He Also Became a Passerby

　　In the Vast Heaven Sword Sea, a strange and rare spectacle emerged —a gigantic cocoon entwined with thunderbolts stood right in the very center of the Sword Forest.

　　It was said that Chen Xia was wrapped inside.

　　If one hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, it would truly be hard to believe. There was simply no way to connect Chen Xia with this enormous, thunder-wrapped cocoon.

　　Such an extraordinary thing naturally attracted people to come and have a look.

　　At first, some junior elders with plenty of free time came. They kept their distance and didn't dare to approach. Just looking at the surging purple-red thunderbolts on the cocoon was enough to make them feel a shudder of unease.

　　"Is Elder Chen really inside this cocoon?"

　　"Over a thousand people witnessed it on the spot. It should be right. Truly worthy of being Elder Chen. He always takes an unusual path and now he's embarked on this journey of transformation, like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly."

　　"Who knows how long this transformation will take and what he'll look like when he emerges."

　　"Well, we don't really know. That's not for us to worry about. Let's just watch quietly."

　　After the junior elders had come and gone one after another, it was the turn of the busier formal elders to come and see the novelty. These formal elders had broader knowledge. The moment they caught sight of the purple-red thunderbolts, they frowned.

　　"Superior Heavenly Thunder?"

　　"Using superior Heavenly Thunder as a breeding ground, and without knowing what's forming the cocoon. Just its majestic aura is enough to make one's heart palpitate. There seems to be some dragon-like aura present too. I wonder what kind of monster will come out when it breaks free."

　　One formal elder was puzzled. "This doesn't seem right. Chen Xia is clearly human. How can he have a dragon-like aura? And this cocoon-forming business doesn't seem like a transformation into a butterfly. It's more like a transformation into a dragon."

　　"Well, who knows. The world is vast and full of wonders. You can't expect to understand everything."

　　Indeed, that was the truth.

　　Most of the formal elders also came just to satisfy their curiosity. After them, it was the turn of the Supreme Elders.

　　The Third Elder was the first to arrive. His tall and lanky figure stood less than a hundred meters away from the gigantic cocoon. His face was cold and stern. After staring for a long while, he spat out a sentence.

　　"The Sword Forest is the place where the Vast Heaven Sword Sea nurtures sword qi. How can one person monopolize it for such a thing? It's truly ridiculous!"

　　It seemed that the Third Elder wasn't speaking to Chen Xia inside the cocoon. It was more as if he was addressing the entire Vast Heaven Sword Sea.

　　After that, the Old Fisherman came once. He stood extremely close to the cocoon, silent for a long time. His eyes flickered, and then with a single step, he disappeared.

　　In the following hundred years, few people came to the Sword Forest.

　　The novelty had worn off. There was no point in looking again. It was better to go home and cultivate.

　　It was worth mentioning that the Fourteen Sons of the Vast Heaven also came to take a peek. Most of them didn't linger, just casting a glance.

　　The only one who stopped was Li Yang. He only said one sentence.

　　"What a great way to avoid paying debts."

　　The only ones who still came to the Sword Forest were the cultivators who were on good terms with Chen Xia.

　　The big yellow dog had taken up permanent residence, setting up a small doghouse right next to the cocoon. Every day, it lay half-sprawled inside, keeping a watchful eye on the gigantic cocoon.

　　When it was cold, it draped a cotton-padded jacket over the cocoon. When it was hot, it fanned it. One could say it took meticulous care.

　　Apart from the big yellow dog, Zhang Daoming also came often. Looking at the huge cocoon, he would often sigh.

　　"I told you not to refine pills like that. You wouldn't listen. Now look, the Way of Dan is angry and has wrapped you up. Alas."

　　"What do you know? My brother is evolving,"the big yellow dog retorted indignantly.

　　"How can humans evolve? I think he's offended the Way of Dan,"Zhang Daoming had his own view.

　　The big yellow dog crossed its arms and curled its lip in disdain. "What nonsense about the Way of Dan."

　　Zhang Daoming naturally wouldn't argue with the big yellow dog. He just shook his head and sighed again. In fact, it was out of concern.

　　Besides Zhang Daoming, Pan Dadao also came often. But he was speechless, just staring blankly at the huge cocoon.

　　The big yellow dog watched him from the side.

　　Several times, Pan Dadao opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but the words got stuck in his throat. In the end, he just lowered his head and trudged away with his short stature.

　　Among the few, Chi Yu, one of the three brothers, came the least.

　　He only came three times. The rest of the time he was in seclusion.

　　The spiritual energy in the Vast Heaven Sword Sea grew thinner every few decades, losing its former rich and abundant feel.

　　After coming out of seclusion, Chi Yu immediately came back to the Sword Forest to take a look. But being the taciturn person he was, he didn't say much. He only sat with the big yellow dog.

　　And his third visit was the last.

　　This was the five-hundredth year of Chen Xia's transformation in the cocoon.

　　The decline of the Vast Heaven Sword Sea had spread throughout the entire star region. Virtually all cultivators had heard the news.

　　Some preparatory and formal disciples had already left the Vast Heaven Sword Sea, saying they were going home. No one knew if they would return.

　　The Vast Heaven Sword Sea was also gradually having trouble recruiting disciples. Only three hundred people were recruited for the new batch, and all of them were of ancient species.

　　In this kind of atmosphere, Chi Yu's father arrived. A tall, crimson figure entered the Vast Heaven Sword Sea and immediately set about taking Chi Yu away.

　　Chi Yu didn't want to leave. He wanted to wait for Chen Xia to emerge so he could say a proper goodbye.

　　His father slapped him on the head. "If you want to revitalize the clan, you can't stay here. The end of the great era is coming. You can't bear it, and you shouldn't have to!"

　　Chi Yu knew this truth, but still hesitated. "Can we wait a little while?"

　　"You stole the precious Great Medicine from the clan. I won't scold you for that. Consider it a childish mistake. But if you keep arguing about this, I'll really regret training you to revitalize the clan!"

　　Chi Yu lowered his head, was silent for a moment, and finally nodded. "Okay, wait for me."

　　The last moment he stayed in the Vast Heaven Sword Sea was his third visit to see Chen Xia.

　　The huge cocoon hadn't changed. It was still at the very center of the Sword Forest. The big yellow dog was still sitting beside it, fanciing the cocoon.

　　Chi Yu stood at a distance, not approaching. After staring for a long while, his expression was calm.

　　"It's time to go,"came a deep voice from behind him.

　　"I want to leave the Great Medicine here,"Chi Yu said softly.

　　"For who?"

　　"Hmm…"Chi Yu thought for a moment and grinned. "In his words, it should be for a good brother."

　　"Okay."

　　All good things must come to an end.

　　In everyone's life, there will be various turning points that appear at different stages.

　　This is inevitable because this is growth.

　　Chi Yu just felt a bit regretful that he didn't get to say a proper goodbye to Chen Xia in the final analysis.

　　Since this parting, no one knew if there would be a chance to meet again in the future.

　　The wind today was a bit chilly. Chi Yu tightened his clothes.

　　The Vast Heaven Sword Sea grew farther and farther behind him until it became tiny.

　　Amid the hazy star river.

　　He had become a passer-by.

　　No one knew when they would meet again, but indeed, he had already gone far.

　　He had become a passer-by.

　　No one knew when they would meet again, but indeed, he had already gone far.