Eternal Tale

Chapter 280: Heavenly Powerhouse – Deity Transformation

“Senior, what do I need to do?”

Chen Xun’s voice trembled as he struggled to understand, his headache worsening. He had no choice but to respond passively.

The man smiled slightly. “When you approach the end, remember to contribute your power to the river of time. Black Ox will grow stronger through generations until a true Chen Xun emerges.”

“Yes.”

Chen Xun’s expression was blank, his response half-hearted. He couldn’t understand, but his expression shifted as he sensed something stirring in his heart.

“Return now. Immortality is also extinction; it is meaningless, and our hopes lie in the next cycle…”

The man’s voice grew somber as he waved his hand, shattering the surrounding darkness with divine light. “Don’t disappoint us.”

Cycle… What is a cycle?

Chen Xun’s expression contorted in pain. Old Ox… Old Ox! An intense roar erupted from deep within him, shaking his being.

A cycle is just a lie he used to deceive Old Ox!

The three figures frowned, observing Chen Xun’s dazed expression. He stood still, unmoving, the atmosphere becoming eerily tense.

“Heh.”

A sudden chuckle broke the silence as Chen Xun’s expression shifted, no longer confused or in pain. He spoke calmly, “...What nonsense.”

The man, Black Ox, and Nangong Huling were all startled. When did he regain his clarity?

“I, Dao Ancestor Chen Xun, when did I ever need anyone to dictate my path?!”

Chen Xun’s eyes gleamed with clarity as he stood with his hands behind his back, sneering. “Heart demons, you’re impressive, but you have too many flaws. I never believed in reincarnation. It was just a lie I told myself and Old Ox.”

“What?!”

“You lied to yourself?!”

“Hahaha… This foolish ox, it dares to compare with Old Ox? Talking about extinction and creation?”

Chen Xun laughed loudly, his voice shaking the heavens. “You heart demons don’t even know me. My Dao heart has no flaw. Living past a hundred years is already a gain!”

The three figures recoiled, their faces twisted in shock. They had miscalculated—this man walked an unconventional path, even deceiving himself!

“Immortality leading to extinction, making me feel like I’m just another cycle. You wanted to plant an immortal heart demon within me?”

Chen Xun’s eyes sharpened as he looked at the woman. “Nangong Huling, you’re merely speculating one of countless future possibilities, trying to make me believe it’s real because I can’t see the future.”

“And you hoped I would follow this path, establishing the Sect of Cautious Practice to accompany me silently, eventually guiding me to extinction?”

“If I had obediently returned just now, I might have fallen for it, thinking a future Chen Xun was helping me to overcome my heart demon.”

Chen Xun’s tone was icy, his expression cold and detached. “But throughout this journey, what you’ve seen might only be what I wanted you to see.”

At these words, the three figures twisted, their forms shifting, as if their very essence were shaken.

Their bodies shimmered, transforming into three purple light orbs, constantly fluctuating, lacking a definite shape.

“Chen Xun… you possess two personalities…”

The light orbs quivered as if they had uncovered a terrifying truth. “You!!”

The gaze from Chen Xun was too cold, devoid of any emotion, like a being stripped of all feeling. His absolute rationality now affected the heart demons themselves!

“Immortality isn’t important to me. With brothers and old friends by my side, the journey is enough. Don’t use extinction as a mark on my immortality, trying to manipulate my mindset.”

Chen Xun’s voice was as cold as ice, his expression unyielding. “From the beginning, you misunderstood me. You never truly understood who I am. The heart demon tribulation, as expected, is far beyond imagination—well done.”

The heart demons trembled violently, unable to believe that their elaborate scheme was all part of his illusion. What kind of Dao heart did this man truly possess?!

“Begone!”

A cold voice echoed through the realm. The hidden personality finally emerged, exuding an overwhelming dominance: as long as I live to the end, I will be invincible!

The single word, uttered with terrifying force, seemed to disregard all beings, showing indifference to life and a ruthless pursuit of the Dao.

The three figures felt a sharp pain, a stifling sense of frustration they couldn’t vent. Their forms began to shatter inch by inch.

“Heh, that’s all?”

The space resounded with a mocking tone as the surrounding dimension tore open. Chen Xun’s eyes filled with determination as he took a step forward.

…

In the War Realm, thunder roared, shattering the darkness!

A figure bathed in the sea of lightning, arcs of electricity dancing across his body, crackling as they broke his protective barrier.

Chen Xun’s simple grey robe was torn to shreds, his body glowing with a crystalline brilliance marred by blood, reminiscent of the days he resolved disputes in the mortal realm.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze steady and cold. Despite the pain, it didn’t sway him as he looked towards the ship.

Brother Crane was using all his strength to fend off the lightning storm.

Black Ox mooed frantically, and even Xiao Chi, at the ship’s prow, watched the storm with fear and worry.

*Boom!*

A massive bolt of lightning crashed down, its light blinding, its power overwhelming, threatening to obliterate everything.

Chen Xun spat out a mouthful of blood as a massive surge of gentle heavenly tribulation energy poured into him, and the apertures on his skin absorbed it wildly.

His eyes remained calm as he watched the ship, his expression finally changing—showing relief, warmth, and a profound light.

“Heh, this is reality. This is the immortality I want.”

Chen Xun suddenly laughed, his voice booming across the battlefield. His expression contorted with pain. “Damn it, thanks for the gift, but this really hurts!”

On the distant shore.

“Moo moo!!!”

“Brother Xun is alive!!!”

The black and white leaves of the Crane Spirit Tree shook frantically.

Black Ox and Xiao Chi embraced, shouting with excitement. This was their big brother, undefeated even by tribulation—truly invincible!

*Boom!!*

A colossal bolt of lightning crashed down, engulfing everything, from sky to earth, in an inescapable arc.

A figure rose from the center of the lightning, his rogue armor materializing instantly. He seemed to survey the world below, as if one step could take him to the heavens.

Five giant spirit shadows emerged from Chen Xun’s body, radiating boundless power.

The lightning from the heavens surged into them, while the energy of the Five Elements within a thousand-mile radius rushed toward him. Corrupted beings scattered in panic.

They glanced back at the figure in the heart of the tribulation, their eyes filled with terror. This being was no ordinary life form!

The five Nascent Souls grew more solid, beginning to split into various forms, each coldly observing the tribulation as they underwent their final transformation.

Deity Transformation realm: where the Nascent Soul becomes a tangible Primordial Spirit, able to harness the natural energy of heaven and earth, commanding the elements and resonating with the laws of nature.

This state was far beyond the Nascent Soul stage, where cultivators still relied on spiritual energy for enhancement. The gap was vast, like an unbridgeable chasm.

Chen Xun’s transformation was unique, his cultivation path divergent from conventional spiritual cultivation!

*Buzz! Buzz!*

The heavens trembled as the five primordial spirits completed their division. With a strike, they split the sky and earth, causing the thunder sea to rage.

For six hours.

The thunder gradually faded, leaving behind a landscape of ravines, deep and dark, where lightning still crackled.

Brilliant seven-colored light shone from above and below, dazzling and beautiful.

The figure in the sky saluted respectfully, his aura vast and unfathomable, his presence overwhelming. A mere glance inspired awe—a true powerhouse of the heavens!

The five primordial spirits merged back into Chen Xun, taking their place within him.

On the shore.

“Moo moo moo!!!”

“Brother Ox, is that… Brother Xun?!”

Xiao Chi clutched Black Ox, staring at the figure above with awe and excitement.

He felt incredibly small, unable to match such power even if he tried with all his might. But the presence of that figure felt familiar.

Looking around, the once-dark battlefield was now illuminated by the brilliant light, as if a radiant painting unfurled, spreading across the sky in celebration.

Black Ox was beside himself with excitement. Big Brother had finally succeeded—those scars were his medals of honor!

In the distance.

Chen Xun’s body radiated lightning as he raised his hand. A massive palm formed, covering the sky.

*Boom!!*

A black mountain range hundreds of miles away collapsed at a terrifying speed, crumbling to the ground!

The earth shook, and the corrupted beings fleeing the tribulation screamed in horror as blood filled the sky.

A true powerhouse of the world—a Deity Transformation Cultivator!

Winds surged from Chen Xun’s core, sweeping over the coastline and the ship. Xiao Chi and Black Ox stood in stunned silence.