Chapter 69: Transformation Within the Cocoon
The wave continued its path, diminishing in size and intensity as it advanced through the less-affected territory. From hundreds of meters, it shrank to dozens. From dozens, to just a few meters, until it became a mere film that spread across the jungle, which had not been devastated by the stampede. Then, it disappeared into the earth before reaching the more distant and numerous groups of fleeing animals. The beasts continued their escape, unaware of what they had missed.
While the phenomenon unfolded, the first wave of beasts began to reach the nearest cities. Many were caught off guard, facing for the first time a horde of ferocious creatures that seemed endless.
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Deep beneath the earth, the gray sphere rested in silence, surrounded by a transparent sea of energy flowing through the tunnel ahead. Its gray glow lit the darkness, seemingly unchanging despite the passage of time.
But this immutability was only an illusion. Soon, two figures became vaguely visible inside it. And what no one could imagine were the transformations taking place within them...
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Tang Chun Xi felt her consciousness awakening from a deep sleep, and little by little, she began to regain control of her senses.
'What's happening?' — that question echoed in her half-awakened mind.
Moments later, another doubt surfaced: 'Why can't I move?' Her mind fully awakened, only to be flooded by memories: 'The dark aura... Lin Xu... the Lunar Umbrella...'
'This is…' — Before she could react, she realized the state of her body and was shocked.
A gray energy bathed every inch of her being. With her heightened senses, she could feel her cells transforming with each passing second—eagerly absorbing that energy, becoming more resilient. Her meridians stretched and expanded. Muscles and bones creaked, adjusting to newfound strength.
Her dantian also stretched and expanded. It was covered by the shimmering colored energy, which was also devouring the gray energy.
Her body heated up violently, each bone trembled and pulsed as energy pressed into them. Her bodily energy surged to the extreme! The barrier shattered. She advanced to the 5th level of Bone Strengthening!
And soon, another breakthrough followed. The shimmering energy exited the dantian and cycled rapidly… Another barrier broke, and she advanced to the 6th level of the Body Tempering Realm.
Her body seemed to relax. But soon, the cycle resumed... With most of the gray energy now flowing toward her mind...
gray glow lit the darkness, seemingly unchanging despite the passage of time.
But this immutability was only an illusion. Soon, two figures became vaguely visible inside it. And what no one could imagine were the transformations taking place within them...
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On the other side of the cocoon, Lin Xu had yet to awaken. His body, nearly destroyed by golden flames, was undergoing a far more radical transformation. He was being practically remade!
Inside his body, the flaming golden liquid raged like a stormy sea, and under the influence of the gray energy—and his heart covered with symbols—something changed with every beat.
"Thump-thump!!" — Part of the liquid separated and gathered, solidifying into bones that began growing throughout his body.
"Thump-thump!!" — His lungs, spleen, liver were being molded by the gray energy.
"Thump-thump!!" — With this beat, his brain formed and his dantian emerged.
And so, soon, every part of his body was being recreated from the flaming golden liquid.
But the most extraordinary part were his 9 main meridians, which shone like the sun in hues of gold and violet!
Yet the energy hadn't finished. It continued its mission. The gray energy gathered toward his dantian and three other main meridians…
gray glow lit the darkness, seemingly unchanging despite the passage of time.
But this immutability was only an illusion. Soon, two figures became vaguely visible inside it. And what no one could imagine were the transformations taking place within them...
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And finally, without knowing how much time had passed, the transparent current slowly faded until it vanished completely. And thus, the enormous phenomenon finally seemed to come to an end!
Calm reigned—but only briefly. "Crack... crack..." — Cracks quickly spread across the surface of the sphere, until it disintegrated into dust!
The collapse revealed Tang Chun Xi and Lin Xu. Both were covered only by a thin layer of gray energy, which was soon absorbed into their bodies. They were seated in lotus position, facing each other with their hands intertwined!
Their auras were harmonized, strengthening one another!
No one knew how many cycles passed before it all stopped. Her cultivation halted, and Tang Chun Xi's eyelashes trembled before slowly opening, revealing her dazzling, confused violet eyes.
'What just happened??' — She was truly stunned: 'I not only got rid of the dark aura, but also broke through 2 spiritual levels and 3 physical ones!!' — she exclaimed in disbelief.
Her current level was the 7th level of the Body Tempering Realm and of the Body Strengthening Realm!
'This is the second time I've jumped several levels—the first was an exception, and this second time was just as abnormal.' — If anyone found out she had gone from mortal to the same level as Shang Hua-Ren—considered a genius—in less than a month, she'd be considered an aberrant talent.
'Besides, jumping levels like this can be explained by some rare opportunity, but if it happens too often…' — she recalled the stories her father told her and concluded: 'It's only a matter of time before I become a target!'
'Well, I mustn't get carried away. Normally, cultivation is built step by step. Both of my leaps were accidents, and this time I nearly died!!' — she shuddered at the thought of the black aura and the previous situation.
'If I had taken one wrong step, I'd be dead or worse… It's better to go slower than end up in such a dangerous position or become a target.' — she adjusted her mindset not to let herself be inflated and concluded:
'I must not get carried away by an illusory title of genius or waste time with the problems it'll bring! Even if I have to go slower.' — With that thought, her mind seemed to shine, and her aura calmed and stabilized.
Indeed, Tang Chun Xi was right not to let it get to her. But the key wasn't the breakthrough itself, but how she had reached that level. Cultivation speed was determined by many factors. And in more advanced regions, others could progress just as fast—or faster!
But all of this was intrinsically linked to "illusory luck"... But well, that would be a topic for another time.
Tang Chun Xi focused on running several energy cycles. Soon, she opened her eyes again and finally could concentrate on the situation before her:
—"Lin Xu?" — she exclaimed, having only now noticed the state they were in. Her neck and face flushed red upon realizing they were both unclothed.
'Good thing he's still meditating' — she sighed in relief and nearly let her gaze wander downward. But she quickly pulled out clothes from her ring, dressed herself, and also covered Lin Xu with a cloak.
As she dressed, she resumed her disguise—but throughout the process, she couldn't help glancing at Lin Xu several times.
"What temptation... This robe makes him look more indecent than wearing nothing!!" — she muttered, trying to calm her heart. She wasn't someone swayed by lust, and after living with her father and her true appearance, she thought no other appearance could shock her again. She was wrong!
Even she was tempted by Lin Xu's disheveled look…
So she recited the calming mantra several times to rid herself of such thoughts.
And dared not pay him any more attention.
And so he diverted his attention to find a way out, but before exploring, she took a spiritual lamp from her ring, dispelling the darkness around them. Although cultivators could see in the dark, she still preferred having light when possible—not being in total darkness.
"Where is this place? Is it really a tomb?" — she felt a bit of relief as she observed the cracked hallway with its symbols. But the passage through which she came appeared blocked, and there was another door ahead.
"Is this floor made of Scale-Sandstone?" — she gasped in shock at the extravagance and danger symbolized by the material she recognized: "Formed at the bottom of the river by sand accumulating over hundreds of years, after a simple refinement, it produces scale-like patterns. It has a glazed bluish-green color. Because it's shaped by the river's currents, it allows spiritual power to flow like water."
Tang Chun Xi reviewed everything she knew about the material. But the most important part: "It's commonly used to enhance formations that borrow earth energy. And the worst part is… the more of this material used, the more powerful the formation becomes!!"
'Since it's cracked and I don't feel any aura, maybe the formation isn't working!...' — Her expression grew solemn as she considered that possibility and concluded: 'Better not take chances. Maybe the formation is too advanced, and that's why I can't sense anything. And maybe that has something to do with that illusion!!!'
She looked at the floor and made her decision, since the entire corridor floor was made of that material—and she couldn't tell its function or power. Besides, she was actually pretty sure that the illusion and the tomb were related. And even if the chance was minimal, she didn't want to go through that again without being prepared.
'I'd better wait for Lin Xu to wake up before exploring' — she concluded. And wary of triggering the tomb's formation, she sat down near Lin Xu.
So she sat and tried to observe the changes in her body more carefully. Besides, there was one thing she had ignored during all this time: the Lunar Umbrella!!