"Little girl, what's your name?"
Tree Elder's attention focused on Ouyang Zixin as he smiled gently and spoke softly.
Perhaps this young girl's talent wasn't as exceptional as Tang Wulin's, but she was a native genius of the Douluo Continent. Comparing her to someone like Tang Wulin, who was born with innate advantages as a member of the "Tang family"...
It was inherently unfair.
Despite her Blue Silver Grass Spirit not evolving into the Blue Silver King or Blue Silver Emperor, she had still managed to become a Soul Ancestor through her own efforts. Even if she had her own opportunities, her talent was undoubtedly commendable.
"My name is Ouyang Zixin," she replied with a smile. She wasn't sure if it was her imagination, but Tree Elder's voice seemed to carry a certain magic, making her feel as if she were bathed in a warm spring breeze.
Perhaps this was the ability of a top-tier life-attribute powerhouse!
"Good child, sit cross-legged for me," Tree Elder said, committing her name to memory with a smile.
"Yes, Tree Elder."
Ouyang Zixin complied, relaxing her body and mind before sitting cross-legged on the ground.
"Ever since Huo Yuhao established the Spirit Transfer Pagoda ten thousand years ago, the emergence of Soul Spirits has indeed become more common. This little girl has two Soul Spirits..."
"Her first Soul Spirit is some kind of Mandala Snake—hard to judge. But her second Soul Spirit is actually the Tree of Life, a life-attribute spirit. Not bad, not bad."
Sensing the two distinct auras within Ouyang Zixin's body—aside from her Blue Silver Grass—Tree Elder couldn't help but marvel.
This was typical of people from the Douluo Continent.
The standard Soul Ring pairing for Blue Silver Grass was usually something like that Mandala Snake. But who would have thought her second Soul Spirit would be a life-attribute one?
Since she already had a Tree of Life Soul Spirit, the benefits she would gain from absorbing his energy would only be greater.
"Next, all you need to do is channel your Martial Soul and focus on sensing my energy. How much you gain..."
"...depends entirely on you."
Tree Elder smiled as he spoke.
As he did, a wisp of green Soul Power surged toward her body. This was none other than the essence of the Golden Ancient Tree's energy.
To put it bluntly, even the Blue Silver Emperor...
Well, the Blue Silver Emperor wouldn't even compare to this level of energy. After all, even the first-generation Blue Silver Emperor had only lived for a little over a hundred thousand years.
Compared to the Golden Ancient Tree, which was considered the core of the Douluo Continent, it had no advantage whatsoever.
"Such a warm energy..."
As Tree Elder's Soul Power enveloped her, Ouyang Zixin instinctively released her Blue Silver Grass Spirit. She felt as if her entire body was wrapped in a dense, comforting energy.
Under the gentle embrace of this energy, her Blue Silver Grass Spirit quickly entered a state of absorption, slowly drawing in the Golden Ancient Tree's power.
Around her, the beautiful blades of grass shimmered with golden light, sparkling brilliantly.
"Such a warm energy..."
Watching the scene before him, especially sensing the aura of Tree Elder's Soul Power, Tang Wulin couldn't help but murmur to himself, a delighted smile appearing on his face.
He could clearly see that under this energy, Zi Xin's aura was steadily growing stronger...
"When it's your turn to absorb it in the future..."
"...you'll benefit greatly as well."
Tree Elder chuckled as he observed his reaction.
"Tree Elder..."
"How long will Zi Xin need to absorb the energy?"
Tang Wulin nodded repeatedly, his joy mingled with curiosity as he couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm? This matter?"
"It could take several months at most, or as little as one to two months."
Tree Elder answered truthfully.
"That long?"
Tang Wulin was slightly taken aback. He had assumed the energy absorption process would be much quicker.
"It's not too bad. It varies depending on circumstances, much like the differences in bloodline strength..."
"If it were you, even if you came to me when approaching the seventh ring, it wouldn't take nearly as long. But this girl is different—her innate bloodline is far inferior to yours."
Tree Elder shook his head with a smile. For Tang Wulin, absorbing this energy might take less than a week—perhaps just three days. But Ouyang Zixin before them was different.
Tang Wulin could do it because of his Blue Silver Emperor bloodline and his status as the child of a certain god.
A little girl with only a Blue Silver Grass Spirit would be overwhelmed and killed by the surging energy if she tried to absorb it directly—something Tree Elder didn't want to see.
"Slow absorption maximizes the energy's benefits. Otherwise, given the grade of her Martial Soul, she might not even withstand my energy."
"I see."
Tang Wulin wasn't foolish. Hearing this, he immediately understood the issue and felt a stirring in his heart.
As long as Zi Xin could gain substantial benefits, that would be more than enough.
"Then, on behalf of Zi Xin, I thank you, Elder."
Tang Wulin looked at Tree Elder respectfully as he spoke.
"No need for formalities."
Tree Elder chuckled and shook his head, giving Tang Wulin another glance. This child was quite different from that person...
Was he really a child of the Tang family?
"In the coming days, this girl will cultivate here. Once the absorption begins, it must continue until completion. During this time, my energy will protect her."
As Tree Elder spoke, a green light enveloped Ouyang Zixin before he turned his gaze back to Tang Wulin.
This way, the boy would be more at ease.
"Yes, thank you, Elder!"
Hearing this, Tang Wulin quickly expressed his gratitude, overjoyed. Having a supreme expert like Tree Elder protecting Zi Xin was something countless Soul Masters could only dream of.
With that, he prepared to leave, but just then, Tree Elder appeared before him again, as if sensing something.
"Tree Elder?"
Tang Wulin gave him a puzzled look.
"Ah, right."
"This thing inside you—let me take it out for you."
At that moment, Tree Elder frowned, his eyes fixed on Tang Wulin's chest. He extended a withered hand, murmuring thoughtfully.
"Thing?"
Tang Wulin blinked in confusion. As far as he knew, there was nothing inside him.
Back before his Golden Dragon Soul awakened, there had been a Martial Soul space where his spirit was sealed. Could there still be a seal he didn't know about...?
As he pondered, Tree Elder didn't pause in his actions.
Soon, under Tang Wulin's bewildered gaze, a golden spear wreathed in dragon's breath materialized before his eyes.
This was none other than the Golden Dragon Spear!
"As I thought..."
Looking at the Golden Dragon Spear before him, Tree Elder's eyes dimmed slightly. Wasn't this the very Divine Artifact that Tang Wutong, who had plundered the fortune of the Auspicious Beast ten thousand years ago, had possessed?
The Emperor Auspicious Beast, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion... what a pity...
But if that was the case, then the young man before him was indeed the son left behind by that person in Douluo!
"Huh?"
Compared to Tree Elder, Tang Wulin, the person directly involved, was utterly stunned in that moment.
A spear... had been inside his body all along?
"Child, take it."
Tree Elder stopped overthinking and handed the Golden Dragon Spear to the young man before him, speaking slowly. He couldn't quite judge the other's identity, but in these turbulent times...
Looking on the bright side, with such a weapon that could be called a Divine Artifact, the other party would be capable of many more things in the future.
"This..."
"Tree Elder, do you know what this is?"
Tang Wulin took the Golden Dragon Spear in a daze. For a moment, he only felt an inexplicable familiarity with it, yet he couldn't help but ask.
"This is the Golden Dragon Spear..."
"A Divine Artifact of the dragon race, an Innate Soul Tool that may appear alongside a powerful dragon. Since your Martial Soul is the Golden Dragon King, it's not surprising for you to have this."
Tree Elder shook his head and explained slowly.
"I see."
"Thank you, Tree Elder."
Tang Wulin nodded seriously, deep in thought.
Golden Dragon Spear, Golden Dragon King...
Perhaps this Soul Tool was the last thing the Dragon Soul of the Golden Dragon King had left for him!
"Go back now. Strive to break through to level 70 as soon as possible, then come find me. Oh, and remember to reserve a Soul Ring slot."
Tree Elder said calmly.
"Thank you, Tree Elder!"
"I'll go back and wait for Zi Xin to break through then."
Tang Wulin stored away the Golden Dragon Spear, expressing his gratitude before waving goodbye and quickly disappearing from sight.
"Blue Silver Emperor... the bloodline of that person."
"And this Golden Dragon Spear, once held by the Emperor Auspicious Beast, was likely given to him by his fused sister..."
Tree Elder murmured as he watched Tang Wulin's retreating figure.
"Tang San's children are truly interesting."
"One has a butterfly as their Martial Soul, and the other? Straight to becoming a dragon. If not for the Blue Silver Grass, who would believe this could be his son..."
A strange expression flickered across Tree Elder's face as he muttered to himself.
So...
Could this one be the Child of Nature of this generation?
For some reason, Tree Elder's gaze drifted into the distance, his emotions unable to settle for a long time. He had a premonition...
Perhaps the true Child of Nature was someone else.
(End of Chapter)