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Roar—!
Accompanied by a tiger's roar, Dai Chengfeng's White Tiger martial spirit slowly emerged behind him.
The moment it appeared, the White Tiger martial spirit was immediately enveloped in a dazzling golden light. This was the residual medicinal power of the Heavenly Condensed Mystic Gold Ginseng King, which Dai Chengfeng couldn't fully absorb.
Occasionally, wisps of white, gentle medicinal energy from the Great Restoration Pills could also be seen threading into it like sinuous snakes.
Instantly, the two types of medicinal energy intertwined, producing a strange chemical reaction.
The golden light surrounding the White Tiger martial spirit seemed to grow even brighter, resembling molten gold until it completely cocooned the martial spirit in a radiant golden chrysalis…
And within the chrysalis, it felt as though a heart were beating.
Each beat caused a slight tremor in the surrounding air—wind arose!
As time ticked by…
The medicinal powers of the immortal herb and the Great Restoration Pills continued to converge. The aura within the chrysalis grew stronger, and the sound of the heartbeat became clearer and more urgent.
As the chrysalis changed, a sacred force connected the White Tiger martial spirit tightly to Dai Chengfeng…
An unbearable pain beyond the earlier cleansing of meridians and transformation of essence coursed through him.
Dai Chengfeng felt sharp stabs of pain in every inch of his meridians, as if countless steel needles were piercing them.
Not only that, but his bones began to emit a creaking sound under the strain.
It felt as though an immense force was attempting to reshape his skeletal structure. Each slight shift of his bones brought excruciating pain.
Eventually, the pain penetrated deep into his marrow, causing his consciousness to blur.
His willpower was on the verge of collapse.
Chaotic images flashed through his mind, memories replaying in slow motion under the impact of this overwhelming force, as if he were nearing death… but gradually becoming indistinct.
Using every ounce of strength, Dai Chengfeng clawed at the ground with his hands, his nails breaking and blood staining the floor. Yet he remained oblivious, his gaze unwavering.
He struggled to maintain his consciousness, but the pain clung to him like a shadow, relentlessly eroding his will.
His eyes were bloodshot from the agony…
But he knew that if he fell now, without his guidance, the medicinal power would dissipate.
All his previous efforts would be in vain.
The evolution of the White Tiger martial spirit would end in failure.
At this moment, Dai Chengfeng clenched his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums. "I remember… in the arid lands of the far west, there is a cicada that hides in the mud for twenty-three years."
"Waiting for the melting snow from the mountains to bring water, waiting for the awakening of all things and the arrival of spring winds…"
"It shall transform!"
"In the mud, in the cold wind, in perseverance, in the vastness of heaven and earth—it spreads its wings and flies!"
Crack!
Suddenly, a crisp sound, like shattering glass, rang out.
A fine crack, almost hair-thin, quietly appeared on the surface of the golden chrysalis. At first, it was barely visible amidst the dazzling golden glow, but over time, it spread and widened at a visible pace.
Crack—!
Another loud, sharp sound echoed, louder and clearer than before, like ice cracking or boulders shattering, completely breaking the silence in the room.
Immediately afterward, more cracks spread across the surface of the chrysalis like a spiderweb.
With each heartbeat-like pulse of the chrysalis, a new crack formed, accompanied by a surge of intense golden light spilling forth.
The sound of the heartbeat had become deafening, each thump resonating like the pounding of war drums. A sudden gust of wind rose from nowhere…
Everything in the room, except for the pill furnace, was overturned by the fierce wind.
Thump, thump, thump…
The heartbeat grew more intense, and the cracks on the chrysalis multiplied, causing it to tremble violently.
An unstoppable divine force was brewing, struggling to break free from within.
Until the brilliance of the chrysalis reached its peak, shining like the sun!
"My 'cicada' did not wait twenty-three years—it will be…"
Dai Chengfeng finally let out a low roar, his eyes blazing with golden-blue flames. "Now!"
Roar—!
In an instant.
Amidst a thunderous tiger's roar, the golden chrysalis shattered completely.
Countless golden fragments scattered like stars, transforming into streaks of golden light that melted into the surrounding air.
As the light faded, a majestic White Tiger stood proudly in place.
Its body was several times larger than before…
Though called a martial spirit, it now resembled a 'holy beast.'
Its once snow-white fur was now enveloped in golden light, as if forged by the gods.
Compared to its previous purely muscular appearance, its physique now exuded a sense of fluidity and lightness.
Its tiger eyes, once purely golden, now glowed with a golden-blue hue, crackling with lightning, radiating a sharp and piercing light that could terrify all evil in the world and command awe in all directions.
More importantly…
The aura of the White Tiger martial spirit had undergone a complete transformation.
What was once purely royal majesty and ferocity now carried a sacred and noble presence, emanating from it…
This feeling was like the warm spring sun, yet carried an unassailable dignity.
Its killing intent was as tangible as a blade, sending chills down one's spine.
Feeling these changes in his White Tiger martial spirit, Dai Chengfeng's heart was filled with awe and joy.
The next moment!
Dai Chengfeng raised his hand slightly. "All things in nature, wind—come!"
From the palm of his hand, a small whirlwind of white wind energy spontaneously arose. Though weak and far from meeting the standard of a soul skill, it was undoubtedly wind-attribute soul power!
Instantly, a flicker of excitement appeared in Dai Chengfeng's eyes.
"Indeed!"
"Clouds follow dragons, and wind follows tigers!"
"Before, my White Tiger martial spirit lacked its true essence, differing somewhat from the genuine White Tiger martial spirit. It possessed only the metal attribute, with no trace of the wind attribute."
"For this reason, I've always worried whether obtaining a wind-attribute soul ring could compensate for the lack of the wind attribute in my White Tiger martial spirit."
"But now!"
Dai Chengfeng was ecstatic, thrilled, laughing aloud.
"The metal attribute has evolved into the ultimate metal."
"Afterward, under the combined effects of the Great Restoration Pills and the Heavenly Condensed Mystic Gold Ginseng King, my White Tiger martial spirit underwent its first evolution."
"As a result, the wind attribute essence spontaneously manifested!"
"Now, my martial spirit has fundamentally and completely diverged from the White Tiger martial spirit of the Dai family…"
Whew!
Soon, Dai Chengfeng took several deep breaths, forcing himself to calm down.
After all…
There was still one crucial thing left to test!
Dai Chengfeng wanted to know—alongside the evolution of his White Tiger martial spirit and the spontaneous manifestation of the wind attribute soul power—
Would the soul skills he previously mastered undergo any new changes?
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