What had been a clear, bright day had now turned to night.
Yet between heaven and earth, it was not pitch black, for in the skies above, a lingering purple radiance shone with extraordinary brilliance.
That purple glow nearly blanketed the entire sky, stretching to the horizon in every direction. Most striking of all, within that radiance, a colossal bell flickered in and out of view, radiating a sensation of utter annihilation — a force that made one's heart tremble with instinctive dread and reverence.
Still, though the celestial phenomenon overhead was terrifying in the extreme, not a single person present felt afraid. On the contrary, every face was filled with excitement and joy, for they all knew exactly who this power belonged to.
"Hummm—"
At last, the heavenly anomaly began to recede. The purple radiance surged into the Floating Tower, and as the last traces of violet faded, night lifted from the sky, restoring the boundless brightness of a clear day.
Shortly after the purple glow vanished, the gates of the Floating Tower slowly swung open. In that moment, a graceful silhouette stepped gently out from within.
It was a young girl clad in a violet dress that hugged her exquisite curves and set off her peerless beauty, making her seem like a celestial maiden descended to the mortal world — so stunning she took one's breath away.
This ethereal, otherworldly young woman was none other than Zi Ling. And now, her cultivation had undergone a qualitative breakthrough. She had stepped from the Heaven Martial Realm into the Martial Lord Realm, becoming a true Martial Lord expert. Though she was only at the first rank, she was undeniably a Martial Lord.
"Haha, Zi Ling, did you succeed?" The moment Zi Ling appeared, Su Rou, Su Mei, and the others swarmed around her, their faces a mix of elation and anticipation as they waited for her answer.
"Mm." Meeting their eager gazes, Zi Ling smiled radiantly, then nodded firmly.
At her confirmation, the crowd erupted into wild elation. That wave of joy practically permeated the entire sky, and everyone's spirits soared.
Everyone had already witnessed just how powerful a Heavenly Gifted Body was through Dantai Xue. Zi Ling, too, possessed a Heavenly Gifted Body. Now that her talent had been unsealed, in the near future she might well become the second Dantai Xue — or perhaps even surpass her.
"Brother Chu Feng?" Just as the crowd was gathered close in celebration, Zi Ling's expression shifted. A flash of delight appeared in her eyes.
She had spotted Chu Feng at the entrance of the Ethereal Immortal Peak.
The moment she saw him, she launched herself into the air, streaking toward him with a graceful leap.
"Chu Feng?"
Drawn by her movement, the others turned and spotted him too. When they noticed that Chu Feng was in fine spirits, his face flushed with healthy color, standing at a distance with Qiushui Fuyan and Chu Yue, their already soaring joy intensified. They surged forward en masse, converging on Chu Feng from every direction.
"Brother Chu Feng, you're finally awake! How do you feel? Is anything bothering you?" Rushing up to him, Zi Ling looked him over from top to bottom, carefully and thoroughly, afraid that something might be wrong.
"Don't worry — I've made a full recovery." Chu Feng smiled softly at her concern and gently stroked her silky hair. "Zi Ling, congratulations. You've finally broken free of the Heaven-Eclipsing Pill's restraint."
"That doesn't compare. Seeing you awake makes me happier than anything." Zi Ling's beautiful eyes shimmered. Suddenly she leaped forward and threw herself directly into Chu Feng's arms.
Chu Feng embraced her without hesitation. Even though a crowd of onlookers surrounded them, he simply opened his arms and wrapped them around the slender waist of the beautiful girl.
None of the onlookers felt the slightest objection. If anything, the joy on their faces deepened further — because for them, this was a precious reunion.