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In the depths of his consciousness, a soft exclamation caught Xu Yuan's attention.
Immersed in the changes to his essence, Xu Yuan hadn't realized that he had entered a mysterious space.
In the vast white expanse, an elder brimming with life energy was observing him.
"Who are you?"
Xu Yuan's heart stirred—he already had an inkling of the other's identity.
"Me? You can call me Elder Tree."
"Elder Tree? Are you the consciousness of the Golden Ancient Tree?" Xu Yuan feigned surprise, making a "bold guess."
"A clever lad—just from a simple title, you've connected so many dots." Elder Tree chuckled and nodded, neither denying nor confirming.
Indeed, it was the consciousness born from the Golden Ancient Tree.
The Golden Ancient Tree had once been the previous generation's Child of Nature. After being discovered by the Sea God, it was transplanted to this core region of the continent, becoming the foundation of Shrek Academy and giving rise to the Sea God Pavilion.
Elder Tree was the will that had gradually emerged from the Golden Ancient Tree over countless years.
"To be able to resonate with heaven and earth to such an extent through your own abilities—you are truly remarkable, child," Elder Tree said with an appreciative tone.
Inwardly, it sighed: "If the godly realm still existed, with this child's talent, his achievements would surely be extraordinary. Even now, without the godly realm, his potential might surpass that of his teacher outside this world."
Yun Ming had already formed the rudimentary shape of a divine position, and for over a decade, the surrounding heaven and earth of the Sea God Island had remained under his control. It was likely that even the Plane Lord, who occasionally drifted between clarity and slumber, couldn't intrude into this domain.
But Elder Tree was different. Its very essence was the Golden Ancient Tree, which resided within this area—it could clearly perceive Yun Ming's accomplishments.
The rudimentary divine position.
To surpass him meant either forming an even stronger divine position or fully condensing a true divine position!
Unfortunately, Elder Tree knew the latter was highly unlikely.
At best, Xu Yuan might also form a rudimentary divine position, reaching Yun Ming's level—or perhaps even getting closer to a true divine position. He might break through to godhood in both soul power and spiritual force, following the path of a pure cosmic cultivator.
If that happened, perhaps there would still be hope for the Douluo Continent.
A flicker of worry passed through Elder Tree's eyes.
It didn't hate them, but deep down, it didn't wish for the plane to fall entirely under one person's control.
"Elder Tree, may I ask if there is anything amiss with my cultivation?" Xu Yuan asked respectfully, adopting a tone of inquiry.
Rather than believing this Elder Tree was Ag Yin transformed, Xu Yuan preferred to think it had no connection to her. If there was any relationship at all, it was likely akin to that of a host and a parasite.
If Ag Yin had completely taken over the Golden Ancient Tree, even this Elder Tree's consciousness would be of her making. In that case, what real significance would it hold if Shrek fell, the Golden Ancient Tree withered, and a new Tree of Life blossomed as the plane's core?
Yun Ming, as a quasi-deity, might have achieved something unusual in forming a rudimentary divine position—but could he truly rival the Plane Lord or the plane's core?
Even in slumber, such a catastrophic event would surely evoke some awareness.
Xu Yuan believed more firmly that Shrek's downfall was part of the natural flow of events.
"There's no major issue. Your two martial souls are still somewhat lacking—I'll grant you a boon." Elder Tree smiled and waved its hand, infusing a dense green light into Xu Yuan's body.
Xu Yuan's consciousness abruptly jolted awake, returning to his meditation space.
A surge of immense vitality flooded in from the outside.
Ignoring the external changes, Xu Yuan focused on refining this vitality, guiding it into his two recovering martial souls.
A small portion integrated into his Heaven Origin Brush martial soul, while the vast majority flowed into his Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear. More precisely, nearly half of this majority merged directly into Xu Yuan's blood qi.
Vitality, the essence of life.
The enhancement of life essence was evidently beneficial to his blood qi.
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Outside World
Yun Ming's expression changed drastically.
The elders of the Sea God Pavilion gathered in this room, watching Xu Yuan seated cross-legged.
"What has Little Yuan done?"
The entire Golden Ancient Tree was channeling its power into him!
This was the accumulated vitality of tens of thousands of years, visibly diminishing before their eyes.
Though shocked, Yun Ming, knowing Xu Yuan well, felt no blame—only delight. The other elders, after their initial astonishment, also revealed expressions of joy.
They had long planned to cultivate Xu Yuan as the leader of the new generation of the Seven Treasures of Shrek, treating him as a figure akin to Yun Ming in his time.
Now, even the Golden Ancient Tree seemed to have chosen him.
How could this not bring them joy?
This was an event that hadn't occurred in ten thousand years.
So, had Little Yuan's talent truly caught the attention of Elder Tree?
Xu Yuan frowned in thought.
He sensed the changes in his two martial souls.
The Heaven Origin Brush had gained a surge of life essence, its soul skills seemingly growing stronger. Even the Heaven Origin Brush itself appeared to have acquired a life attribute.
These changes were focused on evolution.
However, the vitality infused into the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear was different.
Xu Yuan felt a soul ring beginning to coalesce.
Oh no, am I about to become the Child of Nature?
If I reveal myself, I'll be obliterated in an instant!
Being the Child of Nature came with many benefits—perhaps even the innate ability to devour abyssal energy, which would be significant for Xu Yuan—but it would also attract numerous complications.
Still, overall, it was a good thing.
Caught between joy and concern, Xu Yuan observed the transformations in his martial souls.
Outside, the two martial souls above his head had fully formed. At this moment, he became a true Three-Life Martial Soul user.
As a Three-Life Martial Soul user, they couldn't manifest simultaneously.
Now, the martial souls above his head began to alternate. The Heaven Origin Brush and the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear switched back and forth.
When the Heaven Origin Brush appeared, it bore four purple soul rings.
When the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear manifested, it displayed three purple soul rings.
As the two martial souls alternated, Yun Ming and the others rubbed their eyes.
"Master, is Little Yuan forming his fourth soul ring?"
The fourth soul ring of the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear?
Yun Ming nodded.
What an incredible sight.
Yun Ming had a general grasp of Xu Yuan's cultivation progress. The spirit soul of the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear, the Five Elements Spear Spirit, was only a thousand-year spirit soul. Logically, it should have been able to provide only three soul rings at most. So, where did this fourth soul ring come from?
Could it be a gift from Elder Tree?
A flicker of astonishment passed through Yun Ming's eyes.
That would indeed be a tremendous boon.
Soon, the astonishment faded, replaced by a hint of regret.
Because he saw clearly: when Xu Yuan's martial soul switched to the Heaven Origin Five Elements Spear, the first three purple soul rings deepened in color, with more black patterns emerging. In that instant, the transformation was most intense—the blackness seemed to spawn instantly, spreading across the entire soul ring.
All three soul rings turned completely black!
And the fourth soul ring currently forming had a black base, interwoven with shimmering green light like twinkling stars.
The changes didn't stop there.
Yun Ming observed that the three soul rings that had become ten-thousand-year rings were also transforming. A green glow mixed with crimson blood qi formed intricate patterns, along with sparkling starlight.
These changes soon synchronized with the fourth soul ring as well.
The fourth soul ring solidified, fully formed.
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