Chapter 1330: The Origin Book of the Primordial Beginning

The Ninth Heaven.

Nangong Jin walked through the Ninth Heaven with Azi as if on level ground, the surrounding roaring thunder unable to even approach him.

“This incident has caused our palace to lose significant face across the Five Continents and Four Seas. We even lost a venerable cultivator. Upon our return, I must provide an explanation to the other elders.”

Nangong Jin suddenly spoke, his expression calm.

Azi involuntarily trembled.

The Jellyfish Palace suffered a complete defeat in Eastern Continent this time. Although Yuan Ming's life appeased the righteous human cultivators, someone within the palace would undoubtedly have to bear responsibility. Of those involved, Han Ming had already ascended. A'Yue, as an Elder of the Void Refinement stage, had been sent to confinement at the Eye of the Heavenly Sea by the Desolate Water Banner. This left only Azi, who was still alive.

At any other time, Azi could have hoped that A'Yue, as her great-grandmother, would protect her. However, this time, A'Yue might even want her to die and take all the blame.

“Palace Master, please save me,” Azi pleaded.

After considering her situation, Azi shed tears, looking pitiful as she unhesitatingly begged Nangong Jin for help.

“While your Mermen clan is rather overbearing in the Heavenly Sea, this incident went too far. Moreover, it seems excessive that two Grand Elders dispatched both you and Yuan Ming for such a minor matter. Is there a reason for this that I, as the Palace Master, am unaware of?”

Nangong Jin voiced his suspicion. Within the Jellyfish Palace, various aquatic clans were led by the Mermen, which meant that he, a human-born sect master, faced many constraints in his daily command, even at the Void Refinement stage. Han Ming's ascension and A'Yue's confinement presented Nangong Jin with the best opportunity to consolidate his power. However, before doing so, he still wanted to uncover the truth. It was clear that Azi and Yuan Ming, two cultivators at the God Transformation stage, would not have left the Heavenly Sea merely for a single jade slip containing alchemy recipes.

“Sect Master, if I tell you, will I survive?” Azi asked hesitantly.

Azi's face showed hesitation. The scene of Yuan Ming committing suicide in her arms had completely shattered her Dao heart. She was afraid she would also be ordered to die.

“Speak first,” Nangong Jin replied nonchalantly.

Nangong Jin had spoken those two words dismissively. According to the rules of the Jellyfish Palace, he genuinely had the power to order Azi's death upon their return. Azi's life and death were now entirely in his hands.

“It's the Book of Primordial Origins.”

Azi mumbled, uttering a name that made Nangong Jin's expression change.

“What does this have to do with the Book of Primordial Origins?”

The Jellyfish, having created the world, evolved the Five Primordial Dao, recording these five innate Great Dao in five Daoist scriptures. The Book of Primordial Origins was one of them, containing the profound mysteries of Primordial Chaos. The Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures were the Jellyfish Palace's most treasured legacy. If one mastered the Five Primordial Immortal Lights, they could even refine the Heavenly River Dao Fruit left by the Jellyfish, gaining supreme power to create heaven and earth. For this reason, the original Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures had all been taken to the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. The Heavenly Sea Jellyfish Palace also possessed these Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures, though they were transcribed versions left by a seventh-rank existence based on their own insights. Even so, they represented the pinnacle of knowledge in the Heavenly River Realm.

“The jade slip that Yu Chan stole was actually the Book of Primordial Origins, left by our ancestor from the Upper Realm for our Mermen clan to study.”

Upon hearing Azi's words, Nangong Jin frowned deeply and immediately pressed, “Is it the original Five Primordial Daoist Scripture?”

Azi replied, “No, it's a copy transcribed by the ancestor after achieving Dao integration, based on their own insights. However, because it was exclusively left for our clan and thus inconsistent with palace rules, it was disguised as an ordinary jade slip. Only those cultivating the corresponding techniques or knowing the incantations can see the true form of the Book of Primordial Origins.”

“Yu Chan was originally Great-Grandmother's maid. After learning of this, she desired to escape her lowly status and stole it while Great-Grandmother was in seclusion. That's why, after the incident, she spared no effort to cast a curse, shattering Yu Chan's soul.”

After listening to Azi's explanation, Nangong Jin's face showed dawning comprehension.

The Merman ancestor was one of the first beings to follow the Jellyfish and also among the first to achieve Dao integration, but they were not the only one to do so in the Jellyfish Palace. The Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures, being the foundation of the Jellyfish Palace, theoretically allowed cultivators at the Void Refinement stage only one opportunity to study them, apart from seventh-rank existences. If a cultivator gained insights after that single study and resonated with the Great Dao of the Five Primordial, they would have the chance to study the original scriptures and become a True Immortal Dao Seed, a priority for cultivation by the Jellyfish Palace. Nangong Jin, for example, gained insights into the Innate Great Dao of Grand Change, which allowed him to withstand various pressures and assume the position of Sect Master of the Jellyfish Palace. The Merman ancestor clearly hoped for their descendants to achieve greatness, which was why they left behind a transcribed version of the Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures. Unlike Nangong Jin and others, who had only one chance, Mermen at the Void Refinement stage could study it countless times. No wonder Han Ming, with his talent, was able to cultivate the Immortal Light of Grand Simplicity.

One of Nangong Jin's doubts was finally answered. Although both were at the Void Refinement stage, Nangong Jin considered his talent far superior to Han Ming's. Yet, Han Ming not only reached God Transformation and Void Refinement before him but also gained insights from the Heavenly River Realm Jellyfish Palace's Book of Grand Simplicity and Form with only one opportunity, which had baffled Nangong Jin for over a thousand years. So this was the truth.

“If this matter were exposed, even that one in the Spirit Void Immortal Realm's Jellyfish Palace would have difficulty explaining it to the other True Immortal Dao Lords…”

Nangong Jin's words filled Azi with terror. If her life and death weren't in Nangong Jin's hands, she would never have revealed this. But for her, the most pressing matter was to survive the immediate crisis.

“You received Elder A'Yue's anointing, so you should have gained some understanding of your cultivation technique from God Transformation to Void Refinement. Upon returning to the palace, I will confine you to Han Ming's Grotto-Heaven under the guise of punishment. If you succeed in reaching Void Refinement through this opportunity, then when the Great Dao rules of the Heavenly River Realm are fully changed, you will ascend with me and inform the other ancestors of this matter.”

Nangong Jin outlined his arrangement for Azi, and the latter immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing it. Han Ming's Grotto-Heaven was situated atop the Heavenly Sea's top-tier sixth-rank spiritual vein, previously serving as the residence of Han Ming, a Void Refinement cultivator. After Han Ming's ascension, this place would certainly not remain empty. Nangong Jin banishing Azi there for confinement was clearly granting her a great fortune. However, if Azi failed to achieve Void Refinement, she would likely be confined there for the rest of her life, never to emerge. Nevertheless, Azi was already very satisfied with this arrangement. She would be drawn into the conflict between several seventh-rank True Immortals of the Jellyfish Palace and would have to become a traitor to her own Mermen clan. But future matters could be considered in the future; at least she had survived for now. Thinking this, Azi bowed to Nangong Jin, saying, “Many thanks, Sect Master.”

After reaching an agreement, Nangong Jin no longer lingered, heading towards the Heavenly Sea through the Ninth Heaven at the fastest possible speed.

“Sect Master, will the Book of Primordial Origins just be left at the Five Elements Sect like that?” Azi couldn't help but ask on the way back.

Although she knew outsiders wouldn't be able to glimpse the Book of Primordial Origins, it was still a hidden danger, which was why she had wanted to bring Qing Nü back to the Jellyfish Palace. Besides the Jellyfish Palace's cultivation techniques and the Merman ancestor's incantations, there was another way to fully glimpse the Book of Primordial Origins. That was to align with its Great Dao, gain the scripture's recognition, and have all its Daoist rhymes open spontaneously. All cultivators in the Jellyfish Palace who studied the Five Primordial Daoist Scriptures practiced water-attribute cultivation techniques at the Void Refinement stage. The Merman ancestor was no exception; all the scriptures they left behind detailed paths for ascending from water-attribute cultivation techniques to comprehending the Innate Great Dao. Therefore, Qing Nü, as the only God Transformation stage cultivator in the Five Elements Sect with a water-attribute cultivation technique, had a slight possibility of glimpsing the Book of Primordial Origins.

“If it weren't in the hands of an outsider, how would we be able to condemn them in the future?” Nangong Jin replied with this cryptic remark.

Azi first froze, then trembled all over. She had never realized that this Sect Master, who seemed indifferent to everything, possessed such profound thoughts. Of course, it was also possible that she had been too naive before. After this incident, Azi realized she was like a blank sheet of paper. But soon, Azi grew expectant. With the evidence in the Five Elements Sect's possession, if the Spirit Void Immortal Realm wished to target the Mermen ancestor after the Heavenly River Realm's Great Dao rules were improved, they would undoubtedly have to retrieve the Book of Primordial Origins. At that time, the Azure Emperor of Eastern Barren would face not the Heavenly Sea Jellyfish Palace, but a seventh-rank existence from the Immortal Realm's Jellyfish Palace. Azi wondered how the Azure Emperor of Eastern Barren would escape after ascending. Upon this thought, her sorrowful and painful mood remarkably improved.

Nangong Jin chose not to retrieve the Book of Primordial Origins not only because he didn't believe a mere God Transformation cultivator like Qing Nü could comprehend it, but also because the Azure Emperor of Eastern Barren was clearly being watched by the Grand Void Sky-Measuring Ruler. This enlightenment artifact of the Grand Void True King, which controlled the Great Dao of Void, could traverse vast distances in an instant. If he intended to act against the Five Elements Sect, he would arrive immediately upon learning of it. Even with confidence in his own strength, Nangong Jin dared not face the Grand Void Sky-Measuring Ruler.

Chen Mobai naturally didn't know that the jade slip, which outwardly appeared to contain numerous alchemy recipes, was actually one of the Jellyfish Palace's most supreme inheritances.

After the God Transformation Ceremony concluded, he began to address the aftermath. Although the Five Elements Sect won the battle against the Jellyfish Palace, their losses were substantial. The Heaven-Curtain Earth-Net Grand Formation had drawn from Eastern Barren's spiritual veins; though it hadn't fully depleted them, it had exhausted the Five Elements Sect's accumulated resources of over a hundred years. After the spiritual energy in the Grand Formation's various nodes was used up, while the spiritual veins could still generate energy, nearly everyone in Eastern Barren could now cultivate immortality, leading to an enormous demand for spiritual energy. Furthermore, all cultivators had paid their fees. If the Five Elements Sect couldn't provide spiritual energy, it would be a significant blow to Chen Mobai's reputation, which he had meticulously built over a hundred years.

Under these circumstances, Chen Mobai could only send his second primeval spirit to Panghuang Mountain to channel the spiritual energy produced by its sixth-rank spiritual vein to Eastern Barren. In addition, he used grand formations to transfer the idle spiritual energy from the veins in Dongwu and Dongyi to where it was needed. This series of actions, combined with dissolving massive amounts of spirit stones daily, barely managed to supply the spiritual energy needs of all cultivators within the Five Elements Sect's territory. However, this was merely a temporary solution. The Heaven-Curtain Earth-Net Grand Formation had drawn too heavily this time, damaging the foundations of many spiritual veins. Their future spiritual energy output would gradually weaken, and some smaller veins had already begun to dissipate. This problem had also arisen after the Immortal Gate sealed the Incarnation of the God of Death, and it was only completely resolved when Chen Mobai purchased a sixth-rank spiritual vein through the World Gate.

Given this situation, Chen Mobai somewhat wished Chen Lingming would achieve God Transformation now, because then, a Primal Chaos Orb would be available for use. But this was merely wishful thinking.

Chen Mobai instructed Zhuo Ming to lead the Five Elements Sect's Geomancers to utilize the top-grade spirit stones from the sect's treasury and his personal reserves. These stones were infused into the overly depleted spiritual veins to repair and enhance them. Since Qing Nü was the cause of the incident, she immediately offered all the hundreds of millions of spirit stones she had earned over the years, asking Zhuo Ming to help infuse them into Eastern Barren's spiritual veins. Even so, it would still take decades, or even a century, for the spiritual veins to fully recover to their former prosperous state.

“We need to find a way to solve this problem before I ascend,” Chen Mobai instructed. He convened the Nascent Soul elders of the Five Elements Sect and gave his directives.

“Then we can only rely on external spiritual vein input,” said Zhuo Ming, who understood the situation best.

Upon hearing this, Mo Douguang patted the long sword at his waist and offered to lead, asking, “Which surrounding territory should we take? I can lead the forces.” This God Transformation Ceremony had boosted the confidence of all cultivators in the Five Elements Sect to an overflowing degree, with many disciples believing their sect was the best in Eastern Continent. This was due to the sect's foundation of having a Void Refinement stage cultivator. Although Ling Zun quickly returned to the Dharma Realm after the ceremony, Qing Nü's identity as a Void Refinement disciple was now widely known. The Impermanence Chamber contributed most to this revelation. As for Chen Mobai gaining the favor of the Grand Void Sky-Measuring Ruler, the Impermanence Chamber did not publicize it, given its connection to the Grand Void True King and the lack of definite information. With the understanding that their sect had a Void Refinement foundation, cultivators like Mo Douguang from the Five Elements Sect, adopting a local's mindset, felt that all other spiritual veins in Eastern Continent, apart from those belonging to the three great Sacred Lands, should rightfully be theirs.

“To compensate for these losses, we need a sixth-rank spiritual vein. In Eastern Continent, apart from those of the Sacred Lands, the only spiritual veins of such caliber are the ancestral veins deep within the Desolate Ruins. However, ancient true spirits slumber within the ancestral veins. If we extract their spiritual energy, we risk awakening them and causing great chaos. For now, we can only halt all sect projects that consume spiritual energy, then capture unowned spiritual veins in the Desolate Ruins, Profound Sea, and Barren Sea to increase our sources and reduce expenditures.” Chen Mobai analyzed the current situation, then informed those present of the next steps.

“The spiritual vein of the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court is top-tier sixth-rank. If we incorporate it into the Heaven-Curtain Earth-Net Grand Formation, all our problems will be easily solved.”