The days turned into weeks as Li Xuan immersed himself in training. With the Nine Heavens Moon Inheritance Scripture firmly in his grasp, his cultivation advanced at an unprecedented rate. Each night, as the moonlight filtered through the cave entrance, Li Xuan could feel the lunar energies coursing through his body, refining his Qi and solidifying his foundation.
His breakthrough into the 8th Stage of Qi Refinement was swift, almost effortless, as his body adapted to the techniques described in the scripture. With every pulse of the moon's essence, his Qi grew more stable and more powerful. His dantian, once fractured, now pulsed with an unshakable core of energy.
But even more than the cultivation, it was the Moon-Severing Sword Art that had brought him great pride. With each slash, each movement, his body seemed to merge with the blade itself, as if the sword was an extension of his will. His strikes became faster, sharper, and his control over his spiritual energy deepened. In a matter of days, he had mastered the first few forms, and soon, he was testing more advanced strikes with confidence.
On the seventh night, as the full moon hung high in the sky, he felt it—a subtle, almost imperceptible pulse. A shift in the air.
Li Xuan stood up abruptly, sensing something unusual. His eyes turned toward the back of the cave, where the spirit egg lay in the dim light of his inventory.
He approached it slowly, and as his hand hovered over the egg, a soft crackling sound filled the air. The egg, which had been dormant for so long, now trembled faintly. A light gleamed from within, and the once-still surface of the egg rippled with a strange, almost ethereal energy.
Li Xuan bent down, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Could it be…?"
The egg cracked open slowly, and a soft glow spilt from the fissure. The light grew brighter, revealing what was inside.
A small creature—a spirit beast, no bigger than his palm. Its feathers were a deep shade of violet, shimmering with traces of gold, and its eyes glowed a piercing blue, sharp, and intelligent.
It blinked up at Li Xuan as though recognizing him immediately. It tilted its head, and for a moment, Li Xuan could have sworn it smiled.
A faint pulse of energy surged through him, connecting them in a strange, unspoken bond. A sense of understanding passed between them.
"You..." Li Xuan whispered, kneeling. "Are you... my companion?"
The creature chirped softly, and as if to answer, a series of notifications appeared in his mind.
[System Notification: Spirit Beast Acquired – Starling Phoenix (Incomplete Transformation)]
[Attributes: Fire and Wind Affinity | Stage: Spirit Beast Egg | Potential: High]
[Bond Established: Li Xuan and Starling Phoenix]
[New Reward: Beast Evolution Stones Unlocked in Shop]
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Li Xuan blinked in surprise. He had expected some kind of spiritual beast, but this was beyond what he had imagined. A Starling Phoenix—a legendary creature known for its fiery temperament and immense potential.
But the system had labelled it as an "Incomplete Transformation." The creature was young, perhaps still in its early stages of development. That meant it had great room for growth, and with his cultivation progressing, he could guide it toward greater power.
Li Xuan could already feel the creature's potential. He extended a finger toward it, and the Starling Phoenix nuzzled it affectionately, making a soft chirping sound.
"Looks like we're partners now," Li Xuan smiled.
The Starling Phoenix chirped again, flapping its tiny wings.
Li Xuan stood, his resolve solidifying. "We will grow together."
He had spent weeks focused on his cultivation, and now, with this new companion, his path was clearer than ever. Not only would he continue his rise through the Qi Refinement stages, but the bond with this powerful creature could propel him even further.
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The next few days were a whirlwind of activity. He immediately began nurturing the Starling Phoenix, feeding it the Lunar Heart Pill to stabilize its energy and increase its affinity with fire and wind. As its strength grew, so too did its ability to aid Li Xuan. It could now carry messages, scout ahead, and even generate small bursts of wind and flame.
With the Phoenix by his side, Li Xuan returned to his training in the Moon-Severing Sword Art. Now, every swing of the blade was accompanied by bursts of wind or fire, his strikes becoming faster and more deadly, empowered by his new companion's growing abilities.
He was also beginning to experiment with formation arrays, using the Heavenly Dome Array scroll to reinforce his training cave and create defensive barriers around his home. His understanding of the Moonlight Blade Art and Sect Management deepened. The more he practised, the more he realized the depth of knowledge he had inherited. The Nine Heavens Moon Sect was not just a martial force—it was a complete system, encompassing every aspect of cultivation, defence, alchemy, and strategy.
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Days turned into weeks. Li Xuan was no longer the broken noble he had once been. He was an inheritor, a cultivator, and now—he was a master of the Starling Phoenix. Together, they would continue to break through the Qi Refinement stages, preparing for the challenges that awaited.
The world outside would soon take notice.
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