Legend had it that when a God-Granted Divine Body descended, it would release a wondrous phenomenon.
That phenomenon possessed tremendous power as well.
Once the phenomenon subsided, most of that power would return to the host's body.
However, a portion of that power would scatter into the mortal world.
If that power dissipated, then so be it—but if it did not dissipate, it would coalesce into a physical object, even developing its own consciousness and the ability to cultivate. Over time, it would become an independent life form capable of taking human shape.
Such an object was known as a God-Granted Spirit Object.
A God-Granted Divine Body's power was formidable, but how much of it could actually be wielded depended entirely on the host's own cultivation.
The God-Granted Spirit Object, however, was different. Even if it was only an exceedingly minute fraction of the God-Granted Divine Power, once it had separated from the whole and formed an independent life form, the power it wielded was still absolutely terrifying.
What Qing Xuantian sought was precisely a God-Granted Spirit Object.
This was precisely why Qing Xuantian's uncle had been so worried.
Qing Xuantian's uncle could only pin his hopes on the possibility that the legend of the God-Granted Spirit Object was false.
But Qing Xuantian knew full well that this legend was true.
Right now, Qing Xuantian had arrived deep within a dense forest, where a lake lay hidden in its depths.
The lake was not particularly large, yet its waters were… golden.
Qing Xuantian had tracked his way here not by any map, but by instinct.
After all, the God-Granted Spirit Object hidden here had separated from Qing Xuantian's own God-Granted Divine Power.
Even though it had long since become an independent life form, Qing Xuantian could still sense it.
Whoosh—
Without warning, Qing Xuantian plunged into the water like a flood dragon, plunging straight toward the deepest reaches of the lake.
At the bottom, the lake was pitch black—nothing could be seen.
But Qing Xuantian flicked a finger, and the dark lakebed suddenly blazed with brilliant light.
Now, it could be clearly seen that coiled at the very bottom of the lake was… a creature.
It was a dragon—a resplendent, golden dragon.
At that moment, the golden dragon's enormous eyes, bright as lanterns, slowly opened.
The instant those eyes opened, a fierce, murderous gleam blazed forth, and that terrifying gaze locked directly onto Qing Xuantian.
"Bold mortal, daring to disturb this Venerable One's rest—truly seeking death!"
The golden dragon actually spoke, its voice booming like rolling thunder.
Simultaneously, the coiled golden dragon unfurled its body. Its frame stretched to nearly a hundred meters—a true colossus.
Its dragon tail whipped through the water, and in an instant a massive vortex churned to life within the lake. The vortex surged and churned, radiating a tremendous pulling force. Everything within the lake began hurtling toward the golden dragon, dragged along by that suction.
Only Qing Xuantian remained standing, motionless, in the lake.