Chapter 617: The Great Sage Returns

"I'm not thinking about that anymore; my injuries are quite severe now," Chu Feng muttered, wincing as he inspected himself. After emerging from the strange pit, he had been struck by lightning. That place was specifically designed to purify ominous things, and it nearly electrocuted him to death. Many parts of his body were charred and blackened, and numerous areas were bleeding profusely.

Furthermore, his recent trip to the Netherworld had subjected him to corrosive Yin energy, truly adding insult to injury. He hadn't noticed the pain while conversing with the Other Shore Flower, but now that he had calmed down, the agony was excruciating.

"First, intensely potent lightning, and then the utterly frigid death qi of the Netherworld. Two energies with opposing Yin and Yang attributes corroding me—I'm truly unlucky, enduring this living torment."

Chu Feng grumbled, quite displeased. Being struck by lightning for no reason, and then being invited into the Netherworld—in his view, these were entirely unprovoked misfortunes.

He sat cross-legged in the desert and activated his Dao Yin Breathing Method, immediately absorbing the energy particles floating between heaven and earth to heal his injuries.

At the same time, to be on the safe side, Chu Feng took out a spatial bottle and extracted a pill that radiated dazzling light like a miniature sun. It was a Six Paths Reincarnation Pill.

"I've been to the Land of Reincarnation, set foot in the Netherworld, and was struck by lightning. My injuries are not light, so I'll take a powerful pill to recover."

He chose this precious pill simply because its name contained the characters for "reincarnation," which resonated with his recent experiences.

If anyone knew of his actions, they would undoubtedly erupt in furious curses, declaring him the ultimate prodigal and a wanton squanderer of natural treasures, as if he were treating this like mere candy.

In the cosmic black market, this pill was extremely rare and precious, costing eighty billion cosmic coins per piece. It was a life-saving elixir specifically prepared for Golden Arhat-level powerhouses within major sects, guaranteeing the integrity of their Golden Bodies.

Of course, outside of these major sects, many Golden Arhats among the rogue cultivators wouldn't even dream of acquiring one, as they simply couldn't afford such an outrageous price.

Previously, Chu Feng had been enveloped in white mist, absorbing beneficial energy particles floating in the desert. But now, after biting into a Six Paths Reincarnation Pill, his entire body erupted with golden light, his flesh writhed, his internal organs pulsed, and a thunderous roar resonated from within him.

His entire body's metabolism accelerated to a terrifying degree, his cellular activity increased by an untold number of times, and he felt scorching hot all over.

Not to mention ordinary people, even other cultivators would be unable to withstand such a life state; his vital signs were far beyond normal limits.

Finally, he stabilized, and all the golden radiance retracted back into his pores, nourishing his physical body. In an instant, all his injuries were healed.

Although the Dao Yin Breathing Method was powerful enough to heal him, he was concerned about potentially carrying harmful necrotic substances after returning from the Land of Reincarnation and visiting the Netherworld. This was why he "squandered" the pill, and as expected, his injuries healed completely in moments.

Chu Feng calmed down. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the entire desert was profoundly peaceful, with the crimson evening glow making the sand glisten with a faint, crystalline red light.

Then, he entered a deep state of visualization.

This was a silent form of cultivation; he remained motionless, as if his spirit were traversing the great void. He began to journey through the realm of visualization, embarking on a long, imaginative sprint.

Since entering this realm, he hadn't truly focused on visualization, but now, it felt as natural as water flowing into a channel. Ideas about cultivation emerged as if he had achieved profound enlightenment.

He thought of Luo Yi from the Celestial Race, observing his Kunpeng intent. In an instant, he felt himself transform into a Kunpeng, spreading its wings in the sky, soaring ninety thousand miles high!

Sure enough, an extraordinary phenomenon appeared behind him: a giant black fish leaped out of the sea, transforming into a Peng bird. Its wings were like clouds hanging from the sky, vast and mighty, seemingly tearing through the void to enter the cosmic star sea, utterly domineering!

Next, he visualized the cosmos and starry sky, with all the stars revolving. He stood atop the firmament, looking down upon the impermanence of the world and the evolution of the starry heavens.

Afterward, he observed the swirling "red dust"—the myriad aspects of the human world, each state a different phenomenon, each phenomenon a different life.

Chu Feng had numerous thoughts, which he experimented with one by one. From visualizing divine birds and primordial fierce beasts, to galaxies and the myriad phenomena of the human world, and then to the river of time stretching before his eyes, where all eternity was silent—there was no fixed pattern.

Later, the City of Light and Death, the Path of Reincarnation, and the dozens of golden characters within the stone box all manifested, becoming his visualization targets.

Just as he had decided when he first broke through to the visualization realm, he would visualize all the myriad phenomena of the heavens and all things in the world, unbound by specific forms, constantly experimenting.

In Chu Feng's view, "visualization" meant transforming external elements for one's own benefit.

Ancient texts contained systematic treatises on this topic, so his approach was not a sudden whim of his own, but rather an attempt to advance further along the path laid by his predecessors.

This was because the world was vast, with endless things and countless powerful beings. Visualizing only one object allowed one to concentrate their spirit and exert full effort, making it easier to acquire a certain terrifying power.

However, what Chu Feng sought through visualization was not an external object, but a path of continuous self-improvement and evolution.

He agreed with the assertions in some ancient texts that through visualization, one should emulate heaven, earth, and all of nature to perfect oneself, rather than necessarily manifesting creatures like Kunpeng, Taotie, or True Dragons to enhance combat power.

Doing so might also lead to nothing, missing the opportunity to rapidly boost one's combat power in the realm of visualization.

Of course, if successful, it would result in myriad transformations, allowing one to act as they pleased, unconstrained by form, always employing the visualization method most suitable for themselves.

From ancient times until now, many evolutionaries have dared to explore, yet beings truly capable of myriad transformations, surpassing countless other evolutionaries, are as rare as phoenix feathers or qilin horns.

Nine out of ten overly ambitious individuals meet a tragic end, and inevitably, they are ultimately judged as having grand aspirations but limited talent.

When Chu Feng manifested reincarnation through visualization, it was incredibly realistic. Around him, various phenomena appeared: the City of Light and Death emerged, and countless spiritual entities formed a long, snake-like procession, hurrying towards the end.

Just that evening, a shocking bolt of lightning appeared, striking Chu Feng on the crown of his head. A puff of black smoke rose, sending him tumbling backward onto the ground.

"That mysterious... bastard, damn it!" Chu Feng lay spasming in the desert. The electric current was terrifying, almost roasting him alive.

"I'm visualizing my own path, what business is it of yours?! Why ambush and strike me with lightning?!" He sat up abruptly, indignant. If anyone else had suddenly encountered such a lightning strike, they would surely have died.

Even Chu Feng felt a shiver of fear, secretly grateful that he had previously consumed Hell Ant Nectar and applied Heavenly Fire Liquid, elevating his physical body to the extreme limits of his current realm.

Otherwise, while he was in the midst of his comprehension, a sudden bolt of heavenly lightning striking his head would have been absolutely fatal. It would be strange if he weren't struck dead; even if he survived, he would likely have suffered a cultivation deviation or simply died of shock.

"Thankfully, this young master has walked the path of reincarnation, witnessing even saints being ground into bloody paste in the millstone. My nerves are already thick beyond measure. Otherwise, even if I wasn't struck dead today, I would have been startled into making a mistake."

Chu Feng cursed, then stood up, facing the high heavens.

He vaguely understood that his visualization of reincarnation had touched upon a heavenly taboo. Even without a so-called mysterious ruler, the cosmic rules and order themselves were obstructing him.

Naturally, Chu Feng would not give up. He stood there, continuing his visualization.

He had already decided that his visualized objects would not be fixed in a single form, but he would prioritize certain things, and reincarnation was naturally the most crucial among them!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Lightning bolts struck one after another, all terrifyingly thick. First, they were silver, then the falling electric light turned blood-red. The scene was utterly terrifying.

Undoubtedly, Chu Feng's visualization heavenly tribulation had arrived. He had been in this realm for some time, yet given his formidable strength, it was abnormal that no lightning punishment had descended until now.

Today, as he visualized reincarnation, this tribulation descended, and it was unprecedentedly fierce!

The blood-red lightning, resembling the heavens weeping, was utterly shocking. Bolt after bolt of crimson light inundated the area. From a distance, it seemed as if heaven and earth were crying, with blood-rain falling from the sky to the ground!

Chu Feng winced; the sensation was unbearable. His body, just healed, was now cracked and profusely bleeding from the strikes, with bones even exposed in many places—a truly miserable sight.

Nevertheless, he gritted his teeth and persevered, continuing to visualize reincarnation, determined to see it through.

"If the lightning fails to stop me, you'll still have to acknowledge my Dao fruit. What's the point? Just disperse quickly," Chu Feng muttered.

Then, with a crash, dozens of blood-red lightning bolts descended in a cluster, all striking him. His skull was nearly blown off, now marred with cracks.

"Damn it!" Chu Feng cried out in exasperation. This was truly too miserable.

With a final boom, black lightning descended—very strange indeed—striking his body and then inexplicably burrowing inside, specifically aiming to destroy his spirit.

"How insidious! You mysterious bastard, you're really something. You want to ambush my spirit, but you've miscalculated. This Master Chu's spirit and physical body are integrated as one; I am immortal."

Chu Feng was defiant, continuing his visualization and enduring the heavenly lightning strikes. And of course, he didn't forget to run his mouth, boasting shamelessly.

This heavenly tribulation lasted a full hour, countless times more intense than a normal visualization tribulation, and critically, it lasted far too long.

As stars emerged across the sky, the desert had already undergone a drastic transformation. Not only were there no sand dunes left, but even the sand itself was gone from this area, replaced by a huge, deep pit carved out by the lightning.

It could even be described as a grand canyon, dark and cavernous inside, with molten lava flowing across the ground. Many areas had already cooled and solidified into rock.

Chu Feng lay on the ground, with still-wet lava beside him. He didn't want to move a muscle; many of his bones were broken, leaving him in a truly miserable state.

"Damn it, this isn't like what the books described! Didn't they say a single lightning bolt falls at first, and a few dozen in total would be the most? Damn, by that standard, I feel like I've endured dozens, even hundreds of heavenly tribulations! You mysterious bastard, I curse your entire female lineage!"

Chu Feng was utterly furious. What he had just endured was truly life-threatening. If his physique hadn't been so incredibly powerful, far surpassing others at his level, he would have undoubtedly died a tragic death, his bones reduced to dust.

Chu Feng floated in the air, still lying horizontally, visualizing himself as a white cloud, and drifted away. He had to leave this place; being soaked in lava was too unbearable. Even though his physical body was very strong, he was now severely damaged by the lightning, and staying any longer would truly cook him through.

"No, I need more candy!"

Chu Feng landed at the edge of the great desert, lying on a sand dune, gulping down fresh air. At last, there was no more smell of sulfur or lightning fire.

"I, Chu Feng, am back!" He wanted to shout it out, but then suppressed the urge. Returning in such a terribly battered state would be too humiliating.

This was no triumphant homecoming; he was in rags, returning like a beggar.

"I need another piece of candy." Chu Feng took another Six Paths Reincarnation Pill because he felt its medicinal effects were truly astonishing, subtly having a significant effect on strengthening his bones and muscles, invigorating his spirit, and also increasing his potential.

If anyone knew of his thoughts, they would surely sigh in speechless dismay. This was a divine pill, naturally capable of restoring one's essence, offering immense benefits. The crucial point was, who could possibly eat it like candy? It was a shameful waste.

Chu Feng naturally felt no pity. The last time he sold so many divine sons and saintesses, he acquired a considerable amount of Six Paths Reincarnation Pills, Heavenly God Liquid, and other treasures. Even after distributing some to Yellow Ox and others, he still had enough for his short-term needs.

"When these run out, I'll just go back to selling divine sons and saintesses. Of course, by then, I'll have to target those who are highly ranked and famously powerful."

Of course, at this stage, he had to remain low-key and avoid exposure. Even if he wanted to sell divine sons, he would have to do it covertly. He had returned this time planning to scheme against people, and initially, he definitely didn't want anyone to know he was alive.

"I'll rest for a bit and leave tomorrow morning. I'm back anyway, one more night won't make a difference." Primarily, many of his bones were broken, and his skull was nearly blown off. Even with his powerful physique, heaven-defying breathing method, and having consumed the Six Paths Reincarnation Pill, he still needed some time to recuperate.

Chu Feng was covered in blood from head to toe, so he wasn't worried about being recognized. At the same time, he began to devise ways to conceal his true appearance.

"People from beyond the domain shouldn't be able to do anything to me; they can't constantly observe me anymore." Chu Feng possessed this confidence, believing that as long as he carried a peerless secret treasure, divine sight would be rendered ineffective.

He had the stone box on him. It was hard to say just how heaven-defying it would be once one of its sides fully revived, but it should be sufficient to disrupt heavenly secrets. After all, he had walked the path of reincarnation while holding it!

"Director, there's a dead person here. Take a look, should we film him? He's perfect for an important scene in 'Return of the Great Sage'."

"Stop dawdling! We need to head to Longhu Mountain tonight; that's the most important shooting location. Don't bother with dead people; it's creepy, especially after the strange lightning and thunder a hundred miles away just now."

"Hmm, no rush, let me take a look." Just then, the director himself walked over. Upon seeing the heavily injured Chu Feng, he remarked, "Oh, excellent! This perfectly matches the tragic scene I envision for the Great Sage's return. Film it; it can be an important shot. No need for makeup or touch-ups. He's dead anyway, so no appearance fee. If push comes to shove, we can drag him to Longhu Mountain and use him for another day or two."

"Director, you're truly heartless! You'd do anything to save money!"

Chu Feng's expression was odd, then he felt a bit disheveled. Could he really encounter an old acquaintance here? It was Zhou Yitian, that terrible director who filmed 'Great Sage Bull Demon' back then. Was he making a sequel?!

His face, however, darkened slightly. How had he encountered this director again, and inadvertently become the protagonist of his film once more?

He thought for a moment and decided not to move. Since they were heading to Longhu Mountain, he might as well take advantage of their flying transport and travel there overnight. He wondered what the situation was like there, as his parents used to live on that mountain.