"This is... the Origin Core."
Fang Lin suddenly spoke, some information surfacing in his mind.
The next moment, the Nine-Colored Origin Core abruptly burst into brilliant light.
Golden radiance, verdant haze, blue mist, crimson flames, ocher earth, light, darkness, time, and space.
The nine-colored lights wove and entwined, wrapping Fang Lin from head to toe in delicate, silken strands.
A vast aura from primordial antiquity slowly welled up from the depths of the core. Like a tide, it coursed through his limbs and bones, permeating every inch of flesh and every bone.
The Gate of Darkness stood silently off to one side, as still as a mountain.
The ancient patterns on its doors flickered in and out, as if responding to something.
Outside, in the Spirit Pagoda testing room.
"Hmm..."
The mental power tester suddenly let out a low hum. The reading, which had stopped, began to fluctuate wildly again.
0...100...200...
This time, the reading climbed even more astonishingly fast than before, breaking through the 300 mark almost in an instant.
300...400...480...
The tester's display grew brighter and brighter, while the machine itself emitted a faint, rapid buzzing.
At last, the reading slowly settled at 501.
"This... how is this possible?"
Han Tianyi stood frozen, his gaze fixed on the display, disbelief written all over his aged face.
Mental power: 501!
That figure had already surpassed the Spirit Connection Realm and entered the Spirit Sea Realm.
Though the Spirit Connection Realm and the Spirit Sea Realm were separated by only a hair's breadth, the difference between them was as vast as heaven and earth.
But the problem was, Fang Lin had only just awakened his Martial Soul!
A six-year-old child, at his first Martial Soul awakening, already had the mental power of someone in the Spirit Sea Realm?
This was beyond the scope of genius. He was practically a monster.
No, an aberration!
Han Tianyi drew a deep breath, his chest heaving. The shock was clearly too much for him as well.
He raised a slightly trembling hand and stroked his beard, forcing himself to calm down.
Han Tianyi reminded himself that he was Illusion Brain Douluo, the Spirit Pagoda's vice pagoda master, and the foremost authority in the world of mental power.
He couldn't lose his composure, at least not in front of his disciple. Yet his heart simply wouldn't settle.
"I've taken in a god!"
Han Tianyi murmured, his voice low, but unable to conceal the delight and tremor in it.
"Roar—"
A deep, majestic dragon's roar suddenly rang out.
Behind Fang Lin, an enormous golden phantom slowly appeared.
The Golden Dragon Martial Soul had possessed him on its own.
Brilliant golden scales covered Fang Lin's body, each one gleaming with a sharp, icy luster.
A fearsome dragon's might spread from within him, pressing down on the surrounding air until it grew heavy.
Gold, wood, water, fire, earth, light, darkness, time, and space.
Nine elemental lights shone in succession around Fang Lin, like nine stars encircling and guarding him, radiating a mysterious, ancient brilliance.
At that moment, the Golden Dragon Bloodline was drawn by the power of the Nine-Colored Origin Core. It began to boil, rise, and transform.
The transformation was both violent and painful.
Fang Lin furrowed his brow slightly. He could feel the blood in his body burning.
Every drop surged with scorching power. A tingling sensation spread from deep within his marrow, as if something were breaking free from its cocoon.
"Boom!"
The Golden Dragon phantom shuddered violently.
Its body shed its pure golden hue, gradually turning a deep, dark gold.
Its scales glimmered, fine black patterns appearing across their surface as it radiated a terrifying aura capable of destroying heaven and earth.
Bloodline returning to its ancestral origin!
At that moment, the Golden Dragon Bloodline completed its ultimate sublimation, breaking through the shackles of its lineage and transforming into—the Golden Dragon King!
Han Tianyi's pupils abruptly narrowed.
He swept out a hand, and an invisible mental barrier instantly unfolded, enveloping the entire room and completely sealing off its aura.
Only after doing all this did Han Tianyi finally breathe a little easier. His gaze remained fixed on the enormous dark-golden phantom behind Fang Lin.
"This is... Martial Soul Evolution?"
He murmured to himself, his voice trembling slightly.
Han Tianyi could feel that Fang Lin's Golden Dragon Martial Soul had completed its evolution.
Its aura was ancient and domineering, carrying the lofty coldness and pride of a superior looking down on all living beings.
Meanwhile, Fang Lin remained immersed in that Mental Space, completely unaware of everything happening outside.
As time passed, the Nine-Colored Origin Core's radiance gradually faded and settled.
The patterns on the Gate of Darkness dimmed again, eventually falling completely silent.
Fang Lin slowly opened his eyes. A fleeting glint of gold passed through their depths, like a pair of golden eyes that would never go dark.
His awareness surged back like the tide. The images faded like smoke, as if he had just awakened from a long dream.
Fang Lin blinked in confusion and found himself still sitting on the mental power tester.
His body seemed different somehow, though he couldn't say exactly how. He only felt filled with more strength than ever before.
"Now that you're awake, come over here."
Han Tianyi's calm voice sounded, interrupting Fang Lin's thoughts.
Fang Lin came back to himself and nodded. "All right, teacher."
He stood up and stretched, his bones making faint cracking sounds.
Han Tianyi looked at Fang Lin, his expression complicated.
Shock, delight, excitement, and a hint of anticipation he couldn't put into words.
"All right, let's head back first."
He spoke, his voice once again composed.
Han Tianyi lifted a hand and withdrew the mental barrier. He discreetly glanced around, confirming that no aura had leaked out, then nodded slightly.
"Yes."
Fang Lin replied and quietly followed behind Han Tianyi.
The Spirit Pagoda, Han Tianyi's office.
The office was spacious and elegant. The bookshelves were filled with all sorts of ancient books and scrolls, and the air carried a faint scent of ink.
Sunlight streamed through the half-drawn curtains, casting dappled shadows across the floor.
"Not bad. Your mental power reached 501, the Spirit Sea Realm." Han Tianyi sat in his chair and took a light sip of tea.
Yet the slight tremor in his hand still betrayed his inner turmoil.
At Han Tianyi's words, a trace of understanding stirred in Fang Lin's heart.
501, the Spirit Sea Realm.
As a transmigrator with the Nine-Colored Origin Core and a Gate of Darkness of unknown origin, it stood to reason that his mental power would be a little higher.
"Little Lin, release your Martial Soul." Han Tianyi set down his teacup and spoke.
"All right."
Fang Lin nodded. With a thought, his Golden Dragon King Martial Soul appeared.
The next moment, a terrifying, domineering dragon's might filled the office.
The temperature in the entire room seemed to drop by several degrees.
Han Tianyi gazed at the dark-golden dragon shadow. His eyes were profound as he slowly declared, "My disciple Fang Lin has the makings of a god!"
"The makings of a god?"
At Han Tianyi's words, Fang Lin's heart stirred slightly. He thought to himself, Teacher, you're underselling it.
The Nine-Colored Origin Core floated quietly inside him, while the Gate of Darkness stood in silence.
The two glimmers, one golden and one dark, seemed to be telling something without a word.
A god?
Far from it.
Fang Lin said nothing, only smiling slightly. "Thank you for the praise, teacher."