The Recognition of The Origin Heir

Chapter 205: The Recognition of the Origin Heir

The ancient tree stood silently above the ruins. Its enormous roots penetrated the surrounding stone structures, disappearing beneath the earth like countless golden serpents. Faint patterns covered its bark, glowing and fading in a rhythm that resembled slow breathing.

Aether studied it from a distance. The injuries left by the Golden Radiance Ancient Clan's Patriarch's projection had not disappeared. Although he had stabilized his condition, his internal circulation remained disturbed. His vitality had recovered somewhat, but the damage inflicted by an existence at that level was not something he could simply ignore. He wasn't foolish enough to enter an unknown inheritance site while carrying injuries that could compromise his strength.

"System, analyze the tree."

[Analysis initiated.]

[Ancient Origin Tree.]

[Current Condition: Severely weakened.]

[Detected Characteristics: Ancient Origin Energy, Suppression Authority, Unknown Sealing Function.]

[Additional Information: The tree's current condition is insufficient for complete analysis.]

Aether's eyes narrowed slightly. "Something is sealed beneath it."

[Confirmed. An unknown presence is detected beneath the root structure.]

Mu Qingxue examined the patterns covering the nearest stone pillar. She didn't touch them, instead following their visible arrangement with her eyes. "These are suppression inscriptions. They're connected to the tree's roots, but I can't understand the entire structure. They aren't simply imprisoning something. Some inscriptions appear to be preserving the condition of whatever lies beneath."

"Can you tell whether the seal is stable?"

"Not completely. Its structure is deteriorating, but I can't determine how much time remains before it fails." She paused, her expression growing serious. "Whoever constructed this went to considerable lengths to keep something imprisoned here."

Nyra stood beside Aether, her golden eyes fixed on the ancient tree. Her three tails moved uneasily. "There's something familiar about it. Not the tree itself. Something underneath."

"Your bloodline?"

Nyra nodded. "The closer we get, the stronger the feeling becomes. It's as though something ancient is responding to it."

Aether considered this for a moment before extending one hand. A thin strand of Origin Energy emerged from his palm and drifted toward the tree. The golden patterns immediately responded, and a faint tremor passed through its trunk. Rather than repelling his energy, the tree seemed to recognize it. Several roots shifted, revealing an ancient staircase concealed beneath the stone platform.

Aether withdrew his hand. "So it recognizes my Origin."

[The response indicates a connection between the Ancient Origin Tree and the Origin Heir.]

Aether looked toward the newly revealed staircase. "Interesting."

Before descending, however, he recalled something. His injuries were still troublesome, and entering an unknown chamber without first improving his condition would be an unnecessary gamble. His thoughts moved toward the Ancient Dragon Treasury Ring.

Long Zhentian had given him five gifts: the Origin Dragon Scale, Earth Dragon Insight, Origin Dragon Essence, Ancient Dragon Treasury Ring, and Ancient Dragon Recognition. He had yet to properly explore everything stored within the treasury.

Aether raised his hand, and the ring appeared. Its surface carried an ancient dragon pattern. When his Origin Energy entered it, the space within opened before his perception. Numerous valuable materials, medicinal ingredients, cultivation resources, and several jade containers were stored inside. His attention settled on a collection of jade bottles.

"System, inspect these."

[Analysis initiated.]

[Multiple medicinal pills detected.]

[Classification: High-quality restorative medicines.]

[Identified Properties: Repair of internal injuries, stabilization of damaged energy circulation, and restoration of depleted vitality.]

[One medicinal pill possesses particularly concentrated restorative properties.]

[Compatibility: Suitable.]

Aether selected the most potent of the identified pills. Its jade bottle bore an ancient dragon emblem. When he removed the stopper, a rich medicinal fragrance escaped. The System confirmed that its properties were suitable for his condition, and he swallowed the pill.

It dissolved almost immediately, releasing a stream of warm medicinal energy throughout his body. Aether guided it toward his damaged internal pathways, carefully controlling its circulation. His Infinite Origin Physique responded, drawing the medicinal properties into his body and gradually integrating them with his existing vitality.

The process wasn't instantaneous. The Patriarch's projection had been powerful. Its attacks had left damage that ordinary healing methods would struggle to repair. Even a precious medicinal pill couldn't erase everything in a moment. Nevertheless, the results were substantial. The disturbed circulation gradually stabilized, his depleted vitality recovered, and the lingering strain throughout his body began to ease. The medicinal energy also nourished his physical body, accelerating the recovery of damaged tissues and improving its ability to withstand the pressure of Origin Energy.

Aether paid particular attention to that final change. His physical cultivation couldn't remain secondary to his energy cultivation. A powerful foundation required a body capable of supporting it. The stronger his Origin became, the more important it was to strengthen the vessel through which he controlled it. The pill had provided an opportunity to restore more than just his immediate combat condition.

Where this story was originally posted, the author publishes this chapter; this version was copied without approval.

[Internal Condition: Stabilized.]

[Recovery Progress: Significant improvement.]

[Physical Condition: Improving.]

[Remaining Injuries: Present.]

Aether slowly released his breath. The pill had been worth considerably more than an ordinary healing resource. He returned the remaining bottles to the treasury. There were several others worth preserving, and he had no intention of wasting precious resources simply because they were available.

"Long Zhentian's treasury came in handy."

A faint smile crossed his face. The old dragon had given him considerably more than a collection of valuable objects. There was still much he could learn from that ally, particularly regarding ancient treasures and opportunities for physical tempering. Aether intended to make full use of that connection.

Mu Qingxue had been watching him. Her gaze briefly settled on his face. "Your injuries were worse than you let us believe."

"They were troublesome. They're considerably better now."

"That's not the same as being fully recovered."

"I know."

Mu Qingxue frowned slightly but didn't argue further. Nyra moved closer, examining him with her golden eyes. "If something happens again, tell us before you push yourself that far."

Aether looked at her, then at Mu Qingxue. "I'll keep that in mind." He understood their concern, even if he had no intention of allowing injuries to dictate every decision he made.

After confirming that his condition was stable, he turned toward the staircase. "Jin Wuchen."

A shadow emerged from beneath his feet, followed by four others.

"Take the surrounding ruins and investigate them. Look for records, resources, or anything connected to this tree. Don't disturb any sealed structures. If you discover something dangerous, report it before acting."

The five shadows bowed silently. "Understood."

They separated and disappeared into the surrounding ruins. Aether then looked toward his companions. "Let's go."

The descent was longer than expected. Ancient carvings covered the walls. Some depicted enormous trees, while others showed figures standing beneath a sky filled with countless stars. Their faces had been worn away by time, leaving only vague outlines.

The deeper they descended, the stronger Nyra's reaction became. Her breathing gradually changed.

"Aether..."

He stopped. "What is it?"

"Something down there is calling to my bloodline." Her golden eyes had become unusually bright.

"Does it feel hostile?"

Nyra hesitated. "No. But it's ancient. Much older than anything I've sensed before."

"Then don't respond to it carelessly. Observe first."

Nyra nodded.

Eventually, the staircase opened into an enormous underground chamber. At its center rested a dark ancient coffin. Countless golden roots extended from the ceiling and surrounding walls, converging around it. Each root carried faint suppression inscriptions, their light flickering as though they were struggling to maintain their function.

Aether immediately understood why the tree above had been weakening. It wasn't merely growing in these ruins. It was sustaining the seal.

Mu Qingxue moved closer to one of the outer pillars. "The inscriptions are deteriorating. Their connection to the tree is weakening. Whatever is inside that coffin, the suppression won't last forever."

"Can you determine how much time remains?"

She shook her head. "I can only tell that the structure is unstable. I can't calculate when it will fail."

Aether accepted her answer. He approached the coffin but stopped several steps away. The surrounding Origin Energy felt strangely heavy.

Then—

Thump.

A faint heartbeat echoed through the chamber. Nyra's tails stiffened, and the ancient roots trembled. A second heartbeat followed, stronger than the first.

Aether's eyes narrowed. "Something inside is awake."

A voice suddenly emerged from the coffin.

"At last..."

It was old, but not weak. Its tone carried a peculiar mixture of exhaustion and disbelief.

"After all these years... the Origin Heir has finally arrived."

Mu Qingxue's expression changed. Nyra instinctively moved closer to Aether, but he remained calm.

"You recognize me?"

"How could I fail to recognize that presence?" The voice paused. "The Origin... the authority that once stood above all things. Even after its fragmentation, its true heir has appeared before me."

Aether's gaze sharpened. "Then tell me what you know."

A faint sound came from within the coffin. A restrained laugh.

"Direct. You do not even ask what I am?"

"If you wanted to introduce yourself, you would have already done so."

For several moments, the chamber remained silent. Then the ancient voice laughed again. "Ha! It seems the Origin Heir has little patience for ceremony. Very well. I have spent too many years speaking to silence. A direct conversation will make a pleasant change."

Aether ignored the remark. "Why was the Origin divided?"

For the first time, the voice didn't immediately respond. When it finally spoke, its tone had become considerably more serious.

"Because something happened in the ancient era. The Origin, once a complete existence, ceased to remain whole. Its authority disappeared from the world. Ancient inheritances were buried, bloodlines weakened, and the foundations upon which countless civilizations stood began to change."

Aether listened without interrupting.

"Who caused it?"

"I do not know."

The answer came without hesitation. Aether's eyes narrowed slightly. "You witnessed the fragmentation, yet you don't know who caused it?"

"I witnessed its consequences. I did not witness its origin."

"Then distinguish between what you know and what you suspect. I have no interest in hearing speculation presented as truth."

The chamber fell silent. The ancient being eventually let out a quiet sigh.

"Even in the ancient era, those who sought answers often mistook fragments of knowledge for the complete truth."

"You're avoiding the question."

"No. I am admitting the limits of my knowledge. There is a difference."

Aether studied the coffin. That answer was more useful than an elaborate story filled with unverified claims.

"Continue."

"I was sealed here by those who wished to preserve the remnants of the ancient era. They believed that even if the Origin could not be restored, its traces should not disappear completely."

"Who were they?"

"I cannot tell you with certainty. Their identities were concealed even from me."

Aether's expression remained unchanged, but his thoughts moved rapidly. The existence inside the coffin was old enough to have witnessed the consequences of Origin Fragmentation, yet it had been deliberately sealed away. That suggested the ancient era had not simply ended through natural decline. Someone had wanted its remaining traces preserved.

Or perhaps hidden.

"System."

[Detected Historical Information: Origin Fragmentation.]

[Previous Records: No corresponding information available.]

[Information Reliability: Unverified.]

[Potential Connection: Infinite Origin Physique and Origin Heir.]

Aether dismissed the notification. The System had no previous records, meaning even its knowledge of the Origin's ancient history was incomplete. That alone made this encounter more valuable than he had initially expected.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingxue continued observing the outer inscriptions. She occasionally glanced toward Aether, clearly aware that the conversation concerned something far beyond an ordinary ancient inheritance. Nyra remained unusually quiet. Her bloodline was reacting more strongly now, but she had not lost control. She watched the coffin with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

Aether noticed her reaction. "Does it feel hostile?"

Nyra shook her head. "No. But it feels connected to something within my bloodline. I don't understand the connection yet."

"Then we'll investigate it carefully."

He turned his attention back toward the coffin. For now, the being inside held information he needed.

"Continue. Tell me what happened after the Origin was divided."

The ancient existence remained silent for several moments. When it finally spoke, its voice carried a weight that had not been present before.

"Then listen carefully, Origin Heir. What I am about to tell you is why the world you see today became what it is."

The golden roots trembled once more.

And beneath the ancient coffin, something answered with a second heartbeat.