Chapter 215 Emergence (Extended Chapter)

Inside the cave, wild grass grew, creating a patch of lush greenery surrounding a large, round white cocoon. After eight or nine months, Chen Xuan finally reconnected with his physical body, allowing his spiritual form to return. Overcome with emotion, he was on the verge of tears. It had been more than half a year, and he had nearly suffocated in isolation. Now, he could finally return to his body.

"Damn it, I'm never touching that cursed fruit tree again," Chen Xuan muttered gloomily, having learned his lesson. The price of gaining power was too steep. After this ordeal, he resolved never to engage with it again unless he hit an absolute dead end in his cultivation.

Rather than fixating on the fruit tree, he preferred to rely on the system's upgrade packages. Perhaps one day, he'd unlock a high-level technique that would propel him to new heights. However, his optimism was short-lived. Despite the proximity to his body, the path felt endless and unreachable, no matter how hard he tried.

Struggling through a pitch-black tunnel, he walked for what felt like ages, unable to see the end. "That cursed thing must be behind this!" Chen Xuan cursed. Previously, he could enter and exit the world behind his heart with a mere thought, but now it was like an insurmountable chasm stood in his way.

Caught in a dilemma, he couldn't go back and had no choice but to move forward. After what seemed like another month, just as he was about to give up, he finally saw a glimmer of light—his body. He rushed forward, passing through the light, and his spirit finally returned to his physical form.

"Finally! I'm back!" Chen Xuan felt like crying, his frustration bubbling over. The moment he reentered his body, he sensed an unprecedented vitality. His blood surged with energy, far more potent than before. Yet, his transformation was still incomplete, and he couldn't break free of the cocoon just yet.

With no choice but to wait, he endured the agonizing passage of time. Seasons changed, years passed, and before he knew it, over a year had gone by. The once still cocoon suddenly cracked, beams of white light piercing through the fissures. The shell burst apart with a loud bang, fragments scattering everywhere. A figure shot out, landing on the grassy ground.

After a year and a half, Chen Xuan finally saw the light of day again. Standing at the cave's entrance, the warm sunlight felt blinding yet comforting. Behind him, the cocoon had burst, leaving behind foul-smelling remnants of old skin and blood.

"A true metamorphosis," Chen Xuan sighed, observing his flawless, snow-white skin and delicate, slender fingers that looked even more refined than most women's hands. His transformation was evident, shedding his old self to reveal a new, powerful form.

Putting on some clothes, he decided it was time to leave the Star Dou Forest. During the past year, Xiao Wu and his daughter had only visited once, staying for over a month before leaving. By then, Chen Qiu'er had awakened her martial soul, beginning her cultivation journey. Xiao Wu had mentioned their daughter's extraordinary talent, surpassing many and attracting unwanted attention, though the Star Luo Crown Prince, Davis, had handled any threats.

"Chen Xuan, you're finally out," the Sky Blue Bull Python emerged from the lake, its massive head breaking the surface. The Titan Giant Ape soon followed, leaping from a distant mountain to the clearing.

"Yeah, I had some issues, but it's resolved now," Chen Xuan replied, acknowledging his self-inflicted predicament. Determined not to waste any more time, he announced his plans to leave the forest and find Xiao Wu and his daughter.

"Xiao Wu left you a letter," the Sky Blue Bull Python said, handing him an envelope from a small wooden hut. Opening it, Chen Xuan read the brief note. Xiao Wu had instructed him to retrieve their daughter from the Star Luo Royal Family and mentioned that Zhu Zhuqing had been chosen by the God of Speed to undergo a divine trial, with Xiao Wu accompanying her.

"A divine trial, huh? Is it just her, or have all the Shrek Seven Devils been selected early?" Chen Xuan pondered, uncertain if it was a singular event or part of a larger pattern. If all of them had been chosen, it would significantly increase the pressure, especially if he had to face multiple god-tier inheritors.

"Whatever happens, I'll face it head-on. With natural energy coursing through me, I have the means to injure deities now," he reassured himself. After bidding farewell to the Sky Blue Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape, he left the forest, heading towards the Star Luo Empire.

"Time to add a new soul ring," he thought, feeling his soul power, which had surpassed level sixty, likely reaching sixty-seven or higher. His transformation had been profound, with his body purified, blood renewed, and bones refined to jade-like perfection.

As he stepped forward, blue lightning crackled around him, his cells buzzing with energy. In an instant, he dashed a kilometer ahead, his speed leaving even him astonished. Moments later, a sonic boom echoed behind him, scattering birds and beasts alike.

"Four times the speed of sound?" Chen Xuan was shocked by his progress, surpassing even agility-focused Titled Douluo. After a brief sprint, he paused atop a hill, spotting a soul beast below—a massive, house-sized, black-skinned rhino.

"A fifty-thousand-year soul beast. Not the highest, but it'll do."

With his current strength, even absorbing a ninety-thousand-year soul beast wouldn't be an issue, but time was of the essence. Opting for efficiency, he targeted the rhino, readying his Rinnegan to supplement any soul power gaps.

Forming seals, he channeled chakra, heat surging through his body. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" A massive fireball descended from the sky, engulfing the unsuspecting rhino. Despite its quick reaction, the beast was struck, sent flying into a mountainside, its charred body writhing in pain.

Not hesitating, Chen Xuan followed up with a swift attack, wielding the Kusanagi Sword infused with lightning. One decisive slash left the rhino gravely wounded. Though its regeneration was impressive, Chen Xuan activated his Mangekyo Sharingan, summoning the golden skeletal form of Susanoo. With a final, powerful strike, he decapitated the beast, its soul ring forming above the corpse.

Sitting down, he began absorbing the black soul ring while his shadow clone secured the area and collected the rhino's remains for trade. To his surprise, a rare soul bone lay among the spoils—a defensive torso bone. Though not suitable for him, it was a valuable find.

After half an hour, Chen Xuan completed the absorption process, feeling his soul power surge unexpectedly. "Damn, I hit level seventy already?"

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