"Awkward," Ethan muttered, covering himself in embarrassment. He hadn't anticipated that breaking through to the tenth level of the Purification Stage would leave his clothes in ashes, leaving him utterly exposed. Normally, if he were alone, this wouldn't be an issue, but Xena's consciousness was still in the Guardian Spirit Space.
"So…you saw everything, didn't you?" Ethan asked quietly.
"Don't ask, you pervert!" Xena shouted, her voice echoing in the space before her consciousness abruptly exited.
Outside the Guardian Spirit Space, Xena returned to reality, her face flushed with embarrassment as the earlier scene replayed in her mind.
"Hmph! Just coming out like that…" she muttered, still flustered. She knew it wasn't Ethan's fault—he couldn't have foreseen his clothes turning to ash mid-breakthrough.
Back in the Guardian Spirit Space, Ethan quickly composed himself, gathering his spiritual energy to form a casual outfit and cover his exposed body.
"Xena, it's safe now! I'm dressed!" he called out.
After a long pause, Xena's consciousness re-entered the Guardian Spirit Space, her face still tinged with a soft blush.
Seeing her lingering embarrassment, Ethan decided to avoid any further mention of the incident. "Xena, I've successfully broken through—I'm now at the tenth level of the Purification Stage. Once I stabilize my realm, I'll be ready to cultivate the techniques for the next stage and enter the Purification Stage," he said excitedly.
"The tenth level of the Purification Stage... I've never seen anyone reach it! How much stronger is it than the ninth level?" Xena asked, intrigued.
Ethan paused, estimating as he sensed the increase in his power. "Strength-wise, the ninth level grants about eighteen times the strength of an average adult. The tenth level, however, doubles that—it's about thirty-six times that of an ordinary person."
"Thirty-six times!" Xena was stunned. The difference in strength might seem like just a multiple on paper, but in practice, it meant an enormous disparity. A tenth-level master could easily dispatch a ninth-level opponent. The difference was monumental.
"Ethan, do you have any of the techniques for the Purification Stage from the Huaxia era?" she asked.
"I do, but if I cultivate the Purification Stage techniques from that time, another phenomenon will appear in the skies above Earth," Ethan warned. "Such frequent displays could draw too much unwanted attention. Ideally, we should find an uninhabited planet for the transmission of these techniques."
"An uninhabited planet? That would require a spaceship, and while my family could afford one, it would be a serious strain. They certainly wouldn't buy one just for my use," Xena replied, shaking her head.
"In that case, maybe you could travel to a nearby planet under the guise of a training mission," Ethan suggested. "That way, any attention can be deflected to another planet."
"That's a good idea," Xena nodded. "I'll see if I can make arrangements for an off-world training mission." She paused before adding, "In the meantime, I'll focus on cultivation here. And you should take your time with your affairs on the other side."
Ethan's thoughts had indeed turned to returning to the Huaxia era. He'd been gone for quite some time, and while he occasionally checked in with his family by phone, they would worry if he stayed away for too long without a clear purpose. This was the perfect moment to go back and handle things in his own time.
"Ethan, what's really on the other side of that vortex?" Xena asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.
After a long silence, Ethan finally said, "I'll tell you everything someday, but not yet."
And with that, he disappeared into the swirling vortex that led back to the Huaxia era.
As he left, Xena murmured, "One day, you'll tell me everything…"
Huaxia Era
Nankou City, Shanhai Town.
Ethan's family lived here. His family was well-off by the town's standards; they owned a house in the city but hadn't renovated it, leaving it as an inheritance for him. For now, they resided in the family's old house in Shanhai Town.
As Ethan strolled through one of the town's streets, he felt a pang of nostalgia.
"It's been so long since I was back," he mused. He had spent his college years absorbed in novels and games, barely passing his classes after multiple retakes. This left him struggling to find a job in his field after graduation, and if not for the fateful chance that made him Xena's Guardian Spirit, he might still be drifting aimlessly, too ashamed to return home.
As he neared his family's old house, his mood shifted abruptly. Frowning, he noted a strange aura nearby.
"Odd… there are several people with Purification Stage energy here," he muttered. With his heightened senses, he could detect the presence of other cultivators. He couldn't discern their exact levels, but he could tell that there were several people near his house—and all of them were at least in the Purification Stage.
"How interesting. I doubt it's a coincidence that a few Purification Stage masters just happen to be my neighbors," Ethan smirked. If his hunch was right, this was likely a repercussion of his recent trip to Shaolin.
"If they've dared to threaten my family…" Ethan's expression turned icy, a fierce and lethal aura surging within him, "…I won't hesitate to eradicate everyone behind this."
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