Chapter Fifteen: Rebirth

Chen Yi and Howling Sky raced toward Howling Sky’s lair, heedless of the depletion of their true energy and demonic energy, running desperately as if a ferocious beast from antiquity was pursuing them. In less than the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, they arrived back at the lair, their speed at least twice as fast as usual. To accelerate, they had spent all their internal energies, but for the sake of the Heavenly Dragon Fruit and the Golden Flood Serpent Egg, it was all worthwhile.

Upon returning, Chen Yi wasted no time recovering his true energy; instead, he hurried to find a hiding place for the Golden Flood Serpent Egg. His chief concern was the three young men who might ambush them at any moment. Though Chen Yi and Howling Sky had run quickly, the world was full of extraordinary individuals, and he feared those three might use strange methods to locate them.

To increase their chances even slightly, Chen Yi decided to use the Heavenly Dragon Fruit. From the white jade box, he took out two fruits: one for Howling Sky and one for himself.

Although it had been less than a month since their last breakthrough, the Heavenly Dragon Fruit, a precious treasure of heaven and earth, could enhance potential and deepen one’s foundation. There was no fear of hidden dangers from rapid advancement; on the contrary, it would solidify Chen Yi’s roots and transform his aptitude, enabling him to travel further on the road to immortality.

After feeding Howling Sky the Heavenly Dragon Fruit, Chen Yi sat cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to regulate his breath, emptying his mind and clearing away all thoughts.

He swallowed the Heavenly Dragon Fruit. It dissolved instantly, leaving a trace of sweetness in his mouth before transforming into a warm current that flowed into his abdomen.

That warmth spread from his abdomen throughout his bones, muscles, meridians, organs, and blood, altering their deepest structure, making them stronger than before. Yet suddenly, a pain unlike any Chen Yi had ever experienced surged through him.

Rather than being frightened, Chen Yi was elated, for this signaled that the Heavenly Dragon bloodline was transforming his aptitude, remaking him from the inside out.

But the pain of rebirth was terrible, rivaling the torment of dismemberment from his past life’s memories—indeed, even that was less agonizing.

He felt as if every muscle was being sliced away, and all his bones shattered piece by piece. Any slight movement brought excruciating agony.

Chen Yi’s face turned pale and bloodless, sweat drenched his brow, his whole body trembled, jaws clenched so tight his teeth nearly shattered, his mouth filled with blood. He endured pain like a thousand ants devouring his flesh.

Chen Yi bore the pain and began to circulate the Five Elements Technique, absorbing the spiritual energy in the Heavenly Dragon Fruit to help the bloodline temper his body faster and lessen his suffering.

Countless streams of spiritual energy surged from his abdomen, and his true energy roared through his body, turning his face bright red.

As his energy churned, his previously stable realm began to loosen.

Chen Yi marshaled all his true energy to refine the spiritual energy. With each refinement, his true energy grew stronger, and more spiritual energy, guided by him, cooperated with the Heavenly Dragon bloodline to temper his body.

The power of countless bloodlines and spiritual energy tore apart and reconstructed every cell in his body, changing his aptitude at its very essence.

A look of agony crossed Chen Yi’s face. As his cells were torn, it felt as if he were being sliced a thousand times. His bones crackled and popped like firecrackers, a sign of his aptitude undergoing transformation.

He could not say how much time had passed when suddenly a tremendous roar sounded in his ears; the barrier within him was breached and the torment vanished in an instant.

Chen Yi was immediately seized by a peculiar sensation, unlike any breakthrough he had experienced before—a transformation originating deep inside his own bloodline.

Moreover, aspects within his body that had always eluded cultivation were activated at that moment. Impurities and filth, under the power of the Heavenly Dragon bloodline, were shattered and obliterated, while his good genes were further enhanced.

It was an indescribable feeling; Chen Yi’s consciousness grew hazy, as if drifting outside his body, wandering the world, faintly aware of every change within himself. It was as though a small universe exploded inside him, unpredictable, or like a dream between waking and sleep, unreal.

It felt as if a century had passed, yet also less than a second. Suddenly, Chen Yi awoke, refreshed and invigorated, his mind crystal clear, able to sense even the movement of the air around him.

With a thought, his body reacted like lightning. Leaping lightly to his feet, he felt his body unprecedentedly light, as if its weight had halved. Each movement was swifter and freer than ever before.

He landed softly, soundless, like a feather drifting to the ground.

Surveying his surroundings, his eyes shone brightly. A faint smile touched his lips, and he was quietly excited.

He did not know exactly how much his cultivation talent had increased, but he was certain it now surpassed the gifted disciples of his sect, for his aptitude had been remade by the Heavenly Dragon bloodline.

Chen Yi sat again, closed his eyes, banished all distractions, and his mind quickly calmed, his breathing long and slow, as if fading away.

Turning his senses inward, he carefully felt the changes within himself, starting from his dantian and following wider meridians, bones, blood, and muscles than before. He felt his body had been remade by the Heavenly Dragon bloodline.

This was a qualitative change, a deep transformation from within.

Even outwardly, Chen Yi’s appearance was more handsome, his body more perfect, his bearing more refined, resembling an immortal from the celestial realm.

He also discovered a strand of golden blood flowing amidst the crimson in his veins—the Heavenly Dragon bloodline itself.

As it transformed his aptitude, it also integrated into his body, altering him toward a Heavenly Dragon physique. Once this golden bloodline grew strong enough to assimilate the rest, Chen Yi could take on the form of a Heavenly Dragon.

His realm, too, advanced alongside his improved aptitude, breaking through from the fifth to the sixth level of Qi Refinement, with foundations solid and no hidden troubles.