Wizard: Starting from Escape from the Thorn Garden

He immediately took a mental recovery potion and turned his gaze to the third node—the mental node!

The "Heart Lake Mirror Flower," radiating a soft purple light, appeared exceptionally mysterious.

Kate took a deep breath, sat cross-legged, and closed her eyes. The Spiritual Pivot Seed slowly rotated in her spiritual sea, and the medicinal power of the Soul-Devouring Heart-Guarding Ointment spread out.

"A clear mind is like a mirror, reflecting one's true self; distracting thoughts are like dust, which can be wiped away and disappear." Kate's mind sank into the sea of ​​her spirit.

The spiritual node array shone with a brilliant purple light!

No energy attacks.

An invisible and intangible yet vast wave of spiritual purification instantly swept through Kate's mind!

This wave is not an attack, but a reflection.

It is like an infinitely magnified mirror, reflecting and amplifying every stray thought, fear, desire, ferocious instinct hidden in Kate's mental sea... even the roar of the Blood-Eating Vine and the whispers of the Abyss Fragments, which were forcibly suppressed by the Seed of Origin.

In that instant, Kate felt as if all her pretense had been stripped away, leaving her standing naked on the judgment seat.

The deepest unease in his heart, his worry for Ella, his thirst for power, his hatred for the Thorn Garden, and the insatiable devouring desire of the Bloodvine... were like boiling venomous snakes, frantically gnawing at his reason!

"No...this isn't me!"

Kate let out a silent roar in her mind!

The Seed of Origin shone with golden light, and the cold analytical force field forcibly stabilized the core consciousness.

"Purifying distracting thoughts is not about eliminating them, but about recognizing and transcending them!"

Kate understands the true meaning of the test.

He no longer resisted the "distractions" that were reflected in the image. Instead, he used the Seed of the Spirit Pivot as the core to guide the power of the Soul-Devouring Heart-Guarding Ointment, like the most calm observer, to "observe" them, to "understand" their origins, and to "acknowledge" their existence.

Fear stems from weakness? Then strive for strength.

Worry stems from a lack of power? Then take control of your power.

Desire stems from need? Then define your goals.

Is ferocity born of instinct? Then let it be controlled by willpower.

He no longer tried to forcibly "erasure" the Bloodthirsty Vine's roar, but instead used the Seed of Origin to feed it a trace of purified life energy (from the Holy Spring) to soothe its agitation, while clearly conveying his will: "Power is for my use, not for me to be controlled by power."

As his understanding and transcendence deepened, those magnified distracting thoughts, roars, and whispers, like mist exposed to sunlight, began to slowly dissipate and fade...

The "clear mirror" in the sea of ​​the mind also softened, eventually transforming into a cool, soothing wave that slowly receded.

[The third test (spiritual): Passed! Method: Recognize the distracting thoughts of the ego, understand their source, and transcend them with willpower, rather than forcibly erasing them.]

Kate opened her eyes, her forehead covered in cold sweat, but her gaze was clearer and more determined.

The mental test is extremely dangerous!

He walked toward the fourth node—the spatial node.

The "Void Anchor Flower," with its swirling nebula inside, exuded a mysterious aura.

Kate activated the essence of the moonlight with all her might, and at the same time took out the precious Void Serenity Lotus.

Although they have not yet merged, the spatial fluctuations they emit are powerful enough to serve as a medium.

"Space is like the sea, ever-changing; anchor your heart in the void."

Kate infused the Essence of Moonshadow into the Lotus of Tranquility.

The spatial node magic array shone brightly with silver light!

The stable surrounding space instantly became like a raging sea.

Countless tiny spatial rifts appeared out of thin air like black lightning, cutting towards Kate from all directions!

At the same time, a powerful spatial tearing force attempted to pull him into an unknown dimension.

The challenge: Stabilize yourself amidst the turbulent spatial currents.

A sharp glint flashed in Kate's eyes.

"Moonlight Refraction - A Thousand Mirrors!"

The Void Lotus of Tranquility in his hand shone brightly!

The immense spatial energy was channeled out.

In an instant, centered on Kate, countless distorted and refracted "space prisms" made of moon shadow essence and the energy of the Void Lotus of Tranquility were instantly generated and superimposed.

Chi Chi Chi -!

Violent spatial rifts slashed across layers of spatial prisms.

Most of them are refracted, deflected, and shot in other directions, or even collide and annihilate each other.

The few that penetrated were weakened layer by layer and were barely blocked by the energy absorption field of the thorn armor.

At the same time, beneath Kate's feet, the essence of moonlight formed a stable "spatial anchor point," like a stabilizing needle, firmly nailed to the platform, resisting the tearing of space!

He is like a reef in a raging sea, unmoved by the raging winds and waves!

After a few breaths, the spatial turbulence subsided.

[Fourth Trial (Space): Passed! Method: Utilizing the essence of the Void Lotus of Tranquility and Moon Shadow, construct multiple spatial refraction barriers and anchor points to stabilize oneself.]

Kate was slightly out of breath; the continuous high-intensity tests had taken a huge toll on her mental energy.

But he didn't stop, and headed towards the fifth node—the Fire Node.

The "Burning Flame Flower," burning with pure white flames, exudes an aura of destruction and rebirth.

What is the test?

Burning away sins or purifying oneself.

Kate watched the leaping white flames and sensed that they contained not just destruction, but a purifying fire with the will to "burn away the filth and be reborn from the ashes." A thought struck her.

He thought of the Blood-Devouring Vine on his right arm, and the fragments of the abyss suppressed by the Seed of Origin.

They are part of their own power, and also one of the sources of "uncleanliness".

"Purification can also be the burning away of the old self and the rebirth of a new one..." Kate whispered.

Instead of defending himself, he actively guided a wisp of... the purest source blood energy of the Blood-Devouring Vine, forcibly stripped and squeezed out by the Seed of Origin.

This bloodlust contains its most primal instincts of bloodthirst, plunder, and darkness.

He slowly guided this wisp of pure dark blood energy toward the Flower of Burning Sin and Purifying Flames.

boom!

The white flames instantly surged!

It transformed into an angry fire dragon and fiercely pounced on that wisp of dark blood energy.

laugh--!

Like hot oil meeting water.

The dark blood energy struggled and twisted violently in the white flames, emitting a silent wail, before being quickly burned and purified.

But Kate didn't stop! He continued to slowly draw out more stripped dark blood energy and poured it into the white flames.

He was not harming himself, but was performing a sacrifice!

Sacrifice the most stubborn, darkest, and most difficult-to-transform part of the Bloodthirsty Vine's origin.

The white flames burned fiercely, purifying the dark blood energy. With each trace of purification, Kate felt a weakening sensation from the Bloodthirsty Vine patterns on her right arm, but at the same time, she also felt a strange sense of "relaxation," as if a heavy shackle had been removed.

The burning darkness did not completely disappear. Its purest energy core, purified by the white flames, seemed to be tempered and refined, transforming into a faint yet incredibly pure dark red life essence carrying the aura of nirvana, which slowly flowed back to the core of the Bloodthirsty Vine.

Burn away the filth and refine the essence!

When Kate felt she had "sacrificed" all the dark blood energy she could currently extract, the raging white flame slowly subsided, transforming back into a leaping flame that no longer targeted Kate, but instead conveyed a faint...acknowledgment.

[Fifth Trial (Fire): Passed! Method: Voluntarily sacrifice your own "Darkness" to temper your essence with purifying fire, completing a partial reshaping.]

Kate's face was as pale as paper, and she felt a wave of weakness coming from her right arm, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness.

He sensed a subtle change in the core of the Bloodthirsty Vine. It remained ferocious, but it possessed a refined quality and... potential after being "purified."

He walked toward the sixth node—the life node.

That vibrant green "flower of life's revival" exudes the purest vitality.

What is the test?

Cured or relapsed?

Kate looked at her right arm, weakened by the sacrifice, and felt the exhaustion of her spiritual sea.

He had some insights.

He took out the container filled with the holy spring water.

He was generous, channeling about 10 units of the holy spring water, which transformed into a vibrant emerald-colored stream that flowed around him.

At the same time, he fully activated the starlight of the silver star moss and the water light power of the condensing algae, merging them into this flow of life.

"Life is like a spring, nourishing all things; it cycles through flourishing and decay, and never ceases to revive."

Kate guided this fused life energy, not for attack or defense, but slowly poured it into her own body, focusing on nourishing the damaged Blood-Devouring Vine core in her right arm and the fatigue in her spiritual sea caused by the sacrifice.

A miracle happened!

Nourished by the holy spring water, the starlight of the silver moss, and the shimmering light of the condensing algae, the weakened Blood-Devouring Vine, like a parched land receiving sweet rain, greedily absorbed the energy and quickly regained its vitality.

Even more remarkably, the core, which appeared somewhat "pure" after being tempered by the white flames, seemed to radiate a new and even more powerful vitality under the nourishment of such pure life energy.

Its life force is even more refined, and its ferocious instincts even carry a faint trace of "protective" will.

The fatigue in one's mind is quickly soothed, leaving it feeling fuller and more energetic!

The "Flower of Life Rejuvenation" at the life node glowed faintly, its green light becoming softer, as if responding to Kate's "rejuvenation" act.

[Sixth Trial (Life): Passed! Method: Guide life energy to nourish yourself (especially the traumatized areas being tested), demonstrating the power of life's regeneration.]

Kate feels she has recovered most of her condition, and is even better than before.

His confidence soared, and he headed toward the seventh node—the Earth Node!

The "Earth Vein Suppressing Flower," radiating a warm yellow light, gives people a sense of weight and stability.

Kate thought of the Thorn Armor and the defense of the Golden Thorns.

With a thought, his entire body was instantly covered in thorny armor, the dark gray metallic thorns gleaming coldly.

At the same time, he guided the power of the Seed of Origin, mixed it with a trace of the life energy of the Holy Spring Water and the spatial stabilizing properties of the Moon Shadow Essence, and infused it into the Thorn Armor.

hum!

The Earth Node magic array emitted a bright yellow light!

A terrifying will, heavy as a mountain and carrying the power to suppress all evil and stabilize all that is wavering, crashed down on Kate like an invisible giant peak.

Kate grunted, and the light mirror platform beneath her feet seemed to sink slightly.

He felt his entire body groaning, and his mind seemed to be crushed by this will.

"Immovable as a mountain, bearing all things; impervious to evil, I stand tall and unyielding!"

Kate growled.

The thorny armor hummed under the immense pressure.

But Kate did her best to maintain it!

The energy absorption field of the Golden Thorn was operating wildly, devouring some of the energy impact of the suppressing will.

The life and spatial energy mixed by the primordial seed, like a tenacious root system, deeply penetrated the light mirror platform beneath their feet, forcibly constructing a stable "foundation"!

He was like a rock in a storm, no matter how violent the will to suppress him was, he remained firmly rooted to the spot. Although his body trembled slightly, his spine was straight and his eyes were as sharp as ever!

After a few breaths, the suppressive will slowly receded.

[Seventh Trial (Earth): Passed! Method: By combining one's own defense system with life and spatial energy to construct a stable foundation, one can withstand the suppression and demonstrate the steadfastness of "immovability".]

Kate was panting; the thorn armor was dimming, indicating she had exhausted herself.

He looked at the last two nodes—the Node of Order and the Node of Wind!

The "Flower of Law and Order" formed by golden runes at the Node of Order exudes an absolute sense of order.

The "ethereal and cleansing flower" that rotates lightly at the Wind Node carries an unrestrained and agile quality.

Kate had a sudden thought: these two points seemed to complement each other.

He didn't go to either of them, but stood between them.

"Order as the bone, wind spirit as the wings; cleansing the universe, laws are reborn!"

Kate said loudly.

He simultaneously activated the cold, precise, and supreme law-like analytical and governing power of the Seed of Origin (Order), as well as the spatial fluidity, refraction, and unrestrained characteristics brought by the essence of the moon (Wind)!

Two completely different forces intertwined and collided within his body!

Order demands absolute control, while the wind seeks freedom and unrestraint.

The conflict erupted instantly!

Kate felt as if her mind was being torn apart!

But he endured the excruciating pain, and the Seed of Origin operated wildly, guiding the regular fluctuations of the petals of the Proof of Life as a buffer.

"The path to purification is not rigid dogma! Order is the framework, and wind is the vitality! Only when the two are integrated can purification be ever-renewing!"

Kate understood.

Instead of forcibly suppressing the conflict, he guided the power of order to build a stable "riverbed," allowing the power of wind to flow and cleanse freely within it.

Order guides the wind, and the wind infuses order with vitality.

hum!hum!

The magic circles of the Order Node and the Wind Node lit up simultaneously.

The golden light of order intertwined with the cyan cleansing wind, transforming into a strange energy flow that was both orderly and incredibly dynamic, sweeping across Kate's body.

On Kate's body, the golden light of order and the blue light of the wind intertwined and shone, the conflict subsided, and it transformed into a harmonious unity!

[Eighth Trial (Order), Ninth Trial (Wind): Passed! Method: Understanding the dialectical unity of order and freedom, guiding one's own order and agile power to coexist harmoniously, demonstrating the vitality and rules of the path of purification.]

Nine trials, all passed!

At the center of the platform, the light of the Nine Source Purification Array slowly faded.

The nine powerful magical plant flowers also returned to calm, as if they had never been activated.

The final barrier to the Life Crystal has disappeared.

Kate stood in the center of the platform, looking up at the life crystal that was suspended and flowing with the light of liquid emerald.

It was so close, yet it exuded a life-giving aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

There was no hesitation, no fear, only unwavering determination.

Kate slowly reached out, with awe and longing, and gently touched the purest source of life in the universe...

When his fingertips finally touched the surface of the life-source crystal, which was as warm and smooth as jade and flowed with the light of liquid emerald—

There were no earth-shattering phenomena, no torrents of energy bursting forth.

Only an indescribable, vast, gentle, yet incredibly powerful torrent of life essence, like the first ray of life at the beginning of the universe, surged into his body from his fingertips, turbulent yet incredibly gentle!

This energy is not destructive, but rather the purest form of baptism and gift!

[Received: Life Crystal Origin Baptism]

[Effect: Sublimation of the essence of life! Maximum physical vitality +50%, soul essence strength +30%, mental sea volume and stability +40%.]

All energy affinity slightly increased, the residual pollution from the abyss was completely purified, the ferocity of the Bloodthirsty Vine core was greatly purified and transformed, and the purity of life energy was increased in return!

The Seed of Origin's analytical capabilities have been dramatically enhanced!

Kate felt every cell in her body cheering, jumping for joy, and transforming.

It was as if ordinary iron had been tempered into divine gold.

The soul is as if it has been cleansed billions of times, clear and transparent, and incomparably resilient.

My spiritual sea has never been so vast and stable, like an endless starry sky.

The last stubborn and ferocious core of the Bloodthirsty Vine on the right arm, under the scouring of this supreme life source, melted and transformed rapidly like ice and snow under the scorching sun, feeding back even purer and more powerful life energy, greatly reducing its ferocity and greatly increasing its spirituality!

All the minor hidden injuries, hidden dangers, and even traces of erosion by fragments of the abyss that remained in his body were completely purified and erased.

His physical and mental state instantly soared to an unprecedented peak.

This baptism lasted for a full fifteen minutes before gradually subsiding.

When the light faded, Kate remained standing in the same spot, her eyes closed.

His appearance seems to have not changed much, but his temperament has undergone a tremendous transformation!

Her skin was smooth and radiant, like jade, exuding a faint glow of life.

His eyes, though seemingly closed, held a hidden brilliance, yet were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, as if they contained boundless vitality.

Its aura was as solid and deep as a mountain, yet it also carried a sense of dynamism that blended seamlessly with the space.

It's like a complete transformation, a leap in one's life level!

He slowly opened his eyes and looked at his palm.

The life crystal, the size of a fist, did not disappear after he touched it and received its baptism. Instead, its light became much more subdued and its size shrank, but it still emitted a heart-palpitating life fluctuation.

It seemed to acknowledge Kate, hovering quietly above his palm.

[Item: Life Source Crystal (Sub-body)]

[Status: Belongs to a master (Kate), energy consumption approximately 30%.]

[Characteristics: Contains a vast source of life energy, and can slowly recover (requires an environment rich in life energy).]

Effects: Continuously nourishes the host's life essence, accelerates injury recovery, prolongs lifespan, and slightly enhances life affinity.

It can serve as a top-tier material or energy core for life systems.

Kate carefully took out a specially made chalcedony box with countless life runes and space stabilization runes engraved on its inner wall, and solemnly placed the life source crystal, which had shrunk in size, into it.

With it, Ella's emotional wounds will surely be healed!

He succeeded!

After overcoming countless hardships and life-or-death trials, he finally stood at the very core of the Purification Temple and grasped the ultimate treasure that symbolized life and hope!

Kate looked up at the platform formed by pure light.

He knew it was time to leave.

Aiven and the others were still waiting outside; the Southern Region Trial was not yet over.

With a thought, the petals of the Proof of Life shone brightly once more.

A portal of light slowly opened before him, leading to the outside world.

Kate took one last look at the mysterious space that held the ultimate test before stepping into the portal of light.