On a stretch of golden beach, a towering Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree Martial Soul rose skyward, its crystalline trunk like flawless sapphire, its lush canopy glittering as though it upheld a starry sky.
Under its shade, Ye Yu sat cross-legged.
At the very moment the Golden Core within him condensed, his eyes snapped open, divine light flashing within. He rose to his feet, joy surging through his chest.
"It's finally done!"
Inside his body, the newly-formed Golden Core pulsed with overwhelming power—its quality far beyond mere Spirit Power.
As the force born from the union of Essence, Energy, and Spirit, Ye Yu pondered for a moment before naming it: True Essence.
And like a Spirit Core, the Golden Core radiated a peculiar field of power.
This Golden Core Field allowed him to soar through the air like a living being's innate domain. More astonishingly, it drew in energy from the world itself—sunlight, the vitality of heaven and earth, even the power of the land—and converted it directly into True Essence, endlessly replenishing his reserves.
But the greatest revelation was yet to come.
Under the nourishment of this Golden Core Field, Ye Yu's very body was evolving. His physique grew sturdier by the day, his vitality surging without end. He could already sense that his lifespan had extended.
Even the circulation of True Essence within him carried this same effect.
Murmuring to himself, Ye Yu's heart trembled:
"So this is why forming the Golden Core grants immortality."
It was only natural.
The force born of the Threefold Unity was extraordinary. It could even transform the Blue Silver Spirit Jade Tree into physical form—a miracle that altered life itself.
If such power could reshape a Martial Soul's very nature, why couldn't it reshape the human body, granting undying life?
"Now… even gods no longer frighten me."
Feeling the vast True Essence surging within his Golden Core, a confident smile crept onto Ye Yu's lips.
This power, he was certain, was in no way inferior to divine force—and perhaps even surpassed it.
With True Essence as the core, and the remaining eleven Spirit Cores unified beneath it…
Gods? Nothing more than fragile clay chickens and stray dogs.
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou Imperial City.
For the sake of her coup, to ascend the throne as Empress of the Heaven Dou Empire, Qian Renxue had long been secretly poisoning Emperor Xue Ye.
At last, the emperor's strength failed him. His body ravaged by the strange toxin, he collapsed into unconsciousness, gravely ill.
Disguised as Crown Prince Xue Qinghe, Qian Renxue wore an anxious and filial expression. She summoned Ye Zhilan to treat him, and even invited Dugu Bo for diagnosis.
Yet the poison coursing through Xue Ye's veins was unlike anything found on the Douluo Continent. Neither Dugu Bo nor Ye Zhilan could cure it; at best, they could temporarily suppress its spread.
By this time, Ye Yu had fully completed his journey across the Boundless Sea:
All three Martial Souls had reached the limit with nine Spirit Rings.
He had achieved the Threefold Unity, condensing the Golden Core.
His purpose fulfilled, Ye Yu used the Blue Silver Space to teleport back to Heaven Dou City, returning to the Dugu residence.
There, reunited with Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, Ning Rongrong, and the others, Ye Yu greeted them with a warm smile.
"I'm back."
"Ah Yu!"
"Ye Yu!"
"Master!"
At the sound of his voice, their eyes welled with tears. One after another, they threw themselves into his arms, clinging to him as if afraid he would vanish again.
For a moment, Ye Yu was engulfed in a sea of beauty.
"It's alright—I'm home now," he soothed gently.
Then he glanced down at Dugu Yan in his arms.
"By the way, Yan Yan, where's Grandpa?"
When Ye Yu had first returned, Dugu Bo hadn't been at home. None of the servants knew where he'd gone. Even through the Blue Silver Space's connection to the Icefire Yin Yang Well, Ye Yu had seen no sign of him.
Dugu Yan sighed and explained:
"Grandpa's at the palace. They say His Majesty has been poisoned and is gravely ill. The Crown Prince summoned Grandpa and Aunt Ye to try to save him, but… neither of their treatments seem to work."
"Poisoned?"
Ye Yu's expression shifted slightly.
By his reckoning, nearly five years had passed since the last Continental Advanced Spirit Master Academy Tournament.
So this was the original story's moment—Qian Renxue poisoning Emperor Xue Ye.
Though Ye Yu knew exactly what poison it was, he had no intention of revealing it. Much less of curing it.
Compared to his ties with the Heaven Dou Empire, his bond with Qian Renxue was far deeper.
Now that his strength no longer feared even gods, the choice was obvious. He would stand at her side.
Feigning surprise, Ye Yu furrowed his brow.
"His Majesty… poisoned? Such a thing actually happened?"
"I must pay a visit to the Crown Prince. Perhaps there's something I can do to help."
After reassuring the girls, he departed the Dugu residence and headed straight for the Crown Prince's manor.
Since Emperor Xue Ye's condition had not yet reached the point of immediate death, Qian Renxue was still splitting her time between the palace and her residence.
"Ye Yu, you've returned?"
Two years apart, and now face to face again—Qian Renxue could not hide the joy and relief in her eyes.
"Your Highness," Ye Yu greeted warmly as he stepped forward.
"I heard His Majesty has been poisoned, his condition dire. Might I ask… what exactly is happening? Is there anything I can do?"
His voice carried genuine concern.
Qian Renxue shook her head with a bitter smile.
"Father's poison is too strange. I've already sought the help of Clan Head of the Nine-Heart Begonia family, as well as Poison Douluo himself. Neither could cure him."
"If even they are helpless, I fear you may…"
"Even so, please, let me at least see for myself," Ye Yu interrupted gently, his expression solemn.
Unable to refuse, Qian Renxue led him into the palace.
However, Ye Yu was only there to put on a show. After seeing the critically ill Emperor Xue Ye in the palace, Ye Yu pretended to diagnose him for a long time before sighing.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I too am powerless."
At his words, Qian Renxue's heart secretly eased.