Advanced Spirit Origin Realm, Emerald Dragon Snake!

Aolai City, Spirit Pagoda branch.

Standing beneath the towering silver pagoda once again, Tang Wulin's small palms were drenched in sweat, and he nervously rubbed at the seams of his pants.

Tang Linyuan stood beside him, his expression as calm as water. Only, his eyes had grown deeper than they had been two years ago, as though he could see through the true nature of this tower.

This time, they did not take the "academy special approval channel," but the "VIP Soul Spirit purchase channel."

After all, the million Federation Credits in their pockets had been earned through the brothers' blood and sweat, hammer blow by hammer blow, over countless days and nights. It was enough for them to walk proudly into the second-floor hall.

"Don't be nervous." Tang Linyuan reached out and patted his younger brother's stiff shoulder, his tone steady. "This is just a formality. Today, the records here will speak for your hard work."

"Mm!" Tang Wulin took a deep breath and nodded vigorously.

A young female Spirit Pagoda attendant received them. Seeing the two plainly dressed yet extraordinary children, she maintained her courtesy out of professional habit. "Are you two here to purchase Soul Spirits?"

"For him. A Century-Old Soul Spirit, selected by choice." Tang Linyuan was brief and to the point.

"Certainly. Please come with me for a basic assessment first. Aptitude is not required for a purchase, but mental power data is necessary for compatibility matching."

The testing room.

That familiar metallic instrument, brimming with a sense of science fiction, came into view once more.

Tang Wulin sat down, and as the metal helmet slowly lowered over his head, his heartbeat began to accelerate.

"Relax. Just like when you meditate, release your mental power." The attendant guided him gently, her finger resting casually on the activation button.

In her opinion, for a nine-year-old child to reach 30 points of mental power would already be considered excellent. After all, that was about the level of an ordinary one-ring Soul Master.

Beep—!

The machine activated. The beam of light on the screen shot upward in an instant, moving so fast it was dizzying.

10... 30... 50...

The attendant's casual gaze froze instantly. The recording pen in her hand nearly fell to the floor.

The number did not stop. It was still rising, unstoppable!

60... 70...

At last, amid a faint buzzing sound, the red number stabilized at an astonishing figure:

80.

"Ei... eighty?!"

The female attendant rubbed her eyes and cried out in disbelief. "Advanced Spirit Origin Realm? How is that possible? Child, is this really your first time being tested?"

One had to know that 50 points of mental power was the dividing line for the intermediate Spirit Origin Realm, while 80 points meant one foot had already stepped into a higher level.

Among children his age, this was an absolutely crushing advantage! In the original story, Tang Wulin's mental power was only 38 points at this point. Those extra 42 points had been forged through the focus of countless forging sessions and the tempering he had endured beneath Tang Linyuan's oppressive aura.

"Not bad. You didn't slack off."

Tang Linyuan, standing nearby, glanced at the results and gave an assessment that did not sound particularly surprised. "Compared to your strength, mental power is still your weakness. You'll need extra training when we get back."

The attendant's lips twitched. This was called a weakness? Then what were the other children? Monkeys that had not fully evolved yet?

With this stunning test report, the two of them were respectfully led to the Soul Spirit selection area on the second floor.

Unlike the noisy random-draw pools on the first floor, this place was lined with exquisite crystal display cases, each sealed with Century-Old Soul Spirits of various forms, all clearly priced.

"Little friend, your Martial Soul is Blue Silver Grass. We usually recommend plant-type Soul Spirits, such as the Century-Old Solitary Bamboo over there, which can increase toughness, or the Century-Old Ghost Vine, which has parasitic and poisonous properties."

The attendant resumed her professional manner and enthusiastically made her recommendation.

Tang Wulin looked at those plant-type Soul Spirits and did indeed feel a faint sense of affinity toward them.

He was about to walk toward the Ghost Vine when a hand stopped him.

"Not plant-type, and not assault-type either."

Tang Linyuan's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable decisiveness.

He turned to look at Tang Wulin, light flickering in his dark eyes.

"Wulin, do you remember what I told you before?"

"Your body will one day be more terrifying than any beast Martial Soul. Attack, defense, explosive power—your flesh will be the strongest weapon."

"So your Blue Silver Grass doesn't need to pile on more attack power, nor does it need to turn itself into a bunch of rigid vines. What it needs is to provide your violent body with—vitality and control."

Tang Linyuan pointed toward the far side of the beast-type Soul Spirit section.

"Look for a Soul Spirit with powerful life force and snake-like traits. The essence of Blue Silver Grass is grass, and the ultimate state of grass is endless growth. Only with enough life force can your Blue Silver Grass grow wildly in any environment and become a cage that traps your enemies."

"Life... control..." Tang Wulin nodded thoughtfully.

He closed his eyes and allowed his brother to lead him by the hand as they slowly walked through the dazzling Soul Spirit corridor.

They passed the ferocious tiger and leopard section, then the sinister insect section.

At last, in an inconspicuous corner, Tang Wulin stopped.

It was a very comfortable feeling.

Like spring rain soaking into the soil, like withered grass meeting spring.

A warm, cool, yet endlessly lingering aura was calling to him from within that display case.

"Brother, here."

Tang Wulin opened his eyes and pointed at the crystal case.

Inside, a small emerald-green snake lay quietly curled up.

It was only half a meter long. Its scales did not resemble a horny outer layer, but carefully carved pieces of jade, translucent and gleaming, with flowing green halos visible within them.

Unlike other snakes, it did not exude a cold, sinister aura. Instead, it gave off a rich fragrance of grass and trees.

Most peculiar of all, two small bumps protruded from the top of its triangular head, faint golden patterns flowing across them.

[Century-Old Emerald Dragon Snake] Attributes: Life, Wood, Water. Note: An extremely rare life-attribute snake Soul Spirit. Its offensive power is extremely weak, but it possesses formidable healing abilities and resilience. Due to its lack of offensive methods, it has remained unsold for years. Price: 800,000 Federation Credits.

"Extremely weak offensive power..." The attendant hesitated. "Little friend, this is a support-type Soul Spirit. Boys usually choose Blazing Fire Wolves or Diamond Tigers."

"We'll take it."

Tang Linyuan looked at the little emerald snake, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

Under the perception of his Spirit Connection Realm, the life force within this snake was astonishingly vigorous. Moreover, the bumps on its head and the golden patterns were clearly a manifestation of a trace of the Dragon of Life's bloodline.

"Wulin, the bloodline in your body is ruled by Destruction God, while this Emerald Dragon Snake is ruled by Life Goddess. One yin and one yang, one life and one death."

"With it, your Blue Silver Grass will become unyielding, impossible to burn away even by wildfire. And the trace of dragon blood within it will be the perfect catalyst."

Tang Linyuan took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to the attendant with an exceptionally carefree motion.

"Swipe it."

With a beep, the orb of light sealing the Emerald Dragon Snake was removed.

Tang Wulin carefully held it in his hands.

The little snake looked at Tang Wulin through the wall of light. Not only did it show no hostility, it swam about happily instead. That intimate feeling of connected bloodlines filled Tang Wulin with warmth.

"Brother, it's so beautiful." Tang Wulin's eyes sparkled.

"Not only is it beautiful, it will also be an indispensable partner to you in the future."

Tang Linyuan rubbed his younger brother's head, the corner of his lips curving upward.

"Go back and fuse with it. With it, your Blue Silver Grass will no longer be worthless grass. It will become a Lock of Life capable of binding even dragons."

On this day, Tang Wulin did not choose the Golden Light Snake from the original story.

Under his brother's guidance, he embarked on a more perfect path: his body would become sacred and rule over slaughter, while Blue Silver would transform into a realm and rule over vitality.

From this moment onward, the future Undying War God who would give all of Douluo Continent headaches had truly completed the final piece of his puzzle.