Fights Break Sphere: Purple Thunder Emperor

Chapter 457 Mo Yuan
"Under the Bodhi tree, is there a hundred lifetimes of reincarnation?"

Forced back thousands of feet by the immense torrent of life that appeared when the Bodhi Tree appeared, Hun Xuzi finally regained his footing, his gray robes fluttering in the wind.

His gaze was like lightning, instantly piercing through the dazzling emerald beam of light and landing on the center of the ancient Bodhi tree's trunk, which resembled a transparent emerald crystal.

There, a blurry yet upright figure sat quietly cross-legged; it was Xiao Bai!

Upon seeing this scene, with his knowledge, Hun Xuzi immediately guessed a certain possibility.

"Lord Dan Sheng, this ancient Bodhi tree... seems a bit off!"

The Great Celestial Venerable, who had barely managed to stabilize his injuries, endured the pain of his severed arm and looked up at the enormous tree canopy that blotted out the sky. His pupils suddenly contracted, and his voice carried a hint of surprise and uncertainty.

Upon hearing this, Hun Xuzi immediately turned his gaze away from Xiao Bai and looked up in the direction he was pointing.

Upon seeing this, even the indifferent expression on his face subtly changed.

On the vast, boundless canopy, the branches and leaves remained lush, exuding a boundless, pure life force that soared to the heavens.

However, upon closer inspection, one can discover that deep within that pure and pristine aura, there is a faint and elusive evil and chilling energy intertwined and blended.

This aura intertwined with the pure life force, becoming inseparable, as if it were part of the ancient tree itself, adding a touch of eeriness and malevolence to this legendary sacred tree.

"What's going on with this ancient Bodhi tree? Why is it so different from the pure, flawless, sacred, and peaceful image described in ancient texts?"

Hun Xuzi frowned, a deep sense of doubt rising in his heart.

As a master alchemist with a soul at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Realm, his soul perception far surpasses that of ordinary people, and his insight into the essence of energy is also more acute.

He could clearly sense that the source of that chilling aura was at an alarmingly high level. Even he, a Seven-Star Dou Sheng, felt a chill and unease rise in his heart when he carefully perceived it!
Just then, the Second Heavenly Venerable, Gu Youna, spoke with a voice filled with surprise and uncertainty:
"Lord Dan Sheng, elder brother, look! Something seems to be happening around that kid in the ancient tree!"

Hearing the unusual tone in his voice, Hun Xuzi and Da Tianzun immediately turned their heads and focused their gazes on Xiao Bai at the center of the tree trunk.

Upon seeing this, both of their eyes flickered slightly.

The emerald light that had been so dazzling and protective of Xiao Bai, who was sitting cross-legged with his back to them, was now being suppressed by some force, slowly shrinking and dimming!
Another kind of clear light, exactly the same as that on the treetop, carrying wisps of cold, dark energy, is like a greedy venomous snake, constantly devouring and eroding that pure green light!

The power that symbolizes the original protection of the Bodhi tree is gradually waning, and its light is dimming at a visible speed!

"noob……!"

At the same time, just as Hun Xuzi and the others discovered this unusual change, Xiao Yixian, Yun Yun, and Xiao Qing, who were shaken away by the power of the ancient tree's appearance, also witnessed this heart-stopping scene!
They already felt that the aura emanating from this ancient Bodhi tree was quite different from the legends. Now, seeing the pure light protecting Xiao Bai being eroded by the cold aura, while Xiao Bai's back remained motionless, as if he was completely unaware of everything around him, the three women's hearts jumped into their throats!

"That light seemed to be protecting Father, while the black aura wanted to harm him!"

Although Xiao Qing was young, she could tell that something was wrong, and her little face was full of anxiety.

Xiao Yixian and Yun Yun turned pale. Xiao Qing could see it clearly, and they naturally knew it too. The cold aura was obviously wrong, so how could they sit still?

"We must help him, or at least remind him!"

The two women exchanged a glance, both seeing the same resolute determination in each other's eyes.

Without the slightest hesitation, Little Fairy Doctor unleashed her poisonous fighting spirit, while Yun Yun picked up Xiao Qing. The three of them transformed into two streaks of light and rushed towards the giant Bodhi tree trunk without regard for anything else!

However, just as they moved—

"Buzz!"

A massive light curtain, formed from a clear light mixed with cold black energy, descended from the enormous canopy of the Bodhi tree, instantly forming a chasm between them and the tree trunk!

The oppressive aura emanating from the light screen was as heavy as an ancient mountain, and the level of power contained within it was several times stronger than the oppressive feeling brought by Hun Xuzi's attack just now!
Little Fairy Doctor and Yun Yun's expressions changed drastically, and their forward-rushing figures suddenly stopped, as if they had crashed into an invisible diamond wall!

Let alone getting close to the tree trunk, under the oppressive force of this light barrier, they even found it incredibly difficult to take a single step forward, their bones groaning under the unbearable weight!
"Look! The emerald light around that kid seems to be weakening!"

In the distance, Gu You's voice, tinged with schadenfreude and excitement, pierced Xiao Yi Xian and Yun Yun's ears like poison needles.

The two women trembled violently, struggled to look up, and their expressions changed drastically, their eyes instantly filled with endless fear and worry.

At the core of the tree trunk, the extreme emerald green radiance that had always protected Xiao Bai flickered and trembled violently a few times under the frenzied erosion of the cold, clear light. Finally, it let out a silent lament and, like a candle flickering in the wind, was completely extinguished, turning into countless tiny streams of light that vanished into nothingness.

Without the protection of the pure green light, Xiao Bai's back was completely exposed to the cold, dark light, as if he would be swallowed up at any moment.

……

At the heart of the ancient Bodhi tree lies a secluded, verdant space.

Xiao Bai sat cross-legged on an ancient futon made of pure, refined energy, his eyes tightly closed.

Not far in front of him, the tree spirit, several meters tall and as if carved from jade, was swaying gently.

However, unlike the peaceful and clear state it had when it was being tempered by lightning, the tree spirit was now being rapidly covered by a thick, cold black mist!
The black mist was not only cold and eerie, but also seemed to carry an indifference that seemed to lord over all living beings.

Just as the chilling black mist was about to completely envelop the entire tree, turning it into utter darkness—

A faint, almost imperceptible divine thought, filled with endless weariness, seemed to have overcome countless ages to painstakingly reach the depths of Xiao Bai's mind:

“Favored one… this is all I can do for you… From now on… whether you can stop him… from seizing your… connection to the origin of heaven and earth… depends entirely on… yourself…”

This thought came intermittently, as if it had exhausted its last bit of strength, and then it fell into complete silence.

At the very moment that the consciousness representing the Bodhi tree itself dissipated, the jade tree trembled violently, and its radiance was completely replaced by a cold black mist!

A chilling and evil aura, far more terrifying and purer than before, suddenly erupted and filled the entire space!
Immediately afterwards, a phantom figure, shrouded in thick black mist, its features obscured and only vaguely humanoid, slowly emerged from the corroded tree trunk. It stood with its hands behind its back, not particularly tall, yet naturally exuding an aura of supreme power that transcended all things in heaven and earth.

As soon as he appeared, his eyes, hidden behind the black mist, were like the sharpest knife, locked onto the silver vertical line between Xiao Bai's eyebrows!

And the instant his gaze fell upon Xiao Bai—

Xiao Bai, who had kept his eyes tightly closed, suddenly twitched his eyelids and then abruptly opened them!

"Buzz!"

In those deep black eyes, a fleeting look of vicissitude and bewilderment, as if having experienced countless reincarnations and witnessed the vastness of the mortal world, flashed by, as if he had not yet fully returned from that long journey through time.

But then, as if chaos had just begun and yin and yang had separated, a pair of slowly rotating, golden and black Tai Chi phantoms, containing the ultimate truths of destruction and rebirth, rose suddenly from the deepest part of his eyes, like two miniature suns!

All the confusion and vicissitudes were dispelled in an instant, replaced by a clear understanding of the essence!

His gaze calmly met the illusory black figure standing with his hands behind his back on the jade tree trunk.

Eyes facing each other.

Xiao Bai's eyes did not show the fear, awe, or even shock that ordinary people would have when facing such a being. Instead, they were as calm as if he were seeing a long-lost... old friend.
He spoke, his voice slightly hoarse from a long period of silence, yet mixed with a familiarity and vicissitude that had transcended countless years, clearly uttering two words:

"Mo Yuan."

Hearing Xiao Bai reveal his real name so casually, even with a hint of emotion, the illusory black-shadowed man seemed completely unsurprised.

The black mist surrounding him rippled slightly, but his expression remained unchanged as he calmly said:
"It seems that it has already made you 'accompany' me through one lifetime in the cycle of reincarnation."

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of detached control mixed with a touch of nostalgia for the past, and continued:

"Legend has it that enlightenment can be achieved under the Bodhi tree, and by chance, the enlightened one may have a sliver of potential to become an emperor. But the world is foolish. How can they know that without this wisp of my remnant will merging with it, allowing one to personally experience the complete life cycle of a Dou Di, it would be impossible for it to bestow such a heaven-defying opportunity upon a person on its own!"

Upon hearing Mo Yuan's astonishing remarks, Xiao Bai's expression remained calm and unmoved.

He nodded in strong agreement and replied in a calm tone:
"Indeed. In this hundred lifetimes of reincarnation, your life, Mo Yuan, has been of the second greatest importance to me!"

"second?!"

Mo Yuan, who had been speaking calmly as if he had everything under control, showed a noticeable and intense fluctuation in the black mist surrounding him the moment he heard those two words, and his tone finally revealed a hint of undisguised turmoil!

He knew perfectly well that if his wisp of Dou Di remnant spirit hadn't entangled and eroded the Bodhi Ancient Tree's intelligence, and hadn't partially merged with it, the Bodhi Ancient Tree would never have been able to so completely acquire and reproduce the life experiences and insights of a Dou Di from humble beginnings to the pinnacle!

Of all the insights into reincarnation that this ancient Bodhi tree can offer, his life as "Mo Yuan" is absolutely unique and of the highest value, and should rightfully be ranked number one!

Where does the claim of being second come from?

He suppressed that slight fluctuation, his tone revealing a clear increase in interest, and pressed on:
"Oh? So, in your opinion, who is number one?"

Faced with the questioning of the remnant of the Dou Di who once stood at the pinnacle of the continent, Xiao Bai remained silent for a moment, a strange and extremely complex light flashing in his eyes, as if countless fragments of memories were flowing in his eyes.

Finally, he uttered a single word softly, yet with unparalleled clarity:

"I."

"You?! A demigod?"

Upon hearing this, Mo Yuan was first taken aback, then seemed to have heard the most absurd and laughable joke in the world. The black mist surrounding him surged because of his emotional fluctuations, and a hint of undisguised amusement appeared on his lips.

"I admit that your ability to gain the favor of the origin of heaven and earth is indeed special. If I had not fortuitously invaded the spiritual intelligence of this ancient Bodhi tree and slowly merged with it, thus gaining insight into its ancient memories, I would never have known such a top secret as the 'origin of heaven and earth' that relates to the root of the world."

His tone carried a condescending, scrutinizing quality.

"But you are far too weak now! In my eyes, what is the difference between a half-saint and an ant? How can your short life experience and insights compare to my life of traversing the world and ascending to the throne?"

Just as Mo Yuan thought, the existence of the Bodhi Tree was too ancient. Its intelligence was ignorant and its memories were fragmented, but the occasional glimpse of a scene from ancient times contained secrets that were enough to shake the past and present.

The truth about the "origin of heaven and earth" was the greatest secret he accidentally glimpsed during his fusion with the ancient tree's spirit!
When Xiao Bai first tried to sense the Bodhi Tree through the Bodhi Seed, the aura in his vertical pupil between his eyebrows was instantly sensed by Mo Yuan, who was partially merged with the ancient tree!
Mo Yuan was overjoyed at that time!
His original plan was simply to erode the essence of the ancient Bodhi tree, usurp its nest, and thereby reshape himself.

But to my utter surprise, I encountered a living treasure connected to the very essence of heaven and earth!
This is precisely why he spared no effort to summon Xiao Bai so impatiently using Bodhi Seed and devised a plan to let him enter the core of the Bodhi Ancient Tree!
"Weak?"

Faced with Mo Yuan's merciless belittling and questioning, Xiao Bai simply murmured something noncommittally, his face revealing no emotion.

In Mo Yuan's view, as the remnant of a Dou Di, he has now suppressed the Bodhi Ancient Tree's own intelligence and, to some extent, controlled this divine object of heaven and earth.

Faced with such a situation, Xiao Bai, a mere half-saint, was indeed pitifully weak and could be destroyed with a flick of his wrist.

At the same time, Xiao Bai recalled the plot in the original novel where Xiao Yan "resolved" the Dou Di's resentment with his Dou Zun cultivation, and he realized that it was just a smokescreen deliberately released by Mo Yuan to cover up the fact that he had eroded the ancient tree's origin!
If it weren't for the connection I possessed to the "origin of heaven and earth" or the "embryo of a plane" that Mo Yuan spoke of, the other party would probably have looked down on me as if I were an ant.

For Mo Yuan, the concepts of Bodhi seeds and Bodhi mind were utterly irrelevant.

Giving these away would actually weaken the power of the Bodhi Tree itself, so why wouldn't he do it?
"Alright, enough of this small talk."

Mo Yuan seemed to have lost patience to continue the conversation. His gaze suddenly sharpened, like two tangible swords, locking onto the silver vertical line between Xiao Bai's brows once more. His tone carried an barely suppressed excitement and an undeniable command:
"Based on my senses, the vertical eye on your forehead, which contains the aura of the origin of heaven and earth, must be connected to the core of your sea of ​​consciousness! Now, release the defenses of your sea of ​​consciousness and let me explore it!"

He paused, seemingly to reassure Xiao Bai, and added, though the excitement in his voice was almost impossible to conceal:
"Rest assured, as long as you cooperate obediently with me, once I successfully establish a 'connection' with the origin of heaven and earth, considering your merit in offering the treasure, perhaps... I will show mercy and let you leave this place, otherwise..."

He paused, pointed to several puppet figures that had appeared not far away, and slowly said:
"I don't mind forcibly entering your sea of ​​consciousness, but afterwards you'll have to keep them company!"

(End of this chapter)