98: Soul Reshaping, Lotus Blossoms in Nine Grades

Inside the quiet room, the Formation's light flowed, completely isolating the inside from the outside.

Li Ao sat cross-legged, his expression more solemn than ever before. In front of him, a soul-warming jade floated, emitting a faint colorful glow. Medusa's ethereal Soul wavered within it, like a candle in the wind. Beside it was the seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed, which contained immense vitality and Soul Origin, as well as several rare auxiliary medicines provided by the Pill Tower, radiating a soft, precious light.

The healing process was far more complex than simply consuming the lotus seed. Medusa's Soul Origin was severely damaged, almost disintegrating, like a cracked glass goblet on the verge of shattering. Although the power of the seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed was vast and gentle, if directly infused, it would likely be like a flood striking a broken dam, not only failing to repair it but accelerating its collapse.

He needed to use his own Soul as a guide, and the peculiar characteristic of the Annihilation Rule's 'stabilizing the ruins' as a framework, to carefully guide the gentle medicinal power of the lotus seed and auxiliary medicines. He had to be like the most meticulous weaver, repairing and nourishing the damaged Soul Origin bit by bit.

This was an extremely perilous process, not only for Medusa but also for Li Ao. He needed to control his Soul Power to the utmost precision, without the slightest error, while constantly resisting the vast Soul Power of the lotus seed's attraction and assimilation. Furthermore, he had to divide his attention to maintain the stable output of the Annihilation Rule. The slightest mistake could lead to eternal damnation for both of them.

"Let's begin."

Li Ao took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly focused and resolute. He formed an arcane hand seal, and a brilliant light erupted from his glabella. His Half-step Heavenly Realm Soul Power surged forth, not invading forcefully, but transforming into billions of gray light threads, finer than hair. Like living things, they gently probed into the soul-warming jade, carefully enveloping and lifting Medusa's ethereal Soul.

At the same time, he activated the core Concept of that wisp of Annihilation Rule. It was not destruction, but its aspect of 'returning to stillness' and 'rebuilding order'. A hazy, gray aura, imbued with calming and stabilizing power, diffused, like an invisible Domain, enveloping Medusa's Soul and temporarily stabilizing its rapidly dissipating structure.

"Melt."

With a thought from Li Ao, the seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed slowly floated up under the guidance of his Soul Power, hovering above Medusa's Soul. He did not let the lotus seed directly touch the Soul, but instead used his own Soul as a crucible to draw out the lotus seed's power.

Threads and wisps of extremely pure, seven-colored Soul Origin Qi, were carefully peeled from the lotus seed. After being filtered and buffered by Li Ao's Soul, and mixed with the already refined auxiliary medicine liquids, they transformed into a misty, iridescent seven-colored glow, slowly sprinkling onto Medusa's damaged Soul.

"Hiss..."

Like timely rain after a long drought, Medusa's previously dim and ethereal Soul emitted a faint sound, as if life was returning, the moment it touched the seven-colored glow. The grotesque 'cracks' on the Soul's surface, nourished by the glow, began to mend at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, albeit extremely slowly.

However, this process was not smooth sailing.

Medusa's Soul was too severely damaged; her original consciousness had already fallen into the deepest slumber, even on the verge of Annihilation. Now stimulated by external forces, the lingering pride and instinct of Queen Medusa produced a faint resistance. At the same time, the vast Soul Power within the lotus seed instinctively sought a stronger 'vessel', subtly exerting a pulling force on Li Ao's Soul, which served as a bridge.

Li Ao grunted, his face slightly pale. He felt as if his Soul was walking on a tightrope thousands of feet high, on one side resisting the lotus seed's pull, on the other appeasing Medusa's Soul's instinctive resistance, and also precisely controlling the delivery of medicinal power and the repair of the Soul structure.

Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, and his Soul Power poured out like a flood through an open sluice gate, maintaining this extremely delicate operation. If his Soul Realm had not reached the Half-step Heavenly Realm, and he had not initially merged with the Annihilation Rule, with an unyielding will, he would have collapsed long ago.

Time slowly passed during this silent healing session.

One day, two days... Li Ao sat motionless like a stone sculpture, his entire mind focused on that ethereal Soul. His Soul Power was greatly depleted, his face growing paler, but his eyes remained as sharp as ever, without the slightest waver.

Within the soul-warming jade, Medusa's Soul underwent significant changes under the continuous nourishment of the seven-colored glow. The original ethereal quality gradually faded, becoming much more solid. Most of the shocking cracks had healed, and the Soul body even faintly emitted a warm, jade-like luster. Her aura, which was previously so weak as to be almost nonexistent, became stable and powerful.

What surprised Li Ao most was that at the glabella of Medusa's Soul, where her Seven-Colored Sky Swallowing Python Origin was originally represented, an extremely tiny seven-colored light spot was slowly condensing and rotating, emitting an ancient and noble Bloodline pressure! The power of the seven-colored spirit nurturing lotus seemed to have not only repaired her Soul but also, to a certain extent, nourished and activated her damaged Origin Bloodline!

By the third day, all the auxiliary medicinal power had been exhausted, and the seven-colored soul nurturing lotus seed had shrunk by nearly half, its color slightly dim. Medusa's Soul was already more than ninety percent repaired! Only some of the most core and subtle Origin cracks remained, requiring the final polishing work.

At this moment, Medusa's Soul was so solid it was almost tangible, her face exquisitely beautiful, eyes closed in slumber, her body radiating a faint seven-colored halo, like a goddess. Her Soul strength seemed even greater than before she was injured!

Li Ao breathed a sigh of relief; the most dangerous stage had passed. He was just about to push through, guiding the remaining small portion of the lotus seed's medicinal power to complete the final repair when—

A sudden change occurred!

Medusa's Soul, which had been quietly sleeping, suddenly trembled slightly!

Immediately after, her tightly closed eyes snapped open!

What kind of eyes were those? They were still an enchanting purple, but now filled with confusion, vigilance, and a trace of majesty and coldness deeply rooted in her Soul! As if a king who had slept for ages had suddenly awakened!

"Who are you?!"

A powerful Soul impact, accompanied by a cold question, erupted like an invisible storm from her awakened Soul, directly assaulting Li Ao's mind!

If this sudden Soul impact had struck an ordinary Dou Zong, their Soul would have been instantly damaged! But Li Ao's Soul Realm was extremely high, and he was already prepared. With a thought, the Annihilation Concept flowed, quietly dissolving the impact.

However, this momentary distraction and resistance caused an extremely subtle stagnation in his control over the remaining lotus seed's medicinal power!

It was this slight stagnation that triggered a chain reaction!

The remaining small portion of the lotus seed, as if finding an outlet, unleashed the immense Soul Power and vitality it contained, no longer fully controlled by Li Ao. Like a breached dam, it surged towards Medusa, who had just awakened and whose Soul structure had not yet fully stabilized!

"Not good!" Li Ao's face changed dramatically!

Medusa had just awakened, her consciousness was not yet fully clear, and her Soul had not fully adapted to its repaired state. Suddenly receiving such a massive energy infusion could very likely cause her to explode, or... trigger unforeseen anomalies!

He wanted to forcefully sever the connection and withdraw the energy, but it was already too late!

"Om—!"

A seven-colored light suddenly erupted, illuminating the entire quiet room as if it were daytime! Medusa's Soul was completely submerged in the dazzling seven-colored brilliance, and a Soul pressure far more vast and ancient than before, like a primordial beast that had slumbered for countless years, slowly awakened!

At the center of the seven-colored light cluster, Medusa's Soul body could vaguely be seen undergoing astonishing changes. Her figure seemed to become more slender and perfect, the seven-colored light spot on her glabella suddenly magnified, transforming into an arcane rune. Her Soul fluctuations rapidly climbed, subtly showing signs of breaking through a certain boundary!

And above the seven-colored light cluster, a blurry, heaven-reaching seven-colored lotus phantom quietly appeared. The lotus slowly rotated, possessing nine petals, emitting a hazy and sacred radiance!

Nine-petal lotus bloom! This was an anomaly indicating that the seven-colored spirit nurturing lotus's Origin power had been stimulated to a certain degree!

Li Ao stared intently at the seven-colored light cluster, his Soul Power pouring out with all its might, trying to stabilize the situation, but his heart was in turmoil.

He had not expected such a drastic change at the last moment. Medusa's premature awakening, and this uncontrolled energy infusion, where would it lead her?

Was it a blessing, or a curse?

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Please look forward to the next chapter: The Queen Returns!