As the figure nestled within the Bodhi Tree gradually cracked open his dark eyes, ripples of mystical undulation stirred the life-imbued sanctuary. Everyone turned their gazes to meet those profound eyes that peered from the ancient bark—an omniscient gaze brimming with an unbearable age that seeped into the soul, genuine and unfeignable.
“Xiao Yan ge ge….” Huen’er murmured, gazing into Xiao Yan’s awakening eyes, her beautiful pupils gleaming with astonished delight.
“This fellow’s glare… so very disturbing.” Hun Yu exchanged glances with his comrades, their senses reeling differently. Xiao Yan’s scrutinizing gaze gave the unsettling sensation of laying one’s spirit bare without shield or disguise. A chilling exposure indeed. Across the space, a hushed reverence held fast. Everyone, eyes locked upon Xiao Yan amidst the Bodhi, recalled their only knowledge of such cultivation from aged scrolls, thus clueless to the changes he might now wield.
In the midst of the enraptured gazes, Xiao Yan inside the Bodhi exhibited a puzzled expression. Sweeping his sights slowly among them he settled on Huen’er and the others. The endless weariness veiling his pupils gradually gave way to the emergence of a familiar vibrancy.
“Xun…Xun’er…” Slowly parting his lips, Xiao Yan uttered an ancient voice worn down by ages. Its rasp and ethereal quality sent tremors through every heart. The timbre resonating, markedly distinct from his youthful tones of yore.
At the echo of the archaic tone, a gradual serenity tempered the weight behind his gaze, receding inwardly—until it vanished entirely as if submerging completely into the depths of Xiao Yan’s spirit, vanishing beneath perception.
“Inhaling deeply, Xiao Yan tipped his head upward, releasing from his lips a lengthy exhalation—of an emerald haze. From deep within that Bodhi’s grasp, Xiao Yan rose steadily—standing before a world-wide audience. As their eyes beheld his emergence, each gaze trailed the steps—hesitant, awed—as the Bodhi quivered beneath his touch. Xiao Yan’s physical form seemed to meld into and out of the unyielding Bodhi like fluid essence.
“At last, I’m returned…” Exiting the Bodhi’s embrace, Xiao Yan gave forth a stretch followed by a bright, familiar laugh. The voice instantly reassured Huen’eer and his friends that the Xiao Yan they recognized stood intact.
“Alright Xiao Yan ge?” she moved forth, searching his frame through eyes that brimmed with concern.
“Quite fine!” A shake answered her inquiry while his hand brushed through soft tresses on Huen’eer’s head. Amidst the outside world’s gaze, Xiao Yan’s return from a single month seemed trivial. However—unbeknown even to his allies—he experienced countless rebirths and tribulations deep within his soul. Without a spirit resolute in identity, his awareness might’ve been lost forever in the cyclical trials… But he remained steadfast. Through relentless challenges akin to the struggle of great Heaven-Sect masters, Xiao Yan’s essence emerged renewed.
Staring directly into his eyes—Hwen’ee made no attempt to hide, though unsure of specifics. Her instincts whispered that he had endured trials no mere observer could ever suspect. But her questions remained unuttered when he gave no explanation.
“Gratitude to thee…” Tearing his sight from Huen’eer, he pivoted to bow warmly towards the ancient Bodhi.
“Bzzzt bzzst…” To his salute, the tree rustled its leaves as though answering his greetings amidst the gasps of astonishment all around. Indeed an intelligent presence, indifferent but awake.
“You seem unreadable Xiao!” Ancient Qingyang, intrigued, moved closer. “Has one ascended toward Saint-hood now?”. Despite knowing Xiao Yan’s prior limits, his intuition felt naught emanating from Xiao Yan. Not even some semi-immortals from his lineage had concealed themselves from him this completely.
“The ascent is no such breeze…” Xiao Yan’s reply brought denial though unmarred honesty reflected his own limitations. Remaining at “Nine Refining Sovereign Peaks,” it might seem trivial for some to attain heights that eluded others over a decade—but in Xiao Yan’s perception, that single momentous month represented endless centuries. An eternity refining the energy until reaching the summit he now touched. While others might find a century adequate preparation, the cautious Xiao Yan feared a reckless growth that might risk future potential over momentary gains.
At Xiao Yan’s humility in strength, Qingyang faltered—a wry chuckle replacing his certainty as the widening distance between he and Xiao Yan grew ever vaster.
Shifting away from Qingyang, Xiao Yan locked onto Hunyu, Jiufeng—gazes fixed like steel. Those so addressed immediately flared their energies defensively—a cold, steely wariness emanated from both as any flicker of aggression from him demanded immediate retribution. Yet in place of dread Xiao Yan grinned mockingly—the difference now: those same beings once loomed as threats had since become mere pebbles to toss aside like dust on the wind—the might within him now undeniable and absolute.
Fists clenched unconsciously beneath robes by Jiufeng and Hunyu alike—particularly the latter: the smile that rarely vanished from Hunyu waned, replaced by an icy malevolence in gaze. Something new… a tangible threat emerged in this transformed Xiao Yan. From none of his peers—other than their clan’s “Insane One”—had Hunyu felt a presence so undeniably lethal looming.
“That boy now acts utterly changed since his return…” Grumbled the gloom-laced voice from Jiufeng’s clenched tone. His earlier restraint regretted—this very boon could have warranted his decisive action against Xiao Yan before it had blossomed. Yet had their fate hinged differently—without his intervention clearing those residual tyrants that plagued the Bodhi, the visioned trap—a future as semi-immortal shells—may have instead became their very selves.
“Boom!” As thoughts stirred like a raging tide among onlookers, brilliant verdant lights burst out suddenly from deep within the ancient Bodhi—foreshadowing something grand ready to erupt.
Recognizing the signs with unease, Hunyu, et al instinctively stepped back—keen minds recalling their prior brushes with near-catastrophe from the vengeful essence lingering within these holy grounds.
Within that rustling bark, faint vibrations resonated before bursts sent radiant jade motes surging airborne like scattered stars.
“The Sacred Sprouts—the elusive Bodhi-Fruits!!” Gasps rippled through all witnessing the luminous display—an uncounted twenty or perhaps more spewing from the ancient trunk with each tremor.
“Seize them all…” A cry tore into the collective stunned hush—a crimson glottal hue taking control as waves of spiritual energies shot outwards grasping after drifting green sparks.
As greed filled gazes—Hunyu, Jin Xian—stole forward like others, Xiao Yan remained untouched by such urges—summoning each radiant motes effortlessly unto himself.
“All gifts, dear Bodhi!” His voice ringing outward like a resonant chime, the radiant Bodhi-Fruits obediently aligned at his call before he dispatched several flying forth as blessings to Hwen’eer, Cailin, Ardent King Qingyang and fellow companions.
“My thanks Xiao brother!” Ardent Qingyang, Galley Bi, grasping at fruits their aching hearts long coveted, turned with hearty, humble bows of appreciation.
With chuckling delight in response—to all, Xiao Yan merely brushed off as trifles and then flung forth additional spheres toward the undecided warriors still watching at bay—silent in gratitude for this quiet recognition of neutrality he granted.
Hurtled by such grace, the once impartial figures gasped. Accepting the precious gifts in reverential shock—hastened steps ensured removal as far from the growing tension as possible—for now they understood clearly Xiao Yan’s motive: a gesture protecting them further from the ensuing events.
Yet Hunyu’s glare and Jiufeng bore upon the magnanimity like an insult—envy and rage coiled into eyes flashing deeper crimson by the moment before Ji Feng’s restraint ruptured entirely:
“You insolent vermin. Die.” As his wrath burst forth into the heavens—the echo of murder hung heavily among them as the air itself reverberated with the fury in this cry across their world.
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