Chapter 239: The Noble Plane Embryo and the Greedy Tuoshe Ancient Emperor
"Tell me what you want. If it's within my power, I'll help," Xiao Tianchen said cautiously. He didn't outright agree, as he needed to ensure the request wouldn't hinder his plans to enter the Great Thousand World.
Otherwise, even if it was the Plane Embryo itself asking, he wouldn't concede.
"I want to reclaim my Source Power!" The Plane Embryo finally spoke after a brief silence, its gentle tone laced with determination.
"Reclaim your Source Power?" Xiao Tianchen's eyes narrowed in confusion.
"Yes. I want to follow you to the Great Thousand World and recover the Source Power left behind by the fallen Dou Di experts," the Plane Embryo explained.
"That's impossible," Xiao Tianchen immediately rejected. "Even if the Source Power of those Dou Di experts still exists in the Great Thousand World, you can't enter it. Every world has its own rules.
The Great Thousand World likely has its own Plane Embryo, and it would never allow you to enter its domain just as you wouldn't permit another Plane Embryo to enter the Dou Qi Continent."
The Plane Embryo chuckled softly. "You're correct. If I tried to enter the Great Thousand World on my own, I would be rejected before even approaching its borders. Just as I wouldn't allow another Plane Embryo into the Dou Qi Continent, it wouldn't allow me into its realm.
However, there is a way. If you refine me, I can accompany you into the Great Thousand World. That way, I can reclaim the Source Power left behind by the fallen Dou Di experts, and you can use me to accelerate your cultivation."
Hearing this, Xiao Tianchen was stunned. Could this truly be possible? He remembered that in Martial Universe, Lin Dong refined the Plane Embryo of his world, allowing him to ascend to the Ancestor Realm.
"But why? Why would you choose to let me refine you?" Xiao Tianchen asked, his tone cautious.
The Plane Embryo sighed. "Because I have no other choice.
First, I cannot stop you from breaking Tuoshe's seal and taking the remaining Source Power within it.
Second, I have observed you for many years though intermittently and I trust your character. You have no desire to enslave others.
Even if you refine me and I am bound to you, I would willingly accept this fate if it means the Dou Qi Continent and its inhabitants can continue to survive."
Her words carried a bittersweet tone, but Xiao Tianchen wasn't entirely convinced.
"You could simply ask me to leave behind one fragment of the Source Power. That way, you wouldn't die, and the life on the Dou Qi Continent would survive.
You've observed me long enough to know that my family, the Xiao Clan, wouldn't leave the Dou Qi Continent even if they became Dou Di experts. For their sake, I would agree to leave one Source Power fragment behind.
So why do you insist on making this choice instead?" Xiao Tianchen frowned deeply, his voice heavy with skepticism.
"Xiao Tianchen, things aren't as simple as you think.
Currently, only six fragments of the Source Power remain: five sealed by Tuoshe Ancient Emperor and one you gave to your cousin Xiao Xuan in the form of the Emperor Grade Pill. Even if you left one fragment for me, it would not be enough to sustain the entire Dou Qi Continent.
Because my essence is incomplete, I must consume the Source Power to sustain the continent. Over time, both the fragment you leave behind and my own essence would be depleted.
If you refine me, however, I can exchange energy with you, even if I am not on the Dou Qi Continent. Once you enter the Great Thousand World, I could reclaim the Source Power left behind by fallen Dou Di experts, allowing me to grow stronger.
With this strength, the Dou Qi Continent would thrive, its Dou Qi becoming even more abundant.
Moreover, as my power grows, you could use it to accelerate your cultivation and overcome bottlenecks with ease."
The Plane Embryo's explanation was reasonable, and Xiao Tianchen couldn't deny that he was tempted by the prospect of enhanced cultivation speed. However, a nagging thought tugged at his mind.
"Wait," Xiao Tianchen said, his expression darkening. "You mentioned that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor encountered you before me. Does that mean you made the same offer to him?"
The Plane Embryo fell silent, its aura steady and unchanging.
"Ah," Xiao Tianchen murmured, realization dawning on him. "If you made this offer to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor, then let me guess he accepted it, didn't he?
And yet, he perished. His Source Power is now part of you. Am I wrong to suspect that Tuoshe died because he trusted you?"
A heavy sigh escaped the Plane Embryo, its voice tinged with sorrow. "Your doubts are valid. But I did not deceive him.
Tuoshe was not killed by me he fell victim to his own greed.
Originally, Tuoshe was a flame spirit born from a volcano in the southwest of the Dou Qi Continent. When he gained sentience, I made a pact with him.
I helped him devour other Heavenly Flames, and in return, he fulfilled my expectations and ascended to the Dou Di realm.
However, once he became a Dou Di, his greed consumed him. He deceived me into granting him a fragment of the Source Power, claiming he needed it to refine an Emperor Grade Pill to enhance his strength.
Despite my assistance, the pill he created was incomplete, becoming the Emperor Grade Pseudo Pill. Disappointed, he discarded it. That fragment of Source Power remains sealed within it.
Later, he tricked me into showing him how the Source Power is formed. When I complied, he turned against me, seizing all my remaining Source Power and leaving me weakened.
But Tuoshe failed to realize that once a being reaches the Dou Di realm, they can no longer absorb the Source Power for themselves.
His greed led to his demise not my intervention."
The Plane Embryo's sorrowful tone carried the weight of betrayal.
As Xiao Tianchen listened, he felt a pang of sympathy for the Plane Embryo. It had given everything for its children, yet one of them had betrayed it so cruelly.
"Wait," Xiao Tianchen muttered, his sharp mind catching onto something. "Something doesn't add up…"
"You just said that Tuoshe Ancient Emperor extracted all the Source Power from your body. Why are you still alive?
Moreover, the Dou Qi Continent has not shown signs of Dou Qi depletion. Are you lying?" Xiao Tianchen's voice turned cold.
"I did not lie. The reason I am still alive is that Tuoshe left a contingency plan for himself before his demise.
You've been to Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's domain, correct? You must have noticed the Flame Plaza he constructed there," the Plane Embryo said with a bitter smile.
"Yes, there is indeed a Flame Plaza. But what does that have to do with you being alive?" Xiao Tianchen pressed on coldly.
"Heh, it's all a matter of coincidence. Before Tuoshe realized his fatal error, he transferred a fragment of his Source Power and a sliver of his soul memory into the Flame Plaza. He intended it as a means of leaving his inheritance behind and a way to resurrect himself into the Dou Di realm.
However, he overlooked one crucial fact I am the Plane Embryo of the Dou Qi Continent. The Flame Plaza resides within my domain.
When he returned that fragment of Source Power, it became part of me.
I later erased his soul imprint from the Source Power and altered his memory. Even if someone accepts his inheritance, his resurrection is no longer possible," the Plane Embryo said, a trace of satisfaction evident in its voice.
Hearing this, Xiao Tianchen recalled the original story where Xiao Yan accepted Tuoshe Ancient Emperor's inheritance. Indeed, no mention of Tuoshe attempting to seize Xiao Yan's body ever arose.
"One last question. Since the Flame Plaza is within your domain and you could absorb the Source Power stored there, what about the five fragments of Source Power sealed by Tuoshe?
They are also on the Dou Qi Continent, within your territory. Why can't you absorb them as well?" Xiao Tianchen asked after a moment of thought.
"That is simple. After Tuoshe became a Dou Di, I could no longer impose restrictions on him.
The seals he created before his death were designed to prevent me from interfering. I lack the strength to break his seals.
Xiao Tianchen, if you had not appeared, my only option would have been to wait for someone to accept Tuoshe's inheritance and break those seals.
When that person took the Source Power, I could attempt to absorb the energy released in the process, thereby extending the Dou Qi Continent's life.
Once all the Source Power is depleted, the Dou Qi Continent will inevitably become a barren wasteland. If, before that time, someone were to open a portal to the Great Thousand World, I might have the chance to reclaim the Source Power scattered there," the Plane Embryo explained.
At this point, Xiao Tianchen felt he could fully trust its words. Future events couldn't be predicted, but the Plane Embryo's claims aligned with parts of his own knowledge.
In the timeline he remembered, five Dou Di experts had emerged after the seals were broken: Gu Yuan, Zhu Kun, Xiao Xun'er, and Medusa, with Xiao Yan being the strongest. Yet, a fifth Source Power fragment was unaccounted for. Could it have been absorbed by the Plane Embryo in the moment the seals were broken?
Furthermore, Xiao Yan's strength as a Dou Di was notably superior. Could this be because some of the Source Power intended for others had been diverted to the Plane Embryo and then subtly reintegrated with Xiao Yan?
Lastly, despite Xiao Yan not refining the Plane Embryo, the Dou Qi Continent remained vibrant. This might be linked to Xiao Yan's establishment of the Endless Flame Domain in the Great Thousand World, connecting it to the Dou Qi Continent through a spatial portal.
After thinking it over, the coldness faded from Xiao Tianchen's expression. He bowed respectfully toward the Plane Embryo.
"Plane Embryo, I am moved by your greatness and compassion. I apologize for my earlier rudeness."
On the other side, the Plane Embryo was startled by Xiao Tianchen's gesture and quickly replied, "There's no need for such politeness. As the Plane Embryo of the Dou Qi Continent, every living being here is my child. It is my duty as their mother to give everything for them."
Hearing this, Xiao Tianchen felt a deep respect for the Plane Embryo. Its unconditional love for the life it sustained made it a true embodiment of selflessness.
"No matter what, I must express my gratitude. The living beings of the Dou Qi Continent owe you a great debt of thanks.
As for your earlier proposal, I agree to it. I will refine you, but I promise never to enslave you.
Once we enter the Great Thousand World and recover the Source Power left there, I will return you to the Dou Qi Continent whenever you wish," Xiao Tianchen said sincerely.
Hearing his words, the Plane Embryo began sobbing like a human, its pent up grievances finally finding release.
Xiao Tianchen did not mock or dismiss this display. On the contrary, he deeply admired the Plane Embryo's resilience.
If their roles were reversed, he thought, he might have hidden all the Source Power from the very beginning, ensuring that no Dou Di experts could emerge. Perhaps he would have denied any being the opportunity to ascend, keeping the Dou Qi Continent's resources for himself.
After a while, the Plane Embryo's sobs quieted.
"Xiao Tianchen, please forgive my outburst," it said softly.
"There is nothing to forgive. I understand your feelings, and my respect for you has only grown," Xiao Tianchen replied warmly.
"However, I am eager to retrieve the Source Power sealed in that place. Once I have it, I will leave one fragment with you to aid in your recovery.
As for the refinement process, I still have many questions for you before we proceed," he added with a smile.
The Plane Embryo nodded. "Very well.
While I cannot break Tuoshe's seal myself, I was present when he created it. I retained a memory of the scene and can share it with you. Perhaps it will help you decipher the method to unseal it."
"That would be extremely helpful! If I can see how the seal was constructed, I'll have a much better chance of breaking it!" Xiao Tianchen said gratefully.
(Chapter Ends)
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