Zhi Xuan nodded, expressionless. "Three Organs? You have skipped two organs at once, Sister Feng Yi. That is commendable progress, but your foundation must be solid. Heart, Lungs, and Heart—Wood, Metal, Fire. An aggressive combination, yet also vulnerable to unstable cycles."

  Fei Sheng, having recovered from his shock, smiled faintly. "Brother Zhi Xuan is right. Although Sister Feng Yi's achievement is fast, the Divine Organ Cycle requires the Earth Spleen as a counterbalance before tempering Metal or Fire. Your foundation might explode when facing a true Consciousness Transformation."

  Feng Yi snorted, but her eyes showed hidden doubt. "That is the Law of the Phoenix Fire Sect. We prioritize attack and speed, not a slow, thick foundation. Besides, I already have enough foundation to support the three organs I have tempered, and that is more than enough."

  Zhi Xuan did not argue further. His gaze shifted to the upper deck, where Han Jue and Wang Mao were cultivating amidst their aura pressure. "Those two have not moved from this spot for three weeks; I assume that is very intensive cultivation."

  Fei Sheng sighed, looking up with faint admiration. "They are consolidating their Azure King Cores. In the Consciousness Transformation realm, every spiritual core is a pure Law that must be absorbed and processed carefully. Han Jue and Wang Mao are not just absorbing, but they are competing with each other in the speed of Dao tempering."

  "A silent competition," Zhi Xuan muttered. He understood that the most dangerous competition was not physical combat, but this silent race of Dao. Every second of cultivation was an investment, and every breakthrough was a victory.

  Zhi Xuan allowed his gaze to sweep over the aura around Fei Sheng. "Brother Fei Sheng, your Wind aura... it feels denser, almost like steel. You must have nurtured the Life Tree seed; your vitality is getting sharper."

  Fei Sheng smiled broadly, showing genuine delight at the recognition. "Your observation is truly sharp, Brother Zhi Xuan. I have indeed nurtured the Life Tree seed—if the early Consciousness Transformation stage is planting the Life Tree seed, then the middle stage is growing the Life Tree."

  "And," Fei Sheng continued with a calm and insightful face. "The Consciousness Transformation stage is also known for their Sea of Consciousness having a Sky."

  Zhi Xuan nodded his head. This was an exchange of pointers that gave him vast insight into the Cultivation Path. Where he indirectly gained full understanding that the Consciousness Transformation stage is about building the Life Tree and the Sea of Consciousness begins to weave the Sky above every cultivator's sea of consciousness.

  Zhi Xuan gathered all that insight in cold silence. Life Tree. Sky. The Consciousness Transformation Path is the planting of Law and the projection of Destiny. He, with his Heavenly Samsara Wheel and Law of the Four Seasons, did not yet have a Sky. His Sea of Consciousness was still an endless darkness.

  "Planting the Seed. Growing the Tree. Weaving the Sky," Zhi Xuan said calmly and clasped his hands in front of him. "Thank you for this guidance, Brother Fei."

  Zhi Xuan turned, leaving Fei Sheng still smiling and Feng Yi now silent in tense contemplation. He realized that every realm was a miniature Universe, and Consciousness Transformation was the peak of that mortal Universe. The Life Tree was the foundation of Destiny, and the Sky was the vessel for higher Law. He had to achieve it.

  "Red stone," Zhi Xuan called out with a faint smile, his voice echoing directly until it reached the Ancient Devil Monument. "I now understand something. The Sea of Consciousness that has a Sky, the Consciousness Realm."

  The Ancient Devil Monument trembled gently, and Ruo Xianxue's cold voice, containing a hint of clarity, responded. "The Consciousness Realm... The Consciousness Transformation Realm itself is a false Sky built by the foundation. That is why it is a dangerous realm, monkey. You try to imitate the Sky, but you are not the Sky."

  "I know," Zhi Xuan said. "Will it not look so beautiful?"

  Zhi Xuan stepped toward the edge of the ship's deck, looking up and gazing at the starry sky, thousands of stars twinkling as if welcoming him, his sapphire blue eyes seemed to be made of thousands of falling stars. Making him always feel calm and a sense of familiarity when staring at the stars.

  "Father, Mother," Zhi Xuan murmured. He did not even know what the mother who bore him looked like, or the father who protected him.

  Zhi Xuan stood rigid at the edge of the deck, his black silk robe embroidered with red fluttering softly in the ancient wind crossing the ship. His gaze, as cold as black jade essence, now softened as he stared at the expanse of void decorated with billions of cold lights. The starry sky above the Continent Crossing Vessel felt so close, as if he could reach out and touch the ancient Law of the stars.

  "This path, I will search for my origins," Zhi Xuan said while gazing at the stars. "No matter the distance, I will continue to step forward and find the meaning of my birth."

  Zhi Xuan closed his eyes. He channeled essence into the Heart Preserving Jade on his arm, warming the red cloth embroidered with stars tied there. In this brief moment of tranquility, he allowed himself to return to the void, to the coldness of the universe that was his first home.

  "Unnecessary sentimentality," Ruo Xianxue hissed, his voice now sounding further away, as if he had retreated to observe. "Father and Mother are merely mortal concepts that bind you to the dust. Your Dao must be pure of those bonds."

  "My Dao is my own," Zhi Xuan replied in his mind, without any debating tone. "If it is a mortal bond, then it will break. If it is a True Law, then it will lead me to the Law itself. I am not afraid of bonds, I am afraid of weakness."

  He opened his eyes. Cold composure had returned. The stars, though calling him, were now merely Laws he had to surpass. Like his vow, which would dominate everything above the Nine Heavens and Hells. Countless steps he would tread and the skeletons of life.

  "Heavenly Dao, Cultivation Path. All is like the dream of a mortal seeking immortality," Zhi Xuan said calmly. The aura around him suddenly felt heavy and caused a spiritual tremor felt by nearby cultivators. "If my Dao is unable to step on the Sky, then the Sky itself will be trampled by my steps."

  The words, spoken in a whisper unheard by mortal ears, carried the weight of the Devil Law and a cold, absolute will. A formless spiritual tremor spread from Zhi Xuan, piercing the simple isolation formation on the upper deck and reaching the consciousness of Han Jue and Wang Mao.

  Han Jue, whose eyes were tightly closed while absorbing the Sky Dragon essence, suddenly opened his eyes. His eyes, radiating the Golden Dragon Law, flickered, staring straight down. He did not see Zhi Xuan, but he sensed an indescribable intent—a will that surpassed the realm, an arrogance that dared to step on the Sky.

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  Beside him, Wang Mao, whose aura was like a turbulent volcano, snorted sharply. The battle intent around him increased dramatically. He did not care which realm the intent came from, but such an arrogant will was an insult to his cultivation Dao.

  Wang Mao rose from his cross-legged position with an explosive movement. His turbulent volcano aura immediately tore apart the simple isolation formation around him. His sharp eyes pierced the floor of the Continent Crossing Vessel, searching for the source of such brazen intent.

  "What shameless arrogance!" Wang Mao roared, his voice, though muffled by the pressure of his Consciousness Transformation realm, still radiated commanding majesty. "How dare a mortal insect project the will to step on the Sky on the Thousand Heavens Sect's ship?! Are Southern Continent cultivators so lacking in self-awareness?!"

  Han Jue sighed, a faint disappointment crossing his eyes. He was not surprised by the will—Ambition was the fundamental Law of cultivation. However, he was surprised by the lack of control from the owner of the intent, which caused the will to leak unintentionally and provoke Wang Mao.

  "Brother Wang, do not be provoked by the sound of an insect," Han Jue said with a cold, piercing tone. He remained seated cross-legged, his eyes as cold as the Law of the stars. "Focus on your Dao. That intent likely comes from an overly enthusiastic outer disciple who has just touched a bit of Black Jade essence. It is not worthy of disrupting your Azure King Core consolidation."

  "Not worthy?" Wang Mao turned, looking at Han Jue with a contemptuous expression. "That will, Han Jue, carries the weight of a rotten Ancient Law! Although weak, its arrogance is pure! If I allow such intent to wander within the same ship, my Dao will be stained by weakness!"

  Without waiting for a reply, Wang Mao leaped down from the upper deck. His movement was fast and brutal, as if he were a falling meteor. He landed on the lower deck with a loud THUD, breaking the silence created by the cultivation tension.

  His presence, a top-level Consciousness Transformation cultivator with an explosive volcano aura, immediately forced all nearby disciples—including Fei Sheng and Feng Yi—to kneel under the pressure of the realm's weight.

  Zhi Xuan, who had just returned from his emotional moment and was now enveloped in the cold composure of the Wood Heart, did not kneel. He stood rigid at the edge of the deck, his back to Wang Mao, his eyes still focused on the starry horizon.

  "Kneel!" Wang Mao roared, his voice like the rumble of boiling lava. His Earth Law spread, trying to pin every standing disciple to the ship's deck.

  Fei Sheng, even though he was a middle-stage Consciousness Transformation, had to exert his Law of Wind to the maximum limit just to remain standing straight. His face was pale, but his jade fan did not waver. Feng Yi, of a lower realm, was forced to one knee, her Phoenix Fire aura flickering in frustration under the pressure of a higher realm.

  Only Zhi Xuan remained standing. Wang Mao stepped forward, his volcano-fire eyes fixed on Zhi Xuan's rigid back. He did not know who this young man was, but his thin aura, yet carrying a rotten weight, attracted his attention.

  "I command you, mortal insect! Kneel and retract that shameful intent!" Wang Mao roared, pointing a finger at Zhi Xuan's back. A thick, choking essence immediately spread, attempting to crush Zhi Xuan's spine.

  Zhi Xuan slowly turned. His sapphire eyes were now as cold as millions of miles of vacuum space. In his arms, he did not have the Lulu doll or Mei Hua; all he had was the hidden Thousand Heavens Sect prize box.

  The will he had just projected—the arrogance to step on the Sky—was now tightly wrapped beneath his skin, like magma frozen under black jade essence. He looked at Wang Mao, a Consciousness Transformation genius with an almost unmatched aura.

  "Brother Wang Mao," Zhi Xuan said, his voice flat and calm, a sharp contrast to the storm around him. "You are in the Consciousness Transformation realm. I, early-stage Organ Transformation. Using the weight of the realm to oppress other disciples... is that the new Law of the Thousand Heavens Sect?"

  The words, spoken with cold composure and perfect logic, hit Wang Mao like a sharp stone. Wang Mao was unaccustomed to logical challenges from a lower realm. He was used to obedience and fear.

  "A low-level Organ Transformation cultivator dares to challenge me?" Wang Mao laughed harshly, the laugh filled with contempt. "That is an absolute insult. I am merely testing the foundation of an arrogant new disciple. And you, you are the most weightless." He moved his finger, and his Earth essence surged, ready to crush Zhi Xuan.

  "Wang Mao, stop!"

  A voice as clear as a crystal bell cut through the air. Feng Yi, though still kneeling, exerted her Phoenix Fire Law to the maximum limit. Her crimson aura exploded, piercing Wang Mao's pressure.

  "He is Zhi Xuan, the third genius of the Star King's Stairs! My alliance partner!" Feng Yi roared, her face flushed with anger and effort. "You have no right to harm him without the Grand Elders' approval!"

  Wang Mao's eyes narrowed. "The third genius of the Star King's Stairs? What a joke! A genius who cried over a hundred high-grade spiritual stones?" He shifted his gaze to Feng Yi, the cruelty in his eyes increasing. "And you, Phoenix Fire girl! How dare you defy me?!"

  CRASH!

  Wang Mao unleashed a wave of spiritual pressure toward Feng Yi, forcing the girl to the ground with a heartbreaking collision sound. His aura, like a volcano, could not be shaken by the Organ Transformation Phoenix Fire. However, just as Feng Yi was about to stumble, a Divine Furnace held her up with a low whir.

  Feng Yi immediately stood back up, and the Divine Furnace trembled faintly before flying back with a low whir to rest above Zhi Xuan's palm. The Furnace spun above his palm with an oppressive Sky-level Artifact aura.

  "Brother Wang," Zhi Xuan called out in a voice that turned menacing. His will, aided by the Divine Furnace, created a battlefield of wills between him and Wang Mao. "The Heavenly Dao is a vast Path. Why are you so provoked by a defying Dao?"

  The Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron, now spinning slowly above Zhi Xuan's palm, radiated the gentle Law of Spring and the freezing Law of Winter. The weight of the Sky-level Artifact, though not used to attack, was enough to resist the pressure of the Consciousness Transformation realm. Wang Mao gasped.

  His face, which had been filled with cruelty, was now replaced by shock. His volcano-fire eyes were fixed on the ancient, deadly-looking furnace-shaped artifact. He was a Consciousness Transformation genius with a solid foundation; he knew a Sky-level Artifact that resonated with Law so purely was an invaluable treasure, even in the Central Continent.

  "Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron..." Wang Mao mumbled, his voice now containing a note filled with hidden greed. "A Soul Artifact, I have heard of it. That is the Soul Artifact you created with your Soul Fire."

  Wang Mao had forgotten the shame that his realm pressure did not work on the young man before him. The blind greed of a cultivator for treasure surpassed respect and logic. His eyes were fixed on the ancient Divine Furnace, which now radiated opposing Spring and Winter auras.

  "A Soul Artifact, with such a... rotten foundation," Wang Mao hissed, using piercing words. He shifted his gaze from the Divine Furnace to Zhi Xuan's face, an arrogant sneer returning to his lips. "Your Soul Fire is only at the Azure Holy Flame level. Disgusting dark purple fire, you are lucky enough to temper such a Soul Fire. But that alone is not enough to raise your head before me."

  Wang Mao raised one hand and manifested an Orange-colored Soul Fire surrounded by red fire beads. The Azure Holy Flame within Zhi Xuan churned faintly under the pressure of the higher Soul Fire.

  "That, that is the Bloom Lotus Flame! Only one level below the legendary Heavenly Lotus Flame!"

  "Bloom Lotus Flame, that is the Soul Fire only those with Heavenly Blessings can temper."

  "Azure Holy Flame? That is even one level below Bloom Lotus Flame! The third rank's foundation is too shallow."

  "Only a high-level Flame of Sunrose Flower could yield a Soul Fire of that level; Senior Brother Wang is indeed formidable!"

  Whispers immediately spread, filled with blind admiration for the orange Soul Fire pulsing in Wang Mao's palm. The fire, surrounded by red beads, radiated a pure and weighty Soul Fire, far above Zhi Xuan's realm.

  Under the pressure of the superior Soul Fire, the Heavenly Trifold Reincarnation Cauldron, now floating above Zhi Xuan's palm, whirred low. Although it was a Sky-level Artifact, the Furnace was supported by Zhi Xuan's much lower Azure Holy Flame, forcing it to exert the Artifact's weight to compensate for the pressure.

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw. He felt his Soul Fire, hidden in the depths of his sea of consciousness, churning and feeling insulted. The dark purple color of his Azure Holy Flame indeed radiated a sacred aura and was suppressed by the Bloom Lotus Flame, far from Wang Mao's orange purity.

  "That is true," Zhi Xuan replied, his voice remaining calm and cold, concealing the storm churning within him. "My foundation may be 'shallow' in your eyes, Brother Wang. But my Soul Fire was tempered from Life-Death experience. And my Divine Wheel is deeper than a Divine Wheel tempered by aimless arrogance."