Jin Sang glanced at them and sighed. "The Five Elements Spiritual Qi of the Ancient God Realm was most suitable for divine cultivation. Unfortunately, the human constitution has changed drastically over the ages. Even for someone like you, Mistress, who possesses a Five Elements Spiritual Root, it is no easy feat to cultivate divinity directly."
Jin Sang’s words were true. The *Snow Dance Divine Art* Li Xue was currently practicing mentioned this as well. Furthermore, the manual had been adapted to be more suitable for modern humans, dividing the stages into the realms of Mortality, Immortality, and Divinity. Li Xue wasn't disappointed; she was content to follow the path step-by-step. If all her friends and family were treading the path of Immortality while she alone pursued Divinity, it would be quite lonely. She wouldn't even be able to accompany her son.
When Li Xue and Li Lin returned to the surface of the Red Planet, they were startled by the massive crater, thousands of miles wide, left behind. It seemed they should avoid such drastic actions in the future; turning an entire planet's landscape upside down was a bit excessive. Such were the methods of the cultivation world—the higher one's cultivation, the greater their capacity for destruction.
Li Xue and Li Lin quickly summoned the Nebula Boat and departed from the Red Planet, following the star map forward. They were tracing the route left behind by the Daoist of No Return, their destination being the Fangyuan Star Region.
As the Nebula Boat soared through the void, Li Lin stood at the bow, calibrating their direction. Li Xue reclined on a couch, leisurely sipping spirit tea. This was a habit she had picked up from Divine Lord Feng Chi; cultivation didn't mean one had to sit in meditation every single day. One should enjoy life when the opportunity arose.
Suddenly, Li Xue’s body jolted. She had sensed a summons from Zi Feng.
"Lin'er, I’m going back into the Dream Realm to check on things!" Li Xue performed a hand seal and vanished into the Dream Realm.
"Mistress, I am about to transform!" Zi Feng announced joyfully.
It turned out that since the Fire-Melting Lotus had been transplanted into the Dream Realm, the fire-attribute spiritual qi there had surged. As a fire-attribute spirit beast, Zi Feng’s cultivation had grown rapidly. Originally, all three Purple Orioles had reached the late stage of the third rank, but the nourishment from the Fire-Melting Lotus had pushed them to the peak of perfection. Zi Feng was the first to reach the breakthrough point.
"That’s wonderful!" Li Xue was genuinely happy. She had been with Zi Feng for centuries and shared a deep bond with him. "I’ll be waiting for your good news!"
Zi Feng nodded happily and retreated into his cave dwelling to begin his transformation in seclusion.
Li Xue returned to the Nebula Boat in high spirits. She chatted with Li Lin for a long time before finally settling down to cultivate.
Two months later, the Nebula Boat reached the Wanhai Star Region. According to the records of the Daoist of No Return, there were cultivation planets in this area as well. However, Li Xue calculated the time and sensed that Zi Feng’s transformation was imminent, so she and Li Lin returned to the Dream Realm first.
Sure enough, ten days later, dark clouds gathered in the sky of the Dream Realm. A bolt of lightning crashed down toward Zi Feng’s cave. A spirit beast’s transformation tribulation consisted of three bolts of lightning. With magic treasures to protect him, Zi Feng quickly endured the first two.
As the final bolt of lightning struck, Zi Feng soared upward to meet it. This was the last and most critical moment of the transformation.
The heavenly lightning struck Zi Feng’s body, and his form began to turn translucent. He writhed within the electricity as time ticked slowly by.
Yun Xi, Hei Yan, and the others frowned deeply. The time it was taking for the body to condense seemed far too long. Why hadn't he taken form yet? They had all passed their own transformation tribulations and could sense that something was wrong.
Li Xue’s heart tightened. She could clearly feel Zi Feng’s life force growing weaker. "What’s happening?"
"Jin Sang, look! What’s going on?" Li Xue asked anxiously, grabbing Jin Sang’s arm. She had never experienced a transformation tribulation herself and felt out of her depth, but with her vision as a Nascent Soul cultivator, she could tell the situation was dire.
Jin Sang narrowed his eyes, a golden light flickering within them. He said in surprise, "His soul-consciousness is incomplete. He cannot complete the transformation!"
"What?!" Everyone was horrified. If one's soul-consciousness was incomplete, they would be scattered to the winds during the tribulation.
Watching Zi Feng grow more transparent within the lightning, Li Xue grew increasingly frantic. "Is there any way to preserve his soul?" She knew that no one could interfere during a tribulation, or its power would multiply exponentially.
In the chaos, no one noticed Zi Huang flying back and forth nearby, chirping in agitation.
"Xiao Huang, what’s wrong?" Li Lin asked with concern, sensing Zi Huang’s rising distress.
Zi Huang darted up and down several times before finally landing on Li Lin’s shoulder. With a look of determination, she said, "Master, I’m going to help Brother Feng!"
Li Lin’s heart skipped a beat. "How can you help? He’s in the middle of a lightning tribulation! Anyone who goes in will only make it stronger!"
"I... I just have to!" Zi Huang circled a few more times. Her instinct told her that she had to go—that by going, she could save him.
Looking at the fading Zi Feng, Zi Huang finally made her choice. She flew to Li Lin’s shoulder, nuzzled his head affectionately, and said, "Master, take care of yourself!"
Then, with a sharp cry of "Brother Feng, I’m coming to help you!", she resolutely dove into the lightning.
"Xiao Huang!" Li Xue and Li Lin cried out simultaneously, but it was too late. Zi Huang had already reached the center of the tribulation. Her body turned translucent and merged into Zi Feng.
Li Lin’s body shuddered as his connection with Zi Huang weakened significantly. He looked up at the lightning, his heart aching and his eyes welling with tears. Although Zi Huang was usually noisy and their personalities didn't quite mesh, they had spent centuries together. He had long since come to view her as a younger sister. Seeing her vanish felt like a piece of his heart had been carved out.
"Xiao Huang..." Li Lin choked out, unable to say another word.
"This is..." Li Xue was both angry and anxious. Looking up, she saw Zi Feng’s body become slightly more solid. Did a Purple Oriole’s transformation require the sacrifice of another?
None of the Purple Orioles raised by the Bai family had ever transformed; Zi Feng was the first. Why did Zi Huang have to sacrifice herself? Li Xue felt a sharp pang of grief. She had actually spoken with Zi Huang more often than Li Lin had, and their bond was very deep.
However, even though Zi Feng’s body had become more substantial, he still showed no signs of completing the transformation. Everyone was baffled.
"Strange. His soul-consciousness is still incomplete!" Jin Sang said, his brow furrowed.
Suddenly, a ripple in space appeared, and Ji Rufeng and Bai Xingyu stepped out. Seeing Ji Rufeng’s grim expression, no one had the heart to greet them.
"Chirp!" Zi Yu let out a cry, circling frantically in the air, equally distressed.
"Rufeng, watch your spirit beast!" Li Xue shouted. Even though Zi Feng’s situation was critical, she couldn't stand by and watch Zi Yu sacrifice himself as well. He had been Ji Rufeng’s companion for centuries. Li Xue decided that, no matter what, she would have Jin Sang preserve a wisp of Zi Feng’s soul so he could be reborn later.
Zi Yu looked at Zi Feng, who was still struggling to take form, and let out a mournful, piercing cry.
Finally, Zi Yu circled in front of Ji Rufeng and called out, "Master, I’m going to help Xiao Feng too!"
"Xiao Yu, no!" Ji Rufeng cried out in panic. Zi Yu had been with him for hundreds of years and was an irreplaceable companion. How could he just sacrifice himself? He had already learned about Zi Huang’s sacrifice from Dongfang Jing’s voice transmission and was already frantic with worry.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 古神界 | Ancient God Realm | A primordial realm mentioned by Jin Sang. |
| 雪舞神诀 | Snow Dance Divine Art | Li Xue's primary cultivation technique. |
| 星云舟 | Nebula Boat | The flying vessel used by Li Xue and Li Lin. |
| 方源星域 | Fangyuan Star Region | Their current travel destination. |
| 万海星域 | Wanhai Star Region | A star region they pass through. |
| 火溶莲 | Fire-Melting Lotus | A fire-attribute spiritual plant found in the volcano. |
| 化形雷劫 | Transformation Tribulation | The lightning trial a beast undergoes to take human form. |
| 魂识 | Soul-consciousness | A cultivator's or beast's spiritual awareness/soul. |
| 紫凤 | Zi Feng | One of the three Purple Orioles (male). |
| 紫凰 | Zi Huang | One of the three Purple Orioles (female). |
| 紫羽 | Zi Yu | One of the three Purple Orioles. |
| 紫莺 | Purple Oriole | The species of the three spirit birds. |
| 凤驰神君 | Divine Lord Feng Chi | A character Li Xue learned tea-drinking habits from. |
| 白行钰 | Bai Xingyu | A character from the Bai family, likely a friend. |
