Li Xuanxiao faced the lake, concentrating his energy as he sat cross-legged on a bluestone by the shore. Dewdrops rolled down his cheeks, bringing a refreshing coolness. Mist swirled over the lake's surface, shattering the rising sunlight into countless golden threads.
His figure flickered faintly in the morning fog, his breathing long and steady like silkworms spinning silk in spring. With each inhalation, the surrounding air seemed to tremble slightly as spiritual energy condensed into thumb-sized beads of light that entered his nostrils.
The Nascent Soul within Li Xuanxiao's dantian resembled a newly awakened infant, greedily sucking in this spiritual energy like a baby nursing. Not just through his nose and mouth—every pore on his body now exchanged breath with heaven and earth, exhaled impurities dissipating as gray mist.
Li Xuanxiao carefully sensed his power. Within his dantian, the shadowy figure holding a chessboard continuously absorbed spiritual essence, while his own Nascent Soul timidly hid near his heels, scavenging leftover scraps. Even when absorbing energy, it acted extremely cautious, as if fearing the energy might be poisonous.
This infuriated Li Xuanxiao. Being cowardly in battle was one thing, but why be so timid even when eating!?
Staring at the chessboard-wielding Nascent Soul shadow, Li Xuanxiao felt uneasy yet powerless. He considered it a hidden danger. Was he really so lucky to inexplicably obtain a dual-Nascent Soul configuration?
Just then, a rare spirit beast—a Glazed Feather Bird—flew overhead. Flapping its wings, it sensed Li Xuanxiao's extraordinary aura and spoke voluntarily:
"Esteemed fellow cultivator, to this day I've performed 321 good deeds and saved 37 lives. When do you think I can achieve human form and ascend to immortality?"
Li Xuanxiao hesitated. "Virtuous families will surely reap blessings, but haste makes waste. When the time comes, it will happen naturally."
Yet after all his experiences, Li Xuanxiao no longer knew what to believe. The repeatedly resurrected Fanyue, Lin Wanqing protected by heavenly favor, Liu Qiushui constantly escaping his ambushes...and himself, struck repeatedly by heavenly punishment!
The Glazed Feather Bird said gratefully, "Thank you for your guidance."
Taking a deep breath, Li Xuanxiao sighed inwardly. Master, Heaven's justice isn't as impartial as you claimed. Good and evil don't always receive their due. Your teachings no longer hold true today.
But since Heaven won't punish evil, this heartless man will take matters into his own hands! If good and evil go unrewarded, how can people be good? Thinking this, his gaze hardened with determination.
In the distance, two small Glazed Feather Birds approached with an adult—likely a family. The chicks chirped excitedly around their parent. Watching them, Li Xuanxiao couldn't help but smile.
Soon after, he received a message from Di Nü Feng and departed.
By the lakeside, a young man named Chu Feng and a girl named Zhao Ying appeared.
"Yingying, look at those beautiful birds! What are they called?" Chu Feng asked.
"Glazed Feather Birds," Zhao Ying replied gloomily. Her grandmother had recently passed, leaving her grief-stricken. To comfort her, Chu Feng had brought her here.
"Never heard of them," Chu Feng said.
"They're extremely rare," Zhao Ying explained.
The boy smiled, squinting. "So pretty."
But Zhao Ying's eyes filled with sorrow, especially seeing the pair of Glazed Feather Birds with their two chicks resting on lotus leaves. Witnessing their happy family scene, tears streamed down her face.
"Yingying, why are you crying? I'm here with you," Chu Feng said anxiously.
"It's nothing...I just..." Her quiet sobs intensified. "Seeing their happy family...made me think of Grandma. They can be together, but she'll never come back..."
Flustered, Chu Feng suddenly got an idea. Reaching to his waist, he drew out an exquisitely crafted ice-jade slingshot—hard as steel yet emitting faint cold energy. This rare material was extremely difficult to work with, but had been fashioned into a deadly weapon.
Aiming at the birds on the lake, he pulled back the slingshot—until Zhao Ying stopped him. "They're protected spirit beasts! That adult could already transform and carries virtue blessings. Let it go."
The boy's eyebrow twitched. Suddenly, the icy slingshot shifted. "It made Yingying sad—it deserves death!"
Twang! A crisp sound, then a splash—a chick's head exploded into crimson mist before its body slowly sank. The parent birds froze, witnessing their child's death.
"If I can't kill the adults, I'll take the chicks!" Chu Feng loaded another ice pellet. The mother bird desperately spread her wings—too late. The projectile pierced through her wing, killing the second chick behind her.
A third shot killed her mate. Three pellets—two chicks and one adult dead. The surviving bird stared in shock.
Chu Feng watched with amusement as the last bird's mournful cry split the air, its feathers spread tragically in sunlight. Then it arrowed toward him.
"Seeking death!" Chu Feng snorted, drawing his slingshot fully—until Zhao Ying blocked him. "Killing it would damage your virtue." Flicking her finger, she sent the bird crashing into the lake like a broken kite.
"Brother Chu, don't do this again."
"For you, I'd do anything," Chu Feng vowed solemnly.
Zhao Ying nodded, wiping tears. "Thank you."
"Feeling better now?" he asked. She nodded vigorously, smiling through tears. To them, this was merely trivial.
Hand in hand, they left.
"So you've reclaimed your position as Hall Master?" Li Xuanxiao asked Di Nü Feng during their secret meeting in a cave.
She shook her head. "After the Vice-Leader died, the Four Guardians split off with their factions. But they're no real threat—I'll soon suppress them."