The dust from the Chaos Vision had settled, yet the tremors it sent through the Tianshang Holy Land were far from over. Su Chan, now the acknowledged possessor of the legendary Chaos Divine Body, had become an unwilling focal point, his name whispered in tones of awe, envy, disbelief, and in some darker corners, a burgeoning, predatory interest.
Within the Tianshang Holy Land – Shifting Tides:
Bai Lianxin (Fairy Peak):
In the aftermath of Su Chan's awakening and her own profound sacrifice, Bai Lianxin found herself in a state of unprecedented vulnerability and equally unprecedented resolve. Her cultivation, though temporarily diminished by the offering of her Saint Yuan Yin, still pulsed with the authority of a Saint King. However, a new softness, a maternal fierceness mingled with a maiden's shy awareness, now colored her usually glacial demeanor whenever her thoughts drifted to Su Chan.
Her primary concern was his safety. The Chaos Divine Body was a beacon. While it promised unparalleled glory for Su Chan and Fairy Peak, it also painted a colossal target on his back. She knew the Holy Land's internal politics were complex; not everyone would be pleased by Fairy Peak's sudden ascendancy. More pressingly, the news, however suppressed, would inevitably leak beyond the sect's borders.
"The Chaos Divine Body," she mused, gazing out from her boudoir towards Su Chan's distant courtyard, "is a treasure that can reforge destiny. It can purify all energies, comprehend all Daos, and its potential for growth is theoretically limitless, directly resonating with the Primordial Chaos from which all existence sprang. Such a being is destined for Emperorship, at the very least. But its allure is equally potent. Demonic cultivators, ambitious tyrants, even orthodox powers desperate for a peerless heir or a sacrificial catalyst for some forbidden art… they will all covet him." Her beautiful eyes, usually like tranquil winter lakes, now held a glint of cold, protective steel. "No one will harm my disciple while I draw breath."
Holy Lord Lan Xianyi:
From her enigmatic palace, Lan Xianyi observed the ripples spreading through the sect with a serene, almost omniscient understanding. She, more than anyone, grasped the true, continental-scale implications of a Chaos Divine Body emerging. She had already subtly tightened the sect's information control, knowing full well that such a monumental event could not be entirely contained.
"Su Chan's Chaos Divine Body," she thought, a delicate teacup poised in her hand, "is not just about raw power. It represents a fundamental connection to the origin of all things. In theory, it should grant him an unparalleled affinity for all elements, an innate understanding of countless Daos, and an almost terrifying speed of cultivation once he truly begins to harness its potential. His body would be a perfect vessel, capable of containing and refining energies that would destroy ordinary cultivators. Moreover, it possesses an inherent Purity of Chaos, which should make him highly resistant to miasmas, poisons, and even some curses – though the one currently afflicting him is clearly of an extraordinary, perhaps even forbidden, origin."
Her gaze seemed to pierce through space, focusing on Fairy Peak. "The challenges he will face will be immense. But perhaps, he is the variable this era so desperately needs."
The Hidden Ancestors:
In their secluded domains, the Ancestors were engaged in hushed, momentous discussions. The Chaos Divine Body was a legend made real.
"Its ability to absorb and convert any form of spiritual energy is unparalleled," one rasped. "Given enough resources, his rise will be meteoric."
"And his combat potential," another added, "a body forged in chaos can theoretically master any art, any weapon, any Dao. He will not be limited by elemental affinities like ordinary geniuses. He is, in essence, a perfect cultivator."
"But such perfection is a beacon," a third warned. "The Demonic Path, in particular, has long sought physiques that can act as ultimate cauldrons or vessels for their unholy arts. The Chaos Divine Body, with its ability to harmonize Yin and Yang, to contain both righteous and malevolent energies without taint, would be their ultimate prize."
Other Peak Masters:
Liu Cang (Sword Peak): His mind was already calculating. "A Chaos Divine Body… if his Dao Heart is true, his comprehension should be monstrous. If he chose the path of the sword, he could potentially reach heights even I can only dream of. A worthy rival, perhaps, for Jian Wushen in the future, or a peerless ally."
Shen Qingyu (Ice Lotus Peak): Having read the diary, her concern was more personal. "The Chaos Divine Body is a treasure, but also a terrible vulnerability, especially with that curse. Su Chan will need allies, true allies. Perhaps… our peaks can find common ground beyond old rivalries."
Yu Xinyue (Alchemy Peak): Her thoughts were on resources. "Such a physique will have an insatiable appetite for spiritual energy and rare elixirs. The sect's resources will be strained. I must see if my alchemy can aid him, perhaps create pills that can help him resist the curse while nurturing his body."
Hua Yueli (Illusory Peak): Her amusement was now tinged with genuine strategic interest. "A Chaos Body… what fascinating illusions and arrays could be woven around such a being, both to protect and to empower? And how will his unique energy signature interact with my own arts? Intriguing!"
Ambitious True Disciples:
Jin Yaoyang (Blazing Sun Peak): His jealousy festered. "Chaos Divine Body or not, he's still just a Foundation Building brat who got lucky! My Solar Yang Physique and my family's backing will crush him in the Holy Son competition! This is just a temporary setback for my rightful claim!" He secretly began plotting ways to "test" Su Chan's limits, or perhaps, arrange an "accident."
Yao Wuxin (Jade Cauldron Peak): His calm was a mask for sharp calculation. "A Chaos Divine Body… a variable that could be… cultivated. For the sect's benefit, of course. Or perhaps, for mine. His need for resources will be a useful lever."
Other True Disciples who had been preparing for the Holy Son selection felt a mixture of pressure and excitement. A new, formidable competitor had emerged, one whose legend was already preceding him.
Beyond the Tianshang Holy Land – The Stirring of Shadows:
The Chaos Vision, despite the Holy Land's best efforts to contain the news, was too monumental to go entirely unnoticed by entities with profound sensory abilities or well-placed informants. Whispers began to spread through the clandestine networks of the Eastern Region, and even further afield.
Deep within the Myriad Demon Abyss, a desolate, miasma-choked region in the far west, shunned by righteous cultivators, a different kind of excitement was brewing. Within a palace carved from black, obsidian-like rock that seemed to drink the very light, a young man of striking, almost unnaturally handsome features, with eyes as red as fresh blood and an aura of pure, unadulterated evil, received a report from a cowering subordinate. This was Mo Jiuye, the current Holy Son of the Asura Demon Sect, a figure infamous for his cruelty, his insatiable ambition, and his mastery over forbidden, soul-devouring arts.
"A Chaos Vision… originating from the Tianshang Holy Land?" Mo Jiuye drawled, a slow, predatory smile spreading across his lips, revealing pointed canines. "And a Chaos Divine Body has awakened, you say?"
The subordinate trembled. "Yes, Holy Son! The reports, though scarce, are consistent. The phenomenon was immense."
Mo Jiuye's blood-red eyes lit up with a terrifying, almost ecstatic glee. "The Chaos Divine Body… hahaha… HAHAHAHA! The legends are true! Such a physique… it is the ultimate cauldron! The perfect vessel! If I could devour its essence, refine its primordial chaos into my Asura Demon Core… I would not just break through to the Demon Emperor realm, I would become invincible! Unrivaled under the heavens!"
His gaze turned sharp, filled with a chilling, obsessive hunger. "Find out everything you can about this individual. Their name, their cultivation, their protectors. The Tianshang Holy Land… hmph. They have hoarded their treasures for too long. This Chaos Divine Body… it is mine by demonic right!"
His laughter echoed through the dark palace, a sound that promised blood, torment, and a relentless, evil pursuit. The emergence of Su Chan's Chaos Divine Body had not only alerted the righteous powers but had also awakened the most depraved desires of the demonic path.
The stage was being set, not just within the Tianshang Holy Land, but across the Tiaxu Continent. Su Chan, still recovering from his ordeal, was blissfully unaware that his very existence had become a coveted prize, a spark that threatened to ignite a conflagration of ambition, greed, and ancient, unholy desires. His path to power, and to curing his curse, would be paved not only with personal trials but with the relentless attention of a world that now knew his name, and his legendary potential.