Chapter 96: The Innate Dao Embryo

"Heh heh, looks like this intimidation tactic works pretty well!" Seeing how obedient the young man was, Ye Qiu was immediately amused. As expected... having a commanding presence is always useful; just a bit of intimidation and people run off, no one dares cross him.

Adjusting his clothes, Ye Qiu sat quietly on the lounge chair, calmly took a sip of tea, and said, "Be honest. What's your name, where are you from, and who beat you up like this? You'd better tell the truth, or I'll punch you dead—ever seen a fist the size of a sandbag?"

The youth shuddered inwardly, evidently frightened, and replied with a smile, "Senior, my name is Qingcheng! I came from the Divine Realm. I heard rumors that there's some mysterious ruin out here in the wasteland, so I thought I'd try my luck and maybe pick up some treasure.

But before I could even begin, I was ambushed. I hadn't had the chance to make a name for myself or accomplish anything. Who would've thought, halfway here, I'd run into an old man shrouded in black smoke. He didn't even bother to talk—just beat me up, and after that tried to take over my body.

Am I that kind of person? I'm a man of principle—I would never bend. If it were a beautiful young lady, maybe I'd accept it, but he was an old man, reeking of black smoke. I'd rather die than submit.

So he tied me up and whipped me for over ten days, right on that hill. The old man said his foundation was damaged, and he needed to use my body as a sacrifice, but the time wasn't ripe. He wanted to wait until his divine skill was perfected before using me.

I was terrified—thinking, how could I, in my prime, be ruined by this old man? I was unwilling, defiant.

Later, while he meditated, I sneaked out and escaped. He's probably still searching the hills for me."

After listening to Qingcheng's explanation, Ye Qiu frowned, his heart full of doubt. "An old man covered in black smoke? Hmm... why does that feel familiar?"

Ye Qiu was puzzled. At that moment, Yue Chan cast a surprised glance at Qingcheng, scrutinizing him, and murmured, "Innate Dao Fetus?"

Ye Qiu: "Innate Dao Fetus?"

Ye Qiu was stunned for a moment, suddenly recalling that Ye Dong's physique was the Innate Dao Body. These two constitutions differed by only a single character—could there be a connection?

Looking at Qingcheng, Ye Qiu grew more puzzled. Why did he feel somehow similar to himself?

"No, he's not Xiao Dong! The Ye family inheritance mark isn't on his forehead..."

Ye Qiu shook his head. Although the boy seemed somewhat similar to himself, the absence of the mark on his forehead meant he wasn't from the Ye family.

That mark was something their lineage carried from birth. Any descendant of the Ye family would have it—Ye Qiu himself bore the mark.

It was the blood-red mark on his forehead; Ye Dong had an identical one, and Ye Qiu used that mark to find him.

"An old man covered in black smoke—could it be the same black smoke that swept away Xiao Dong years ago? Interesting, the mastermind behind it is finally showing himself?

From the sound of it, he's someone whose foundation is damaged. Looks like... the collapse of Chaos Heaven has brought out quite a few big fish."

Ye Qiu gave a wicked smile and stopped dwelling on the matter. He wasn't in a hurry about Ye Dong anymore; after all, twenty years had passed, what's another moment?

Now, he was more curious why the old man wanted to capture Qingcheng. Could Qingcheng's physique be the perfect supplement for his cultivation?

Turning to Yue Chan, Ye Qiu asked, puzzled, "What is the Innate Dao Fetus?"

Yue Chan's brows furrowed, her cold gaze fixed on Qingcheng, making his heart tremble.

She replied icily, "The Innate Dao Fetus is reputed as the strongest physique since ancient times, ranked alongside the Innate Dao Body, the Chaos Divine Body, and the Ancient Saint Body—the Four Great Sacred Physiques!

From birth, it's the most attuned to the Dao, its starting point higher than any cultivator.

Because of its existence, its starting point surpasses even the other three sacred bodies. It doesn't need any spiritual infusion; as long as the Heavenly Gate within is unlocked, it can directly step into the Heavenly Realm, and with further comprehension, ascend straight to Earthly Immortal—an instant leap to the heavens."

"Hiss... that's terrifying!"

Her words shocked everyone, even Ye Qiu was stunned.

A talent like this—where did this protagonist come from? Entering the stage already with such a cheat? Damn, isn't this just unfair?

Others toil for thousands, even millions of years to cultivate, and you reach the summit in a single step?

What a joke—if word got out, the whole wasteland would go mad.

"The protagonist! This has to be the protagonist—if not, who else would have such a powerful cheat..."

Ye Qiu muttered instinctively, leaving everyone baffled—what's a protagonist?

"Wait..."

Ye Qiu suddenly realized something and asked, "If he has such a powerful constitution, why is he so weak? Shouldn't he be cultivating in some sacred land, opening the Heavenly Gate?"

Exactly! A disciple with such talent would be a treasure everyone in the wasteland would fight over—how could he be wandering here?

Yue Chan, mischievous, smiled and said, "Hmph... I won't tell you! Just won't, does it annoy you, annoy you..."

Ye Qiu: "..."

Is this woman crazy?

"Master, you..."

Even the two young girls beside her were startled by Yue Chan's sudden playful behavior, mouths agape in disbelief.

They had never seen Yue Chan act like this—she always appeared as an ice queen, yet now?

"Ahem..."

Even Yue Chan felt a bit embarrassed, her persona crumbling. She forced herself to regain composure, saying, "Though the Innate Dao Fetus is terrifying, discovering such a physique isn't so easy, because it carries a forbidden seal imposed by the Dao itself.

Even if you possess it, without unlocking the seal, you'll remain a waste your whole life! So, many in the wasteland have this physique, but not one has activated it.

The conditions to activate the Innate Dao Fetus are extremely harsh—it requires a strong cultivator of Earthly Immortal level.

And there's another prerequisite: you have to be able to recognize the physique. It's easy to find among ten people, but what about ten thousand? Ten million?

Such a needle-in-a-haystack task—no one would bother. Thus... the Innate Dao Fetus is also called the Innate Waste Body; without breaking the seal, one can only stagnate below the True Self Realm for life."

"I see! So this kid got lucky? He broke the seal while being beaten? No wonder the old man wanted him as a supplement—he coveted his physique..."

Ye Qiu understood, suddenly exclaiming, "Damn, you are definitely the protagonist! You stumbled into such a melodramatic plot, and you still claim you aren't? Anyone else would be dead already—you've got the protagonist's halo, so you survive, accidentally activate your Dao Fetus, leap to the heavens, and return as the crooked-mouthed war god?"

Ye Qiu was enlightened, exclaiming like an expert. This plot twist—isn't it the birth of a crooked-mouthed hero? My god, I've finally found the protagonist...