Seven days passed in the blink of an eye.
In the secret chamber, Huo Yuhao slowly opened his eyes. A streak of gold and green flashed through them, too swift to catch.
Nourished for seven days by the Golden Tree's origin and secretly aided by the Plane Will, he had reached rank thirty-three Soul Elder. His vitality lay quietly contained within him.
"Come, my child of the plane. The time has come."
The Plane Will's gentle voice sounded beside his ear, carrying a trace of urgency.
The next instant, soft white light enveloped Huo Yuhao. Space warped slightly, and in the blink of an eye, he was sent into the Golden Tree's innermost origin space.
It was an independent world of pure blue and gold. There were no branches, leaves, or soil, only ribbons of life-giving light flowing across the sky, utterly free of impurities.
At its center floated a brilliant golden seed no larger than a thumb. It radiated a warm, familiar aura and trembled faintly toward Huo Yuhao, like a lost young animal approaching someone it wanted to trust.
This was the Golden Tree's true core of consciousness—Little Gold.
Huo Yuhao stepped forward and gently touched the seed. Warm life force flowed through his fingertip into his meridians, so soothing that he could not help sighing.
He clearly sensed the faint consciousness within it: fear, unease, and a glimmer of longing to survive.
"Don't be afraid. I'm here."
Huo Yuhao soothed it softly, wrapped the golden seed in his spiritual power, and carefully placed it deep within his Sea of Consciousness.
The real seed was safe. Next came the bait.
He raised a hand and put on the Night Raven Mask. His aura changed at once as the power of the Path of Elation flowed through him, gathering