Deep within the boundless mountain forests behind the Lingyue Sect, beneath the pitch-black night sky, a single spot blazed with dazzling purple radiance. It resembled a fallen violet star, its brilliance nearly blinding to behold.
The source of this purple light was precisely the mountaintop where the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane had its nest!
"It is the Thunder Crane!!" Lin Feng's heart raced with astonishment as he saw the violet radiance shining atop the peak. He was now fundamentally certain that the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane was indeed undergoing advancement. He just hadn't expected it to be so sudden; when he delivered pills to it that very afternoon, he hadn't noticed any significant abnormalities.
Glancing back towards the front peaks of the Lingyue Sect, Lin Feng hesitated only briefly before turning and plunging deeper into the forest – he regretted not reporting the possibility of the crane's advancement earlier. But given the current commotion, a report was unnecessary; surely most of the sect would be alerted by now.
Lin Feng had never witnessed a demonic beast advance and didn't know if complications could arise. He desperately wanted to check on the crane's condition. He thought that if help was needed, he carried a large quantity of top-grade pills on him, which might prove useful.
Moving like a leopard through the dense woods, Lin Feng sprinted towards the Thunder Crane's location. The closer he got, the more intensely he felt its formidable aura. It felt even stronger than when it had battled the kangaroo demon beast at full strength, and it was steadily rising further.
"It seems to be progressing smoothly... hopefully, nothing goes wrong..."
Sensing the Thunder Crane's aura, Lin Feng silently prayed. He knew that if something truly went awry during the Crane's advancement, whether it involved him or not, he wouldn't escape blame. Moreover, over the past days, he had developed a decent relationship with the Crane, practically considering it a friend, and genuinely didn't wish it any harm.
CRACK!!
Suddenly, another earth-shattering thunderclap roared. Lin Feng watched as a thick bolt of violet lightning descended from the heavens, striking the purple radiance concentrated on the mountaintop. The light instantly flared even brighter, and the Thunder Crane's aura surged upwards once more.
"Heavenly Tribulation?!" Lin Feng was stunned for a moment, but then dismissed the thought. Heavenly Tribulation should only appear during major realm advancements. The Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane was merely advancing from the sixth tier of the third level to the seventh tier; encountering a Heavenly Tribulation was impossible. This phenomenon was likely just an anomaly in the world's spiritual energy caused by its inherently thunder-attributed nature.
WHOOSH!!
As Lin Feng ran at full speed, a sharp whistling sound tore through the air behind him. Startled, he instinctively looked up. A streak of cyan light, like a shooting star, flashed directly overhead and vanished towards the distant peak in the blink of an eye. Vaguely, he could discern a humanoid figure within the cyan radiance...
"A flying sword!!" Lin Feng's eyes flashed with recognition. Someone was traveling by sword flight! It had to be a senior member of the sect. And undoubtedly, it was the Thunder Crane's 'master' – Ye Lingxuan, the Vice-Sect Master of the Lingyue Sect, known as Spirit Profound True Person, a powerful cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Golden Core!
Even the Vice-Sect Master has been drawn out! Lin Feng's tension skyrocketed. He quickened his pace, pushing forward without pause.
…
After what felt like an eternity, Lin Feng finally reached the base of the mountain where the Thunder Crane resided. Looking up, he saw the hundred-meter-high peak ablaze with crackling lightning. The dazzling radiance engulfed nearly half the mountaintop in its radiance, completely obscuring the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane within.
There's no way I can get any closer in this situation... Lin Feng frowned inwardly. He scanned the sky above the peak and quickly spotted a figure hovering in the air not far above it, standing upon a flying sword. It was an elderly man dressed in brown Daoist robes. Though his hair was white as snow, his face retained a youthful vigor. An expression of intense excitement and anticipation was fixed on his face as he watched the gathering violet light on the peak.
As Lin Feng looked up at him, the man glanced down. He didn't seem surprised, clearly having sensed Lin Feng's arrival earlier. Then, he gently lowered his flying sword and descended.
Seeing the figure descending towards him, Lin Feng immediately adopted a posture of utmost respect and stepped forward to meet him. Now that he could see the man's features clearly, images flashed in his mind – portraits of the sect's seniors he'd seen in the main hall during Di Xuan's lecture days ago. He instantly confirmed this was indeed Lingyue Sect's Vice-Sect Master, Ye Lingxuan.
Ye Lingxuan landed before Lin Feng, flicking his wrist to retract the flying sword. He looked at Lin Feng and asked, "You are the guardian disciple of the Spirit Beast Garden?"
Lin Feng bowed respectfully. "Guardian Disciple of the Spirit Beast Garden, Lin Feng, pays his respects to the Vice-Sect Master."
Ye Lingxuan's brow furrowed slightly. "The Thunder Crane was advancing. Why wasn't this reported in advance?"
Lin Feng's heart sank. Trouble... He answered carefully, "Reporting to Vice-Sect Master, the Thunder Crane showed no particularly unusual signs these past few days. This disciple's knowledge is shallow; I dared not presume it was truly preparing to advance. I feared causing undue alarm and thus did not report it. I beg the Vice-Sect Master's forgiveness..."
A flicker of displeasure crossed Ye Lingxuan's eyes. However, likely preoccupied with the advancement, he had little mood to pursue Lin Feng's lapse. He waved his hand dismissively. "Stand aside. If the Thunder Crane advances successfully, you shall receive a reward."
With that, he turned away, his attention fully refocused on the unfolding advancement.
Lin Feng respectfully retreated to stand behind Ye Lingxuan, feeling a wave of helplessness. Though Ye Lingxuan had mentioned a reward if the advancement succeeded, the unspoken converse hung heavy in the air – if it fails, punishment will surely follow.
Sigh... Brother Crane, Brother Crane... you ate so many Frostfire Plums that day. These past days, the top-grade pills I gave you were double the ration of other spirit beasts... Please, don't let me down now...
Lin Feng prayed silently, lifting his gaze nervously towards the tumultuous scene on the peak.
…
CRACK!!
Another thunderous roar split the air. A thick bolt of violet lightning slammed onto the mountaintop. Lin Feng felt the very ground tremble faintly beneath his feet. The surrounding air vibrated with dense, palpable thunder-attribute spiritual energy. Some coalesced into tiny, serpentine arcs of electricity, flickering and dancing erratically through the void.
Though he couldn't see clearly through the blinding radiance, Lin Feng could distinctly sense the Thunder Crane's aura had surged to a critical pinnacle. Observing Ye Lingxuan's taut posture ahead, he guessed the advancement had likely reached its most crucial, final stage.
"SCREEEEEEEEE!!!"
Suddenly, a piercing crane cry, sharp enough to pierce the clouds, echoed forth! Lin Feng clearly saw the silhouette of a crane, a darker shade within the blazing violet radiance, materialize. It stood with wings outstretched and head held high. An aura, several times more potent than before, erupted violently!
"It's done!!"
As Lin Feng instinctively flinched and squeezed his eyes shut against the overwhelming violet brilliance, he faintly heard Ye Lingxuan's cry of elation.
…
The blinding sensation subsided quickly. Lin Feng blinked and looked forward again. The massive globe of purple light was rapidly contracting. Within mere breaths, it poured into the body of the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane at its center, like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea.
The Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane now emanated a presence vastly different from before. The aura swirling around it was undeniably several times stronger than it had been moments ago – it had successfully advanced from the sixth tier (mid-third level) to the seventh tier (late-third level)!
The gap between the mid and late stages within the third level was profound.
Seeing the Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane finally succeed, Lin Feng let out the breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Only then did he notice his palms were slick with cold sweat...
After completing its advancement, the crane seemed to glance briefly in their direction. However, it didn't rise or approach. Instead, it folded its majestic wings and settled back down into its nest.
Having just advanced, it needed to immediately consolidate its newly elevated cultivation base.
…
Ye Lingxuan also exhaled softly, a wave of profound relief and joy washing over him. He had subdued this Purple-Crowned Thunder Crane back when he was merely at the early Golden Core stage and it was only at the early third level. Generally, demonic beasts advanced far slower than human cultivators. So now, while he had reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core, the crane had only just reached the late third level. Still, this was a significant achievement.
For years, Ye Lingxuan's own cultivation had stagnated, unable to find the threshold to the Nascent Soul stage. He longed to venture to a specific, perilous location in search of a rare spirit herb that could aid his breakthrough. However, the danger was too great to attempt alone. He had been waiting for the Thunder Crane to grow stronger before making the journey. Now, finally, it can be done.
Seeing the crane begin the vital process of stabilizing its cultivation, Ye Lingxuan refrained from disturbing it. Confident no further mishaps were likely, he turned around to face Lin Feng.
"It seems you have tended to the Thunder Crane exceptionally well. Very good..." Ye Lingxuan's gaze held a measure of approval. "Speak. What reward do you desire?"