It was clear that this time's Spiritual Tide far surpassed the initial Spiritual Storm.
The spiritual energy spreading outward in all directions even pierced through spatial rifts, flowing into deeper, unknown realms.
Unknown World
"I thought that in this age of dwindling faith, cultivators would never again have the chance to reach the summit… I never imagined I would live to see the revival of spiritual energy."
"Truly, Heaven has opened its eyes."
"In such a golden era, I will rise! I will climb to the highest peak of cultivation!"
In a foreign world, an elderly man in a cyan robe shouted with tears in his eyes. Before long, his face visibly grew younger, his skin tautening and wrinkles fading until he had returned to the appearance of a youth.
Brandon White knew nothing of this distant realm.
In fact, if not for the warning from his Natural Authority, he would never have anticipated the arrival of a second Spiritual Tide so soon.
And the scale this time exceeded anything he had ever imagined.
On Earth, everywhere the spiritual energy spread, flowers and trees burst into full bloom. Countless herbs and fruits began to transform under its baptism, becoming true heavenly treasures. Even the ores buried deep beneath the soil underwent mysterious changes.
Humans and mutated beasts alike experienced another wave of transformation under this flood of energy.
Depths of the Ocean
In the endless deep sea, terrifying waves of spiritual energy surged in every direction.
"Roar!"
The entire ocean trembled. Countless marine creatures writhed and howled as they absorbed the incoming tide.
Slowly, their bodies underwent even stranger metamorphoses than before.
Their frames swelled; scales hardened, shimmering faintly with silver light. But before they could recover from the baptism, a dreadful suction swallowed them whole.
"ROAR!!!"
A monstrous bellow shook the seas. A colossal white serpent, stretching hundreds of meters long, surged through the waters. Everywhere it swam, torrents of spiritual energy poured into its body, thunder rumbling faintly from within.
Most unbelievable of all—on its head bulged two growing lumps of flesh, and its cold pupils gleamed with a golden light.
Those were not a serpent's eyes.
They were the eyes of a dragon.
Unknown Mountain Range
Elsewhere, in a hidden mountain range, a massive crimson tiger crouched within the peaks, embracing the storm.
"Roar!"
With a single deafening roar, endless spiritual energy poured into its beastly body. Upon its forehead, a lotus-shaped scarlet sigil bloomed.
In its majestic gaze flickered something startling—doubt, and even confusion.
Then, it closed its eyes once more, continuing to absorb the vast tide around it.
Across the globe, countless creatures underwent metamorphosis. But unlike the first storm, this tide was far from gentle.
Some could endure it. Others could not.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
…
Deep within forests, countless beasts unable to withstand the pressure exploded into gore, their blood soaking the ground crimson.
Survive, and it was like a dragon breaking free to ascend the heavens.
Fail, and death was certain.
More aberrations continued to arise.
Transcendence was not the blessing people imagined. The path to power always demanded unbearable sacrifice.
Within Huaxia
At the various Spiritual Energy Bureaus—
"Though we anticipated another Spiritual Tide, we didn't expect it to come so soon, or so violently."
"Even I can hardly endure it."
Nathaniel Gray felt the boiling energy in the air and sighed deeply.
"But the most terrifying thing isn't the energy itself—it's the instinctive hunger our souls feel for it. That gnawing emptiness in the spirit drives our bodies to keep absorbing, even past the point of collapse."
"The result can only be evolution… or death."
"Those who endure ascend in one step; those who fail, perish."
"I only pray that fear of danger will help people restrain their hunger. Otherwise, the casualties this time will be catastrophic."
And casualties of this kind could not be controlled or prevented. All they could rely on was humanity's instinct for fear.
There was another safeguard: those of low talent would not attract as much energy, so their bodies would not be overwhelmed.
But before Nathaniel could linger on the thought, a glaring light flared across his monitor.
His expression hardened.
"Spiritual energy riot—an ability user has lost control."
"Send nearby Bureau members to support immediately."
"You continue monitoring. I'll head there myself."
The riot of an ability user meant unpredictability. This was nothing like the first, gentler awakenings, where most had only developed weak gifts.
This time was different. A full transformation could give them destructive power on par with Firewing, Skyler Quinn, or stronger. Such a rampage would be devastating. They had to suppress it at the onset.
Only then could casualties be kept to a minimum.
And Nathaniel's was hardly the only case. Across every city of Huaxia, reports of riots poured in. Around the world, the Second Spiritual Tide was rewriting reality.
A new era had begun.
Brandon White
Within his room, Brandon sat cross-legged, shrouded in waves of radiant color.
For Earth, the Second Spiritual Tide was nothing less than a terrifying baptism and ascension. Humans, beasts, plants—any who survived would gain tremendous elevation.
And so his power surged at an incomprehensible pace.
His physique, his spirit, and above all, the scope of his Natural Authority.
Sky, earth, mountains, forests, rivers, oceans—one natural scene after another flickered through his vision, shifting, merging… until at last, the entire Earth manifested within his mind.
His spirit transformed into a pair of colossal golden eyes, gazing down upon all living beings.
Ding!
"Second Spiritual Tide detected. [Natural Authority] entering transformation."
"Expanding scope of natural coverage."
"Increasing conceptual definitions of nature."
The cold, mechanical voice rang through his consciousness. It was like the Chat Group's system, yet not quite the same. Brandon had no spare thought to distinguish them; all his focus was on absorbing the tide.
As time passed, his aura grew fainter. Even seated plainly before one's eyes, people would instinctively overlook him.
Brandon had merged with nature itself.
Within his body, flesh and blood turned translucent and pure, crystalline and serene—yet suffused with a subtle sense of void, as though he were slipping into nothingness.
Untouchable.
(End of Chapter)