Spirit Core Pact
Before the morning mist had completely dissipated, the wind carrying the fragrance of bamboo wafted through the Eastern Realm Bamboo Sea —as the Youth Camp stepped into the bamboo forest through the morning dew, the continuous green bamboo stalks soared into the sky, their joints shimmering with a pale green crystalline light, precisely the location of the " Spirit Bamboo Crystal Vein " marked in the previous chapter's diagram. A Mu gripped the Dew Crystal Staff from the Morning Dew Spring, the Ice-Fire Entwining Pattern the scabbard trembling slightly. "The energy of the crystal vein is more chaotic than expected; even the bamboo shadows are swaying."
Loran walked in the middle of the group, her fingertips always holding a wisp of pale golden light—the aura of Lei Lin. Since anchoring on the Permafrost Icefield, Lei Lin's golden fur had developed a layer of fine crystalline patterns. At night, it would often curl up on her lap, emitting soft purrs, a stark contrast to its usual wary demeanor. Now, Lei Lin walked beside her, its golden eyes occasionally scanning their surroundings, its claws lightly tracing faint golden marks on the ground, as if marking a safe route for her.
"Watch out for the fog ahead!" A Ya suddenly stopped. The bamboo forest ahead was shrouded in a grayish-blue " Bewildering Crystal Mist," and the faint cracking sound of bamboo branches breaking could be heard from within the fog. A Shi opened his crystal pattern record book and pointed his fingertip at the " Spirit Bamboo Crystal Vein " diagram. "The energy of the crystal veins in the fog is surging backward, which can make people lose their way."
Just as Loran was about to step forward to scout ahead, Lei Lin suddenly blocked her path, letting out a low growl—its golden eyes were fixed on the Bewildering Crystal Mist, and the crystalline patterns on its fur suddenly lit up, forming a pale golden shield around its body. Before anyone could react, Lei Lin leaped into the mist. The moment the shield collided with the mist, the bamboo forest suddenly trembled, countless bamboo shadows swirled backward, and a golden beam of light shot into the sky from Lei Lin's body!
"It's the ' Spirit Core Transformation Realm '!" A Mu exclaimed in shock—he had seen a record of it on the fragments of the Crystal-Word Ruins. It said that beasts could transform into human form by breaking through this realm, and they needed to resonate with the energy of heaven and earth through their own spirit core. In the pillar of light, Lei Lin's figure gradually lengthened, his golden fur faded, revealing a young man's appearance: his black hair fell to his shoulders, with faint golden fuzz still remaining at the tips of his ears, his golden eyes were still bright, and a golden crystal pendant with the same origin as the Loran Origin Key hung around his neck, with faint golden patterns swirling around his body.
Loran stood frozen in place until the boy slowly approached her, his fingertips gently taking her hand—the warmth of his palm was exactly the same as when he was in wolf form. " Loran," his voice was deep, with a youthful clarity, "There's a crystal vein core in the mist. I'll take you there."
The two stepped into the Bewildering Crystal Mist by side. The golden patterns on Lei Lin's palm touched the Origin Key on Loran's fingertips, instantly weaving a golden and blue ribbon of light. The turbulent currents in the mist were diverted to both sides by the ribbon of light. After walking for about half an incense stick's time, a " Crystal Vein Mother Stone " with a bluish-green hue appeared in front of them. The cracks on the stone were constantly overflowing with surging energy, causing the surrounding spirit bamboo to bend.
"You need to use the key to draw energy, and I'll mend the cracks." Lei Lin's golden eyes reflected the Crystal Vein Mother Stone, and a wisp of Golden Crystal Power gathered at his fingertips. Loran nodded and placed the Origin Key on the mother stone. Pale blue light patterns spread along the cracks, and Lei Lin's Golden Crystal Power followed closely behind, stitching the cracks together little by little like needle and thread.
During the repair process, the mother stone suddenly trembled, and a powerful current rushed towards Loran along the key— Lei Lin instantly shielded her behind him, his golden patterns surging, and he forcefully absorbed the impact. Pale golden blood beads seeped from his shoulder and neck, but he still held Loran's hand and whispered, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."