CHAPTER 359: WTF?!

Lumi, within his Sea of Consciousness, hummed playfully, her voice buzzing with excitement,

[Here it comes, Master! Fingers crossed for something amazing! ✧٩(•́⌄•́๑)و ✧]

With an almost teasing slowness, the wheel finally ticked to a halt. Orion stared intently as the image gradually resolved.

However, instead of revealing another awe-inspiring artifact or powerful treasure, the screen flashed a bright, cheerful message in mocking gold letters:

[Better Luck Next Time!]

Orion’s expression froze in place, his previously enthusiastic eyes now staring blankly at the vibrant, glittering words on the screen.

A deafening silence filled the room for several long moments as Orion’s mind struggled to register the unexpected outcome.

His brows furrowed, disbelief clearly etched into his features, his voice emerging as an incredulous whisper, ’What the fuck?! These can be empty as well?’

Lumi’s playful excitement instantly deflated, her voice now hesitant and slightly nervous,

[Ahaha... uh, well... you see, Master, even if they’re Ascended Gacha Draws, they’re still gacha draws in the end. Sometimes luck just runs out... (⁀‿⁀; )]

Orion exhaled deeply, calming his momentary frustration as he rubbed his temples gently. ’Right... of course. Luck is never guaranteed. Still, I definitely wasn’t expecting an empty draw, especially after those two incredible treasures,’ he murmured softly, more to himself than to Lumi.

Lumi, sensing Orion’s disappointment, quickly shifted her tone, attempting to cheer him up. [Exactly, Master! You still got two absolutely amazing treasures—the Illusion Shattering Mirror and the Runic Heartforge Ember! Those alone are worth more than enough to make up for one empty draw, right? Cheer up! (๑˃ᴗ˂)ﻭ]

Orion let out a soft chuckle, his brief annoyance fading away as Lumi’s optimism improved his mood. ’You’re right, Lumi. It matters not... it matters not...’ he repeated softly, shaking his head gently with a resigned smile. ’I was probably getting a little greedy after those first two treasures. I should be satisfied.’

[Exactly! There’s always next time to look forward to as well! Hehe~ (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧] Lumi chimed brightly, sensing the return of his good spirits.

He exhaled once more, feeling fatigue finally catching up to him as the weight of the day settled heavily on his shoulders.

With a tired sigh, Orion slowly rolled over onto his side, sinking deeper into the soft, comforting embrace of his bed.

His voice emerged softly, tinged with weariness, ’Alright, enough excitement for tonight. It’s late, and I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Goodnight, Lumi.’

Lumi’s voice softened warmly, affectionate and gentle as she responded quietly,

[Goodnight, Master. Sweet dreams! (๑˘︶˘๑)♡]

The soft glow of the room slowly dimmed, the shimmering interface of the System fading into nothingness.

Orion lay still, eyes gradually closing as sleep gently embraced him, his breathing becoming steady and calm.

The chamber fell into silence, the tranquil night settling peacefully over the Helstorm Estate, bringing an end to yet another unforgettable day in Orion’s extraordinary life.

The next morning came gently, golden rays of sunlight filtering softly through Orion’s window, illuminating the familiar contours of his room.

A faint knock at his door stirred him from his peaceful slumber. Moments later, the gentle voice of Rina called from the other side, accompanied by Fiora’s softer, shyer tone, urging him to rise.

Orion smiled lightly to himself, feeling the tranquility of a night well-rested. Stretching comfortably, he responded with a brief acknowledgment, allowing the two of them to enter.

With their usual playful greetings and cheerful smiles, Rina and Fiora accompanied him as he headed to the bath.

The bath was refreshing, comfortably warm, and invigorating. After a relaxing soak, he dressed himself in casual attire.

Once prepared, he proceeded toward the dining hall, walking leisurely through the estate’s quiet hallways.

As he entered the dining hall, he saw a familiar sight—a long, rectangular table being meticulously arranged by several maids, filling the room with pleasant aromas of fresh bread, sweet fruits, and steaming tea.

At the head of the table sat Eldric, comfortably sipping his morning tea with a calm expression. Selene sat gracefully at the side, smiling warmly as her gaze fell upon Orion.

Hearing Orion enter, Eldric turned his head, a warm smile spreading across his old face. "Morning, lad," he greeted affectionately. "How was your rest?"

Orion returned the smile. "I finally had great sleep in weeks," he replied, approaching the table.

Selene’s gentle voice followed next, softly patting the seat beside her. "Good morning, dear. Come sit here."

Orion nodded and took his seat beside her, breathing in the warm scents of breakfast as he settled comfortably.

Idle chatter quickly filled the air as the three enjoyed their morning meal together. They discussed simple things, savoring the peacefulness of the morning.

Eldric occasionally laughed heartily at Orion’s casual remarks, while Selene provided her own commentary, fostering a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere.

When they had finished breakfast, the maids silently removed the plates, leaving behind a neatly cleared table.

Orion’s relaxed expression gradually became more serious, drawing the attention of Eldric and Selene, who both sensed the shift in his mood. They exchanged curious glances before focusing intently on their grandson.

Taking a steadying breath, Orion began speaking, his voice calm yet firm. "I wanted to tell you a few more things regarding my journey to the lower world."

Both Eldric and Selene leaned forward slightly, their expressions attentive and curious.

Orion carefully continued, "Actually, during my rebirth here, I had acquired a World Tree Seed. And during my time in the lower world, after a series of events, the World Tree Seed was fused with my Sea of Consciousness and evolved into a World Tree Sapling."

Eldric’s eyes widened slightly in astonishment, while Selene covered her mouth gently, understanding the implications of such an event.

Before either could speak, Orion proceeded, his voice steady, "Because of this integration, all the previous injuries within my Sea of Consciousness, my soul, and even my damaged foundation have been completely healed."

A moment of stunned silence followed his revelation. Selene’s eyes softened in relief and joy, her gaze gentle as she reached out to touch Orion’s hand reassuringly.

Eldric, however, kept his stunned expression as he spoke in a shocked voice, "What?! Your Sea of Consciousness got merged with a World Tree Seed?? And it evolved into a World Tree Sapling?"

Orion helplessly smiled and nodded his head. "Yes, that’s what happened."

Eldric looked at him seriously. "Do you know how big of an event this is? There is a branch of the World Tree in the depths of the Great Elven Forest. And a single branch has been able to provide shelter for trillions of Elves throughout that massive forest. And you... you have the entire World Tree Sapling in your Sea of Consciousness."

Selene smiled and shook her head. "Why are you so surprised now? You need to learn to get used to him lest you die of a heart attack."

Orion quickly agreed with Selene. "Exactly, Grandpa. If you are shocked by such small things, then how would you react if I did something even more crazy?"

Eldric’s lips twitched as he wanted to beat up Orion for the first time. He looked at him and said, "Do you want to bury these old bones yourself?"

Orion coughed lightly and continued, "Anyways, due to this event, my mana cultivation and soul cultivation both advanced significantly. I’ve reached the sixth level in both realms. This was one of the main reasons why I was able to face off that bloodsucker Valerian."

Eldric looked at him for a second with a deadpan expression before leaning back in his chair and closing his eyes to rest. "Haaa..." he exhaled a long breath.

Selene and Orion looked at each other with playful smiles. Selene softly said, "Alright. If you don’t have anything more to tell us, then you should go and rest. Who knows when you’ll go out for another adventure."