CHAPTER 350: GOLDEN HEADBAND

Resolutely, Orion straightened himself, shoulders squared, head held high. Wukong approached solemnly, gently placing the Golden Headband upon Orion’s head.

The Golden Headband settled gently onto Orion’s forehead, its ethereal warmth spreading outward slowly, gently merging with his skin.

Almost instantly, he felt a subtle, comforting stream of energy flow into him, cascading gently like a quiet river, penetrating deeply into his Sea of Consciousness.

Wukong stepped back leisurely, folding his arms across his chest and observing Orion thoughtfully. His golden eyes glinted mischievously as he remarked playfully, "Now, you look nearly as handsome as me! Though, still lacking just a little. But that’s fine—not everyone can be as perfectly charming as the Great Sage Equal to Heaven!"

Orion’s lips twitched subtly, nearly shooting back that he was more handsome despite his lingering exhaustion. However, he said nothing, respectfully allowing Wukong to continue uninterrupted.

After all, beneath the playful banter, Orion knew the Monkey King had far more important things to share.

Wukong’s expression gradually grew more serious, though his playful demeanor still lingered beneath the surface.

He nodded toward the Golden Headband, his voice turning calm yet solemn. "Through this Headband, you can access the true trial grounds of my legacy. Once there, you’ll find guidance and instructions regarding what lies ahead."

The Monkey King’s golden eyes softened, the warmth and humor replaced briefly by genuine sincerity. "Remember, Young One—you now carry not only the legacy of the Primordial Emperor but potentially mine as well. I truly hope you are the destined one who can shoulder both legacies and reach heights neither of us have."

As Orion listened, the Monkey King’s figure slowly started to shimmer, gradually dissolving into gentle, golden particles of radiant light.

The atmosphere around them filled with a sense of calmness, an acknowledgment of the moment unfolding between successor and predecessor.

Wukong’s voice, now gentle and faint, echoed one final time, resonating softly in Orion’s ears: "And... I shall be waiting for you at the Beyond."

Orion drew a deep, steadying breath as Wukong’s form entirely faded, leaving behind only lingering particles of golden radiance that gradually vanished into thin air.

His heartbeat slowed, allowing himself a brief moment of introspection to process the wild, extraordinary events he’d just experienced, from the devastating battle with Valerian to receiving the legacy of a mythical figure.

But just as he exhaled softly, releasing some of the tension accumulated through these intense events, the Golden Headband upon his forehead abruptly vanished.

Instead, the gentle energy within it surged directly into his Sea of Consciousness, swiftly merging with the serene and thriving World Tree Sapling residing deep within him.

A sharp curiosity filled Orion’s mind. Quickly settling himself cross-legged upon the shattered ground, Orion closed his eyes, diving inward into his Sea of Consciousness to witness precisely what was transpiring.

Instantly, his consciousness sank deeply into his SoC, arriving before the vibrant World Tree Sapling.

However, before he could fully grasp the situation, Orion felt his awareness being rapidly pulled inward, directly into the very heart of the sapling itself.

Within moments, a sense of completeness surged through him—like recovering a lost part of himself.

Orion’s eyes widened internally with astonishment and deep satisfaction as he realized he’d finally remerged with the larger, more powerful portion of his soul residing inside the World Tree Seed.

The fragment of his soul that had been separated before due to some reason had once again merged, making him complete.

The gentle energy from Wukong’s Golden Headband began circulating powerfully within the World Tree Sapling, catalyzing something profound.

Orion felt his very soul rapidly strengthening, shifting decisively from its previous stage of Life Fire Ignition toward the more advanced and profound stage of Soul Shaping.

In the external world, Orion’s physical form instinctively adjusted into a meditative posture. His battered body settled into stillness, the small amount of mana of the restored space softly enveloping him.

Inside Orion’s Sea of Consciousness, stillness prevailed, accompanied only by the soothing resonance of his evolving soul.

The World Tree Sapling stood radiant and serene, its small leaves rustling softly as if responding to an unseen cosmic breeze.

Suddenly, a gentle yet vibrant surge of energy emanated from its core, cascading outward and mingling harmoniously with the recently merged fragments of Orion’s soul.

At the center of this spiritual world, Orion’s Life Fire, previously a wild and formless blaze, now gradually began reshaping itself.

Threads of brilliant golden-white flame intertwined smoothly, meticulously forming the ethereal outline of Orion himself.

The spiritual fire slowly assumed a distinctly humanoid shape, a silhouette glowing faintly, devoid of features yet pulsating steadily with life and willpower.

Within his inner sanctum, Orion’s consciousness watched in fascination. An overwhelming sense of completeness and unity pervaded him as his soul took clear form.

His very identity seemed to solidify alongside this newfound shape, clarity blossoming in his mind, emotions stabilizing, and a profound self-awareness taking root deeply in his heart.

Meanwhile, as his soul stabilized, the World Tree Sapling within Orion began subtly releasing a tiny flow of its purest energy into the external world.

Outside, on the previously shattered landscape, Duke Varian and the Lionkin King stirred slowly from unconsciousness, groggy and confused. Varian rose first, blinking repeatedly as he attempted to comprehend the scene unfolding around him.

The Lionkin King joined him moments later, struggling to his feet, breathing heavily, his golden eyes wide with disbelief and awe.

Both leaders turned in astonishment to behold their once-collapsing world now abruptly stabilized.

The vicious spatial fissures that had threatened to tear reality apart were nowhere to be seen, replaced by a perfectly calm and stable sky.

The mountains which were on the path of destruction seemed to have paused on their tracks, stopping the end of the entire world.

Their eyes instinctively locked onto the source of this miracle: Orion himself, sitting cross-legged, calm and unmoving, his entire body surrounded by an increasingly radiant, verdant glow.

Both leaders shared a quick glance of mutual astonishment and understanding that this was unquestionably Orion’s doing.

Yet, before they could even fully process the magnitude of Orion’s feat, something even more astonishing occurred.

A vibrant wave of pure life energy surged from Orion’s seated form, exuding outward in a gentle but powerful pulse, rippling like serene waves across the ruined landscape.

With wide-eyed amazement, Varian watched as grass and wildflowers rapidly sprouted at Orion’s side, spreading swiftly outward, reclaiming barren soil.

What had once been scorched earth and desolation became lush meadows, green grass crawling outward, blanketing the devastated ground in thriving greenery.

Saplings rapidly broke through the soil, becoming small trees, their leaves rustling gently under the mystical influx of pure life.

Beside him, the Lionkin King stood speechless, barely able to breathe as he observed the resurgence of life unfolding at an impossible speed.

Injured soldiers scattered across the landscape felt a soothing warmth envelop them as their wounds swiftly knitted closed, pain easing from their faces, replaced by serene expressions of grateful astonishment.

However, the somber reality lingered: those who had passed remained forever beyond reach. No miracle here could reverse death’s permanence, yet the life energy restored hope and comfort to those who survived.

The energy continued to expand relentlessly, racing toward distant horizons, effortlessly restoring mountains cracked and broken into towering peaks once more, their slopes rejuvenated with dense forests and rushing streams.

Rivers flowed clear again, their waters pristine and teeming with newfound life. Oceans, once battered by spatial turbulence, calmed peacefully, waves gently lapping against revitalized shorelines.

As Duke Varian gazed around him, his heart swelled with emotion, tears prickling at the corners of his eyes.

His voice trembled slightly as he whispered softly, almost reverently, "This... is nothing short of a miracle. Orion, just who... or what are you?"

The Lionkin King exhaled slowly, shaking his head gently in awe. "He has transcended mere power. Orion is a being of destiny itself. Today, he reshaped the fate of our entire world."

Both stood silently watching Orion, who remained seated, eyes still closed, serene yet profoundly focused.

Around him, the aura of life continued to emanate tirelessly. His body, bathed in gentle emerald and golden radiance, appeared almost divine beneath the peaceful twilight skies.

Lumi, on the other hand, looked at Orion’s condition as his body started to slowly heal on its own from all the accumulated injuries,

[Master...]