Ding!
[You have completed the Soul Blessing.]
[Initiating contract with the Guardian Spirit…]
A shiver ran down Feng Rui's spine.
An overwhelming presence began to form, the scent of flowers flooding the space as energy condensed into a swirling spiral.
The ground trembled.
At the center of the garden, a crack opened.
Ancient, gnarled roots emerged from the earth, intertwining into complex patterns, as if drawing runes.
Life.
Death.
Resurrection.
The land vibrated as if welcoming its true master.
Then, a small sprout emerged from the soil.
It was neither a flower nor a plant.
It was a seed.
Feng Rui recognized it instantly.
His eyes widened in shock.
He had spent a lifetime in the game searching for it, gathering fragments of information here and there, but in the end, it was nothing more than a dream, a utopia.
'No way…'
His hand trembled as he reached for the small, floating seed, like a fan spotting his idol casually having lunch just a few tables away.
Ding!
[You have awakened the possibility of contracting with the Seed of the World Tree.]
[This spirit is currently sealed, meaning the contract will be one-sided on your part.]
[To complete the contract, you must nurture the seed and allow it to take root in your soul until it finds the ideal place to germinate.]
Feng Rui's breath hitched. In the game, this creature was a legend, a myth he had only heard about from his former guardian spirit.
Shit, he almost felt guilty, as if he were betraying his old spirit or replacing it. But this—this was the peak for any player.
He was sure his guardian spirit would understand.
"Only those chosen by fate can find the Seed of the World Tree," his previous spirit had once told him. "It is an entity that represents life itself, an absolute balance between creation and destruction."
Never did he imagine that he would stand before it himself.
Besides, "chosen by fate" always sounded so cringeworthy to him, secondhand embarrassment at its finest. It was just a game—couldn't the developers have come up with something more original? They had already changed magic and energy systems, what was stopping them from tweaking the phrasing too?
Feng Rui extended his hand toward the seed.
He feared that if he didn't complete the contract quickly, he would lose his chance—just like when mythical beasts escaped before he could tame them.
The tiny sphere pulsed with sacred golden light and, when spun, was closely followed by waves of death and corruption. Over and over, it repeated the cycle, like a heartbeat in perfect rhythm.
Its energy was so balanced, so peaceful… yet it was weak.
Like a candle flickering in a storm.
'Is it because it's sealed?'
The longer he looked at it, the more it reminded him of himself—of his "condition," of the trials he had to overcome.
The Celestial Demon.
The righteous Feng Rui.
The garden he cultivated.
Even though he had only expected another plant-type spirit—one that most people would scoff at—he had unknowingly met incredibly strict conditions.
Life.
Death.
Resurrection.
Feng Rui understood immediately, and as if responding to his realization, the seed vibrated in acknowledgment.
Ding!
[The Guardian Spirit has recognized your existence.]
[Would you like to complete the provisional contract?]
[Yes] [No]
Feng Rui swallowed hard. He knew this wouldn't be a normal contract.
Most common guardian spirits only required a simple energy link.
But this… this was the World Tree.
If he failed, if his soul wasn't strong enough to support it, he would be destroyed forever.
But if he succeeded…
He took a deep breath and pressed "Yes."
Immediately, a searing heat spread through his chest, cracking his body apart under the immense power.
The seed floated into the air before diving directly toward him.
Without resistance, it pierced his skin and entered his body.
Feng Rui felt as if invisible roots were spreading inside him, as if the essence of the World Tree was exploring every corner of his being, judging him, analyzing him.
It was a different process than his previous contract.
It wasn't an entity that simply gave its contractor power or protection.
It was different.
And perhaps too much to bear.
Feng Rui tried to take a breath in vain. His body ached, his insides burned, and black blood and impurities oozed out of his pores like sludge, escaping through any means possible.
It was an unbearable experience, an unending torment.
He would rather fight zombies or battle other cultivators—at least the pain wouldn't be this agonizing and relentless.
Feng Rui was going insane.
He was already on the ground before he realized it, his bones creaking under the pressure. In his mind, he saw himself being devoured by the World Tree, turning into a wooden puppet.
His damaged core vibrated violently, trying to repair itself, while the dark pearl of malignant energy he had formed before began to change—trying to fuse.
The corrupted energy remained, but now it coexisted with something purer, something more vast. Two opposing forces trying to merge within him, tearing him apart in the process.
It was a miracle his body hadn't turned to dust already.
He was healing and self-destructing at the same time, trapped in a cycle he couldn't escape.
Feng Rui focused on guiding the energy, on allowing the seed to find its place within his soul without resisting, without clinging to what he once was.
He did everything he could to survive.
In his mind, an image took form.
A tree that represented everything.
Its deep roots touched his despair, his regrets, and fears.
Its firm trunk grew steadily from his will, his intention and his perseverance.
Its branches stretched out, seeking his goals, dreams, hopes, and desires.
And at its highest point, buds and small leaves were just emerging with his strength.
He didn't know what the World Tree originally looked like.
But this… this was his World Tree.
A tired sigh escaped his lips.
The bond was established.
Ding!
[Contract complete.]
[You have obtained the Guardian Spirit: Seed of the World Tree.]
[Current Status: Sealed (0% Unlocked)]
[The World Tree will grow alongside its owner.]
Feng Rui opened his eyes, gasping for air.
The Legacy trial wasn't over yet.
But for the first time, he no longer felt alone.
For the first time, he had found a place that truly belonged to him.