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--- Chapter 499 ---
"Is this... the Spirit Ascension Platform?" Han Yuan murmured, standing in the middle of a vast, sun-drenched meadow.
He could feel himself living within a spiritual world that felt frighteningly real. The environment—the crisp scent of wild grass, the gentle breeze brushing against his skin, and the soothing warmth of sunlight filtering from above was rendered to perfection.
The reason Han Yuan could experience such vivid sensory detail was simple. His very spiritual consciousness had been projected into this space.
Moments later, a shimmer of light materialized beside him as Han Tianyi manifested in the meadow. Unlike Han Yuan's solid, lifelike form, however, Han Tianyi's appearance resembled an ethereal, semi-translucent virtual projection.
His cultivation was too powerful.
Han Yuan was currently situated inside the Elementary Spirit Platform, a newbie zone calibrated specifically for young Spirit Masters up to three Spirit Rings—the Spirit Elder realm.
As a full-fledged Super Douluo, Han Tianyi entering with his full presence would instantly overload the domain. Thus, a Spiritual Projection was the best he could manage.
Even in this limited state, he could easily assist his grandson within the platform, though he severely doubted the boy would need any help dealing with the low-tier Spirit Beasts that lived in this zone.
There was a reason the Elementary Spirit Platform was designed strictly as a training ground for youth, after all.
"Yes, this is the Spirit Ascension Platform—the ultimate fruit of wisdom that countless brilliant scholars and grandmasters brought together over many generations," Han Tianyi explained, his projected voice echoing softly across the meadow.
"Simply put, it is essentially an isolated, independent space that the Spirit Pagoda discovered many millennia ago and continuously refined into a special domain capable of nurturing Artificial Spirit Souls and possibly replacing the extinct Spirit Beasts."
"Unfortunately, the original experimentation failed to achieve its true purpose, and the platform naturally evolved into... well, a lucrative business enterprise."
Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Mu Ye and Zhen Hua exchanged wry, amused glances.
"Does he really have to be that blunt with a six-year-old? Disclosing Spirit Pagoda secrets like they were nothing," Mu Ye chuckled, shaking his head. "I doubt Xiao Yuan even understands what he's talking about."
Zhen Hua smiled helplessly. "Who knows... That kid is frighteningly sharp for his age."
Back inside the simulation, Han Tianyi continued recounting the history of the Spirit Ascension Platform.
He even offhandedly commented that if Han Yuan were to find the divine material used to anchor the domain, he could forge an independent Spirit Ascension Platform of his own.
What Han Tianyi didn't realize was that Han Yuan understood the true nature of this 'world' far better than anyone present.
Han Yuan knew the secret history. The Spirit Ascension Platforms were actually built upon shattered Fragments of the Divine Realm that had drifted through the void before being captured and transformed into pocket spaces by human technology.
Deep within his mindscape, the Epoch-Devouring Kun Whale released a low, resonant rumble—an instinctual craving to devour this entire dimensional space whole.
Han Yuan suppressed the urge to devour. He knew there were countless Divine Realm fragments scattered across Douluo Star and its surrounding planes, all fallen during the Space-Time Turbulence that had swept the Douluo Divine Realm away.
He didn't need to destroy the Spirit Pagoda's asset just yet. This faction was still far too useful to him.
All he needed to do was seek out those wild, unclaimed Divine Fragments in the future, harvest them, and fuse them into his Sky Poison Pearl that had already swallowed and refined the Small Grotto Demon plane to construct his own functional Small World.
He merely required time, energy, and complete high-dimensional laws to make it happen. By then, it would be far superior to the Spirit Ascension Platform.
'Well, let's see how things unfold in the future...' Han Yuan noted the idea at the back of his mind before turning to his grandfathers' dim, virtual projection. "Grandpa, should I summon my Martial Soul now?"
"Ah, look at me rambling. You're right, we came here to test your Martial Souls and your new Spirit Skills." Han Tianyi smiled warmly. "Go ahead, summon your first Martial Soul."
Han Yuan nodded and naturally summoned the Underworld Anchor of Heaven. Instantly, two Dark Cyan-Purple Gold Spirit Rings manifested around him, hovering gently and humming with dense, terrifying spiritual resonance.
Unfortunately, the Great Evil Orca, Ogre, was still in deep hibernation, so it couldn't manifest physically to greet them just yet.
"Hmm... can you adjust the size of your Anchor?" Han Tianyi couldn't help but ask, analyzing the heavy, dark weapon.
"I can try," Han Yuan replied softly. Of course, deep down, he knew he could. He already experimented with his Martial Souls back at the Blacksmith Association.
Under Han Tianyi's watchful gaze, the massive, imposing anchor visibly compressed, shrinking until it became a sleek, one-meter-long anchor that fit comfortably in the young boy's grip.
"Oh, it worked!" Han Yuan feigned mild surprise. "And it seems I can adjust not just its size, but its overall shape as well, Grandpa."
"I can also feel that when it's big, I can move it with my mind."
"Size Manipulation, Shapeshifting, and Telekinesis?" Han Tianyi rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "As expected of a God-level Martial Soul..."
"But Xiao Yuan, this means you'll need to learn how to wield and master multiple weapon forms. Given its fluid shape, your Martial Soul can act as various heavy weapons, granting you an unpredictable combat style."
"Scythe, Greatsword, Battle Axe, Halberd, Warhammer... all of them lean toward heavy armed combat."
"I will learn them all!" Han Yuan answered without a moment's hesitation.
Han Tianyi's eyes softened with doting pride. "Alright then! Grandpa will personally find the best weapon masters in the whole federation to teach you."
"For now, however, choose the weapon form you feel most comfortable with."
Han Yuan paused and pondered briefly before changing the structure of his Martial Soul.
The shady, heavy crossbar widened and flattened into a broad double-edged blade, the central shank condensed into a reinforced spine, and the crown reshaped itself into a hilt and handguard.
"A Greatsword? Excellent choice." Han Tianyi nodded, impressed by how smoothly Han Yuan controlled the metal's density. "Why don't we call this transformation... the Great Anchorsword Form?"
"Anchorsword Form?" Han Yuan blinked, then smiled brightly. "Let's go with that!"
Han Tianyi chuckled warmly. "It's good that you like it."
"Now then, can you explain some traits of your Martial Soul in detail, along with the Spirit Skills granted by the Great Evil Orc?"
"So, I can get the gist of what you might achieve in the future."
"Ogre," Han Yuan corrected gently. "Its name is Ogre now."
"You... already named it?" Han Tianyi was thoroughly amused. "It seems you two have great chemistry from the start."
"Yeah..." Han Yuan then began explaining the fundamental nature of the Underworld Anchor of Heaven—not revealing everything, but providing enough detail for Han Tianyi and the two observing elders to grasp its terrifying scale.
Outside the Spirit Ascension Platform, Mu Ye and Zhen Hua listened to the explanations with wide, disbelieving eyes.
"Holy... shit! Is this even a Martial Soul anymore?!" Mu Ye blurted out in shock, staring at the monitor. "This thing is essentially an innate Divine Artifact! Ultimate Gravity, Ultimate Space, Ultimate Destruction..."
"And it even possesses its own innate Domain right from the start... that's absurd!"
Zhen Hua swallowed hard, his heart pounding. "A domain that restricts all high-speed movement and spatial teleportation..."
"In this modern era, where combat relies heavily on speed, mobility, and spatial movement, Han Yuan's domain is practically omnipotent."
"Even Atlas Douluo's famous domain, which restricts the concept of flight, pales in comparison to what this six-year-old child naturally exerts!"
"And Zhen Hua, don't forget that's just one of his Martial Souls..." Mu Ye sighed dejectedly, shaking his head in awe. "I reckon his Star Liberation Crown is just as monstrous."
"Without a doubt." Zhen Hua murmured, gazing at the projection of the world solemnly.