Wu Tian had spent the past few days consolidating his cultivation, stabilizing his foundation in True Qi Formation—Mid Stage. However, he knew that resources were essential for advancing further. While the Ethereal Moon Sect provided some basic materials, true progress required rare herbs and treasures.
Thus, under the guise of searching for medicinal herbs, Wu Tian left the sect's grounds and ventured deep into the Moonlit Evergreen Range.
The forest was vast, filled with spirit beasts, hidden dangers, and rare medicinal plants. He moved cautiously, collecting herbs that would aid his cultivation. His alchemy skills allowed him to recognize valuable materials others might overlook.
But then—
A strange spatial fluctuation rippled through the air.
Wu Tian froze. This wasn't natural. The flow of space in this region had subtly distorted, almost as if something was calling to him.
His heart pounded. A hidden anomaly.
Without hesitation, he followed the disturbance.
The Hidden CaveAfter tracing the spatial fluctuation, Wu Tian arrived before a seemingly ordinary mountainside. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed a distortion in the air, a slight ripple that gave away the presence of an illusionary formation.
With a sharp gaze, he extended his hand, channeling a hint of spatial energy.
Crack!
The illusion shattered, revealing a dark cavern entrance leading into the unknown.
Steeling himself, Wu Tian stepped inside. The cave extended deep underground, with paths branching in different directions.
Some led to fortune. Others to certain death.
But Wu Tian had no doubts. He followed the spatial fluctuation.
The Seven-Colored Soul-Warming LotusThe deeper he ventured, the more profound the energy became. The walls of the cave pulsed faintly, radiating a strange warmth that seemed to reach into his very soul.
Then—he saw it.
A radiant lotus stood at the heart of the chamber.
Floating above a small crystalline pool, the flower glowed with four brilliant colors, each petal shimmering like the stars. The air around it warped, as if space itself bent to its presence.
Wu Tian's breath hitched. This was no ordinary treasure.
The legendary Seven-Colored Soul-Warming Lotus.
Said to be a treasure of the heavens, this lotus was so rare that even in the vast Mortal Realm, it existed only in myths. However, Wu Tian instinctively understood something even more terrifying—
This was a one-in-a-universe treasure.
In the entirety of the Boundless Starsea, only one such lotus could exist. Once taken, no other could ever be born.
It was known to strengthen one's divine soul, allowing for enhanced comprehension, spiritual awareness, and—most importantly—the forced awakening of the Knowledge Sea.
However, this lotus had only four colors bloomed.
Wu Tian knew immediately—it was still maturing. If nurtured through lucky encounters, it would eventually blossom all seven colors, reaching its full potential.
His heart pounded. A treasure beyond imagination.
He stepped forward and reached out.
The moment his fingers touched the lotus—
It disappeared.
The Awakening of the Knowledge SeaWu Tian's eyes widened in shock. Where did it go?
Before he could react, a searing pain exploded in his mind.
"ARGH!" Wu Tian clutched his head as a torrent of unbearable agony surged through his soul. It was as if his entire consciousness was being ripped apart.
Boom!
His mind quaked. Something inside him had shattered—and something new had taken its place.
He gasped for breath, beads of sweat dripping down his face. Then, he saw it.
Deep within his consciousness, a vast ocean stretched endlessly before him, its waves shimmering with golden light. An infinite void filled with the unknown.
This was—
His Knowledge Sea.
It had been forcefully opened at True Qi Formation, far earlier than natural.
At the center of this vast sea, something else appeared—
The Seven-Colored Soul-Warming Lotus.
It had rooted itself firmly in his Knowledge Sea.
Wu Tian's heart pounded. This was beyond anything he had expected. The lotus was no longer just a treasure—it had become a part of him.
He instinctively understood its purpose. As it matured, it would refine his soul, expand his Knowledge Sea, and allow him to comprehend profound mysteries far beyond his realm.
Then, a new sensation emerged.
In the depths of his Knowledge Sea—
The book.
The ancient book he had only glimpsed in dreams, the one that whispered secrets of the heavens.
He could finally see it.
With trembling hands, he reached for it.
The pages flipped open, revealing arcane symbols, diagrams, and knowledge beyond mortal comprehension.
Wu Tian's breath quickened. This was it.
But as excitement filled his heart, a chilling realization struck him—
This lotus had to remain an absolute secret.
If even a whisper of its existence spread, entire worlds would hunt him down. Even those at the peak of the Mortal Realm or beyond would stop at nothing to seize this treasure.
A one-in-a-universe treasure… A prize beyond value.
His hands clenched into fists. No one could ever know.
From this moment on, he would carry this secret to his grave.
As his consciousness stabilized, he clenched his fists, his resolve stronger than ever.
With this power, he would carve his name into history.
The world was vast, and he had only just begun to unravel its secrets.