"He is the fifteenth person I have known to forge the Wind Law here," Jing Zi replied calmly, her tone radiating deep knowledge. "The Five Elements realm may seem like borrowing the Laws of Nature. However, a Law is not something to be merely borrowed. To only borrow is not to understand, to feel, or to become. Conversely, a cultivator who understands, feels, and becomes is something entirely different compared to one who forges a Law by merely absorbing and then manifesting it."

  The man in brown robes, who had introduced himself as Hu Li, swallowed hard. "Understanding, feeling, and becoming the Wind... that is an achievement held only by the geniuses of the Ancient Clans, Mistress Jing. Such a technique usually requires a Heavenly Talent or an Ancient Clan bloodline."

  "Heavenly Talent and Ancient Clan bloodlines?" Jing Zi countered with a faint, thin smile. She exhaled softly and blinked. "The Great Dao is not merely about Blood Heritages or Heavenly Talents. If one possesses the understanding and deep experience of Daoist Zhang, even an ordinary mortal can suppress a Genius. The Laws of Nature do not submit to Heritage, but to your understanding of becoming Nature."

  Hu Li and the two young women fell silent, digesting Jing Zi's profound words. They were cultivators struggling to borrow the power of Nature, but Zhi Xuan, atop that hill, was striving to become the Law itself. The difference between the two concepts was the chasm separating mortal cultivators from figures destined to step into the Heavens.

  Jing Zi turned her body, channeling essence into the control crystal. The Wind Phoenix Ship began to move away from Sky Mist Hill, distancing itself from that irrational sight to deliver its passengers to their destined islands.

  "If you are afraid, hide in the cabins. If you are curious, watch. But never attempt to imitate Daoist Zhang. He is forging a Pure Wind Law that interacts with a Pure Lightning Law. Such a Law is incredibly challenging; it will not only destroy him but also destroy others if he is not careful," Jing Zi stated, her tone now firm, ending the sudden lesson.

  The Wind Phoenix Ship streaked away. Yet, atop Sky Mist Hill, the figure of Zhi Xuan, surrounded by ten roaring storm-vortices, remained a center of tranquil destruction. Those vortices were no longer the Wind Blade Storms drawn from the Sea of Verdant Winds, but the Wind Law beginning to be installed upon Zhi Xuan's Divine Wheel.

  On the third night after the ship had departed, within Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, the Wind Law pillar began to engrave runes with the symbol of Wind. It was a definitive Wind Law, fully understood and now standing alongside the Lightning Law runes on the Heavenly Samsara Wheel, immediately merging with the existing Four Seasons Law.

  "All that lives shall become Dust when the Wind carries them; everything is but a Path, and the Wind is what keeps Man walking."

  Zhi Xuan opened his eyes. A flash of Lightning enveloped in Wind rippled for an instant. The ten storm-vortices surrounding him dispersed, causing the sea around the hill to churn into a storm that sent seawater surging upward. Zhi Xuan drifted into the air and closed his eyes, his long black hair flowing like the night wind beneath the Starry Sky.

  The Five Elements realm—two Elements achieved. The combination of Wind and Lightning allowed a Five Elements cultivator to no longer rely on a Flying Artifact; they were capable of moving their bodies using the Wind Law within them. Every Five Elements cultivator was fundamentally different from those in the Organ Transformation or Consciousness realms. Wind and Lightning required no wings nor the formation of wings through techniques. As long as the Wind Law they forged reached the full understanding that their bodies could be as the Wind, their flight speed could equal that of a Flying Artifact. This was the core of the Five Elements realm: using the Laws of Nature.

  ZZZRTT! CRACKLE! WHUSH! WHUSH!

  Zhi Xuan propelled his body forward, streaking at a velocity far higher than when he only understood the Lightning Law. He was like an Eagle enveloped in the Laws of Wind and Lightning as he shot away from Sky Mist Hill. He flicked his finger, and the Heavenly Sword still embedded in the hill vibrated faintly before streaking after him.

  The speed of Zhi Xuan now approached the velocity of the Seven-Star Boat itself. He no longer required a mortal flying artifact; he had become the movement itself. Every fiber of his body resonated with Pure Wind, allowing him to glide between spatial gaps at a speed matched only by high-level treasures. Beside him, the Heavenly Sword streaked in flashes of Lightning, circling his body like a protective vortex. Wind and Lightning—two naturally conflicting Laws, one being formless movement and the other absolute destruction—now danced in a terrifying harmony.

  Zhi Xuan opened his sapphire eyes, flashes of Lightning and Wind merging within them. He crossed the sea of spiritual mist with incredible efficiency, unhindered by the Wind Blade Storms still roaring in the distance. He traversed air currents distinct from the storms, passing through subtler gales that nonetheless harbored danger.

  "Heavenly Sword," Zhi Xuan spoke, glancing sideways at the blade streaking beside him. "Let us go to the Northern Continent and conquer the Sea of Verdant Winds."

  Zhi Xuan jolted slightly, then with a sharp thrust of his legs, he accelerated, leaving a sonic boom in his wake. The atmospheric trail he left behind was decorated with the turbulence of Pure Lightning and Wind. Beneath the Starry Sky, he was like a predatory Eagle diving toward its mark.

  He weaved through the Sea of Verdant Winds, avoiding the areas still gripped by the Wind Blade Storms. Even though he had gained enlightenment, he did not take unnecessary risks with storms that even Soul Transformation cultivators feared. After flying for several nights with undiminished speed, he appeared like a Heavenly God-Devil carrying the gusts of the night. On the tenth night after leaving Sky Mist Hill, he halted in mid-air, creating a spiritual ripple that sent out a shockwave.

  WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP! WHUMP!

  Zhi Xuan clenched his fists and offered a thin smile, feeling a significant increase in his power. He looked ahead; the journey to the Northern Continent, filled with Extreme Ice Mountains and Ancient Volcanoes, would still take quite some time. He waved his hand, and the Seven-Star Boat drifted out and expanded, carrying a subtle silvery light. He leaped onto the boat and waved his hand again to manifest the Divine Furnace. There, Ao Sheng streaked out in a strand of light, standing slightly unsteadily upon the deck.

  Ao Sheng appeared pale, staggering for a moment as he adjusted to the cold night air after months within the warm space of the Three-Era Divine Furnace. However, once his golden-blue eyes met Zhi Xuan, shock overcame his physical discomfort. The fluctuations emitted by his Senior Devil now felt more balanced and swift. Zhi Xuan's Pure Lightning aura, once sharp and destructive, was now enveloped by a Wind aura that was soft yet invincible, as if Zhi Xuan’s Heavenly authority had found its perfect carrier.

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  "Senior Zhi Xuan," Ao Sheng hissed, his voice containing undisguised awe. He bowed respectfully. "Your Wind Law... it is perfect. That speed just now nearly surpassed this Seven-Star Boat's usual pace."

  Zhi Xuan snorted softly, a cold smile of arrogance appearing on his lips. He channeled essence into the base of the Seven-Star Boat, and the artifact roared low, preparing to streak forward.

  "This is the core of the Five Elements realm, Golden Dragon," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice now containing the subtle rustle of the wind. "We no longer borrow the Law; we have become the manifestation of the Law. If my body is Lightning, then the Wind is the carrier of that destruction. The Seven-Star Boat remains an artifact, whereas I am the Dao itself."

  He wasted no time. With a wave of his hand, he produced several Divine Black Jade Stones, placing them around the boat's formation center and channeling his newly born Wind-Lightning Law into the artifact. Their speed increased sharply as they streaked toward the boundaries of the Sea of Verdant Winds.

  Ao Sheng drifted into thought, digesting the unspoken lesson. He could feel the vast difference in efficiency. The fusion of Lightning and Wind in Zhi Xuan created a perfect synergy; one provided absolute thrust, while the other provided fluidity and the ability to glide without friction.

  Within Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, the excitement over the achievement of Pure Wind soon subsided, replaced by sharp calculation. He turned his gaze toward the remaining Law Pillars on the Heavenly Samsara Wheel: Fire, Ice, and Earth. He studied the mental map from the Ancient Heaven Memory Legacy. They were currently on a path leading to the Northern Continent, meaning they would soon enter regions dominated by Extreme Ice. However, a closer objective he had mapped long ago was the Red Earth Valley, a volcanic mountain region in the Northern Continent.

  He turned his gaze momentarily toward Ruo Xianxue, who was leaning against a branch of the Tree of Life. Her nine tails spread in a soft rustle. She was not looking at Zhi Xuan, but at Xiao Die, who appeared close to completing her human transformation. The little moth grew stronger by the day, seemingly ready to transform within the next few days.

  "Little Devil," Ruo Xianxue hissed, glancing at Zhi Xuan before pointing at Xiao Die curled beneath the Tree of Life. "You should find a suitable place for that Little Moth first. She will face the Ancient Insect Calamity. This transformation into human form is the moment when an Ancient Insect defies the Heavens."

  "Ancient Insect Calamity," spiritual Zhi Xuan murmured, his eyes flashing sharply. He shifted his attention from the mental map to the rainbow-colored moth resting peacefully beside the Devil Tree of Life. He had been so focused on forging his Five Elements Dao that he had nearly forgotten this crucial milestone in Xiao Die's growth. For a Thousand Feathered Moth, the transition from youth to human form was a challenge directly imposed by the Heavens, often involving lethal Lightning Laws and immense Soul pressure.

  "When exactly will this Calamity arrive?" Zhi Xuan asked, his tone flat. He had to prioritize the safety of his spiritual beast.

  Ruo Xianxue snorted, returning to her usual haughty demeanor. "Judging by the ripples around her, I predict no more than eight days. She has absorbed enough spiritual essence from the God Herbs, and the Ancient Blood within her has reached its limit. The Ancient Insect Calamity will be much like when that Golden Dragon underwent the Azure King Calamity. You need an isolated place; I will construct a Grand Formation if the Calamity proves too cruel."

  Zhi Xuan clenched his spiritual jaw. The calculations in his mind moved rapidly. The Northern Continent was his destination, but it was dominated by the great sects of Extreme Ice and Ancient Volcanoes. Finding a properly secluded location within eight days was a significant logistical challenge. He summoned the mental map once more. It showed they would soon cross the boundary of the Night Shadow Forest, a vast ancient forest on the eastern border of the Sea of Verdant Winds before reaching the more densely populated plains of the Northern Continent.

  "Night Shadow Forest," Zhi Xuan murmured. The forest was known for its high spiritual energy levels but was also inhabited by dangerous Ancient Beasts and inescapable Natural Formations. Most importantly, it was vast and isolated, far from the eyes of the Ancient Clans or the Empire. Zhi Xuan channeled more Pure Wind-Lightning essence into the Seven-Star Boat. The artifact roared with a much smoother, controlled sound, streaking northeast and cutting through the remaining Sea of Verdant Winds.

  "Red Earth Valley, Extreme Ice, and Ancient Fire can wait," Zhi Xuan decided within his Sea of Consciousness, his tone full of cold authority. "The safety of the Little Moth is the top priority. Only after she survives the Calamity will I continue my path."

  Two days later, the Seven-Star Boat slowed drastically. Zhi Xuan and Ao Sheng now stood at the threshold of an ancient forest that seemed to swallow the light—the Night Shadow Forest. The trees there towered into the clouds, their branches curving like claws, and a thick ancient aura enveloped the air. Zhi Xuan stowed the Seven-Star Boat. He did not wish to use a flying artifact in a territory where the Natural Laws were dominated by Ancient Flying Beasts. He leaped down, and Ao Sheng followed warily.

  "Night Shadow Forest," Ao Sheng whispered, his golden eyes radiating caution. "The spiritual energy here is incredibly dense, Senior. But the aura of Ancient Beasts is also very strong."

  "Precisely," Zhi Xuan replied. He spread his divine sense. With his newly forged Wind and Lightning Laws, his divine sense could now envelope a far larger area with terrifying speed, allowing him to ignore lower-realm beasts. He led Ao Sheng into the Night Shadow Forest, moving at speeds only attainable through the combination of Wind and Lightning. They did not fly through the air but glided through the gaps between trees, their feet barely touching the ground. The movement was so swift and fluid that they appeared as shadows enveloped in lightning mist.

  "We are looking for an isolated location with a strong Natural Formation to withstand the Ancient Insect Calamity," Zhi Xuan explained, his voice quiet yet firm.

  After moving for nearly a day through the deepening forest, Zhi Xuan's divine sense caught a strange fluctuation. It was a dense concentration of Water and Wood Laws, hidden behind a very subtle Natural Formation. Zhi Xuan changed direction, leading them to a hidden valley shrouded in green mist. In the center of the valley was a small waterfall flowing from a stone cliff covered in silver moss. The waterfall was unusual; it emitted a mist that smelled fragrant and soothing—the aura of the Ancient Spring of Life.

  Behind the waterfall, Zhi Xuan found a wide stone cave. The cave felt warm and radiated dense Wood energy. In the center of the cave was a small pool formed by the waterfall's droplets, its water shimmering with life essence.

  "A fine place," Zhi Xuan murmured, a small smile of satisfaction appearing on his lips. The Wood and Water energy here would help Xiao Die recover from the Calamity, and the Natural Formation enveloping the valley was sufficient to hide the Calamity's fluctuations from high-realm cultivators. He stepped inside, spreading a simple Defensive and Isolation Formation. He was not worried; Ruo Xianxue had promised a Grand Formation if the Calamity became too severe.

  "Ao Sheng, stand guard outside. I will prepare the healing formation for Xiao Die," Zhi Xuan commanded.

  Ao Sheng nodded and retreated to the mouth of the cave, his Black Water Dragon King Spear appearing and leaning beside him, ready for defense.

  Zhi Xuan sat cross-legged in the center of the cave. He produced several healing Heavenly Herbs from his storage bag, crushing them into powder and sprinkling them around the Spring of Life pool. The herbal powder immediately dissolved into the life essence of the pool, turning the water into a jade liquid that emitted a sweet fragrance. Zhi Xuan waved his hand, manifesting the Heavenly Sword and the Divine Furnace. The Heavenly Sword hovered upward, its blade pointing toward the heavens as if challenging the sky to strike an Immortal-grade artifact. Meanwhile, the Divine Furnace would serve as the catalyst and the place where Xiao Die would undergo the Ancient Insect Calamity. The Divine Furnace expanded and absorbed some of the water from the life pool.

  Carefully, Zhi Xuan floated Xiao Die out from his Sea of Consciousness, where she had been resting peacefully. He gently placed the Little Moth inside the Divine Furnace, submerging her in the pure life water. Ruo Xianxue emerged in her spiritual form, moving her fingers to plant four restriction flags around the Furnace.

  "These flags will at least hold off the first five strikes of the Ancient Insect Calamity," Ruo Xianxue explained as the flags glowed, creating a dome that enveloped the Divine Furnace. "Beyond that, it will depend on the Little Moth herself."

  Zhi Xuan gave a faint nod, watching Xiao Die as she began to submerge within the Furnace. "Little Moth, I will protect you. Just prepare yourself over these next few days."