The more monstrous a Cultivated Creature, the more savage its Celestial Tribulation. In this world, you always have to pay your dues.
However, Tu Xiao’an had absolute confidence in his Azure Owl. She was a Super Celestial Peacock, after all—no ordinary creature.
The destructive torrent of energy before Tu Xiao’an’s eyes slowly began to weaken. He waited and watched quietly, never once intervening.
Suddenly, the dull Nine-Colored Feathers in Tu Xiao’an’s hand began to emit a faint glow. As if sensing something, he looked up in astonishment. A mass of iridescent, cloud-like qi was churning above the Snake Palace, and a peculiar, wondrous fragrance began to fill the air.
The iridescent qi was sacred and brilliant; even the light of day could not conceal its radiance. Suddenly, a strange beam of light shot out from within the clouds, illuminating a specific spot.
The beam acted like a spotlight, revealing a ball-like shape completely wrapped in feathers. It floated in midair, resonating with the iridescent qi above.
"Haha! It looks like my precious Azure Owl has succeeded in Crossing the Tribulation!"
Seeing this, a sunny smile spread across Tu Xiao’an’s handsome face.
Wasn’t that feathered ball the Immortal Spirit Peacock, Azure Owl? In the end, she had relied on her own strength to withstand the last four blasts of Celestial Thunder and Celestial Fire.
Immediately, another magical scene unfolded. From the skies over She Mountain, countless multicolored birds appeared. Large and small, they swarmed in flocks, circling around the tightly wrapped form of the Immortal Spirit Peacock.
Drawn by the fragrance, the flock of birds chirped with crisp, pleasant songs that sounded like a trickling brook as they circled high in the sky.
It was, astoundingly, a magnificent scene of a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.
The smile on Tu Xiao’an’s face deepened. ’This spectacle of a hundred birds paying homage is no small feat,’ he thought. ’That’s a privilege reserved only for the legendary Phoenix.’
It was the same principle as when he had attained his own apotheosis, drawing countless members of the Snake Species to come and worship him.
More and more birds of every kind gathered until the sky above the Snake Palace was nearly blotted out by the unknown species. Yet the sight was one of extreme beauty—not frightening or menacing in the least.
At the same time, a sacred, nine-colored Divine Light burst forth from the tightly wrapped Immortal Spirit Peacock. It was intensely blinding, as if she were about to undergo some kind of metamorphosis.
’Demon Transformation?’
A sharp glint flashed in Tu Xiao’an’s eyes. ’Azure Owl just finished Crossing the Tribulation, and now she’s already starting her Demon Transformation.’
’Excellent. To witness the Demon Transformation of an Immortal Spirit Peacock... anyone who sees this is truly blessed.’
It was a pity the countless members of the Snake Species below weren’t particularly interested in Azure Owl’s Demon Transformation. Instead, the sight of the sky full of birds was making them drool.
So many birds had never appeared on She Mountain before. Any that dared show themselves would have likely ended up in some snake’s belly long ago.
Soon, the nine-colored Divine Light erupted from the cocooned Immortal Spirit Peacock, dyeing the entire sky in resplendent, nine-colored hues. The beauty was dreamlike and fantastical.
The flock of birds chirped in celebration, dancing and soaring through the air in joyful unison.
An unknown amount of time passed before the Immortal Spirit Peacock finally moved. The cocoon of feathers slowly unfurled, releasing a sky-filling radiance, thick with Immortal Qi.
Tu Xiao’an’s bewitching eyes didn’t even blink as he stared intently at the supremely beautiful sight. His heart hammered in his chest. ’My pet girl is about to make her debut!’
Under Tu Xiao’an’s lecherous gaze, the lush, nine-colored wings finally spread wide, revealing a shimmering, graceful figure within.
At her reveal, it was as if time itself had frozen in that very moment.
The light surrounding the graceful figure slowly faded, completely revealing a young woman of incomparable beauty. Her exquisite face seemed as if it did not belong to the mortal world, untainted by even a hint of its dust.
"Ding... Congratulations to the Host. Your Super Celestial Peacock, Azure Owl has successfully completed her tribulation and apotheosis, achieved Demon Transformation, and reached Level 32."
Tu Xiao’an completely ignored the system notification. Azure Owl’s Demon Transformation was stunningly beautiful. As her face was revealed to the world, the nine-colored wings slowly dissipated, revealing arms as flawless and fair as snow.
Her brand-new human transformation was complete.
The flock of birds swirled around her, their crisp calls as melodious as the song of an oriole.
Azure Owl’s appearance as a young woman was absolutely flawless. Her slender figure was like the River Goddess emerging from the water. Dressed in a sacred, nine-colored garment, she looked like a Saintess sent from the heavens—holy and without blemish.
She opened her eyes, and her gaze was magnificent. A flock of birds automatically formed a living bridge for her to land upon. Her noble bearing was on full display, and her aura as a Saintess permitted not a hint of profanity.
"My precious Azure Owl, your Master is here!"
’Saintess? Who gives a damn,’ he thought. ’She’s my pet girl. Profane my ass!’
Tu Xiao’an excitedly appeared right in front of the peerlessly beautiful young woman and, throwing his arms open, pulled Azure Owl into a tight bear hug.
His arms filled with her faint fragrance; she felt as soft as if she were boneless.
Having just completed her Demon Transformation, Azure Owl was still in a daze. Tu Xiao’an’s embrace made her long eyelashes tremble, and a voice like silver bells rang out, "You fiend, what are you trying to do?"
Tu Xiao’an released her from the hug only to cup her exquisitely beautiful face in his hands. He planted a firm kiss on her still-glowing forehead. "Precious, your Master is so happy! My pet girl is finally all grown up!"
Azure Owl was completely bewildered by Tu Xiao’an’s enthusiasm. When she heard the words "pet girl," her beautiful face contorted and her almond-shaped eyes flew wide. "You really are a huge fiend! I just transformed, and you’re already taking advantage of me! I’ll fight you!"
She rained a flurry of blows from her delicate fists down on him. Shockingly, each strike carried an immense force; her strength was boundless.
WHOOSH... BOOM!
Tu Xiao’an was instantly turned into a black shadow and sent plummeting, smashed into the ground below the Snake Palace by one of Azure Owl’s punches.
A deep crater appeared, but Tu Xiao’an leaped out completely unharmed and in high spirits. He waved at Azure Owl above, "Precious, come on down! Let your Master have another kiss! You smell so good!"
"Hmph! You big fiend!"
Azure Owl let out a proud huff. Standing on the living platform of birds, she carefully inspected her new body. Then, she glanced back with a faint smile that could make one’s heart and soul tremble.
The flock of birds took flight, carrying Azure Owl as she soared across the heavens. The sky echoed with the sound of her bell-like laughter.
"Congratulations, Great King, on your Battle Companion’s successful apotheosis." Elder Snake appeared and offered his felicitations. "Great King, this Battle Companion of yours is extraordinary! To command the homage of a hundred birds after her apotheosis... that is the privilege of the King of Hundred Birds! If the birds of the Yaoling Mountain Range didn’t already have a king of their own, it’s highly likely she would have been crowned one upon her apotheosis."
"Indeed, a joyous occasion for us all!" Tu Xiao’an laughed heartily. His first Battle Companion successfully achieving apotheosis and transformation was certainly a cause for celebration. But then he paused. "Wait, isn’t my precious Azure Owl the King of Hundred Birds now?"
Elder Snake gave an awkward smile. "Great King, the birds of the Yaoling Mountain Range are a massive clan. How could they not have their own king?"
"Then we’ll just get rid of them. My Azure Owl is destined to become a Phoenix; how can she not be crowned a king?"
Elder Snake’s mouth fell open, at a loss for words. The king of an entire race... was that someone you could just "get rid of" on a whim?
There are innumerable birds in the world. The King of the Race for that particular lineage was bound to be incredibly powerful.
Even if they couldn’t compare to the Five Great Deep Mountain Demon Kings, they were certainly no pushover.