The old man slowly opened his eyes.
They were deep and tranquil, like ancient lakes that had witnessed the rise and fall of countless eras.
Although he sat motionless beneath the towering emerald tree, an invisible pressure filled the white world.
Lin Yuan instinctively bowed.
"Greetings, Senior."
The old man studied him for a long time before speaking.
"You are not the first to come here."
His voice was calm, yet it echoed endlessly throughout the space.
"But you are the first in over ten thousand years to awaken the Verdant Path."
Lin Yuan frowned.
"The Verdant Path?"
The old man nodded.
"The path of life."
"The path of endless growth."
He looked toward the Green Spirit Sapling that had appeared beside Lin Yuan.
Unlike before, the Martial Soul manifested clearly in this strange world, its emerald leaves swaying gently.
A faint smile appeared on the old man's face.
"It has finally awakened."
"You know my Martial Soul?"
"I know its origin."
The old man slowly rose to his feet.
"The tree you see before you is called the World Tree."
Lin Yuan looked up.
Only now did he realize that the colossal tree above him resembled his own Martial Soul.
The difference was unimaginable.
His sapling was like a candle.
The World Tree was like the sun itself.
"It was once the source of life for countless worlds."
The old man's expression gradually became sorrowful.
"But during the Ancient Heavenly War, it was shattered."
"Its branches became sacred forests."
"Its roots became spiritual veins."
"Its leaves scattered across the heavens."
"And its heart..."
He looked at Lin Yuan.
"...was divided into countless seeds."
Lin Yuan's pupils contracted.
He lowered his gaze to the Green Spirit Sapling.
"Are you saying..."
The old man nodded.
"Your Martial Soul is one of those seeds."
"It is not a mutation."
"It is not an ordinary Martial Soul."
"It is a fragment of the World Tree."
Silence filled the white world.
Everything Lin Yuan believed about his Martial Soul suddenly made sense.
Its ability to grow.
Its attraction to ancient roots.
Its hunger for the essence of life.
It had never been an ordinary sapling.
It had always been a fragment of something far greater.
The old man extended his hand.
A single emerald leaf floated down from the World Tree.
It landed gently before Lin Yuan.
"I am merely a remnant will."
"My duty is to wait for a successor."
"I cannot interfere with your journey."
"But I can leave you one gift."
Lin Yuan respectfully accepted the leaf.
The moment his fingers touched it, countless streams of information entered his mind.
A martial technique.
No...
It was more than a martial technique.
It was a way to use the life force stored within the Green Spirit Sapling.
Its name was...
Verdant Pulse.
By circulating life essence through his meridians, Lin Yuan could greatly increase his physical strength for a short period.
The stronger his Martial Soul became, the more powerful the technique would grow.
Unlike ordinary martial techniques, it required no weapon.
Only life essence.
The old man smiled.
"Remember."
"Life is not only for healing."
"It is also strength."
"It is resilience."
"It is the power to continue growing when all others have reached their limits."
Lin Yuan bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Senior."
The old man's figure gradually became transparent.
"My time has come."
"Before you leave..."
"There is one warning."
His expression turned solemn.
"The World Tree was not destroyed by fate."
"It was destroyed by men."
"There are still those who fear its return."
"If they discover your Martial Soul's true nature..."
"They will stop at nothing to destroy you."
Lin Yuan nodded slowly.
"I understand."
"Good."
The old man smiled one last time.
"Then go."
"Grow."
"And one day..."
"Let the World Tree stand beneath the heavens once more."
As his voice faded, the white world shattered into countless emerald fragments.
Lin Yuan suddenly found himself back on the ancient stone bridge.
Everything was exactly as before.
The statue stood silently.
The river flowed peacefully beneath it.
Had it all been an illusion?
He looked at his hand.
The emerald leaf was gone.
But the memories of the Verdant Pulse remained crystal clear.
Deep within his spiritual sea, the Green Spirit Sapling had changed once again.
Its trunk now bore delicate golden patterns, and its life essence had become far purer than before.
Lin Yuan smiled faintly.
He had entered the Verdant Secret Realm seeking tokens.
Instead...
He had found the first piece of the truth behind his Martial Soul.
Just then, hurried footsteps echoed from the forest.
A wounded disciple burst onto the bridge, his face pale with fear.
"Run!"
He shouted.
"A Second-Order Spirit Beast has gone berserk!"
Before Lin Yuan could respond, a deafening roar shook the entire forest.
The trees trembled violently.
Birds scattered into the sky.
Whatever had awakened...
It was coming straight toward the bridge.