Nine Star Hegemon Body Arts

Chapter 5439 Transformation

After advancing to the Heaven Saint realm, Long Chen had finally unlocked the ability to wield Eternal power, a force that required passing through his Spirit Root to manifest.

Once his broken bones were healed, the Eternal energy started fixing the rest of his wounds. Curious, Long Chen attempted to injure himself further, hoping to strengthen his flesh and blood through the same process. However, he soon realized there was no strengthening effect this time.

He discovered that his bloodline power seemed to repel the Eternal runes, preventing them from infusing into his flesh or blood. Their activity remained confined to his Dantian and bones.

Three days later, Long Chen had mostly recovered. Although not completely healed, the transformation in his combat power was staggering. The Long Chen of today and the one before his advancement were worlds apart.

Inspecting his starry sea, Long Chen noted that it had undergone a profound change. After the ancient battle in a different spacetime, it had gone through a qualitative transformation. The eight stars were no longer the same—they were now adorned with faint, swirling primal chaos runes. Although the runes appeared translucent, they possessed incomparable strength.

However, harnessing that power proved more challenging than expected. It would require even more astral energy. Yet, Long Chen wasn’t troubled by this, thanks to an unexpected ally: the Radiant World Star Crystal.

The little crystal darted playfully through his starry sea, occasionally wandering into the FengFu, Alioth, Life Fate, and other stars. It examined the new runes with a peculiar curiosity, even interacting with them. After each interaction, the crystal would return to his starry sea and curl into a strange seal.

This seal acted as a conduit, allowing Long Chen’s starry sea to commune with the stars above the heavens. Through this connection, energies transferred seamlessly, guided by the Radiant World Star Crystal.

Regarding the Radiant World Star Crystal, Long Chen didn’t know much about it. Even the Earth Cauldron didn’t explain too much, simply mentioning that it was very useful to him.

Without clear guidance on how to nurture or assist the crystal, Long Chen had no choice but to let it do as it wished. Now, it was helping him once more, so Long Chen decided to just be a lazy person, letting it transform his astral energy on its own.

Long Chen turned his attention to the primal chaos space, and what he saw left him awestruck. The spiritual qi within had reached a staggering density, infused with primal chaos qi. The entire space pulsed with the profound and ancient laws of primal chaos, its every corner alive with power.

The Fusang Trees and Moon Trees stood out prominently, their auras growing increasingly frightening. Their flame energy had reached a level of purity that even Long Chen found awe-inspiring. As for the Heavenly Dao Tree and the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree, new runes had appeared on their trunks, branches, and leaves, layering them with a deeper sense of mystery.

Beneath the Heavenly Dao Tree was the mysterious vine. It had grown to three feet tall, its thickness matching that of a pinkie finger. Although still in its juvenile stage, the vine’s black lightning crackled ferociously, exuding a sinister aura that made Long Chen instinctively wary. However, as he approached, the vine’s leaves began to wave gently, like a child shyly reaching out for affection.

Curious, Long Chen extended his hand, cautiously brushing against one of its leaves. The moment his fingers touched the defensive aura surrounding it, a tingling sensation surged through his body, making the hairs on his arm stand on end. Despite the oppressive energy, Long Chen sensed no hostility.

Its black lightning and black qi carried a naturally sinister aura, yet its core felt pure and not dangerous.

When his hand made full contact with the leaf, a wave of spiritual fluctuations coursed through him. He could sense just how much it cared about him. It seemed to truly view him as a parent and wasn’t wary of him.

The vine quivered slightly, as if trying to express something to him. However, its fluctuations were too complex for Long Chen to understand.

“Don’t worry, just grow up peacefully. Perhaps we’ll be able to communicate once you grow up,” consoled Long Chen.

The vine ceased quivering as if it could understand him. It slowly drew back to the Heavenly Dao Tree and stopped moving.

Long Chen’s gaze shifted upward to the tree itself, its towering form as enigmatic as ever. He had never fully understood what kind of existence it was. It was just as mysterious as the primal chaos space.

Interestingly, the vine appeared to hold a certain reverence for the Heavenly Dao Tree. Despite the vine’s ferocious aura, it seemed hesitant, creeping toward the tree with deliberate caution. In contrast, the Heavenly Dao Tree stood aloof, exuding an air of majesty and pride, as though it didn’t deem the vine worthy of acknowledgment.

Long Chen then looked up and saw a sun-like golden lotus seed floating there. The entire primal chaos space was filled with vitality under its light.

Looking at the golden lotus seed, Long Chen couldn’t help but think of that graceful and noble Aunt Gong whose eyes were filled with wisdom. This lotus seed was a gift from her, yet she had vanished since that day, leaving him with unanswered questions.

The lotus seed, however, had undergone a transformation. After Long Chen had killed countless devil creatures, it now radiated a boundless energy that Long Chen could clearly sense.

Curiously, this energy was devoid of any destructive force. It couldn’t be wielded to harm or destroy, but its power instinctively drew out reverence from people’s souls.

Up to now, Long Chen had only been able to use the seed’s power in specific circumstances—against the Yan Xu lineage or to counter the Ghost Sovereign’s influence. Beyond those rare instances, he was unable to form a connection with it, no matter how hard he tried.

Yet, simply holding the seed brought him a sense of warmth and peace. Its tranquil energy soothed his soul, grounding him amidst the chaos of his journey.

Long Chen smiled faintly. There were so many mysteries he had yet to uncover. The golden lotus seed, the Earth Cauldron, Dragonbone Evilmoon’s new body, the Heavenly Dao Tree, the Seven Treasure Colored Glass Tree, and the omnipotent primal chaos space—each was a riddle waiting to be solved.

Reflecting on it all, Long Chen sighed. “There’s so much I don’t know. Who I am, where I’m headed—everything feels like a puzzle. But maybe time holds the answers to these secrets.”

He shook his head, dispelling the fleeting melancholy. “No matter what, one day I’ll uncover it all. Every secret, every truth. But first, I need to survive. Everything depends on that.”

After that, Long Chen turned his attention to a corner of the primal chaos space. There, twenty-two corpses of Golden Wing Heaven Devils lay in a heap. Seeing them, Long Chen smiled with anticipation.

“I wonder how many of you I can refine into puppets,” he mused with a grin. “I’m looking forward to it.”

Forming a series of intricate hand seals, Long Chen spread his palms wide. After that, large blood-colored runes appeared before him, slowly floating onto one of the corpses.