C22 Wudao Sovereign

No matter how much Liu Xingchang drank from the spring in the cave, its level remained unchanged. However, when he employed the technique of condensing the Spirit Mark Rune, the spring began to visibly deplete.

Liu Xingchang gathered all the spring water into a single mass, which slowly formed into a glowing blue orb.

As the orb shrank, condensing into the size of a Spirit Mark Rune, a burst of blue light exploded from within, engulfing the entire cave, including Liu Xingchang himself.

"Hu."

Suddenly, Liu Xingchang found himself in a chilly aquatic world. His clothes were dry, his breathing easy, as if he were walking on solid ground, completely out of sync with the surrounding water.

It dawned on Liu Xingchang that he wasn't actually submerged in water, but rather, he was in an illusory world preserved by a formidable power.

This illusory world had been embedded into the Holy Water Rune by a mighty being. With the formation of the Holy Water Rune, the illusory world sprang to life.

The next moment, a figure in white appeared before Liu Xingchang. It was an elderly man with a benevolent expression and an air of wisdom.

His gaze was gentle yet tinged with sorrow.

This was not a living person, but a remnant image preserved within the illusory world, with all his words and actions predetermined.

"The Holy Water Rune has at last been reactivated..."

"The inheritor of my teachings is my disciple, the Wudao Sovereign..."

"I was betrayed and pursued here. To prevent the Holy Water Rune from falling into the wrong hands, I hastily laid down my tomb and legacy, hoping someone worthy would find it. If you cannot vanquish the evil, at least do not use it to commit violence. If my disciple still holds any regard for my kindness, seek not vengeance on my behalf, but rather go to the White Water Realm and offer protection to my descendants..."

The image faded away, its voice growing increasingly urgent towards the end, signaling that the pursuers were close at hand. To prevent discovery, the Wudao Sovereign had once again fled elsewhere.

As the world of illusions faded away, Liu Xingchang sighed, "This is the final resting place of the Wudao Sovereign. I remember when he sought my advice on swordsmanship, before he had even acquired the Holy Water Rune... Indeed, 'the innocent must suffer for the treasure they possess.' Without sufficient strength, it's wiser to keep such treasures hidden from others."

Even someone as formidable as the Wudao Sovereign, who stood at the pinnacle of this world, could fall victim to an unexpected attack, much like the master of the Northern Polar Heaven Domain.

"In a past life, I had the opportunity to guide you, yet in this life, you have become my teacher. The workings of fate are truly mysterious."

"Well, now that I have your Holy Water Rune, I am bound to protect your descendants and ensure that you can rest peacefully."

With the illusionary world completely gone, the chill in the cave began to fade, and Liu Xingchang finally set the Holy Water Rune into his Spirit Sea.

While an ordinary Spirit Mark Rune would become a mere point of light within the Spirit Sea, the Holy Water Rune expanded immensely upon entering Liu Xingchang's Spirit Sea, enveloping all three Spirit Seas and gently nourishing them.

Liu Xingchang's eyes sparkled as he noted, "The Spiritual Energy in the Spirit Sea seems denser and more robust... I hadn't anticipated such a supportive role from the Holy Water Rune... What's this?"

He soon realized that despite the Holy Water Rune's swift integration with the Spirit Sea, as it delved deeper, a significant flaw became apparent.

Frowning, Liu Xingchang mused, "The Holy Water Rune must have been severely damaged when the Wudao Sovereign was pursued. It's lost even the normal twenty percent of its power. No wonder the life-prolonging spring water it created could only address sustenance... I'll need to seek out celestial materials to gradually restore it..."

His expression softened into a smile, "I've been caught up in the irony... How did the Wudao Sovereign meet his end? It was the curse of possessing a treasure without guilt. If I could unleash the full might of the Holy Water Rune from the start, an eighth-grade Cultivator like myself could overcome a warrior from the Heavenly Path Realm. Even a fool would deduce that I possess the Sacred Inscription Talisman. But having twenty percent of its power is sufficient for now, providing me with a formidable means of protection. As my own power grows, repairing it slowly will surely be the safer path."

With this thought, Liu Xingchang's spirits lifted.

Yet, in that very moment, a series of thunderous roars erupted, deafening to those nearby.

Liu Xingchang exclaimed in alarm, "Disaster! The Holy Water Rune supporting this cave must have been assimilated by me, and now the cave is on the brink of collapse!"

Before he could finish his sentence, Liu Xingchang dashed towards the entrance, but it was too late.

"Boom!"

The mountain, long overdue for collapse, had been propped up by the blue glow of the Holy Water Rune for years. Two days prior, Liu Jitai had shattered this blue barrier, and now Liu Xingchang had claimed the Holy Water Rune for himself, leaving the mountain without the means to hold itself up. It crumbled and fell in a heap.

The thunderous crash could be heard even two miles away, sending the wildlife within the Great雁 Mountain Range into a frenzied scramble.

"Crash! Crash! Crash!"

The Great雁 Mountain Range bordered the Great雁 River to the east and the Furnace Stone Waterfall to the west.

Since the collapse of the mountains, the Furnace Stone Waterfall had dried up, while the Great雁 River, with its many tributaries, continued its swift course unabated.

The mountain chosen by the Wai Supreme to house the energy of the Holy Water Rune was selected with great care, situated beside the Great雁 River. The mountain's low elevation meant high water levels, with its base perennially submerged. Thus, when the mountain finally gave way, water surged through the gaps, loosening the collapsed mass even further.

Liu Xingchang, knocked unconscious by falling rocks, was swept into the water.

Carried swiftly by the current, Liu Xingchang's light body was quickly borne away by the Great雁 River.

An ordinary person, unconscious in such turbulent waters, would surely perish. But Liu Xingchang, bearer of the Holy Water Rune, was an exception.

The Holy Water Rune, progenitor of all waters, ensured its bearer would never drown. A radiant blue light emanated from the Rune, enveloping Liu Xingchang's body, granting him the ability to breathe underwater as a fish might. This miraculous energy also kept him from sinking to the riverbed to become a feast for the fish.

Despite Liu Xingchang's close call with death in the cave, it was there that he obtained the Holy Water Rune, which ultimately saved him. Wasn't this a classic case of misfortune being a hidden blessing?

Before regaining consciousness, Liu Xingchang's body had been adrift, carried by the current, destination unknown.

Time passed, and as Liu Xingchang's awareness slowly returned, a wave of panic from nearly drowning overwhelmed him, and his eyes snapped open.

The first thing Liu Xingchang saw upon his abrupt awakening was neither the emerald waters of the Great Swallow River nor the deep blue sky above the banks, but a face.

It was a face of delicate beauty, tinged with a touch of wildness. Her eyebrows were slender yet fierce, like twin swords slashing across her brow, her beauty matched by a commanding presence. Her eyes were bright and lively, reminiscent of a refreshing spring, captivating the soul with their beauty yet resolute as iron. Her straight nose and beautifully shaped lips were truly stirring.

From any perspective, she was an impeccable woman, one who could instinctively ignite a man's desire for conquest.

Freshly roused in an unfamiliar place, Liu Xingchang should have been on high alert, yet the sight of this face left him momentarily transfixed.

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