The Awakening of the Starshadow Body

The stillness of the void settled over the clearing. The Prismatic Phantom Ape stood atop the floating ruins, its ancient form flickering between solid and ephemeral, like a mirage caught between realms. Its seven-colored fur shimmered, bending the light around it in an eerie display of spatial warping.

Jiang Chen stood before it, his body still aching from the relentless trials of the Evernight Valley. His golden-amber eyes gleamed with curiosity and caution. Though the Prismatic Phantom Ape had not attacked him, its sheer presence made him feel as though he was standing before a force of nature—one that could decide his fate with a mere thought.

Then, the ape raised a hand, and in its palm floated a crystal unlike anything Jiang Chen had ever seen.

It was… impossible.

A prism of shifting colors, each hue twisting through the spectrum yet never settling, as if the laws of reality failed to dictate its form. The air around it warped subtly, space bending inward, giving the illusion that the object was both infinitely close and impossibly far.

Jiang Chen's breath hitched. What the hell is that?

The Prismatic Phantom Ape's voice echoed, not through sound, but directly into his mind—an unfamiliar technique.

"This is the Space Prism. The core of my race's legacy."

Jiang Chen felt a shiver run down his spine. A treasure tied to the Laws of Space?

"It is not a weapon. Not an artifact. It is a conduit… a key to understanding the boundless expanse beyond the mortal realm."

The ape extended its arm, and the Space Prism hovered toward Jiang Chen.

"Take it."

Jiang Chen hesitated for only a moment before reaching out.

The moment his fingertips brushed the crystal—

BOOM!

A tide of invisible force erupted outward, distorting the air. The space around them quivered as if resisting the transfer of power.

Jiang Chen's mind was pulled into an abyss of infinite expanse, stars stretching across a realm where distance and direction meant nothing. His body trembled as waves of chaotic, unrefined spatial force threatened to tear him apart—but his Chaos Seed flared, absorbing the violent energy and stabilizing his consciousness.

He gasped as he returned to reality, the Space Prism now floating gently in his palm.

"This treasure will attune your body to the Laws of Space," the Prismatic Phantom Ape said solemnly. "Over time, you will find that the void no longer resists you. That distances will feel… lesser. But that is a journey for another time."

Jiang Chen exhaled, shaking off the lingering vertigo from the experience. The very air around him felt different.

But the ape was not finished.

It raised its other hand. A small stone pulsing with seven-colored light floated from its grasp.

This one carried a different weight.

It wasn't simply powerful—it was alive.

Jiang Chen's Chaos Seed reacted instinctively, a faint hum resonating from within him. His gaze sharpened.

"This… is no ordinary treasure."

The Prismatic Phantom Ape nodded.

"This is the Seven-Colored Rock. Within it slumbers the last hope of my clan."

Jiang Chen's pupils shrank.

"You mean…"

"Yes. A descendant, yet to hatch. With a purer bloodline than my own."

Jiang Chen's grip tightened slightly. A living being?

The ape's voice turned solemn.

"This rock has been passed down for thousands of years, waiting for the right inheritor. But none were worthy. Until now."

Jiang Chen was silent for a long moment before exhaling. "Why me?"

The ape gazed at him, its ancient eyes unreadable.

"Because your fate does not belong to this world alone."

Jiang Chen frowned but said nothing.

The stone hovered closer, and he reached out, letting it settle in his palm. The moment he touched it, a faint heartbeat pulsed from within.

A responsibility unlike any other now rested on his shoulders.

He nodded once. "I will keep it safe."

The ape let out a slow exhale, as if releasing an ancient burden.

"Then my purpose is fulfilled."

For a moment, silence filled the clearing.

Then—

Jiang Chen's Chaos Seed reacted.

A sudden, violent pulse erupted from his core, surging outward like a collapsing star.

The Space Prism trembled.

The Seven-Colored Rock shuddered.

The air around Jiang Chen distorted violently, like the fabric of reality itself was resisting an unknown force.

Jiang Chen's eyes widened as a sudden, searing heat rushed through his veins. His meridians burned, his very flesh vibrating with something beyond Qi.

What the fuck is happening?!

The Prismatic Phantom Ape's expression changed instantly.

"No… that's not possible!"

Jiang Chen gritted his teeth, his body transforming against his will.

The Chaos Seed wasn't simply refining the Space Prism's energy.

It was absorbing it. Mutating it. Changing it into something else entirely.

Jiang Chen's back arched violently, his bones cracking as an overwhelming pressure expanded through his entire being. The air around him darkened, shadows twisting unnaturally, warping space itself.

A pillar of seven-colored light exploded into the sky.

The Prismatic Phantom Ape stared in shock.

"No… this is—!"

The light receded.

Jiang Chen collapsed onto one knee, panting heavily. His body had changed.

His skin had a faint, unnatural luster. His very presence felt distorted, as if he was partially detached from reality. Shadows coiled around him unbidden, while the space surrounding him felt… pliable.

The ape took a step back.

"…The Starshadow Body."

Jiang Chen's breath caught.

"One of the top ten divine constitutions in existence."

The words rang in the air like a thunderclap.

Jiang Chen clenched his fists. He felt different. Not just physically—but as if he had stepped beyond his own limits.

What the hell did the Chaos Seed do…?

The Prismatic Phantom Ape shook its head, staring at him as if looking at something that shouldn't exist.

"This is an elemental constitution—one of the rarest and most powerful in the cultivation world."

It took a deep breath before explaining.

"The Starshadow Body aligns perfectly with the Daoist Path. It grants unparalleled comprehension of Space and Darkness. With this, your ability to grasp the Laws of these elements will be unmatched." "Not only that…it also has an array of innate abilities usually only granted to those with a strong bloodline of the Elemental Path…"

The Starshadow Body's Evolution and Innate Abilities

The Prismatic Phantom Ape's gaze lingered on Jiang Chen, the weight of its next words pressing against the very fabric of space itself.

"The Starshadow Body is not just a divine constitution—it is an existence-altering force. Unlike ordinary cultivators, whose bodies remain stagnant unless tempered by external methods, your physique will evolve with each major realm you ascend. Every leap in cultivation will unlock an innate ability tied to the essence of space and darkness."

Jiang Chen's eyes narrowed.

"An evolving constitution?"

The ape nodded solemnly.

"Yes. The moment you step into a new large cultivation realm, your body will resonate with the cosmic energies of space and the abyss of darkness, unlocking a new power naturally."

Jiang Chen exhaled, steadying his thoughts.

"Tell me what I can expect."

The Prismatic Phantom Ape raised its hand, and shimmering images formed in the air, illustrating each stage of the Starshadow Body's awakening.

Qi Condensation – Starshadow Burst

A shockwave of distorted space erupted outward, sending jagged ripples through the air.

"Your first ability, Starshadow Burst, will be the foundation of your combat style. By condensing the power of space and darkness into a singular explosive force, you can release a devastating burst upon impact. Whether with your fist, your spear, or even your movements, this explosion will add concussive force to every attack, breaking through defenses and sending enemies reeling."

Jiang Chen's smirk widened.

A raw force multiplier. Not just striking harder—but striking with an explosion of energy that shattered everything in its path. This would align perfectly with his Chaotic Spear Strike and make it even more powerful. Along with the Law of Force and the Chaotic Energy, the newly acquired space energy and energy of darkness would be incorporated into his attacks making them much faster, harder to sense, and most of all, more powerful. 

His smile stuck to his face like glue as he listened further. 

The Prismatic Phantom Ape continued.

Foundation Establishment – Voidstep Tempest

The next illusion depicted Jiang Chen moving through the battlefield like a storm incarnate, his body blurring as each step tore through space itself.

"Voidstep Tempest." The ape's voice was almost reverent. "With every movement, you will distort space itself, allowing you to move at speeds no enemy can anticipate. Each step leaves behind residual force, creating shockwaves that disrupt the battlefield. And if mastered, you will be able to temporarily exist in multiple locations at once, overwhelming your foes with sheer speed and unpredictability."

Jiang Chen's eyes gleamed.

Not stealth, but pure domination of movement. I won't avoid attacks—I'll be too fast for them to land in the first place.

The ape nodded as if reading his thoughts.

Golden Core – Celestial Rift Strike

The next image sent a chill down Jiang Chen's spine.

A single spear strike, and reality itself split apart, creating a rift that swallowed everything in its path.

"At Golden Core, your mastery over space will allow you to tear open the fabric of the world itself. Celestial Rift Strike is not an attack—it is a calamity. When unleashed, your strikes will no longer simply cut your enemies, but the very space around them, causing the force of your blows to continue beyond their initial range. Even if they dodge your spear, the space around them will still collapse inward, crushing them."

Jiang Chen exhaled sharply.

A weapon that doesn't miss? Even if they avoid the attack, the aftermath alone would be enough to kill them.

The Prismatic Phantom Ape chuckled.

"Against weaker enemies, there will be no retreat. Against stronger enemies, even if they block your spear, space itself will still collapse upon them."

Nascent Soul – Dimensional Sundering

The final illusion.

Jiang Chen's spear cut through space itself, but this time, the attack did not simply travel—it folded reality, allowing his strikes to manifest in multiple locations simultaneously.

The Prismatic Phantom Ape's voice grew solemn.

"This is where the true terror of the Starshadow Body reveals itself. Dimensional Sundering will allow you to sever space entirely, sending your attacks through the void, manifesting them where you choose. At this level, distance will become meaningless. Your strikes will ignore barriers, bypass defenses, and attack from angles your enemies cannot comprehend."

Jiang Chen's blood surged with excitement.

"So even if an enemy thinks they're safe, my attack can appear behind them, above them, or strike them from within their own guard?"

The ape grinned.

"Exactly."

Jiang Chen clenched his fists, his thoughts racing.

The Starshadow Body was not an assassin's path. It was the path of a warlord, a destroyer, a force that dominated the battlefield with overwhelming control of space and force.

With each realm, he wouldn't just grow stronger—his very presence would distort reality itself.

"And after Nascent Soul?"

The Prismatic Phantom Ape shook its head.

"That… even I do not know."

Jiang Chen smirked.

"Then I guess I'll just have to find out."

The power of the Starshadow Body had only just begun to reveal itself.

Jiang Chen's thoughts raced.

He had just been forcibly reborn.

His very existence had changed.

He knew it had to be the Chaos seed. It somehow mutated his constitution due to the Space Prism. He vaguely had a terrifying thought that it might be possible that the Chaos seed could mutate certain treasures and allow for them to be absorbed in a different fashion, or rather, integrated. His eyes flashed. Unfortunately, he had no idea how this ability worked.

And he had no idea how to control it.

The Prismatic Phantom Ape narrowed its eyes.

"Jiang Chen."

He looked up.

"You are no longer merely a cultivator. You are a variable—a force that should not exist."

A pause.

"And this world will soon take notice."

Jiang Chen exhaled, his grip tightening around his fists.

"Then let it."

The Prismatic Phantom Ape grinned.