Chapter 617: World Seed

"Primordial Nexus?" Gumiho asked, tilting her head.

"It is the place where the energy of the heavens combines with the World Energy," Maximilian explained, wiping the blood from his cheeks with his sleeves. "Basically, the Primordial Nexus is the connection between the world and the heavens. Only planets with a Primordial Nexus possess Soulforce, allowing their inhabitants to cultivate."

He slowly opened his eyes, which could only see blurry figures for now, and continued, "Normally, the Primordial Nexus remains hidden within the core of the world to keep it safe. Because if it’s damaged, the planet will lose its connection to the heavens. It appears on the surface for one reason only!"

Gumiho held her breath in anticipation, her fluffy ears rising.

"To cultivate its Supreme Existence."

"Huh?" Gumiho tilted her head, seeming unconvinced. "But the Lingtian Mountains have been here for several hundred years."

"That’s natural," Maximilian replied. "The Primordial Nexus needs time to establish itself on the surface, so it usually appears a few years before the emergence of a Supreme Existence. Moreover, you are the only one who doesn’t feel any pressure here because the world recognises you as its guardian."

He pointed towards the distant star.

"Look, that’s the core of the Primordial Nexus. It’s called the World Seed. If one cultivates the World Seed, they can obtain unimaginable powers and reach immortality."

"Immortality!?" Gumiho exclaimed, her voice echoing through the empty clouds. "But isn’t immortality only a myth? No beast or demon in Vyoman has ever reached the Primordial Realm, and neither has any human reached the Divine Immortal Realm. I have never heard of any human at the True God Realm, a beast at the Divine Beast Realm, or a demon at the Abyss King Realm either."

"The world is vast, Gumiho," Maximilian said in a serious tone. "You haven’t seen or heard of one doesn’t mean they don’t exist."

"So have you seen one?" Gumiho asked, curiosity laced in her voice. "An Immortal?"

Maximilian shook his head. His fists tightened at his sides as he revealed, "But I have seen someone as powerful as a True God or Divine Beast."

"Reeaaaallyyyy???" she asked, leaning towards him, her eyes burning with excitement. "Who is he? Where is he? How did you two meet? Can I also meet th—Ack!"

Her bombardment of questions stopped midway as Maximilian lightly flicked her forehead.

"I will tell you when the time is right," he muttered, a frown clear on his face. "Now, go and take that World Seed."

"Huhhh!!???" she exclaimed even more loudly. "I definitely should not! What if I accidentally damage it? The world will lose its connection to the heavens."

Maximilian raised his hand again, but Gumiho instantly covered her forehead with both hands and created a distance of several feet between them.

"Come here," Maximilian ordered her.

She shook her head. "You will flick my forehead again."

"Either come here or go take that World Seed," Maximilian ordered, his voice firm and final.

She gave him a silent stare.

"Master, you are a big bully," she muttered before moving towards the location of the Plum Blossom flower.

She returned a few minutes later, carefully holding the flower in both hands.

It wasn’t touching her skin. She held the sphere of transparent, concentrated energy surrounding it.

As she moved towards Maximilian, she saw the wide, unsettling grin on his face.

She slowed her steps.

’The World Seed is a priceless treasure, incomparable to even hundreds of Divine Artifacts. It could even help the cultivator become an Immortal,’ Gumiho murmured inwardly. ’Is this the reason why Master joined the Tiger Clan? He took me in as his disciple because I’m the only one who could bring the World Seed from the Primordial Nexus. This must have been his plan all along.’

Her jaw tightened as she reached Maximilian.

"Here, Master," she said, extending both hands carrying the World Seed towards him.

He took the flower from her hands and began inspecting it with curious eyes from every direction.

Gumiho’s eyes lowered, a hint of disappointment appearing in them.

’He helped me evolve into my Four Tail form and even taught me the method of cultivation,’ she murmured inwardly. ’If not for him, I would have never learned about my true existence. I don’t care about the World Seed. I never wanted to become an Immortal. But... I feel like I have been used and betrayed... again—Ack!’

"Master, why do you keep hitting my forehead!?" Gumiho snapped, her brows furrowing in annoyance.

"I have been calling you for a while now," Maximilian muttered. "What’s on your mind?"

"N-nothing," she whispered, her eyes lowered. "What do you want me to do?"

"Tch, look at the attitude of this brat," Maximilian retorted, handing the flower back to her. "I have checked it. It’s really the World Seed. Take it back to the mountain peak from where you brought it and try to form a connection with the world using it."

Now Gumiho was utterly confused, staring at Maximilian with wide eyes.

"What is it?" he asked, releasing a sigh.

"But, Master, this is the World Seed!" she said, putting more emphasis on the latter words.

"So?"

"It can provide the chance to reach immortality."

"So?"

"Why would you give such a priceless treasure to me?" she asked, unable to understand his intentions. "I only became your disciple yesterday. You could use it to improve your cultivation—Ack!"

"Your stupidity is the reason for your beating," Maximilian muttered, retreating his hand from her forehead after flicking it again. "Why would I take anything that doesn’t belong to me? The World Seed is meant for the Supreme Existence. If anyone else cultivates it, they could barely use thirty percent of its potential. So, go back right now, otherwise, you will be getting flicked again."

Gumiho wasn’t so naive. She understood just how much that thirty percent amounted to. Even if he wouldn’t be able to become an Immortal using the World Seed, he would still become the strongest existence on the planet. Yet, he didn’t even show a single moment of hesitation while returning it. There was no greed in his eyes.

She had never seen someone with such a clear mind. Now, she felt so guilty for questioning the character of her master.

"Master," she murmured, her eyes rising to meet Maximilian’s. "You flick my forehead so softly that it never hurts. Try a bit harder next time."

"Will you keep saying nonsense today?" he muttered, giving her a scary stare. "And those flicks are never meant to cause you physical pain. They are just a reminder when you do something wrong."

He gently patted her head and continued, "I will never hurt you, nor will I let anyone else do so."