Saintess Ceremony

Though the Soul Core was small, it possessed all the essential parts.

Amid its violent rotation, the soul power aura it released grew weaker and weaker, still far from being able to directly draw energy from heaven and earth.

With the meager amount of soul power Dugu Chen had used to form it, this soybean-sized Soul Core would shrink to the size of a grain of rice in just a few minutes before finally dissipating completely.

Of course, if he wanted it to continue growing, he only needed to inject a small amount of soul power into the Soul Core to maintain its form.

Dugu Chen observed it while carefully injecting soul power into the Soul Core.

After sensing the soul power Dugu Chen had released, the Soul Core trembled first. Then, a powerful suction force burst from its body and swiftly devoured the soul power he had supplied.

After swallowing that soul power, the miniature Soul Core actually accelerated once more. Yet at that moment, Dugu Chen stopped supplying it and began observing the process by which it absorbed soul power and the order in which it compressed it.

Unable to absorb any more soul power, the miniature Soul Core flickered with a brilliant golden light, seeming to beg Dugu Chen for more.

However, he ignored it, wholly focused on studying the variables involved in controlling the Soul Core.

Before long, the tiny Soul Core shrank again, and the aura of soul power it released became increasingly faint... So Dugu Chen once more fed it a thread of soul power.

In this way, the Soul Core grew and shrank in his hand, but it never left his range of control.

Only after thoroughly understanding it did Dugu Chen finally disperse the Soul Core with satisfaction.

At this point, he had completely grasped the principles behind the Soul Core's operation. He only needed more practice and proper control of its circulation before attempting to form one inside his body.

Facing the first ray of dawn shining into the valley, Dugu Chen rose to his feet and slowly stretched his body. A rapid series of crackling sounds, like popping beans, rang through the air.

His bones and skin gleamed with radiant golden light beneath the sun. His skin shone and his bones glittered; merely hearing the sound was enough to sense the immense power surging from within him.

With a faint smile on his face, he walked back into the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Inside the wooden cabin, Dugu Chen saw that Ah Yin was still asleep and carefully gathered her into his arms.

He gently inhaled the fresh fragrance of grass and trees from her body. No matter how troubled his mind was, smelling that scent allowed him to calm down quickly.

"Mm... Xiao Chen!"

Ah Yin slowly opened her eyes. Her willow-like brows curved softly, and a tender smile filled her gaze. Her lotus-root arms tightly wrapped around his neck before she pressed her lips to his.

Dugu Chen closed his eyes and settled his mind as he savored the sweetness between their lips.

Only after a long while did the two slowly separate.

Ah Yin wrapped her arms around his broad waist, her delicate face carrying a bright smile as she pressed it tightly to his chest, feeling the blazing warmth of his heartbeat.

Dugu Chen pulled Ah Yin's soft body closer, his palm gently caressing her warm back. Even through her long dress, he could still feel that her skin was as fine as silk, warm and captivating.

"Sister Ah Yin, we'll always be like this, right?" Dugu Chen lowered his head, secretly gazing at Ah Yin's smiling face as he spoke softly.

"Mm!"

Ah Yin replied quietly. Her blue-gold almond eyes lifted slightly, meeting his gaze.

The scene reflected in their eyes seemed to let Dugu Chen see the happy rest of their lives together.

Soon, several days passed in the blink of an eye.

Every morning, Dugu Chen rose to cultivate without fail. Once he finished cultivating, he began condensing a Soul Core Prototype in order to master it as soon as possible.

He also fulfilled his earlier promise and gave the Immortal Herb Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone to A Rou.

It was a crystalline white flower that looked as spotless as a green lotus and white lotus root. Dugu Chen handed it to A Rou and said with a smile,

"Sister A Rou, this flower is called Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone. It nourishes the meridians and strengthens the bones, opening the eight extraordinary meridians. You intend to give it to Xiao Wu, don't you?"

A Rou reached out to take it. A faint ripple passed through her eyes, and her pretty face reddened slightly as she nodded.

"Xiao Wu took human form early. Although she has the hundred-thousand-year origin energy as her foundation, her base is not yet very solid. If she can consume an Immortal Herb, she will certainly go farther than I ever could."

"That is only natural. What mother wouldn't think of her daughter?" Dugu Chen said with a light smile.

At that moment, Ah Yin also arrived beside them with Xiao Wu.

"Let's begin. With me guarding at the side, there won't be any problem absorbing the Immortal Herb." Ah Yin rubbed Xiao Wu's head and looked at A Rou as she spoke gently.

"I believe in you, and I believe in Xiao Chen too!"

A flicker of emotion flashed through A Rou's eyes. Then, she fed the Narcissus Jade Muscle Bone to Xiao Wu, having her eat the petals before finally consuming the stamen.

As the final step was completed, Ah Yin sent a beam of deep-blue light from her palm into Xiao Wu's body. She injected soul power into her and guided the medicinal power of the Immortal Herb through Xiao Wu's limbs and bones.

Several hours later, once the medicinal power of the Immortal Herb had fully fused with Xiao Wu, her body had also grown considerably taller.

Like a small tree becoming a towering tree overnight, her figure became shapely and well-proportioned.

"Mom, I've grown up!"

Xiao Wu also felt the changes in her body. Excitement immediately appeared on her face as she lunged into A Rou's embrace.

"Good, this is wonderful!"

A Rou held Xiao Wu in her arms, tears of excitement welling in her eyes.

Watching this tender scene, a smile appeared on Dugu Chen's face. Just as he was immersed in it, a piercing eagle cry suddenly jolted him back to his senses.

"It's the Azure-Scaled Eagle Father raised!"

Dugu Chen recognized the source of the cry almost instantly. With a flash, he arrived outside the valley.

The Azure-Scaled Eagle circling in the sky seemed to have found its target. It immediately dove toward Dugu Chen, slowing as it approached, retracting its sharp talons, and landing on his shoulder.

At the same time, its sharp-eyed green gaze fixed quietly upon him. As it tilted its head, a ball of paper dropped neatly into Dugu Chen's palm.

Dugu Chen's expression sharpened. He unfolded the note, and it indeed bore the message his father had left behind:

"My son, the Saintess Ceremony is imminent. Return at once!"

The Saintess? Bibi Dong!

A strange look appeared on Dugu Chen's face. Had the time finally come for Spirit Hall to confer the title of Saintess upon her?

He stroked the Azure Scale Eagle's feathers and fed it some food before allowing it to rest nearby.

"Looks like I need to make a trip back soon," Dugu Chen thought to himself as he gazed at the distant sky.

No date was mentioned. It must have only just been decided, so there was still some time before it began.

He ignited the note with soul power, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into drifting ash that fell to the ground. He walked back inside as though nothing had happened.

He did not intend to tell Ah Yin, A Rou, or the others about this. He would let them stay peacefully within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, then find a time to return on his own.