Cultivating the Purple Cloud Wings

Before long, dinner was ready, and its enticing aroma filled the entire cabin.

After a whole day of work, the scent of food immediately stirred hunger in Xiao Yi Xian's belly. Without waiting for Xia Kong to call her, she pushed open her door and came out.

Their eyes met, but neither mentioned the embarrassing incident from earlier. In perfect tacit agreement, they acted as though it had never happened.

They ate dinner quietly, just as they had over the past two days, then returned to their respective rooms to rest.

Although their relationship could now be considered more or less settled, they still needed time to grow accustomed to this sudden change and each other's presence. If either of them took a little more initiative, however, that adjustment period would naturally shrink considerably.

Yet neither was outgoing enough to dare take the first step, leaving a faint, romantically charged stalemate hanging over the cabin.

Dawn broke the next day.

Xia Kong first harvested the last batch of level-one crops he had reserved for Xiao Yi Xian in the farm space, then planted the level-three crops he needed for his own cultivation. Only then did he leave the space and begin studying the flying Dou technique-the Purple Cloud Wings.

The first obstacle in cultivating the Purple Cloud Wings was resisting the savage remnant soul of the Tier 5 Purple Cloud Eagle lingering within the scroll. Next, he would have to pour Dou Qi continuously into the Eagle Wing Scroll, forcibly opening two unique meridians in his back to fuse with the Purple Cloud Wings and form Dou Qi wings. Opening those meridians, however, would be excruciating, as though his flesh were being torn apart.

With everything prepared, Xiao Yi Xian stood beside him to keep watch. Xia Kong extended his soul power into the scroll and immediately sensed a glowing mass of remnant soul wrapped in boundless venom and frenzy.

Judging by the size of that glowing soul mass, Xia Kong already knew where he stood. This wisp of remnant soul posed no threat to him whatsoever.

Though he had never practiced a soul cultivation method and possessed no soul Dou techniques, he simply dispensed with finesse and rammed straight into it with his powerful soul.

"Screee!"

The Purple Cloud Eagle's remnant soul let out a piercing shriek. Its illusory giant wings beat fiercely as it lunged at Xia Kong.

The two souls collided in an instant.

Crushed in both quality and quantity, the Purple Cloud Eagle's remnant soul could not even struggle for a moment before it shattered.

Not only did Xia Kong's soul remain unharmed, but he also plundered a tiny fragment of soul origin from the dispersing remnant soul, slightly increasing his soul power. After a careful estimate, he reckoned the gain was roughly equivalent to eating ten level-two strawberries.

Unfortunately, without Yao Lao's guidance or any reference for comparison, he had no way to judge what level his soul power had reached.

Xia Kong slowly opened his eyes and gave Xiao Yi Xian a slight nod, indicating that he had overcome this obstacle. Then he began the second stage of cultivation.

Several agonizing hours passed. Xia Kong was covered in fine beads of sweat and panting heavily, but the pain had finally subsided. Two new meridians had been opened in his back and connected perfectly with the Purple Cloud Wings.

Dou Qi surged through the meridians, and a pair of magnificent, translucent purple wings slowly unfurled behind Xia Kong.

He tried flapping them. As though he had suddenly gained two extra limbs, he felt utterly uncoordinated, flying crookedly with a terribly clumsy posture.

Yet this little embarrassment did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm or confidence in soaring through the skies.

Beside him, Xiao Yi Xian rarely got to see Xia Kong looking so helpless. A radiant smile lingered on her face for a long time.

On the third day, within the cave at the top of the valley, the Blue Eagle finally emerged from her cocoon of slumber and advancement. A high, joyous eagle cry rang through the entire valley as her enormous silhouette circled overhead.

Startled by the cry, Xia Kong and Xiao Yi Xian left the cabin and looked outside.

After advancing into a tier 2 magical beast, Little Blue had not undergone any earth-shattering change in appearance. She had merely grown a size larger, and her feathers shimmered with even greater brilliance. This also revealed the inherent ceiling of the Blue Eagle species. Without an extraordinary opportunity, reaching Tier 3 would be extremely difficult.

"I should thank you on Little Blue's behalf. Without your help, she would have needed much longer to advance."

Xia Kong smiled faintly. "No need to thank me. We're family, after all."

Xiao Yi Xian's eyes curved into a sweet smile at his words. These past few days of seclusion in the valley had been relaxed and carefree, bringing her a happiness and ease she had never experienced before.

Circling overhead, Little Blue also spotted the pair on the ground. With another long cry, she folded her wings and dived, landing steadily before them. First, she gave Xiao Yi Xian two soft cries to express her joy, then turned her head and affectionately rubbed against Xia Kong's cheek.

Afterward, she turned around and presented her broad back, clearly inviting them to climb aboard so she could take them soaring through the skies again.

Xia Kong happened to want some practical experience honing his flight skills with the Purple Cloud Wings, so he leaped onto the eagle's back alongside Xiao Yi Xian.

Little Blue beat her wings, and the male and his two female companions shot straight into the clouds.

Surprisingly, the fierce winds at that altitude did not buffet them. Little Blue had spread her Dou Qi into a protective barrier over her back, securely shielding her two passengers.

"To think she could control externalized Dou Qi so precisely just after reaching Tier 2." Xia Kong could not help praising her, gaining a deeper appreciation of the Blue Eagle's intelligence.

"Of course. My Little Blue has always been special." Xiao Yi Xian's face glowed with shared pride. Sheltered from the fierce winds, she could stand comfortably on the eagle's back, as though treading clouds atop a flying sword.

"Unfortunately, her species limits her. Reaching Tier 3 will be harder than ascending to heaven." A touch of regret colored Xia Kong's voice.

Xiao Yi Xian knew this was true as well. The joy faded from her face, replaced by disappointment. A moment later, she looked up at Xia Kong, hope rekindling in her eyes. "Do you have a way? Could you help Little Blue?"

The marrow-washing fruit produced by the farm flashed through Xia Kong's mind. Though he did not know whether it worked on magic beasts, he suspected it probably would. He looked at Xiao Yi Xian, his words carrying a deeper meaning. "I can provide her with resources, but how far she ultimately goes will depend on you-and on her own performance."

Catching Xia Kong's meaningful look and tone, Xiao Yi Xian's heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Was he... was he hinting at something?

Little Blue beneath them seemed to understand their conversation. A resounding eagle cry pierced the clouds, and her wings beat fiercely as her speed abruptly soared. She was clearly doing her utmost to perform, hoping to earn Xia Kong's approval.

A faint smile curved Xia Kong's lips. He crouched and gently stroked the Blue Eagle's back. "Speed alone is nowhere near enough. I value your awareness and intelligence more. Show me what you can do."

Little Blue gave another long cry and beat her wings even faster, yet the giant eagle remained as steady as level ground, with barely a hint of jolting or swaying.

"I'm very satisfied with your speed. Next, I'm going to jump off. All you need to do is keep Xiao Yi Xian safe."

With that, Xia Kong walked to the edge of the eagle's back.

Little Blue truly understood his intent. Her Dou Qi barrier wrapped securely around Xiao Yi Xian alone, leaving Xia Kong outside.

"Good."

After that word of praise, Xia Kong leaped from the sky. Pulled by momentum and gravity, his body traced an arc as he plummeted toward the ground.

Carrying Xiao Yi Xian, Little Blue circled Xia Kong continuously, ready to catch him at any moment.

Xia Kong remained calm. Only yesterday, he had barely mastered low-altitude flight. Falling from such a height was certainly dangerous, but it was also the fastest way to hone the Purple Cloud Wings. With Little Blue and the farm space as safeguards, his life would never be at risk anyway.

People had to push themselves before they could discover their own potential.

Gravity dragged at him while turbulent air battered his body, and Xia Kong's grasp of controlling the Purple Cloud Wings improved by leaps and bounds. Before long, he steadied his falling body, beat his purple wings to catch up with Little Blue, then darted back onto her back with a firm landing.

"Well done. Again."

He repeated the attempt two or three times, even bringing the intensely curious Xiao Yi Xian along on the last try. After several ascents and plunges, Xia Kong could already operate the Purple Cloud Wings proficiently and handle all kinds of shifting air currents with ease.

Once they had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, Little Blue carried them back to the Quiet Valley.

"I'm very satisfied with your performance today."

With a thought, Xia Kong took a level-one cherry tomato from his farm backpack and tossed it to Little Blue.

The Blue Eagle sucked the fruit into her wide beak and swallowed it. In an instant, pure medicinal power spread throughout her body. Her eyes lit up as she truly experienced the fruit's marvelous effects, and she gazed eagerly at Xia Kong, brimming with expectation.

Xia Kong glanced sideways at Xiao Yi Xian beside him, then took out another and fed it to Little Blue.

These fruits had originally been prepared for Xiao Yi Xian, but with her woeful poison body, her innate constitution was already extraordinary. Eating a few fewer cherry tomatoes would hardly matter.

Yet in Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, that glance took on an entirely different meaning.

Why did he look at me just now?

Was he only willing to keep rewarding Little Blue for my sake?

Then... should I do something tonight to put on a good showing?

The girl's thoughts tangled into a jumble, and a faint blush quietly colored the tips of her ears.

P.S. Though it's still only one chapter, it's nearly 3,000 characters...