Softly shaking his head, he turned his attention outward again and scanned his surroundings carefully as his body slowly turned back human and he wore the armor.
The environment looked nearly identical to the earlier parts of the maze, dark, silent corridors crafted from ancient stone, dimly illuminated by faintly glowing runic patterns.
The labyrinth seemed intent on disorienting intruders, each corridor indistinguishable from the last, an endless loop of oppressive repetition.
Orion’s brow furrowed slightly in annoyance at the sheer scale and complexity of this maze. Choosing a direction based purely on instinct, he began walking steadily forward, remaining vigilant against any further threats.
After a short while, his keen senses immediately alerted him to a soft, gentle radiance ahead.
Curious, Orion moved closer and stopped abruptly in mild astonishment. Nestled securely in a small crack carved into the labyrinth’s stone wall, a magnificent flower bloomed.
Its seven exquisite petals gleamed softly, radiating gentle waves of soothing light. Delicate, intricate patterns covered the petals, intertwining gracefully, yet it did not release any aura or smell.
Orion’s eyes lit up with recognition. "High Grade Seven Petal Mind Lotus," he whispered to himself quietly, marveling at the rare flower.
This particular flower was famed for its ability to enhance and strengthen soul power, a highly coveted treasure among soul cultivators.
But it was also rare because finding it was very hard. It exuded neither smell nor any aura. So most uninformed people left it as a wild flower, while those looking for it couldn’t find it.
He approached carefully, extending his senses to ensure no hidden danger lurked nearby. Upon confirming its safety, Orion relaxed slightly, stepping forward to observe it closely.
Its fragrance was subtle, calming to the mind, gently stimulating his soul.
Lumi eagerly spoke up again, curiosity evident, [Master, your luck certainly seems to be turning around now!]
Orion chuckled softly and nodded, "Luck is fickle, Lumi. But yeah, this is a good start. Good thing this treasure doesn’t have any guarding beast since they haven’t discovered it. Now the next thing to do is to strengthen my soul. I will be closer to breaking through then."
Carefully, Orion reached out, his movements gentle yet decisive as he applied his meticulous alchemy skills.
Using a tiny scalpel infused with a thread of mana, he meticulously loosened the Seven Petal Mind Lotus from its hidden crack, ensuring not even the slightest damage to its delicate petals.
A soft smile of satisfaction formed on his lips as he finally held the glowing flower firmly in his palm.
With the flower securely extracted, he paused to look around the quiet surroundings once again, scanning the seemingly endless corridors.
A faint trace of amusement flickered across his face as he reached into his storage ring, pulling out the Shadowveil Band.
"I didn’t think I’d need to use this again so soon," Orion murmured, a hint of playful self-mockery evident in his voice as he slipped the dark, intricately patterned band onto his wrist.
The cool metal pressed against his skin as he channeled mana into it, instantly activating its remarkable concealment ability.
Lumi softly giggled within his mind, her voice warm and teasing,
[Master, don’t pretend this is your first time. You already used this back during the kidnappers’ fight.]
Orion’s smile widened, shaking his head lightly as memories briefly surfaced. "You’re right, Lumi. When I first got this thing, I seriously underestimated its concealment capabilities. Back then, I even mocked it by saying only rats hide ."
[And now, Master, does this mean you’ve become a rat as well?]
Lumi playfully teased, her voice ringing with innocent laughter.
Orion chuckled softly, amused by her words, as he took a seat cross-legged on the cool stone floor. "If being a rat helps me avoid danger, then perhaps I’ll accept that title for now," he replied lightly, shaking his head with gentle mirth.
Soon, Orion took a deep breath and gently placed the Seven Petal Mind Lotus into his mouth, carefully chewing the delicate petals.
The flower’s energy released instantly, a pure, cool sensation coursed gently throughout his body, subtly relaxing each muscle and nerve.
Closing his eyes, he turned his attention inward, focusing intently within his Sea of Consciousness. His consciousness swiftly locked onto the luminous World Tree Sapling, standing serenely in the depths of his soul realm.
Two vibrant emerald leaves adorned the young sapling, each symbolizing one of his powerful bloodlines: the Fire Dragon Emperor and the Thunder Dragon Emperor bloodlines.
The sturdy stem, suffused with a soft, golden radiance, represented his unique Human Emperor Bloodline, numerous elemental veins tracing their intricate paths along its length, signifying his affinity with all elements.
Orion guided the potent, soothing energy from the lotus directly into the World Tree Sapling, merging the energy seamlessly into his very soul.
Gradually, he felt the deep and mysterious sensation of his soul improving, however, this time it was not the usual improvement of the soul as the very shape of his soul seemed to be slowly changing, undergoing a metamorphosis.
Time passed unnoticed as Orion’s consciousness lingered deep within his soul, fully immersed in the subtle, harmonious growth of the World Tree Sapling.
Eventually, the soothing, strengthening energy from the Seven Petal Mind Lotus was fully absorbed, fading gradually into his soul.
Slowly, Orion opened his eyes, the calming energy still faintly lingering in his body, his soul feeling noticeably stronger, more resilient, but the metamorphosis didn’t end.
Blinking gently, he quietly asked, "Lumi, how much time has passed?"
Lumi replied quickly,
[About six hours, Master!]
Nodding thoughtfully, Orion rose from his meditative posture, stretching his limbs gently, a satisfying ripple of cracks emanating from his joints. "My soul seems to be undergoing a strange change," he muttered thoughtfully to himself, a hint of confusion in his voice. "It’s as if it’s gradually altering its fundamental structure. I wonder what’s causing that."
Deep within his consciousness, Lumi curiously inspected Orion’s soul inside the Sea of Consciousness, her voice thoughtful and tinged with mild uncertainty.
[Hmm, this is genuinely strange, Master. Once fully formed, a soul typically retains its shape forever. It’s like the personified essence of oneself. For it to suddenly begin reshaping itself... I can’t say I’ve seen anything like it before even in your inheritances.]
Orion’s eyes narrowed slightly at Lumi’s words, his thoughts briefly drifting inward again to feel the ongoing, gentle shift within his soul.
He felt neither pain nor discomfort, only a subtle, persistent sensation of transformation, something that was both perplexing yet oddly reassuring at the same time.
He shook his head gently, pushing the distracting thoughts away for the moment. "I’ll consider it later," he finally concluded aloud, his voice calm and composed. "I can neither halt it nor guide it, so worrying about it now is useless. Let’s wait and see what comes of it."
Turning his attention outward again, Orion began moving forward through the dimly lit corridors of the labyrinth.
After traversing through several turns, Orion’s enhanced senses sharply alerted him to a rapidly approaching danger ahead.
His footsteps paused instantly, muscles tensing instinctively as he peered carefully into the darkness ahead. Soon enough, three towering figures emerged from the shadows, their enormous frames illuminated dimly by the labyrinth’s runic patterns.
Two peak Tier-7 ape-like beasts stood at the sides, their muscular bodies covered in thick, dark fur, their eyes glittering with a dangerous intelligence.