49: Chapter 49 Sacred Return to the Source, A Tribute to Life

The Yin and Yang energy cycle within Zhang Hao, now tending toward stability and profound mystery, was like the surface of the sea after a storm—deep and containing new power.

The heavy atmosphere on the altar eased slightly with his awakening.

The four queens gazed at him, their eyes intertwined with relief, amazement, and a hint of indescribable release.

They could clearly perceive that this young man had not only purged the corruption of the Origin, which even they found troublesome, but had also constructed a balance in the midst of desperation that harmonized opposites and secretly aligned with the underlying rules of the world.

"Traveler from afar, your resilience and wisdom are like stars in the dark night, illuminating a path never seen before," Queen Chaoyang said.

Her voice still carried the warmth of the sun, yet it faintly revealed an ethereal quality, as if the voice itself were merging into the surrounding light.

"It is a true blessing to witness you carve out new life on the edge of destruction."

"I am honored by Your Majesty's praise; it is you and this land that gave me the chance," Zhang Hao replied with a bow, his tone steady.

His extraordinary perception allowed him to capture that the energy fluctuations radiating from the four queens were becoming increasingly pure and majestic, yet also drawing closer to a certain essential transformation.

After a brief moment of relief and exchange, the expressions of the four queens simultaneously turned into a solemnity that transcended the mundane.

It was a gravity where personal will was completely merged into a grand mission.

They looked at each other; no words were needed, as the tacit understanding formed by guarding together for thousands of years had made their hearts and minds as one.

Queen Chaoyang stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over Zhang Hao, Lin Wan, and all the Hosts who had endured the bitter battle and now stood with determined eyes, before finally casting her gaze toward the boundless firmament and the World Tree beneath her feet that supported all things.

She proclaimed loudly, her voice magnificent, like a command:

"The corruption has been purged, and the World Tree is cleansed! Yet the cycle of heaven and earth runs ceaselessly! The time for us to uphold the mandate and maintain balance has arrived! With my body as a guide, resonate with the pulse of the World Tree! With my Soul as fuel, awaken the vitality of all things!"

"In our names—Chaoyang, Yetan, Zhufeng, and Qinglian—we initiate the final sacred ritual—All Spirits Return to Origin, World Tree Reborn!"

Once the declaration was made, the world responded!

"Boom!"

The entire World Tree, from the roots deeply embedded in the earth to the canopy towering into the clouds, suddenly emitted a low, joyful vibration!

On the altar platform, those ancient and profound patterns were instantly ignited by an unprecedented, brilliant light.

Four-colored radiance shot into the sky like a physical entity, stirring the wind and clouds, making the elements rejoice!

The figures of the four queens became increasingly holy and hazy within the endless radiance.

They floated silently at the four corresponding positions of the altar, their arms outstretched, as if embracing the entire world.

The flowers of Origin they held—the flower of sunbeam, the moonshadow flower, the wind-whisper flower, and the water-mirror flower—were the first to undergo an essential sublimation.

The flowers shed their material form, melting and sublimating into four cores of the purest and most intense Origin energy: one was the ceaselessly leaping golden sun essence; one was the tranquil and profound silver moon radiance; one was the formless and intangible cyan wind Soul; and one was the clear and transparent blue water heart.

Immediately after, the gorgeous ceremonial robes that symbolized the kingdom's authority and sacred duty began to turn into countless fine light runes from the edges, dancing gracefully, and finally completely merging into the four constantly expanding cores of Origin energy.

This was not a demise, but rather the shedding of physical form to return to the initial and most fundamental state of energy.

Their faces appeared incomparably holy and peaceful in the extreme radiance, carrying a sense of release as their mission was about to be fulfilled.

Their bodies gradually became transparent, as if carved from the purest light crystal, with vast energy visible within, flowing and circulating like a galaxy.

Finally, these spiritual bodies, which carried all the memories, emotions, and power of their lives, completely merged with the external Origin energy cores, becoming indistinguishable from one another.

At this moment, they transformed into the manifestation of this world's fundamental rules, the eternal embodiment of the sun's essence, the moon's radiance, the wind's Soul, and the water's heart!

The four massive Origin energy masses, which were so vast they obscured the view and contained all the life imprints and Law authority of the four queens, slowly circled and chased each other above the altar, like four awakened primordial stars, shining upon each other and emitting a supreme majesty and vast compassion that made all things feel awe.

Subsequently, under the guidance of the World Tree itself and the root will of the world, these four Origin energy masses, with unwavering determination and the tranquility of a return, slowly and solemnly descended like four sacred waterfalls falling from the heavens, perfectly injecting themselves into the altar patterns operating like a star map below.

The moment the energy merged—

"Hum!"

The World Tree emitted a resonant, vibrant sound!

The trunk, branches, and every leaf burst forth with an indescribable radiance of vitality!

The Origin that had been consumed to purge the corruption was instantly replenished and completed, reaching a state of unprecedented Perfection!

The vast energy swept through along the invisible network of the World Tree, from top to bottom, gently and firmly cleansing every minute corner, thoroughly purifying the last trace of corruption.

At the same time, in the depths of the palaces of the four kingdoms, on the four life thrones naturally formed by the main roots of the World Tree, soft and pure light emerged out of thin air.

Within the light, the outlines of four young girls began to condense and take shape—they were the four queens: Chaoyang, Yetan, Zhufeng, and Qinglian!

They slowly opened their eyes on the thrones in their fourteen-year-old forms, their eyes clear, carrying familiar memories and power Foundations, as if they had just awakened from a deep sleep.

They would grow over the next four years until they were eighteen, to once again fulfill the duties of a queen, waiting for the next return and sacrifice.

The sacred cycle was seamlessly connected at this moment.

On the altar, everyone who witnessed this unimaginable, grand, and sacred scene of sacrifice was shaken to their core.

Lin Wan's eyes were filled with hot tears; it was the natural outpouring of a Soul being struck by the supreme devotion and holiness.

Just at this moment, only Zhang Hao and Lin Wan could see the figure of the tree spirit Airo quietly emerge in the radiance at the center of the altar; it was more solid and agile than before.

Its peaceful voice resonated directly in their hearts:

"This is the destined path and the glorious return. The queens have returned to their thrones, and the World Tree has returned to Perfection. Through their eternal Reincarnation, they guard the balance of this world."

Zhang Hao and Lin Wan were silent, awe like that of facing the starry sky rising in their hearts.

The meaning of the existence of those four girls with distinct personalities was actually so heavy and glorious.

The World Tree, having completed the final purification and sublimation, began to feed back its joy and blessings to the world.

Countless soft and pure life energy, appearing as four-colored light spots, rose like billions of flickering spirits from the branches and leaves of the World Tree, turning into a warm rain of light that showered down upon every corner of the Kingdom of a Hundred Flowers.

This light rain was not for repairing wounds—because the corruption had not truly spread beyond the World Tree—but was a pure blessing of life; it would nourish all things, making plants more lush and creatures healthier.

The people on the altar were at the core of this rain of life blessing.

The pure life energy spontaneously poured into their bodies.

Lin Wan felt that her [Hymn of Life] Talent seemed to be injected with new vitality, and her resonance with life energy became even more profound.

Her spirit [Qingyu] danced happily, its emerald wings becoming even more lustrous.

Mo Li, Bai Zhi, Shi Yan, Feng Ling, Lan, Qingmu, and the others also felt a nourishment originating from the source of life.

This did not directly increase their power or Talent Rank, but it was like solidifying a Foundation, greatly stimulating their life potential, widening their future growth limits, and consolidating their life Foundations.

They could feel that their recovery, endurance, and adaptability to various environments had been permanently enhanced.

Zhang Hao was also immersed in this blessing.

The [Taiji Yin Yang Fish] core within him operated steadily, converting the surging life energy into resources for balancing Yin and Yang and stabilizing his mental walls.

This blessing of life potential made him feel that his own Foundation was more solid, as if laying a firm groundwork for more complex and powerful energy changes in the future.

The Taiji diagram on the forehead of the [Yin Yang Star Pivot · Silver Star] on his shoulder rotated slowly, its aura becoming increasingly restrained and deep.

The sacred sacrifice had been completed, the queens had begun a new Reincarnation on their newborn thrones, and the blessing of life spread like warm ripples to the entire world.

The travelers from afar, having witnessed this Soul-shaking epic, carried the world's gratitude and the blessing of life potential, knowing it was time to leave.