“I have to help Xiao Feng! I have to help Xiao Feng!” Zi Yu’s phoenix-like eyes were already red with desperation, but she was held fast by Ji Rufeng’s restrictive spell, unable to move.
“Sigh, let her go. They are Triple-Life Eggs; their soul-consciousness must merge completely before they can transform!” Jin Sang finally understood why Zi Feng was unable to complete the transformation. If he couldn't see it by now, he would have lived his life as a Great Deity in vain.
“Triple-Life Eggs!” Ji Rufeng suddenly remembered his master, Bai Ruihua, mentioning that the three Purple Warbler eggs he had given to Li Xue, Li Lin, and Ji Rufeng were from the same clutch. Originally, Purple Warbler eggs were laid one at a time. It was for this very reason that Bai Ruihua had been so generous as to give them to all three of them at once.
The realization dawned on everyone. Only by merging the three eggs could they form a complete soul-consciousness for a Purple Warbler. Only when the three birds merged into one could the transformation succeed. This was not a case where every Purple Warbler required the sacrifice of its kin to transform; these three were the sole exception.
As Zi Yu charged toward the lightning tribulation, Ji Rufeng watched blankly as her form turned transparent, merging into Zi Feng and gradually becoming solid. Ji Rufeng felt a hollow ache in his heart. Even knowing that the Triple-Life Eggs required the three birds to unite, it did not change the void left behind.
After all, Zi Yu had been with him for centuries. That bond was irreplaceable.
“The transformed Purple Warbler will still share a connection with all of you. Do not worry too much,” Jin Sang comforted Li Xue, Li Lin, and Ji Rufeng, seeing their grim expressions.
Hearing this, the trio’s complexions improved slightly, and their hearts eased.
Under the baptism of the lightning tribulation, Zi Feng’s form slowly coalesced. Finally, a youth with violet hair and violet robes, possessing a devastatingly beautiful countenance, appeared before them.
“From this day forth, my name is Fenghuang Yu,” a cold voice rang out from the youth’s lips, imprinting itself into everyone’s minds.
The group shared a tacit understanding and remained silent. Li Xue did not dwell on the name, simply nodding her head in supportive understanding.
Fenghuang Yu reverted to his Purple Warbler form. A new feather had appeared in his tail, bringing the total to four—he was now a Rank Four Purple Warbler. He circled in the air for a while, first flying to Li Xue and nuzzling her head. Then he flew to Li Lin and Ji Rufeng, doing the same, before flying back into Zi Feng’s cave dwelling to begin his secluded cultivation.
The crowd finally let out sighs of relief and returned to their own dwellings to continue their cultivation.
Li Xue, Li Lin, and Ji Rufeng exchanged glances, their hearts finally at peace. The current Fenghuang Yu still maintained a connection with all three of them; the situation was not as dire as they had imagined.
This was enough. They had never demanded that their spirit beasts remain inseparable from them anyway, often letting them roam freely within the Dream Realm. They had simply thought Zi Huang and Zi Yu had sacrificed their lives; knowing they had merely merged three into one allowed the three owners to set their worries aside.
The transformation of Zi Feng caused Li Xue and the others to remain quiet for a time. After emerging from their seclusion, Li Xue and Li Lin returned to the Myriad Sea Star Domain to continue their journey.
The two found a teleportation array, inserted spirit stones, and began the transit.
Just as they stepped out of the array, a gust of wind swept past. A cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage was charging desperately toward the teleportation array.
Li Xue and Li Lin immediately went on guard, summoning their magic treasures for protection. The cultivator suddenly whipped his head around, his eyes widening as he stared at Li Lin. A look of joy suddenly crossed his face as he rushed toward Li Lin, shouting, “Aiya! Why are you still standing here? Run! Those enchantresses are almost here!”
Li Xue and Li Lin frowned deeply, drifting to the side to avoid the man.
“Fellow Daoist, what enchantresses?” Li Xue asked.
The cultivator stomped his feet in anxiety. “The Purple Charm Sect of the Purple Mist Star Domain! You know of them, right? They’ve already brought their havoc to the Myriad Sea Star Domain!”
The Purple Charm Sect of the Purple Mist Star Domain was extremely famous throughout the cultivation world. They specialized in charm techniques and the path of dual cultivation. Rumor had it that if they took a liking to someone—regardless of gender—that person would either die or have the majority of their cultivation drained, suffering fundamental damage to their foundation.
Normally, the great sects of the various star domains would not sit idly by regarding such an evil sect. However, the Purple Charm Sect possessed Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators, and they usually restricted their activities to the Purple Mist Star Domain, rarely venturing elsewhere. Consequently, the major sects chose to turn a blind eye.
Nevertheless, cultivators traveling abroad were always warned by their elders: they would rather take a detour and add years to their journey than pass through the routes of the Purple Mist Star Domain, lest they meet with an undeserved calamity.
Li Xue and Li Lin’s expressions shifted upon hearing this. Regardless of whether the news was true, they turned back toward the teleportation array.
“Hey, wait for me!” The cultivator also teleported into the array.
A flash of white light followed, and Li Xue and Li Lin returned to the previous array. They summoned the Nebula Boat, intending to flee the area immediately.
“Aiya, you can’t leave me behind! Without my warning, you’ll surely suffer!” Seeing the two about to leave, the cultivator grew frantic.
Li Xue and Li Lin ignored him. They were certain that the people from the Purple Charm Sect had been provoked by this man. Everyone knew the Purple Charm Sect did not leave the Purple Mist Star Domain unless someone offended them; only then would they pursue an enemy across star domains.
Seeing that the two were ignoring him, the cultivator became truly desperate. He had been fleeing for ten thousand miles, and his spirit stones and medicinal pills were nearly exhausted. Thinking of the Purple Charm Sect members tracking him from behind, he knew he would soon be doomed.
“Aiya, Grand Ancestor Haoran, you can’t just abandon your grand-disciple!” The cultivator grabbed Li Lin’s sleeve, weeping with snot and tears. Neither Li Xue nor Li Lin had seen clearly how he had bypassed their defenses.
With a thought, Li Xue readied her Ice Soul Divine Needles, prepared to strike at any moment. Li Lin, however, stared wide-eyed as he grabbed the cultivator’s collar, asking coldly, “What did you just call me?”
The cultivator wiped his tears and stole a glance at Li Lin, whispering, “In my haste, I called you Grand Ancestor Haoran. I definitely didn't mean anything else, it’s just... you look exactly like my Grand Ancestor Haoran!”
Li Xue and Li Lin were startled. Li Xue asked in a heavy voice, “What is your Grand Ancestor’s surname, and where is he from?”
“My Grand Ancestor’s surname is Li, his given name is Haoran. He is known as Venerable Haoran, and he is currently a Mahayana stage cultivator. If you help me, my sect will surely reward you generously!” Seeing their complex expressions, the cultivator added quickly, “My sect is in the Fang Yuan Star Domain. We have an Eight-Tribulation Loose Immortal presiding over us! It’s just that this place is too far away; otherwise, how would a tiny Purple Charm Sect dare to be so arrogant!”
Li Xue and Li Lin exchanged a look. Li Lin pinched a hand seal to open the Nebula Boat’s barrier, bringing the cultivator inside as well. Soon, the Nebula Boat accelerated to its limit, flying out toward the edge of the Myriad Sea Star Domain.
Fifteen minutes later, three female cultivators at the late Nascent Soul stage appeared in the teleportation array. Each was enchanting and beautiful. After exiting the array, they surveyed the surroundings. One of them said hatefully, “Senior Sister, that brat has fled far. I’m afraid we won’t be able to track him.”
“Forget it, let’s go back. That brat’s sect is too powerful; even if we caught him, we couldn't do much to him, at most make him suffer a little,” the youngest-looking female cultivator said, touching her beautiful brow. The three then returned to the teleportation array and quickly vanished.
| Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 三生卵 | Triple-Life Eggs | A rare type of spirit beast egg where three must merge to transform. |
| 凤凰羽 | Fenghuang Yu | The name chosen by the transformed Purple Warbler; literally "Phoenix Feather." |
| 万海星域 | Myriad Sea Star Domain | The current location of the protagonists. |
| 紫霞星域 | Purple Mist Star Domain | The home domain of the Purple Charm Sect. |
| 紫媚门 | Purple Charm Sect | An evil sect specializing in charm and dual cultivation. |
| 方源星域 | Fang Yuan Star Domain | The home domain of the stranger's sect. |
| 李浩然 | Li Haoran | A powerful Mahayana cultivator who resembles Li Lin. |
| 浩然上人 | Venerable Haoran | The title of Li Haoran. |
| 大乘期 | Mahayana Stage | A very high level of cultivation, just before ascension. |
| 八劫散仙 | Eight-Tribulation Loose Immortal | A powerful being who failed their tribulation but survived as an immortal. |
| 星云舟 | Nebula Boat | A high-speed vessel for traveling through space/star domains. |
| 冰魄神针 | Ice Soul Divine Needles | Li Xue's hidden weapon/magic treasure. |
