Chapter 140: Subjugation

The sphere of light shifted continuously, radiating an irresistible brilliance that drew one in, leaving them unable to break free. Yao Ye struggled against its pull, anxiously calling out, "Elder Ding, what should I do? If this continues, I will be forced to retreat!"

"Yao Ye, listen to me. Walk quickly into the sphere of light, open your mind, and use your benevolence to assimilate this radiance. Hold fast to your inner self!"

Trusting Elder Ding, Yao Ye took difficult steps into the sphere. Gradually, he let go of his resistance, and scenes began to unfold before his eyes. He stared blankly at these visions, losing his self-awareness, and as the scenes shifted, he smiled foolishly.

"Yao Ye, can you hear me? Wake up, Yao Ye!"

Yao Ye remained trapped in memories of resting in his mother’s arms and watching the sunrise with his father, instinctively wearing a dazed smile. Suddenly, he snapped back to reality, wiping sweat from his forehead and casting a lingering, fearful glance at the sphere.

"Yao Ye, what is wrong? Answer me, are you alright?"

Hearing Elder Ding’s anxious voice, Yao Ye muttered to himself, "What terrifying radiance. It forces one to look directly into their own soul. All my secrets were laid bare before it, as if I had been reborn."

"Yao Ye, try to see if you can absorb the Source. If you pass this trial, you will surely be able to absorb it; if the Source does not acknowledge you, you must leave."

Yao Ye steadied his mind and slowly extended his right hand toward the sphere of the Source. As his fingers touched the power of the Source, it seemed to vaporize. It seeped into his palm and surged through his body, leaving him feeling so comforted that he could not help but let out a soft moan.

Within his core world, instead of further expansion, a profusion of flowers, grass, and trees appeared, filling the space with vibrant life. Watching the power of the Source diminish, the small beast atop Yao Ye's head opened its eyes, hissing anxiously. It paced around the dwindling energy, growing restless and agitated.

As the Source gradually vanished, a smile spread across Yao Ye’s face. He opened his eyes, which had been closed for so long, and let out a sigh as the sphere disappeared.

"How do you feel, Yao Ye? Have you finished absorbing it?"

Yao Ye clenched his fist, feeling the surging energy, and laughed. "Elder Ding, I have never felt this comfortable. However, I have no way to gauge what level I have reached."

"Yao Ye, try to see if you can control the energy of a domain."

"Understood!"

Yao Ye swept his hands, and a domain formed around him. He stared at it in astonishment. "Did I create this? To manifest a domain with a wave of my hand—this is dozens of times faster than before!"

"Yao Ye, quickly, try to control the vital energy!"

He focused his intent on the surrounding planet, and the entire world began to rotate rapidly. The energy of the entire domain was drawn out in an instant. Yao Ye smiled faintly.

"Controlling the domain, moving with intent—within this sphere, I am the supreme ruler. I have reached the Heaven-Reaching Realm!"

"Hahaha, once affairs at the Heavenly Mansion are settled, that shall be the day of my return!"

"Yao Ye, try to see if you can multitask and manifest as a celestial being."

Yao Ye nodded, pushing his cultivation to the limit as he attempted to split his soul. Suddenly, he collapsed to his knees, clutching his head in agony. His aura became chaotic, his eyes rolled back, and he lost consciousness. The halo of the Source around him dissipated, and the small beast looked at him in confusion.

"Yao Ye, wake up! Can you hear me? Quickly, raise the protective halo of the Source, hurry!"

Fortunately, because he had just absorbed the Source, a large amount of its essence remained in his body. The small beast touched him gently with its claw, while Elder Ding called out to him in a panic. After a long while, the aura of the Source around Yao Ye faded away. The small beast stared at the man before it and let out a roar.

"Ah!"

Yao Ye slowly opened his eyes, clutching his splitting head and letting out a cry of pain. Elder Ding quickly warned him, "Yao Ye, raise the power of the Source! The Void-Escaping Beast is about to attack you!"

Yao Ye forced himself up, and seeing the young beast approaching, he hurriedly released the power of the Source. The beast stopped its attack and began to nuzzle him affectionately. Yao Ye exhaled, sat cross-legged, and began to heal. Only when the sharp pain subsided did he stand up.

"It seems I still have a long way to go before reaching the Great Void Realm."

He stroked the small beast, which narrowed its eyes in contentment. Yao Ye’s mind began to race. "Elder Ding, how do I tame it? I can't keep releasing the power of the Source forever!"

"That, I do not know!"

The young beast rolled its eyes with intelligence and, with lightning speed, bit Yao Ye on the leg. Stung by the pain, Yao Ye looked at the beast in confusion, when suddenly a childish voice echoed in his mind.

"Where did my power of the Source go? Give it back! Waaah..."

Yao Ye looked around in surprise. "Who is speaking?"

"Hahaha, Yao Ye, I must admire your luck. To have a creature actively pledge its loyalty to you—you truly are the Chosen One!"

Yao Ye stared in astonishment at the small beast in his hands. It whimpered and crawled down reluctantly. Seeing this comical scene, Yao Ye could not help but laugh bitterly.

"Elder Ding, is the problem solved just like that?"

"Yao Ye, I have never encountered anyone with such unbelievable luck. Very well, I must rest, do not disturb me again!"

Yao Ye shook his head, playing with the beast, which looked at him with pitiful, intelligent eyes. "I will give you a name. Let us call you Di Tian, and you shall join me in ruling the heavens and the earth!"

The beast crawled down, aggrieved, and remained silent. Seeing that it ignored him, Yao Ye released a strand of the Source's power through his palm. The beast’s eyes snapped open as it began to absorb it. Seeing the return of the Source, it squealed with excitement. Yao Ye suddenly withdrew his hand, and the beast jumped up in frustration.

"Bad human, give me back my Source!"

"Are you the one speaking, Xiao Tian?"

The beast turned its head away, acting haughty. Yao Ye gave a sly smile. "I know you can understand me. If you agree to follow me, there will be plenty of the Source for you. Otherwise, hehe!"

At that moment, Yao Ye looked like a man coaxing a child with candy. The beast turned back, half-doubting, and its voice returned to Yao Ye’s mind.

"Really? You are not lying to me?"

Yao Ye opened his mind, exposing his core world to the beast. Seeing the dense power of the Source, the beast drooled. "Give me the Source, and I will agree!"

"It is not that I won't give it to you, but I cannot release it at will; I have other matters to attend to. When I have time, I will let you have your fill!"

The young beast rolled its eyes, turned into a streak of light, and dove into Yao Ye’s core world, greedily absorbing the energy. Yao Ye laughed happily.

"It is time to leave. I wonder how long I have been away."

Yao Ye turned and flew toward the cave entrance.