The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 17: Once Again, the Rewards of Hard Work Graced my Bedside

Once Again, the Rewards of Hard Work Graced my Bedside . . .

Lan Lang-Lang and Zuo Wu-Ji turned their attention to Cha-Eun Xiao, curiosity gleaming in their eyes as they asked in unison, "How about you? What's your plan?"

Cha-Eun Xiao found himself momentarily lost for words, their plans and aspirations seeming worlds apart from his own. He mustered his thoughts before speaking earnestly, "I... I want to become a master cultivator. A truly invincible one."

Their response was immediate, laughter bubbling forth from the depths of their souls. It was as if their legs had turned into jelly, and their stomachs ached from the mirth that overtook them. Tears streamed down their cheeks as they laughed uncontrollably.

The image of the foppish and indolent Lord Cha-Eun Xiao aspiring to become an invincible expert cultivator was nothing short of absurd, a punchline that would be remembered for years to come.

Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but feel taken aback. "Is my plan really that unbelievable?"

Before his friends had fully recovered from their previous bout of laughter, their knees weakened again, and the familiar stomach pain returned as they succumbed to another fit of laughter. Laughter echoed throughout General Cha's manor once more.

Lan Lang-Lang, wiping away tears of laughter, commented, "Honestly, to the world, we're just three foppish playboys. What dreams could we possibly have? What kind of promising future could we plan?" He chuckled, "It's fortunate that this conversation is private. If anyone outside heard us discussing these dreams, they'd probably laugh themselves to tears."

In reality, none of them, except perhaps Cha-Eun Xiao, would have dared to dream that their current discussions would eventually become a reality. Zuo Wu-Ji would rise to immense political power, wielding the scepter to command the world, while Lan Lang-Lang would amass tremendous wealth, becoming an unrestricted aristocrat. As for Cha-Eun Xiao, he would indeed become a supreme cultivator with unimaginable strength.

However, Lan Lang-Lang's final dream, the one about sharing a last dinner and departing this world together, was destined to remain unfulfilled.

As they conversed, Cha-Eun Xiao furrowed his brow and asked, "What does 'foppish playboy' even mean?"

During these days, he had diligently organized his inherited memories and come to realize that Lan Lang-Lang and Zuo Wu-Ji weren't the miscreants he had initially perceived them to be. At the very least, they hadn't engaged in cruel acts like bullying or oppressing innocent people. If anything, their greatest offense might have been their tendency to underachieve. But did that truly qualify them as foppish playboys?

"Underwhelming!" Zuo Wu-Ji chuckled self-deprecatingly. "All those 'good' lads follow the rules, attend schools, seek teachers, and hone their martial skills. Their goals are to uphold their family honor and establish personal reputations. They strive to enter the government to serve their clans or even lead them."

"People like us," Lan Lang-Lang added with a hint of sorrow, "are deemed failures, lacking ambition. Ambition is everything."

Cha-Eun Xiao frowned in thought, stating firmly, "What I despise most is bullying."

The two friends burst into laughter again, recalling Cha-Eun Xiao's audacious act earlier in the day. "Well, didn't you just engage in a bit of 'bullying' today?" they teased.

After the hearty meal and shared laughter, Lan Lang-Lang and Zuo Wu-Ji prepared to take their leave. However, Lan Lang-Lang, in his slightly inebriated state, seemed to have an epiphany. Turning to Zuo Wu-Ji, he asked, "Hey, my friend, have you been showing us a facade all these years?"

Zuo Wu-Ji wore a wry smile as he replied, "I've been donning this facade for so long that it's become my identity. I can't even distinguish between the real me and the act anymore."

Their laughter rang through the air once more as they exited, leaving Cha-Eun Xiao standing at the doorway, pondering the complexities of their friendships and the paths they each sought to carve in the world.

Cha-Eun Xiao found himself deeply moved by the candid conversation they had shared during their feast. It made him ponder just how many people, like them, wore masks and concealed their true selves from the world. Lan Lang-Lang and Zuo Wu-Ji certainly hid behind facades, but who among them actually showed their genuine selves to others?

Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but contemplate the idea that perhaps the departed Lord Cha, their predecessor, had concealed a foppish playboy beneath his exterior. Perhaps it was that hidden self that ultimately led to his demise.

In his past life, Cha-Eun Xiao had never viewed the world from this perspective, the vantage point he now possessed. It felt like an invaluable life lesson, one that had altered his perception of the world profoundly. Although he could sense the world through a different lens, the world itself remained unchanged, with its various realms and dimensions as they were in his previous life.

With a serene smile, Cha-Eun Xiao mused, "No matter where I am in this world, there are always roads to tread. Regardless of where I stand, there are places for laughter and joy, as well as moments for tears and sorrow."

As he finished reciting the poem, Cha-Eun Xiao calmly entered the space within the sphere. However, upon his arrival, his calm demeanor gave way to astonishment.

The atmosphere within the space had grown notably denser than before, suffused with white and purple qi. Furthermore, a distinct crimson-hued qi had joined the mix, a subtle but discernible presence. It was undoubtedly the essence of the blood ginseng.

Moreover, a natural, earthy aroma filled the air, a vibrant scent of life, the purest essence of nature. This fragrance was undoubtedly brought forth by the blood ginseng as well.

Cha-Eun Xiao deduced that the blood ginseng he had brought into the space had been the first plant to be absorbed by the sphere, imbuing it with the qi of life.

He ventured further down the purple tunnel, finding the qi even denser, as he had anticipated. Taking a deep breath, he felt a profound sense of relaxation and contentment.

After a brief exploration, he intended to exit the sphere for his cultivation. However, as he turned toward the entrance, he sensed that something was amiss. Swiftly reversing his gaze, he carefully scrutinized the room until he pinpointed the source of the change.

The egg!

It had grown in size!

Previously, it had been no larger than a duck's egg, but now it had expanded significantly, at least the size of a goose's egg.

"Oh? It can actually grow?" Cha-Eun Xiao exclaimed in surprise. "Truly a mythical creature's egg. I've never seen an egg capable of such growth."

Cha-Eun Xiao was certain that it was the egg of a mythical creature. Its remarkable and mysterious qualities left no room for doubt.

A peerless lord in the world and the foremost spirit in chaos—the sphere had exuded an air of arrogance, suggesting that it harbored something extraordinary. The egg within, teeming with boundless qi, undoubtedly belonged to a top-tier mythical creature. Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't help but be awestruck by the discovery.

Cha-Eun Xiao had become captivated by the enigma of the egg ever since his initial encounter with it. The question of when it would finally hatch and what kind of extraordinary creature would emerge from it had been occupying his thoughts. In his wildest imaginings, he even dared to dream of a creature so supremely powerful that it could devour the entire Qing-Yun Realm with a single gulp.

With a sense of curiosity and wonder, he gently touched the egg's surface. Its coldness belied any signs of life within, leaving Cha-Eun Xiao to ponder the potential of the being growing within it. He mused aloud, "You are undoubtedly a mighty being. But just how powerful will you become?"

As he contemplated the egg's mysteries, Cha-Eun Xiao felt a surge of excitement. He decided to exit the space and sit down in a cross-legged position to engage in cultivation, intent on strengthening his own abilities. The qi within the space flowed into his Jing and Mai like a network of streams, enhancing his cultivation.

Not only did the sphere's qi contribute to his growth, but the ambient qi present throughout the world also converged around him, aiding in his cultivation. This invisible flow of qi moved silently, undetectable even to the most skilled cultivators. The purest qi was silently absorbed by the space before being channeled into Cha-Eun Xiao's Jing and Mai.

Legend had it that when the world was first formed, the purple qi had risen from the east, and now Cha-Eun Xiao felt a connection to that ancient phenomenon.

As another night passed and the first rays of the sun pierced the horizon, Cha-Eun Xiao experienced an indescribable sensation—a throbbing within him that seemed to resonate with the world itself. This marked the first time he had genuinely harnessed the power of the East-rising Purple Qi and felt its ascending force.

In an instant, the sky lit up with sunlight, and Cha-Eun Xiao sensed a rapid pulsing within his Ni-Wan Acupoint. His blood surged with newfound vitality, causing his hair to stand on end as if reaching for the heavens. Deep within his Dantian, dormant power surged upward, a torrent of energy flowing all the way to the crown of his head.

With a resounding boom, it felt as though a wave of qi had broken through the top of his skull. His entire being was bathed in a comforting warmth, akin to soaking in a tub of soothing hot water. Cha-Eun Xiao was immersed in these extraordinary sensations, rendered temporarily speechless.

Within his body, vast quantities of qi were breaking through. In his mental realm, he witnessed stars dancing, three flowers blossoming, and five streams flowing—a sign of breaking through the first level of the Grade of Diyuan.

Cha-Eun Xiao couldn't contain his astonishment. He wondered if he had already advanced to the second level of the Grade of Diyuan.

"That can't be," he muttered to himself, "I only recently achieved the first level of the East-rising Purple Qi and became a Grade of Diyuan cultivator. How could I have made such rapid progress?"

He couldn't fathom it. Was it possible that the six-hundred-year-old blood ginseng possessed such incredible efficacy, propelling him to this newfound strength? Cha-Eun Xiao was left in awe of the remarkable changes unfolding within him.

Cha-Eun Xiao marveled at the incredible transformation occurring within him. "Even if I had used ten blood ginsengs, it wouldn't have been possible for me to break through the first level of the Grade of Diyuan in such a short amount of time," he pondered, his thoughts racing.

His recollection of achieving this level in his previous life flooded back. It had been a grueling experience marked by excruciating pain, akin to the sensation of his Jing and Mai melting. But now, he found himself in a state of unparalleled comfort. It was as if the path to improvement had been smoothed before him, leading to a newfound strength that felt both simple and effortless.

Cha-Eun Xiao immediately began to practice the East-rising Purple Qi. Despite the remarkable progress in his conventional cultivation, he couldn't help but wonder about the disparity between the cultivation level system and that of the East-rising Purple Qi. Although he had ascended to the status of an expert cultivator in the mortal world, he remained at the first grade of the East-rising Purple Qi.

As this realization washed over him, Cha-Eun Xiao was overcome with a thrilling excitement. "If I can elevate my East-rising Purple Qi to the highest grade," he mused, "I might...live forever and become a legendary figure, won't I?" The prospect of such power and longevity filled him with awe and wonder.