Chapter Three: The Golden Giant Egg
Everything before them left the sisters, Noxin and Noyu, utterly astonished. The dense forest, the lush, verdant surroundings, and even a few pure white rabbits frolicking freely on the grass—it was a world entirely different from outside the island. This tranquil and harmonious realm seemed almost out of place in their world.
Yet Noyu suddenly recalled something. “Master, was that a secret technique you used just now? You actually managed to break open space!”
Seeing the shock on her disciple’s face, the Supreme Crimson Sword did not elaborate. Though their master said nothing, the sisters’ astonishment could not be dispelled. To breach the fabric of space—what kind of power was that?
Their cultivation might not be supreme, but their experience was considerable. They knew that in the Wild God Continent, their master was already at the pinnacle, having broken the limits of heaven and earth to reach the mysterious Fate Soul Realm. Yet they had never heard of anyone who could tear open space without external aid.
Only now did the sisters realize how extraordinary their master truly was, which explained why she had so casually dismissed the three Undersea Overlords outside. If they possessed such abilities themselves, they would come and go as they pleased!
Despite the peaceful appearance of their surroundings, the sisters did not drop their guard; instead, they heightened their vigilance. Observing this, Supreme Crimson Sword nodded in approval. Clearly, these two girls had learned much. If a cultivator allowed their judgment to be swayed by external appearances, death would not be far off.
Leading them toward the island’s heart, Supreme Crimson Sword proceeded at a deliberate pace, for the island was not large. They had barely walked for long when a blue barrier appeared before them.
“This island may be small, but it is quite extraordinary,” the Supreme said, walking ahead. “Here, one must tread carefully. Many of the formations are born from heaven and earth themselves. If you’re careless, you could be trapped. Don’t underestimate these formations—their destructive power may be limited, but they are more than sufficient for guarding things. The first time I came here, I found so many formations that I thought there must be treasures inside. I ventured in, but instead of finding any treasures, I discovered you two girls.”
Noyu pouted, “Master, am I not as valuable as those treasures?” Seeing her expression, Supreme Crimson Sword smiled, and Noxin’s face was equally amused.
“These formations cannot be dispelled. Each one is a manifestation of heaven and earth. Even after breaking them, they rebuild themselves within the time it takes for incense to burn. We must move quickly.”
Supreme Crimson Sword gathered her true energy, forming a giant sword before her. For a sword cultivator, their weapon is everything. A sharp, crimson sword aura shot forward, instantly dispelling the barrier.
Though it all seemed effortless, the sisters knew that without their master, they could never have broken even the formation before them with their abilities alone.
Following Supreme Crimson Sword, they broke through dozens of formations in succession and finally stopped. What lay before them surprised the sisters greatly. At the island’s center was a lake, its waters crystal clear. In the middle stood a giant stone, and the liquid of the lake was astonishing—it was all spiritual energy condensed into primordial essence.
Atop the stone lay a golden egg, mysterious patterns swirling around it, as spiritual energy from the lake surged ceaselessly into the egg.
Supreme Crimson Sword’s gaze grew tense. The last time she visited, there had been no such egg.
The sisters looked to their master in wonder. Supreme Crimson Sword did not keep them waiting. “When I found you two, you were lying atop that very stone, wrapped in a piece of cloth. I never expected that years later, another giant egg would appear here. Perhaps it will hatch a spirit beast this time?”
Learning that the place where they first appeared was now home to the golden egg, the sisters could not tear their eyes away.
The situation was strikingly similar to the last time. Brilliant lights circled the stone—a high-level formation born of heaven and earth. Even Supreme Crimson Sword could not break it, having tried before. If she forced it, it felt as if her sword was defying heaven itself, with endless pressure crushing down upon her. That experience was unforgettable, the first time she ever felt the full weight of heaven’s might. Her cultivation advanced only after a long time, but she had no desire to undergo such an ordeal again.
Now, she knew she could only wait like those outside. When the egg absorbed enough energy, the formations would dissolve, and she could enter.
The sisters understood the situation and could only wait patiently. Yet they would not waste this opportunity. The spiritual energy here was unimaginably rich, rivaling only the top cultivation arrays of their sect, which consumed vast resources. Such chances were rare.
The sisters found two spots by the lakeshore, sat cross-legged, and began to cultivate. Cultivation is a struggle against the heavens, breaking all barriers and limits, mastering power to rival heaven and earth. For cultivators, even those with extraordinary talent, time is precious. Many geniuses perish in the race against time, so the sisters resolved to seize this moment.
Seeing his disciples’ diligence, Supreme Crimson Sword said nothing and also found a place to cultivate.
As the sisters entered deep meditation, a startling phenomenon unfolded by the lake. Supreme Crimson Sword, just beginning her own cultivation, was stunned. The lake’s boundless spiritual energy poured into the sisters’ bodies, just as it did into the golden egg.
“Could it be because these girls were discovered here?” Supreme Crimson Sword tried cultivating herself, but found that her absorption was no different from outside—she could only gather a few wisps, even less than usual.
Unable to cultivate further, Supreme Crimson Sword stopped and quietly regulated her breath, watching her disciples closely.
Hours passed. The sisters seemed to have forgotten everything around them, yet their aura kept growing. Only a few months ago, they had entered the Spirit Core Realm, but now their aura had reached the mid-stage. In just a few hours, their progress was shocking—Supreme Crimson Sword had never seen such a thing in all her years.
Night fell, but the island was as bright as day. Spiritual energy continued to surge into the sisters, their aura growing stronger and stronger. Soon, they would break through to the Central Meridian Realm. For their age, such advancement was terrifying.
Just as Supreme Crimson Sword was marveling, the spiritual energy in the lake suddenly churned violently, rushing into the mysterious egg. With a crack, the golden egg split open, as if a young beast was about to be born. Supreme Crimson Sword’s gaze never left the egg.
When the cracks spread across the whole egg, the cry of a human infant was heard. Supreme Crimson Sword was certain—it was unmistakably a human baby’s cry. As the spiritual energy slowly dissipated, a human child appeared atop the stone.
Supreme Crimson Sword was utterly stunned. A human baby, born from an egg!
Before she could recover, the spiritual energy beside her surged again—the unmistakable sign of someone breaking through. Turning, she saw both sisters advancing into the Central Meridian Realm.
Noxin felt as if she were in a marvelous state, as if her cultivation had no barriers, and she could easily break through to a higher realm. Yet the sensation soon faded. When it disappeared, she opened her eyes to see her master staring at her in disbelief.
Testing her own energy, she realized she had indeed broken through—was that feeling real? Looking at her sister, she saw the same unsteady aura; both had advanced to a new realm.
Suddenly, Noxin thought of something and turned her gaze to the stone in the lake. The golden egg was gone; instead, a baby was crying atop the stone.
What was happening?