Early the next morning, the Treasure Pavilion delivered the Golden Ancient Tree branch to Chen Junting.
"Elder Electrolux."
The moment the dorm room door shut, an invisible force erupted from Chen Junting, sealing Room 161 from outside perception. A stream of this energy flowed into the branch.
Instantly, the unassuming twig blazed with golden light, filling the room with gentle, luminous energy. Ambient qi swirled inward—as if a Gathering Energy Array had been activated.
"No wonder it's from the Golden Ancient Tree," Chen Junting murmured, seated cross-legged on his bed, his mind sharpened by the branch's aura. If a mere branch holds such power… what must the whole tree be like?
He dismissed the thought, focusing on the floating branch. "Elder Electrolux—I'll leave this to you."
Electrolux's spectral form in his spiritual sea nodded. "Understood. But I'll need to borrow your body. A god's lingering power demands caution—even for my divine fragment."
Chen Junting agreed without hesitation.
As he nodded, a wave of gray pressure flooded his spiritual sea, replacing its emerald hue. Electrolux's presence faded—and outside, Chen Junting's black eyes turned ashen gray, radiating ancient, world-weary wisdom.
A gray soul ring rose around him. Deathly aura seeped out, making the branch tremble—its golden light flaring as green-gold life energy surged in defense.
But a mere branch couldn't resist a divine will.
The green-gold light faltered under the gray tide. Chen Junting even sensed the branch's anguished wail as its vitality withered. Yet trusting Electrolux, he remained still.
When the gray energy fully enveloped the branch, Electrolux flicked his finger. A wisp of gray flame ignited on his fingertip—then landed precisely on the twig.
Suddenly—
A softer, purer golden radiance erupted. Even possessed by Electrolux, Chen Junting felt a transcendent pressure flood his being—
the might of a god, though but a fragment.
The gray energy dissolved under the golden light. The flame was smothered as if by liquid gold.
Both Chen Junting and Electrolux smiled.
The Sea God's Light had been drawn out.
Electrolux struck instantly—
through Chen Junting's body, he yanked at the golden radiance, tearing the divine essence free.
The golden light blazed defiantly, unleashing waves of purifying power toward Chen Junting.
But Electrolux was no stranger to purification.
A master who'd fused Light and Death, the Sea God's Light barely affected him.
Instead, Chen Junting reaped the benefits.
For a fleeting moment, he felt adrift in an endless ocean—vast, boundless, eternal.
Then—it vanished.
When his awareness returned, Electrolux had already won the tug-of-war. The Sea God's Light, rootless as driftwood, was no match for him. The branch now lay limp, its vitality nearly spent.
A gray tendril wrapped the blue-golden Sea God's Light, sinking it into Chen Junting's brow. Electrolux's presence receded from his body.
Chen Junting immediately channeled Life Gold, flooding the branch with restorative energy to preserve its last spark of life.
Once stabilized, he withdrew.
Diving into his spiritual sea, he found Electrolux examining the captured light. "Elder?"
"You're here," Electrolux said, golden runes spiraling from his palm to bind the light into a shimmering orb. "This Sea God may be despicable—but his power is real. In a true clash, I'd lose. I'll dissect this essence… so we're prepared if we ever face him."
"Thank you, Elder," Chen Junting said earnestly.
Electrolux chuckled. "This Sea God's Light is extraordinary. I'll grant you its insight. Absorb it carefully."
The orb blazed.
The oceanic vastness returned—now nurturing Chen Junting's spiritual sea and Life Gold Eye under Electrolux's guidance.
---
Later—Outside Room 161
Chen Junting opened his eyes just as a knock sounded. He rose to find Ning Tian waiting outside. "Xiao Tian—how long have you been here?"
"Just a moment," she smiled. "Wu Feng told me you skipped class, so I had her request leave for you. But Teacher Mujin just asked me to tell you—visit her office this afternoon."
"Specifically for me?" Chen Junting mused. Likely about the reserve team selections.
"Let's go, then."
After a quick wash and lunch with Ning Tian, he headed alone to Mujin's office.
Voices murmured inside. He knocked three times.
Thud thud thud.
The chatter ceased. "Come in," Mujin's voice called.
Chen Junting entered to find her facing six Core Disciples of Class One:
Wu Feng, Wang Dong, Huo Yuhao… and, newly promoted, Dai Huabin and Zhu Lu.
Perfect—six in total.
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