Chapter 222: Mission Completed! Half‑Step to the Tenth Realm!

The downfall of the Dan Fire Sect was like a brief interlude.

When the Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs and Gu Zhan returned with loot piled like a mountain, Gu Yuan's refinement also entered its final stage.

Inside the Heart of the Boundary Temple, the emerald bead had shrunk to half its size, its light swirling and merging perfectly with Gu Yuan's aura.

Gu Yuan's dantian world is undergoing earth‑shaking changes at this moment.

As the primal source of the Ten Thousand Herbs Heart of the Boundary continuously poured in, the breath‑soil on the ten‑thousand‑mile continent turned its spiritual energy into a viscous liquid, gathering into streams that eventually formed a vast lake of spiritual qi.

The World Tree sapling, nourished by this pure life essence, grew at a visible speed, soon reaching three feet in height.

The two newly sprouted branches, representing Dan Dao and Array Dao respectively, became increasingly solid, their leaves flashing with the light of wisdom.

More importantly, the Immortal King‑level law insight belonging to the Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs that was contained within the Heart of the Boundary, after being absorbed and transformed by the World Tree, split: one part merged into Gu Yuan's dantian world, the other fed directly into Gu Yuan's divine soul.

Gu Yuan felt as if he had switched to a god's perspective.

The countless mysteries of Dan Dao and Array Dao were no longer obscure runes and theories, but became instincts as simple as breathing and eating.

He even felt that, provided enough materials, he could now fire a furnace and forge True Immortal‑level elixirs.

Finally, after the last strand of world essence was devoured by the Chaos Singularity, the Heart of the Boundary completely turned into specks of phosphorescence and vanished into the air.

At the same time, in Gu Yuan's mind, that long‑awaited mechanical voice rang out.

【Ding! Detected that the host has completed the Ten Thousand Herbs Great World vacation mission.】

【Main Quest 1: Harvest Ten Thousand Herbs (Become a diligent gardener) — Completed!】

【Mission Rating: Perfect! You not only harvested the herbs, but also harvested the entire herb garden!】

【Reward distribution in progress…】

【Reward: True Immortal‑level Grand Herb Compendium unlocked; host may select any hundred True Immortal herbs, system will provide perfect‑quality seedlings, guaranteed vitality and seed.】

Before Gu Yuan's eyes, rows of golden‑glowing compendia appeared—Nine‑leaf Sword Grass, Seven‑colored Divine Mushroom, Dragon‑blood Dominant Fruit… the sight dazzled him.

【Main Quest 2: Seize the Herb God Inheritance — Completed!】

【Mission Rating: Exceeded expectations! You not only seized the inheritance, but also packaged its master as a bonus.】

【Reward distribution in progress…】

【Reward: Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs' Dan Dao/Array Dao True Understanding (Jue Dian Immortal King Realm) has been fully infused!】

【Ultimate Quest: Refine the Heart of the Boundary, become the new caretaker — Completed!】

【Mission Rating: Outstanding! Congratulations, host, on acquiring a new enterprise!】

【Mission reward distribution in progress…】

【Reward: Chaos Spirit Stone Fragment has been distributed!】

A shard the size of a fingernail, shimmering with gray‑purple light, materialized out of thin air in Gu Yuan's dantian world, and was instantly swallowed whole by the Chaos Singularity.

Boom!

Gu Yuan's dantian world jolted violently.

The originally boundless prototype of the world, after devouring this fragment, expanded its boundaries outward by nearly double.

The World Barrier grew sturdier, and the spatial laws became even more stable.

The breakthrough is within arm's reach!

But it's still not the time!

Return to the Gu Family.

Borrowing the last remaining Immortal King's remains from Sanqian Zhou, and the indestructible material for body tempering, is the top priority!

Gu Yuan let out a long breath and slowly opened his eyes.

This harvest was truly enormous.

He not only turned the entire Great World of Ten Thousand Herbs into his own backyard, but also secured an Immortal King‑level hired hand; his own Dan Dao and Array Dao skills rocketed to True Immortal level!

Even within the Gu Family.

Except that his Array Dao is on par with Gu Xuan Ce.

The elixirs have probably already made him the top person in the Gu Family!

Of course, this excludes the Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs, who is an Immortal King, and pure theory.

The crucial piece is that Chaos Spirit Stone Fragment, which has fortified the foundation of his world prototype, bringing him a great step closer to true evolutionary creation.

"Congratulations, Young Master, congratulations!"

The Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs was the first to step forward and congratulate, his demeanor humble and deferential.

He could sense that Gu Yuan's aura, though still at the Ninth Realm,

but the pressure stemming from the life level was several times stronger than before.

"Thank you, senior, for protecting the law for me."

Gu Yuan stood up, brushed the dust off his robe,

"From now on, this Great World of Ten Thousand Herbs shall be entrusted to you, senior. All spirit‑herb output, half will be handed to the family, the other half you may allocate for cultivating the flora and fauna of this realm, or for researching new elixir formulas."

"Thank you for your trust, Young Master! I shall not disappoint the charge!"

The Divine Lord of Ten Thousand Herbs was overjoyed.

This condition is far more generous than he had expected.

Gu Yuan looked again at Gu Zhan, who was still tallying the loot, grinning from ear to ear.

"Uncle Zhan, you have done a great deed this time. After returning, you may pick three items from the loot first."

"Hehe, thank you, Young Master!" Gu Zhan laughed, showing his teeth.

Everything arranged, Gu Yuan looked up at the sky.

"Father, Grandfather, we should be heading back now."

He thought for a moment and triggered the system.

Buzz—

A familiar golden light gate slowly opened before the World-Heart Temple.

Behind the gate was the familiar spiritual energy ripple of the Gu Family Divine Island in the Ancient Celestial Realm.

Gu Yuan nodded and was the first to step into the light gate.

Gu Lin Tian followed closely behind.

Gu Zhanze, carrying a huge bundle of clanking loot, grinned widely and was the last to dive in.