Inside the Pope's personal chambers...
"Chuan'er, try it again." Bibi Dong took out another crystal ball. This one was no larger than a fist—much smaller than the last one that exploded. But its size was in no way a reflection of its value. On the contrary, this sphere was a treasure specially designed to assess the soul power of a Soul Saint—Level 70 and above.
A crystal far more precious than most would ever lay eyes on.
Yun Chuan obediently placed his tiny hand on the orb, his fingers resting against the surface with almost reverent calm. A familiar sucking force pulled at the power within him, and the crystal began to glow.
Unlike before, there was no dazzling burst this time. The glow remained steady, but not intense, making it hard for Yun Chuan to gauge exactly how much it was measuring.
But Bibi Dong—watching from the side—suddenly froze, her pupils shrinking with shock despite her mental preparedness.
Even with all her expectations, she hadn't believed the number could be this outrageous.
Fifty.
Fifty levels of innate soul power.
The starting point… of a Soul King.
That was a frightfully high-level threshold most people couldn't even dream of reaching throughout their entire cultivation lifetime. Yet this child—her child—had reached it the moment his martial spirit awakened.
The way she looked at Yun Chuan began to secretly shift. A voice echoed in her mind: 'Was this child… perhaps heaven's favorite son?'
Handsome beyond comparison.
Talent beyond comprehension.
As if the heavens had used him to write poetry.
Innate spiritual power at level fifty! That wasn't a rare gem—that was a holy relic.
With such a starting point, Yun Chuan could theoretically fuse a ten-thousand-year spirit ring as his very first ring and survive. He might not even have relied on twin martial spirits to reach the configurations others slaved for. A full nine-ring soul master path—each one black grade or above—was not a dream. It was an expectation.
This level of talent was enough to shatter the logic of the entire continent.
If he weren't her son—her lovingly raised adopted son—even Bibi Dong might've felt a surge of jealousy so deep it borderlined hatred.
Fifty levels… right from the beginning.
Even Yun Chuan was awed.
He remembered how the system had given him a hundred free attribute points when he first transmigrated, and he'd only used sixty points to raise his root-bone attribute… and now?
He was some kind of mythological freak!
'If just sixty points can give me innate fifty-level power… then what happens if I max it out to a full hundred?'
He'd probably ascend straight to godhood upon waking up!
Ascend without trying.
Face-slap the gods.
Claim his divine seat—and still have leftover stats to showboat with!
Then—
"Chuan'er," Bibi Dong's soft voice called out.
She gently squatted down so they were eye-level; her flawless, elegant face mere inches from his. Those amethyst eyes of hers shone with deep seriousness.
"Listen to me carefully."
"You must not let anyone know your innate soul power is level fifty. To the outside world, you are simply a full-innate soul power user—level ten. That's all. Understood?"
Yun Chuan nodded, his little face serious. "I understand, Mama."
He knew exactly why she did this. She wasn't worried about his pride, she was worried for his life.
Raw potential didn't mean safety.
Before you grew wings and fangs, showing your hand meant inviting disaster. No matter how heaven-defying your talent, if you were weak, you'd still get buried in the dirt like anybody else.
In this world?
Only the strong had the right to be arrogant.
'Hide it. Bide your time. Live... then rise.'
Low-profile was law.
"Good boy…"
With relief and affection softening her features, Bibi Dong reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace. One hand gently patted his back as she held him close. Her eyes closed, and her voice was filled with love.
But as she held him, her thoughts wandered to those who had seen too much…
A faint, killing intent shimmered in the depths of her gaze.
—
Nestled safely in his adoptive mother's arms, Yun Chuan couldn't help but feel a deep sense of warmth.
Six years.
Six whole years of endless care and affection, of being doted on like the apple of her eye. Even a heart of steel would melt eventually.
In these six years, the idea of "playing both sides"… had long ceased to exist in his mind.
He wasn't here to maintain his place between two worlds anymore.
He was now a full-blooded, die-hard member of the Bibi Dong faction.
If anyone dared to harm Bibi Dong—
Whether it was his long-lost brother Tang San, or some blood-related, long-lost father…
He'd beat them down on the spot.
He didn't care whose genes they shared.
After all, he had two lives' worth of memory. His true parents—his true family—had been in his past life. As for his current biological family?
Strangers.
And strangers who threatened his mother?
Dead men walking.
—
After a long and tender embrace, Bibi Dong finally stood.
She smiled, ruffled his hair, and quietly left the room, citing official duties.
A faint floral fragrance lingered in the air.
Yun Chuan watched her retreating figure disappear down the corridor, her graceful posture exuding dignity and strength—and a faint, unmistakable bloodlust building in her step.
He knew. She was going to silence the witnesses.
She would kill—all to protect him.
She'd already gone all in.
So how could he not be moved?
How could he ever abandon her?
Yun Chuan couldn't help but compare himself with Tang San again. Tang San, raised under single-father neglect, thrown into the harsh world without love or structure…
But him?
He was swaddled in silk, kissed on the forehead daily, and raised by Spirit Hall's most powerful goddess of war.
Tell him again who was blessed by fate?
Yun Chuan still remembered that wild, unshaven Tang Hao reeking of sweat, feeding milk out of chipped bowls.
And then he took another breath of the sweet floral fragrance Bibi Dong had left behind.
Yup. No regrets.
Soft, sweet-smelling, powerful mamas were absolutely superior to drunkard ragged uncles!
—
Wiping away his lingering thoughts, Yun Chuan focused his spirit. It was time to explore the abilities granted by his awakened Spirits.
First… the Verdant Goddess martial spirit.
He raised his hands and softly summoned her.
Behind him, the goddess appeared in all her glory—blue hair flowing like a river, green robe sparkling with life force. She floated silently behind him, more like a spirit than a physical being.
"Spirit Possession—Activate!"
The goddess dissolved into sparkling green light, streaming into Yun Chuan's small frame. His body glowed with life essence. His hair turned the same beautiful ocean-blue as hers, and his eyes followed suit. He even grew a few centimeters taller.
His face… didn't change much.
What could you optimize on something already sculpted like divine porcelain?
He examined himself briefly. Then calmly shifted his focus inward—
Suddenly, he felt it.
A kind of dominion.
With the spirit possessed, he now held sway over all plant life. Not just Blue Silver Grass like Tang San—not just a few patches of flora—but full-scale command of all vegetation within his domain.
He dubbed it: Plant Domain.
Within it, every blade of grass bowed to him.
Trees whispered their secrets.
Flowers could become his ears. If he wanted, he could siphon their strength, turn them into his energy, or use them as a surveillance network across an entire forest.
It was… formidable.
Similar in concept to Tang San's Avatar and Blue Silver Domain—but vastly more universal. Tang San's reach depended on the presence of Blue Silver Grass.
Yun Chuan?
He could control any plant. Any time. Anywhere.
Because he was a Goddess of Plants.
Him.
Let that sink in.
Flowers bloomed where he walked. Trees would kneel. Vines would entangle his enemies like soldiers.
This was power on nature's throne.
And deep inside, Yun Chuan was sure… this wasn't even the limit. The spirit still held hidden potential. There were other abilities waiting to be awakened, locked away until he grew stronger.
Perhaps one day, he'd unlock Wood Release jutsu or summon tree gods!
He could already picture it—
He'd rear back and roar:
"Wood Release—True Thousands Hands! Top Buddhas' Avatar!"
And then BAM!
A towering wooden Buddha with a thousand fists appeared, framing the skies themselves as he stood atop its divine head, looking down at a dumbfounded Tang San and saying with a smug smirk:
"You're my twin, so I'll be nice and give you a two-handicap headstart."
Tang San: "…HUH???"
(End of Chapter)