After I Became A Divine Beast In An Immortal Sect [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 8

Several days later, it was time for the Heart-Tempering Realm to open.

Cheng Suxi brought ten disciples from Xianmiao Peak with her to the main peak.

Once everyone had arrived, Sect Master Qin Jian said, “After entering the Heart-Tempering Realm, all of you will be separated and undergo your trials independently. The realm will remain open for seven days. After those seven days, regardless of whether you have completed the trial, you will be transported out.”

Although the trials within the Heart-Tempering Realm were extremely difficult, they generally did not pose any danger to one’s life.

Most importantly, the realm adjusted the difficulty of its trials according to each participant’s cultivation. It was perfect for training disciples.

Qin Jian himself had entered it once fifty years ago and had needed five days to complete the trial.

His monstrously talented Senior Sister, however, had only needed one.

Thinking of her, Qin Jian turned to look in Cheng Suxi’s direction…

……

Inside Cheng Suxi’s wide sleeve, a fluffy little ball was restlessly squirming around.

She reached inside and enclosed the warm little body in her hand, whispering, “Tuanzi, stop moving around.”

How could Hua Ling possibly listen?

Ever since hatching, she had never left the meditation chamber. Over the past several days, the only two people she had seen were her caretaker and a young attendant named Qinglian.

From their conversations, Hua Ling had learned that she was currently in a cultivation world.

As for her identity, she had hatched from the egg laid before the death of the Qianyuan Sect’s guardian divine beast, the Ice Luan.

Hua Ling found the name “Qianyuan Sect” strangely familiar, but she could not remember where she had heard it before.

She had the persistent feeling that it was something very important, which bothered her somewhat.

When her caretaker prepared to leave today, Hua Ling had clung to her without hesitation. Her goal was to learn more about this world.

And what had happened?

Her caretaker had stuffed her inside a sleeve for the entire journey, so she had not seen a single thing!

Furious, Hua Ling pecked her caretaker’s palm twice.

Cheng Suxi was not deliberately trying to conceal the fact that the Ice Luan had hatched. After all, people would discover it sooner or later.

A divine beast’s growth period was extremely long. She could not possibly keep the little creature confined within the palace on Xianmiao Peak forever.

However, the young Ice Luan had only hatched a few days ago. It was at the stage when it needed to eat and sleep frequently in order to grow.

Had Cheng Suxi not expected to remain on the main peak for several days, and had the little creature not been so clingy, she would never have agreed to bring it along.

The main peak was currently crowded and chaotic. Cheng Suxi had only tucked the little creature into her sleeve because she feared it might be frightened or disturbed.

Yet the impatient little thing could not bear remaining inside for even a second.

Feeling the little creature lightly pecking her palm in dissatisfaction, Cheng Suxi helplessly lifted her sleeve.

Hua Ling’s vision suddenly brightened.

She blinked uncomfortably a few times, then found herself looking directly into her caretaker’s exquisitely flawless face.

Crouching in the cool, smooth palm, Hua Ling tilted her head and chirped.

Cheng Suxi curled one finger and lightly flicked the top of her head.

“Naughty.”

“Chiiirp~ Chirp~”

Hua Ling deliberately drew out her cries, sounding as though she were acting spoiled.

Seeing that the little creature was attempting to muddle her way through, Cheng Suxi was about to lecture her further when Qin Jian’s astonished voice suddenly sounded.

“Senior Sister… Is this the egg?”

Qin Jian remembered that the Qianyuan Sect’s guardian divine beast had originally been an Ice Luan dozens of meters long. Its feathers had been as cold and sharp as arrows.

Yet the little creature before him was tiny and snow-white, as round and soft as a freshly cooked glutinous rice ball.

Where was the dignity of a divine beast?

“Mm.”

Cheng Suxi composed herself and placed the little ball upon her shoulder. She only withdrew her hand once it was standing steadily.

Hua Ling obediently gripped the fabric over Cheng Suxi’s shoulder and curiously examined the man before her.

Sword-like brows, bright eyes, broad shoulders, and long legs.

He was handsome.

After memorizing his appearance, Hua Ling lost interest and turned to look around.

Several thousand cultivators wearing matching uniforms and carrying long swords filled the bustling square.

The sight was extremely impressive and finally gave Hua Ling a real sense that she had transmigrated into a cultivation world.

She had heard that she was a divine beast!

Perhaps one day she would also be able to summon clouds and rain and display overwhelming divine might.

“As expected, Senior Sister is the most capable. Elder Jingming will surely die of anger when he finds out.”

Qin Jian wore an openly gloating expression.

Elder Jingming had spent so long trying and still failed to hatch the Ice Luan. Yet after the egg fell into Senior Sister’s hands, it had hatched within such a short period.

Wasn’t this a blatant slap in the face?

“There is no need to publicize it. Let matters proceed naturally.”

For the little creature’s safety, Cheng Suxi had no intention of using this matter against Elder Jingming.

Qin Jian considered it briefly and also found her reasoning sound.

The Ice Luan ranked highly among divine beasts. Once fully grown, it would become a powerful source of support for the Qianyuan Sect.

There was no need to place it in danger merely to satisfy a momentary grudge.

“Fortunately, we have Senior Sister.”

Qin Jian could not help sighing emotionally.

Had Cheng Suxi not insisted upon saving it, the little creature might have died inside the egg long ago, forever losing its chance to hatch.

Cheng Suxi shook her head.

“This is the benevolent result born from the Ice Luan’s benevolent deed.”

Had the Ice Luan not sacrificed its life to protect the sect, Cheng Suxi would not have been willing to incubate its offspring.

The karmic causes and consequences between them were difficult to explain clearly.

……

Because the Heart-Tempering Realm had to be activated by the Sect Master, Qin Jian could only exchange a few words with Cheng Suxi before returning to oversee the proceedings.

After parting from him, Cheng Suxi carried Hua Ling into an elegant chamber.

A huge mirror stood in the center of the room, while several older cultivators sat around it.

“Elder Lingxi.”

When Cheng Suxi entered, everyone stood and bowed.

“There is no need for such formality.”

Cheng Suxi sat down to one side. She gently lifted the hatchling from her shoulder and placed her on the tea table beside her.

Hua Ling saw a plate of unfamiliar fruit in front of her and curiously leaned forward to taste one.

At that moment, a long, fair finger suddenly extended toward her and pressed against her beak.

“Tuanzi, you cannot eat this.”

Hua Ling raised her head and saw clear disapproval in her caretaker’s exquisitely cold features.

The plate contained Blazing Sun Fruits, a fire-attributed spiritual fruit.

With Cheng Suxi’s cultivation, eating them would not cause any problems. However, to the hatchling of an ice-attributed spiritual beast, they were practically poisonous.

“Chirp!”

Feeling embarrassed, Hua Ling rubbed her head against the finger.

Perhaps she was being influenced by her current body, but Hua Ling felt that she had become much more childish.

In the past, she would never have carelessly eaten random things like a small child.

Fortunately, her caretaker was dependable and had stopped her from courting death in time.

Cheng Suxi had someone remove the fruit plate, then took out the spirit grain and Spirit Jade Marrow she had prepared in advance from her storage pouch.

Recalling the little creature’s behavior just now, she added two icy-blue berries.

Hua Ling had already grown accustomed to eating spirit grain and Spirit Jade Marrow over the past several days.

The icy-blue berries were a specialty of Xianmiao Peak known as Ice Crystal Fruits.

Ice Crystal Fruits grew in valleys covered by snow and ice throughout the year. Their spiritual energy was abundant yet gentle, making them one of the favorite spiritual fruits of ice-attributed cultivators.

Naturally, to a hatchling like Hua Ling, they also counted as an exceptionally delicious extra treat.

Attracted by the Ice Crystal Fruit’s fragrance, Hua Ling flapped her wings, whose feathers had not yet fully grown, and walked toward the berry.

She lowered her head and pecked off a bite.

“Chirp, chirp, chirp!”

The Ice Crystal Fruit tasted somewhat like a frozen persimmon. It was soft, fragrant, sweet, and utterly delicious.

Hua Ling chirped happily as she ate, her eyes narrowing into contented slits.

Seeing this, Cheng Suxi could not help laughing.

Was it truly that delicious?

The interaction between the woman and bird greatly astonished everyone inside the chamber. However, intimidated by Cheng Suxi’s authority, none of them dared approach and ask questions.

In the end, Instructor Liang, who had become somewhat more familiar with Cheng Suxi after she cured his disciple, was the first to speak.

“Elder Lingxi, I heard that Suhui Peak returned the Ice Luan’s egg to Xianmiao Peak. Is this the little divine beast that hatched from that egg?”

Although Hua Ling had only recently hatched, the aura of an ice-attributed spiritual beast surrounding her was exceptionally pure.

Everyone present had previously encountered the divine beast Ice Luan, so they could naturally infer Hua Ling’s identity.