At Nascent Soul, one senses the source—can even accumulate it.

  Du Longyang, the Empress—both knew breaking the source externally was near impossible.

  The immortal hid inside for that reason.

  When Lu said it couldn’t be broken from outside, regret stung, but no shock.

  Hoping on Lu was desperate grasping.

  Yet he offered another path.

  Tianyuan’s growth stunted a thousand—even ten thousand years?

  To force the immortal out…

  Worth it?

  To Du Longyang and the others—yes!

  The immortal threatened Tianyuan’s future. Infant Transformation peaks ascended, only to be schemed against, dying wretchedly before the source.

  Immortal lives, Tianyuan dies eventually!

  Empress, hair wild, lips vivid, stared at Lu: “Young Master Lu, do it!”

  Lu sat in the Thousand Blades Chair, white robes fluttering.

  He nodded slightly, eyeing the source orb—seeing the figure glaring back.

  Lu knew: that was Tianyuan’s Plane Lord.

  Tianyuan’s storms—Du, Empress, Tianxu—none were the Lord. Lu had wondered where.

  Hiding in the source orb.

  World source was a plane’s foundation.

  This Lord was destroying it.

  Plus devouring countless experts’ power—Lu guessed: sacrificing Tianyuan for breakthrough.

  Lu raised a hand.

  Mysterious array runes floated around him.

  He struck them—forming a familiar array.

  Five Phoenix’s “startup” fundamental.

  First used siphoning a newborn mid-martial world, absorbing source to evolve Five Phoenix.

  Then, Lu had limits—newborn source couldn’t take much; he took just enough, no root damage.

  This time…

  Big score.

  Three forbidden domain sources merged into a translucent rod—like a straw.

  Lu poked it—piercing the source orb.

  Clang!

  Chains burst from the orb.

  Those piercing Du and others whipped at Lu.

  He flicked Phoenix Feather Swords, deflecting.

  Boom!

  The straw struck.

  Furious roar echoed faintly.

  Du, Empress shuddered—drainage slowed!

  Yuanshang fared worse—realm fallen to Foundation, aged drastically.

  Cultivation extends life.

  Qi Core: ~150 years.

  Foundation: ~350.

  Golden Core: ~900.

  Yuanshang, once Infant Transformation—millennia. Now, lifespan neared end.

  The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  From robust monk to frail elder.

  He trusted the immortal—yet this end.

  Lu linked Five Phoenix source to Tianyuan’s.

  Tianyuan: top mid-martial, vast source.

  Old low-martial Five Phoenix couldn’t dare—risk burst.

  Now mid-martial too—why fear?

  Rumble!

  Vast source surged from the orb, racing through the straw.

  Lu smiled oddly.

  Like diverting one river to another.

  Tianyuan’s source massive—little visible change.

  He waited calmly.

  Spiritual pressure chessboard appeared before him.

  Leisurely placing pieces.

  Crack…

  Chains on Du and others shattered.

  Du staggered back.

  Tianxu, Ye Shoudao followed.

  Empress last—worst treated.

  She eyed Lu’s elegant play, expression complex.

  “Young Master Lu… eyed the source long ago?”

  Remembered him in the source world—now clear.

  But what to say?

  Lu absorbed for their sake—to save them.

  He smiled, continued chess.

  Their realms: Golden Core. Lucky—not Foundation; roots intact.

  Time could restore Nascent Soul.

  ...

  Five Phoenix Continent.

  As Lu siphoned…

  Five Phoenix source exploded in growth—heavens shifted.

  Rainbow light bloomed across the sky.

  Beiluo, Lake Center Island.

  Readers in the pavilion looked up, awed.

  Source fluctuations surged—spiritual qi density rose!

  Many sat, insights flooding.

  Ning Zhao by the lakeshore, white dress fluttering.

  Hair twirling, she raised a hand.

  Spiritual qi swirled.

  Bottleneck loosened with the source evolution.

  She gazed skyward.

  Arms spread.

  Boom!

  Black clouds rolled.

  Thunder roared within.

  Heavenly Lock Tribulation!

  Beiluo cultivators trembled, looking her way.

  Not just her—many broke through.

  Five Phoenix cultivation leaped.

  Overlord on the lake, scroll in hand, eyes flickering—confused, lost.

  Ning Zhao nearing Heavenly Lock.

  He: peak Body Storage, hadn’t touched the lock.

  Demonic path… this hard?

  Slower and slower.

  Need more beatings?

  Sima Qingshan in green, book in hand, stepped on water.

  Gazed at Ning Zhao resonating with heaven.

  Inspired.

  Brush out, paper floating.

  Spiritual qi as ink—painting a grand scroll.

  Her tribulation struck—no suspense.

  Cicada Wing Sword appeared; she soared, dress dancing, clashing thunder.

  Sima splashed ink, strokes divine.

  Mind elevated.

  Tang Yimo in the pavilion watched—fists clenched.

  Envied Sima’s insight.

  Sat, observing earnestly.

  ...

  Source orb’s power drained madly.

  Du and others sensed Tianyuan’s cultivation environment fading.

  Lu’s words clear now.

  Forcing the immortal: millennium regression.

  Source was a world’s growth, foundation.

  Absorption: decline.

  Du silent.

  Tianxu, Ye Shoudao speechless.

  As Tianyuan’s pillars—heavy responsibility.

  Strength, duty.

  Empress’s eyes trembled, pale face fixed on Lu—intrigued.

  Lu played chess, controlled array—slow, steady.

  Gave adaptation time.

  Star-like Tianyuan source shrank.

  They felt it.

  Yuanshang finally broke free.

  But…

  Buddhist roots ruined—skeletal, corpse-like.

  Foundation realm.

  Crawled to Du’s leg.

  “Save… me…”

  Sunken eyes, hoarse.

  Du—straightforward—ignored.

  Nearly killed by him.

  No kindness.

  Kicked him away.

  Yuanshang crawled to Tianxu—fury; brutal kicks.

  Ye Shoudao expressionless—blade fell.

  Pfft—one leg severed.

  Tianxu’s heart jumped.

  Ye: ruthless, few words.

  Yuanshang’s end tragic.

  Stopped moving, stared at the source.

  Unwilling… eyes closed.

  “Stop!”

  Heaven-quaking roar!

  Lu paused mid-piece.

  Smile curved: “Finally.”

  Du, Empress, Tianxu—eyes shrank.

  Immortal… emerging?!

  “Keep sucking… this deity spares you not!”

  Cold voice resounded.

  Source surface: a face emerged.

  Like pressed from inside.

  “You threaten me?”

  Lu leaned back, brow raised.

  “I hate threats most.”

  Words fell—he twisted claw-like in void.

  Suction surged!

  Vortex swirled on the orb.

  “Enough! Half the lake gone—now the plane source! Too greedy!”

  Orb’s figure iced.

  Lu frowned: “Slander.”

  “Lake—that bald donkey let me take. He overturned my furnace—your man. Lake compensates.”

  “This orb—they told me to suck.”

  “I, Lu Ping’an, never force.”

  Orb’s shadow raged.

  Shameless!

  Such rogue?!

  Du’s mouth twitched—knew it. Stole his tribulation, claimed it veered itself.

  Thick-skinned!

  Empress’s eyes brightened—more fascinated.

  Who dared pluck immortal feathers?

  Even Du wouldn’t.

  Lu did—enraging it to impotent fury.

  Comforting for her, soured on immortals.

  “Immortal!”

  Du spoke.

  Spear aimed: “Ascension—a colossal lie! Why? Kill Tianyuan’s peaks?! Know how rare Infant Transformation is?”

  “Deserve ‘immortal’?”

  Orb vortexed—Lu’s intensified suction.

  The being furious.

  How not? In moments…

  10% source gone!

  Still accelerating.

  Robber!

  “Silence!”

  Rage exploded.

  Du’s questions ignited it.

  “Frogs in a well—what know you?!”

  “This deity has no retreat!”

  “Without bearing all pressure… think Tianyuan grew thus?”

  “This deity takes what’s due! Your strength, cultivation—mine!”

  Cold voice echoed.

  Lu, intensifying, frowned.

  Eyed the snarling face.

  Faintly: “Bearing pressure?”

  “If I guess right… you abandon ‘Tianyuan,’ use its source as your transformation cradle. Hatch—break Infant Transformation, mid-martial shackles.”

  “But become a wanderer.”

  “Yet something drives this gamble—changes wanderer fate. Details unknown.”

  Lu said.

  More knowledge, deeper guesses than Du, Empress.

  They dazed.

  Orb’s being laughed coldly—mask torn, embarrassed rage.

  “Warned you early… don’t meddle. Same Plane Lords—my today, your tomorrow. Why make it hard!”

  “But you… wouldn’t listen!”

  Rumble…

  “Stop sucking!”

  Cold blast.

  Then…

  Like eggshell cracking.

  Crack on the surface.

  Lu narrowed eyes.

  Mind stirred.

  Intensified—vortex spun wildly.

  Du, Empress, Tianxu—pupils contracted.

  Stared at the fissure.

  Finally…

  Orb split slowly.

  A hand dripping source liquid pressed the crack.

  Pushed apart…

  A head emerged.

  Violent aura spread, filling heaven and earth.

  Immortal—born!

  Orb’s figure stared icily at wheelchair-bound, white-robed Lu—murderous intent.

  Grinned…

  “This deity said stop…”

  “Suck how much—spit it all back later!”