Chapter 102
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Chapter 102: Breakthrough, Level Ten
Zhang Yang shook his head. At this moment, he truly believed he was not wrong.
To establish authority and secure a foothold in the Vast Forest, he had to utterly crush the Mo family, one of the key supporters of the Demon Slayer Team—even if it meant annihilating them.
However, he could never bring himself to harm women or children.
But Mo Fei?
She could not be spared.
He had studied her life. Like the Seventh Prince, she had committed countless atrocities. She deserved to die.
If the people of the Vast Forest moved against her, who knew how many lives would be lost in the Daxia Imperial Capital?
Rather than sacrificing his own people, it was better to let Hell handle it.
After all, he was using the Mo family’s resources to do so.
That Holy Arrow wasn’t a complete holy weapon—it was broken. But even in its damaged state, it was incredibly valuable. Restoring it into a true holy weapon would be far easier than evolving the Golden Dragon Shield into one.
“Forget it. I should focus on achieving Nine Extremes Returning to Origin.”
He decided not to dwell on the matter. He felt that his preoccupation with Nine Extremes Returning to Origin had caused a moment of hesitation, affecting his ability to act decisively.
Exhaling deeply, he quickened his pace.
Soon, he arrived at Moonview Tower.
The Moonview Tower stood nine stories high, its exterior embodying classical elegance, while its interior boasted lavish decor.
Zhang Yang headed straight for the most exclusive floor—the ninth.
Rather than choosing a private room, he selected a seat by the window overlooking the street. He ordered food and wine, casually sipping as he observed the world outside.
He quickly immersed himself in the atmosphere.
Outside, the wind howled, sending fallen leaves spiraling into the sky.
The once-bustling street now felt desolate. Few pedestrians dared to linger—those who walked the streets moved cautiously along the edges, hurrying as if afraid to invite trouble. Only patrolling guards and figures from powerful factions strode boldly down the center of the road.
Behind him, flowers bloomed in brilliant colors, an artificial paradise of extravagant beauty. The interior of the tower featured peach trees, flowing water, and sculpted hills—creating a setting so refined that it was hard to believe it was merely an upper floor of a building.
The guests here were either wealthy or noble, indulging in wine and lofty discussions.
Just a single window separated two vastly different worlds.
He felt a moment of detachment, his thoughts drifting back to his time in Qingshan Town. Back then, he had been like the people outside—struggling, wary, always looking up at those in power. But now, he was on the inside.
In this hazy moment of reflection, he seemed to grasp the meaning of the phrase "immortal, in relation to the mountain."
From the outside, looking in, the world seemed different. But at its core, both inside and out, people were still struggling in the mundane cycle of life, bound by suffering.
To escape this endless cycle, one had to climb the mountain.
Life itself was like climbing a mountain—starting at the base, feeling lost in the vastness of the world. Some gained enlightenment and ascended, reaching the peak to become immortal.
But for most, the mountain remained a distant illusion, like flowers seen through the mist—an empty pursuit.
Only by stepping into the Returning to Origin realm—by reaching Nine Extremes Returning to Origin—could one truly see the mountain and understand the necessity of ascending it.
At that moment, he took his first step.
This was the true beginning of his journey.
Suddenly, a deep rumbling echoed from his dantian.
The dantian, like a furnace, ignited. The nine great energies—metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, and darkness—merged together, with his vital energy acting as the catalyst. The path to immortality illuminated before him, transforming into a raging flame—burning!
Amidst the clinking of wine cups and the hum of conversation, no one noticed that someone among them had taken a decisive step onto the path of immortality—formally opening the first gate of the immortal realm.
Even less so did they realize that beneath Zhang Yang’s robes, his dantian radiated a nine-colored brilliance. The great furnace within him roared to life, refining the nine great energies in a rapid and unstoppable process.
As the refinement reached a critical stage, Zhang Yang felt an unprecedented connection to the heavens, the earth, the space, and the world around him.
He looked outside.
The wind seemed to be laughing.
The sunlight shimmered, as if waving at him.
The hidden dark corners revealed themselves.
The earth called out to him.
The flowers and grass swayed as though acknowledging him.
Even the water and wine in front of him no longer felt ordinary.
It was as if he had become one with everything.
This indescribable sensation made it seem as though he could reach out and grasp the most fundamental yet often-overlooked truths of existence.
Feeling this newfound closeness, Zhang Yang’s once-restrained emotions unfurled, like a floodgate opening. It was as though every meridian in his body had been cleansed, filling him with an unexplainable comfort.
He closed his eyes and immersed himself in the experience.
The vital energy within his dantian underwent transformation, sublimating. His very spirit seemed to be drawn into the process, merging with it. He could hear the voices of heaven and earth, the whispers of the elements themselves.
Then, in an instant, his dantian’s vital energy violently contracted—compressing into a swirling mass, turbulent like a storm, like thunder raging within clouds, akin to nuclear fission.
This was the final stage—the ultimate sublimation.
Zhang Yang sensed it. Experienced it. Understood it.
Had anyone been watching closely, they would have noticed the subtle changes in his body. Streams of the nine energies—metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, and darkness—faintly gathered around him. These energies enveloped his form, seeped through his pores, merged into his skin, his meridians, his flesh and bones, his very core—refining him, awakening something deep within.
With this breakthrough, a transformation was taking place.
Ultimately, the vital energy within his dantian condensed into a single sphere—falling silent.
Then, Zhang Yang saw it.
A vision. A complete integration of his essence, spirit, and vitality.
"It’s like the chaos at the dawn of creation…?"
Then, the silent energy sphere slowly unfurled.
A stream of white energy emerged, flowing like a galaxy, twinkling with countless stars. Upon closer inspection, however, it was colorless—only its surface dusted with flickering lights, resembling the vast cosmos.
This was the Nine Extremes True Essence.
Zhang Yang knew—he had broken through.
From this moment on, he had stepped into the Level Ten Returning to Origin realm.
Yet, he felt neither joy nor sorrow.
He remained calm, as if his emotions had settled into the stillness of the Nine Extremes True Essence.
But as he exhaled, something peculiar happened.
The Nine Extremes True Essence seemed to breathe with him.
The air he released transformed into wind—a wind that did not dissipate. Instead, it stirred the surrounding air, awakening the dormant energy left behind from his breakthrough.
A sudden gust swept through the room, causing startled cries to rise from the diners around him.
“Where did this wind come from?”
“This wind is strong—the doors and windows are shut! What’s happening?”
"Hey, hey, hey! What’s going on with my wine?"
"My sword!"
"My Earth Spirit Pearl!"
"It’s haunted! What’s wrong with those flowers and grass? Why do they look so fierce?"
In an instant, the tavern erupted into chaos.
Liquor leaped from cups, jugs, and barrels as if it had come to life, dancing in midair.
Swords and daggers vibrated, emitting soft ringing sounds, as though a dormant spirit within them was awakening.
An Earth Spirit Pearl radiated spiritual light, unexpectedly drawing power from the very earth beneath it.
Flowers and plants swayed violently, producing an eerie resonance—a frequency that only keen warriors could perceive.
Even the flames in the lamps suddenly flared, blazing like an inferno about to consume the tavern, illuminating every corner. Then, just as swiftly, they shrank, as if on the verge of extinguishing, threatening to plunge the space into darkness.
The entire tavern fell into a state beyond description.
This disturbance did not go unnoticed by the distinguished guests in the private rooms.
Suddenly, the door to one of the private chambers was thrown open with a loud bang!
A furious voice rang out.
"Our princess is dining here! Who dares to be so unruly?"
A man stepped forward, his gaze sharp as lightning, scanning the tavern until it locked onto Zhang Yang, who sat by the window. His expression darkened.
"You’re bold! To comprehend the way of immortality in a tavern—disturbing the princess’s meal! You deserve to be punished!"
With those words, he clenched his fist and struck toward Zhang Yang’s back.
Before the blow could land, an invisible force surged from within the tavern, forming a luminous barrier around Zhang Yang.
The man’s powerful strike met the barrier, but it was as if a clay ox had plunged into the sea—vanishing without a trace.
Startled and enraged, he roared, "I am Gu Qi Ye of the Demon Slayer Team! Who dares to interfere? Do you wish to bring destruction upon your entire clan?"