Awakening

As Wang Chuan's consciousness completely withdrew from the Sea of Consciousness, his fingertips had barely begun to tremble faintly when Ning Rongrong, who had been keeping watch by the bed, instantly noticed the movement. Her tightly furrowed brows suddenly relaxed, and the tears that had lingered in her eyes for so long finally spilled over. Yet her face was filled with irrepressible joy as she grabbed Wang Chuan's hand. "Brother Chuan! I knew you wouldn't leave Rong Rong behind!" Her voice was choked with lingering fear, but even more so with the relief of having him back.

Wang Chuan slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was still clouded by the haze of waking, but it softened at once when it met Ning Rongrong's reddened eyes. He lifted a hand and gently brushed over her disheveled hair. His voice was hoarse from having just awakened, filled with apology. "Rong Rong, I'm sorry for making you and everyone worry for so long." As he spoke, he tried to push himself up, but the moment he exerted any strength, Ning Rongrong hurriedly pressed down on his shoulder. Her force was light, yet her insistence allowed no refusal.

"Lie down!" Ning Rongrong puffed out her cheeks, pretending to be stern, but her reddened nose and tear-streaked face only made the threat especially adorable. "If you dare get up, then... then Rong Rong won't talk to you anymore!"

At that moment, soft footsteps sounded outside the door. Ning Fengzhi entered with Chen Xin and Gu Rong. The three of them looked at Wang Chuan, and seeing that though he was weak, his mind was clear, they finally let go of the worry hanging over them. Ning Fengzhi gently asked about Wang Chuan's condition. When he saw that Wang Chuan was merely somewhat mentally fatigued, he smiled and patted the back of his hand. "You've only just woken up. Rest well; we won't disturb you for now." Then he gave Ning Rongrong a meaningful look before leading Chen Xin and Gu Rong quietly from the room. He deliberately left the door slightly ajar—they had all seen how Ning Rongrong had remained by the sickbed without leaving his side these past few days. What she needed most now was time alone with him.

Only the two of them remained in the room. Seeing that Ning Rongrong was still tense, Wang Chuan smiled helplessly and affectionately, explaining softly, "All right, Rong Rong. Look, I even have the strength to sit up now. I'm really completely fine."

"I don't care!" Ning Rongrong pouted as tears began welling in her eyes again. "You were unconscious for three whole days. I stayed here every day and didn't even dare sleep deeply. Can't I care about you now?" Before she could finish, the sob in her voice grew heavier. The worry of the past few days had clearly weighed on her terribly.

Wang Chuan was completely helpless now. He could only soften his voice, gently patting the back of her hand to comfort her as he slowly told her about his experiences in the Sea of Consciousness. He did not mention the dangerous twists and turns, only choosing the interesting details—such as the strange sights he had seen within the spiritual space, or how he had gradually stabilized the power that had gone out of control. Ning Rongrong's attention was gradually drawn in, and her crying slowly stopped. She merely listened with watery eyes, occasionally asking, "And then?" Her tense shoulders quietly relaxed as well.

The sunlight outside gradually slanted westward. Warm golden rays filtered through the window lattice and fell beside the bed. Ning Rongrong's gaze slowly grew unfocused, her head lightly resting against the bedside as her breathing gradually steadied. She had not rested properly these past few days, and now that she saw Wang Chuan safe and sound while listening to his gentle voice, exhaustion finally swept over her completely. Before she knew it, she had fallen asleep.

Wang Chuan looked at her sleeping face, his eyes filled with tenderness. He carefully lifted Ning Rongrong into his arms, moving as lightly as though afraid of disturbing a fragile dream. He slowly placed her on the bed, pulled over a thin blanket, and carefully tucked in its corners around her. He even gently pressed down the gap around her neck. After making sure she would not catch cold, he stood by the bed for a while longer before turning around and quietly closing the door. Then he headed toward the Seven Treasures Grand Hall—he knew Ning Fengzhi and the other two would surely still be waiting for him, and it was time to properly explain the changes in his power.

Inside the Seven Treasures Grand Hall, Ning Fengzhi sat in the seat of honor, his fingertips lightly tapping against the table. Chen Xin stood nearby with a hand on his sword hilt, while Gu Rong leaned against a pillar. All three wore thoughtful expressions. When Wang Chuan entered, Ning Fengzhi was the first to rise and gesture for him to sit. "Can your body still hold up?"

Wang Chuan nodded. The moment he sat down, Ning Fengzhi got straight to the point. "Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, you should have noticed it too, right? Since Xiao Chuan woke up this time, not only have his Soul Power and Power of Void improved considerably, but even his Mental Power has become far stronger than before."

A trace of approval flashed through Chen Xin's eyes as he continued, "Indeed. Earlier, I sensed him from outside the door for a while. The fluctuations of his Mental Power were steady and powerful, at least twice what they were before. Even the Mental Power of an ordinary Soul Elder may not compare to his."

Gu Rong could not help smiling as he waved a hand. "The two of you can stop guessing here. Isn't the person involved right in front of us? We can just ask Xiao Chuan directly, and won't everything become clear?"

Hearing that, Ning Fengzhi also smiled at Wang Chuan. "Uncle Gu is right. Tell us, then—what exactly happened in the Sea of Consciousness this time?"

Wang Chuan sat to one side of the Seven Treasures Grand Hall with his back perfectly straight, reporting to the three of them in an orderly tone. "Reporting to Uncle Ning, Master, Grandpa Gu: after I absorbed the soul ring that day, my consciousness was already preparing to awaken from its dormant state. But at that moment, something abnormal suddenly appeared above the Sea of Consciousness—the Eternal Dark Jellyfish I had hunted before unexpectedly manifested in spiritual form without any warning. Before I could react, it suddenly released a massive amount of surging Power of Void. That power was violent and chaotic, and it nearly shattered my mental barrier."

At this point, he paused, gratitude appearing in his eyes. "Fortunately, Sister Huang Quan in my Sea of Consciousness acted in time. Rather than directly resisting that power, she used a special method to guide and sort it out, ultimately drawing all of it into the depths of my Sea of Consciousness. Thanks to that power, my Sea of Consciousness expanded several times over, and my Mental Power rose along with it. Though I appeared unconscious these past two days, I was actually learning under Sister Huang Quan's guidance how to control and wield this newly gained Power of Void and the surge in Mental Power. I can finally use them proficiently now."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Chuan's brows lightly furrowed, confusion entering his voice. "It's just that before Sister Huang Quan left, she specifically reminded me of something. She said that my power was growing too quickly, and that I had to find 'that indelible color in my life.' I did not have time to ask what she meant before she sent me out of the Sea of Consciousness."

Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong exchanged glances, understanding flashing through their eyes—they naturally understood what that "indelible color" referred to. Behind it lay Wang Chuan's future fate and bonds, but the matter was too heavy. Wang Chuan had only just awakened, so it was not yet time for him to bear that burden too soon.

Ning Fengzhi was the first to look away. With a smile, he raised a hand to interrupt Wang Chuan's thoughts and skillfully changed the subject. "So you were busy improving your strength these past two days. We worried for nothing. But now that you've absorbed the Eternal Dark Jellyfish's soul ring, what is your Second Spirit Ability? Let us take a look at your new ability."

Chen Xin nodded as well, the hand gripping his sword moving slightly as anticipation showed in his eyes. "The soul ring is of exceptional quality, so its spirit ability should not be lacking either. This is a good chance to test your control." Gu Rong stepped forward directly, his face full of curiosity. "Hurry up and show us. Let this old man broaden his horizons!"