CHAPTER 609: CHAPTER 372: HIS SAD SMILE

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Slowly, the man in front of Yan Xiaobao became transparent, leaving behind only his sorrowful smile. Yan Xiaobao’s senses were overwhelmed by a lifetime of emotions and experiences. He lived on a farm, alone in an unknown place. As he grew up, he played by himself, feeling nature endlessly impose itself on his senses. When he became a man, he was forged by the surrounding nature, his temperament as tranquil as the fields he toiled in all his life. Becoming a cultivator came naturally, as his body gradually fused with the elements around him. His body absorbed the essence of heaven and earth effortlessly before being deeply refined into strength.

As time passed, his parents aged and eventually passed away, leaving the young man to care for the farm alone. Years went by, and the young man was no longer young but middle-aged. He noticed that no matter how many years passed, he seemed never to age. After living on the farm for hundreds of years, the man decided to leave it behind and travel the world. On his journey, he saw many things, experiencing both delightful surprises and harsh realities.

He married, but he watched as his loved ones passed away, for he had never grown a day older. After going through this several times, the man decided once again to wander the world alone. His eyes were filled with the knowledge of love and loss. He no longer cared about his appearance, yet wherever his adventures took him, he was respected. From time to time, young cultivators would approach him to challenge him, but each time they found themselves powerless. All Yan Xiaobao needed to do was raise his arm, and their cultivation bases would be suppressed. With just a lift of his finger, their energy would ripple outward—not by their control, but because this middle-aged man would absorb it and fuse it with himself.

The farther he traveled, the more young people followed him. He earned the name "Monk," a name he fully embodied as a man. Apart from the clothes on his back, he owed nothing to anyone. He neither ate nor drank, allowing all to approach him; however, he could never be bound. A sense of peace and serenity took over Yan Xiaobao’s entire being, and he felt at ease. As he experienced countless memories as the Monk, and when it all finally came to an end, his character was honed.

The Monk had traveled for thousands of years, experiencing countless things before he finally grasped the truth: life is a cycle. Even after death, new life begins. He had faced failure and sorrow, and after tens of thousands of years of existence, he finally understood it was time for him to move on. It was time for him to return to the embrace of the earth he had walked upon all his life.

As an unknown Primal-level expert appeared, the Monk wore a sorrowful smile. He observed that this person was merely a young man and was certain of his decision. With arms open wide, he allowed the young man to aim a sword at his heart. The Monk slowly closed his eyes and sighed; the last thing he saw was the soft, warm cotton clouds, as gentle and comforting as the life he had lived.

Having experienced all this, Yan Xiaobao froze, tears gathering at the corners of his eyes. After recalling all the memories, Yan Xiaobao felt as though a dear friend had passed. Yet, at the same time, he felt more complete than ever. Merging with the Monk had tempered his character. When he opened his eyes, a new sense of tranquility could be seen within them.

Seeing this sense of tranquility, Wan Qiao was astonished. At the same time, she felt that something about this young man had changed. He appeared the same, yet there was something different in his eyes. There was no longer any tension or worry. He seemed like a transformed person.

"Yan Xiaobao?" Wan Qiao’s voice trembled slightly as she called his name. She couldn’t help but feel a hint of doubt—though these changes were subtle, they could not escape her gaze. Was this truly the same person she had met the day before? The same man who had harshly criticized the Emperor? He no longer seemed like the same person.

Yan Xiaobao looked at Wan Qiao, a faint smile curving his lips. As he sat in the retreating sunlight, he resembled an angel who had descended to the earth.

Yan Xiaobao chuckled softly and slowly swung his legs off the bed. Leaving the comfort of the pillow and blankets, he stretched his aching body as a new surge of energy flowed through every cell. His breakthrough did not stop at the Sixth Star Level; instead, he had leapt from the rank of the first Star King Ranking Expert all the way to the eighth Star Expert as he awoke from his slumber. The Yin Yang Energy within him was now fully fused. The transformation to his body was profound—not only was his energy level far beyond what he could have imagined, but his entire body was brimming with strength. His muscles had been rebuilt and reinforced with energy. His entire being radiated power.

"I need to examine my body," Yan Xiaobao said as he immediately returned to the bed. Crossing his legs, he sat down with his eyes closed and entered his consciousness. He began to inspect every vein, every meridian, and every part of his body, observing and testing the changes that had been made.

Typically, when someone ascends through such high levels rapidly, it requires balancing their energy. One would need to spar with other experts to get a sense of their strength. However, Yan Xiaobao had a feeling that he had perfect control over the energy within his body. He felt completely in sync with it.