In the blink of an eye, the surrounding walls had closed in, nearly within reach.
Xie Zhaolin could even see the silver patterns flowing across the barriers, yet she stood perfectly still, feeling the warmth of the crystal in her hand, letting the silver-white walls press closer. This sealed space was like a massive greenhouse, and the silver crystal in her palm was the awaiting pistil.
She could clearly sense that she was becoming an indispensable part of this life ceremony—and she was the "pollen." Next came the final gestation. —The most crucial step in absorbing the Rebirth Flower.
Xie Zhaolin could feel her spiritual power being guided by a strange force, slowly flowing into the crystal.
"Buzzzz—"
A strange resonance echoed through the space. Her spiritual power seeped into the crystal strand by strand, a slow and precise process that even calmed her restless mind. To her surprise, her power began forming intricate patterns inside the crystal, like the meridians of a human body. As time passed, these channels grew denser, converging at the center into a single point of light.
"So… pollination complete?"
Before she could ponder, the crystal suddenly shuddered violently. Silver light surged across its surface, illuminating the space like daylight. Xie Zhaolin felt an unprecedented force return from the crystal, flowing as a silver liquid through her meridians.
This power was purer than her own, brimming with the essence of life. Every meridian it passed was strengthened, every inch of flesh nourished, sending waves of sharp pain and tingling. At the same time, silver patterns began appearing across her skin, matching those within the crystal.
"Ah!"
She couldn't help but cry out.
The force was overwhelming, making her feel like she might explode, yet it also rapidly mended her body. She knew she was undergoing a transformation unlike any before. Lips pressed tight, she guided the energy through her body, circulating it carefully.
Meanwhile, the space inside the crystal was shrinking rapidly, as if compressing all its energy into her.
Crack—
A crisp sound rang out as the first fissure appeared on the crystal's surface. Then a second, a third… soon, the entire crystal was webbed with cracks.
Boom!
With a muffled roar, the crystal shattered completely. But there was no explosion. The fragments became tiny points of silver light, floating around her like pollen. Even more astonishing, these specks began fusing into her body. Each touch brought a wave of tingling sensation.
As more light absorbed into her, Xie Zhaolin felt her body fundamentally changing. She closed her eyes, soaking in the strange transformation. Her muscles tightened, bones grew sturdier, even her blood seemed to shimmer with silver light.
Crack—
Another crisp sound echoed from inside her.
Looking inward, she saw her bones transforming—silver light glowed deep within the marrow, the bone itself crystallizing like jade. The change began from her spine and spread rapidly through her limbs.
"Ugh…"
She groaned, sweat beading across her forehead.
The pain of this rebirth far exceeded anything she'd imagined, like every bone was being broken and remade. Even the first time she practiced the Xuanyin Foundation Technique wasn't this agonizing. Yet she also felt her strength multiplying, her explosive power increasing at least threefold. As the physical transformation neared completion, the silver energy in her mind flared. She knew it was time for her Primordial Soul to transform.
The Rebirth Flower's true value was in repairing the soul, and experiencing it firsthand made her understand just how heavy the word "repair" was. Her mind was being washed by this energy, repairing the tiniest cracks left by the azure-violet mists and the Soul Chasing Seal explosion.
Even more astonishing, the energy actively strengthened her soul's essence. Like a raw jade being carefully carved, her Primordial Soul became denser and clearer, her spiritual awareness sharply heightened, and her thought processes faster than ever.
"No wonder the ancient texts say anyone who gains the Rebirth Flower can undergo rebirth…" Xie Zhaolin whispered in awe.
It made sense why the flower worked on the body first. Strengthening the soul to this extent would've shattered her fragile body otherwise. It was like forcing a Nascent Soul cultivator's mind into a Foundation-stage body—instant destruction.
Luckily, the Soul Splitting Rebirth Art had left her power weak enough to survive in a mortal body. Realizing this, she carefully guided the energy to heal her old wounds, especially those left from her soul's initial tearing. The healing was visible, almost miraculous.
The silver energy seemed intelligent, targeting exactly what needed repair.
"Ugh…"
A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips.
This soul nourishment felt heavenly, like long-awaited rain on parched land, revitalizing her completely. She noticed her spiritual perception steadily expanding.
The Rebirth Flower offered more than repair—it elevated the soul. She suddenly realized its effect went beyond mere restoration; it was reshaping the soul, taking it to a whole new level. Then, the surroundings shook violently. A purer force surged in, pouring directly into her mind.
Boom!
Her mind was engulfed in silver light. Her soul absorbed the energy eagerly, and astonishingly, her compatibility with this body also surged. The unease left from possessing another's body began to vanish.
"It even removes the aftermath of body-snatching…" she thought in shock.
No wonder cultivators coveted the Rebirth Flower so fiercely. A divine item that could reshape the body, repair the soul, and even erase body-snatching backlash was worth any risk. During this profound fusion, Xie Zhaolin suddenly felt overwhelming fatigue. Her consciousness blurred and finally slipped into complete darkness.
Outside, the black sphere began changing as well.
Fine patterns appeared across its surface, gradually forming the outline of a flower.