In this world, beneath the blue lotus bud that had finally sunk into silence, the embryo of stars nurtured within the mother body seemed to have withdrawn all its radiance and majesty deep within itself. Only the fine, mysterious patterns on its surface, as if describing some ultimate law of the universe, still glimmered in an almost eternal, unhurried rhythm.
Within the Bodhi Ancient Tree's space, that soul-shaking pressure and majesty had vanished, replaced by an indescribable peace and expectation.
The ancient tree was emerald throughout, light flowing over it. Every leaf seemed to be breathing, exhaling vast life essence and the spiritual glow of wisdom.
It no longer seemed like a mere plant, but more like an ancient holy spirit that had slept for endless years and had just awakened a wisp of consciousness.
This was the critical moment when the last strand of Lin Ming's consciousness had completely sunk into the depths of his soul and was about to complete the final fusion.
"Thump..."
From the enormous trunk of the Bodhi Ancient Tree came a strange, heartlike, bell-like, harmonious beat.
The sound was not loud, yet it seemed to strike directly upon the source of every living thing in this space. In the next instant, a softer, purer emerald radiance burst from within the tree.
That radiance did not scatter outward. Instead, as if possessing life and will, it condensed into countless soft, slender emerald tendrils.
Those tendrils of light were not solid, yet they emanated a motherly warmth and protective intent. They gently extended downward, their target clear: Lin Ming's body, which sat cross-legged three feet from the old tree, its breath almost entirely merged with nature like an old monk in meditation.
At this time, Lin Ming's body looked no different on the surface from when