Chapter 28
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Chapter 28: The Only One
Under normal circumstances, the earth energy was already dense. But when Zhang Yang fully activated the Divine Strength Technique, it surged around him, drawn out in even greater concentration.
In an instant, he was surrounded by an overwhelming amount of earth energy.
All he had to do was absorb it with all his might.
A vast influx of earth energy flowed into his body, filling his dantian and merging with his elemental energy.
Having already mastered the energies of metal, wood, water, and fire, he was highly familiar with the process.
It was simple.
Effortless.
Before long, his elemental energy began to vibrate and roar.
A breakthrough!
To Zhang Yang, it felt as easy as drinking water.
He successfully reached the fifth level of the Returning to Origin realm, meaning he was now just one step away from the sixth level—the completion of Returning to Origin.
That final step required him to transform elemental energy into true elemental energy.
True elemental energy was vastly superior to ordinary elemental energy.
Many of the powerful opponents he had faced in the past wielded true elemental energy, making them naturally stronger than him. Yet, he had still defeated them with ease, shocking both allies and enemies alike.
"Keep cultivating."
"I’ll condense true elemental energy directly."
Zhang Yang sought to become the strongest. With his combat prowess, he could overcome any enemy.
So, he began his training.
Since stepping into the world of martial arts, Zhang Yang had not only progressed smoothly but had advanced as if he were riding a divine beast. The only challenge he had encountered was gathering the energy of the five elements to complete the Returning to Origin realm.
But he had never truly experienced difficulty—at least, not in martial arts.
He did not believe condensing true elemental energy would be any different.
However…
He failed.
No matter how he practiced, he could not transform his elemental energy into true elemental energy.
It was as if something was blocking him.
Unwilling to accept failure, he tried again.
And again.
And yet again.
Each attempt ended in failure.
"How strange…"
"If I can’t transform elemental energy into true elemental energy… why do I feel the wind?"
It was as if the wind was actively entering his body as he cultivated, attempting to merge with his dantian.
"What is happening?"
His understanding of martial arts was too limited to explain this phenomenon.
It was worth noting that he had not even been training for ten days.
Thud! Thud!
Suddenly, his storage bag trembled.
Zhang Yang opened it, retrieving the shaking Skyfire Pill Furnace.
Inside, Chi Zhenyi’s soul spirit had yet to emerge.
The invisible pressure from Wolf God Mountain also suppressed soul spirits.
"You said you failed to transform elemental energy, but instead, you absorbed the wind?" Chi Zhenyi asked.
"Yes," Zhang Yang confirmed. "Do you know why?"
"Are you certain?" Chi Zhenyi pressed.
"Absolutely," Zhang Yang affirmed.
Chi Zhenyi remained skeptical.
"Begin cultivating again," he instructed. "Absorb the wind. Show me."
Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow. The Returning to Origin realm was about absorbing the energy of the five elements, not the wind.
But considering his repeated failures in condensing true elemental energy, he decided to follow Chi Zhenyi’s suggestion.
He attempted to absorb the wind.
The process felt exactly like when he absorbed the energy of the five elements.
The wind was formless. Intangible.
Yet, when he focused on drawing it in, it rushed toward him, flowing into his body and merging with his elemental energy.
It was… effortless.
However, Zhang Yang noticed something unusual—
Not all of the wind integrated with his elemental energy.
Most of it was rejected.
"Indeed… Indeed… Indeed!"
Chi Zhenyi’s voice trembled with realization.
Unveiling the Eternal Night
Chi Zhenyi exclaimed excitedly three times.
Zhang Yang paused before asking, “Do you know why I can absorb the wind? Isn’t the Returning to Origin realm only capable of absorbing the energy of the five elements?”
“Have you heard of the Eternal Night?” Chi Zhenyi inquired.
Zhang Yang shook his head. His knowledge was still limited.
Chi Zhenyi explained, “The Eternal Night… it was a long time ago—tens of thousands, maybe even millions of years. No one knows for certain. People have grown accustomed to worshipping the current saints of martial arts, forgetting that there were once immortals in this world.”
“Immortals once ruled over the vast world.”
“In the past, there was only one land—the Vast Continent. But when the Eternal Night descended, it upended heaven and earth, shattering the Vast Continent. From that moment, martial arts fell into eternal obscurity, and no new immortals were ever born. People only knew that above the Ascending the Heavens realm lay the Transcending Life and Death realm, yet they had no knowledge of the realms beyond. Eventually, they ceased pursuing immortality altogether, as reaching the Ascending the Heavens realm alone was enough to be considered invincible and earn the title of sage.”
“The world has fallen, and immortals no longer exist.”
“Over the years, people have forgotten that the first barrier to becoming an immortal is the Returning to Origin realm. Only by achieving the Nine Extremes Returning to Origin can one lay the foundation for immortality.”
“But since the Eternal Night, no one has ever reached Nine Extremes Returning to Origin. They can only attain the Five Elements Returning to Origin.”
“And yet… you are the first person I have ever seen who can absorb the wind after condensing the energy of the five elements.”
“The Nine Extremes Returning to Origin consists of metal, wood, water, fire, earth, wind, thunder, light, and darkness.”
“If you can achieve this, you will truly stand on the path of immortality, unveiling the mystery of the Eternal Night and granting the world a glimpse of immortality and longevity.”
Chi Zhenyi spoke with passionate conviction.
Zhang Yang felt both surprised and hopeful, though his excitement was driven by something entirely different.
“Nine Extremes Returning to Origin? If I can actually achieve this… does that mean after absorbing wind and thunder, I’ll reach the seventh level of the Returning to Origin realm? Then, when those people invade the Vast Forest, I can finally use my strength to bully the weak?”
Chi Zhenyi was stunned into silence.
The more Zhang Yang thought about it, the more exhilarated he became. Finally, he burst into laughter.
“Hahaha! They’ve always used their strength to bully me. Now, I can finally turn the tables and bully them! Hahaha!”
Chi Zhenyi felt an overwhelming urge to smash his head against a wall.
What kind of excitement was that? What kind of logic was this?
He was talking about becoming an immortal, and this was what Zhang Yang was focused on?
As Zhang Yang’s excitement faded, he blinked and asked, “Wait… the first barrier to becoming an immortal? Immortal?”
Chi Zhenyi sighed in exasperation, finally realizing just how oblivious Zhang Yang was.
“Yes, to become an immortal!” Chi Zhenyi said firmly. “You are the first person I have ever seen with a true chance of achieving Nine Extremes Returning to Origin. And quite possibly, the only one since the Eternal Night.”
“The first you’ve seen?” Zhang Yang frowned. “That can’t be right. I can’t be the only one.”
Chi Zhenyi shook his head.
“The first I have seen must be the only one.” He spoke with certainty. “I have traveled across the vast world, through all five regions, and I have never encountered another. Even Mu Kaitian, the founding emperor of the Great Xia Empire, a martial genius beyond compare, failed to achieve Nine Extremes Returning to Origin—and I personally guided him in his early years.”
“Even Zhan Tianque, the greatest sage of the vast world, known as ‘Heaven’s Deficiency’, admitted to me that he, too, failed to reach that level.”
“So if you can do it, you will be the first and only one!”
“You will bear the monumental task of unveiling the mystery of the Eternal Night and reopening the path to immortality for the vast world.”
Zhang Yang was dumbfounded.
The founding emperor of the Great Xia Empire had been guided by him?
He had discussed martial arts with the greatest sage of the vast world?
He stammered, “Wait… you’re that incredible? Then… how did you end up as a soul spirit?”
Chi Zhenyi nearly choked on air.
This brat’s logic was unbelievable!
Not only did he have a strange way of thinking, but he also knew how to deliver a sarcastic remark at the worst possible moment.
However, as he reminisced about the past, Chi Zhenyi sighed.
“I was once too proud,” he admitted. “I sought to become the number one sage in the Southern Region. As a result, I fought against a formidable opponent, and both of us were grievously injured. When I turned to the Ouyang family for help, they betrayed me. In the end, I was left with nothing but a sliver of my soul, sealed within the Skyfire Pill Furnace.”
“If not for your punch awakening me, I might have remained dormant for countless more years.”
“But enough about me,” Chi Zhenyi said, shaking off his past. “We need to focus on you. I suggest you return to the mountain and try absorbing the wind again.”
Thinking about the possibility of bullying his enemies after succeeding, Zhang Yang’s excitement surged once more.
Not to mention…
He now had the first barrier to immortality within his grasp.
Without hesitation, he rushed back up the mountain.
With his breakthrough to the fifth level of the Returning to Origin realm, his power had doubled.
Enhanced by six divine powers, he was ready to climb higher than ever before.
