The next morning, the Jubao Pavilion fulfilled its promise, delivering the branch of the Golden Ancient Tree directly to Chen Junting's dormitory.
As soon as the door closed behind the courier, Junting activated his soul power. A wave of invisible force radiated from his body, enveloping Dormitory 161 in a soundproof spiritual barrier. The outer world vanished.
Another stream of soul power flowed into the branch.
Instantly, the once dull twig radiated dazzling golden light. A gentle, sacred aura filled the room, and even the ambient spiritual energy began to converge unnaturally—almost as if a gathering array had been activated. The entire dormitory thrummed with life.
"It truly lives up to its name," Junting murmured, eyes gleaming. "If a single branch is this potent… what about the full tree?"
The thought flickered by.
But now wasn't the time to fantasize.
He turned his attention inward.
"Elder Yi," he called into his spiritual sea, addressing Electrolux.
"I'll need to borrow your body for a while," Electrolux replied calmly. "There is divine essence lingering in this object. It must be handled with great care."
Junting nodded.
At once, the atmosphere in his spiritual sea shifted. The emerald serenity turned ash-gray. Electrolux's form became faint as he assumed control. In the physical world, Junting's black eyes dulled into cold gray, emanating an ancient, deathly aura far beyond his years.
A single gray soul ring rose behind him.
The power of death was unmistakable.
The Golden Ancient Branch, sensing danger, flared with defensive energy—golden and green life force erupting like a heartbeat. It shimmered in protest, releasing gentle pulses to push back.
But no ordinary branch could oppose the will of a god-slayer.
The sacred light receded, slowly crushed by the creeping gray mist. Within his mind, Junting felt it—a faint, mournful cry, as if the branch itself were wailing.
But he did not interfere. He trusted Elder Yi completely.
Then, as the gray mist fully consumed the branch, Electrolux raised one finger. A tiny flame—soft gray, almost transparent—flickered into existence and gently landed on the wood.
A change erupted.
A surge of divine golden light burst from the branch—more brilliant, more refined than anything before. Even with Electrolux in control, Junting's soul trembled.
The Light of the Sea God had awakened.
Though it was only a trace of true divine power, its presence was undeniable. The pressure it exerted was so pure, so overwhelming, that even the gray mist seemed to dissipate.
But it was not enough to deter Electrolux.
Seizing the moment, he reached forward—not physically, but with his will—and grasped the divine light.
The golden radiance blazed, flooding the room.
Its purifying energy surged through Junting's body—but Electrolux, master of both Light and Death, remained unfazed. He was a purifier in his own right.
Instead of being harmed, Junting's body benefited.
It was as if he were submerged in the sea—weightless, infinite, alive.
And then, it was over.
Electrolux withdrew.
The divine energy—now calmed and contained—folded in on itself. The branch, its essence drained, wilted visibly.
Electrolux condensed the remaining light into a blue-gold wisp, wrapping it in gray aura and guiding it into Junting's forehead.
Only then did he release Junting's body.
Instinctively, Junting responded.
He summoned the Essence of Life and infused it into the now-frail branch, working to preserve its vitality. It would never match the Golden Tree on Seagod Island, but if nurtured at the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Spring, it might bloom anew.
Once stabilized, he entered the spiritual sea again.
There, Electrolux stood calmly, cradling the ball of light—now bound by floating golden runes and chains.
"It's done" the old man said.
"This is no ordinary god," Electrolux continued, inspecting the light. "From this sliver alone, I can tell—if Tang San had moved against us directly, I wouldn't stand a chance."
He flicked his wrist. The runes tightened.
"But now that we've acquired this… I'll take time to study it. Perhaps we'll uncover how to resist him."
Junting nodded seriously. "Then I'll leave it to you, Elder Yi."
Electrolux smiled. "And before I go, let me give you a taste of what true divine light feels like."
The Light of the Sea God flared again.
That same vastness—oceanic, eternal—swept through Junting's mind. This time, it didn't pass in a moment. Guided by Electrolux's control, the light gently nourished Junting's spiritual sea, and with it, his Eye of Life.
Time passed.
Eventually, Junting opened his eyes.
He exhaled a long breath, full of clarity—and turned toward the door.
Someone was outside.
He opened it to find Ning Tian, smiling at him warmly.
"Xiaotian, how long have you been waiting?"
"Not long," she said. "I heard from Sister Feng that you didn't attend class, so I figured you were training and asked her to excuse you."
She paused. "But just now, Teacher Mu Jin ran into me. She said to tell you to visit her office this afternoon."
Junting raised a brow. "She's looking for me?"
Likely something to do with the reserve team selection.
"In that case, let's go."
He washed up quickly and left the dormitory with Ning Tian. After a quiet lunch together, they parted ways—and Junting headed alone to Mu Jin's office.
Outside, he could hear voices inside.
He knocked gently—three times.
Knock, knock, knock.
The talking stopped.
A moment later, Mu Jin's calm voice rang out: "Come in."
Junting opened the door and stepped inside.
He wasn't alone.
Standing in front of Mu Jin's desk were the academy's core disciples: Wu Feng, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao, and—newly promoted this term—Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
With him, that made six.
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(End of Chapter)
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