Wang Ping stretched out his hand, feeling the Wood Spirit Particles pass through his Physical Body. He tried to grasp the Great Universe rule network that had surfaced in his consciousness moments ago, but he was left with only a vague impression, unable to sense its precise state again.
In that instant, it had felt as though he had embraced the entire chaotic newborn universe and touched the deepest warp and weft of the rules that formed all things. A powerful sense of loss seized him.
It was like someone who had lived in darkness for years suddenly seeing the sun's boundless radiance, even briefly feeling the warmth and power within that light, only to be thrust back into eternal darkness in the next moment.
He felt like a mortal who had just exhausted every last scrap of strength. The aftershocks of excitement and shock still lingered in his mind, yet his body was wracked by an indescribable weakness and exhaustion.
Yulian worriedly rubbed her head against his cheek, and the cool, slick sensation pulled Wang Ping slightly back from his daze.
Wang Ping took a deep breath. Spiritual energy from the starry sky flowed into his lungs and nourished his Physical Body, but it could not fill the "void" that had suddenly appeared deep within his consciousness.
"I'm fine."
There was a faint driftiness in Wang Ping's voice that even he had not noticed. He gently stroked Yulian's little head, as though comforting her, and also as though confirming his own existence.
Then he raised his head, his gaze falling once more upon the metal sphere floating at the core of the formation, now restored to calm, as well as the illusory figure of Star Sea beside it.
A subtle sense of estrangement arose within him. He was still