Perfect: I am Shi An from Shicun, and I am Huang’s brother!

Chapter 443 Shi An Emerges from Seclusion
Inside the purple bamboo grove, the wind had stopped and the clouds were still.

Shi An stood atop a large brown boulder, his aura as deep and boundless as the ocean, yet perfectly integrated with the world around him. He slightly raised his eyes, and the illusory reflection of the starry sky in his pupils slowly receded, finally returning to a profound depth.

Meng Tianzheng's bamboo pole trembled slightly, causing ripples to spread across the muddy pond, but it did not startle the fish.

His gaze fell on Shi An, his voice calm but with a rare hint of approval: "Not bad, your insights have already entered a completely new realm."

"I have to thank the Grand Elder for his guidance; otherwise, it would have taken me who knows how long to reach my current level!"

As he spoke, Shi An reached out slightly and traced a line in the air with his fingertips.

"Zi~"

In an instant, a barely perceptible chaotic pattern appeared and then quietly disappeared.

At this moment, he could clearly feel the embryonic form of the world within his body evolving autonomously. The twelve illusory images of gods and demons of the laws could manifest outward according to his thoughts, yet they were completely different from when he forcibly summoned them in the past.

At this moment, they seem to have been naturally born from chaos, carrying the Daoist charm of the beginning of heaven and earth.

With a slight thought, a wisp of chaotic energy overflowed from his fingertips. It was no longer a violent torrent of energy, but a gentle stream, flowing and shaping freely in his palm.

Sometimes it transforms into a swaying purple bamboo phantom, with the veins of the bamboo leaves clearly visible; sometimes it condenses into a miniature silver dragon, with its scales and claws flying, lifelike.

Ultimately, it vanished without a trace, as if it had never existed.

This mastery of power is exquisite, subtle, and perfectly controlled, far surpassing anything seen before.

He was no longer a brute wielding a giant axe, but a master painter, each stroke a manifestation of his heart's desire and the strength of his hand.

"Buzz..."

The miniature chaotic world within him was now emitting a low hum, not of pain or struggle, but of a satisfied rhythm, a resonance that perfectly matched the will of the world's master.

Thousands of illusory stars slowly rotated within the realm, their starlight intertwining and casting a soft glow that nourished the surging yet orderly primordial chaos below.

The twelve phantom images of gods and demons of the laws stood there, their auras calm and harmonious, as if they were indispensable pillars of this world.

Shi An slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, which carried a trace of the primordial energy of the beginning of chaos, causing a few nearby purple bamboo leaves to sway gently.

He felt an unprecedented sense of power within his body, a heavy power as solid as the earth and as vast as the starry sky. It was no longer restless or difficult to control, but had truly become an extension of his body and will.

"very good!"

Seeing this, Meng Tianzheng once again expressed his admiration, his deep, all-seeing gaze quietly fixed on him: "It seems you have thoroughly understood the principle of 'symbiosis,' that power lies not in external things, but in the extension of oneself."

"This is the foundation that is solid, and only then can we look forward to the future."

He paused, his gaze drifting to the vigorous energy emanating from the other parts of the academy beyond the bamboo grove: "Go on, it's been a long time since you left, it's time to go back and see your friends."

Upon hearing this, Shi An's heart stirred slightly.

After months of quiet meditation, away from the hustle and bustle of the world, it's indeed time to go back.

Yunxi, Huoling'er, Qingyi, the Ten-Crown King, the Immortal, Shiyi... and that fat guy Cao Yusheng, I wonder what kind of experiences and growth they have had in this vast arena of the Heavenly God Academy.

And Shi Hao...
I wonder if he has returned from a foreign land as in the original story, or if he is still deeply entrenched in it and unable to find a way out.

"This disciple takes his leave." With that thought, Shi An bowed again, full of respect for Meng Tianzheng, his guide.

Meng Tianzheng merely nodded slightly in response, then turned his gaze back to the surface of the muddy pond. The verdant bamboo poles remained as steady as a rock, as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this, Shi An didn't say anything more. He immediately turned around and walked calmly out of the bamboo forest.

He did not fly, but walked slowly along the cobblestone path.

Now, with each step he took, it seemed as if he resonated with the earth, his aura as deep and solid as a mountain, yet as free and flowing as a cloud.

The surrounding purple bamboo seemed to sense the aura within him that was of the same origin as the world; the bamboo leaves moved without wind, making a soft rustling sound, as if bidding him farewell.

When his figure completely disappeared into the depths of the bamboo forest, the purple bamboo forest returned to its eternal tranquility. Only the surface of the muddy pond rippled a new circle of waves due to the slight trembling of Meng Tianzheng's bamboo pole.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yunxi was sitting quietly atop a spiritual peak of the Heavenly God Academy, surrounded by a faint purple glow.

Suddenly, she felt something and abruptly opened her eyes, looking into the distance. Her fingertips unconsciously traced the crystal-clear bone bracelet on her wrist.

That was a protective item that Shi An had crafted for her using the power of his domain, and it was now slightly warm.

"I'm back..."

Yunxi murmured, her skirts fluttering as she transformed into a streak of light and swept down the mountain.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the academy, Cao Yusheng, who had been holding a broken piece of bronze and shouting, suddenly perked up, turned his head sharply, and his fat face trembled: "This aura... it's that freak Fourth Brother!"

On the other side, the Ten-Crown Emperor also awoke from his reverie, with true dragon energy flowing across his body.

The immortal's bone flute music abruptly stopped, and a chaotic light flickered within Shi Yi's double pupils... All the old friends who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the ancient immortal era sensed that profound Daoist aura, as if the earth were awakening.

Shi An stepped out of the purple bamboo forest, but did not rush to use his extreme speed. Instead, he strolled leisurely along the mountain path of the Heavenly God Academy.

His mind was clear and tranquil, and the miniature universe within him pulsed slowly with his breath and steps. The Daoist aura around him flowed naturally, resonating quietly with the mountains, rivers, plants, trees, clouds, and breezes along the way.

Wherever he went, the spring water seemed even sweeter, the ancient leaves even greener, and several cranes gracefully landed, circling and calling softly around him, as if they were getting close to that pure vitality from the beginning of creation.

This is a mysterious state; he seems to have become the convergence point of the spirit of heaven and earth, and his walking, sitting, and lying down are all in harmony with nature.

However, this tranquility did not last long.

As he approached a giant valley for martial arts practice, a sudden surge of intense energy erupted ahead, accompanied by a sharp cry and a ferocious roar.

"Roar!"

Turning around, one could see a fiery red figure battling fiercely against a descendant of a Pixiu, whose bloodline had reverted to its ancestral form and whose ferocity was overwhelming, in the valley.

The figure was slender and familiar, surrounded by fiery runes, like an elf born from flames. Who else could it be but Huo Ling'er?

However, Huo Ling'er's cultivation level had obviously improved a lot compared to a few months ago. She had already reached the edge of the Heavenly God Realm, and with every move she made, Phoenix True Fire would sweep across the land, burning mountains and boiling seas.

The Pixiu descendant opposite her was also extraordinary, with its scales and armor chilling, spewing destructive light from its mouth, exuding a fierce and awe-inspiring aura; it was actually a powerful remnant of the Heavenly God Realm.

(End of this chapter)