C16 I'm Back!

"The early stages of becoming a Great Purity Cultivator!" Lin Xi's eyes sparkled with excitement. He was thrilled, realizing that his time in the Dark Void Abyss had been unexpectedly fruitful. He had thought falling into the abyss would be a near-death experience, yet it turned out to be a stroke of good fortune.

"National Academy, I, Lin Xi, will make my return." Lin Xi took a moment to look outside his dwelling, just as the sun began to rise. A dazzling light poured into his abode, filling it with a resplendent glow.

Lin Xi rose, quickly washed up, and donned a green robe before stepping back into his dwelling.

"There are less than three days left until the Profound Examination at the Academy!" Lin Xi calculated, sensing the Academy Examination drawing ever nearer.

"It's time to head back to the Academy..." Lin Xi mused, stepping out of his dwelling with a sense of nostalgia.

He hadn't expected that in the Alien Realm, so much would remain the same. Fame, wealth, and power were constants, unchanged except in the ways they were pursued.

Some pursued fame and fortune by any means necessary, while others remained aloof from such pursuits. Everyone had their own approach.

Yet for Lin Xi, these concerns were secondary. His priority was to survive in this world, to carve out his own path, to lead the life he desired, and to follow a personal journey of his own choosing.

He preferred to live for what he cherished and to strive for his future.

"I must become stronger!" Lin Xi's eyes gleamed with determination, a firm belief fueling his resolve.

He was acutely aware that to live the life he envisioned in the Alien Realm, he needed to grow stronger and gain more power. Only with strength could he earn the right to achieve his desires.

This world respected the powerful; it was a place where the strong dominated the weak.

After cultivating the Chaos Celestial Scripture, Lin Xi's understanding and overall abilities had transformed dramatically. Advancing to the rank of Great Purity Cultivator, he felt immensely enriched.

"Imperial power... What of it?" A cold glint flashed in Lin Xi's eyes as the image of a delicate figure flitted through his thoughts.

"Princess Jinger, you will experience every bit of the humiliation I've endured!"

Perched on the edge of a precipice, Lin Xi gazed into the seemingly bottomless Dark Void Abyss. "This is a perilous place, high enough to catch the occasional ray of sunlight. But that's all it is—mere specks of light."

"It's not often I venture to the Dark Void Abyss. Maybe I'll find some scarce medicinal herbs here that could be used to concoct potent potions. That would certainly be beneficial." Lin Xi sensed that despite the dangers of the Dark Void Abyss, it was a nexus of spiritual energy. Rare medicinal herbs might be found here, which could prove invaluable in the future.

"Cloud Wing Eagle!" Lin Xi called out calmly.

The Cloud Wing Eagle emerged from its nest and approached Lin Xi, who it now regarded with deep respect. It had witnessed a cultivator's progression from Clear Qi Level Three to the Initial Stage in a mere two days—an astoundingly rapid ascent. On the Clear Profound Continent, such a feat was as rare as a phoenix feather or a qilin horn, virtually unparalleled and worthy of the term 'miraculous speed.' It had never before encountered such an extraordinary individual, not even the oddity it had met decades ago, who had only managed to advance a single stage.

The eagle mused that with Lin Xi's formidable pace of cultivation, he was likely to become a powerful figure. Though his current level was modest, he was destined for greatness, and as his companion, the eagle too would rise in stature.

For a Profound Beast, following a mighty cultivator could be quite advantageous.

Thus, at that moment, the Cloud Wing Eagle bore no resentment towards Lin Xi.

"Cloud Wing Eagle, accompany me on a tour of the Dark Void Abyss. Perform well, and I might consider granting you your freedom," Lin Xi stated flatly, his expression unreadable. He was aware of the Cloud Wing Eagle's shifting attitude and reasoned that with the aid of a Rank Five Profound Beast, his potential gains could be substantial. Moreover, he had no desire to incur its enmity—it simply wasn't in his best interest.

Lin Xi pondered the future, considering how the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle might prove even more helpful. After all, possessing a Rank Five Profound Beast was not common, and few cultivators within the Celestial Enlightment Empire could boast of such a companion. Even the imperial family's tales of a Rank Five Profound Beast were decades old, and whether it still existed was uncertain.

Rumors swirled about a Strong Rank Beast residing in the National Academy, serving as its guardian and only revealing itself in times of dire need.

The combat prowess of a Rank Five Profound Beast was on par with that of a human Ancestral Purity Cultivator, a near-legendary status in the empire.

Lost in thought, Lin Xi was brought back to the present as the Cloud Wing Eagle approached, spreading its expansive wings in an invitation for him to mount. "Let's go!" With an agile leap, Lin Xi found himself astride the eagle, marveling at the height he'd achieved. His recent advancement to Great Purity Cultivator had significantly enhanced his abilities.

In silence, the Cloud Wing Eagle took to the skies, and Lin Xi was swept up in the exhilaration of flight. "If only I could fly on my own!" he yearned, aware that such a feat required the cultivation level of an Ancestral Purity Cultivator for simple flight, and the Super Clear level for true mastery of the skies—a goal tantalizingly out of reach.

"I hope that day will come…" he whispered to himself, clinging to the dream.

Guided by the Cloud Wing Eagle, Lin Xi scoured the Dark Void Abyss for treasures, meticulously collecting each precious herb he encountered. The Abyss, long abandoned, was a trove of abundant flora, with rare herbs flourishing as common weeds.

"A thousand-year-old Lingzhi, an eight hundred-year-old lotus, a six hundred-year-old life plant... I've struck gold!" Lin Xi's heart swelled with joy, and a bashful smile graced his face as he realized the magnitude of his haul.

Accompanied by the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle, the king of the Dark Void Abyss, Lin Xi's harvest had been quite successful. If he were to encounter a formidable Profound Beast, Lin Xi would activate the Chaos Bead, risking his life to collect the precious herbs.

"One Rank Five Profound Pill, two Rank Four Profound Pills, three Rank Three Profound Pills, numerous Rank Two Profound Pills, and a plethora of Rank One Profound Pills!" Lin Xi, bloodied but elated, tallied his haul within the Storage Ring. Despite the pain wracking his body, he reveled in his success. The bounty was substantial, enough for him to indulge in extravagantly. Yet, considering the rate at which he would need these resources in the future, Lin Xi couldn't help but feel the need for even more.

"The time has come. I've spent a day gathering herbs, and these spoils will last me for some time. But if I linger, I'll run out of time!" Lin Xi observed the encroaching darkness, sensing the slight chill as the temperature dropped with the setting sun.

"Now is the moment to depart from the Dark Void Abyss... The Academy Examination is mine to claim!" Determination sparked in Lin Xi's eyes, his heart surging with unwavering resolve. He was convinced that after emerging from the Dark Void Abyss, his future at the National Academy would be forever altered. Lin Xi was poised to ascend, ready to astound everyone.

After cleaning himself by the stream at the edge of the Dark Void Abyss and donning fresh attire, Lin Xi's gaze held a touch of reminiscence.

"Farewell, Dark Void Abyss. I will not forget what I've experienced here. Those who have wronged me will pay a price a hundredfold!" Lin Xi declared atop the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle, surveying the oppressive darkness of the abyss. A chilling glint in his eyes spread coldness through the air, making the Cloud Wing Eagle shiver as if it were in an ancient ice cavern, sensing the potent aura of vengeance emanating from Lin Xi.

"Cloud Wing Eagle, carry me from this place, take me to the summit of the Dark Void Abyss!" Lin Xi commanded the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle.

With a piercing eagle's cry, the sound resonated throughout the Dark Void Abyss, lingering long after. The Cloud Wing Eagle cast a glance upwards, towards the immeasurable heights it had never soared before, the very pinnacle of the Dark Void Abyss.

This time, it was imperative to reach the summit. It had the critical task of escorting Lin Xi to safety. Failure was not an option, for it would mean its death at Lin Xi's hands. Despite feeling that such an outcome was impossible, it was compelled to proceed.

The Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle unfurled its wings and soared into the sky, unleashing a massive gust of wind that swept across miles in an instant. Like an arrow shot from a bow, the eagle surged upward with Lin Xi standing firmly on its back.

As the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle whisked Lin Xi away, the Profound Beasts within the Dark Void Abyss collectively exhaled in relief. To them, Lin Xi was nothing short of a disaster. His obsessive harvesting of medicinal herbs had left the Dark Void Abyss barren for years. Moreover, the amount of spiritual energy Lin Xi had absorbed during his breakthrough was staggering.

Time seemed to lose meaning as Lin Xi felt himself drifting through the void, surrounded by darkness reminiscent of the Dark Void Abyss. Yet, this experience was different, and he was confident that the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle would lead him out of that desolate place.

Hours seemed to pass, and then, at last, a glimmer of white light appeared.

"We've made it! We're almost there!" Lin Xi exclaimed, his voice tinged with excitement.

"Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle, you can do this. If you truly manage to free me from this place, I will grant you your freedom," Lin Xi declared with unwavering resolve.

Responding with a piercing cry, the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle beat its wings with renewed vigor, creating a powerful updraft. In an instant, the eagle and Lin Xi ascended swiftly towards their destination.

"There it is!" Lin Xi could see the edge of the Dark Void Abyss clearly now—the cliffside was in sight.

But in that critical moment, something went awry. The Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle began to falter as if it could no longer sustain its flight.

"Cloud Wing Eagle!" Lin Xi's heart sank, his face betraying his concern. Yet, he quickly regained his composure, ready to face whatever came next.

"It looks like I'll have to resort to the Chaos Bead!" A sharp glint flashed in Lin Xi's eyes.

"Storm, transform!" Lin Xi summoned the spiritual energy within him, channeling it all into the Chaos Bead.

A roaring storm surged, lifting both the Rank Five Cloud Wing Eagle and Lin Xi, hurling them toward the edge of the Dark Void Abyss.

"Pfft!" Lin Xi coughed up blood. The forceful activation of the Chaos Bead inflicted serious injuries on him. He quickly retrieved some medicinal herbs from his Storage Ring and swallowed them to aid his recovery.

After some time, Lin Xi slowly opened his eyes, a look of elation spreading across his face.

"At last, I, Lin Xi, have escaped the Dark Void Abyss. National Academy, I, Lin Xi, have returned!" His robust laughter echoed through the hills behind the academy.