NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 5: The Celestial Master’s Return Body
Zhang Yun's vision blurred, and he found himself once again in the vast, white expanse of the Celestial Master's Realm.
"So, I need my disciple's recognition to enter here…" he murmured, taking a deep breath.
His eyes immediately locked onto the countless luminous orbs floating in the void.
"This time, I need something to enhance my strength!" he thought, then raised his voice and called out, "The voice from earlier—are you the steward of this realm?"
No response.
Undeterred, Zhang Yun continued, "I know you can hear me. Among these orbs, is there one that can make me stronger? Preferably something that can improve my physique first!"
His current body, with its shattered golden core, was in a state of continuous decline. Strengthening his physique was the first step to reclaiming his power.
Still, silence.
Zhang Yun frowned. Is the ethereal voice not sentient, as I thought?
Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!
Just as he pondered, several orbs in the void began to glow with a special radiance.
Zhang Yun's eyes lit up. "You can hear me!"
"Which of these is most suitable for me?" he asked, staring at the glowing orbs.
No answer.
"Fine, I'll choose myself," Zhang Yun shrugged, then reached out and touched the brightest orb.
Poof!
The orb dissolved upon contact, releasing a surge of energy that enveloped him."Celestial Master's Return Body acquired. Proceed with transformation?"
"Celestial Master's Return Body?" Zhang Yun muttered, puzzled.
A stream of glowing text appeared before him:
**'Celestial Master's Return Body:** The host forms a connection with disciples who have acknowledged them. Each time a disciple's cultivation improves, the host receives a hundredfold return in cultivation energy. As the host's level increases, this return multiplier can rise up to ten thousandfold!'**
"A hundredfold—no, ten thousandfold return on my disciples' cultivation progress?" Zhang Yun's eyes widened.
This physique was incredible! With it, as long as his disciples cultivated and grew stronger, he could become exponentially more powerful without lifting a finger.
"Transform! Transform now!" Zhang Yun shouted eagerly.
The energy surrounding him surged into his body. In an instant, he felt as though he were submerged in a warm ocean, every cell of his being enveloped in soothing warmth.
"Detecting residual toxins in the host's body. Commencing detoxification."
Before Zhang Yun could enjoy the sensation, a new message appeared, and the warmth abruptly ceased.
"Residual toxins?" Zhang Yun was stunned.
Before he could process this, a chilling energy flowed through his body like water, flushing out impurities. Soon, a bitter taste rose in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of black blood.
Sizzle!
The black blood corroded the ground upon contact.
Zhang Yun's pupils contracted. Such potent poison was inside me?
In the memories he had inherited, his predecessor had never been exposed to any deadly toxins. How could this be?
Wait… Could this be why my predecessor suffered a qi deviation and shattered his golden core? Zhang Yun's eyes narrowed as a chilling possibility dawned on him.
"Detoxification complete. Transformation commencing."
The warm sensation returned, enveloping him once more.
Ah!
Zhang Yun couldn't help but exhale in relief as every cell in his body felt cleansed, as if bathed in warm seawater.
The process lasted for a full quarter-hour before the warmth finally receded.
"So light!"
Zhang Yun flexed his body, feeling the clarity in his dantian that had previously been chaotic. His entire frame felt lighter, as if he had shed dozens of pounds.
Whoosh!
He swung his fist, and the air around him rippled with force.
"This strength… It feels like the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm!"
After his golden core shattered, his cultivation had regressed to the third layer of Foundation Establishment. The Foundation Establishment Realm, like Qi Refining, was divided into ten layers, with the tenth being the peak. Now, his strength felt comparable to that of a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator!
"Amazing!"
Zhang Yun reveled in the surge of power, but then he paused.
"Wait, why am I still here?"
During his first visit, he had been ejected immediately after obtaining the Celestial Insight. This time, after acquiring the Celestial Master's Return Body, he remained.
Does this mean… I can touch another orb?
His gaze returned to the numerous orbs floating in the void.
Without hesitation, he reached out and touched the nearest one.
Poof!
The orb dissolved, and a message appeared:
"Worldly Techniques Pavilion acquired."
Before Zhang Yun could react, the ground beneath him trembled violently.
Rumble!
A magnificent pavilion, radiating a kaleidoscope of colors, rose from the ground before him."What…?"
Zhang Yun stared in confusion. Instead of a direct ability, he had summoned an entire pavilion?
'Worldly Techniques Pavilion'—the name was inscribed in bold, flowing characters above the entrance.
"Techniques… Does this grant me access to cultivation techniques?" Zhang Yun's eyes sparkled with excitement.
Cultivation techniques were invaluable. Even a sect like the Spirit Immortal Sect only possessed around a hundred techniques in total. This pavilion, named after the myriad worlds, must house an unimaginable collection!
Gulp!
Zhang Yun swallowed hard, but he didn't rush inside. Instead, he glanced around.
"Where are the orbs?"
To his surprise, all the orbs that had been floating in the void had vanished.
Buzz!
A warm sensation spread across the back of his right hand, and a mark resembling a token appeared.
**'Celestial Master's Token'** (Exclusive to the Celestial Master's Realm Host)
**Realm Level:** 2
**Current Permissions:**
Acquire three Celestial Orbs (Progress: 3/3).
Free access to the realm. By focusing on the token and silently chanting 'enter' or 'exit,' the host can freely enter or leave the realm.
**Note:** The Celestial Orbs will reappear when the realm reaches Level 3, granting additional permissions.
**Requirements to Reach Level 3:** Recruit a second disciple and train at least one disciple to the peak of Foundation Establishment. Current recruitment progress: (1/2); Foundation Establishment peak disciple progress: (0/1).
"A token? Level 2? Permissions?" Zhang Yun raised an eyebrow. "So, upgrading the realm will grant me more orbs and permissions?"
"Recruit another disciple and train one to the peak of Foundation Establishment…"
The recruitment part didn't seem difficult, but training a disciple to the peak of Foundation Establishment would be challenging. After all, his own cultivation was only at the third layer of Foundation Establishment. Although his physical strength now rivaled that of a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, his actual cultivation level hadn't changed.