen, who were once judged as "trash without Spiritual Roots," were now all full of vigor, with sharp eyes, already possessing the bearing of Cultivators.

"I have returned." Ling Hao spoke, his voice calm yet clearly reaching everyone's ears, "This trip to the Abyss of Fallen Gods, I have fortunately fulfilled the mission."

He raised his hand, and the complete creation jade pendant appeared in his palm.

The jade pendant was a perfect circle, milky white throughout, with a halo of Chaos swirling around its edges. The moment it appeared, it resonated with the Grand Array of Myriad Source Protection, and the Origin aura of the entire ancestral grounds stirred!

"The complete jade pendant!" Ling Xiao's pupils constricted.

"That's not all." Ling Hao's thoughts stirred, and the jade pendant projected a screen of light. Within the light, dense ancient divine scripts, array diagrams, Pill Formulas, and Cultivation Techniques emerged. A massive amount of information poured out like a galaxy; although it was only a fleeting fragment, it had already caused everyone present to tremble in their souls!

"This is?" Ling Xue's breathing quickened, "The complete Legacy of Emperor Huangtian?"

"The 'True Interpretation of Creation' and the 'Secret Art of Foretelling' from the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady are also included." Ling Hao put away the jade pendant and looked at the crowd, "From today on, all Core Disciples of the Ling Family may study the parts of the jade pendant suitable for them. I will categorize the Legacy and create Legacy Jade Slips, to be distributed according to merit and talent."

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire plaza erupted!

The Legacy of Emperor Huangtian! The secret arts of the Divine General! This was a Treasure Trove sufficient to drive the entire Cultivation world mad!

But Ling Hao's next words made everyone calm down.

"However, possessing a treasure is a crime." His voice turned cold, "With the complete jade pendant appearing in the world, the Heavenly Dao Palace will certainly not give up. Although the Golden-Armored Divine General gave a two-month deadline, given the style of the Heavenly Dao Palace, they will definitely use underhanded means."

"The imitation of the Heavenly Punishment Mirror that appeared in the Black Demon Ridge is proof. They have already set up eyes and ears in the Southern Region and may launch a surprise attack at any time."

Ling Xiao's expression was grave: "What does Brother Hao mean?"

"Time is more pressing than we imagined." Ling Hao scanned the crowd, "I originally planned to first help the Family improve as a whole before dealing with the Golden-Armored Divine General. But as it stands now, the Heavenly Dao Palace will not give us that time."

He paused and said in a deep voice: "Therefore, the plan has changed."

Everyone was stunned.

"For these three days, the most important things are," Ling Hao continued, "First, using the complete jade pendant as a base, we will optimize the Grand Array of Myriad Source Protection and upgrade it into the 'Nine Origins Returning Flow Array.' Once this array is completed, it can withstand the full-force attack of a Soul Transformation Middle Stage Cultivator for the time it takes an incense stick to burn."

"Second, I have already created a Legacy from the basic chapters of the 'True Interpretation of Creation' and the introductory chapters of the 'Secret Art of Foretelling,' which all Disciples at the Golden Core Stage or above may study. The former can enlighten all things and increase the success rate of Alchemy and Artifact Refining; the latter, although it can only glimpse vague fragments of the future, might save lives at critical moments."

"Third," he looked at the three of them, Ling Xiao, Ling Xue, and Ling You, "You three, follow me into the cultivation room. I want to help you break through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage."

Nascent Soul Late Stage?!

Ling Xiao, Ling Xue, and Ling You were all shaken.

In Nascent Soul Stage cultivation, every small step is as difficult as ascending to heaven. They had only broken through to the Middle Stage ten days ago; to try to push for the Late Stage now was simply a pipe dream!

But looking at Ling Hao's calm yet unquestionable gaze, a glimmer of hope ignited in their hearts.

The Young Lord never does anything he isn't sure of.

"For the rest of you," Ling Hao finally said, "Rest well during these three days and adjust your state. Three days later, I will open the 'Nine-Source Trial Tower.' This tower is a cultivation Secret Realm recorded in the jade pendant. The tower has nine levels, corresponding to the nine great Origins. Those who enter the tower can receive a baptism from the corresponding Origin, greatly improving their cultivation and insights."

"However, the tower is full of dangers. Whether to enter or not is your own choice."

When his voice fell, the whole plaza was silent.

Opportunity and danger coexist; this is the norm of cultivation. But the opportunity given by the Young Lord was too tempting. A Nine-Source baptism—that was a creation that even ancient major sects dreamed of!

"I will enter!" Ling Shi was the first to step out, his eyes burning with Battle Intent, "The Dao of Thick Earth is endless!"

"I will enter too!" Ling Shuang followed closely behind, "A Three-Source Spiritual Root needs tempering!"

"I'll enter!" "I'll enter!" "I'll enter!!"

The waves of sound rose again; no one retreated.

A flash of satisfaction appeared in Ling Hao's eyes.

"Good. Now, disperse."

The crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion, but a fiery flame burned in everyone's eyes.

Inside the cultivation room

Ling Xiao, Ling Xue, and Ling You sat cross-legged, while Ling Hao stood in the center. The complete jade pendant floated between the four of them, and the halo of Chaos it emitted enveloped the entire secret chamber.

"For the Nascent Soul Late Stage, the key does not lie in the accumulation of spiritual power, but in 'Rule Resonance'." Ling Hao's voice echoed in the chamber, "The three of you have touched the surface of your respective rules, but it is not enough. You need to integrate the rules into your Nascent Soul, making the Nascent Soul a carrier of the rules."

He raised his hand and pointed at Ling Xiao: "Lightning is not just destruction; it is also rebirth, judgment, and Heavenly Might. Your Lightning Spiritual Root needs to understand the 'positive and negative sides' of thunder."

He then pointed at Ling Xue: "The Ice Soul Profound Body is naturally close to the Dao. But the path you have taken is too gentle. The extreme of ice can freeze time and space, Seal all things, and even freeze the Heavenly Dao."

Finally, he looked at Ling You: "Shadows are formless, yet you are obsessed with form. True shadows should be ubiquitous, yet nowhere to be found. When you forget that you are a 'shadow,' you become the shadow itself."

These three pointers were like the morning bell and evening drum, exploding in the Sea of Consciousness of the three!

Lightning patterns surged all over Ling Xiao's body. Destructive lightning light appeared in his left eye, while new-life electric light swirled in his right eye. Two completely different Lightning Concepts began to collide and fuse!

The snowflake mark on Ling Xue's forehead completely turned into an ice-blue gemstone. The extreme cold air no longer spread but instead converged inward, condensing a layer of "Absolute Zero Domain" as thin as a cicada's wing around her—a sign of the manifestation of the Ice Rule!

Ling You's figure began to "dissolve," like a drop of ink dripped into clear water, slowly spreading and fading until he was almost integrated with the shadows of the secret chamber. If one didn't deliberately lock onto him with Divine Sense, one wouldn't be able to detect his existence at all!

"Now, draw upon the power of the jade pendant to give you a helping hand."

Ling Hao formed Seals with both hands, and the complete jade pendant shone brightly! Three streams of Chaos Qi shot out and submerged into the bodies of the three!

"Boom!!!"

The auras of the three surged simultaneously!

Ling Xiao's lightning Nascent Soul began to "grow," surging from three inches to five inches. Fine lightning runes appeared on its surface, each rune containing the mysteries of the Lightning Rule!

Ling Xue's Ice Soul Nascent Soul began to "transform." Its ice-blue color gradually became transparent, and the snowflake sealed within it slowly rotated, emitting a chill that could freeze all things!

Ling You's "Shadow Nebula" began to "condense." The thirteen shadow characteristics no longer dispersed but collapsed toward a single point in the center, eventually transforming into a "Shadow Nascent Soul" as black as ink, constantly changing its form. This Nascent Soul had no fixed form and could change as one wished, eerie and unpredictable!