Sovereign's Descent

The Blade of Life continuously released vitality within Chen Tianyuan. That vitality improved his body, its relentless surges clearing and widening his once narrow, blocked meridians.

At the same time, a soft, ethereal glow lit up Chen Tianyuan's skin. Under the control of Electrolux's immense spiritual power, the radiance turned inward, illuminating his limbs, bones, internal organs, and meridians.

At that moment, Chen Tianyuan completed a leap to a higher order of life.

What did a leap to a higher order of life mean?

It was simple.

All things in the world sought life from outside themselves. Few beings could spread vitality.

But after Chen Tianyuan merged with the Blade of Life, the gold of life within it fused with his heart. He no longer drew vitality from outside himself, but became the wellspring of a river, radiating vitality from his entire body at every moment.

The benefits the gold of life brought Chen Tianyuan went far beyond that. Nourished by this vast, pure vitality, his Sea of Consciousness also underwent an earth-shaking transformation. The once pure-white Sea of Consciousness became a jade-green ocean, and all the seawater representing his spiritual power merged with life energy, becoming clear, gentle, and supple.

At the same time, the vitality released by the gold of life strengthened Chen Tianyuan's body and meridians. This meant he had broken free of the shackles of his ultimate attribute. He no longer needed to expend large amounts of soul power to strengthen his body, and his soul power cultivation returned to a normal pace. In fact, with his meridians widened, his cultivation became even faster.

Electrolux's voice rang out. "The gold of life will slowly release vitality within your body. As long as you aren't killed instantly, you can recover from even the gravest injuries."

The Sea God Pavilion was built around the Golden Ancient Tree. From a distance, outsiders saw only an ordinary three-story wooden building, utterly unremarkable.

Inside, however, lay a world unto itself.

Ever since the gold of life fused with Chen Tianyuan's heart, he felt as though the world had taken on a different face. Even the flowers, grasses, and trees he had once found utterly commonplace seemed to offer him goodwill and affection.

Inside the Sea God Pavilion, Mu En remained as he always was, lying motionless in his reclining chair.

Sunlight spilled through the windows onto the floor, making the aura of life and light element in the air faintly visible.

The instant Chen Tianyuan stepped into the Sea God Pavilion, the aura of life and light element emanating from the Golden Ancient Tree suddenly increased, as though welcoming him...

Mu En naturally noticed this anomaly. This was not Chen Tianyuan's first visit to the Sea God Pavilion, yet the Golden Ancient Tree had changed this time. The only explanation was that some wondrous transformation had occurred within him.

Sure enough, once Chen Tianyuan drew closer, Mu En could clearly sense the aura of life radiating from him. His vitality was no weaker than the Golden Ancient Tree's. Even the Golden Ancient Tree itself was absorbing the vitality he released.

In an instant, the life element throughout the Sea God Pavilion grew almost as dense as it could possibly become. Even Mu En's old injuries began to heal slowly.

Mu En opened his eyes, somewhat stunned, but quickly set the matter aside. Everyone had their own fate and fortune. As long as it would not harm the academy, he would not pry. Yet even with his outlook, he could not help wondering just what heaven-defying opportunity could have caused the Golden Ancient Tree to react.

"Great Ancestor, I'm back from soul hunting," Chen Tianyuan said as he walked over.

Mu En murmured an acknowledgment. Aside from the vitality, he also sensed the aura of light emanating from Chen Tianyuan. Presumably, the soul beast he had chosen for his fourth Soul Ring was no ordinary one either.

He beckoned, and Chen Tianyuan immediately stepped forward to help him up.

With Chen Tianyuan supporting him, Mu En walked to a wall and pointed at it. A golden light flared, and their surroundings instantly turned illusory. The golden light enveloped them both. Chen Tianyuan felt the ground vanish beneath his feet, but a moment later, the light dispersed, and solid ground returned beneath him.

Chen Tianyuan opened his eyes. The Sea God Pavilion had vanished, replaced by a square hall a hundred meters across, about the same size as the academy's Soul Fighting Arena.

Several passageways lined both sides of the hall, leading to unknown destinations. The room had no windows, yet the air was exceptionally fresh, without the slightest smell of dampness or decay. A rich light element and aura of life also permeated the air. Simply standing there, Chen Tianyuan felt the soul power within him begin circulating of its own accord.

Wooden statues stood throughout the hall, identical to the statues he had seen upon first entering Shrek Academy. They depicted the Golden Iron Triangle and the Shrek Seven Devils from ten thousand years ago, only much smaller.

Only then did Mu En slowly speak. "The Sea God Pavilion's true form is a Golden Tree, an exceedingly rare tree imbued with the auras of light and life."

"Shrek's mighty predecessors hollowed out many meditation chambers within the Golden Tree without damaging those auras of light and life. Every student admitted to the Inner Court receives one opportunity to enter and cultivate through meditation."

"This Golden Tree can be called the very foundation of Shrek Academy. In time, you will understand its significance."

After saying this, Mu En turned to Chen Tianyuan again. "Do you know what has allowed Shrek Academy's legacy to endure for ten thousand years?"

Chen Tianyuan answered without hesitation. "Naturally, it's the academy's many powerful Titled Douluos."

Mu En nodded, then shook his head. "Not entirely."

"Shrek Academy has weathered ten thousand years of wind and rain. Its unbroken succession of Titled Douluos is only one reason."

"What truly shelters the academy is a succession of supreme experts who possess absolute might, enough to hold an entire era beneath their sway."

Chen Tianyuan fell silent. That was indeed the truth. After reaching the Titled Douluo rank, the gap between each level only grew wider.

Mu En continued, "Before you appeared, I worried that Shrek would have no worthy successor."

"But after you appeared, my concern became how to nurture you into a truly powerful expert."

"Your talent is unlike anything I have seen in my life. But talent can only determine your lower limit. To become truly powerful, you must find your own path."

As he spoke, he reached out and touched Chen Tianyuan's forehead. A stream of profound information flooded Chen Tianyuan's mind.

"In my youth, I roamed unrivaled across the continent and created Sovereign's Descent. It is not a soul skill, yet it surpasses one. It also contains my insights into cultivation."

Chen Tianyuan did not immediately digest the information in his mind. Instead, he asked himself inwardly, What is my path?

After so many years, his mother's image remained clear in his heart. Though time had tempered the flames of hatred, they had never gone out.

The oath he had sworn as a child echoed in his heart.

I will...

But in the next instant, a holy, grayish-white light shone within his Sea of Consciousness, illuminating the entire space.

Electrolux's voice rang out, echoing throughout the Sea of Consciousness.

"Do not let hatred blind your heart."