After some time, Xiao Hua finally steadied his breathing, pressing the heaviness in his heart deeper into silence.
Drawing in a long, steady breath, he glanced once more at his ACP balance. A few more points had been added, enough for several additional Gacha draws—but still far from triggering another Pity Draw.
It mattered little. He had already gathered all the tickets for the remaining Primordial Heavenly Flames; there was no longer any urgency in that pursuit.
Instead, his gaze shifted to his status page. His attention lingered on the race and bloodline section. As expected, the word Human had vanished, replaced by Celestial Feather Race, while his bloodline had transformed from Heavenly Lightning Bloodline [Xiao] to Celestial Feather Bloodline [Divine].
"My race… has truly changed. To think I would become the first ancestor of an entire race…" he murmured, astonishment and wonder flickering in his eyes.
The weight of such a role was not lost on him, yet he held no thought of pushing the responsibility onto another. Since he was the first, he would see to it that his descendants never suffered because of it.
Though he understands that the responsibility he has is heavy, he doesn't have the intention to threw it to someone else. Since he is the first, he makes sure that his descendant will not suffer due to this.
"I must return to Jia Ma Empire quickly… the child within Cai Lin weighs on my mind." His fists clenched, resolve surging through him. He swore to end his current seclusion as swiftly as possible and go to her side.
Whether the child was a son or daughter, he had already decided—the firstborn would be a daughter. As for whether the heavens would grant such a wish… that would depend on fate's mercy.
His consciousness returned to the physical world. Steadying his mind, he prepared to initiate the final trial. Drawing in a deep breath, his restless heart gradually calmed, his heartbeat slowing to a steady, resolute rhythm.
When his heart and soul grew steadfast, and his body stood unmoved, Xiao Hua willed the last three Heavenly Lightnings to descend.
With a single thought, the Heavenly Judgment Lightning stirred awake within him, erupting from his body and surging into the heavens. In the next instant, the once-clear blue sky darkened at an alarming pace, swallowing all light beneath it as dense, dark-grey clouds rolled in.
Within moments, the entire Inner Coil of the Stormcoil Mountain Range was shrouded in darkness. Chaos erupted across the peaks.
The void quaked. The natural energy between Heaven and Earth turned wild and violent. The churning clouds gathered vast, terrifying power at their center, a pressure so immense it threatened to crush all below.
Winds howled. Storms roared. The earth trembled. The heavens shook. Chaos reigned beneath the suffocating sky.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Then, three earth-shaking thunderclaps exploded from within, its deep roar reverberating across the Stormcoil Mountain Range—from the Inner Coils to the Peripheral Peaks.
Within the swirling gloom, three distinct flashes of thunder revealed themselves.
The first was an indigo arc, serene in hue yet carrying the cold inevitability of annihilation. Each strand hummed with a decree to erase all that dared defy the heavens. Its extermination aura seeped into the soul, making even the void feel fragile before its wrath. Under its gaze, all existence seemed ready to crumble into dust and memory.
The second was a blinding white bolt, radiant with divine judgment—pure and merciless. It did not roar in fury, but shone with unyielding authority, as though cleansing the filth of creation itself. To the worthy, its purification was salvation; to the sinful, an inescapable verdict. Even the air shimmered beneath its holy radiance, as if the world itself were being washed clean.
The third was a surge of argent brilliance, vast and untamed. Unlike the indigo's decisive extermination or the white's solemn retribution, this lightning was chaos incarnate—an omen of upheaval and ruin. Its arcs rippled with raw, unbridled power, carrying the essence of collapsing worlds and shattering skies. It bore no allegiance, no morality—only the promise that nothing would remain unchanged.
Each of the three carried a different aura, yet all were equally terrifying, steeped in boundless destruction.
Xiao Hua's expression turned grim, his features shadowed. A bone-chilling sense of death and threat surged through his heart and soul, screaming for him to flee. Even he could not deny the terror evoked by the overwhelming, oppressive might radiating from the dark clouds above.
"Are those… the final three Heavenly Lightnings?" he murmured under his breath.
A hard swallow slid down his throat, and cold sweat traced a path along his back. Until now, he had never truly grasped the weight of his two sisters' warnings. But in this moment, he finally understood—the last three Heavenly Lightnings were not same as previous Heavenly Lightnings; they were horrors that could shatter the soul.
His gaze swept over the forest woven from pure lightning energy. The arcs that had once crackled with vigor now hid themselves, their brilliance suppressed, as if cowering before the supreme presence of the dark-grey clouds.
"Truly… the supreme ruler of thunder and lightning," Xiao Hua breathed, a faint, helpless grin tugging at his lips—resigned to the agony and torment that awaited.
Drawing in a deep breath, he lifted his head. His eyes locked onto the chaotic heavens, sharp and unwavering, conviction and resolve carved into every line of his expression. Then, in a low and steady voice, he uttered a single word—
"Come."
Hong!
Three Heavenly Lightnings descended with ruthless, unstoppable momentum. As they tore through the skies, heaven and earth seemed to split apart, while ghosts and deities alike howled in terror.
In that instant, one of the nine Lightning Beasts suddenly emerged above Xiao Hua, its argent radiance blazing. With a deafening crack, it surged toward the incoming lightning.
Bang!
Upon impact, the silvery bolt was devoured by the beast, its form shimmering with argent light. Without pause, it plunged into the dark-grey clouds, greedily swallowing the silver lightning in relentless gulps.
Yet the Lightning Beast only halts one—two others continued their descent unhindered.
Bang!
Terrifying rain splattered upon the Silvershroud Canopy Tree as twin streaks of indigo and white light crashed down. Thunder roared with an ear-splitting fury that seemed to shake the world.
"Ah…!"
Xiao Hua let out a low, guttural roar as the twin bolts struck him. In that moment, his body was ravaged by the rampaging Heavenly Lightnings.
In the blink of an eye, countless deep wounds tore open across his flesh. Bones shattered, blackened burns marred his skin, and blood turned to steam as it erupted from his body.
Yet it did not end.
The churning dark-grey clouds continued to roil, unceasing, each surge like an endless tsunami tearing through sky and void, crashing down upon him without mercy.
Torment and agony coursed endlessly through his flesh and soul as lightning poured over him like a boundless ocean. His sharp, miserable cry was drowned beneath the deafening rumble of thunder that refused to relent.
Still, Xiao Hua's figure neither faltered nor fell.
Though drenched in blood and marred by a wretched, ruinous state—though indescribable pain gnawed at every fiber of his being—his stance remained unshaken, like an immovable mountain. His eyes burned with life, his gaze sharp and unyielding, a silent defiance against the will of the heavens.
His spirit stood indomitable, his fortitude resolute, his conviction firm, and his tenacity unbroken.
In that moment, his figure was like a spear thrust toward the heavens themselves, as if ready to pierce through both sky and earth.
The twin bolts of lightning cared nothing for his will, raining down in merciless fashion, indifferent to his endurance…
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A minute… an hour… half a day…
Xiao Hua had long lost all sense of time as the lightning crashed down without pause, each strike ruthless and unending. By all reason, he should have been reduced to ash—yet he still stood. His body was broken, his flesh torn, his bones shattered… but within his bloodied face, his eyes yet burned with life.
"Child… stay alive…" Lady Azure murmured, her voice laced with pain and sorrow.
She knew she could do nothing but pray, yet every heartbeat spent watching was its own torment.
Xue Yue stood in silence, her expression seemingly indifferent, yet her teeth bit deeply into her lower lip, and her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her palms. Every fiber of her being screamed to rush forward, yet she forced herself still.
Drawing in a deep breath, she steadied herself and turned to Lady Azure.
"Sister," she said quietly, "inform his wife of our little brother's change in race. If there are any changes to the child, it is merely the transformation brought about by this."
Lady Azure was startled by the sudden shift in topic, yet she nodded with some difficulty. She understood well—Her sister was trying to distract herself from the torment of simply watching—and for that, Lady Azure felt a quiet gratitude.
Without delay, she retrieved a communication jade from Xiao Hua's Mysterious Heaven Ring and began transmitting the information, carefully ensuring that nothing was amiss with the child.
…
Deep within the Magic Beast Mountain Range lay a vast settlement. Though called a settlement, its scale rivaled that of a small city.
Under the moonlit sky, its streets were bathed in silver light, mingling with the warm glow of torch flames. Patrols of guards moved in steady rhythm, their eyes sharp and vigilant.
The residents here were not human, but Snake-People—beings with the upper body of a human and the lower half of a serpent.
Their peaceful existence was the result of an alliance between their race, the Primer Family, and the Xiao Clan—an alliance that had persuaded the citizens of the Jia Ma Empire to accept the Snake-People as their own.
Naturally, such acceptance had not come easily. The decisive factor had been the reputation and strength of a single young man—Xiao Hua, the peerless genius who had shattered the arrogance of countless so-called prodigies across the empire. With his influence, people could not help but agree to his request.
Xiao Hua, the youngest genius that has shattered the arrogance of countless geniuses within the empire. With his backing, it is normal for people to nod to his request.
Moreover, the Snake-People had shown sincere goodwill toward the empire, allowing trust to grow. Over time, no one regarded them as outsiders or enemies any longer.
Nonetheless, within the hearts of the Snake-People, there was only one being worthy of their utmost reverence and obedience—their queen, Queen Medusa.
Though they held deep gratitude toward Xiao Hua, such appreciation could never compare to the place Cai Lin occupied in their hearts. She was the one who had shielded them and led them through the years of suppression, the pillar of their race.
There were times when Snake-People would awaken at the break of dawn and instinctively kneel toward the depths of the settlement. This was not merely out of love, respect, and loyalty toward their beloved queen, but also because of a certain information that shook their very souls with excitement.
At the heart of the settlement, hidden from the eyes of outsiders and forbidden even to most high-ranking clansmen, lay a secluded pool surrounded by lush greenery and small spirit beasts.
By the water's edge stood a woman draped in a magnificent robe. Her figure was breathtakingly alluring—so enchanting that even the loose fabric could not veil the devilish curves capable of stirring desire with a single glance. Bathed in the gentle radiance of moonlight, her flawless face seemed carved by the heavens, enough to still the breath of any who gazed upon it.
The first impression she gave was that of an irresistible, demonic enchantress. Yet within the faint curl of her red lips and the sharpness of her brows was the unmistakable dignity of supreme authority. Bewitchment and majesty coexisted in her presence, elevating her charm to an almost divine peak.
She stood in silence, her gaze fixed upon the massive embryo floating serenely in the pool's center. Around it coiled the phantom of a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, twisting and circling with an expression of deep affection and warmth.
She still remembered its sudden emergence from her. After the elders had completed all preparations, she circulated a secret technique to nourish her unborn child, granting it terrifying potential. Yet at that very moment, the spirit of a Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python unexpectedly emerged from her body and entered the embryo.
The sight had startled her, but since the serpent's spirit bore no harm to her or Xiao Hua's child, she did not dwell too deeply upon it. Instead, her thoughts drifted, and within her eyes lingered the figure of a young man—his shadow refusing to fade from her heart.
Bang!
As she was lost in reminiscence, the embryo suddenly stirred, releasing waves of activity. A dazzling light erupted, swiftly condensing at its very core.
Kacha—!
A barely audible cracking sound rang out, as a faint fracture appeared upon the surface of the embryo.
"Sister Cai Lin, is the baby about to be born?"
A melodious voice echoed softly. Still enraptured, Cai Lin's gaze remained fixed on the embryo. Moments later, a graceful figure approached the lakeside, her enchanting hips swaying with every step. She stopped a pace behind Cai Lin, her mesmerizing cat-like eyes lifting to the floating embryo, a warm smile adorning her alluring face.
"That's right," Cai Lin replied with a gentle smile, unshaken by the lady's sudden appearance. "I did not expect Sister Ya Fei to be the first to arrive."
"The Great Elders and Tribe Leaders of the Snake-People are doing their best to calm the Snake-People," Ya Fei said with a light chuckle, glancing back toward the settlement. "After all, they felt the stirrings of this event and grew restless with excitement."
Ya Fei naturally understood their excitement. Though the child was not hers, she too had been restless with anticipation. After all, this was the child of one of her sisters—women bound by the same man. In her heart, it felt as though the baby was also hers, making her pulse quicken with joy.
Cai Lin smiled faintly and nodded. She knew well that such commotion could not escape the notice of the settlement. It was only natural for the clansmen to feel elated.
Ever since learning of the little princess's existence, the Snake-People had been overflowing with pride and devotion. They guarded the settlement with utmost vigilance, their watchful eyes sharp as hawks, determined to prevent any with ill intent from disturbing this sacred moment.
Kacha! Kacha! Kacha!
In the next breath, countless crisp cracks resounded in succession. The initial line deepened, branching outward as innumerable fissures spread across the embryo's shell.
The figure of the Seven-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python dispersed into countless specks of radiant, seven-hued light, each brilliance flowing gently into the embryo at the heart of the pool.
Cai Lin could not help but startle at the sight. Clearly, she had not anticipated such sudden activity. Yet, excitement and tender affection surged within her eyes as she gazed at the miracle of her child's birth.
Bang!
In the next instant, the embryo shattered with a resounding crack. A radiant glow burst forth, revealing the curled silhouette of a tiny girl, sleeping peacefully in a ball-like shape.
Both Cai Lin and Ya Fei's faces blossomed with tender smiles. Yet before Cai Lin could step forward, the void itself trembled. Four massive pairs of wings, each radiating a brilliance of different hues, emerged from the emptiness. They unfolded slowly, wrapping around the child in a gentle, affectionate embrace that seemed to carry boundless warmth.
"This is… what's happening?"
Cai Lin and Ya Fei froze, their hearts pounding. Startlement and unease welled up within them as they stared at the mysterious, awe-inspiring scene.
Suddenly, the colossal wings quivered before spreading wide. Within their radiant embrace, the little girl revealed once more—on her small back shimmered a delicate pair of wings, glowing with a soft crimson brilliance. A moment later, they gently retracted, merging into her tiny frame.
As the vision settled, the four majestic pairs of wings dissolved into countless motes of light, scattering into the void until nothing remained but the newborn child.
Without hesitation, Cai Lin darted forward, gathering her daughter into her arms. Her beautiful eyes scanned every inch of the little girl's fragile body, unwilling to miss even the faintest detail, terrified of the slightest mishap.
"Is this… what Lady Azure meant by Xiao Hua's change of race?" Ya Fei murmured softly, the thought stirring as she recalled Lady Azure's cryptic message.
"What do you mean?" Cai Lin's head lifted sharply, her gaze filled with unease. Anxiety and maternal concern weighed heavily on her heart. This child was her daughter—the living bond between her and Xiao Hua. How could she not be restless over anything that touched upon her future?
"Sister Cai Lin would not know," Ya Fei replied gently, her voice calm. "You have remained here, guarding the child without ever entrusting this duty to another. But while you were here, Lady Azure sent us word regarding Xiao Hua."
She began to explain, her words carrying the weight of Lady Azure's message. As she spoke, Cai Lin's furrowed brows slowly eased, and even Ya Fei herself felt a quiet calm settling into her heart with every passing moment.
By the time Ya Fei finished recounting Lady Azure's message, the two women had already regained their composure. They let out soft sighs, their gazes naturally drawn to the little girl in Cai Lin's embrace.
Cai Lin inhaled deeply, her tone carrying both exasperation and affection. "That fellow truly knows how to make us panic…"
Ya Fei let out a light giggle, the sound easing the tension in the air. "Ha ha, you cannot blame him. He himself had no knowledge of this, for Lady Azure never told him."
"If anything had happened to this child of mine, I would have torn that man apart," Cai Lin's delicate features hardened, her teeth clenched as fury and resentment flared in her voice. "Even Lady Azure would not be spared, even if I will be killed by the process!"
Ya Fei silently nodded, sharing the same resolve. Stepping closer, she bent slightly to look upon the newborn girl. Her enchanting, cat-like eyes softened as they lingered on the baby's delicate features, so impossibly adorable that Ya Fei's heart stirred.
She had awaited this child's birth with restless anticipation. Should misfortune ever befall her, Ya Fei would not hesitate to erase the very name of the guilty faction from history, leaving no trace behind.
Cai Lin's expression gradually softened as she gently caressed her daughter's tiny body. When the infant let out a faint, tender sound, her mother's heart instantly melted. A warmth she could not suppress rose within her, and an involuntary smile curved her lips.
Though anger still lingered, she knew Xiao Hua was not to blame. As she played gently with the child, her heart whispered a silent prayer—for Xiao Hua's safety.
"Xiao Hua," she murmured inwardly, her eyes glowing with fierce resolve. "You promised this Queen you would return. Should you break your word, even in death, I will scatter your corpse into tens of thousands of pieces."
…
By the time a full day had passed, the brilliance of the lightnings raging across Stormcoil Mountain Range finally waned. Their dazzling fury weakened, dimming bit by bit until only a faint glow lingered in the skies.
Hong!
Moments later, the two bolts of lightning, each carrying a distinct brilliance, faded away. The final streak of lightning burrowed into Xiao Hua's body before vanishing completely. Soon after, the dark-grey clouds dispersed at a rapid pace, the heavens returning to a clear, tranquil blue—as though the terrifying tribulation just now had never existed.
Hong!
A majestic sound reverberated from Xiao Hua's body. His eyes, though unwilling, slowly drifted shut. In that instant, crystals radiating divine brilliance emerged across his skin, growing outward until they encased his figure within a colossal crystal several tens of meters tall.
Yet, just as his consciousness dimmed, the four pairs of wings within him quivered faintly, as though whispering something of utmost importance.
His lips curved upward into a gentle, joyous smile. A warm voice slipped from his mouth.
"My child has been born… it is little Cai Lin…"
As his voice spread softly through the air, the Lightning Beasts rushed forward and returned to his body. His eyes then closed completely, and the crystal sealed him within, glowing with sacred brilliance.
Lady Azure and Xue Yue both exhaled deeply, their tense hearts finally easing. Relief washed over them as they gazed at the enormous crystal that now held Xiao Hua's slumbering figure.
"Fortunately," Lady Azure murmured, "the child endured and was able to absorb the Heavenly Lightnings."
Xue Yue's eyes lingered on the sealed figure as she spoke softly, "It seems our little brother sensed his child's birth. The wings must possess an ability to deliver such news, granting him the tenacity to withstand the storm."
She herself had felt the faint pulse from Xiao Hua's wings earlier, and after hearing his final words, she understood clearly—it was the joyous resonance of his child's safe arrival.
Lady Azure nodded slowly. Though surprised, she found it only natural. Xiao Hua's existence was unprecedented—a new race, unseen within the Great Thousand World. For now, nothing could be known of this bloodline; its mysteries could only be unraveled with time.
"Regardless, all we can do now is await his awakening. When that moment arrives, he will stand as the strongest figure in the entire Dou Qi Continent—second only to a true Dou Di." A faint smile of relief touched Lady Azure's lips.
"Once that happens, our little brother will be able to fully absorb and refine the Origin Qi gifted by the Bodhisattva Ancient Tree of the immemorial era. At that time, the Dou Qi Continent shall welcome the rise of a new Dou Di—for the first time in a thousand years."
Xue Yue nodded gently. Her eyes carried a quiet resolve as she spoke, "When that day comes, an uproar will sweep across the entire continent. None will remain unmoved."
Lady Azure shared the same thought. The mere prospect stirred a light chuckle from her, soft yet brimming with anticipation. She truly could not wait for the day when their little brother stood at the pinnacle of this plane—and stepped beyond into the higher realms.
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