"The instant the words 'no longer human' fell."
Something within Wangchuan was fully awakened.
The purple demonic energy surged violently in that instant.
The thin mist became a pillar of light that shot skyward, spreading into the endless void with an ancient pressure that belonged to another era.
The left half of his face had completely taken on Tso Lan's features.
The right half wore a peaceful smile of relief.
Deep in his pupils, dark purple mingled with deep brown, like a two-colored vortex slowly merging.
System notifications rang out one after another.
[Consciousness identification increased significantly.] [Main template +8%] [Moon Demon template: 55% → 63%.] [Current Moon Demon template completion: 63%.]
The surging purple demonic energy roiled in the void for well over ten seconds before slowly withdrawing into Wangchuan's body.
"Haha."
Wangchuan lowered his head and looked at his hands.
He spread his fingers, then clenched them.
A faint dark-purple glow seeped between his fingers.
"I like this feeling."
He spoke softly.
"It's as if..."
He paused, as though searching for the right word.
"It's as if I've always been this way."
"I haven't become something else. Rather..."
"I've finally remembered."
He raised his head, the enormous blue planet reflected in his pupils, where dark purple and deep brown mingled.
The corners of his mouth slowly lifted.
"This is what I'm supposed to be."
Ding!
The system's notification sounded deep within his consciousness again.
[Consciousness identification increased again.] [+5%] [Moon Demon template: 63% → 68%.] [Current Moon Demon template completion: 68%.] [Detected: host's compatibility with the main template, "Tso Lan," has exceeded the threshold.] [New feature unlocked: Eclipse Gate.]
Wangchuan was still basking in the lingering sensation of overflowing power when the notification made him pause.
"Hmm?"
He blinked.
"Eclipse Gate?"
His face, its