Ready to Hatch! . . .
Cha Eun Xiao was undoubtedly pleased with his progress, but the strain of rapid cultivation had left him feeling fatigued. It was taxing to be continuously propelled towards higher levels of power.
After a weary sigh, he resumed his cultivation efforts.
Three days of intense dedication yielded substantial results. Cha Eun Xiao had officially transcended the peak of the Sky Origin Stage and had ascended to level one of the Spirit Origin Stage. Moreover, his martial skills had seen significant enhancements, and both his Yin and Yang energies had surged in strength. His Yin Yang Eye had become considerably more potent, and most notably, the East-rising Purple Qi had progressed to the middle phase of the second level.
Cha Eun Xiao meticulously assessed the progress he had made during this period.
He had advanced approximately fifty levels, moving from the Human Origin Stage to the Spirit Origin Stage. Ultimately, he had reached the middle phase of the second level of the East-rising Purple Qi.
[Is this progress swift or sluggish?]
[But then again, perhaps I am overly fixated on the concept of speed...]
[When I was at the Earth Origin Stage, I had reached the initial phase of the second level. And now, after absorbing a substantial amount of energy, I have advanced to the middle phase...]
[This implies that I will require an astonishing quantity of spiritual qi to reach level three and level four.]
[Spiritual qi. I require more spiritual qi. The greater the quantity of spiritual qi I possess, the more rapid and extensive my improvements will be!]
As he contemplated the situation, Cha Eun Xiao was beset by feelings of trepidation. The daunting prospect of needing to continually amass vast amounts of spiritual qi to make further progress left him feeling disheartened.
With this weighty realization, he was nearly losing his resolve to continue.
Since his rebirth, he had been through numerous experiences: the Boundless Space, a plethora of medical ingredients, an array of treasures, and countless adventures. However, despite all this, he was still at his present level. The road ahead appeared fraught with trials and tribulations, and he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of the journey that lay ahead.
Nevertheless, he remained determined to overcome these obstacles. Regardless of the challenges that awaited him, he remained unwavering in his commitment to reach his ultimate goal.
He understood that, despite the uncertainties of the future, he had made remarkable strides in a mere year, achievements that many would never reach in their lifetime. In his previous life, it had taken him a decade to accomplish what he had in just one year.
After three days of relentless cultivation, the cold energy within the Space had significantly dissipated. All seven of the Spaces were now stable, and the Wood Space was at last capable of withstanding the encroaching cold energy. Cha Eun Xiao left the Space, ordered a substantial meal, and consumed it voraciously, replenishing his energy.
The strenuous efforts had left him both exhausted and famished.
Following his meal, Cha Eun Xiao retreated into the Space before anyone could approach him, resuming his absorption of the cold energy. While the task of managing the cold energy could be handled, it still inflicted some damage upon the Space. Cha Eun Xiao was determined to rid the Space of the cold energy as swiftly as possible, with little interest in the world outside.
As far as Cha Eun Xiao was concerned, he had fulfilled all his obligations to the Kingdom of Chen and had contributed significantly to the Land of Han-Yang.
Cha Eun Xiao had reached a point where he wouldn't involve himself in military matters, affairs of the kingdom, or any concerns unrelated to his own objectives.
He had become indifferent to the world around him, as if to say, "Let it be."
His withdrawal from military duties had not adversely affected the kingdom, given that most matters had been resolved. With stalwart figures like Song Jue, the vice-commander, and several capable generals in the army, the continued stability was more or less ensured.
Yet, Commander Cha's disengagement from his responsibilities had deeply irked Song Jue.
"I'm here to fight alongside you, not to clean up your mess!" Song Jue's frustration was palpable.
But even if Song Jue had wished to have a word with Cha Eun Xiao, he could not locate the elusive commander.
Time flowed on, and the days slipped by uneventfully. Three days passed by in the blink of an eye.
A royal decree arrived for Cha Eun Xiao from the court, announcing that the king intended to reward him. Cha Nantian was a mere three days away from reuniting with his son.
However, Commander Cha was nowhere to be found.
If he hadn't appeared to celebrate and host a grand feast that evening, the army might well have descended into chaos.
The generals found themselves helpless, grappling with the conundrum of an absent commander who showed little responsibility for his duties. It was a perplexing situation they had never encountered before.
…
Within the Boundless Space, Cha Eun Xiao stood up and released a sigh of relief.
The exhaled breath appeared as a white mist in the frigid air, resembling a long piece of cloth hanging in the atmosphere. After a while, the white mist dissipated entirely.
Cha Eun Xiao had successfully absorbed all the cold qi emanating from the Cosmic Hades. With his mission accomplished, he stretched his body, and his joints produced satisfying cracking sounds.
"It's good. In just six days, I've made significant progress. The East-rising Purple Qi has reached the final phase of the second level, and I've attained level three of the Spirit Origin Stage. The spiritual qi I've stored for the Yin Yang Eyes should last a considerable time before any discomfort arises in my eyes..."
He took a step forward, approaching Brother Egg, and muttered, "Come on, Brother Egg, what's taking you so long..."
But before he could finish, he was taken aback.
His eyes widened in amazement. On the eggshell, there was no longer any trace of starlight. The countless images of living creatures had disappeared, as though they had never existed.
The massive egg now appeared as an ordinary, transparent eggshell. Inside, an embryo rested, occasionally shifting.
"Brother Egg, are you finally going to hatch?" Cha Eun Xiao's excitement was palpable as he pondered what kind of extraordinary creature would emerge from the egg.
From the moment Brother Egg began absorbing spiritual qi to the present, Cha Eun Xiao estimated that the accumulated spiritual qi would be enough to elevate a thousand exceptional cultivators to the same level of power as Xiao Monarch from his previous life.