Chapter 106: The Divine Child

Chapter 106: The Divine Child

Shi Yan had no choice but to agree.

Xia Xinyan had spoken so clearly, pointing out that the Three Gods Sect and the Xia family were enemies. After learning that the fake Heavenly Gate in the Absolute Yin Valley was orchestrated by Ouyang Zhi, she had been waiting there all along, her intentions unmistakable.

When Xia Xinyan left Absolute Yin Valley, she had already calculated that he might come here, so she was prepared and clearly didn’t intend to let him go easily.

Perhaps, even back in Absolute Yin Valley, Xia Xinyan had this plan in mind.

For Shi Yan, as long as he survived, countless opportunities would still come his way.

As for the poison Xia Xinyan mentioned planting, he paid it no mind. He was confident that the immortal martial soul within his body was more than capable of dealing with any poison she might place.

Moreover, the journey from here to the Endless Sea was unimaginably long. Along the way, they might even encounter the pursuit of Beiming Shang and others. There would be plenty of chances to escape. As long as Xia Xinyan didn’t act immediately, Shi Yan was more than happy to agree for now.

The future could be dealt with later. As long as he stayed alive, he would have a chance to resist.

Xia Xinyan had revealed her true intention, so the two towering men no longer troubled Shi Yan. Instead, admiration gleamed in their eyes, impressed by Xia Xinyan’s ability to maximize the use of resources.

If Shi Yan truly became a member of the Xia family first, and then became the Divine Child of the Three Gods Sect, every move of the sect would be under the Xia family’s watchful eyes.

What this meant was clear even to the two simple-minded men.

Shi Yan surviving was far more valuable to the Xia family than him dying.

In the following two days, Shi Yan traveled eastward with Xia Xinyan and the others.

After receiving Shi Yan’s affirmative answer, Xia Xinyan was quite pleased. On the journey, she continuously explained the secrets of the Three Gods Sect, revealing all she knew about their situation.

The Three Gods Sect was an immensely powerful force in the Endless Sea, boasting countless followers. Its core disciples each possessed martial souls with the ability to absorb the light of the sun, moon, and stars.

The sect’s martial souls came in three types: the Flame Sun Martial Soul, the Silver Moon Martial Soul, and the Star Martial Soul.

Each martial soul had the ability to absorb the light of the sun, moon, or stars respectively. Among them, the Star Martial Soul was the rarest and widely recognized as the strongest.

After all, the Void of the Divine Grace Continent had only one sun and one moon, but countless stars. Although the power of a single star was far weaker than that of the sun or moon, the combined light of a sky full of stars was even more potent.

The Three Gods Sect was shrouded in mystery. Their core disciples were not born with martial souls; all gained theirs after being immersed in the Three Divine Pools of Sun, Moon, and Stars for three years.

The Sun Pool, Moon Pool, and Star Pool were the sect’s most secretive places. No one knew their exact locations—not even many of the sect’s own followers.

Every decade or so, the elders of the sect would gather male and female infants with exceptional potential from the countless islands of the Endless Sea and bring them to these mysterious pools to be immersed for three years.

The Three Divine Pools possessed strange power; many infants perished quickly within them. Generally, out of a thousand infants immersed, fewer than twenty survived after three years.

Those who survived often developed the ability to absorb the light of the sun, moon, or stars, qualifying them to become core disciples of the sect. They were assigned to various islands governed by the sect and taught its martial techniques and cultivation methods by designated instructors.

Though all infants emerging from the pools possessed martial souls capable of absorbing celestial light, there were degrees of strength and quality within the same type.

For example, among those with the Flame Sun Martial Soul, some absorbed solar energy dozens of times stronger than others on the same day.

These infants’ martial souls could evolve multiple times, gradually increasing their absorption speed. Eventually, their bodies might even condense true solar flames.

Conversely, some infants absorbed solar energy too slowly, and even if their cultivation advanced, their martial souls made little progress.

While the Flame Sun, Silver Moon, and Star Martial Souls were all considered sacred, without continuous evolution, they could not truly reach their ultimate potential.

Almost none of the infants emerging from the Three Divine Pools were able to evolve their martial souls to the fullest extent. Even if their cultivation level rose, their martial souls would plateau.

However, exceptions existed. Every hundred years or so, a few infants displayed astonishing talent within the pools. Though details were unknown to outsiders, the sect’s elders understood that these children could ultimately evolve their martial souls to the utmost.

These rare infants were revered as Divine Children.

Divine Children had the potential to become the future embodiments of the Three Divine Gods.

Their number was extremely small, making them the sect’s most precious treasures. When one appeared, the core elders personally instructed them.

Among each generation of Divine Children, three would ascend to become the supreme Divine Gods of the sun, moon, and stars. The remaining Divine Children would become the sect’s new generation of core elders, managing the vast and complex affairs of the sect on behalf of the Three Divine Gods.

Most Divine Children emerged from the Three Divine Pools, but there was another category.

Those who obtained the Martial Soul Source Seal left behind by one of the Three Divine Gods were also recognized by the sect as Divine Children.

This type of Divine Child, having directly inherited the Soul Seal of one of the Three Divine Gods, held the greatest likelihood of becoming a future Divine God themselves.

Therefore, among Divine Children, those who possessed the Soul Seal were regarded as the sect’s greatest treasures.

Shi Yan was exactly such a fortunate individual.

Xia Xinyan intended to integrate Shi Yan into the Three Gods Sect and thus described the sect in great detail.

She portrayed the Three Gods Sect as a mysterious yet unfathomably wicked religion, recounting its various misdeeds in the Endless Sea in order to instill deep hatred for the sect within Shi Yan.

Shi Yan neither agreed nor disagreed with Xia Xinyan’s subjective views; he simply listened and kept a wary eye in his heart.

One day, Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan arrived at the center of a swamp, carefully stepping on patches of dry ground, cautiously seeking footholds.

Suddenly, a figure slowly emerged from the swamp, grinning wickedly.

“It seems we meet again,” he sneered.

“Zhao Qi,” Xia Xinyan’s pupils flickered coldly as she replied calmly, “What are you here for?”

“I’m not here because of you,” Zhao Qi chuckled, fixing his gaze on Shi Yan. “Kid, hand over the item you obtained from that strange space. I promised Chi Xiao that if you cooperate, I won’t trouble you. You’ll leave the Dead Silence Swamp alive.”

“Zhao Qi, you’re here to snatch the treasure?” Xia Xinyan inhaled sharply and subtly signaled the two towering men.

“Miss Xia, you’d better not cause trouble,” Zhao Qi smiled coldly. “I’ve been watching you all day and chose to strike as you entered the swamp. You should know my power here. If you don’t want to be buried in the mud, behave yourselves. Otherwise, don’t blame me for a massacre.”

“Zhao Qi, you won’t harm me,” Xia Xinyan said calmly.

“I know you can enter the Celestial Realm briefly, Miss Xia. But so what?” Zhao Qi’s expression turned colder, impatience creeping in. “Once you’re in the Celestial Realm, I’ll retreat into the mud and wait for you to weaken. Then I’ll come out again. I know you can’t enter the Celestial Realm again so soon. When that time comes, I’ll deal with you however I please.”

Xia Xinyan’s eyes darkened.

“You helped me get rid of the Nine-headed Heavenly Serpent, so I don’t want to make things difficult for you. Just don’t interfere with that kid and leave now,” Zhao Qi said coldly, turning to Shi Yan. “Hand over the item. You can leave now, or don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

“Zhao Qi, you’re courting death,” Xia Xinyan scoffed coldly. “I’m giving you one last chance. Retreat into the mud now and don’t show your face. Otherwise, you will regret it.”

“Regret? Hahahahaha!” Zhao Qi laughed madly.

A trickle of vibrant green essence seeped from his body, spreading across the swamp’s center.

The mud began to undulate like waves. In an instant, ten mud dragons condensed from the mire, roaring as they lunged toward Xia Xinyan.

Xia Xinyan’s gaze was cold as she raised both hands toward the sky.

The mighty power of countless cycles of time tore through the heavens and poured into her palms.

Only one who had reached the Hundred Tribulations Realm could command such power. Xia Xinyan rose sharply into the air, coldly eyeing the mud dragons as she formed a lotus seal with her hands.

Water-blue lotus blossoms suddenly burst forth from her palms, radiating a fresh, pure aura. Beams of light shot from each blossom.

Each lotus was as large as a millstone, and soon they surrounded her like a halo.

“Break!”

Xia Xinyan pointed at one lotus, which slammed into a mud dragon.

A tremendous explosion shook the swamp. The mud dragon’s connection to Zhao Qi’s power was instantly destroyed, and it disintegrated into clumps of mud, falling back into the swamp.

“Break!”

She pointed again, sending ten lotuses flying toward Zhao Qi.

“Heh heh, enjoy your moment of pride. Let’s see how you fight me later,” Zhao Qi sneered and then vanished into the mud.

“Return!”

Seemingly unable to harm Zhao Qi, Xia Xinyan waved her hand, recalling all the lotuses back into her palms.

“Let’s go,” she said, grabbing Shi Yan from the swamp, soaring swiftly through the air.

The two towering men from the Xia family shouted and stomped their feet, rocketing out like cannonballs, landing on solid ground behind Xia Xinyan.

“Shi Yan! Shi Yan! Shi Yan!”

At that moment, a furious roar echoed from afar. The voice was filled with endless hatred, growing louder and closer. It was Beiming Shang.

Xia Xinyan’s expression changed abruptly. Alarmed, she gripped Shi Yan tightly and, while still harnessing Celestial Realm power, flew eastward at top speed.

“You won’t escape!” Beiming Shang’s divine sense surged like a tidal wave, shouting madly.

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