Tianyu's heartbeat thundered in his ears, as if his entire body had become a resonance chamber for the explosive power surging within. Each pulse of blood carried waves of new energy that merged seamlessly with his body. His muscles stretched and then tightened, while his previously shattered bones reassembled themselves.
The bones now radiated an aura of majesty, completely golden in color. On each bone, mysterious carvings were etched, and if all the carvings were joined together, they would form a single word: "龙".
Tianyu's body trembled violently on the ground, but he gritted his teeth, refusing to give in. Blood began to seep from the corner of his lips, but even that wasn't enough to stop him.
"Just a little more... just a bit more..." Tianyu whispered, barely audible.
Suddenly, the pain reached its peak. Tianyu felt something break inside him—like a limit that had finally been surpassed.
"AAAAARRRGGGHHH!!!"
His scream shook the entire forest, scattering birds and soul beasts in all directions.
After what felt like an eternity—ten minutes, maybe an hour, Tianyu couldn't tell—all the pain suddenly vanished. His body froze for a moment, then erupted with a powerful surge of energy in all directions.
Boom!
An invisible shockwave blasted through the surroundings, making the trees sway wildly and leaves whirl into the sky. The dust cleared, revealing Tianyu lying still, breathing heavily. His body was covered in small wounds, but they were slowly healing on their own, purified by the power of the Golden Dragon King.
With trembling hands, he gripped the earth and slowly rose to his feet.
"I did it…" he murmured softly.
Tianyu stood slowly, his body still trembling, yet filled with a torrent of new strength.
The thundering in his chest gradually calmed, but each heartbeat now pulsed with overwhelming power. Golden blood coursed through his veins, carrying pure energy that made his entire body feel more alive than ever.
He looked at his hands—his skin, once ordinary, now shimmered faintly with a golden glow, especially around the bones. If one looked closely, beneath the surface, golden patterns flowed like tiny rivers, weaving through his muscles and veins.
Tianyu clenched his fist, and in an instant, pure energy burst from his body. The ground beneath his feet cracked, and the air around him vibrated. The weight of 1,800 kilograms that once burdened him now felt almost meaningless.
"My strength... has skyrocketed!"
Tianyu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. Although his body transformation was complete, he had yet to condense his second soul ring.
He then sat down in a meditative pose and began exploring his sea of consciousness. There, the Divine Core of the Golden Dragon King continued to emit energy, spreading it throughout Tianyu's body.
He reached out to the Divine Core, closed his eyes, and carefully guided the still-flowing power into his Martial Soul.
When he had condensed his first soul ring, the Divine Core had been able to assist him, forming it automatically. But now, he had to do it manually, by his own will.
In the outside world, a massive golden dragon's shadow appeared behind Tianyu, majestic and awe-inspiring. It raised its head to the sky and let out a deafening roar that shook the entire forest. The echoing waves of its voice created powerful tremors that rippled through the earth, reaching dozens of kilometers away. The effect was immediate.
Every beast in the area dropped to the ground in fear, kneeling toward the source of that mighty dragon's presence.
The soul beasts, including the only one in this forest that had lived for tens of thousands of years, immediately prostrated themselves in fear. Their primal instincts screamed in terror, recognizing the aura of the supreme ruler at the top of the food chain. Some of the weaker soul beasts even collapsed on the spot, unable to withstand the overwhelming spiritual pressure.
And it wasn't just the soul beasts—humans nearby felt the impact as well. The guards accompanying Xu Jiujiu, especially those with beast-type Martial Souls, felt an irresistible urge to kneel, as if an invisible force was pressing down on them.
Cold sweat poured down their backs as their hearts pounded violently, ready to burst from their chests. "W-What… what is this?!" one knight croaked, his voice hoarse, hand trembling as he struggled to maintain his grip on his sword.
A tense atmosphere engulfed the entire area, as if nature itself was acknowledging the birth of an extraordinary new power.
Star Dou Forest, Core Area
After regaining all of her memories, Gu Yuena had immediately left Tianyu's home and returned to the Star Dou Forest. Though her memories had fully returned, her strength remained sealed by the will of the world. This left Gu Yuena deeply frustrated.
"Why does the will of the world hate me this much?" she muttered, clearly annoyed. "I've existed in this world for millions of years…"
Her thoughts drifted toward Tianyu. A possibility occurred to her. "Could this all be because of the Golden Dragon King? What kind of deal did the Golden Dragon King make with the world's will before he died?"
But no matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't find an answer. In the end, she gave up pondering it. There were more important things at hand—like regaining her power.
Upon reaching the core area of the Star Dou Forest, Gu Yuena immediately entered the Lake of Life, immersing herself in hopes that the lake's life energy would help loosen the seal on her power. Unfortunately, while the lake could heal her injuries, the seal placed by the world's will remained immovable.
Left with no other choice, Gu Yuena resigned herself to the situation. She now rested at the bottom of the Lake of Life, where the densest life aura gathered, slipping into a deep slumber.
But suddenly, Gu Yuena awoke.
She felt something—a familiar, overwhelming aura. The aura of the Golden Dragon King! A special connection between them had stirred her consciousness.
Gu Yuena's eyes flew open beneath the lake. Her resting body instantly tensed.
"The Golden Dragon King's aura?!"
In a flash, she shot to the surface. The lake rippled violently as her figure emerged, her long silver hair dripping wet. Her violet eyes narrowed as she stared into the distance, toward the source of the aura.
Reaching the lakeside, a man was already waiting for her. He was a striking middle-aged man clad in a black robe with golden accents, long black hair streaked with a single golden strand, eyes a deep golden hue, and a tall, imposing build—around two meters tall—with broad shoulders and a commanding presence.
This man was Di Tian, the human form of the Golden-Eyed Black Dragon King, the most powerful of all soul beasts.
As soon as he saw Gu Yuena emerge from the Lake of Life, Di Tian bowed his head respectfully.
"My Lady, why have you come out? Have your wounds healed?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.
Gu Yuena's gaze sharpened. "Di Tian, how is the human boy I ordered you to watch?"
"The boy…" Di Tian gave a slow nod before continuing. "He has enrolled in a school and is currently living as an ordinary human. So far, no major events have occurred around him."
Gu Yuena frowned, dissatisfaction clearly written on her face. "Then… what is he doing now?"
"According to the most recent information I received," Di Tian replied in a calm but firm tone, "he is assisting Princess Xu Jiujiu in a soul beast hunting expedition."