After finishing his morning run, Lin Yu's mind was racing with a million thoughts. Still, he followed his usual routine and headed to the elementary Soul Master Academy in Wuhun City.
The morning passed with studies, and he spent the entire afternoon in the library. Only at sunset did Lin Yu finally leave the academy.
After grabbing dinner in the city, Lin Yu used the excuse of going for a walk to slip out of Wuhun City.
Although Bibi Dong had already set out in the morning with her party, it seemed she opted to travel by carriage, likely to avoid drawing attention.
That meant Lin Yu wasn't in a rush. Once he activated his external spirit bone's Supreme Bone ability, Wind Thunder Wings, he would easily reach Nuoding City ahead of Bibi Dong and her group.
If he hurried and left too early, like in the morning, there was a chance he might be noticed by Bibi Dong herself.
…
After leaving Wuhun City, Lin Yu made his move. He activated the Swift Water No Trace footwork technique from his Xuanwu True Skill and flew swiftly through the forest outside the city.
Even though Bibi Dong had left with two formidable Titled Douluo, Lin Yu, being a transmigrator, knew Wuhun City still housed several Titled Douluo, including the mighty Qian Daoliu.
For the sake of safety, Lin Yu wouldn't dare use his external spirit bone or the Supreme Bone's soul ability, One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones, while inside the city.
He sped through the forest for over an hour, making sure Wuhun City was completely out of sight. Only then did he find a grassy hilltop to stop and rest.
"Alright, this should be far enough."
Feeling satisfied with his current location, Lin Yu took a deep breath and focused. He activated the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure One's ability from his Supreme Bone, located in his chest.
Instantly, his chest emitted a brilliant white light. The dazzling glow surged into the air, forming intricate and mysterious symbols that seemed to dance like fireflies around him. Slowly, these symbols gathered and connected, coalescing into a giant white cocoon, roughly as tall as a person.
Inside that cocoon, Lin Yu could sense a new, strange life form being born — one that was linked to him in both body and spirit.
Even though the One Qi Transforms into Three Pure One's ability had been severely weakened after becoming a soul skill, birthing a clone wasn't a simple task.
The Supreme Bone, originating from the Perfect World, was a treasure that could grow alongside a natural-born supreme being. Although it had transformed into a spirit bone, its essence remained unchanged.
Given that Lin Yu was still only at the Soul Master level, the Supreme Bone hadn't even reached a century in age. Nevertheless, it began to absorb more than half of Lin Yu's internal energy at an astonishing rate but still hadn't completed the creation of the clone.
After about three minutes, with Lin Yu's internal energy nearly depleted and sweat forming on his forehead, the process finally finished. The mysterious white cocoon suddenly shattered, and standing before Lin Yu was a figure identical to himself in every way—a perfect clone.
Both Lin Yu and the clone exchanged a glance, immediately sensing the strange connection between them. However, as in the original, Lin Yu held full control over his clone.
"The technique is divided into the Pure Ones: Taiqing, Shangqing, and Yuqing. Since you're the first, you'll be called Taiqing," Lin Yu mused, naming the clone "Lin Taiqing."
"Alright, you head back to Wuhun City. It's already dark. I need to find a place where I can fuse with the Golden Dragon Source and take the Dragon Essence to gain the Golden Dragon spirit."
After naming the clone, Lin Yu wasted no time. He immediately ordered the Taiqing clone to return to the city. There wasn't much need for words between them, as they could communicate telepathically.
Acknowledging the command, the Taiqing clone nodded, activated Swift Water No Trace, and vanished into the forest, heading back toward Wuhun City.
…
Once his clone was sent off, Lin Yu resumed his task. He dashed through the forest, searching for a secluded cave to begin the next phase of his plan: fusing with the Golden Dragon Source and consuming the Dragon Essence.
After about half an hour, he finally found a small cave. He cleared it out, gathered some firewood, and lit a small fire for light and warmth.
Sitting cross-legged inside the cave, Lin Yu took a deep breath. "System, begin the fusion with the Golden Dragon Source!"
As soon as he spoke, the system responded with its usual cold prompt, "Ding! Golden Dragon Source… beginning fusion."
Suddenly, a dazzling golden light burst from Lin Yu's back. Streams of golden energy flowed from the void, entering his body in a continuous stream.
As the golden energy flooded into him, Lin Yu felt as if his entire body had been submerged in a warm, nourishing bath. The energy seemed to coalesce deep within him as if nurturing something new inside his soul.
With the fusion underway, Lin Yu didn't hesitate. He quickly retrieved the Dragon Essence and swallowed it.
The moment the Dragon Essence entered his stomach, a tremendous surge of life energy exploded inside him, racing through his limbs and meridians. His body underwent rapid refinement as the essence transformed him from within.
But along with the transformation came excruciating pain. Lin Yu let out a groan, his face contorting in agony.
Compared to the relatively gentle fusion of the Golden Dragon Source, the Dragon Essence felt like being thrown into a furnace and slowly burned from the inside out. The pain was nearly unbearable.
As the Dragon Essence worked to transform Lin Yu's physical body, the Golden Dragon Source greedily absorbed the energy, rapidly taking shape into a full-fledged spirit inside him.
During this intense transformation, a strange chain reaction occurred. Lin Yu's body began to undergo even more bizarre changes—golden dragon scales emerged on his skin, then receded, dragon horns sprouted from his head and then vanished, and his eyes fluctuated between human pupils and dragon-like slits.
Far away, deep within the Star Dou Forest, a massive, hidden creature suddenly stirred, its glowing purple eyes snapping open. Its gaze was full of disbelief.
It had sensed the presence of a Golden Dragon's bloodline.
But that couldn't be possible! The Golden Dragon bloodline had been cursed and wiped out long ago!