Growth Link and Truth

"Mom, how did you disguise your Martial soul?" Ren inquired, his voice filled with curiosity as Zhou Hongbuo had revealed that her Martial soul was space energy.

Aurora's eyes held a knowing look as she responded, "That is because of your dad's Martial soul ability. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't even be able to survive in the Douluo Continent, as the lack of a Martial soul would have made others think that I am a soul beast."

Nero and Ren exchanged understanding glances, finally comprehending why their mother had chosen to keep a low profile in the outside world.  Nero then posed the crucial question, "Mom, how did you survive, and what is going on with your current form?"

Aurora let out a sigh, a look of reminiscence in her eyes as she began, "To explain this, I should start with how your father used his spirit ring opportunities." Nero, Ren, and the others adopted a serious demeanor, understanding the importance of what Aurora was about to reveal.

"Your father used his first spirit ring to bestow his Martial soul with the thunder attribute, allowing him to disguise its extraordinary ability. It was during this time that he discovered how this ability worked. His Martial soul ability operated on the principle of equal exchange. In essence, if he were to wish for something he didn't know about, the price would be very heavy. Conversely, if he had complete knowledge of the wish, the price would be minimal."

Aurora paused, allowing her words to sink in, and then continued, "Bestowing the thunder attribute on his Martial soul placed such a restriction on him that he couldn't use his Martial soul for the next two years." Her words hung in the air, emphasizing the restrictions on Arlo's ability.

"He used his second wish to simulate my powers as a Martial soul and as I mentioned before, he used his fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh abilities to learn about your reincarnations," Aurora continued. Nero and Ren wore complex expressions, realizing the heavy price their father had paid just to uncover the truth about their past lives.

Observing her sons' complex emotions, Aurora gently rubbed their heads, offering comfort. "Don't feel guilty," she reassured them. "Your father never regretted his choices. The revelations of your reincarnations assured us that you both would be able to survive and live without us."

Nero and Ren nodded, and Nero remembering Arlo's confession asked Aurora with anger burning in his eyes "Mom, Dad mentioned that you both discovered something that would not allow you both to live. What was it and Who was responsible for your deaths?" Ren's gaze mirrored his brother's, both conveying a burning desire to understand the truth behind the circumstances that led to Aurora and Arlo's death.

Seeing her son's anger Aurora sighed in distress, she didn't wanted to burden them with this secret but she also understood that this was the best she could do in this state, "One year after your father and I got together," she started, "We discovered that my attainments in space energy were gradually developing toward natural laws. Unlike soul masters, who can only attain a law after breaking through Rank 100. Intrigued by this, we compared my bloodline with your father's and a soul beast's. What we discovered was something that was restricting both humans and soul beasts from advancing smoothly in their cultivation."

Aurora continued, "Your father, using his Martial soul ability, found the reason behind the conflict between Soul Masters and soul beasts."

She paused to let the information sink in before proceeding. "It turned out that the Dragon God, who was supposedly the ancestor of most soul beasts during his reign, placed a restriction on the human bloodline that firstly, without a god position given by the God Realm, humans could not become true gods and secondly, humans had to hunt soul beasts to advance. On the other hand, the restriction on soul beasts was imposed by the five god-kings of the God Realm after the Divine War."

Aurora's tone grew somber as she continued, "Further research into the human bloodline revealed that these restrictions gradually became integrated with our bloodlines over time. This is why humans can't even break through Rank 99, as far as we know. It was only because of the soul system, which bonded a spirit soul and a human, that advancing to Titled Douluo became much easier than it was twenty thousand years ago."

She concluded with a speculative note, "According to our speculations, ten thousand years later, human beings could have become gods without needing a god position, all thanks to the changes brought about by the soul system, as the restrictions integrated in human bloodline would have receded towards the original restrictions placed by the Dragon God on the human bloodline."

Aria, Nero, and Ren looked at Aurora in utter shock as they knew that the original timeline proceeded exactly the same as their parents speculated. Aurora continued her explanation, delving into the depths of their research.

"To remove this restriction," she continued, "your father and I, after years of research, invented the Growth Link method."

"Growth Link?" Aria asked, her confusion evident.

Aurora nodded and proceeded to clarify, "Growth Link was a method that created a metaphysical link between a human and a soul beast or spirit soul. This link, utilizing the Dragon God genes in a spirit soul, would slowly erase the restriction on the human bloodline. Additionally, it would harness the divine power that a soul master would acquire as they advanced to Rank 100, ultimately removing the restrictions on the soul beast bloodline."

Aurora paused, her expression thoughtful, and then waved her hand, materializing what appeared to be a scroll. "Referring to how my control over space energy advanced toward Law, we devised a different method for breaking through ranks. Instead of soul rings, Growth Link would create a divine ring structure that held the abilities soul masters acquired after breaking through each rank in the form of runes. These ten runes were designed in a way that the acquired abilities would naturally evolve toward a law or divine techniques."

She paused again, a look of regret clouding her face, as she added, "But unfortunately, we couldn't fully complete this method."

"Why, Mom?" Ren inquired, still puzzled, considering that with their father's Martial soul ability, it should have been a manageable task.

Aurora proceeded to explain, "Nero, as you may remember, we left when you were three years old, and Ren, that's when we found you. The thing is, that's when this method was in its final stages of completion. Your father, at that time, had a premonition that if we remained near both of you, it would be dangerous for both of you. At that time, I didn't understand what could possibly make your father, who was a demigod, this serious."

Aurora paused, and a trace of regret flashed in her eyes, catching the attention of Nero and Ren. She continued, "But after sending Ren somewhere safe, when we were about to use your father's Martial soul to complete the method, I realized how seriously I had underestimated Arlo's premonition. At first, we thought we could escape, but as we progressed, soul masters from the Holy Spirit Cult and some other unknown organization began to attack us. Gradually, Titled Douluo started to assault us."

Nero leaned forward, his gaze unwavering, and asked with utmost seriousness, "What happened next, Mom?"

Aurora continued her account, "That's when we caught a glimpse of the mastermind behind these organizations. Although only Ultimate Douluo attacked us in our final battle, Arlo and I realized that the bodies of those two Extreme Douluo were possessed by something. Initially, we thought it might be a God, but we quickly realized that whatever was possessing them was not divine. The aura those two emitted was so evil and depraved that even the Abyss paled in comparison. We couldn't even last five minutes against them. As we were on the brink of death, we both felt an overwhelming sense that if we allowed our souls to disperse naturally, something devastating would occur. So, you father first used his eighth wish to bind me to this tree which was a soul preserving tree and then used his ninth and last wish to arrange the trials that you have encountered till now and will encounter in future"

Nero's fists clenched as he listened, his anger palpable. He questioned, "What about Dad?"

Aurora closed her eyes briefly, tears welling up, and then continued, "Fighting against those two and using the wishes to perform so many actions took a heavy toll on his soul. His condition was so severe that to survive, he could only seal his soul in his Martial soul, creating a pseudo-artifact. For the past ten years, he has been living as a sword spirit at the second coordinate."

Before Aurora could continue, the stone structures around them began to shake, and an icy, cold, and murderous intent radiated from both Nero and Ren, enveloping the surroundings. Yuanen Yehui and Serena acted quickly, gently holding onto Nero and Ren's hands to help them regain their composure. The girls understood the intense anger their boyfriends were suppressing, and they knew it was essential to calm them down.

Aurora also knowing very well the intense emotions her sons were experiencing, offered a stern warning of her own. "Nero, Ren, calm down for now, and don't even think about going after those organizations or seeking the second location. You both aren't strong enough yet, and you can't approach your father's location until you reach Titled Douluo."

  While she, too, wished to reunite with Arlo, she had no desire to see Nero and Ren recklessly endanger themselves in the process.

Nero and Ren closed their eyes and began to take slow, deep breaths, making a conscious effort to calm themselves. They understood the wisdom in not acting recklessly against their enemies.

Aurora, feeling their tension, gently rubbed Nero and Ren's heads and offered reassurance. "Don't worry so much. Just continue doing what you've been doing until now. Your father and I have already endured ten years of separation; a few more won't make much difference to us." Her words carried a comforting tone, reminding her sons that patience was their greatest ally in this situation.

Aria decided to change the topic and inquired, "Aunt Aurora, what is it that would complete the Growth Link method?"

Aurora responded with a warm smile, "Aria, you are like a sister to both Nero and Ren, and you have my legacy in space control. So, you can call me Mom."

Aria was momentarily stunned by this declaration but then nodded with sincerity. "Yes, Mom."

Aurora affectionately rubbed Aria's head and proceeded to answer her initial question. "As for what was missing in the Growth Link method, Arlo and I were going to use his Martial soul to understand how Laws actually worked to complete the method. We couldn't finish it ourselves because we didn't possess sufficient knowledge about laws. Perhaps, if there were places where different Laws could be acquired, then this method could be manually completed."

Upon hearing the mention of places where laws could be acquired, Aria, Nero, and Ren exchanged quick glances and simultaneously shouted in unison, "Dragon Cemetery!"

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