Pale blue frost mist spilled from the open stasis pod, carrying the scent of life-restoring fluid mingled with a faint trace of medicinal herbs. Every gaze turned toward it at once.
Lin Ye's eyelashes trembled lightly.
Then, slowly and with some effort, he opened his eyes.
His eyes still held the deep, starry violet they had acquired when his Reincarnation Jōgan awakened. The galaxy patterns within his pupils revolved slowly, but their light was subdued now, revealing profound exhaustion and a trace of... bewilderment, as though he had just escaped a long nightmare. The Origin Starmark on his forehead had stabilized, resting there like a miniature tattoo of stars endlessly forming and dying.
"Big Brother Ye!" "Lord Ye!" "Sir Lin Ye!"
The cries rang out almost simultaneously. Sakura and Karin, who had been keeping watch beside him, rushed to the pod first. Naruto, Sasuke, Mo Chen, and Lingxi immediately gathered around as well.
Lin Ye's unfocused gaze drifted slowly across the familiar faces filled with concern. It seemed to take him several seconds to reconnect the scene before him with his fragmented consciousness. He tried moving his fingers, then his arm. Waves of soreness and bone-deep weakness coursed through him, but at least he could feel that his body still existed. His soul felt heavy, yet the agonizing sensation of being torn apart had finally faded.
"I'm... still alive..." His voice was so hoarse it was barely audible. Every word scraped his throat like sandpaper.
"Don't try to talk yet!" Sakura immediately brought a cup of warm water and carefully raised him a little, letting him take small sips. The water flowed down his parched throat, bringing comforting warmth.
Karin immediately used the secret sensory art inherited from Zhixue to examine his soul and body. Relief appeared on her face,