Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Return to Baiyan Academy
The purpose of the Source Pool was to absorb and purify Origin qi and ultimately use it for oneself.
The new world also had the ability to purify Origin qi, stimulate creation, give birth to the great Dao of all heavens, and all living beings.
One was human, the other, a realm.
Although they seemed completely different, they shared the same function... the utilization of Origin qi!
Since even the Heaven's Path Divine Art couldn't find the Source Pool, what if the new world was treated as the Source Pool? Could it have the same effect?
Possible!
With this thought, Zhang Xuan no longer hesitated. With a wave of Telekinesis, he returned to the silent chamber and reached out to the copper lampstand not far away.
Whoosh!
At the same moment, the mountain range that had just formed in the new world collapsed loudly, reconstituting itself into a stream of Origin qi that converged into the palm of his hand.
Woosh!
The lampstand appeared in his palm, and as the rivers blazed once more, five clear fingerprints were left on it.
Zhang Xuan's eyes gleamed.
To transform the Heavenly Mandate Vitality into mountains and rivers was to test if it could be burnt and utilized like before, and now it seemed it truly could.
This meant... the entire new world really could serve as his own Source Pool!
"If that's the case, I've really struck it big..."
Others could fill up with just a few paths, and what was called grade-1 was merely 256 paths, but him...
Returning to the new world once again and looking up at the vast expanse of the world, Zhang Xuan involuntarily clenched his fist... Such a vast world, seemingly capable of absorbing endless Origin qi, would never run dry!
However... relentless absorption and turbulence might be unbearable for the lives within this world. He had to find a solution.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Xuan raised his hands above his head, his eyes alight, and shouted in a low voice, "Open!"
Heaven and Earth began!
In the blink of an eye, the constrained world segmented; the clear qi ascended, the turbid qi settled, forming a more stable Heaven and Earth within sight.
This was the way the Empyrean, Immortal Realm, and Mortal Realm were separated in the creation period.
If the whole new world was crazily absorbing Origin qi, affecting the lives within it, then another separate Empyrean should be created with no life, specifically to hold and Forge Origin qi, to be used as a Source Pool!
Watching the new world, filled with the power of chaos and expanding like a seed just planted in soil, small yet brimming with potential, Zhang Xuan felt a surge of excitement.
Although this newly created "Source Pool" realm was insignificant compared to the entire new world, resembling a quail's egg, once it possessed enough Heavenly Mandate Vitality and was successfully established and strengthened, his own strength would undoubtedly advance by leaps and bounds, officially stepping into the ranks of Origin warriors.
"Let's call this newly founded place the 'Suspended Realm'!"
With a thought, Zhang Xuan decided on the name.
"With the Suspended Realm, smooth cultivation is possible, and it's time to bring them over..."
The so-called "them" naturally referred to his wife Nie Lingxi, and his students, Zhao Ya, Zheng Yang, and others.
Unaware of the conditions in the Source World and the crises, he had not told anyone before leaving, fearing they would worry. Now that he had confirmed a few things, he could completely find an opportunity to bring people over.
And... there was absolutely no need to traverse the perilous route he had initially taken. As long as he summoned them into the new world, he had the power to bring everyone here.
But this was just an initial thought; he'd wait until he had a firm footing before proceeding!
After all, he could barely sustain himself now. Bringing in a few more dependents might force him to sell himself...
On returning to the silent chamber, he realized that after the experimentation, it was already the next morning, and it was time for the second Source Pool evaluation at the academy.
Knowing that the Source Pool required purified Heavenly Mandate Vitality to stabilize, and the academy's evaluation was the best opportunity, Zhang Xuan didn't hesitate and stepped out.
Previously, as Mo Yanxue's coachman, following behind her had allowed him to smoothly enter Baiyan Academy and incidentally join the evaluation. But under what identity this time?
"I'll first go over and see; if it doesn't work, I'll find an opportunity to sneak in..."
After thinking for a while and coming up with nothing, Zhang Xuan could only take things one step at a time.
As he left the silent chamber and headed towards Baiyan Academy, City Lord Residence's Xiaoyu and Mo Yanxue, having practiced throughout the night, also opened their eyes at the same time.
"How are you feeling?" Xiaoyu asked with excitement shimmering in her eyes, involuntarily looking over at her friend.
"I absorbed eight paths of Heavenly Mandate Vitality to temper my corpse. Now if I go for the evaluation, the rate at which I absorb Origin qi will definitely be twice as fast as yesterday!" Mo Yanxue smiled.
The evaluation involved absorbing Heavenly Mandate Vitality into the Source Pool to expand and stabilize it. Fearing that it would affect their performance, despite sensing the Heavenly Mandate Vitality, they merely absorbed it into their bodies. In just one night, forging eight paths was definitely considered a remarkable talent, enviable to all.
"I only managed seven…" Xiaoyu pouted, surprised that her friend had absorbed more than her. However, she quickly cheered up, "The evaluation is starting soon. With our training, our speed in absorbing Origin qi will definitely far surpass others. In a little while, we will surely stand out and impress enough to make the School Head want to mentor us!"
Mo Yanxue nodded.
Although she didn't know how formidable the genius the School Head was looking for really was, after a night of intense training, her ability to control Heavenly Mandate Vitality had strengthened. Once evaluated, she would undoubtedly become the most dazzling one!
Emerging from the Book Collection Vault, they saw City Lord Yu Longqing, who was already waiting outside. Seeing them approach, he smiled faintly, "The carriage is ready. Let's hurry, or we'll be late."
Xiaoyu's bell jingled as she walked, entering the carriage with her best friend. Before closing the carriage curtains, she looked puzzled, "Dad, are you coming with us?"
At that moment, Yu Longqing mounted a tall horse, clearly planning to come along.
The Source Pool evaluation was essentially a recruitment event for Baiyan Academy, not really a big deal, and normally her father wouldn't even ask about it. Why was he suddenly following?
"I'm free at the moment, just thought I'd come and watch!" Yu Longqing said with a slight smile.
"Why, are you worried about not performing well and having dad see?" he teased.
Xiaoyu huffed, "Of course not. I will definitely impress you!"
The carriage moved slowly and soon arrived at the academy's entrance. Just as the three were about to enter the campus, they saw Zhang Xuan, who had gained his freedom yesterday, now being stopped at the entrance by a teacher.
"The academy only allows students and their families participating in the evaluation to enter; others are not allowed inside…"
The teacher frowned and made an indifferent gesture with his hand.
"I also wish to come for the evaluation..." Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow, thinking of concocting an identity, when he heard City Lord Yu Longqing's voice rise, "Let him in. This Zhang Xuan, he's with us..."
Upon hearing this, the teacher turned and quickly clasped his fists, not daring to argue, "Yes, City Lord!"
"Thank you…" Zhang Xuan hadn't expected the other party to vouch for him. Before he could say his prepared speech, he briskly came forward and bowed while clutching his fists, yet his heart was full of vigilance.
With someone following him, and now being allowed into the academy, had this city lord discovered something about him?
But he had always been so low-key...
No, later on, he would need to be even more low-key!
With that decision made secretly by Zhang Xuan, not far away, Yu Longqing gave a slight smile.
Now that he had arrived, soon, he would see how he would unveil the disguise!