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Far, far away from the dark beast forest, back in Sam's mansion on Earth, the house felt very quiet.
Jean sat alone on the edge of her bed, looking out the window at the night sky.
It had been weeks since Sam left in his silver spaceship.
She knew he was doing something incredibly important, but her heart still felt heavy.
"I miss him,"
Jean whispered to the empty room.
Suddenly, a warm, golden light began to glow inside her chest.
She did not hear a voice with her ears, but she felt a deep, ancient thought echo perfectly inside her mind.
It was the Phoenix Force. They did not need to speak out loud. Their minds were perfectly linked.
*If you miss him so much, little bird,*
The Phoenix Force whispered in her mind, feeling like a warm, comforting mother.
*You should just go to him.*
Jean blinked in surprise. She closed her eyes to speak back to the massive cosmic entity.
*Go to him?*
Jean asked in her mind.
*How? Sam used a spaceship to travel to a completely different universe. I cannot just fly across the endless space.*
The Phoenix Force let out a feeling that was like a soft, amused laugh.
*You are looking at the universe like a human does, Jean,*
The Phoenix Force explained gently.
*I am a true cosmic being. To me, universes are just different rooms in a very large house. I can open the door and bring you to him easily.*
Jean's heart skipped a beat with pure excitement.
*You would do that for me?*
Jean asked.
*I would,*
The Phoenix Force answered, its golden warmth spreading through Jean's entire body.
*But I also want you to do a small favor for me while you are there.*
Jean focused her mind, listening very closely.
*In the universe where Sam is right now,*
The Phoenix Force explained, its ancient thoughts turning a little sad.
*There are beautiful birds of fire and ice. They call themselves Phoenixes. Millions of years ago, they managed to tap into a tiny, tiny spark of my true power.*
*Are they like you?*
Jean asked curiously.
*No,*
The Phoenix Force answered.
*Because of my small spark, they are worshiped as True Gods in their world. But that is all they will ever be. They are shackled by the strict laws of their own universe. They are trapped inside their box, unable to ever become true cosmic beings.*
Jean felt the deep, motherly sadness coming from the massive entity.
*They are like my little daughters,*
The Phoenix Force whispered softly.
*They have my will, but they cannot fly free. I want you to go to that universe, Jean. Go find your Cultivator. And while you are there... Please find my little daughters. Help them break their chains.*
Jean opened her eyes. They glowed with a beautiful, fierce golden fire.
Her sadness was completely gone, replaced by a strong, burning purpose.
"I will,"
Jean said out loud, smiling up at the stars.
"Take me to him."
With a quiet, beautiful flash of golden fire, a portal opened in a hidden alleyway.
Jean stepped out into Floating Cloud City. The portal closed silently behind her.
She walked out of the alley and looked around.
She was completely fascinated by everything.
The people wore beautiful, ancient Chinese robes.
The buildings were made of carved wood and gray stone. It felt like stepping inside an old, wonderful history book.
Jean took a deep breath of the fresh air.
As a Cultivator, her own body was currently at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
In this universe, that was equal to the Sky Profound Realm.
But Jean had something else.
She carried the endless, cosmic power of the Phoenix Force.
Because of that golden fire, her true strength was pushed all the way to the Divine Origin Realm.
In pure, raw power, she was actually much stronger than Sam right now.
Jean closed her eyes. She could feel a very faint, familiar warmth in the air.
"Sam was definitely here,"
Jean smiled.
She followed the invisible trail of his energy through the busy streets. It led her right outside the gates of the Xiao Clan estate.
A pretty young girl was standing near the gate, looking down the street.
It was Xiao Lingxi.
Jean walked up to her with a friendly, warm smile.
"Excuse me,"
Jean said gently.
"I am looking for a man. His name is Sam. Have you seen him?"
Xiao Lingxi's eyes went wide. She looked at Jean's beautiful red hair and strange clothes.
"You know Senior Sam?"
Xiao Lingxi asked, looking very surprised.
"Yes,"
Jean laughed softly.
"I am his wife. I came a very long way to find him."
Xiao Lingxi quickly bowed her head with deep respect.
"I am sorry, Senior,"
Xiao Lingxi said politely.
"You just missed him. He left the city late last night. He went with Xia Qingyue and her master, Chu Yueli."
Jean tilted her head.
"He left with two women?"
Jean asked, feeling very curious and a little bit amused.
"What exactly was my husband doing in this city?"
Before Xiao Lingxi could answer, a loud, arrogant voice interrupted them.
"Well, well. Look at what we have here."
A young man wearing very expensive, fancy robes walked up to them.
He had a proud, nasty smirk on his face.
This was Xiao Kuangyun, a young master from the powerful main Xiao Sect.
Behind him stood an older man, acting as his guard and elder.
When Xiao Lingxi saw Xiao Kuangyun, her face turned pale.
She quickly stepped backward, shaking with fear.
Xiao Kuangyun completely ignored Xiao Lingxi.
He was staring directly at Jean. He had never seen a woman with fiery red hair and such perfect, otherworldly beauty.
"I have visited many cities,"
Xiao Kuangyun said, his eyes looking Jean up and down.
"But I have never seen a beauty like you. You must come with me right now."
Jean did not look scared. She just looked slightly annoyed.
"We are having a private conversation,"
Jean said kindly, keeping her voice very polite.
"Please go away and leave us alone."
Xiao Kuangyun laughed loudly. He thought she was just playing hard to get.
"You dare tell me to go away?"
Xiao Kuangyun sneered, stepping closer.
"I am from the great Xiao Sect. When I want a woman, I take her!"
He reached out his hand and tried to grab Jean's arm by force.
Jean's green eyes suddenly flashed with a terrifying golden light.
"I really do not like being touched by strangers,"
Jean said coldly.
*Fwoosh!*
A tiny, beautiful spark of golden Phoenix Fire jumped from Jean's shoulder.
It landed right on Xiao Kuangyun's hand.
He didn't even have time to scream.
In less than a single second, the arrogant young master was completely burned away.
There was no blood and no bones left.
He just turned into a small pile of gray ash on the stone street.
The elder standing behind him completely froze. His jaw dropped open.
The elder felt the tiny spark of heat that Jean had released.
To his profound senses, it felt like a giant, burning sun had just crashed into the earth.
He realized instantly that this beautiful woman possessed a power he could not even begin to fathom.
She was a god walking among mortals.
The elder fell to his knees in absolute terror, too scared to even breathe or speak.
Jean did not even look at the terrified old man.
She simply turned her back on him.
She reached out and gently held Xiao Lingxi's shaking hand.
"Do not be afraid,"
Jean smiled warmly, her voice returning to its normal, gentle tone.
"He cannot hurt anyone anymore. Now, why don't you take me inside your home? You can tell me all about what my husband did here."
Xiao Lingxi nodded numbly.
Still in total shock, she slowly led her into the Xiao Clan courtyard.
Inside the Xiao Clan courtyard, Xiao Lingxi poured Jean a warm cup of tea.
She was still a little nervous, but Jean's kind smile helped her relax.
Slowly, Lingxi told Jean the story of what had happened last night, right after the wedding ceremony ended.
In the quiet bridal room, Xiao Che had sat across from his beautiful new bride, Xia Qingyue.
He did not look at her with greed or expectations.
He just looked at her with deep, genuine respect.
"Thank you, Qingyue,"
Xiao Che said softly to her.
"I know exactly why you agreed to this wedding. You did it to protect me because everyone thought I was useless trash. You have a very kind heart. But you do not have to sacrifice your freedom for me anymore."
Xia Qingyue had looked at him in surprise.
"Senior Sam completely fixed my broken body,"
Xiao Che smiled brightly, his eyes full of hope.
"He even gave me a magical cultivation technique from another world. It is incredibly strong. I can finally protect myself now. You are completely free to walk your own path."
Hearing this, Xia Qingyue had felt a tiny pinch in her heart.
It wasn't sadness, but a sudden flash of jealousy.
The mysterious Senior Sam had just handed this boy a treasure greater than anything her powerful Frozen Cloud Asgard sect had ever seen.
After their polite talk, Xiao Che happily left the room to find Xiao Lingxi in the garden.
He held her hands gently under the moonlight.
Because of Sam's help, Xiao Che knew the truth.
He knew they were not related by blood at all.
"Little aunt,"
Xiao Che promised, his voice full of gentle, pure love.
"We do not have to hold back anymore. One day, when I am strong enough to protect us, we will become true husband and wife."
Xiao Lingxi had blushed deeply, tears of joy filling her eyes.
They looked incredibly cute together, finally free to love each other.
But while the young couple was happy, Xia Qingyue could not sleep.
That same night, she had secretly left the clan and ran deep into the dark beast forest.
She desperately needed to find Sam.
She wanted to know if the little girl from the Realm of the Gods had woken up yet.
When Xia Qingyue reached the quiet clearing, she saw the giant silver spaceship resting on the grass.
Sitting on a metal box outside the ship was Jasmine.
Sam had already finished building her a brand new body.
Xia Qingyue stopped and stared.
She immediately noticed something shocking.
Jasmine had absolutely zero profound energy.
She was completely empty.
She had to start cultivating from the very beginning, like a newborn baby.
To a cultivator in this world, losing all your power was a fate worse than death.
But Jasmine was not sad. She was not angry.
For the first time in her violent life, the little red-haired girl was laughing.
She looked incredibly happy and completely free.
"It feels amazing,"
Jasmine smiled, opening and closing her small hands.
"There is no dark poison. There is no heavy, cursed bloodline forcing me to kill. It is just a pure, clean start."
Sam stood right next to her, giving her a warm smile.
He had already taught her the first steps of his Cultivator path.
She was going to be stronger than ever, but on her own terms.
Seeing this miracle, Xia Qingyue's heart beat wildly in her chest.
She could not wait anymore.
She had to ask Sam to teach her too, or at least help her reach the Realm of the Gods to find her mother.
"Senior Sam,"
Xia Qingyue stepped forward into the light, her voice shaking with desperate hope.
"Please, I need to ask you—"
Suddenly, a cold, sharp voice echoed from the dark trees right behind her.
"Qingyue? What are you doing out here?"
Xia Qingyue spun around in shock. It was her master, Chu Yueli.
The cold fairy had tracked her disciple's footsteps.
She was deeply confused and worried about why a bride would run into a deadly beast forest on her wedding night.
Chu Yueli stepped out of the dark shadows, ready to scold her student.
But then, Chu Yueli raised her head.
Her cold, strict expression completely shattered.
Her icy mask fell apart in a single second.
Her jaw dropped, and her beautiful eyes widened in pure, absolute terror and awe.
She stared at the massive, glowing silver spaceship resting quietly in the forest.
It was a giant metal castle of science and magic.
She had never seen anything so impossible in her entire life.