Her temperament—noble, aloof, and with a subtle, almost imperceptible sense of detachment—is practically a carbon copy of Gu Yuena.
This isn't just one person.
This is practically the ultimate Frankenstein's monster of Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Gu Yuena! Or... their daughter?!
Xuan Ming felt a little overwhelmed. The visual impact was a bit too much.
"What's wrong?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion noticed Xuan Ming's astonished expression, and the joy in her heart was instantly replaced by a trace of unease. She lowered her head somewhat flusteredly, looked at the hem of her skirt, and then touched her face.
"Is it... ugly?"
Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of uncertainty, "This is my first time fully transforming, I don't know if you'll like it..."
"No, it's not ugly."
Xuan Ming snapped out of his daze and quickly waved his hand, "It is very beautiful. Really, extremely beautiful."
That's the truth.
Although it's a "Frankenstein's monster," it must be said that the combination of these three women's strengths doesn't create an incongruous feeling; instead, it achieves a wonderful harmony that is breathtakingly beautiful.
"I just... don't quite understand."
Xuan Ming walked up to her, carefully examining her familiar face, and couldn't help but ask, "How did you become like this? Soul Beast Transformation, it either shapes its own face according to its own desires, or it imitates a human it has seen and remembered well."
"Most Soul Beast choose the latter. A few, like the Ice Empress and the Snow Empress, evolve according to the characteristics of their original forms."
"But you..."
Xuan Ming pointed to her hair, then to her eyes, "This is clearly... based on someone else, isn't it?"
Upon hearing this, two red clouds instantly rose to the cheeks of the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, and its eyes became somewhat evasive.
That's because...
She twisted her fingers somewhat awkwardly, "I don't know what kind you like."
"All I know is that you like girls like Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Gu Yuena..."
"So, when I was transforming into human form, I was thinking, if I could be like them and have those qualities that you like, would you... like me a little more?"
"Then..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion raised its head, its purple eyes filled with sincerity and expectation. "I modeled myself after them and transformed myself into my current form."
" Xuan Ming, do you... like it?"
Xuan Ming was stunned after hearing this.
He never expected that this seemingly willful little girl would have such a humble and delicate mind.
In an effort to please him, she even abandoned her own unique appearance and began to imitate others, trying to transform herself into the kind of person he liked.
How deep must one's obsession and love be to go to this extent?
"Silly girl..."
Xuan Ming sighed softly, reached out and gently stroked the long golden hair, and said softly:
"You don't need to become someone else. In my heart, whether it's the little lion who always liked to snuggle in my arms, or this beautiful Auspicious Beast now, you are all unique."
"But..."
Xuan Ming looked at those eyes that resembled Bibi Dong's and couldn't help but smile.
"Since it's already come to this, let it be."
"After all, this face... is really to my liking."
Upon hearing this, the anxiety in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by boundless joy.
"Really?!"
She suddenly threw herself into Xuan Ming's arms, rubbing her head against his chest as she always did, "Great! I knew you'd like it!"
"So... did you come here to take me away?"
She looked up, her eyes sparkling, "I don't want to stay here alone anymore. I want to go to the Divine Realm, and I want to stay with you forever!"
Xuan Ming felt the intense warmth of the girl in his arms, the string of "responsibility" in his heart was plucked once again.
He recalled what Gu Yuena had said: the child's feelings for him had long since transcended simple dependence.
"Certainly."
Xuan Ming smiled and nodded, then turned and hugged her.
"I've come to take you home."
"And..."
He leaned close to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's ear, his voice becoming somewhat deep.
"Since you've gone to such lengths to become the person I like, I can't let you down, right?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was taken aback, then seemed to understand something, its face flushed red, all the way to its ears.
"Then... then you'd better keep your word."
She buried her head in Xuan Ming's arms, her voice barely audible.
Anyway... I was already prepared.
Upon hearing this, Xuan Ming couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"Good."
"Let's go, my... little lion."
Chapter 534 Longing and Yearning
Elf Star, amidst endless forests and seas of flowers.
Xuan Ming did not immediately lead the Three-Eyed Golden Lion back to the Divine Realm.
He's kidding! He just quelled the anger of those old ladies in the Divine Realm. If he were to go back now with a beautiful newcomer who looks like a combination of all three of them, wouldn't that be like throwing water into a pot of boiling oil?
Wouldn't Bibi Dong and the others be furious?
For the sake of his kidneys and for the sake of family harmony, Xuan Ming decisively chose a "roundabout tactic".
Taking advantage of the time difference between the Divine Realm and the mortal realm, he embarked on a year-long "honeymoon trip" with the Three-Eyed Golden Lion on the Elf Star.
A year on Elf Star is only a day in the Divine Realm. By the time he returns, everyone will probably be too busy to even react.
During that year, Xuan Ming took her to every corner of the Elf Star.
They watched the sunrise over the Tree of Life, listened to the moonlit song festival of the Elf Clan, and chased after the luminous whale in the deep sea.
For the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, this was the happiest time of her Life.
In the past, in the Star Dou Great Forest, although she was an auspicious Auspicious Beast with a high status, she was also too well protected and had almost no freedom. Later, she spent her time sleeping and waiting.
Only in this one year was she vibrant, free, and completely belong to Xuan Ming.
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, a year is almost up.
Elf Star, a place with stunningly beautiful scenery, nestled beside a mirror-like lake.
As the sun set, its golden rays shimmered on the lake's surface. Xuan Ming sat beneath a weeping willow, while the Three-Eyed Golden Lion —or rather, the stunningly beautiful girl who combined the beauty of Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, Gu Yuena— lazily rested her head on his lap, toying with a willow twig in her hand.
" Xuan Ming."
The girl suddenly spoke, her voice soft and sweet, with a hint of coquetry.
"Hmm?" Xuan Ming reached out and ran his hand through her dazzling golden hair, responding casually.
"I want a name."
The girl looked up, her deep purple eyes staring straight at him. "I don't want to be called Three-Eyed Golden Lion anymore. That's a race name, not a name. Besides... it's too long, and it doesn't sound good at all."
"Before, I was Soul Beast, so it didn't matter what I was called. But now I've taken human form, and I'm still your... you know."
A blush crept across her face, but she still said matter-of-factly, "I can't exactly go to the Divine Realm and introduce myself to Sister Xiao Wu and the others by saying, 'Hello, I'm the Three-Eyed Golden Lion, ' can I? That would be so silly."
Xuan Ming paused for a moment, then nodded.
"Indeed, having a name is more convenient."
"So what kind of name do you want?" Xuan Ming asked. "Have you thought about it yourself?"
"I have thought about it."
The girl blinked. "But none of the names I've thought of sound good. Besides... in this world, you're my only family. Of course, you should be the one to name me."
"I'll like any name you give me."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Ming felt a headache coming on.
He's good at fighting, scheming, and even scientific research. But when it comes to the art of "naming," his talent is practically nonexistent.
Back in the day, he named his moves in a simple and straightforward way.
"This..."
Xuan Ming stroked his chin, looking at the expectant eyes of the girl in his arms, his brain began to work at lightning speed.
She is Auspicious Beast, representing good fortune and luck.
Her true form is golden, possessing the attributes of fire and light.
Her transformed appearance is so...
Xuan Ming pondered for a moment, then tentatively asked:
"You are Auspicious Beast; as the old saying goes, ' Rui Xue harvest.' You represent good fortune and luck."
"And your hair is blonde, and you have such a cool and elegant demeanor... how about we name you ' Rui Xue '?"
" Rui Xue?"
The girl chewed on the two words for a moment, and her expectant eyes instantly drooped, her little mouth pouting so much it could hang an oil bottle.
"Not good."
She firmly refused, "It's not good at all."
"Why?" Xuan Ming asked, puzzled. "The meaning is quite good, and it sounds nice too."
"The meaning is good, but..."
The girl sat up from Xuan Ming's lap and began to list things on her fingers, "We already have a sister Qian Renxue in the family, everyone calls her ' Xue'er. There's also a Snow Empress in the Far North, you usually call her ' Snow Empress ' or ' Snow Girl '."
There are already too many people in this family whose names contain the character 'snow'!
"If my name is ' Rui Xue,' then when you call me ' Xue'er, are you calling Qian Renxue, or me? Or are you calling me Snow Empress as well?"
"I don't want to be a stand-in, nor do I want to be 'one of'."
The girl crossed her arms, turned her head to the side, and said with a haughty expression, "I want something unique. Something like... a name that immediately screams 'mine'."
Xuan Ming chuckled in disbelief.
This girl hasn't even entered the door yet, and she's already thinking about "competing for favor" and "distinctiveness." No wonder she's that Frankenstein's monster who has the traits of three "queens"—she certainly has a lot of little schemes up her sleeve.
"Okay, okay, no snow."
Xuan Ming shook his head helplessly and pulled her back into his arms. "Let me think... No snow, something unique, and it has to sound good..."
Rui Jin? That sounds too tacky, like a hardware store.
Rui Lin? That's a Qilin, a hybrid.
"San'er? That sounds like Xiao San, you'd get beaten to death."
Xuan Ming looked at the golden maple leaves covering the mountains and fields, at the autumn scenery that seemed to burn under the setting sun, and then looked down at the girl's equally golden long hair and the light flowing in her eyes.
Golden, autumn, harvest, waiting...
A name suddenly popped into my head.