37: Chapter 37 The Flower of Energy and the Wings of Sunlight

The light screen dissipated, and the connection with the four royal courts was temporarily severed.

Queen Chaoyang stood up from her throne, which was intertwined with golden tree roots; her small frame seemed to contain a power originating from the same source as the throne.

Her expression was solemn, and she held her hands out before her chest, as if brewing something.

A more intense golden radiance flowed from the throne beneath her, gathering toward her palms like a living stream.

The power of solar essence permeating the air also seemed to be summoned, gathering in wisps from outside the hall and from the sunflower discs on the dome.

Specks of golden light danced within the hall, making the entire Chaoyang Hall shine even more brilliantly.

Gradually, between the palms that Queen Chaoyang held out, a mass of extremely condensed energy, resembling liquid sunlight, began to rotate and coalesce.

It was continuously purified and shaped, and finally, a lifelike golden sunflower, composed entirely of pure solar energy, bloomed brilliantly in her hands!

This energy sunflower radiated warm and powerful fluctuations; its petals flowed with a luster like molten gold, while its core disc was like a miniature sun, containing immense power of solar essence.

"This is the flower of sunbeam, which carries the power of the Origin of our Sun Sunflower Kingdom," Queen Chaoyang's voice carried a hint of imperceptible fatigue, but was filled with more solemnity, "It is also one of the keys to this Ritual of Flowers. Only by holding this flower on the altar at the top of the Holy Tree (World Tree) can one guide the power of solar essence to nourish the Holy Tree."

She carefully held this flower of sunbeam and turned her gaze to Zhang Hao and Lin Wan: "The top of the Holy Tree towers into the clouds and cannot be reached by ordinary means. Only by possessing the ability to fly can one arrive at the altar. I see that the two of you… seem to lack wings?"

Zhang Hao and Lin Wan nodded frankly.

They indeed did not possess the ability to fly.

Queen Chaoyang seemed to have expected this; she looked at the flower of sunbeam in her hand, pondered for a moment, and said: "The Ritual of Flowers concerns the balance of the four directions and the survival of the Holy Tree; there can be no mistakes. Since you are willing to help us investigate the anomaly, ascending to the top of the Holy Tree is a necessary path."

As she spoke, she extended her slender, jade-like fingers and lightly brushed over the flower of sunbeam.

Two strands of exceptionally pure golden radiance were stripped away, moving like living little snakes as they wound through the air, flying separately toward Zhang Hao and Lin Wan.

"I am temporarily bestowing upon you Wings of Sunbeam using a portion of the Origin of the flower of sunbeam. These wings will help you soar through the sky until this mission concludes," Queen Chaoyang explained, "During this time, you may also slightly mobilize a little bit of the power of solar essence for protection."

The two strands of golden radiance touched Zhang Hao and Lin Wan's backs and instantly merged.

The two felt a slight warmth at their shoulder blades, and immediately, a pair of huge, glowing wings composed entirely of soft golden light, shaped like the veins of sunflower petals, unfolded from their backs!

The glowing wings flapped gently, scattering fine golden light particles, and a sense of weightlessness spread throughout their bodies, as if they had broken free from the shackles of the earth.

Zhang Hao tried to control his thoughts, and the wings of sunlight responded, allowing him to easily hover an inch off the ground.

Lin Wan also looked with surprise at the magnificent glowing wings unfurling behind her, feeling that faint connection with the surrounding solar energy.

"Thank you, Your Majesty," the two thanked her sincerely.

This temporarily bestowed ability to fly was undoubtedly a timely help.

"No need for such formalities," Queen Chaoyang shook her head slightly, holding the flower of sunbeam, which was slightly dimmer but still radiant, tightly in her hands, "Presumably, at this moment, my three sisters are also paving the way to the top of the tree for the travelers by their sides in their own ways."

She looked up, her gaze seemingly piercing through the dome of the hall, looking toward the distant skyline where the silhouette of the World Tree stood towering.

"Prepare to set off," Queen Chaoyang's voice regained the decisiveness of a queen, "Target, the top of the Holy Tree!"

Zhang Hao and Lin Wan flapped their newly acquired Wings of Sunbeam and landed steadily.

With the ability to fly, the greatest obstacle to the top of the tree seemed to have been eliminated.

However, they both knew that the true challenge—the anomaly hidden within the World Tree and the potential dangers that might exist—had perhaps just begun.

The four teams were about to converge under the World Tree and begin the true exploration.