The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 261: Was It an Illusion?

Was It an Illusion? . . .

All the Nine Spaces within the Boundless Space toiled relentlessly under the extraordinary circumstances, teetering on the precipice of equilibrium. The balance between containment and collapse was tenuous, a fragile thread that held together the tumultuous forces at play. Then, in a pivotal moment, Cha Eun Xiao, who had been deeply ensconced in his cultivation, experienced a sudden, violent reaction.

His corporeal form swelled as if brimming with an explosive force, rousing him from his meditative trance. Concurrently, the East-rising Purple Qi, which had been coursing through his body at breakneck speed, came to an abrupt halt.

Cha Eun Xiao's realization was immediate. His dantian, once an empty void, was now inexplicably overflowing, on the verge of bursting at the seams. The spiritual qi had surged into his dantian to the point of near-explosion.

A profound sense of astonishment washed over him. How could such an unbelievable transformation have occurred in the span of a single night?

With decisiveness, he promptly ceased the flow of the East-rising Purple Qi. The torrent of purple qi from all corners of the world ceased its inexorable rush into his being. Astonishingly, it was a straightforward act to avert the looming disaster.

Unbeknownst to him, he heard a faint moan from Bing-Er, her countenance twisted in momentary discomfort, her brows knitted in pain. However, this transient anguish soon yielded to a state of calm and ease. She emitted a soft sigh, her expression becoming serene.

Concerned, Cha Eun Xiao inquired, "Bing-Er, what's troubling you?"

Bing-Er appeared bewildered as she responded, "I suddenly felt unwell, as if my body were on the verge of exploding. Yet, now I feel fine, even comfortable. It's rather peculiar..."

Relieved that Bing-Er had seemingly returned to normal, Cha Eun Xiao dismissed his initial worries. However, he remained unaware that the catalyst behind these inexplicable changes was none other than his East-rising Purple Qi. While it coursed within Bing-Er's body, it acted as a magnet, drawing in the world's purple qi. Moreover, it filled Cha Eun Xiao's form and the Boundless Space. When he abruptly halted the East-rising Purple Qi, the final surge of purple qi chose to converge into Bing-Er's Jing and Mai, an event that had left her feeling momentarily ill and on the brink of an explosive release of energy.

However, in the ensuing moment, the substantial quantity of purple qi that had resided within Bing-Er's being inexplicably vanished. She underwent a sudden transformation, returning to her normal state. Bing-Er, the one experiencing this phenomenon firsthand, remained bewildered, completely oblivious to the enigma that had transpired.

Cha Eun Xiao, on the other hand, remained equally in the dark regarding this startling spiritual qi transformation. He had no inkling of how spiritual qi could undergo such a dramatic shift. Moreover, he was unaware that had Bing-Er been an ordinary individual, she should have already been reduced to scattered fragments in the aftermath of this strange occurrence.

As for Bing-Er's sense of comfort, it was far from illusory. She had experienced genuine relief. A substantial influx of spiritual qi had saturated her Jing and Mai, which had long been parched and desiccated. Her entire being had been thoroughly nourished by this infusion of energy. It would have been strange indeed had she not felt the profound benefits.

Cha Eun Xiao had administered spiritual qi to Bing-Er in an attempt to cleanse her Jing and Mai. However, he had regarded her as an ordinary individual devoid of any cultivation prowess. Consequently, the pace at which he had introduced spiritual qi was far too gentle. Despite the wondrous capabilities of the East-rising Purple Qi, Cha Eun Xiao's relatively modest cultivation level rendered his repeated efforts inconsequential when applied to Bing-Er's resilient constitution.

While it had facilitated some degree of recovery, full recuperation was still an arduous journey. However, the sudden influx of spiritual qi had an unparalleled impact. It lavished her nearly desiccated Jing and Mai with an abundance of moisture, yielding profoundly positive results.

Satisfied that Bing-Er was now stable, Cha Eun Xiao turned his attention to the Boundless Space. What he encountered within left him utterly stupefied.

The interior of the Boundless Space was awash with an overwhelming sea of purple qi, so densely concentrated that it nearly took on a tangible form. The Nine Spaces strained diligently to absorb and convert this influx into the sustenance they required. Astonishingly, despite their fervent efforts, the volume of spiritual qi within the Boundless Space exhibited no sign of depletion.

"What in the world!" Cha Eun Xiao exclaimed, his incredulity mounting.

Cha Eun Xiao was utterly bewildered by the inexplicable turn of events. Despite his extensive experience and knowledge, he found himself grappling with the mysteries of the night.

"How could such a profound and against-nature transformation occur?" he pondered aloud, his voice tinged with incredulity.

Although he was a seasoned cultivator, he couldn't fathom the immense changes that had transpired overnight. His advancement through the first level of the Sky Origin Stage to the brink of breaking into the second level was nothing short of astonishing. The spiritual qi saturating the Boundless Space seemed on the verge of a cataclysmic explosion.

"If I could replicate this every day, I'd achieve a breakthrough on a daily basis," Cha Eun Xiao mused, a hint of a smile gracing his lips as he rubbed his lower jaw. "In that case, I'd only need ten days to return to the Qing-Yun Realm."

His optimism radiated, envisioning a future paved with rapid progress. However, he remained oblivious to the fact that he was merely indulging in a pleasant reverie. His seemingly miraculous transformation had been a result of tending to Bing-Er's Jing and Mai. Unbeknownst to him, during this process, he had entered a unique mental state, becoming one with nature itself.

Entering such a state was a profound experience, propelling him into an intense state of cultivation. A single day spent in this deep meditative state yielded progress equivalent to a hundred days of normal practice. Immersed in this profound cultivation trance, Cha Eun Xiao was blissfully unaware of his surroundings, his body effortlessly advancing in martial arts prowess.

While Bing-Er appeared unremarkable on the surface, her Jing and Mai concealed depths as profound as the vastest oceans.

As Cha Eun Xiao remained immersed in his communion with nature, an inadvertent awakening of latent power within Bing-Er set an extraordinary chain of events into motion. Unbeknownst to them, a celestial vortex bridging the heavens and earth materialized. Assisted by the East-rising Purple Qi, this vortex promptly obliterated all the purple qi dispersed throughout the world in a matter of seconds.

None among them grasped the profound transformation that had unfolded. Although they reaped certain benefits, this incident also cast a looming shadow of peril. Were it not for Cha Eun Xiao's Boundless Space capable of containing the surging tide of purple qi, and Bing-Er inadvertently absorbing the last remnants of it, both would have faced an imminent and explosive demise, unable to contain the overwhelming influx of spiritual energy.

Returning to such a state was not a simple feat. It necessitated the convergence of chance, fortune, circumstance, and precise timing, with all these factors aligning in perfect harmony. Cha Eun Xiao's lofty aspirations were teetering on the edge of impossibility.

Despite the hazards posed by this unexpected development, Cha Eun Xiao emerged as the chief beneficiary. Bing-Er, too, enjoyed her share of gains. Notably, her recovery would be swift and complete within the coming days, thanks to the infusion of pure life energy.

Surveying the abundant spiritual qi coursing within him, Cha Eun Xiao exuded confidence. He muttered to himself, "After today's auction, I'll attempt to break through to the second level."

With a brisk wash and a few parting words with Bing-Er, he prepared to depart. As Cha Eun Xiao's figure gradually receded from her view, Bing-Er's large, expressive eyes blinked thoughtfully, as if harboring unspoken sentiments.

She seemed on the verge of saying something but ultimately remained silent.

Furrowing her brows, Bing-Er whispered to herself, "Why do I have this strange feeling about Brother Xiao? It's as though his body is saturated with blood, something... unsettling. Is it just my imagination? Hmm, it must be!"