Heavenly Heart Seed
Upon seeing the corpse, Thornwood’s face beneath the white cloth quivered violently, the thorny patterns twisting and contorting, betraying his inner turmoil. He murmured, “It’s her? How could she appear here… and dead?”
He reached out, wanting to check the warrior woman’s breath, but hesitated, as if fearful of desecrating her.
From the slit in the carriage’s curtain, the young lady watched, her eyes wide with astonishment. Since their first meeting, Thornwood had always seemed composed, as though no one but his master could catch his attention. Now, he was visibly shaken.
Who was this woman?
Thornwood gritted his teeth and was about to move his hand when a furious roar split the air: “Stand aside!”
In an instant, a powerful wave descended from the sky, enveloping Thornwood’s group completely. Everyone froze, unable to move, even Thornwood could barely raise his head, his neck creaking audibly.
A cavalry unit descended from above. There were only six, but their presence was as overwhelming as a thousand troops. The leaves of the nearby tree were swept up in the surge, filling the air with swirling foliage.
The six rode creatures that were neither horse nor dragon, beasts of remarkable grandeur with four legs treading upon clouds.
These were Sixth-tier Cloudbeasts—tamed beasts renowned for their ability to fly three thousand miles in a day. Fierce by nature, they could turn on their rider if not properly subdued.
Thornwood’s gaze fell upon the saddle, recognizing the insignia. Instantly, cold sweat poured down his face, and the thorns upon his cloth seemed to freeze in terror.
“Imperial Knights…”
He barely managed a whisper from deep within his throat, so low it was scarcely audible.
As the six appeared, the sunlight seemed to dim, but quickly brightened again, illuminating their figures. They no longer appeared as imposing as at first glance. Their armor and mounts were covered in fresh wounds; one even rode single-handed, his other arm severed. All injuries were recent—evidence that battle had just transpired.
The leader guided his Cloudbeast down beside the female warrior’s corpse, sneering, “Stole that one’s treasure, fled from Imperial City to here—deserved her fate!”
Imperial City? The young lady caught the words, her slender fingers gripping the curtain. The lead knight instantly noticed her. He barked, “Who’s there!”
With a sharp command, a streak of blue light shot forth, colliding with the carriage. It exploded with a thunderous crash, fragments flying in every direction.
In that moment, the young lady’s toes lightly touched several shards, dodging outward. Yet the disparity in strength was too vast; she managed to evade the core blast, but was caught in the lingering shockwave, hurled to the ground, where she landed with a muffled groan.
“Seven-ringed Brightheart Seed, not yet initiated…”
Assessing her strength, the Imperial Knight relaxed, then frowned.
With such power, how could she move under my domain’s restriction?
He dismounted, strode over, dipped a drop of her blood, tasted it, and his face lit up with delight. “So, you’re of the Medicine Folk’s lineage, and your blood is so pure! Excellent! If I present you to him, he’ll be very pleased!”
He tossed her onto the Cloudbeast’s back. Thornwood, immobilized, dared not utter a word, even if he could move.
These were Imperial Knights!
Having stumbled upon a treasure, the leader was thoroughly satisfied. He returned to the female warrior’s corpse, commanding, “Search! The item must still be on her!”
They had pursued her relentlessly, changing squads several times. Thanks to the city’s surveillance, she had never escaped their monitoring. She hadn’t stopped nor contacted anyone along the way—it was impossible for her to have transferred the item.
Two knights bent over to search her armor, when the leader’s expression suddenly changed. He shouted, “Back!”
He was quick, but the calamity was quicker. The woman’s chest began to glow intensely, the radiance swelling to engulf a hundred meters around. Within the light, a tremendous energy consumed everything present.
“Brightheart Seed self-detonation!”
The knights cried out in alarm, their voices swallowed by the silent explosion.
The glow lasted about ten seconds before gradually fading. The roadside tree was gone; the road and earth in this area had vanished, leaving only a crater.
The female warrior’s body and the six Imperial Knights left not a single trace. Several bodies were flung to the crater’s edge, their fate uncertain.
After a long while, one body stirred and struggled upright. His black clothes were shredded, half of his white mask missing, the thorn motif nowhere to be seen.
Thornwood coughed lightly, spat blood, and staggered to his feet, surveying the scene.
The Imperial Knights, caught too close, were obliterated. His men survived in body, but not in breath. Only…
Thornwood squinted. Jiang Chen had been nearest the blast, but sensed danger first, hiding behind a Cloudbeast which shielded her somewhat. Now, heavily wounded, she lay by the crater’s edge, her chest faintly rising—still barely alive!
A woman who had only recently obtained the Brightheart Seed, not yet begun her cultivation, survived such an explosion…
Thornwood forced himself over, brushed her body, and grunted softly, “As expected of the Medicine Folk…”
He lifted her, stumbling away.
In the barren wilds, only the crater and seven or eight scattered corpses remained.
…
…
Moonlight filtered through the branches of the Brightheart Tree, casting shadows upon the young man beneath.
Jiang Feng stirred and opened his eyes. A golden gleam flashed within them. He raised his hand to his chest, covering his heart.
His heart still beat strong and steady, yet now there seemed a new pulse, hidden behind his own, as powerful as a shadow following the light.
During his slumber, he’d seen it clearly—a perfectly round seed, radiant gold, dazzling, like a fragment of the sun.
This seed had absorbed countless sparkling points from the Brightheart Seed, beginning to sprout. Its shell split, and from its core emerged a branch bearing nine immature fruits.
In that instant, he understood.
“A Brightheart Seed? I have the Brightheart Seed? It’s sprouted, and the vital branch has grown?”
“I—I can begin training in martial arts now? Once these nine fruits ripen, I can step into the Dawn Realm, become a true martial cultivator?”
Jiang Feng pressed his chest, feeling the subtle pulse of the seed, overwhelmed with joy.
Then he sensed something amiss. Looking up, he saw a faint white silhouette beside him, gazing up at the moon through the branches, lost in thought.
Hearing Jiang Feng’s words, she turned, shaking her head in confusion. “Brightheart Seed? No, no, this isn’t a Brightheart Seed…”
“This is… the Celestial Heart Seed!”
…
…
A ghost?!
Jiang Feng’s eyes widened instantly, alert as he sprang to his feet. He leapt two meters up, his head striking the lowest branch with a loud thud.
The white figure drifted over, gently touching his head, tilting hers as if concerned. “Are you all right?”
The silhouette had head, body, and limbs—a blurry figure, face indistinct, but the voice suggested a woman. Her “hand” was icy, soothing Jiang Feng’s forehead like a cold compress.
Jiang Feng grew more wary, stepping back and asking, “Who are you? What is the Celestial Heart Seed?”
“… What is the Celestial Heart Seed?” she echoed, bewildered.
Jiang Feng frowned. “Didn’t you just say this isn’t a Brightheart Seed, but a Celestial Heart Seed?”
“…Did I?” she replied, equally uncertain.
Jiang Feng stared at her for a long moment. The white figure seemed lost, muddled and ignorant.
He recalled passages from the young lady’s books: sometimes, when people died, a remnant soul lingered, shattered and incomplete, remembering only their deepest obsession from life.
Such remnants rarely lasted long, soon dissipated by the natural bright force of sun and moon.
With this in mind, Jiang Feng felt less afraid. He stood, examining himself. Beneath his skin, a mysterious energy flowed, granting him extraordinary strength.
He sensed the energy radiating from his heart, coursing through his blood to every part of his body.
The seed grew deep within his heart, sprouting a branch, golden energy flowing through it, slowly nourishing the first green fruit.
He tested his abilities, and under the golden energy’s influence, found his strength, speed, and reflexes greatly enhanced.
Yes, this was Brightforce! Whether Brightheart or Celestial Heart, it meant Jiang Feng could now cultivate!
If he persevered, he would someday light all nine fruits, step into the Dawn Realm, and participate in the grand examination—travel to the capital to see the young lady!
His heart surged, and after a long time, he lowered his head.
He spotted a small rabbit, lying motionless by the tree’s roots, as if unconscious.
Jiang Feng crouched and reached out, when the white silhouette drifted over and entered the rabbit’s body. Its ears twitched, it stood up, its red eyes lively in the moonlight.
Jiang Feng withdrew his hand, incredulous. “That remnant soul was actually attached to you?” He thought for a moment. “Did you bring me this Celestial Heart Seed?”
After some reflection, he picked up the rabbit and stood. “No matter who you are, this seed has enabled me to cultivate—thanks to you. Let’s go; I’ll take good care of you!”
A blue shadow flashed as Jiang Feng tapped the roots of the Brightheart Tree, darting out of its range in an instant.
The great tree stood silent, fallen leaves covering the ground. Among its branches, not a single Brightheart Seed remained.
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New book, please recommend and save! The new version of the Little Black Room now has a group writing function, suddenly boosting my motivation. Seeing others writing, I always feel the need to add more words myself…