The furor caused by the Chaos Vision eventually began to subside, though the name "Su Chan" and "Chaos Divine Body" now echoed in every corner of the Tianshang Holy Land, from the most secluded ancestral grounds to the bustling Outer Sect courtyards.
Ye Fan – A Scornful Dismissal, A Burning Ambition
After the initial shock of witnessing the heaven-and-earth-shaking phenomenon, Ye Fan, driven by his master's urging and his own competitive nature, had discreetly made inquiries. It didn't take long for the whispers to reach him: the source of the Chaos Vision, the possessor of the legendary Chaos Divine Body, was none other than Su Chan, the quiet, previously unremarkable Second Senior Brother of Fairy Peak.
A sneer of utter contempt twisted Ye Fan's handsome features as he retreated to the solitude of his spartan Outer Sect courtyard. "Su Chan?" he scoffed mentally, relaying the news to his ring grandpa. "That piece of trash who stagnated at Qi Refining for seventeen years? Him? A Chaos Divine Body? What a monumental waste of a heaven-defying physique! It's like giving a divine sword to a three-year-old child!"
The ancient Saint King's voice in his mind was thoughtful. "Fate is indeed unpredictable, Little Fan. Perhaps this Su Chan had his talent suppressed, only for it to awaken now. Or perhaps this Chaos Divine Body has unique requirements for activation. Regardless, a Chaos Divine Body, even in the hands of a current weakling, is a future threat if allowed to mature. However, he has lost seventeen years. His foundation, despite this awakening, must be far behind those who cultivated diligently from the start."
Ye Fan's eyes glinted with a renewed, almost manic ambition. "Exactly, Master! While the sect fawns over this 'awakened genius,' I will use this time to cultivate relentlessly! I will reach Foundation Building, then Golden Core, and storm through the Outer and Inner Sects! By the time this Su Chan truly understands the basics of his physique, I will already be soaring! He'll be nothing but dust beneath my feet, Chaos Divine Body or not! I, Ye Fan, am the true Son of Destiny of this era!"
With a dismissive snort for the distant Su Chan, Ye Fan sealed his courtyard with a simple array. He would enter seclusion, pouring all his effort into cultivating the "Basic Five Elements Qi Art," guided by his master to extract its utmost potential, determined to make his own spectacular rise and reclaim the spotlight he felt was rightfully his. The thought of eventually crushing this newly emerged "legend" and perhaps even finding a way to seize the benefits of the Chaos Divine Body for himself was a dark, delicious fantasy that fueled his efforts.
Fairy Peak – A New Morning, A System's Bounty
Su Chan, blissfully unaware of the continent-wide ripples his awakening had caused, or the scornful dismissal from his fated rival, slowly drifted back to full consciousness. The first rays of dawn were painting the sky outside his window in soft hues of rose and gold, a stark contrast to the terrifying, chaotic kaleidoscope of the previous day's vision.
He felt… surprisingly good. The bone-deep exhaustion from the curse and his master's sacrificial intervention was still present, a dull ache in his very soul, but the agonizing pain was gone, replaced by a gentle, nourishing warmth that seemed to emanate from the core of his being – Bai Lianxin's Saint Yuan Yin, a constant, comforting presence. His Foundation Building Fifth Realm cultivation felt stable, the chaotic energy within him now calm and receptive to his will, albeit still feeling somewhat suppressed by the unseen curse.
Ding! Congratulations, Host, for documenting the monumental events of your Chaos Divine Body fusion, the activation of the curse, and the subsequent profound developments!
Your diary entry has been deemed of 'Legendary Significance' due to its impact on multiple key figures and plot trajectories!
Calculating rewards…
Host has received the following rewards:
1. Soul Essence Restoration Pill (Heaven Grade - Low Tier) x1: Can significantly nourish and repair soul damage, and accelerate recovery from extreme spiritual energy depletion.
2. Myriad Source Spirit Dew (100 Drops - Earth Grade Peak): Pure, condensed spiritual liquid that can rapidly replenish spiritual energy, purify existing energy, and subtly enhance physique.
3. Comprehension Stone (Spirit Grade - High Tier) x1: Crushing this stone during meditation can temporarily boost comprehension abilities for understanding techniques or Daos.
4. Cultivation Chamber Upgrade Blueprint (Basic): A blueprint to construct a small, personal cultivation chamber that moderately enhances spiritual energy gathering and provides a degree of seclusion.
Su Chan's eyes widened, then a delighted grin spread across his face. Heaven Grade Soul Essence Restoration Pill! That was exactly what he, and more importantly, what Master Bai Lianxin, desperately needed right now! Her sacrifice had undoubtedly depleted her own essence. And a hundred drops of Myriad Source Spirit Dew! That will accelerate my recovery back to Foundation Building Peak and beyond! A Comprehension Stone and a cultivation chamber blueprint… these are all incredibly useful!
The system, it seemed, was quite generous when the stakes were high and the diary entries detailed events of true significance. This was a massive boon, a lifeline.
Just as he was examining the mental images of his rewards, a soft series of knocks came from his courtyard door.
"Junior Brother Su Chan? Second Senior Brother? Are you awake?" It was Fang Xin's calm voice, laced with a discernible undercurrent of concern, followed by the softer, more anxious tones of Ning Youxi and Lin Ruo'er.
Su Chan quickly composed himself, a warm feeling spreading through his chest. He rose, still a little unsteady but far stronger than when he had first awoken, and opened the door.
Fang Xin, Ning Youxi, and Lin Ruo'er stood there, their beautiful faces etched with worry, their eyes scanning him from head to toe.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?" Lin Ruo'er burst out, her usual cheerfulness subdued by anxiety.
"We were so worried," Ning Youxi added softly, her gaze earnest and filled with a sincere, almost tender concern that made Su Chan's heart flutter.
Fang Xin simply looked at him, her usually cool eyes now holding a deep, searching warmth. "How do you feel, Junior Brother?"
Seeing their genuine affection and worry, a feeling far removed from the cold calculations of his plans against Ye Fan, filled Su Chan with a profound warmth. This was his family on Fairy Peak.
"I am… much better, Senior Sisters, Junior Sister," he said, offering them a reassuring smile. "Thanks to Master, I am well. Just a little tired."
"Just a little tired?" Fang Xin raised a skeptical eyebrow, though a relieved smile was already blooming on her face. "The entire Holy Land was practically shaken apart by your 'little tired' episode, Junior Brother!"
"Yes!" Lin Ruo'er chimed in, bouncing slightly now that her immediate fear had subsided. "The sky was all swirly and colorful! It was super scary but also super cool! Did you see it, Senior Brother?"
Su Chan chuckled. "I was rather… preoccupied at the time, Lin Ruo'er."
Ning Youxi, her gaze still a little shy but no longer filled with the same acute fear, added, "Master Bai was with you the whole time. She… she looked very worried too. We all were."
"I know," Su Chan said, his voice softening with gratitude. "And I am incredibly thankful for Master's care, and for yours as well." He looked at each of them, his heart swelling with an emotion he hadn't allowed himself to feel so openly before. These were good people, his people.
"Well," Fang Xin said, stepping into his small courtyard, the others following, "since you're 'just a little tired,' perhaps you can explain how you suddenly went from being our perpetually Qi Refining Junior Brother to the cause of a continental-level celestial phenomenon and a Foundation Building Peak expert overnight? Master Bai was rather… concise in her explanation to us after you fell unconscious yesterday." There was a playful tease in her voice now, the relief evident.
Su Chan rubbed the back of his neck, a slightly sheepish grin on his face. "It's… a long story, Senior Sister. Apparently, I had a unique physique that was dormant, and it chose yesterday, of all days, to fully awaken."
"A unique physique called the 'Chaos Divine Body,' if the whispers from the other peaks are to be believed," Fang Xin said, her eyes sparkling with a mixture of pride and teasing. "You certainly don't do things by halves, do you, Su Chan?"
"He was always full of surprises!" Lin Ruo'er giggled. "Remember that time he tried to 'improve' the spiritual tea recipe and it turned everything purple for a week?"
Su Chan groaned good-naturedly. "Must you bring that up, Lin Ruo'er?"
Even Ning Youxi let out a soft, musical laugh, a sound that made Su Chan's gaze linger on her for a moment longer than necessary. The easy camaraderie, the shared laughter, felt incredibly precious after the life-and-death ordeal he had just endured.
After a while more of lighthearted chatter, filled with their expressions of relief and Su Chan's carefully edited, vague explanations about his "sudden awakening," Fang Xin eventually rose.
"Well, Junior Brother, we are immensely relieved to see you well. But you still need to rest and properly consolidate your newfound cultivation, and comprehend your… awakening. Don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes, Senior Brother Su Chan!" Lin Ruo'er chirped. "Get lots of rest so you can tell us more cool stories later!"
Ning Youxi simply offered him a gentle, encouraging smile, her eyes conveying her continued relief and a subtle, new warmth.
"Thank you all," Su Chan said sincerely. "I will."
As his sisters took their leave, promising to bring him some nourishing spiritual congee later, Su Chan watched them go, a genuine, heartfelt smile gracing his lips. The path ahead was still fraught with danger, with the curse a constant shadow and Ye Fan a looming threat. But for this moment, surrounded by the genuine care of his martial family, the future felt a little less daunting, and his resolve to protect them, and his master, burned brighter than ever.