Zhi Xuan wasted no time. He allowed Ao Sheng to clutch the sandalwood box. He closed his eyes, and his Sea of Consciousness emitted a spiritual wave. With the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy, he now possessed an unmatched understanding of hidden formations and spiritual energy flows. He sought a hidden node, a place where this thick mist would not only serve as a shield but also as a source of gathered energy.

  His Divine Sense crept across the mountains. After a while, he found it—an ancient cave behind a spiritual waterfall. The place was a focal point for hidden Azure Dragon spiritual energy, protected by a natural formation formed from cold mist that had accumulated for thousands of years.

  "Follow me," Zhi Xuan commanded. He stepped forward, the Four-Directional Blood Shield enveloping them both acting not only as protection but also as a detector, guiding them through the illusion formations hidden within the mist.

  They climbed for half a shichen, penetrating layers of cold mist that felt like spiritual liquid. Finally, they arrived at a hidden cliff. There, a waterfall dozens of zhang high flowed down. The water was light blue and radiated a gentle Azure Dragon essence. Behind the curtain of the waterfall lay a hidden, dark cave mouth.

  Zhi Xuan led the way inside. The interior of the cave was dry and spacious. The walls were made of gray jade that emitted a dim glow. In the center of the cave, there was a small pool of water that smelled of ancient herbs, surrounded by natural formation patterns that subtly absorbed spiritual energy from the waterfall outside.

  "This is a good place," Zhi Xuan murmured. He spread his Divine Sense throughout the cave, ensuring no traces of Ancient Spirits or other entities were lurking. "Ao Sheng, begin. I will stand guard and refine the Heavenly Sword."

  Ao Sheng nodded solemnly. He placed the sandalwood box on a relatively flat stone formation, then sat cross-legged beside the spiritual pool, positioning himself at the node of concentrated energy. He took a deep breath, calming his Golden Core, and slowly opened the sandalwood box.

  The spiritual essence that escaped from the box was so pure and majestic, as if an Ancient Azure Dragon had just awakened. The Azure Dragon Blood, though only a drop, shone with a golden-blue light. Ao Sheng's Pure Golden Dragon bloodline immediately responded with wild ecstasy. Ao Sheng closed his eyes and allowed the Azure Dragon essence to be absorbed into his meridians. This process would be long and painful, a re-forging of his bloodline's spiritual foundation.

  Zhi Xuan placed Divine Black Jade Stones around Ao Sheng, forming a Spiritual Formation that protected him and kept him stable from intersecting spiritual disturbances. Zhi Xuan channeled the Pure Spring Law into the Divine Black Jade Formation now surrounding Ao Sheng. The Spring Law, symbolizing vitality and birth, would help soothe the Pure Golden Dragon's Golden Core so it could absorb the Azure Dragon Blood more stably, though the process remained agonizing.

  Ao Sheng squeezed his eyes shut. As the drop of Azure Dragon Blood entered his meridians, he felt millions of years of ancient majesty flooding into him. Every strand of his blood felt like it was burning, his bones creaked, and his unseen scales were re-forged. Pure Golden Dragon blood was strong, but Azure Dragon Blood was sublime, and this fusion was an unavoidable Bloodline Re-forging Calamity.

  However, under the protection of the Divine Black Jade Formation and the Spring Law, he struggled forward. The Dragon's Roar within his Golden Core was suppressed, turning into a powerful hum. Zhi Xuan then shifted his gaze away from Ao Sheng. He did not worry about Ao Sheng; he knew the Golden Dragon was strong enough to bear the pain of the bloodline upgrade.

  He took out the Heavenly Sword. The sword, with its dark blade enveloped in golden Immortal Lightning, floated calmly before him. Zhi Xuan closed his eyes in the physical world, but his Sea of Consciousness now shone brightly, a turbulent spiritual realm. In its center, above the hidden Devil Seed, the spiritual Heavenly Sword floated. The sword radiated the Law of Immortal Lightning, its resonance creating unmatched waves of destruction within his Sea of Consciousness.

  Around him, fragments of the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy swirled like newborn stars. Zhi Xuan had to integrate this ancient knowledge, especially regarding the refinement of Immortal Artifacts, into his Dao. Only then would the Heavenly Sword fully belong to him, rather than being just a gift.

  "Xiao Die wants a human form transformation without waiting for my realm to stabilize," Zhi Xuan muttered within his consciousness. "It is a crazy risk, but such is the nature of the Ancient Heavenly Insect. They thirst for re-forging."

  He saw the small silhouette of Yunyi Die—the Thousand Feathered Moth—vibrating violently. Around her, rainbow spiritual dust swirled wildly. Human form transformation was a Minor Calamity for spiritual beasts; it was not just a physical change, but a re-forging of the spiritual foundation to align with the human Dao.

  This was not merely a transformation allowing an Ancient Insect to become human; it was the stage where Ancient Insects often sought to bridge the gap from the Verdant Titan stage to the Crimson Lotus level, forming their own soul in a sense equivalent to Soul Transformation. Those who transformed would possess a living Soul within a physical body. Furthermore, their physical form could shift between Insect and Human.

  This advancement was not at the point of essence absorption, but rather they would become like humans capable of casting techniques and obtaining the same cultivation resources as humans. They could hold artifacts and face realm tribulations to test this heaven-defying transformation.

  Ruo Xianxue, the Nine-Tailed Darkness Fox, was much calmer. Her body, shrouded in dark mist, slowly absorbed the spiritual essence of Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness. She did not aim for a physical form but rather an Incarnation Spiritual Body that would allow her to manifest in the real world without being directly bound to the Monument or Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness.

  "And that Old Fox will have a spiritual body that can appear outside my body," Zhi Xuan murmured. He floated the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron toward them, providing the support of the Four Seasons Law, giving them a pseudo-cycle that accelerated time compared to the mortal realm.

  Zhi Xuan exhaled spiritually, channeling more essence into the Divine Cauldron. The ancient artifact spun slowly, emitting the complete Four Seasons Law into the Sea of Consciousness. The Summer Law provided pure energy for Ruo Xianxue and Xiao Die, accelerating the spiritual body forging and form transformation.

  The Autumn Law helped Xiao Die shed her Verdant Titan form, while the Spring Law provided the vitality needed to build the foundation of a new human form. He had to be balanced. Too much Summer would burn Xiao Die; too much Spring would dull the Old Fox's spiritual sharpness. Zhi Xuan moved with the precision of a Refinement God who had experienced thousands of Kalpas. The Ancient Heaven's knowledge of universal cycles gave him a perfect understanding of how the Season Laws interacted with ancient life essence.

  In the midst of that symphony of Season Laws, Zhi Xuan's primary attention turned back to the Heavenly Sword. The sword, although it had reached the Immortal level, had not yet fully become a manifestation of his Dao. The Ancient Will of the Six-Winged Guardian still clung to the blade, a strange yet binding respect.

  "I reject Destiny, not because I hate majesty, but because I choose my own Dao," Zhi Xuan hissed in his Sea of Consciousness, proclaiming his will. He directed his Pure Lightning Law—the Law forged from his understanding that his Body was the catalyst flowing with Lightning—directly into the spiritual Heavenly Sword blade. Zhi Xuan's Pure Lightning was the essence of refinement and destruction. It was a Law that judged, demanding absolute obedience.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  ZZZTT! KA-BOOM!

  The spiritual world around the Heavenly Sword exploded in a lightning storm. The Pure Lightning did not damage the Immortal Sword blade; instead, it peeled away layer after layer of the clinging Ancient Will. The process was brutal. Each time the Pure Lightning struck, the sword vibrated violently, like a living creature fighting for its freedom.

  Zhi Xuan ignored the pain radiating to his Primary Soul from the wild Lightning resonance. He pushed forward. Finally, with a flash that split the darkness, the Heavenly Sword went still. Its blade, which had once radiated majestic golden Immortal Lightning, was now enveloped in a cruel purple-blue aura. It no longer radiated respect; it radiated Absolute Obedience.

  The spiritual Heavenly Sword shot forward and circled Zhi Xuan's Primary Soul before finally merging into the Heavenly-Blood Body Law Pillar pattern in his Sea of Consciousness. The integration was complete. The Heavenly Sword was no longer an external artifact; it was an absolute extension of Zhi Xuan's Pure Lightning and Devil Blood Dao. If Zhi Xuan died, the sword would die with him.

  Zhi Xuan opened his eyes in the real world. The pain in his Sea of Consciousness had been replaced by an extraordinary sense of power. He reached out his hand, and the Heavenly Sword immediately appeared, floating calmly above his palm. The blade emitted a subtle yet deadly pressure.

  "Two full months," Zhi Xuan murmured. He had not thought refining the Heavenly Sword with the Lightning Law would take this long. He then turned his gaze toward Ao Sheng, who was still sitting cross-legged within the formation.

  In the span of two full months, the Pure Golden Dragon had been tortured by the Azure Dragon Blood. That ancient essence had not only purified his bloodline; it had pushed his Golden Core to the very brink of its realm. The spiritual fluctuations around the black jade formation now felt so wild, like a flood held back by a dike that was about to collapse. On the cave ceiling, spiritual aura began to gather. This was no ordinary energy; it was the Nature Essence responding to the high-level re-forging of a spiritual foundation.

  ZZRRT!

  Outside the waterfall, the thick and cold Azure Dragon mist suddenly vibrated violently, pushed aside by an unseen force. Above the cave, the jade ceiling emitted sharp cracking sounds. A heavy thunder, not ordinary thunder but the lethal thunder of realm ascension, began to echo. Ao Sheng's Azure King Calamity had arrived.

  "The Azure King Calamity," Zhi Xuan murmured, his voice calm. The transformation of Beast species, especially those aiming to become an Azure King—equivalent to a Transformation cultivator—would always draw the attention of the Heavens.

  Zhi Xuan rose to his feet, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the cave ceiling. He exhaled, a cold sense of satisfaction rising in his heart. Two months of cultivation had paid off, both for himself and for the Golden Dragon. He reached out his hand, and the Heavenly Sword shot into the air, floating above the head of Ao Sheng, who was still submerged in bloodline re-forging.

  The cave now vibrated violently. The cracks in the ceiling widened, and spiritual dust began to fall. Outside the spiritual waterfall, the echoing thunder felt like the roar of an angry Heaven. The Azure King Calamity had arrived with an oppressive majesty.

  Zhi Xuan did not panic. He was a Devil accustomed to living under the pressure of Heavenly Calamities. He pulled up the Divine Black Jade Stones surrounding Ao Sheng, storing them back in his storage bag. The Black Jade Formation had finished its task. Protecting Ao Sheng from the Heavenly Calamity would be foolish; a Calamity was a tempering, not a punishment to be avoided.

  He left only the gentle Pure Spring Law to continue soothing Ao Sheng's Golden Core. Then, with a flick of his hand, Zhi Xuan opened the curtain of the spiritual waterfall. The water radiating Azure Dragon essence split in two, creating an open path leading straight into the mist-shrouded Azure Mountains.

  "Ao Sheng, this is a Heavenly Calamity," Zhi Xuan said calmly, his voice cold and commanding. "Face it; this will forge the Ancient Dragon Body you possess."

  Ao Sheng, who had endured two months of blood-tempering agony, responded to Zhi Xuan's command with a dense internal roar. He did not open his eyes, but his seated body immediately radiated the spiritual essence of the Pure Golden Dragon now mixed with the ancient Azure Dragon aura.

  That aura exploded outward, shattering the remnants of Zhi Xuan's Spring Law and breaking the gray jade rocks around him. His body began to change. Dense golden scales appeared, radiating a pure golden light. His dragon horns elongated, and on his forehead, which was now covered in scales, a light blue scale pattern emerged—the sign of Azure Dragon Blood assimilation.

  WHOOOSH!

  He stood tall. His human form remained intact, but his aura had shifted from a Spiritual Beast to a majestic Azure King, an entity ready to face Heaven's judgment. He stepped out of the cave, walking across the splitting water path toward the mist-shrouded Azure Mountains.

  Zhi Xuan followed behind him. Above them, the Heavenly Sword shot into the air, emitting the Law of Immortal Lightning that resonated wildly with the thunder in the sky. Zhi Xuan had no intention of helping Ao Sheng with his Heavenly Calamity; he only wanted the sword to absorb the Calamity aura to perfect his Lightning Dao.

  They reached the top of the cliff. Above them, the mist-shrouded sky of the Azure Mountains was now split open. The thick mist was swept away, revealing a pitch-black night sky. And in the middle of that darkness, lethal Calamity clouds had gathered, emitting purple lightning flashes that carried the weight of Heavenly destruction.

  This was no mortal Calamity; this was a Calamity intended to forge an Ancient Race that dared to challenge the limits of Heaven. Ao Sheng looked up. He no longer possessed fear, only the ancient majesty born from the tempering of his blood and Golden Core. He raised both hands to the sky, roaring silently, proclaiming his identity as a new Dragon King.

  KRAK-BOOM!

  The first Heavenly Thunder struck. Dense purple lightning, as if liquefied from the essence of judgment, shot toward Ao Sheng. That lightning possessed an essence capable of destroying an unprepared Blood Transformation cultivator.

  Ao Sheng did not dodge. He allowed the lightning to strike his Golden Core directly. The agony was horrific. His golden and light blue scales creaked; spiritual smoke rose from his body. However, the Azure Dragon Blood acted as a catalyst, absorbing that destruction and turning it into pure energy to re-forge every strand of his bones and muscles.

  Zhi Xuan stood to the side, watching coldly. His sapphire eyes radiated an immeasurable calculation. He kept his distance, ensuring the Heavenly Sword above their heads continued to absorb the Calamity essence, but without interfering with Ao Sheng's tempering process.

  The Heavenly Sword shot through the air, its dark blade dancing in the midst of the Heavenly Calamity. Every bolt of lightning that struck Ao Sheng sent a shockwave that was absorbed by the sword. Zhi Xuan's Pure Lightning Law within the Heavenly Sword blade became increasingly dense and stable, harmonizing with the pure destruction released by the Heavens.

  Nine strikes of Heavenly Lightning hit in succession. Each strike was stronger and more brutal than the last. The Azure Mountains trembled faintly. The Azure Dragon mist, which was a natural formation, was strong enough to withstand the spiritual pressure of the Calamity, yet it did not remain calm; instead, it moved wildly as if the lightning were capable of shaking it.

  Ao Sheng staggered after the seventh lightning strike. Most of his golden scales were shattered, revealing skin that now shone with an intense light blue light. However, every time he was wounded, his Golden Core roared, absorbing energy from the Calamity to grow new scales that were now much harder and radiated an ancient Azure aura.

  On the ninth lightning strike—the lightning that was the peak of the Azure King Calamity—Ao Sheng roared with a loud voice. The roar did not come from his mouth; it was the roar of a Dragon's Golden Core. A new Azure King Beast had been born. A Tree of Life began to form in his Sea of Consciousness, establishing his vitality firmly.

  The spiritual explosion resulting from that roar tore through the Azure Mountains, splitting the valley below them. When the spiritual smoke cleared, Ao Sheng stood tall. His human form had stabilized with his shimmering horns protruding; his scales disappeared, but his eyes now radiated a golden-blue light, and he was surrounded by an unmatched Dragon King aura. He had successfully entered the Azure King realm—equivalent to Consciousness Transformation.

  Ao Sheng, who once had to run around carrying an ancient wooden box, who served as an auction cleaner for the Shi Clan, who was a guardian of the Black Dragon Tomb and oppressed to the point where even his dragon blood was suppressed and his horns were cut, had finally met Zhi Xuan. Seeing the journey of the Devil, even in a short time, promising to be his Junior and to be brought soaring high—this was the result.

  Ao Sheng turned toward Zhi Xuan and quickly dropped down, prostrating with his hands on the ground. His body was upright though trembling slightly from the surge of emotion. He, who had once only seen the Young Masters of Clans rise and be praised, was now an equal—even leaping far beyond.

  "Senior," Ao Sheng's voice was low, his tone trembling slightly yet showing the aura of a rising Dragon. "Thank you."