Feng Chen had just stepped toward the cave entrance when, without warning, a system window popped up in front of him.
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System Notification:-
It's time you cultivate the Yin and Yang energies to fully activate the Yin and Yang Divine Body.
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He groaned in frustration, running a hand through his dark hair.
"Wait a minute," Feng Chen muttered.
"Didn't I already claim those rewards? Isn't this whole Yin and Yang thing done?"
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System Notification:-
You have received the rewards, yes… but your body has yet to truly integrate them.
To fully unlock the Yin and Yang Divine Body, you must cultivate the Yin and Yang energies and allow your body to claim them.
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Feng Chen's eye twitched, and he threw his hands up in frustration.
"There's fine print on everything, isn't there? Always the damn fine print!"
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System Notification:-
Welcome to the world of cultivation, host.
Where nothing is free and there's always another level to reach.
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Sighing in resignation, Feng Chen sat back down on the stone floor of the cave and crossed his legs. He knew this was important. If he wanted to unlock the true potential of the divine body, he had no choice but to cultivate.
"Alright, System," he said, exhaling slowly as he relaxed into his meditative stance.
"Let's do this."
Closing his eyes, Feng Chen began to circulate his Qi. The process was familiar by now... his Yang Qi flowed to the right side of his body, while the Yin Qi gravitated toward his left.
Black and white auras emerged around him, coiling together in a mesmerizing dance as they swirled in perfect harmony. But this time, something was different... something was… deeper.
The Golden Scriptures, which had once embedded themselves deep within his body during his initial training, began to stir. Feng Chen felt them shift beneath his skin, their ancient power moving along the lines of his Qi. They weren't just passive symbols anymore; they were alive, and they were responding to the energies he was channeling.
Slowly but surely, the Golden Scriptures emerged, not on the surface, but within his flesh, as if his very being was being rewritten. The patterns snaked along his skin, forming complex sigils and ancient markings that seemed to hum with a primordial power.
His right side shimmered with a radiant white light... bright, pure, and brimming with yang energy... while his left side darkened into a deep, almost infinite black, pulsating with yin energy that seemed to swallow the light around it.
Feng Chen's Dantian became the meeting point of these forces, the place where Yin and Yang clashed and coexisted in a delicate, cosmic balance. The energies twisted and turned inside him, swirling into a vortex at the center of his being.
This was no ordinary power... this was the source of life and death itself, a force that shaped the heavens and dictated the fate of all beings.
As the transformation continued, the Cerulean Mark on his forehead began to shift. It wasn't subtle... the once serene blue light was overtaken, half of it darkening into a blood-red hue that seemed to radiate a more chaotic, destructive energy. The two halves of the mark pulsed rhythmically, as if they were engaged in a battle for dominance over Feng Chen's very soul.
His once jet-black hair now had a strange sheen of reddish-black to it, as though it had absorbed the chaotic energies swirling around him. When Feng Chen opened his eyes, he noticed the startling difference immediately. His right eye was still the same, but his left eye had darkened completely, its pupil now glowing a fiery red.
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System Notification:-
Congratulations! You have achieved the Yin and Yang Divine Body!
This is the novice level of your divine body. As you cultivate and deepen your understanding of the balance between Yin and Yang, your mastery will increase.
Once fully developed, the Yin and Yang Divine Body will grant you complete control over the forces of life and death, defying the very threads of fate itself.
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Feng Chen blinked as he read the system notification, his eyebrows rising.
"Novice level? You mean, this is just the beginner stage?" He let out a small laugh, though it wasn't without a hint of excitement. Even at this 'Novice' stage, he could feel the immense power coursing through his veins, far beyond what any ordinary Foundation Realm cultivator should be capable of.
The energy swirling inside him felt endless, the combination of Yin and Yang creating a harmony that resonated with the very core of his being. His body had never felt this alive before, as though every cell, every fiber of his existence was now charged with the dual forces of creation and destruction.
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System Notification:-
Be cautious, host. The power of Yin and Yang is not to be taken lightly. At this stage, you're only scratching the surface. Missteps in handling these energies could have dire consequences.
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"Yeah, yeah," Feng Chen said, waving off the system's warning with an almost dismissive hand gesture.
"I'll be careful." He chuckled lightly, though there was a gleam in his eye that suggested the system's words weren't exactly sinking in.
He was beginning to imagine the various possibilities, without warning, a sharp, stabbing pain shot through his forehead, cutting through his thoughts like a blade.
"Ah—!" Feng Chen gasped as he fell to his knees, his hands instinctively flying to his head.
His entire skull felt like it was splitting open, the pain radiating from the Red Mark on his forehead. The mark began to pulse with a sinister light, the red hue growing darker, almost black, as it started to spread.
The Blackish-red Aura that emerged from the mark felt alive, writhing as it swirled around him, its malevolent energy seeping into the air. The pain intensified, spreading through his skull and down his spine. Every nerve in his body screamed in agony as if the very marrow of his bones was being burned away.
"What... what is this?!" Feng Chen managed to groan through clenched teeth, his voice strained and shaky. The aura around him grew denser, its oppressive weight bearing down on him like an iron vice.
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System Notification:
Warning! Host's body is undergoing severe changes. Brace yourself!
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Feng Chen could barely comprehend the notification. The pain in his head was overwhelming, far more intense than anything he had ever experienced before.
It felt as though his skull was being split apart from the inside, as though something was trying to rip its way out of him. His vision began to blur, and the edges of his consciousness wavered as he fought to remain alert.
The world around him started to dim, and for a brief moment, all he could hear was the wild pounding of his heart. He could barely breathe, his lungs struggling to pull in air. His body trembled uncontrollably as the red energy continued to grow stronger, more malevolent, as if it had a will of its own.
The pain was unbearable. Feng Chen's vision began to blur, and his thoughts grew hazy. All he could focus on was the excruciating sensation in his head. The energy from the mark seemed to be trying to tear something apart, but he didn't know what. He couldn't concentrate... he could barely think.
For what felt like an eternity, the pain persisted, growing sharper and more intense with every passing second. Sweat poured down his face, and his heart raced as he struggled to stay conscious. Finally, just when he thought he couldn't take it anymore, the pain began to subside.
The aura receded, slowly withdrawing into the mark, and the red glow faded away. Feng Chen collapsed onto the floor, gasping for air, his body soaked in cold sweat.
"What… the hell… was that?" he muttered weakly, still clutching his head.
His hands were trembling, his mind still foggy from the experience. But even as he tried to catch his breath, there was no explanation... no hint of what had just happened.
To Feng Chen, it had only been a wave of unbearable pain, but deep within his subconscious, something far more dangerous had begun to stir. In the depths of his sealed consciousness, something was forming. Though Feng Chen remained unaware, a presence was slowly materializing inside his mind.
The being inside his consciousness was only partially formed for now... little more than a smile and the faint outline of a figure... but its aura was unmistakably powerful.
Even in this incomplete state, the presence radiated an overwhelming sense of dread. It was ancient, vast, and patient. And though it was only a fragment of its true self, it was terrifying nonetheless.
That smile, though faint, was filled with malice. It was the kind of smile that belonged to someone who toyed with life and death for amusement, the kind of being that would laugh as worlds crumbled beneath its feet.
And yet, as quickly as it had begun to form, the presence began to retreat back into the darkness. Its energy dissipated slowly, but not before it whispered in a voice so dark and cold that it sent shivers through the very essence of Feng Chen's soul.
"It's not time yet…"
Feng Chen remained oblivious to the entity, entirely unaware of the turmoil that had taken place within his subconscious. To him, it had only been the worst headache of his life... nothing more. As the pain subsided completely, he sat up slowly, breathing heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
"What… in the world…?" he muttered, still reeling from the pain. His head throbbed, but the red mark had returned to its previous size, and the cerulean hue had reclaimed the rest of the mark.
The system, silent for a long moment, finally spoke again. But its tone was different now... quieter, more cautious.
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System Notification:-
Host, be careful. Your body is changing faster than even I anticipated. You may want to slow down.
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Feng Chen nodded absentmindedly, still rubbing his forehead as he tried to piece together what had just happened.
"Yeah… maybe that's a good idea."
Still, despite the terrifying pain and the warnings, Feng Chen couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. Whatever had just happened, it had unlocked something within him. Something powerful.