With all matters settled, the Jiang Clan envoy was the first to depart. Now that Nangong Mingyue had officially become a core disciple of Qingyang Sect, his mission was complete—he could finally give the Young Lord a satisfactory report.
Sect Master Bei Qing chose to stay at the Nangong Clan for the night, allowing Mingyue a day to rest before returning to Qingyang.
Within the Nangong clan, more than a hundred elders and juniors were still riding waves of shock and emotion. What they witnessed today… far exceeded anything they ever imagined.
There was no doubt left in their hearts—
The fallen goddess had returned.
From then on, anyone passing by Mingyue's residence would instinctively walk on tiptoe, afraid to disturb her cultivation.
Inside her cultivation chamber, Nangong Mingyue sat cross-legged atop a slab of jade. Her gaze remained fixed on the ring in her hand, unable to calm her mind.
Everything that happened today—all of it—was thanks to him.
Her fiancé—Jiang Xuan.
Without him, she would still be nothing more than the "crippled girl" who endured sneers and scorn.
Her fingers tightened around the ring, and determination shone in her moonlit eyes.
"I won't let him down."
"Senior… please help me begin cultivation!" she called out firmly.
The soul of Moonshade Immortal slowly emerged, gazing at the ring in Mingyue's hand. A trace of emotion flickered in her ghostly eyes—along with… envy.
She too had once experienced a deep, unforgettable love.
But unlike Mingyue, she wasn't so lucky. In her previous life, her partner had betrayed her for a chance to ascend beyond True God Realm. He had ambushed her without mercy, ripping her Dao foundation straight from her body.
If not for a protective artifact, she would have died completely—turned into a mindless puppet.
Only a wisp of her soul had escaped.
With a breath to calm herself, Moonshade Immortal's expression turned solemn.
"Take out the Blazing Flame Grass. I'll help you refine it."
"With it, you'll forge a Postnatal Flame Spirit Physique."
"It may not be peerless… but even among the Eternal Clans and ancient sects, it qualifies you as a top-tier talent."
Mingyue's eyes wavered.
"How does… that compare to Jiang Xuan?"
Moonshade Immortal chuckled.
"You've fallen for him, haven't you?"
"You're still far from his level, but no need to worry."
"The cultivation technique I passed to you holds true heavenly fortune. If you master it fully, you'll awaken the Nirvana Physique—one comparable to a Trueborn Sacred Body."
"When that time comes, not only will you be his equal… you might be the one protecting him."
Mingyue's cheeks turned red at the teasing. She clutched the ring tighter, then took out the Blazing Flame Grass and began refining it.
BOOM—
Scarlet divine light erupted.
The fire-attributed King Herb melted into pure liquid essence and surged through her meridians.
The power of fire laws flooded her body, accompanied by ancient Dao runes and echoing mystical chants.
But—
It was too much.
The power of rules was overwhelming, far beyond what her freshly healed body could handle. Her fragile meridians were already starting to crack.
Moonshade Immortal's expression didn't change.
It was as expected.
King Herbs often contained true law fragments. Only cultivators at Earth Profound Realm or above could refine them safely.
Mingyue? Her cultivation was barely back to zero. Under normal plans, this step wouldn't come until she reached Fusion Realm.
But seeing Mingyue's eagerness—and moved by Jiang Xuan's unwavering devotion—Moonshade had decided to gamble and help her forge the physique directly.
Of course, the price was steep.
"They say the Dao is heartless… but today, I've seen that even in this cruel world of cultivation, there are still those who value love."
"If I have to burn a bit of my soul for that… it's worth it."
Her ghostly body flickered as she poured her remaining divine soul into Mingyue, soothing the violent fire essence and helping it merge into her blood and bones.
Moments later, runes of crimson flame swirled across Mingyue's body.
They shimmered with divine brilliance, like a true flame spirit reborn into the mortal realm.
The Flame Spirit Physique was forged.
But Moonshade's soul had nearly faded completely. Her form wavered, barely visible.
A year of nurturing within Mingyue had only just restored a trace of strength.
Now it was all spent again.
She was exhausted.
Before falling into deep slumber, she left one final message:
"The path of cultivation is filled with lies, betrayal, and bloodshed."
"To have someone who genuinely treasures you… is beyond rare."
"Someone like Jiang Xuan… is a treasure."
"Cherish him."
Then she returned to Mingyue's body and drifted into sleep.
Mingyue, still absorbing the feedback from her newly forged body, entered a state of enlightenment.
Flames danced around her. Runes surged from her skin. Her aura surged with explosive energy.
The Dao of Flame responded.
Within her dantian, a tiny flame flickered to life—a manifestation of her Flame Dao Intent.
Had Sect Master Bei Qing been present, he would've been stunned.
"That's… Dao Intent?!"
Dao Intent—birth of the Great Dao itself—was a prerequisite to enter the Spirit Transformation Realm.
Without it, no amount of cultivation could breach the barrier.
A year ago, Mingyue had nearly comprehended it before her injury.
Now, with the Flame Physique forged—it came to her naturally.
Flames swirled into a vortex.
A terrifying devouring force erupted.
Heaven and earth trembled as spiritual energy for a hundred meters in all directions flooded toward her.
BOOM!
Her aura exploded.
Body Refining—Stage OneStage Two…Stage Five!
Five stages—broken through in a single breath!
She opened her eyes.
They burned with brilliant flame.
Power surged through her body like never before.
Only Stage Five—but with her new physique, she'd return to Soul Ingress Realm in no time.
Just then, Moonshade's final words echoed in her soul.
Mingyue's hands clenched around the ring once more.
A quiet fire ignited in her heart.
"Catch up…"
"Catch up to him!"