Reverse the evolution of the universe

Amidst the gaze of the masses, Jiao Xiuyuan opened the wooden box.

A transparent "paper slip," as thin as a cicada's wing and emitting a gentle white light, slowly flew up into the high sky.

"The Heavenly Spirit Flower!" a Cultivator in the arena couldn't help crying out involuntarily.

What's more, some were so shocked by the beauty of the Heavenly Spirit Flower that they stood up on the spot.

Strangely enough, clearly the Heavenly Spirit Flower was sealed within a flat plane, yet when others admired it, they didn't perceive any abnormality at all.

It was as if there truly was a flower slowly blooming right before their eyes, a breathtaking sight.

They could even smell a faint fragrance drifting from the flower.

Seeing everyone in the arena fall silent due to the beauty of the heavenly spirit, Jiao Xiuyuan smiled smugly and gently pointed at the transparent paper slip in the air.

In an instant, countless beams of light shot out from it, projecting the flower—originally only the size of a palm—into the sky above the venue.

It was proportionally magnified tens of thousands of times, yet this didn't affect its spiritual charm in the slightest. Instead, the scenes on every single petal were detailed down to the finest hair, appearing even clearer.

While the minds of all the Cultivators were firmly captivated, taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Jiao Xiuyuan crushed another bead.

A faint white smoke, exuding a mysterious and abstruse aura, slowly enveloped the venue.

Even with just a Puppet body, Jiao Xiuyuan himself tried to avoid it as much as possible. Without changing his expression, he set up a defense to block the White Mist outside of himself.

He recalled the explanation given by the Dao Integration Cultivator named Liu San—whose name clearly sounded like an alias—when handing this item over to him.

"Ahem, this is a Medicinal Pill carefully researched by this old man, capable of assisting Cultivators in their training. After atomizing and absorbing it, it can produce a quasi-Epiphany effect…"

Looking at the gradually intoxicated faces of the Cultivators in the arena, Jiao Xiuyuan muttered to himself inwardly: "Although he swore up and down that this item has been improved and definitely has no dependency…"

"No matter what, it's best to touch this ghost thing as little as possible."

The Heavenly Spirit Flower bloomed to its fullest. The miraculous sights on its petals were reflected on the faces of every Cultivator within the Huajian Immortal Cave.

The appreciation time for each round was only three hours. Once missed, it would not return, so almost everyone's gaze was tightly fixed on the projection of the Heavenly Spirit Flower in the air.

Only one person stared blankly at the ice-sealed thin paper in the arena, lost in a trance.

"There's no mistake, Ice Droplet Dew, Xiang-capture, Thousand-color Silk…"

"This is cut from the same cloth as my method of sealing flowers in [Huajian Collection], yet I have never revealed this matter to anyone else at all."

"How could this be…" Zhao Chong's eyes were filled with disbelief. "Could it be that there is someone else in this world who actually thought of the exact same thing as me?"

After laying eyes on the Heavenly Spirit Flower once, Zhao Chong's long-cherished wish had been fulfilled. As for so-called cultivation Breakthroughs or epiphanies into Divine Abilities, he didn't care much about them either. Instead, he gradually developed a strong interest in the master of the Heavenly Spirit Flower, who had yet to show their face.

Time slowly slipped away as everyone's minds remained immersed.

Seeing that the three-hour deadline had arrived, still no one showed any signs of a Breakthrough or Epiphany.

"This is the debut show, it mustn't be messed up."

Just as Jiao Xiuyuan was preparing to activate his prior arrangements, a fluctuation suddenly descended, causing him to stop his actions.

"It's this kid! That's great, it saves me the trouble of having to exert myself to promote it again!" When he saw the identity of the breaking-through Cultivator, Jiao Xiuyuan was overjoyed.

He flashed to the other person's side and sealed off the fluctuation to prevent it from disturbing others' appreciation and comprehension.

This first Cultivator to break through was none other than Sun Qi.

When he saw the peerless scenery of the heavenly spirit in the sky above his head, he felt as if he had suddenly been cast back into a tragic battlefield. However, unlike facing the current Heavenly Spirit Flower wreathed in a bloody aura, not only did murderous thoughts not arise in his heart,

but those many wonderful sights between heaven and earth acted like gentle water, healing and calming the psychological trauma he had suffered in the war.

It was as if time flowed backward; blood, corpses, and the cracked earth all vanished. His perspective flew across the skies above Tianling Province, returning to the era before the great war.

Sun Qi watched everything before him in a trance.

At that moment, he forgot the deep affection and disappointment of his Family's elders, the taunts and mockery of his peers, and the obsessive desire to break through.

His mind was filled with the heavenly spirit and the beauty of heaven and earth.

His hostility completely vanished, and success came naturally.

When he snapped out of his daze, he discovered that the [Heavens Calamity] Bottleneck that had plagued him for many years and made him feel nearly despairing had quietly vanished without a trace.

He only needed to find a suitable Immortal Cave and swallow it to enter the Nascent Soul Realm directly. For the Sun Family, this was not a difficult task.

If it were in the past, a sudden Breakthrough might have caused his mind to churn with excitement and bring him to tears of joy.

But at this moment, he felt neither joy nor sorrow. Nor did he leave the Huajian Immortal Cave early; he simply remained seated quietly. Ignoring the occasional gazes directed at him from around, he continued to intently watch the Heavenly Spirit Flower above his head.

It wasn't until the host Jiao Xiuyuan put the flower back into the wooden box and announced the end of the first tasting session that he finally came to his senses.

Cries of excitement, sounds of regret, and words of praise rang out one after another.

"Fellow Daoist Jiao, name your price! How much does this [Heavenly Spirit Flower] actually cost?!"

Having witnessed its profound wonders with their own eyes, some Cultivators present could no longer hold back and asked impatiently.

This immediately sparked agreement from quite a few people.

Facing everyone's inquiries, Jiao Xiuyuan simply smiled: "How many times do I have to tell you all? The flower owner's attitude is extremely clear: Not for sale, not for sale, and still not for sale!"

"Although I also want to make this deal happen, since the other party insists, I'm quite helpless!"

Hearing this, the crowd below instantly became restless.

A pot-bellied middle-aged Cultivator even stood up directly, looked at Jiao Xiuyuan, and said proudly: "I don't believe it! As long as the price offered is high enough, is there anything that can't be bought? Ten million Contribution Points, see if this works! If not, we can add more!"

Before Jiao Xiuyuan could reply, someone in the arena immediately spoke in a sarcastic tone: "Yo, isn't this Fellow Daoist Zhu Yuhua from Tianshu State? I heard you've always been extremely lavish, so why is it just ten million Contribution Points the moment you open your mouth? Who are you looking down on?"

"Hehe, with just this little bit, you still want to buy the [Heavenly Spirit Flower]? I think those imitation pieces are quite suitable for you!"

…

Zhu Yuhua's expression changed slightly as he looked toward the few people who had spoken; indeed, they were all prominent figures. To them, ten million Contribution Points truly couldn't be considered a large number.

The words at the tip of his tongue were swallowed back down. Losing face, Zhu Yuhua was just about to open his mouth to raise the price.

However, Jiao Xiuyuan proactively stepped forward to act as a peacemaker.

"Everyone, everyone…"

He raised his voice by a few degrees, recapturing everyone's attention.

"The Heavenly Spirit Flower master is an extremely unrestrained person. Whether it is appearance or bearing, it is the only one I, old Jiao, have ever seen in my life. Naturally, he is extremely reluctant to sell the only Heavenly Spirit Flower in this world."

"However…" Jiao Xiuyuan's tone changed.

"He also knows that if such a rare wonder is locked away on a high shelf day after day and appreciated by only a handful of people, it would be a desecration of it. Coupled with my lobbying, we finally decided on a compromise."

Jiao Xiuyuan paused for a moment, then announced: "Although it is not for sale, this [Heavenly Spirit Flower] can be "rented" out to the outside world!"

"Fellow Daoists who are interested in this can stay and listen to me explain in detail."

…

"Only renting, not selling. This Heavenly Spirit Flower master really knows how to do business." Sun Qi gave a faint, mocking smile.

Watching the swarm of Cultivators crowding toward Jiao Xiuyuan, Sun Qi knew he didn't have the ability to rent the Heavenly Spirit Flower. Shaking his head, he quietly left the Huajian Immortal Cave.

After going out, the first person Sun Qi visited was his uncle, Sun Liancheng. After all, the fundamental reason he was able to break through this time was still the [Huajian Invitation] gifted by Sun Liancheng.

After waiting for just a short moment in his Immortal Cave, Sun Liancheng hurried over.

"Good… good…" Sun Liancheng looked him up and down, even more excited than Sun Qi himself upon his Breakthrough.

"My Sun Family's Prodigy has finally returned after many years." Sun Liancheng exclaimed repeatedly with emotion.

Sun Qi gave a self-deprecating chuckle: "A Prodigy…"

"Born at the Foundation Establishment Realm, reaching the Golden Core Stage at one month old. Back then, I truly lived up to the name of a Prodigy. But now I am two hundred and thirteen years old…"

Sun Qi gently shook his head: "What kind of Prodigy is this? In the future, Uncle, please don't call me that anymore. Others have long since achieved the Nascent Soul and Soul Transformation realms, while I still linger in the Golden Core Realm…"

"If word gets out, people will inevitably laugh."

Sun Liancheng, however, was dismissive: "Why should our Sun Family care about what others think? Qi'er, you spent over two hundred years in the Golden Core, and now you've broken free in a single day. With such accumulated strength finally bursting forth, your future is bound to be boundless."

"Besides…"

An inexplicable look appeared on Sun Liancheng's face: "It's no wonder that breaking through is so difficult. After all, the Bottlenecks of the entire clan are shouldered by you alone."

"Coupled with having [Qiankun Qi] as your companion wonder, you were bound to suffer double the malice of heaven and earth. Being able to break through the [Heavens Calamity] of the Golden Core Stage in this lifetime is already a great fortune. How many ancestors died of old age without even reaching the Golden Core Realm? But now…"

Sun Liancheng patted Sun Qi's shoulder and said with gratification: "The future holds great promise!"

There was not the slightest ripple of emotion on Sun Qi's face.

"The next Bottleneck of the "Reverse Derivation Qiankun Record" is at the Soul Transformation Late Stage, right?" Sun Liancheng asked.

Sun Qi gently nodded.

"Rest assured, the clan will prepare all the required resources such as Immortal Caves and Heavenly Marrow for you. You just need to focus on your cultivation."

After a long silence, Sun Liancheng said in a lingering tone: "Qi'er, the heavy burden of the entire clan rests entirely on your shoulders. The resulting stagnation in cultivation couldn't even be told to others and had to be borne silently by yourself. Do you feel aggrieved or unwilling?"

Sun Qi's expression did not change: "It is simply my mission. Countless ancestors made silent sacrifices just like me, and it is precisely because of their contributions that our Sun Family has attained its current prosperity. How could I feel unwilling?"

Sun Liancheng narrowed his eyes and carefully looked at Sun Qi, seemingly trying to discern the truth in his words.

After a long while, just as he was about to speak, his expression suddenly stirred: "There are guests."

"Then this nephew will take his leave first!" Sun Qi cupped his fists and turned to leave.

"No harm, just stay here. It's nothing major." Sun Liancheng, however, called him back.

"Hahaha, Old Sun, this time we've made a killing." Before the person even arrived, his voice preceded him.

Hearing Jiao Xiuyuan's voice, Sun Qi shut his mouth and stood silently.

Before long, Jiao Xiuyuan walked in high-spiritedly.

"The number of Cultivators who came from afar is even more than you imagined, haha…"

Halfway through, seeing Sun Qi standing quietly to the side inside the room, he abruptly stopped. A strange look seemed to flash across his eyes.

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Jiao, feel free to speak. Qi'er is not an outsider." Sun Liancheng waved his hand and said.

Jiao Xiuyuan opened his mouth, but ultimately gave a soft smile and didn't say much more.

"Old Sun, you''ve misunderstood. How could I not know the relationship between this kid and you? It's just that when the contract was made initially, we agreed to keep it secret."

Next, his voice abruptly vanished, and only his lips were seen moving. As for Sun Liancheng, after hearing his words, the expression on his face was both shocked and delighted.

After speaking a few more sentences, Jiao Xiuyuan took out a Tianxuan Small Mirror from his bosom.

After completing the transaction on the spot, he hurried away.

"I didn't expect that someone would actually be willing to offer a Dao-Grade [Law Request Jade Token] to secure the first rental of the Heavenly Spirit Flower…"

"It seems that compared to the true powerhouses of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, our Sun Family still has quite a gap," Sun Liancheng sighed slightly. "We still have a long way to go!"

Hearing this, Sun Qi couldn't help being stunned: "Didn't you say it had to be kept secret?"

"What does the contract Jiao Xiuyuan signed have to do with me?" Sun Liancheng said dismissively.

"However, this Heavenly Spirit Flower master is somewhat interesting. An ancient dormant Cultivator coming from the White Mist. He wants me to help secure a Myriad Immortals Alliance membership identity…"

"Qi'er, what do you think?" After pondering for a moment, Sun Liancheng looked at Sun Qi.

After thinking for a moment, Sun Qi replied: "With ulterior motives, he might be a spy from the Five Elders Association."

Sun Liancheng laughed out loud, shook his head, and said: "Qi'er, you are still too young after all. Didn't the Heavenly Spirit Flower master go to such great lengths just to see the Derivation Law Jade and seek a Dao Integration Cultivation Technique suitable for himself? If the other party were truly a spy, how could they waste this rare opportunity in such a place?"

"Furthermore, the Derivation Law Jade is located at the headquarters of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance's Law Enforcement Hall. Suppressed by the [Celestial Venerable of Dharma Transmission's True Intent], what kind of spy would dare to act presumptuously at the headquarters? Isn't that just throwing their life away for nothing?"

Sun Qi remained silent.

How could secrets like these be known by a mere Golden Core cultivator like him? Uncle Sun Liancheng's action was merely to remind him: even if he, Sun Qi, broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm, compared to the entire Sun Family, he was still nothing. He should obediently cultivate the "Reverse Derivation Qiankun Record," shoulder the Bottlenecks of the entire clan, and never harbor any ulterior motives.

"Hmph."

Firmly hiding the fleeting dangerous thoughts deep within his heart, Sun Qi dared not show the slightest bit of abnormality.

Sun Liancheng also seemed very satisfied with his performance, and ever since then, let him stay in the City Lord's Mansion.

Seven days later, Sun Qi encountered that extremely mysterious Heavenly Spirit Flower master, Xu Bai, at the mansion.

With his self-proclaimed exceptionally resilient Heart-Nature, when he saw the other person, he still lost his focus for a moment. Only then did he realize that Jiao Xiuyuan's statement that "the Heavenly Spirit Flower master is extremely unrestrained and rarely seen in this world" was not false.

Xu Bai coming here seemed to be for the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance identity.

To Sun Liancheng, who wielded supreme authority over a state, this was merely a matter of a casual wave of his hand.

In less than half a day, he bypassed all kinds of reviews and completed Xu Bai's joining of the alliance.

After Xu Bai completed the identity verification on the spot using the Tianxuan Small Mirror, he nodded with satisfaction.

After lavishly praising Sun Liancheng for having "monstrous power and influence," he put away his folding fan and left gracefully.

Sun Qi's gaze followed his back all the way until it vanished.

"It indeed has a bit of the meaning of being favored by the Heavenly Dao…"

"It's just a pity that he has strayed onto the wrong path." Sun Liancheng gave a cold huff and evaluated him thusly.

Hearing this, Sun Qi was somewhat stunned. He was still pondering what mistake he had committed recently to anger this uncle.

A moment later, Sun Qi finally reacted; the uncle was not talking about him.

But rather Xu Bai, who had just left.

"Strayed onto the wrong path? What does Uncle mean by this?" Sun Qi didn't quite understand.

"A person favored by the mandate of heaven, in the ancient Cultivation World, might have been an existence fought over by various major Sects, a born Dao-cultivating seed."

"But now…" A trace of disdain flashed across Sun Liancheng's eyes.

"The Heavenly Venerable's New Law is truly acting against the heavens. The more favors one receives from heaven and earth, the more difficult it will be when rebelling against the principles of heaven and earth in the future."

"Even when sacrificing the heaven and earth spirit, one will suffer a backlash from the will of heaven and earth multiplied several times over. No matter how high one's talent is, it generally stops at Soul Transformation."

"Just like your companion wonder, [Qiankun Qi]. Half of a Heaven's Wonder can also be considered obtaining the creation of heaven and earth. On your cultivation path, have you ever felt the malice of heaven and earth toward you? In the future, as your cultivation continuously improves, this malice will become more and more obvious."

"Originally, how deeply heaven and earth loved you all? Yet you still want to cultivate the New Law and strike back."

"It would be strange if it didn't hate people like you."

Actively ignoring the faint mocking undertone in his uncle Sun Liancheng's words, Sun Qi slowly nodded and fell into deep thought.

However, whether it was him or Sun Liancheng of the Dao Integration Realm,

neither of them noticed at all that their entire conversation from start to finish, word for word, was being observed by someone.

It was precisely Li Fan, who was monitoring Sun Qi with a strand of Formless Killing Intent.