Chapter 28: External Manifestation, Karmic Outcomes Unpredictable

When Su Chen’s palm touched the withered tree trunk, a sudden anomaly occurred.

He felt no roughness of wood, but rather as if touching nothingness.

A mighty, irresistible force surged from his palm, as if an invisible hand seized his body and dragged him instantly into a bizarre, surreal world.

Around him stretched endless darkness and chaos, with silver-white cracks spreading like spiderwebs across the entire space.

These cracks expanded and contracted at times, each shift accompanied by heart-stopping spatial ripples.

Countless fragments of shattered space floated and flickered within the cracks, like dust.

Here was the origin of space, and also its grave.

Su Chen was as tiny as a speck of dust within this space.

The omnipresent spatial force seemed ready to tear him apart at any moment.

Just as his spirit trembled, a gentle voice echoed softly through this chaotic realm.

“Young friend, do not be alarmed.”

Su Chen turned toward the sound and saw a figure slowly coalescing from the chaos ahead.

It was an old Daoist priest clad in earth-yellow robes, wearing a purple-gold crown, with three long beards fluttering over his chest, his face lean and serene, his eyes gentle.

He stood motionless, yet the violent, raging spatial cracks around him seemed to encounter their nemesis—calming instantly, becoming utterly docile.

The earthly Dao rhythm beneath his feet and the spatial laws behind him formed a wondrous balance.

“Disciple Wu Chen bows before Great Immortal Zhenyuanzi,” Su Chen said without delay, bowing deeply.

Though merely a manifestation, the profound, earth-sustaining Dao rhythm emanating from him was unmistakable.

This was unquestionably Zhenyuanzi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals.

“Heh, I am but a mere external manifestation left here—not my true body.”

Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation smiled, stroking his beard, his gaze settling on Su Chen with a hint of approval. “To discover the earth vein’s core through your own insight and enter Wanshou Mountain—your understanding is truly extraordinary.”

“I was merely fortunate,” Su Chen replied humbly.

“There is no such thing as mere luck in this world,” Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation shook his head, his gaze deepening into the distance. “You carry an extraordinary treasure—its heavenly fate is shrouded, even I cannot perceive the slightest trace of it. I waited here for you because I foresaw an ancient karmic thread destined to be resolved today.”

Su Chen’s heart stirred; he listened in silence.

“Countless eons ago, an old friend of mine came to my Wuzhuang Temple to discuss the Dao,” Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation said slowly, his tone tinged with nostalgia. “His true form was a hollow willow tree born of chaos, inherently governing the Dao of Space. The place we stand now is the tiny space he opened during our discussion.”

“That old friend… is Yang Mei Great Immortal?” Su Chen ventured.

Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation flickered with surprise, then nodded in understanding. “So you are no ordinary soul—you’ve heard his name.”

“Indeed, it is Daoist Yang Mei. After our discussion, before leaving, he severed a piece of his shed form and left it here.”

“He said this object held no use for him, so he left it to await a worthy soul. Whoever claims it shall gain their destiny.”

“So it is!”

Hearing this, Su Chen’s heart leapt with joy.

“Young friend, don’t rejoice yet,” Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation saw through his thoughts. “This opportunity is also a colossal karmic debt.”

“Yang Mei is a Chaos Demon God—his roots run deep, his karmic weight far exceeds your imagination.”

“Though he transcended the Three Realms, this shed form he left still clings to him with countless invisible threads.”

“If you take it, you accept this karmic debt. Later, you may gain unforeseen benefits—or summon unimaginable calamities. For instance, Yang Mei’s old enemies might sense your presence through this object; or, at some future moment, you may be forced to fulfill an uncompleted task for him. All of this remains unknown.”

Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation gazed calmly at Su Chen, his eyes serene yet profound. “I was entrusted by my old friend to guard this object. I have said all I will. Whether you take it or leave it rests solely in your choice. Young friend—have you decided?”

Su Chen’s mind raced with thoughts.

Refuse?

What nonsense!

Why had he left home, traveled far, and sought a master?

Was it not to seek immortality, to carve his name in this Journey to the West world?

This opportunity before him could lift him instantly to the heavens—fully perfecting the Wood element within his Golden Core, and granting him even a glimpse into the Dao of Space.

As for karma… Dao cultivators walk against Heaven—every step is taken upon the web of karmic threads.

To hesitate, to fear, to look back—what use is such a path? What Dao is there to seek?

Since the day Su Chen stepped onto this path, he never once considered retreat!

Besides, he bore the Heavenly Fate Mirror—if true great karma descended, he still had room to maneuver.

Great fortune demands risk—so too does the Great Dao!

With this thought, Su Chen felt not a trace of doubt.

He raised his head, his gaze clear and resolute, and bowed deeply to Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation.

“Thank you, Great Immortal, for your blessing. I accept this karmic debt!”

His voice was quiet, yet it rang with weight through the chaotic space.

Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation looked at him, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

“Good. You have courage,” he nodded. “Then I have fulfilled my old friend’s final request.”

As his words faded, Zhenyuanzi’s figure grew hazy, slowly dissolving into the chaos.

“Young friend, you may safely refine this object here. With my Dao hall standing, none in the Three Realms can disturb you. When your cultivation is complete, depart as you please.”

With Zhenyuanzi’s manifestation vanishing entirely, the entire tiny space began to tremble violently.

Then it stabilized, and a withered willow tree appeared within the space.

Moments later, the dead willow tree crumbled inch by inch before Su Chen, transforming into countless emerald-green light particles.

These particles brimmed with boundless life energy and the primordial essence of Wood.

At their core, a three-inch-long branch, entirely emerald-green, translucent, as if carved from pure jade, floated silently.

Silver patterns shimmered faintly along its surface; each flicker caused a subtle distortion in the surrounding space.

This was Yang Mei Great Immortal’s shed form!

Su Chen reached out, and the branch, as if drawn by invisible force, became a streak of light, drifting gently into his palm.

An unfathomable, profound Dao rhythm clung to the branch.

Su Chen did not delay—he immediately sat cross-legged, preparing to fully refine this supreme destiny within this unique space.