Transformation into a deity

When the stone gate of the Wind Spirit Cave Heaven slowly opened, the Sect Master and the elders outside simultaneously held their breath.

The moment White Night's figure appeared in the halo, everyone felt a completely different aura—a rhythm seemingly synchronized with the heavens and earth. Nine black and white Law halos slowly rotated behind him. Wherever the halos passed, the Wind spiritual energy in the air automatically bowed down, and even space rippled in reverence.

"This is... the Deity Transformation Realm?" The Red-Robed Elder cried out in surprise. He himself was an early-stage Deity Transformation cultivator, yet he had never seen such condensed Law halos. "Ordinary Deity Transformation cultivators can condense three halos, but he has nine?!"

Qiu Xuan's gaze landed on the pale blue mark on White Night's glabella. Every time the mark flickered, the surrounding space would slightly tremble, clearly proving the perfect integration of Space Law and Wind Law. "It's not just the quantity; the purity of these Laws is probably three points stronger than a Middle Stage Deity Transformation cultivator."

The Sect Master stroked his beard, his satisfaction nearly overflowing. "Good! Excellent! My Qinglan Sect finally has a true genius! White Night, follow me back to the Deliberation Hall; I have an important matter to announce."

White Night nodded slightly. With a quick movement, he landed before everyone. His action didn't stir a single wisp of spiritual energy; it was as if he had taken just one step but crossed several zhang. This was the Deity Transformation Realm's "Shrinking the Ground into an Inch," superior to the *Wind Escape Technique of Void Breaking*.

The news of the conferment in the Deliberation Hall spread like wildfire, and the entire Qinglan Sect instantly erupted.

Outer Disciples gathered in the Main Peak Square, standing on tiptoe and looking toward the Deliberation Hall. The roar of discussion nearly overturned the clouds.

"Did you hear? Senior Brother Bai... no, he should be called Elder Bai now! He was conferred as an Inner Elder as soon as he entered the Deity Transformation Realm, and he's even in sole charge of Wind Listening Peak!" The gray-robed youth was flushed red, forgetting to swing the broom in his hand. He had seen White Night from afar in the Scripture Depository Pavilion half a year ago, and now felt honored by association.

The brown-clothed girl next to him pouted, "He established his own peak while only in the Early Stage Deity Transformation? Will those Middle Stage Deity Transformation elders be convinced? I think the Sect Master is just playing favorites."

"What do you know!" An older Outer Disciple knocked her head. "I was nearby when the Wind Spirit Cave Heaven stone gate opened yesterday! The nine Law halos behind Elder Bai made even the Grand Elder jump up in shock! They say ordinary Deity Transformation cultivators have at most three halos. With talent like that, what's giving him a peak?"

The reactions of the Inner Disciples were much more complicated. On the Training Ground, several late-stage Core Formation disciples put away their swords, looking towards Wind Listening Peak with varied expressions.

"A year ago he was still participating in the Inner Sect Competition with us, and now he's an Elder..." Li Muran's junior apprentice muttered, his tone filled with frustration.

Li Muran's fingers gripping the sword hilt were slightly white, but he ultimately just sighed: "His path was fundamentally different from ours."

Under the shade of a tree on the other side, Su Mei and several female disciples were organizing talismans.

Hearing the clamor from afar, a round-faced girl smiled, "Senior Sister Su, you said long ago that Senior Brother Bai's future was limitless. Hasn't that proven true now?"

The cinnabar pen at Su Mei's fingertips paused slightly. Looking at the clouds and mist of Wind Listening Peak, a faint smile quietly curved her lips.

Outside the Law Enforcement Hall, further away, several patrolling Inner Disciples were arguing around a notice board. The conferment order was written on the board in gold powder, and the words "may recruit disciples independently" at the end were particularly striking.

"I'm going to Wind Listening Peak!" The silver-armored youth clenched his fist. "Elder Bai's Wind-element sword technique is unmatched in the sect. If I can become his disciple, why worry about failing to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?"

His companion sneered, "With your mixed spiritual root? Elder Bai probably won't even bat an eye. Besides, he just established his peak and already dared to use the sect's Grade Six resources. Who knows when he'll anger the other elders? Let's not get involved in this excitement."

Amidst the arguments, White Night had already arrived at Wind Listening Peak with Qiu Xuan.

This peak was located on the west side of the sect, facing the Main Peak from a distance. The summit was shrouded in clouds and mist. Although the spiritual energy concentration was not as high as the Wind Spirit Cave Heaven, it was fifty percent higher than other peaks, clearly a specially chosen treasure land.

"The palace and formations on the peak are ready. You should settle down first." Qiu Xuan pointed to a large blue-tiled hall at the summit. "There will be an Elders' Council in three days. You will need to attend then to discuss the future development of the sect."

After White Night thanked him and watched Qiu Xuan depart, he turned and stepped into his own courtyard.

The layout of the courtyard was similar to the previous Wind Listening Courtyard, but more spacious. What was planted in the courtyard was no longer condensing wind bamboo, but the thousand-year-rare "Sky-Piercing Vine." The vines could naturally travel through space, and the fruits they bore were highly beneficial for cultivating Space Law. Clearly, the sect had invested heavily.

He sat down at the stone table, tapping the surface lightly with his fingertips. With a thought, the system panel unfolded in his Sea of Consciousness:

[Main Quest "Cultivate to the Deity Transformation Realm in three years" completed]

[Reward: Supreme-grade Immortal Artifact "world-breaking talisman" x1 (Can tear apart the barrier of a low-grade plane)]

[Evaluation: Exceeded requirements. Additional reward: "Law Affinity" talent (Increases sensitivity to the Laws of Heaven and Earth by 20%)]

In the system space, an ancient talisman quietly floated. Twisted spatial patterns were drawn on the talisman, emitting an overbearing aura capable of tearing apart everything.

White Night touched the talisman with his fingertip and instantly understood its usage: he only needed to inject Law power above the Deity Transformation Realm to open a passage to other planes. However, the destination was random, and the passage could only last for the time it takes an incense stick to burn.

"Finally... there's a possibility of leaving." A flicker of anticipation crossed White Night's eyes. Although the Qingxuan Continent was vast, it was ultimately not his final destination.

Just then, the system prompt sounded again:

[New Main Quest issued: Explore the "Nine Heavens Realm" Ruins]

[Quest Description: The ruins of ancient Nine Heavens Realm cultivators are hidden within the "Star Shattering Abyss" in the far Northern Continent of the Qingxuan Continent. The "world gate key" at the core of the ruins must be found.]

[Quest Reward: Supreme-grade Immortal Artifact "Supreme Void God" (Can stabilize cross-plane passages)]

[Failure Penalty: Deprivation of the "Law Affinity" talent]

Nine Heavens Realm? White Night's heart stirred. This was precisely the world mentioned in the Count of Wind's manuscript.

It seems the system's quests are consistently guiding him towards a wider world.

He put away the talisman and walked toward the library within the hall. This place stored the classics allocated by the sect. A volume titled *Chronicles of Strange Tales of the Qingxuan Continent* caught his attention.

Opening the scroll, the record concerning the Star Shattering Abyss immediately appeared:

"The Star Shattering Abyss is located in the extremely cold region of the Northern Continent. At the bottom of the abyss are the ruins of an ancient battlefield. The 'dao-extinguishing astral wind,' which can tear apart the divine soul, blows year-round. Any cultivator below the Middle Stage Deity Transformation who enters will surely die..."

White Night's fingertip traced across the page. The Heavenly Heart Imprint automatically analyzed the information: the dao-extinguishing astral wind belongs to an aberrant Wind-element energy derived from chaos, which can be guided by a Wind Crevice Array; the spatial magnetic field at the bottom of the abyss is chaotic and needs to be stabilized using the power of the world-breaking talisman... "Interesting." He closed the scroll, a hint of fighting spirit flashing in his eyes. The first mission in the Deity Transformation Realm was this dangerous, which suited his path of cultivation.

At the Elders' Council three days later, White Night attended for the first time as an Elder.

When he proposed going to explore the Star Shattering Abyss, the Red-Robed Elder immediately objected: "The Star Shattering Abyss is a forbidden zone. Although there are legends of ruins, no one has ever brought anything out alive. Elder Bai, why risk it?"

"My mind is made up," White Night said calmly. "This trip is not just to explore the ruins, but also to test the strength of the Deity Transformation Realm."

The Sect Master pondered for a moment: "How long will you need?"

"Three months."

"Alright." The Sect Master nodded. "I will send ten early-stage Deity Transformation cultivators to accompany you and help you deal with the astral wind."

"No need," White Night refused. "A large group would only be a burden. I am enough by myself."

His tone was calm, yet carried undeniable confidence.

When these words reached outside the hall, the waiting disciples stirred again.

"See that? That's the demeanor of a true powerhouse!" The silver-armored youth excitedly slapped his companion's shoulder. "Venturing into the Star Shattering Abyss alone! Would any other elder dare?!"

"Hmph, I think he's seeking death," the disciple who had previously sung a different tune muttered, but he quietly took two steps back, afraid others would notice his apprehension.

Qiu Xuan looked at White Night's determined gaze and suddenly laughed. "Sect Master, just let him go. With his strength, he might truly achieve a miracle."

In the end, the Sect Master agreed to his request, only repeatedly cautioning him to be careful.

The day before his departure, Su Mei came to Wind Listening Peak and brought a stack of yellow talismans. "Senior Brother Bai, these are 'Astral Wind Evasion Talismans.' I refined them with three years of effort; they might be able to resist the dao-extinguishing astral wind."

The patterns on the talismans were fine and neat, clearly indicating a great deal of effort had been expended.

White Night accepted the talismans. "Thank you."

"Senior Brother... please be sure to return safely." Su Mei's voice carried a hint of subtle worry.

White Night nodded slightly, saying no more. He turned and walked into the great hall, beginning to prepare his travel gear.

A few changes of clothes, an ordinary iron sword, the world-breaking talisman, and void spirit stone from his system space—that was all his belongings.

The next morning, the teleportation array on Wind Listening Peak lit up. White Night stood in the array, cupping his hands toward Qiu Xuan and the Sect Master who had come to see him off. "Farewell."

A flash of light passed, and his figure vanished within the array. Qiu Xuan looked at the empty teleportation array and whispered, "This child's future does not lie on the Qingxuan Continent."

The Sect Master sighed, "To have kept him for a hundred years is already a blessing for our sect."

When the news reached the outer sect, the disciples in the square erupted.

"Did Elder Bai really go to the Star Shattering Abyss alone?" The gray-robed youth widened his eyes, and the broom in his hand clattered to the ground.

The brown-clothed girl no longer showed her previous disdain. She muttered, "If... if he can come back alive, I'll go work as a chore hand for the Outer Peak of Wind Listening Peak!"

On the Training Ground in the distance, Li Muran looked toward the Northern Continent, suddenly sheathed his sword, and turned around. "Junior Apprentice, starting today, I will enter secluded cultivation to break through to the Deity Transformation Realm."

His junior apprentice was stunned for a moment, then nodded heavily. "Yes, Senior Brother!"

In the extremely cold region of the Northern Continent, heavy snow fell all year round, and the world was vast and desolate.

White Night's figure appeared on the snowfield. The Law halos of the Deity Transformation Realm automatically unfolded, isolating the bone-chilling cold wind outside.

He looked at the black fissure in the distance that pierced the heavens and earth—that was the entrance to the Star Shattering Abyss. Inside the fissure, gray astral winds could faintly be seen howling, tearing even the sunlight into fragments.

"dao-extinguishing astral wind, is it?" White Night tightened his grip on the Astral Wind Evasion Talisman in his hand. His figure flashed, and he leaped toward the fissure.

The bottom of the abyss was more treacherous than recorded. The gray astral wind was like countless small knives, continuously cutting at his Law halos, making a grating, sizzling sound.

But he did not use the talisman. Instead, he circulated the Wind Law, causing the halo to slightly tremble with the rhythm of the astral wind. Astonishingly, it absorbed the astral wind's energy during the cutting, making the halo even more solid.

"It works indeed." White Night was secretly delighted. The Heavenly Heart Imprint and the Law Affinity talent operated simultaneously. He could clearly feel that the dao-extinguishing astral wind contained the most fundamental Destructive Power of Wind, making it excellent material for perfecting his own Laws.

He walked slowly through the astral wind. His figure was sometimes swallowed by the astral wind and sometimes emerged from another space. The combination of Wind Crevice Shuttle and Shrinking the Ground into an Inch allowed him to move through the forbidden zone as if walking on flat ground.

The ground at the bottom of the abyss was scattered with countless broken weapons and bones, including the remains of Deity Transformation Realm cultivators, showing how dangerous this place was.

After penetrating a hundred li into the abyss, a half-section stone gate appeared ahead. The gate was carved with the same patterns found in the Count of Wind's manuscript—it was the entrance to the Nine Heavens Realm ruins!

A sharp light flashed in White Night's eyes, and he quickened his pace...