48: Yuan Feng Breakthrough

In the West, at the location of the Chaos Lair, Qing Wu and Yuan Feng remained.

Qing Wu cast Chaos's corpse into a large tripod cauldron, and Yuan Feng used Nanmingli Fire to refine it.

The corpse of a Beast King at the Realm of Daluo Perfection—there was no telling what kind of top-tier Spirit Treasure might be refined from it.

At this moment, Qing Wu gazed into the distance.

Thunderlight flickered and died as blood-colored divine lightning struck the Thunderbird's figure to the ground.

This scene was truly too cruel.

It was just that hot-headed Thunderbird, thinking that because he mastered the Law of Thunder, he could forcibly withstand the Divine Lightning of Destruction to seek an opportunity for an Epiphany.

Little did he know, everything he had was given by the Great Dao.

Above that, there exist ultimate truths of the Dao that one might never comprehend in a lifetime.

If one loses respect for the Great Dao, they are bound to stumble.

Just like Ling Ming, who was in such a rush to prove his Dao this time; lacking reverence for the Great Dao, he ended up failing his Dao validation and suffering a damaged Dao foundation.

If it weren't for his own considerable Luck protecting him, the consequences would have been far more than just a damaged Dao foundation.

Death and the dissipation of one's Dao can happen in a single thought.

Withdrawing his gaze, Qing Wu turned to look at Yuan Feng, who was focused on refining the treasure.

Yuan Feng didn't seem surprised by that outcome at all, and didn't even pay it much attention.

Instead, she focused inward, her state of mind reaching a new Realm.

Cultivators often view Realms as a scale to measure their cultivation, not knowing that this is precisely the greatest obsession.

A Breakthrough in Realm is merely the external manifestation of internal Perfection, like the bright moon reflected on the water's surface; the world only sees the shimmering ripples, unaware that the true moon always hangs high in the sky.

Forcing a Realm is like chasing a reflection in the water; the more urgent one is, the more they disturb the clarity of their original heart.

True cultivation lies in internal reflection. Every breath and every moment of comprehension is an exploration of one's original self.

The Dao Heart is like the true fire in a cauldron; it needs to be slowly nurtured with a constant heart—too fast and it burns, too slow and it stagnates.

Only by maintaining the middle path and upholding righteousness can one see the light of their true nature.

Seeking a Realm externally is like climbing a tree to catch a fish. Cultivating the original heart internally is the true way to return to one's roots and fulfill one's destiny.

The Great Dao operates with its own rhythm. The Dao follows nature and does not defy the heavenly constants.

A true Breakthrough is always a natural result, like a seed breaking through the soil; after enduring gestation in the darkness, it finally sees the light of day. Forcing a quick result instead loses the truth of it.

In the cauldron, the Spirit Treasure gradually took shape and flew out, landing in Qing Wu's palm.

This was a horn Magic Treasure refined based on Chaos's Divine Ability, the Void Scream.

Once activated, it would emit this Divine Ability, dealing a powerful mental shock to enemies.

If they were unprepared, it could potentially kill them on the spot.

"Merely a plaything, yet it could be refined so exquisitely."

Qing Wu examined the Magic Treasure closely, unable to help praising Yuan Feng's treasure-refining skills.

There was no sign of deliberate carving, only the natural flow of dao rhyme.

At the same time, golden flames flickered in Yuan Feng's eyes.

Once upon a time, these eyes would burn with heat for authority and power, but now they held an unprecedented trace of clarity.

She gazed at the flames surrounding her, as if watching her own obsessions gradually dissolve.

As a natural-born ruler, Yuan Feng had the arrogance of being the sole supreme being etched into her bones.

The position of Lord of All Birds was not just authority to her, but an Innate destiny.

After all, in her understanding, this was a path that could lead to her own Dao.

To ask her to easily let go of such an obsession was no simple matter.

But since traveling with Qing Wu, her Dao Heart had undergone a subtle change.

This was a brand-new path, allowing her to see new possibilities.

She shifted her gaze from the entire Great Desolation, narrowing it down to herself and focusing on the person beside her.

To validate each other and achieve success together.

Who is to say this isn't also a method of attaining the Dao?

Striving for hegemony in the Great Desolation could gather the Luck of an entire race into oneself.

But at the same time, one would bear the destiny of the entire race and be weighed down by it.

Driven by the general trend, one could only walk a single path to the end—success or death, with no way to turn back.

But by focusing on the person and the things beside her, that pressure vanished without a trace.

Acting only for each other, seeking only the Great Dao.

The corners of Yuan Feng's mouth curled slightly, the flames around her began to condense, and her aura began to climb abruptly.

"Hmm?"

Qing Wu let out a light sound of surprise, "She's about to have a Breakthrough!"

We agreed to break through together, so how did she take a step ahead?

Doesn't that mean his say in things would be suppressed in the future?

At this moment, the Nanmingli Fire rising around Yuan Feng was no longer the violent and flamboyant golden-red of the past.

Instead, it was enveloped by a pure True Intent of Nirvana, each flicker of flame like flowing crystal, reflecting the shadows of myriad worlds.

Qing Wu was also shocked by this sight, "She is undergoing Nirvana!"

Amidst the layers of flames, Yuan Feng's feather garment peeled away piece by piece, revealing skin like jade.

Her hair turned into a flowing river of fire, and the Phoenix mark on her forehead unfurled like a living thing.

"Wutong..." she called out softly, her voice carrying an unprecedented tranquility.

Wutong's eyes narrowed as he put away the items in his hands.

Without hesitation, he revealed his true form—an Innate Wutong Tree that connected heaven and earth rose from the ground, its roots penetrating the Nine Netherworld and its canopy disappearing into the starry river.

Every Wutong leaf lit up with blue-gold dao patterns, forming a natural protective array.

A world of its own formed under the Wutong Tree, taking Yuan Feng's jade-like body into its embrace.

Amidst the swaying shadows of the tree, scenes of the early Great Desolation could be faintly seen flowing through the veins of the leaves.

Gurgling spiritual springs surged from the roots; it was the Innate Wood Essence triggered by the wood spirit pearl, providing a continuous source of vitality.

Yuan Feng's figure gradually blurred within the True Intent of Nirvana.

First, her jade feet turned into flowing fire, and then her torso was infinitely elongated like misty clouds.

When the flames washed over her collarbone, she suddenly opened her eyes, which held the sun and moon, and looked at a certain spot on the Wutong Tree trunk, feeling a deep sense of peace in her heart.

Then, her entire being turned into a cloud of mist and dissipated. Afterward, it was captured and gathered by the Wutong's aura, beginning to sublimate around the Wutong's true body.

With a thunderous boom, the True Intent of Nirvana surged, and the flames then enveloped the entire Wutong body.

Nine phantom Phoenixes of different forms flew out from the flames—some holding jade books, some supporting precious pearls, some treading on auspicious clouds—these were the nine original forms manifested by Yuan Feng.

After circling the Wutong Tree nine times, they suddenly plunged into the core of the fire simultaneously, constantly evolving within until they merged into one.

One green and one red flag floated, completely obscuring the heavenly secrets of this place.

This world also underwent great changes during the process of their mutual coexistence.

The Evil Qi gradually dissipated, and the entire valley floor welcomed new life...

The process lasted for a long time.

Finally,

"Qiang!"

A clear Phoenix cry resounded. A figure stepped out from the light, treading on air with bare feet, each step giving birth to a fire lotus.

The Phoenix mark on her forehead had turned into a Primordial Dao Seal, and in her hair was a glazed hairpin formed from Nirvana fire.

Qing Wu also withdrew his true form. Examining himself, his Dao body was now stained with various fiery red dao marks.

In his memory, it seemed he had been nibbled all over by an unconscious Yuan Feng...

Just as he was about to speak, Yuan Feng reached out to brush away the dao marks for him and pointed in a certain direction:

"The dog is back!"