"Really?" Tang Wulin's eyes lit up brightly, emotions stirred within him as hope was rekindled.
Seeing how happy the child was, A Yin revealed a gentle smile, nodding slightly as she said:"Really. Next, I'll help you awaken the bloodline within your body. Are you ready?"
"I'm ready, let's start quickly!" Tang Wulin said impatiently, standing straight, looking at A Yin with eager anticipation.
A Yin lifted her palm, and a gentle force lifted Tang Wulin off the ground, suspending him as his arms naturally spread open.
From within Tang Wulin's body, blue-gold light surged out, mixed faintly with dark black gleams. As the radiance overflowed, his body began to undergo subtle changes.
A comfortable sensation spread across his limbs and bones, making Tang Wulin moan unconsciously. His body felt warm and cozy, while his palms itched intensely, like someone scratching them with a stalk of foxtail grass.
Sensing the changes inside Tang Wulin, A Yin smiled softly. This child was truly fortunate—not only could he possess the Blue Silver Emperor martial soul, but he could also inherit the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul.
Meanwhile, in Mingdu, within the branch of the Spirit Transferring Tower, Yunze and Gu Yuena were led by staff members into a circular chamber.
"Would you like me to explain the workings of the Spirit Ascension Tower?" the staff member asked with a polite smile.
"No need. You can leave first. I know how to operate it here," Gu Yuena said indifferently.
"Alright." The staff member obediently left. He knew Gu Yuena's identity, which explained his respectful attitude.
"Are we really going to look for that Lava Lord?" Gu Yuena asked, worry in her heart. She wasn't comfortable with Yunze seeking out the Lava Lord as his spirit.
The main function of the Spirit Ascension Tower was to let soul masters enter and, by hunting simulated spirit beasts, increase the age of their spirit rings. But within it also existed true spirit souls.
These spirit souls could be absorbed. Yunze's plan now was to enter the Spirit Ascension Tower and absorb one such spirit soul—the Lava Lord.
Yesterday, while Gu Yuena was on the phone with Leng Yaozhu to purchase spirit souls, she casually asked if there were any particularly powerful fire-attribute spirit souls inside the Tower.
Knowing the question was on Yunze's behalf, Leng Yaozhu had specifically checked the database of the Spirit Transferring Tower and recommended several top-tier fire-attribute spirit souls available in Mingdu's branch. The best among them was undoubtedly the Lava Lord.
The Lava Lord, also called the Lava Behemoth, was an ancient variant species. Before becoming a spirit soul, it lived within blazing magma, said to have been birthed directly from molten rock itself.
Its appearance was humanoid, but massive in size. Even a newly born Lava Behemoth exceeded five meters in height, making it one of the largest types of soul beasts.
With its overwhelming strength and ultimate fire-attribute power, the Lava Behemoth possessed combat ability comparable to true dragons—undoubtedly a super soul beast.
This type of soul beast was extremely rare. According to Leng Yaozhu, there were only two Lava Lord spirit souls in the Spirit Tower—one of ten-thousand years in age at headquarters, and another of over four-thousand years here in Mingdu's branch. The latter served as the guardian of the intermediate-to-advanced levels of the Spirit Ascension Tower.
Don't underestimate it just because it was "only" over four thousand years. Its actual strength surpassed many ten-thousand-year beasts. At the very least, it had the power of a Soul Sage, perhaps even comparable to a Soul Douluo.
The Lava Lord spirit soul was also known by another name: the Unyielding Spirit Soul. Proud and untamable, coupled with its terrifying strength, it was almost impossible for it to become a human's spirit soul.
Forcibly absorbing it could even cost one's life. Few dared to try.As for those who did attempt to absorb an Unyielding Spirit Soul—all had died miserably. To this day, there was no successful precedent.
The only reason Leng Yaozhu had mentioned such a spirit soul was because she believed it impossible to absorb, so revealing it caused no harm. On the contrary, it would make Gu Yuena think she was being completely open and honest.
"Relax. Other Unyielding Spirit Souls I can't say, but this fire-attribute Lava Lord has no choice but to bow before me. It won't take my life." Yunze smiled faintly.
He was utterly calm, without the slightest hint of nervousness—so much so that, compared to Gu Yuena's worry, it looked like she was the one about to challenge this terrifying spirit soul, while Yunze was merely a bystander.
Seeing that Yunze had made up his mind, Gu Yuena said no more. She pressed a button on the wall, and two metallic pods slid out.
Yunze and Gu Yuena each entered one pod. After lying down, suction-cup-like devices extended from the walls of the pods, quickly attaching themselves to their bodies.
The pods sealed automatically, leaving only darkness inside. Soon, Yunze felt tingling sensations spread through his body, followed by mild electric currents entering his brain.
He deliberately let the current flow instead of dispelling it. His head grew heavy and hazy, but before long the haze dissipated, and light returned to his vision.
When he opened his eyes, he no longer saw the dark pod interior but towering trees all around him. Through gaps between trunks, he glimpsed wild grass and thorny undergrowth in the distance.
Sunlight filtered down through swaying leaves, shifting gently with the breeze.
"A half-real, half-illusory space," Yunze murmured, quickly discerning the nature of this world.
"Feels amazing, doesn't it? The first time I came here, I was also shocked. Who would've thought human technology had reached such a level?" Gu Yuena appeared not far from Yunze and walked toward him.
"For this world's civilization, it truly is impressive. The person who first created the Spirit Ascension Tower had remarkable vision," Yunze said.
From his perspective, it wasn't anything extraordinary. But from the standpoint of this world's beings, it was indeed miraculous.
There was no need to judge everything solely from his own standard. Otherwise, all he'd ever do was criticize.
"Yes, though I despise humans, I must admit—their wisdom far surpasses that of soul beasts. Even if soul beasts had a hundred thousand years, they could never build something like the Spirit Ascension Tower. One has to admit it." Gu Yuena sighed.
"I truly envy human intelligence. If soul beasts possessed such wisdom, would we have been hunted nearly to extinction?" she lamented.
Yunze shook his head:
"Each has their own strengths. Humans are clever and reproduce quickly. Soul beasts have powerful bodies and long lifespans. Each has its advantages. There's no need to envy human gifts.
"As for the current plight of soul beasts—wisdom plays a role, but the real issue is that you haven't made use of your own gifts.
"Especially longevity. Used properly, that advantage alone would've ensured soul beasts never fell into this desperate state."
Gu Yuena understood. She regretted not urging Di Tian and the others to integrate into human society earlier. With their long lifespans, they could have infiltrated the Federation's great powers and military, eventually seizing control. In that case, soul beasts wouldn't be hunted to the brink of extinction.
"Enough of that for now. Let's go find the Lava Lord." Yunze said, changing the subject.
"Alright." Gu Yuena nodded, walking with him toward the forest's center.