William Sha frowned as he gazed at the unconscious Jade Sha. After half an incense stick's time, he suddenly placed his hand on Jade's brow.
Another half incense stick passed before William Sha withdrew his hand, his eyes now brimming with murderous intent.
"Father?" Peter Sha noticed the killing intent in William Sha's eyes and asked immediately. He had always believed that his daughter Jade Sha was in a coma due to a cultivation mishap.
Since his daughter's coma was supposedly caused by a cultivation problem, why would her father harbor such murderous intent?
William Sha spoke calmly, "You can't be blamed for this. With your current cultivation level, it’s impossible for you to detect what’s wrong with Jade." (Cultivation level refers to one's progress in the mystical path of self-improvement and cosmic power.)
"Father, what happened to Jade?" Peter Sha asked urgently. (Jade Sha is his daughter, not son.)
William Sha replied coldly, "Jade’s Dao Seed has been forcibly stripped away by someone..."
For someone to forcibly strip away Jade Sha’s Dao Seed, only a cultivator at the second step of Dao Advancement (a realm beyond Dao Transformation, where one’s understanding of cosmic laws deepens) could discern it. His daughter Jade Sha was only at the early Dao Transformation stage (a critical phase where a cultivator refines their Dao into a more advanced form), so it was natural she couldn’t tell. As for the Dao Healers and Pill Masters Peter invited, they were surely only first-step cultivators. After all, Peter Sha didn’t have the qualifications to invite a Dao Origin powerhouse.
"What?" Peter Sha’s entire body erupted with killing intent, nearly solidifying in the air. To dare strip his daughter's Dao Seed—this was courting death.
"Such audacity..." Peter Sha clenched his fists, unable to restrain himself, wanting to rush out and unleash havoc. In his mind, he was already pondering who could have gotten close to his daughter and stripped away her Dao Seed.
William Sha waved his hand, "I don't think someone necessarily had to approach Jade to take her Dao Seed. It's also possible Jade placed her Dao Seed outside herself."
"Father?" Peter Sha looked at his father in confusion. Jade's talent is so extraordinary, and it's a growth-type talent. How could she possibly leave her Dao Seed outside herself?
William Sha spoke calmly, "If someone really managed to approach Jade and dig out her Dao Seed, she wouldn't just be gravely injured and unconscious—she would have died outright. I doubt that person would pass up the chance to kill Jade, only stripping her Dao Seed. So the only possibility is Jade herself placed her Dao Seed somewhere and someone found it and took it..."
"What should we do then?" Peter Sha asked anxiously.
William Sha restrained his powerful killing intent and said slowly, "Let Jade wake up and tell us herself."
"But..." Peter Sha wanted to say that he had invited so many Dao Healers and Pill Masters, none of whom could awaken Jade.
William Sha said blandly, "Others can't wake Jade because they don't know what the second step is."
After saying this, William Sha's hand once again covered Jade's brow, and a faint Dao aura instantly enveloped her.
In just half an incense stick's time, Jade Sha opened her eyes, her pale face gaining a hint of color. "Father, Grandpa..."
The first thing Jade Sha saw was that both her father and grandfather were here.
"Jade, don't worry. Your grandfather has already crossed into the second step—a realm of profound Dao mastery—and he will definitely be able to save you," Peter Sha said excitedly, comforting his daughter upon seeing her awake.
William Sha's expression softened as he said, "Jade, tell your grandfather, how did you end up like this? And how did you lose your Dao Seed?"
Hearing that her grandfather had crossed into the second step, Jade Sha's eyes flashed with excitement, but then she showed regret and said, "Father, Grandpa, I made a mistake in this matter."
"Don't worry, no matter what it is, your grandfather and I will stand up for you," Peter Sha doted on his daughter to the extreme. Not only was she outstanding, even if she wasn't, he would never allow anyone to harm her.
"Yes, Father." Jade Sha knew this was no small matter—it concerned her lifelong Dao (the ultimate path or principle she pursues in cultivation).
William Sha nodded warmly. "Your father is right. For the Sha family, not killing others is already a good thing. No matter who wants to harm our family, they should think twice, let alone try to strip the Dao Seed of a direct descendant. If this grudge is not avenged, our Sha family does not deserve to stand in the Dao Domain for a million years." (The Dao Domain is the legendary world of cultivation where powerful clans and sects vie for supremacy.)
With her father and grandfather's assurance, Jade Sha's spirits lifted. She slowly said, "Years ago, I went to the Wormhole for a trial with Neiluan, the young master of the Qianyuan Trading Guild..."
With her father and grandfather's assurance, Jade Sha's spirits lifted. She slowly said, "Years ago, I went to the Wormhole for a trial with Neiluan, the young master of the Qianyuan Trading Guild..." (The Wormhole is a place for cultivators to undergo dangerous trials and temper their Dao.)
Jade Sha continued, "In the Wormhole guard area, I chanced upon a cultivator who had ascended from the lower realm. He actually possessed a Dao Seed cultivation method..."
William Sha and Peter Sha both nodded. For an Immortal Emperor in the Dao Domain (a high-level cultivator who has achieved near-immortality), the Wormhole trial was the safest place. Jade Sha's choice to go there was very reasonable.
The Dao Seed is a seed formed from a cultivator’s Dao. Its strength depends on the cultivator’s Dao and the recognition it receives from heaven and earth. In a way, it reflects the cultivator’s talent—the higher the talent, the stronger the Dao Seed.
William Sha suddenly thought of how Jade Sha’s talent kept improving. Could it be related to this Dao Seed cultivation method?
If William Sha could think of it, Peter Sha naturally did too. Both looked at Jade Sha expectantly.
The Dao Seed is a seed formed from a cultivator’s Dao, representing their comprehension and talent. Its strength depends on the cultivator’s Dao and the recognition it receives from heaven and earth. In a way, it reflects the cultivator’s talent—the higher the talent, the stronger the Dao Seed.
"But why did you leave your Dao Seed outside yourself?" William Sha asked in confusion.
If William Sha could think of it, Peter Sha naturally did too. Both looked at Jade Sha expectantly.
Wormhole! Peter Sha and William Sha exchanged glances, both instantly understanding. The Dao Seed needed to absorb the Dao traces of cultivators about to form their Dao Seed—what place could be more suitable than the Wormhole?
The Wormhole was full of Immortal Emperors about to condense their Dao Seeds. These Emperors would condense their Dao Seeds and then forge their Dao.
"But why did you leave your Dao Seed outside yourself?" William Sha asked in confusion. (It is extremely risky for a cultivator to leave their Dao Seed unguarded, as it is the essence of their cultivation.)
Jade Sha gave a small nod, regretful. "I shouldn’t have kept it from Grandpa and Father. I wanted to wait until I’d condensed the Dao Seed and then tell you its grade, but... but..."
Wormhole! Peter Sha and William Sha exchanged glances, both instantly understanding. The Dao Seed needed to absorb the Dao traces of cultivators about to form their Dao Seed—what place could be more suitable than the Wormhole, where countless cultivators gather for this purpose?
The Wormhole was full of Immortal Emperors about to condense their Dao Seeds. These Emperors would condense their Dao Seeds and then forge their Dao (refining their ultimate cultivation path).
If he’d known, the Dao Seed would certainly have been guarded.
Jade Sha gave a small nod, regretful. "I shouldn’t have kept it from Grandpa and Father. I wanted to wait until I’d condensed the Dao Seed and then tell you its grade, but... but..."
William Sha and Peter Sha understood Jade Sha’s intention—she wanted to surprise them and make them look forward to her even more.
"Your Dao Seed is already six-pointed. If someone destroys it, even if your grandfather and I kill them, your Dao Seed will be lost," Peter Sha said angrily, feeling Jade was too reckless. Can a Dao Seed just be left outside so casually?
If he’d known, the Dao Seed would certainly have been guarded.
"Father, my Dao Seed is already seven-pointed..." Jade Sha said softly.
Peter Sha grew even angrier at this—his own Dao Seed had only reached five points back then. A seven-pointed Dao Seed was the mark of a true genius.
William Sha waved his hand, signaling Peter Sha not to be angry, then said more gently, "You can’t entirely blame Jade for this. I suspect the Dao Seed needs cultivators to approach it in order to absorb their Dao traces. If we sent someone to guard it, it would be discovered sooner or later, and no one would approach the Dao Seed—then it couldn’t absorb Dao traces."