Purple-gold sunlight pierced through the fresh foliage of the World Tree, casting dappled shadows on the porch of the white cottage. Qiyue stared at the tiny W-Infinity Symbol in his palm, its glow pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. Jian leaned against his shoulder, the W-Infinity pattern in her gray eye now a permanent mark, echoing the faint trace of violet lingering in her pupil.
"It’s been seven days," Jian whispered, her fingers unconsciously tracing the rim of her teacup. The herbal tea inside had long since cooled, and the water reflected the bare branches at the canopy’s top where two leaves were missing. "Have they truly become part of the World Tree?"
Before Qiyue could answer, a sharp, stabbing pain erupted in his chest. He pulled back his collar, revealing fine golden lines emerging on his smooth skin—the exact neural network he had seen within the cocoon. The patterns spread outward from the Big Dipper Mark, covering half his chest.
Chapter 29