444: Chapter 444 The Tribulation of the Primordial Divine Heart

"Ding! Congratulations, Master. Jinwu Shenghe's favorability has reached 99. You have obtained 150,000 Grandmist sign-in counts."

As the System Loli's crisp and pleasant voice rang in his mind, Cao Yang slowly sat up from the bed and stretched with sleepy eyes.

Recalling the thrilling battle he just had with Jinwu Shenghe, Cao Yang couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of fear.

After a full ten days and nights of fierce fighting, both sides had exhausted all their resources, finally ending with Jinwu Shenghe's complete defeat.

At this moment, Jinwu Shenghe no longer had her former arrogance; her body was covered in scars, a truly pitiful sight.

Cao Yang himself was not unscathed either. After this intense battle, he had a deeper understanding of the deficiencies in his own strength.

"System, how many Grandmist sign-in counts do I have now? Can these counts allow me to break through a major Realm?" Cao Yang thought to himself.

He knew well that in this world full of unknowns and dangers, strength was the foundation of survival.

Especially after learning about the existence beyond the Hongmeng Realm behind Jinwu Shenghe, Cao Yang felt his own weakness even more. If he couldn't improve his strength as soon as possible, he feared he would eventually meet with misfortune in this mysterious world teeming with powerful experts.

Thinking of this, Cao Yang felt increasingly urgent. He desperately hoped to use the Grandmist sign-in counts to break through his current Bottleneck and take his strength to the next level.

After all, his Invincible Comprehension was far too small compared to Hongmeng Realm experts, like a drop in the ocean.

Within the Divine Senses of these powerful Hongmeng Realm experts, although the power of Cao Yang's Invincible Comprehension was formidable, it was only as tiny as a sesame seed.

As long as they did not enter the range of Cao Yang's Domain, the threat posed by his Invincible Comprehension to Hongmeng Realm experts was almost negligible.

Just then, the System Loli's voice suddenly rang in Cao Yang's mind: "Ding! In reply to Master, you currently possess 1.137 million Grandmist sign-in counts. These sign-in counts are enough for Master to break through to the Hongmeng Divine Heart Realm. Would Master like to begin the Breakthrough now?"

Hearing the System's prompt, Cao Yang thought for a moment and then communicated with the System through his consciousness: "Mm, System, wait a moment. Let's go out before breaking through."

He made this decision primarily because he didn't want his Breakthrough to disturb Jinwu Shenghe's rest.

After all, Jinwu Shenghe had been truly exhausted during this time and needed sufficient time to rest well and recover her energy.

With a flicker of his Divine Thought, Cao Yang returned to his Heavenly Emperor Hall in the next instant.

"System, break me through to the Hongmeng Divine Heart Realm!"

Cao Yang sat cross-legged and muttered in his heart.

"Ding! Very well, Master. 1 million Grandmist sign-in counts have been spent. The Breakthrough begins~"

As the System Loli's voice faded, the aura on Cao Yang's body began to surge.

Powerful Hongmeng Divine Power constantly erupted from Cao Yang's body, sweeping out in all directions. However, as soon as this Hongmeng Divine Power hit the inner walls of the Wuji Tower, it vanished without a sound.

...

On the outskirts of a bustling city lay a slum hidden away, completely out of place with its surroundings.

The houses here were built from old, dirty tents, appearing like a corner forgotten by the city.

As night fell, a cold wind howled through the slum, and tens of thousands of dilapidated tents shivered in the gale.

However, in this darkness, one tent emitted a faint firelight, standing in stark contrast to the surrounding silence.

It should be noted that in this slum, a single candle cost a family a day's worth of rations. To be able to light a candle at night was clearly no small matter.

Inside the tent, a rural woman dressed in thick cotton clothes had just experienced the agonizing pain of childbirth.

Enduring her physical discomfort, her hands trembled as she urgently checked the gender of her child.

When she discovered the child lacked male characteristics, the despair in her eyes rose like a tide.

Just then, the child's crying suddenly rang out, breaking the deathly silence within the tent.

Immediately after, the tent flap was burst open, and a burly man wearing even thicker cotton clothes barged in.

"Does it have a handle?" the burly man asked anxiously. Without even waiting for the woman's answer, he strode to the bedside and leaned over to inspect the infant.

The burly man unceremoniously threw back the moldy quilt covering the infant. When he saw the child's physical characteristics, his face instantly turned extremely grim.

"No handle!" The burly man's voice betrayed undisguised disappointment and anger.

"Look at what kind of thing you gave birth to!" he roared at the tearful farmwoman, as if the child's gender were her fault.

The burly man's voice was like a great bell, deafeningly loud. The child, who was already crying hard, was frightened by this sudden shout and cried even more intensely.

The crying seemed to want to burst through the roof, filling the entire room with the child's mournful wails.

Hearing the child's cries, the farmwoman's heart tightened. She hurriedly scrambled up from the bed, following the sound of the crying.

When she saw the child's small face had turned red from the cold and her tiny body was shivering, her heart twisted like a knife.

The farmwoman's maternal instinct was instantly triggered. She reached out without hesitation, wanting to cover the child with that old quilt to keep her warm.

However, before her hand could touch the quilt, she was struck hard by a slap from the burly man.

The slap was extremely heavy; the farmwoman's hand felt as if it had been scorched by fire, the pain almost making her scream.

But she ignored the pain, watching helplessly as the burly man picked up the swaddling cloth nearby and, completely ignoring the child's growing cries, roughly wrapped her up.

Seeing this, the farmwoman was frantic with worry. She rushed forward recklessly, trying to stop the burly man.

Tears welled in her eyes as she choked out, "Child's father, I beg you, don't throw her away! This child is so pitiful, let's keep her, alright?"

"Keep her for what!" the burly man roared. "This child is just a burden. If we keep her, we'll all starve to death!"

"But she is our own flesh and blood!" the farmwoman pleaded, crying.

"So what if she's our flesh and blood?" The burly man was completely unmoved. "A useless thing, do you still want to live?"

Having said that, the burly man pushed hard, shoving the farmwoman aside.

The farmwoman stumbled and fell to the ground, the skin on her palms scraped and oozing blood.

But she ignored it, struggling to crawl up and stop the burly man.

However, the burly man had already walked out the door with the infant wrapped in rags, never looking back, leaving only the farmwoman to weep in despair inside the room.

That night, a heavy snowfall suddenly descended from the sky, as if nature were launching a surprise attack on the city.

This originally bustling and unique great city was instantly covered in thick snow, like a fairy-tale world wrapped in silver.

However, this beautiful snow scene held entirely different meanings for the people in the city.

The wealthy, in their warm rooms, admired the dancing snow through their windows, enjoying the comfort and pleasure brought by the hearth and fine wine.

They were either hosting parties or sitting together chatting and laughing, completely indifferent to the severe cold outside.

On the other side of the city, the residents of the slums were struggling bitterly in this cold night.

Their houses were crude and unable to withstand the invasion of the severe cold; many could only huddle in thin quilts, shivering.

The heavy snow made their lives even more difficult, as food and heating resources became exceptionally scarce.

In the center of this city was a famous Shelter, opened by a philanthropist named Tian Min.

This Shelter specialized in taking in abandoned children, providing them with a warm home.

Tian Min had always been dedicated to helping these homeless children, using his love and patience to give them care and attention.

Of course, the Shelter also received some relief funds from the wealthy every year, which played a certain role in maintaining its operations.

After all, the number of abandoned children every year was not small. If it relied solely on Tian Min's strength alone, it would have been very difficult to sustain for so long.

On this night of swirling snow, Tian Min decided to take some of the Shelter's staff out to check the area.

He was worried that there might be abandoned infants outside who would freeze to death in this severe weather.

Although this season was already cold, the sudden heavy snow filled Tian Min's heart with anxiety, yet he stepped onto the path of searching without hesitation.

Tian Min and his companions trudged forward with difficulty, carefully searching every possible corner.

Their footsteps left deep imprints in the snow, as if they were silently guarding the city. Fortunately, they did not find any abandoned infants, but Tian Min did not relax much because of this.

He knew that perhaps some infants had already been buried by the heavy snow and could not be easily found.

However, Tian Min did not give up. He firmly believed that as long as there was a glimmer of hope, he could not stop his search.

Although his face was filled with worry, his gaze was exceptionally determined, revealing an indomitable spirit.

The accompanying employees suggested that Tian Min shouldn't bother, as the snow had already covered their shoes; in such weather, an abandoned child certainly wouldn't survive for more than a few incense sticks' time.

However, Tian Min did not go back; he only let the accompanying employees return. After all, the weather was too cold, while he himself continued the search.

Time passed minute by minute, and after several more hours, Tian Min found no abnormalities in his long search.

Just as he breathed a slight sigh of relief and was about to turn and leave, a faint infant's cry suddenly reached his ears.

This sudden cry made Tian Min stop in his tracks abruptly. His heart rate instantly quickened, and an indescribable sense of tension surged in his heart.

He immediately followed the direction of the cry and eventually found an infant tightly wrapped in rags in the fork of a large tree.

This poor little fellow was wedged between the branches, as if forgotten by nature.

The surface of the rags wrapping the infant was completely buried under thick snow. If not for that faint cry, perhaps no one would have noticed that there was still a small life here.

Tian Min carefully climbed the tree and, after a great deal of effort, finally rescued the infant from that dangerous fork.

When he held the infant in his arms, a complex wave of emotion surged in his heart.

"My goodness, it's truly a miracle! God bless you, child," Tian Min murmured to himself, his voice full of wonder and emotion.

However, when he gently pulled back the layer of rags, the sight before him left him with a look of disbelief.

The infant's body was frozen bloodless, and her small face, which should have been rosy, was now as pale as paper, making one's heart ache at the sight.

Fortunately, despite the infant's terrible condition, she still had a faint breath, and that tiny cry seemed to be announcing her desire for life to the world.

Tian Min dared not delay for a moment. He held the infant tightly and hurried back to the Shelter.

Along the way, he was frantic with worry, fearing that this fragile little life would perish halfway.

Finally, after the time it takes for half an incense stick to burn, Tian Min finally made it back to the Shelter.

He didn't care to rest and immediately placed the infant by the stove, letting the warm fire surround her.

Under the warmth of the stove, the infant's originally pale face gradually regained a hint of color, and that faint cry became slightly louder.

Tian Min's tense heart finally relaxed slightly. He prayed silently, hoping that this little life would be safe and sound.

Tian Min carefully unwrapped the rags from the infant as if she were a precious treasure.

He gently spread out a new swaddling cloth and tenderly wrapped it around the infant, every movement filled with love and care.

When he finished, the infant's small face was revealed. Her clear eyes stared straight at Tian Min, and suddenly, the corners of the infant's mouth turned up, revealing a cute smile.

Tian Min was deeply moved by this smile. A gentle smile also spread across his face as he said softly, "I didn't expect you to be a girl; you're truly a little angel." His voice was soft and warm, as if it could penetrate the infant's soul.

Then, as if remembering something, Tian Min added, "Since God has blessed you and allowed you to come into this world safely, from now on, you shall be called Di Pingjian."

"I hope God will continue to bless you to grow up safely and healthily."

As soon as Tian Min finished speaking, the infant seemed to understand his words and laughed even more brightly, her laughter as crisp and pleasant as a silver bell.

Seeing this, Tian Min couldn't help but feel a sense of surprise. He hadn't expected this tiny infant to react so positively to his words.

However, Tian Min was soon infected by the infant's cuteness. He also began to laugh, saying happily, "You really are a cute and special little fellow. From now on, you will grow up happily here. I will take good care of you."

A few moments passed, and Cao Yang still had his eyes closed; he had not yet broken through to the Hongmeng Divine Heart Realm...

Sweat continued to bead on his forehead; clearly, Cao Yang was experiencing something terrifying.

Cao Yang was a Transcendent, yet he was actually sweating; one could see how intense it was!

...