Chapter 874: The Concept of Dao Fruit

**Main Text**

Kuzhu, controlling his sword with divine sense, stood at the end of the Abyss Island trial grounds after slaying the last illusory water demon. He gently exhaled and retrieved his innate flying sword.

A profound black spiritual light flashed, and the black-robed cultivator of Abyss Island appeared before him.

"Congratulations," the black-robed cultivator said. "You have passed the trial and may now receive the Dao Fruit inheritance of Abyss Island."

Upon hearing this, Kuzhu's expression remained calm, but a hint of joy flickered in his eyes. Ever since he was brought here and recovered from his injuries, he had unhesitatingly embarked on the path of trials. Every step was fraught with difficulties and dangers, and he had shed sweat and blood. Now, finally, he could reap the rewards.

The Dao Fruit is the supreme inheritance, found only in the Sacred Lands of the Celestial River Realm! What is known as a Dao Fruit is the ultimate transformation of a cultivator's Nascent Soul into a Primordial Spirit. However, not all Primordial Spirits can be called "Dao Fruits." Only Primordial Spirits capable of advancing further, beyond the Soul Transformation stage, and ascending, can be considered Dao Fruits.

In the Celestial River Realm, many cultivation techniques can lead to the Soul Transformation realm, but those with Dao Fruit inheritance are extremely rare, as only ascended cultivators can leave them behind. After exceptionally talented Dao Children and Saintesses receive the Dao Fruit inheritance, they can subtly align perfectly with ascension secret techniques, and their Nascent Soul's transformation into a Primordial Spirit will be much easier than for ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators. The Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect and the Dao Virtue Sect are so powerful because, over tens of thousands of years of inheritance, more than one ascended cultivator has left behind a Dao Fruit. Even if the Dao Children and Saintesses of the current generation are not up to par and fail to cultivate a Primordial Spirit, as long as the Dao Fruit foundation remains, they can wait for the next suitable successor.

The black-robed cultivator extended a hand, and the currents of the deep-sea trial grounds immediately swirled in his palm as a deep blue jade bottle appeared out of thin air.

"This is Abyss Island's inheritance artifact, the Four Seas Bottle," he explained. "The Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit is within it."

Upon hearing this, Kuzhu fixed his gaze intently on the jade bottle. The Four Seas Bottle had graceful lines, its entire body the color of the deep sea. A profound light subtly flickered within, seemingly containing boundless power. This must be the "Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit."

"But before that," the black-robed cultivator added, holding the Four Seas Bottle, "there's one final trial you must pass."

"Which trial?" Kuzhu asked. He spoke with full confidence; the tempering from years on the trial path had made him fearless.

The black-robed cultivator smiled faintly. Then, the surrounding water formed a vortex, and an old man with a benevolent face emerged from it. It was Kuzhu's master, Muqin. Muqin looked at Kuzhu, her face filled with gratification.

"Master," Kuzhu greeted. Seeing Muqin appear, Kuzhu also bowed respectfully. In the Eastern Continent, he was a rare individual who respected his master and valued the Dao.

"To refine the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit, your mind must be like still water, cold as ice," the black-robed cultivator said at this moment. "You still have many distracting thoughts in your heart that need to be severed." He then uttered words that made Kuzhu's eyes widen: "If you kill her, your mental state will barely meet the standard for receiving the Dao Fruit inheritance."

"Please forgive me, I cannot do it!" Kuzhu immediately refused. If the inheritance of Abyss Island required killing one's master to obtain, he would rather not have it.

The black-robed cultivator remained silent, but Muqin sighed. Her eyes showed both joy and regret, as if she had known this all along. She spoke slowly, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible tremor.

"Zhuer," Muqin said, "I don't have much lifespan left. Even if you don't kill me, I'll likely pass away in a few years anyway. It's better to use this life to help you achieve your Great Dao."

"Master, I cannot do it!" But Kuzhu still shook his head, refusing. Although he knew what Muqin said was true, if he were to act on this pretext, he would never forgive himself. Even if he could reach the Soul Transformation stage, his Dao heart would likely have a huge flaw.

"You have passed all trials; only one final step remains," the black-robed cultivator said again. "After accepting the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit inheritance, if you can later find the Yellow Spring Dao Fruit, which is circulated among the demonic cultivators, then you will be able to achieve the supreme Nine Abysses Nine Springs Dao Fruit. Ascension will be effortless. This is an opportunity not even found in the Sacred Lands. Do you truly intend to give it up?"

Contradiction and struggle flickered in Kuzhu's eyes. He knew deeply that this was undoubtedly the top opportunity in the Celestial River Realm; with this, achieving the Soul Transformation Dao and ascending to the Void Integration stage would no longer be a dream. But if it meant killing his master as a price, he still could not accept it.

After taking a deep breath, Kuzhu calmed the turmoil in his heart and made his decision.

"I choose to give up!"

Surprise flashed in the black-robed cultivator's eyes upon hearing these words. Muqin, standing by, had a face filled with both wistfulness and joy. In this world, to have such a disciple, she felt her life had been truly worthwhile. She made a decision in her heart.

"Are you truly not reconsidering?" the black-robed cultivator asked again. Kuzhu nodded.

"Let us, master and disciple, leave," Muqin said. "You can find another suitable successor."

Upon hearing this, Muqin's eyes grew firm. At that moment, a loud laugh rang out.

"Hahaha, good, good, good!" the black-robed cultivator exclaimed. "You are the first person in ten thousand years to truly pass all trials."

Amidst his laughter, the black-robed cultivator no longer played coy and directly handed the Four Seas Bottle to Kuzhu.

"What's going on?" Kuzhu asked, bewildered, and the black-robed cultivator began to explain:

"Although my Abyss Island inherited from the Nine Abysses Demonic Sect, it requires a Dao heart capable of restraining one's desires. If one cannot resist the greed for the Dao Fruit, their consciousness will, in turn, be devoured and reduced to nothingness upon receiving the Heavenly Abyss inheritance."

"A mind like still water, cold as ice, can indeed refine the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit, but that is merely the lowest level, and one will never truly master the power of the Heavenly Abyss perfectly throughout their life."

"Only someone like you, who transcends desires, maintains their true self, and possesses unwavering willpower, is the most suitable inheritor of the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit."

Kuzhu's expression grew solemn. After receiving the Four Seas Bottle with both hands, he found the entire bottle enveloped in a faint blue light, and its mouth was adorned with a circle of golden dragon scales, adding a touch of majesty.

"How do I refine it?" he asked, feeling a surge of impatience.

"Listen carefully..." the black-robed cultivator began. He imparted a ten-thousand-word incantation, which was Abyss Island's supreme cultivation technique, the Heavenly Abyss Dao Art. Kuzhu memorized every single word firmly in his heart. Then he sat down cross-legged and immediately began to comprehend it.

Three days and three nights later, he opened his eyes, which gleamed with a profound blue light, clearly indicating significant gains. He raised the Four Seas Bottle in his hands and activated the Heavenly Abyss Dao Art, intending to refine it. However, he found that the circle of dragon scales at the bottle's mouth glowed with golden light, preventing his divine sense from entering and contacting the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit.

"What's happening?" Kuzhu asked, frowning, turning to the black-robed cultivator.

"Back when the human and demon races battled in the Eastern Continent," the black-robed cultivator explained, "Our Abyss Island's True Monarch Xuanyuan perished alongside the Golden Flood Dragon, a true spirit of the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court. This Four Seas Bottle was also sealed by the Golden Flood Dragon."

The black-robed cultivator's words made Kuzhu's heart plummet from heaven to abyss.

"How can it be opened?" Kuzhu pressed.

"Find a Soul Transformation True Monarch to forcibly break it open with their immense power," he replied, "or go to the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court in the depths of the Profound Sea and hunt a Golden Flood Dragon; its heart's blood can also unseal it."

The black-robed cultivator's words made Kuzhu frown deeply. In the Eastern Continent, only the three Sacred Lands had Soul Transformation True Monarchs, but how could Kuzhu dare to seek help from them with something as precious as the Heavenly Abyss Dao Fruit? If he actually did that, he would probably be killed by the Sacred Lands the moment he took out the Four Seas Bottle. He believed that even the Sacred Lands would abandon their dignity for the preciousness of the Dao Fruit. But hunting a Golden Flood Dragon was even more difficult. That was a true spirit bloodline of the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court; an adult would be a Soul Transformation existence. Whoever hunted a Golden Flood Dragon would be left with a bloodline mark, inviting endless pursuit from the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court.

"Is there no third method?" Kuzhu asked. His cultivation was ninety-nine percent complete, only one step away. Kuzhu was unwilling to have the opportunity for Soul Transformation in his grasp yet be unable to utilize it.

"There is," the black-robed cultivator replied. This single word from the black-robed cultivator made Kuzhu's eyes light up with anticipation.

"The Blood Sacrifice Art can erode the seal's power," he revealed.

These words made Kuzhu's expression change drastically. Blood sacrifice was an undeniably demonic art. Was it truly worth falling into the demonic path for this? The words "Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect" surfaced in Kuzhu's mind, making his gaze hesitant.

"How many people are needed for the blood sacrifice?" he asked, and the black-robed cultivator smiled faintly upon hearing this. When he asked this question, there was no doubt Kuzhu was tempted.

"Approximately twenty Nascent Soul cultivators' blood sacrifice can completely open the seal!"

Upon hearing this, Kuzhu's face was filled with despair. Given the situation in the Eastern Continent, he would only be able to find twenty Nascent Soul cultivators in the Eastern Lands, but the Nine Heavens Demon-Slaying Sect was there.

"However, your current cultivation is still weak," the black-robed cultivator continued, "and you cannot fully receive the Dao Fruit's inheritance yet. So you can proceed step by step. As long as one Nascent Soul cultivator is sacrificed, a breach in the seal can be opened, and you can use this to experience the power of the Heavenly Abyss."

Upon hearing this, Kuzhu finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Use me for the blood sacrifice," Muqin said at that moment.

"Master, didn't I say..." Kuzhu began, frowning and halfway through speaking when he saw Muqin had already taken out a bamboo sword and pointed it at her own heart.

"Master, no!" Kuzhu moved to stop her, but Muqin was also a Nascent Soul cultivator. After a slight resistance, the bamboo sword had already pierced her.

"No!!!" Kuzhu immediately rushed over, but it was already too late.

Muqin stretched out her hand, took the vital blood from her heart, condensed it into a streak of crimson light, and let it fall onto the dragon scales at the mouth of the Four Seas Bottle.

"You are the Sect Master of my Kongsang Valley," Muqin said. "I don't want you to be tainted by the demonic path. Now, it is I who performs the blood sacrifice to help you open the Four Seas Bottle. You can honorably return to the Eastern Continent."

After sacrificing all her vital heart blood, Muqin's face rapidly aged, becoming covered in wrinkles. She used her last strength to raise her hand and caressed Kuzhu's head.

"Master!!!" Kuzhu cried out.

Kuzhu's loud cries entered Muqin's ears in her final moments. She felt spiritual energy constantly flowing into her back, her vision blurred, and suddenly, she remembered the past. About three hundred years ago, Kuzhu was still a child. Back then, he was very mischievous and naive. Every time she lectured, he would start dozing off after just listening to the beginning. After punishing him with a bamboo stick, Muqin would, in turn, feel heartache. Every time she applied medicine to Kuzhu, she liked to caress his head, telling him to cultivate diligently next time. Kuzhu would always verbally agree, but the next time, it would be the same...