Closing his eyes, he focused—not on external energy, but on his own will, which now commanded the tiger spirit within him with ease.
With a single mental command, the transformation began to reverse.
It wasn't instant; it was a controlled retraction. The black armor liquefied, sliding off his skin and dissipating like dark smoke. The sharp fangs and claws withdrew into his flesh with a dull, fleeting pain.
The strangest part was the sensation of the wings—they didn't disappear.
Instead, they folded with impossible precision, shrinking and merging into his back. It felt like a muscle contracting. In their place, a complex tattoo of two black dragon wings remained etched into his skin, pulsing with dormant energy.
He could feel that, with a single thought, they would burst forth again.
"This is much more comfortable."
Once the transformation was gone, he opened his eyes again.
He had returned to his usual appearance. Still the same white-haired youth with delicate features—but something in his posture had permanently changed. There was a weight, a density to his presence that hadn't existed before. The power of the tiger now slumbered within his Soul Realm, ready to awaken at his command.
"Hmph! I still look the best." He grinned.
Satisfied, he put on a clean robe and left the inn, diving into the city's bustle. The air buzzed with excited chatter, and the main topic was unmistakable.
"The Divine Family is being bold again! I heard young master Chen Linjian is personally organizing an expedition to the Ancient Orchid City Ruins!" an excited youth exclaimed in a teahouse.
"Yeah, and he's not taking just anyone," his companion added. "He invited the most promising talents from all the major families. It's a chance to train—and of course, hunt for treasures that haven't been discovered yet."
"Hm?"
Xiang Yun processed the information. Chen Linjian. The name was familiar. The expedition too.
But something felt off. A prickling curiosity stirred in him. From his memories of the story, that expedition to the Ancient Ruins wasn't supposed to happen until much later—after Nie Li fully awakened his memories from the future and began shaking the foundations of Glory City.
Now, the event was happening early.
Which meant…
The realization hit like ice in his gut. If events were out of sync, and the catalyst—Nie Li's return—hadn't happened yet, then maybe this wasn't an alternate version of the story.
No. He was likely in the first timeline. The original.
The doomed one.
The timeline where Glory City was eventually destroyed by the endless waves of demon beasts, and where—aside from Nie Li and a few others—everyone else perished.
The same timeline that led Nie Li to grow strong and ultimately fall to the Sage Emperor, triggering his first reincarnation.
A chill ran down Xiang Yun's spine. Facing that apocalyptic future without the destined protagonist was terrifying.
For a brief moment, the weight of anxiety threatened to suffocate him.
But the feeling didn't last.
It was replaced by a cold calm and a steel-hard resolve.
He steadied his breath.
If this is the first timeline, then the future isn't set in stone. The knowledge I carry… is the greatest advantage of all.
The lucky chances that were meant for Nie Li—hidden treasures, forbidden techniques—they were all within his reach now.
He could become the pillar the city needed. He could use the future to grow strong and protect the people he cared about.
The thought cleared his mind and solidified his purpose. This expedition was no longer just a treasure hunt. It was now a critical step in his path.
"I need to go," he thought, the decision now carrying far greater weight.
"The tomb of Emperor Kong Ming, the Demon Page of the Temporal Book, the Obsidian Gem, the Spirit Devil Shadow… they're all essential."
Not to mention, if he remembered right, the Temporal Demon Book was hidden in the Desert Palace. The Thunder God's Meteorite Sword… and the goddess Yu Yan awaited him as well. Each one could boost his power immensely.
That was it! Just as quickly as the feeling of being lost had come, it vanished.
While walking, lost in these deep thoughts, a familiar figure appeared in his line of sight. Ye Ziyun, as graceful as ever, was approaching.
Trailing a few steps behind her—like a shadow that didn't know how to vanish—was Shen Yue. His expression was a dark mix of bitterness and humiliation.
It was obvious he was following her, but she treated him with monumental coldness, ignoring him as if he were part of the air. Every time he tried to speak, she simply kept walking, which only made him more agitated, grinding his teeth in silence.
Upon seeing Xiang Yun, Ye Ziyun's face lit up. She quickened her pace, leaving Shen Yue even further behind.
"Xiang Yun!" she called, her voice filled with genuine relief. "I'm so glad I found you. Have you heard about the expedition being organized by Chen Linjian?"
Shen Yue, who had finally caught up, stopped at a safe distance, his eyes burning with jealousy.
'Trash! Not only does he have Ning'er's attention, now Ziyun runs to him like a moth to a flame. If it weren't for his power, I'd have crippled him already!'
But he didn't dare confront him. In front of Xiang Yun, he was just a coward, growling only in his thoughts.
"I've heard some rumors," Xiang Yun replied with a calm smile. He noticed both of them had stabilized at One-Star Bronze Rank.
'With the new pills from the Association, it's expected that the major families are investing heavily in their heirs.'
"I got an invitation from Chen Linjian and I plan to join," said Ye Ziyun. Then she hesitated, her gaze drifting for a moment.
"I wanted to invite Ning'er to go with me so we could watch each other's backs… but she still... you know."
The sadness in her voice was tangible.
"Since you two are on good terms now, I thought maybe… if you invited her, she might accept."
It was a sincere request—Ye Ziyun was using Xiang Yun as a bridge to try to mend her broken friendship with Xiao Ning'er.
Xiang Yun understood the situation perfectly. He looked at Ye Ziyun's hopeful expression, then—briefly—at Shen Yue's pathetic figure, squirming with envy a few meters away.
"Don't worry," he said, his voice radiating a calm confidence that instantly reassured Ye Ziyun.
"I'm planning to go on that expedition too. Talking to Xiao Ning'er won't be a problem. I'm sure she'll be happy to join us."
"Really? Thank you so much, Xiang Yun!" The gratitude on Ye Ziyun's face was immense.
With plans set, they agreed to meet at the site of Chen Linjian's gathering in a few days.
As Ye Ziyun walked away, a renewed lightness in her step, Xiang Yun turned to follow his own path.
But first, he stopped.
Without turning his body, he just glanced back over his shoulder—straight at Shen Yue. It wasn't an angry look. It was cold, detached, as if he were staring at something pathetic. It was sharp, sarcastic, and utterly dismissive.
Shen Yue felt it like a physical blow. He shivered from head to toe, the blood in his veins freezing. Fear overwhelmed him. He shrank back instinctively, dropping his gaze and avoiding eye contact at all costs—then hurried after Ye Ziyun like a dog with its tail between its legs.
He had already been beaten by Xiang Yun once. He had no intention of finding out what it would be like a second time.