Chapter 2151 : 3 Profound Chaos Domain

"Troublesome."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, then quickened his pace in an attempt to shake off the 3 pursuers.

Witnessing this, the Unity Supreme immediately produced a treasure talisman to lock onto Eldrin’s aura, then sneered coldly and said, “Hand over the supreme treasure at once, and I may spare your life.”

"Seeking death!"

Eldrin's eyes turned icy cold, a trace of killing intent finally surfacing in his heart.

But just to be safe, he continued fleeing without pause and soon left the 3 far behind.

Seeing that the 3 of them could not catch up with Eldrin, the top Harmony Dao Supreme finally could no longer restrain himself. He glanced at the 2 other Supremes beside him and declared, “I shall pursue him first. You 2, follow swiftly.”

As the words faded, the peak Unity cultivator unleashed a Void Treasure Talisman, tearing through dimensions in relentless pursuit. Unbeknownst to them both, the distance between them had finally narrowed.

Thus they pursued and fled, neither knowing how much time had passed until the 2 had finally widened the gap between themselves and the other 2 Dao Combination experts.

"Almost there."

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured inwardly. Though he could easily shake off his pursuer with his Space-Time Divine Form, this individual had already imprinted his aura. Leaving such a threat alive would inevitably breed future troubles.

At this thought, Eldrin decided not to indulge him any further. He halted directly within the chaos, quietly awaiting the arrival of this supreme Unity Realm expert.

Thus, after what seemed like countless ages, the Void Mastiff clan's Dao Unification Supreme finally closed in on Eldrin (Person Name).

He cast a menacing gaze toward Eldrin and spoke with a sinister grin, "I shall repeat myself 1 last time: surrender the treasure, and your life will be spared."

"Alas, you seek your own doom!"

Eldrin (Person Name) let out a sigh, then abruptly swept his sleeve, summoning a divine form of time and space that enveloped the heavens and earth, pulling the supreme master of the Shadow Mastiff clan into its grasp.

Suddenly pulled into the temporal domain, the Nether Mastiff Sovereign's expression shifted slightly. When his gaze fell upon Eldrin once more, a trace of wariness surfaced in his eyes.

"I never expected you to have mastered the Form of Time and Space. It seems I have underestimated you."

“不过匹夫无罪，怀璧其罪，以你的实力，怕是还受不住那重宝。”

Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly. While top-grade Chaos Spirit Treasures were indeed precious, he had been able to wield them freely across the 100 Realms of the Returning Abyss precisely because its inhabitants possessed far too limited knowledge.

If he were to venture beyond the 100 Realms of the Returning Abyss, those half-step Limitless experts would likely see through his secrets. It seemed he would need to exercise even greater caution in the future, waiting until the spiritual opportunity of the treasure faded before showing his face again.

Thinking of this, Eldrin did not pause his movements. With a mighty roar, he channeled all his power into the Axe of Annihilation, bringing it down in a devastating arc. The strike sent the You'ao Patriarch reeling through the air, blood spraying from his wounds.

Although this Nether Mastiff Patriarch was a top-tier supreme expert, his actual combat prowess was rather mediocre for this realm, far from being a match for Eldrin (Person Name).

In just over a dozen exchanges, the man had already suffered grievous wounds.

Seeing that defeat was imminent, the Supreme of the Nether Mastiff Clan revealed a look of shock and fury, unable to resist uttering a threat: "Our Nether Mastiff Clan boasts countless Supremes and prodigies as abundant as rain, with 2 Half-Step Boundless Ancestors guarding the primordial chaos."

"If you dare strike me down today, our clan's Patriarch will surely hunt you to the ends of the earth."

"Hah, I'll be waiting!"

Eldrin sneered coldly, channeling all his Great Dao empowerment into his physical form. With a mighty surge, he unleashed the destructive power of his axe in a devastating downward arc, instantly cleaving the supreme master of the Shadow Mastiff tribe across the celestial void.

After slaying the Nether Mastiff Patriarch, Eldrin immediately seized the Treasure-Seeking Mouse—a rare specimen at the Patriarch-level.

After some effort, he subdued the treasure-hunting mouse, then collected every last bit of the Nether Mastiff Supreme's flesh, blood, and bones.

After destroying that treasure talisman which had recorded his aura and erasing all traces, he decisively left this battlefield.

Eldrin was not truly concerned about the threat posed by the 2 Half-Step Infinity experts of the Shadow Mastiff race.

The chaos was vast and boundless. As long as he did not reveal his identity as the Lord of the 100 Realms of the Returning Abyss, it was highly unlikely that the 2 Half-Step Wuji masters could bring harm to his lineage of the Returning Abyss.

Moreover, according to Eldrin's own estimation, once he had cultivated the second supreme Dao, his combat power would inevitably step into the half-step Infinite realm.

At that time, even when facing the 2 great supremes of the Eldrin race, he might well possess the power to stand and fight.

Getting back to the main story, after slaying the Supreme of the Nether Mastiff Clan, Eldrin immediately concealed his aura and returned to the Chaos Realm.

When Lyra (Person Name) saw him return, her face initially lit up with joy. Yet upon noticing the slight disorder in his aura, her expression instantly turned grave.

"What's wrong?"

"I came across a young pup from the Eldrin tribe and casually sent him to his grave."

Eldrin remarked casually, tossing down the bones of the Nether Mastiff Patriarch.

Everyone glanced over and their expressions shifted slightly. Seraphina Qu (Person Name) couldn't help but ask with concern, "Are you unharmed?"

"Nothing serious."

Eldrin shook his head, then released the treasure-seeking rat and declared, "Would you be willing to submit to me?"

The treasure-hunting mouse let out a series of frantic squeals, struggling to break free from Eldrin's grasp, yet it remained firmly trapped in his hold.

As a unique type of spirit beast, the Treasure-Seeking Mouse possesses an innate and extraordinary sensitivity to treasures. Being an exceptionally rare spirit creature capable of locating valuables, it often uncovers countless legendary and peerless rarities.

It was precisely for this reason that the treasure-hunting mouse incurred Heaven’s envy. Not only was it unable to take human form and embark on the orthodox path of cultivation, but its spiritual intelligence was also restricted to an extremely low level, equivalent to that of a 7- or 8-year-old child.

Moreover, it was utterly inept in combat, and the 1 before them was a prime example. Its strength ranked at the very bottom among Supreme Realm beings—so much so that it might not even defeat some of the top-tier Half-Step Unity experts.

However, such spirit beasts possess an extraordinary sensitivity toward rare celestial treasures. Were it not for this ability, Eldrin would never have been discovered by the Supreme Elder of the Shadow Mastiff Clan.

In truth, treasure-hunting mice at the Sovereign level were exceedingly rare. Eldrin even suspected that there were no more than 3 to 5 such creatures in the entire primordial chaos, all born as Chaos Holy Spirits within the depths of the Chaos Realm.

Thus, Eldrin was reluctant to suppress and slay the 1 before him.

Seeing that the Treasure-Seeking Mouse still refused to cooperate, Eldrin let out a trace of chilling intent and said, "Live or die—the choice is yours."

"Cheep cheep."

Hearing this, the treasure-hunting rodent turned pale with fright and immediately began nodding its head like a pestle pounding garlic.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) couldn't help but smile faintly. "Open your sea of consciousness," he said, "and I shall place a restriction within."

As the words fell, Eldrin activated the Immortal Path Beast Taming Art and swiftly gained control over the treasure-seeking rodent.

This beast-taming method was created by ‘Tian,’ 1 of Nameless’ 7 great disciples. Eldrin still remembered the supreme beast-controlling restriction within it, so subduing a treasure-hunting rodent was as effortless as stretching out his hand.

After successfully bonding with the treasure-hunting mouse, a faint smile graced Eldrin's lips.

He set it down and then spoke, "Within this Chaos Realm, there are numerous immortal golds and divine ores, along with vast amounts of chaos spirit treasures. Go and excavate them all to bring before me."

"Chirp chirp."

The Treasure-Seeking Mouse's eyes lit up, immediately vanishing into the Chaos Realm.

The Treasure-Seeking Mouse, being of limited intelligence, quickly accepted the fact that it had a new master. Immediately, it turned its attention to the treasures scattered all over the ground, tirelessly digging up immortal rarities and divine wonders.

After the treasure-seeking rat had departed, Eldrin retrieved the Qiankun Creation Cauldron and remarked, "Though there were some unexpected developments this time, fortunately we've returned safely to the Chaos Realm."

"Next, I only need to refine the Minor Wuji Immortal Pill and use it to cultivate the second Chaos Divine Form. Then the troubles with the Shadow Hound Clan will be effortlessly resolved."

With those words, Eldrin immediately ignited the furnace to begin refining the Minor Infinity Immortal Pill.

The refinement of this Minor Limitless Immortal Pill was exceptionally challenging. Fortunately, Nameless had once successfully refined even the true Limitless Immortal Pill in the past. Having inherited all of Nameless's memories and insights, Eldrin (Person Name) found the process of crafting the Minor Limitless Immortal Pill to proceed as naturally as water flowing downhill.

After an unknowable span of time, Eldrin ultimately succeeded in refining a cauldron of Minor Infinity Immortal Pills.

Similar to the Peerless Immortal Elixir, a single cauldron of the Lesser Peerless Immortal Elixir yields only 1 pill. Eldrin carefully retrieved this Lesser Peerless Immortal Elixir, his expression turning solemn as he spoke:

"Whether I can attain Half-Step Limitless combat prowess depends entirely on this breakthrough."

"This secluded cultivation is of paramount importance. You must remember not to disturb me."

Lyra gave a slight nod and said, "Focus on your breakthrough without worrying about anything else."

Eldrin nodded, then immediately consumed the Minor Infinity Immortal Pill and began refining its energy to break through his cultivation realm.

This was Eldrin's second attempt at merging with the Supreme Dao. Compared to his first breakthrough, which had flowed as naturally as water coursing downstream, he now distinctly felt the difficulty of this ascent had multiplied exponentially.

For the Heavenly Dao stands alone and supreme; the difficulty of fusing with a second supreme Dao was far greater than that of the first.

Most crucially, with Eldrin's (Person Name) current half-step Dao Fusion realm soul cultivation, maintaining control over the Supreme Vessel and the Great Dao while attempting to fuse with a second Supreme Great Dao had already become exceedingly difficult.

Fortunately, the Minor Limitless Immortal Elixir truly possessed extraordinary potency. Upon ingestion, a surge of immense medicinal energy began harmonizing the 5 great Daos, even further enhancing Eldrin's (Person Name) soul cultivation.

With such potent medicinal energy amplifying his power, Eldrin’s 5 Great Daos immediately showed the first signs of beginning to merge.

With 1 burst of energy.

Sensing a trace of integration within the Grand Dao, Eldrin decisively consumed another Unity Pill to consolidate his progress.

With the support of this medicinal power, Eldrin’s soul force finally suppressed all foundational instabilities, ultimately completing the fusion of 5 chaotic Daos, transforming them into a new Supreme Dao.

It is done.

Seeing the second supreme great path successfully transform, Eldrin breathed a sigh of relief.

He slowly harnessed the power of the 2 supreme Daos, instantly realizing his mastery of the Dao had improved by more than double.

"Now, I have finally stepped into that realm."

Eldrin murmured softly, a trace of wistfulness coloring his expression.

This advancement in his Dao cultivation once again transformed Eldrin's overall combat prowess, utterly shattering an indescribable barrier and ultimately allowing him to step into the Half-Step Infinite Realm.

Half-Step Realm of Infinity, just 1 final step away from becoming the Infinity Sovereign. This was the ultimate limit that nearly all beings of the Chaos Era could achieve since the dawn of its inception.

As for the even higher realm of Chaos Sovereign, only the firstborn beings from the dawn of chaos could attain it. For those who came later, it remained an almost untouchable forbidden domain.

Though Eldrin's cultivation had not yet returned to that realm, his combat prowess had already reached that level. This alone was enough for him to stand above countless heroes in the Chaos.

"Pride is not yet warranted."

Eldrin murmured, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

He had only just stepped into this realm, still far from matching the established Half-Step Infinite experts, let alone the top-tier ones.

After all, those top-tier Half-Step Wuji experts had refined Primordial Inception Qi to forge their Dominator foundations, making their combat prowess far beyond what ordinary cultivators could ever hope to match.

"What path should I take next?"

To return to our story, after successfully cultivating his second supreme Dao, Eldrin began to examine the foundations of his cultivation.

After a brief moment of scrutiny, Eldrin couldn't help but frown slightly.

For he had discovered that, constrained by various factors, all his foundational aspects had reached their limits, seemingly trapped in a deadlock from which breakthrough appeared exceedingly difficult.

First, his mastery over his primordial soul had reached its limit. Cultivating a third supreme Dao was several times more arduous than breaking through to the half-step Infinite realm. Only by forging a supreme primordial soul could he possibly achieve this breakthrough.

Moreover, once 1 breaks through to the Supreme Primordial Spirit, it is bound to alert those Chaos Lords who obstruct the Dao, thereby drawing the attention of those old enemies from years past.

Although he had already attained half-step Infinite power, if these Chaos Rulers were to obstruct his Dao path, he would likely be utterly defenseless—annihilated instantly by their remote suppression.

Thus, both his soul cultivation and Dao cultivation had fallen into a deadlock, with no possibility of breakthrough in the foreseeable future.

"How do we break this deadlock?"

Eldrin murmured inwardly, his brow furrowing with grave intensity.

A moment later, he murmured thoughtfully, "To challenge the realm of Soul Dao's paramount sovereign would inevitably provoke the Heavenly Lord's distant intervention in my ascension."

"Only by withstanding at least 1 strike from the opponent is there a possibility of breaking through to become a Soul Dao Supreme."

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, then after careful deliberation for a long while, ultimately settled his focus upon the physical body.

Facing the Chaos Dominus' assault, relying solely on a Half-Step Unity Realm soul to withstand it was utterly impossible. Even with his near Half-Step Infinite-level mastery of the Great Dao, it would likely still fall short.

Only by cultivating the strongest physical body and employing numerous intricate schemes could there be a sliver of possibility for survival.

In truth, Eldrin's current physical form only possessed 5 Chaos Divine Forms, leaving considerable room for improvement.

"It seems the remaining few Chaos Godforms should also be chosen to be as defense-oriented as possible."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, as certain thoughts gradually crystallized in his mind.

With this idea in mind, he quickly gathered his thoughts and rose, stepping out of the Supreme Immortal Lake.

Seeing this, Lyra (Person Name) at the side couldn’t hold back her delight and exclaimed, “My husband has successfully cultivated a second supreme dao—it seems his combat prowess has now stepped into the half-step Infinite realm.”

Eldrin smiled faintly, then nodded and said, "Through this secluded cultivation, our cultivation bases have improved significantly. Yet we've all reached bottlenecks, so there's no need to remain here for now."

Hearing this, Lyra (Person Name) and the others also nodded in agreement.

The cultivators had now all reached the limits of their cultivation. Among them, Seraphina Qu (Person Name), Yan Zi Ji (Person Name), Lila (Person Name), and Ling Xi (Person Name) had attained the pinnacle of the Half-Step Unity Realm.

The reason he had yet to break through to the Integration Realm was because the Sacrificial Daoism remained incomplete.

As it was not yet fully perfected, the current fusion of the 3 great Chaos Immortal Treasures still carried a not-insignificant risk of failure.

Secondly, the method for the Inner Immortal Domain to ascend into a mid-grade Primal Domain had yet to be perfected.

Only after Eldrin (Person Name) advances the Primordial Realm of Returning Abyss will he be able to ensure the breakthrough method is free of errors or omissions.

After all, both advancing to the middle-grade Primordial Domain and merging the 3 Chaos Immortal Treasures were critical breakthroughs of immense importance. Should either fail, it would likely result in the complete destruction of 1's foundation.

Aside from these 4 individuals, both Qing Ji and Lyra (Person Name) had made significant progress. Among them, Qing Ji was now only A Step Away (Time & Distance) from the Realm of Unity, and upon returning, she could begin her breakthrough into the Realm of Unity.

Lyra's spiritual essence and physical cultivation had both reached the Half-Step Unity Realm, with only the Great Dao cultivation yet to break through.

Upon her return, she would begin seizing authority over the Great Daos of the Supreme Yin, the Profound Yin, the Sixfold Yin, and others.

Once she successfully obtained the authority over these Great Daos and combined it with the Minor Wuji Immortal Pill to achieve Dao Union, she might directly ascend to the pinnacle of the Dao Union realm.

Understanding this, Lyra (Person Name) couldn't help but speak up: "By my reckoning, it has been tens of thousands of kalpas since we left the 100 Realms of the Returning Abyss. It truly is time we returned."

Eldrin nodded, then beckoned the treasure-seeking mouse to his hand. With a practiced motion, he shook out all the Immortal Gold and Divine Ore it had been carrying.

As a result, he managed to shake out tens of thousands of Chaos Treasures, among which were numerous immortal metals of the mid-grade Chaos Spirit Treasure level.

"Well done."

Eldrin smiled faintly. Under the treasure-hunting mouse’s pitiful gaze, he collected all the divine ores and immortal gold, then tossed a few pieces back to the creature.

"I must depart for a brief period. Remain here and continue your duties diligently. I shall return for you in due time."

With those final words, Eldrin led the group out of the Chaos Realm and headed directly toward the 7 Domains Alliance.

The reason for heading to the 7 Domains Alliance was that the threat posed by the Shadow Hound Clan was too grave. Eldrin sought to gather intelligence and ascertain whether the 100 Domains of the Returning Abyss would face an absolute peril.

He traversed the chaotic void and eventually arrived at the edge of the 7 Domains Alliance.

In this borderland region lay an immensely vast Chaos Domain, formed by the convergence of 3 100 Primordial Domains, and even included 3 small-scale Intermediate-grade Primordial Domains.

3 Profound Chaos Domain

Gazing at the Chaos Domain before him, Eldrin fell into contemplative silence, his brow slightly furrowed as he recalled the origins of this turbulent realm.

The 3 Profound Chaos Domain was an affiliated force of the 7 Domains Alliance, and also the most powerful Chaos Domain along the northern frontier of the alliance. It had always served as the vanguard outpost defending against the Shadow Howler Clan.

Not only were there over a 1000 Chaos Heavenly Emperors permanently guarding this place, but also nearly 10 Path Integration Supremes stationed here year-round.

Yet today, the aura in this place was unlike any before. Within the vast Triple Mysteries Chaos Realm, the grand formation had long been activated, casting an atmosphere of solemn readiness for battle.

Eldrin had only just arrived in this place, yet he could sense several dozen extraordinarily powerful auras. Among them, 1 in particular gave Eldrin a distinct sense of threat.

A Half-Step from the Infinite.

Eldrin murmured inwardly, then turned to Lyra and the others, saying, "Take cover for a moment. I shall go gather information."

"Remember, be cautious."

Lyra nodded, her expression grave as she solemnly instructed.

Eldrin gave a slight nod, storing the several individuals within the Nameless Space before arriving at the periphery of the 3 Profound Chaos Domain.

Arriving at the edge of the 3 Primordial Domains, they saw a top-tier supreme being clad in golden armor step forward and speak with utmost gravity, "Halt and state your identity at once."

Eldrin (Person Name) immediately released his aura and cupped his hands in salute. "My daoist title is Guixu, and I have journeyed from the 100 Domains of the Returning Abyss. Might I ask why this place is so heavily guarded?"

100 Realms of the Returning Abyss?

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the treacherous depths of the ravine. He had been climbing for what felt like an eternity, his body pushed to its absolute limit. "Just a little further," he whispered to himself, the words snatched away by the gale. "The legacy of the Fallen Star Sage must be within reach." His robes, once fine but now tattered and stained with dirt and sweat, flapped wildly around his frame. He was a mere Qi Refinement stage cultivator, barely having consolidated his foundation. This journey to the remote Soaring Mist Peaks was a desperate gamble, a final attempt to change his fate. For years, he had been stuck at the 3rd level of Qi Refinement, watching as his peers in the Azure Cloud Sect advanced while he stagnated. The resources he needed—spirit stones, pills, techniques—were always just out of reach. With a final, grunting heave, he pulled himself over the lip of the cliff and collapsed onto a narrow, relatively flat platform. His chest heaved as he gulped down the thin, spirit-rich air. After a moment, he pushed himself up onto his elbows and surveyed his surroundings. The platform was larger than it had appeared from below. At its far end, partially obscured by a curtain of ancient, gnarled vines, was the dark, yawning mouth of a cave. A faint, almost imperceptible aura of immense age and power emanated from within, causing the very air to hum. Lin Chen's heart hammered against his ribs. This was it. The secret grotto mentioned in the tattered map he had traded his last dozen spirit stones for. Cautiously, he approached the cave entrance. He summoned a small, flickering flame in his palm—the most basic of fire-attribute spells—and held it aloft as he stepped inside. The darkness retreated, revealing a cavern that was surprisingly spacious and dry. The air inside was thick with dust and the lingering essence of condensed spiritual energy. In the center of the cavern, seated cross-legged on a simple stone dais, was a skeletal figure draped in faded grey robes. The bones gleamed with a faint, pearlescent sheen in the magical light, untouched by time. This was no ordinary corpse; it was the remains of a powerful cultivator whose body had been refined by eons of cultivation. Before the skeleton, on the dusty floor, lay a small, unadorned wooden box and a single, jade-green slip. Lin Chen knelt, his movements reverent. He reached for the jade slip first. As his fingers brushed its cool, smooth surface, a flood of information surged directly into his mind—not words, but concepts, insights, and a complete cultivation method. **"The Cosmic Genesis Mantra."** It was a profound and ancient technique, far surpassing the rudimentary Qi Gathering Art taught by the Azure Cloud Sect. This was a legacy that could lead 1 to the very peak of the Dao. His hands trembling with a mixture of awe and excitement, he then opened the wooden box. Inside, nestled on a bed of faded velvet, were 3 items. A small, shimmering pouch made of some unknown beast leather—a Storage Pouch (Magic Treasure). A single, milky-white pill that radiated a potent, life-giving energy—a Foundation Establishment Pill (Elixir). And a sleek, black flying sword, no longer than his forearm, its surface etched with subtle, flowing runes that seemed to drink the light—the Obsidian Raven Sword (Magic Treasure). Lin Chen stared at the treasures, his breath catching in his throat. The Foundation Establishment Pill alone was worth a fortune, enough to cause a bloodbath among outer sect disciples. With it, his bottleneck at the 3rd level of Qi Refinement would shatter. He could finally break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. But it was the Cosmic Genesis Mantra that truly held his gaze. This was the key. This was the power he had sought for so long. A grim smile touched his lips. The Azure Cloud Sect, the disciples who had looked down on him, the elders who had written him off as trash... they would all see. They would all understand. He had nothing left in that sect. His few possessions were meager, his status negligible. There was no reason to return. "Here," he murmured, his voice firm with newfound resolve. "This is where my new path begins." He picked up the Foundation Establishment Pill and swallowed it without hesitation. A torrent of pure, violent energy immediately exploded within his dantian, surging through his meridians like a raging flood. He gritted his teeth, sweat beading on his forehead, and began to circulate the Cosmic Genesis Mantra according to the knowledge imprinted in his mind. The energy, which had felt like it would tear him apart, suddenly found a direction. It was guided, refined, and absorbed by the profound method. The chaotic storm became a powerful, controlled river, washing over his spiritual veins, expanding them, strengthening them. Cracks formed on his skin, oozing dark, viscous impurities as his body was cleansed and reborn. The air around him shimmered, drawing in the ambient spiritual energy of the grotto in visible, swirling tendrils. Hours passed. A deep, resonant hum filled the cavern, emanating from Lin Chen's very core. Then, with a sound like shattering crystal, a barrier he had struggled against for years collapsed. A powerful aura burst forth from his body, sending a shockwave through the cavern that disturbed the dust of centuries. His eyes snapped open, flashing with a sharp, brilliant light that slowly receded, leaving behind a deep, abyssal calm. He had succeeded. Lin Chen, the once-stagnant outer sect disciple, was now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He stood up, his movements now fluid and filled with a latent power he had never before possessed. He looked at the skeleton of the Fallen Star Sage and performed a deep, respectful bow. "Thank you for your legacy, Senior," he said, his voice steady and clear. "I will not waste it." He stored the Storage Pouch and the Obsidian Raven Sword safely within his robes. With 1 last look around the grotto that had become the crucible of his rebirth, he turned and walked out into the sunlight. The wind still howled, but it no longer felt biting. It felt like a challenge. The world below the clouds was the same, yet everything had changed. His journey was just beginning.