81: The tower spirit recognizes its master, transforming into divine power.

"Master... Xiao Ling... Xiao Ling is waiting for you on the Ninth Layer."

It was the Pagoda Spirit who had been insufferably arrogant just a moment ago, only to be beaten nearly to the point of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering in the blink of an eye.

"Oh? You're Xiao Ling?" Chu He's tone carried a hint of playfulness. "Weren't you quite arrogant just now? Every other sentence was 'Thou shalt be executed.' Why are you acting like a lapdog now?"

"Master, have mercy! Master, have mercy!"

Xiao Ling's voice sounded like it was on the verge of tears, filled with the relief of surviving a disaster and endless fear.

"Xiao Ling was blind and failed to recognize your greatness, offending a True God like you, Master! I was influenced by the Restriction left by my previous master and couldn't help myself; I didn't mean to offend you! That Eye of Law is actually the pagoda's automatic defense mechanism. Once it detects an intrusion into the Forbidden Ground or a force threatening the pagoda's Origin, it triggers automatically. I couldn't control it either!"

It explained desperately, fearing that if Chu He became unhappy, he would charge up to the Ninth Layer and completely erase it.

That Golden Dragon Flame from earlier had already scared the wits out of it.

That was simply not a power that should exist in this world! It was a terrifying power originating from above the Laws, specifically designed to incinerate Divine Souls and Origins!

"Enough, stop the nonsense."

Chu He didn't bother listening to its excuses. "Since you want to recognize me as your master, tell me, what needs to be done?"

He knew perfectly well that this Pagoda Spirit was definitely not telling the whole truth. All that 'couldn't help itself' talk was likely because it saw his cultivation was only at the Nascent Soul Stage and wanted to show off, only to accidentally kick a steel plate.

However, none of that mattered.

What mattered was that this pagoda now belonged to him.

"Yes! Yes!"

The Pagoda Spirit acted as if it had received a great pardon and hurriedly said, "Master, the Ninth Layer is the core hub of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda. You only need to imprint a wisp of your Divine Soul onto the Origin core of the Ninth Layer, the 'Heaven-Reaching Stone,' to take complete control of this pagoda. From now on, you will be Xiao Ling's, and this Heaven-Reaching Pagoda's, only master!"

"That simple?" Chu He raised an eyebrow.

"Yes... for you, Master, it is that simple." Xiao Ling's voice was full of awe.

For anyone else, let alone whether they could reach the Ninth Layer, even if they did, facing the Heaven-Reaching Stone containing the residual will of the previous master, attempting to forcibly imprint a Divine Soul would be lucky if they weren't backlashed into having their Divine Soul obliterated.

But this master before it... he could even shatter the Eye of Law with a single punch. That bit of residual soul will from the previous master would probably dissipate with just a breath.

While speaking, the two had already reached the end of the Starlight Staircase.

Their vision suddenly opened up.

The space of the Ninth Layer was unexpectedly empty.

There was no imagined magnificence, nor were there mountains of Magic Treasures. The entire space was like a boundless starry sky, and in the center of that starry sky, an irregular crystal about the height of a person floated quietly.

The crystal was the color of Chaos throughout, its surface shimmering with light points like billions of stars. Every flicker seemed like the birth and death of a world, emitting an ancient, vast, and supreme aura.

"This is the Heaven-Reaching Stone?"

Chu He looked at the crystal, his eyes shifting slightly.

He could feel that this stone contained an extremely vast Law of Space and a faint power of the world's Origin.

"Yes, Master." Xiao Ling's voice came from the Heaven-Reaching Stone, carrying a trace of undetectable nervousness.

Feng Ziyan stood behind Chu He, looking up at the Heaven-Reaching Stone. She felt as if her Divine Soul was about to be sucked in, and a sense of insignificance originating from her level of existence spontaneously arose.

She quickly withdrew her gaze, not daring to look further, her awe for Chu He deepening even more.

Even such a divine object had to bow its head and submit to him.

Chu He didn't have as many feelings. He walked to the Heaven-Reaching Stone, extended a finger, and forced out a wisp of Divine Soul power mixed with golden dragon patterns from his fingertip.

"Hum—"

Just as his Divine Soul imprint was about to touch the Heaven-Reaching Stone, the stone suddenly erupted with a resistant will. A blurry figure emerged inside the crystal, letting out a silent roar at Chu He.

This was the final imprint left by the previous master of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda.

"Hmph, you're already dead, yet you still want to cause trouble?"

A trace of disdain flashed in Chu He's eyes. Deep within his Divine Soul, the ten-thousand-foot-long phantom of the Ancient Dragon God let out a low dragon roar.

"Roar—"

A dragon might that dominated heaven and earth instantly surged through the Divine Soul imprint, slamming hard into that blurry figure.

"Crack!"

A sound like glass shattering rang out. That figure couldn't even struggle before it was instantly covered in cracks and shattered with a bang, turning into pure energy that was absorbed by the Heaven-Reaching Stone.

Chu He's Divine Soul imprint merged into the Origin core of the Heaven-Reaching Stone without any hindrance.

"Rumble!"

The entire Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, from the first to the Ninth Layer, trembled violently at this moment.

All the Cultivators still searching for treasures inside the pagoda felt a supreme will descend, as if the entire pagoda had come to life, while they became ants within the pagoda's body, their lives and deaths depending on a single thought from the other party.

"Greetings, Master!"

Xiao Ling's aged voice rang out again, this time filled with heartfelt submission and joy.

The previous master's imprint was completely cleared, and it had gained true freedom, no longer bound by any Restrictions.

"Mhm."

Chu He nodded. With a thought, all information regarding the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda, down to the smallest detail, flooded into his mind.

This pagoda was indeed a damaged supreme treasure that surpassed the grade of an Immortal Artifact. Its original name was the "Small World Pagoda." At its Peak, it contained nine great worlds within it and possessed the power to suppress, traverse, and refine the heavens.

Unfortunately, it was broken during an ancient war and fell into this world. Its energy core was shattered, and its world Origin was depleted, leaving only some basic functions.

"Not bad."

Chu He gave an evaluation.

Although it was damaged, the foundation was still there. If properly repaired, it would definitely be a formidable weapon.

He looked at Xiao Ling, or rather the Heaven-Reaching Stone, and asked, "By the way, what was that 'Secret of Spirit Transformation' you mentioned earlier? Bring it here for me to see."

This was one of his original purposes for coming to the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda.

Although he had the System and a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation was only a matter of time, it wouldn't hurt to learn more.

"Uh..."

Mentioning this, Xiao Ling's voice was clearly hesitant.

"Master, the so-called 'Secret of Spirit Transformation' is actually... actually just a cultivation journal left by the previous master, along with a list of some Heaven And Earth Treasures he collected to Breakthrough to Soul Transformation."

"Cultivation journal?" Chu He frowned.

The next moment, an ancient canon formed from gathered light appeared before him.

Chu He's Divine Sense swept over it, and the contents of the canon were instantly understood.

A moment later, his expression became somewhat strange.

"This is it?"

He couldn't help but sneer.

This so-called Mystery Transformation Canon talked throughout about how to condense the Power Of Faith, plunder the world's Origin, and use all living beings as fuel to ignite one's Divine Fire and forcibly Breakthrough to Soul Transformation.

This method wasn't necessarily unfeasible, but the path was crooked.

This was not the orthodox way of Soul Transformation at all, but a Demonic Path method of drinking poison to quench thirst. With the previous master's meager insight, forcibly doing this resulted in playing with fire and getting burned, ultimately ruining himself and this pagoda.

"This thing deserves to be called the 'Secret of Spirit Transformation'? What a joke."

Chu He waved his hand, and that Mystery Transformation Canon, which was regarded by countless Nascent Soul Old Monsters outside as the path to heaven, dissipated into points of light.

He had the System, the top-tier Bloodline, and his children were all Prodigies, with every birth granting him massive cultivation and Heaven-Defying rewards. His Dao was the glorious Righteous Path, a great path to heaven that transcended all cultivation Systems in this world.

Why would he need to rely on such a wicked Demonic Path of plundering living beings to Breakthrough?

What a joke!

Feng Ziyan stood by, listening in stunned silence.

The Secret of Spirit Transformation that could drive Nascent Soul Old Monsters crazy was actually a "joke" in his mouth?

Just how unimaginably high had this man's vision and path reached?

She suddenly felt that her previous so-called pride and her status as a Phoenix Clan Prodigy were truly as laughable as children playing house in front of this man.

"Alright, there's nothing left to see in this broken place."

Chu He had completely taken control of the Heaven-Reaching Pagoda and understood the so-called "Secret of Spirit Transformation," suddenly finding it all a bit dull.

He turned and took Feng Ziyan's hand, saying calmly, "Time for business. I'll take you to a good place."

Before Feng Ziyan could react, her vision blurred, and the surrounding scenery changed instantly.

When she saw clearly again, she was no longer in that empty starry sky but had returned to the Fifth Layer, beneath that thousand-foot-tall phoenix tree divine tree burning with golden divine flames.

Uncle Fu was sitting cross-legged under the tree, dutifully acting as a Protector. Seeing the two suddenly appear, he hurriedly stood up and bowed.

"Husband, we are..." Feng Ziyan was somewhat confused.

Chu He didn't answer, just looked up at the massive canopy, a meaningful smile curling on his lips.

Refining the pagoda and repairing the Origin both required a vast amount of energy.

And for him, what was the fastest way to obtain energy?

Naturally... having children!

It was time for this proud little Phoenix to make her due contribution to the expansion of the Chu family.