The last time this had happened, Feng Qian had managed to stabilize her by using his ice attribute to balance the violent fire attribute within her spiritual essence.
But this time, the situation was different and even worse.
Feng Qian managed to treat her before because Feng Chenxin was in an immobile position and remained still until Feng Qian finished treating her. However, now, she was wreaking havoc, lashing out at everything around her.
Not only that, after her advancement, her strength was now at the Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Beast realm, making her size and her flames bigger and even more powerful than before, whenever her flames raged around her, the heat scorched the earth and melted even the hardest of rocks.
Even Feng Qian was not confident if he could help Feng Chenxin this time, he knew he had to act quickly, but getting close to her was proving to be difficult.
"Chenxin!" he shouted, trying to reach her, but she showed no sign of recognition. Instead, she turned toward him, her eyes wild and unfocused, and unleashed a torrent of flames in his direction.
Fwoosh~~
Feng Qian narrowly dodged the attack, feeling the intense heat singe the edges of his fur as he leaped out of the way.
He landed on the ground, his mind racing. 'I need to cool down the temperature first, or I won't be able to get close to her at all.'
Swoosh~~
Releasing his ice energy, Feng Qian conjured several large ice pillars around her, hoping to lower the searing heat. But as soon as the pillars formed, they began to melt, the ice evaporating into steam almost instantly. The fire was too strong, too intense for his usual methods to work.
"This isn't good…" Feng Qian muttered to himself, sweat dripping down his face. He needed to restrict her movements, to keep her from causing any more damage.
But as he attempted to conjure chains of ice to bind her, she shattered them with a single sweep of her fiery wings, sending shards of ice scattering in all directions. Nothing he tried seemed to be able to contain her.
Feng Qian's frustration grew as he struggled to find a solution. Time was running out, and Feng Chenxin's condition was worsening by the second. He could feel the intensity of her flames increasing, threatening to consume everything in their path. He had to find a way to reach her, to bring her back to her senses, before it was too late.
Taking a deep breath, Feng Qian tried a different approach. "Chenxin! Listen to me!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the roar of the flames. "You have to come back to your senses! Don't let the power consume you—you'll get hurt!"
For a moment, it seemed like his words might be getting through. Feng Chenxin hesitated, her movements faltering as she struggled against the chaos within her. But then, just as quickly, the fire flared up again, and she resumed her destructive rampage.
Feng Qian grit his teeth, realizing that he needed to do more to break through to her. He thought of the others, of the family they had become, and how they couldn't afford to lose her. Desperation fueled his next words.
"Chenxin, stop! If you keep going like this, you'll hurt Feng Jin and the others!" he yelled, his voice filled with urgency. "Back to your senses! Do you want to live in regret?"
Thud~
This time, his words had an effect. Feng Chenxin's chaotic phase seemed to pause for a moment, the fire around her dimming slightly as his words penetrated the haze of her mind.
Feng Qian could see the struggle in her eyes. It was working, but he couldn't let up now.
"Wake up, Chenxin!" he continued, pressing on. "We all need you! Don't let this power tear you apart—fight it!"
With every word he shouted, Feng Chenxin's flames weakened a bit by bit, and the intensity of her fire attribute gradually subsiding.
Taking advantage of it, Feng Qian summoned his ice attribute once more.
Swoosh~~
This time, the ice pillars held, their cooling presence slowly lowering the temperature around them. The flames that had once raged uncontrollably were now struggling to maintain their strength against the encroaching cold.
But Feng Qian knew that this was only the beginning. The true challenge lay ahead, as he need to subdue the violent fire attribute within Feng Chenxin's spiritual essence. As the flames continued to weaken, he approached her cautiously, creating chains of ice that wrapped around her body, restricting her movements and further cooling the fire within her.
"Hold on, Chenxin," Feng Qian murmured as he began the arduous process of balancing her spiritual essence. He concentrated, focusing his ice attribute to suppress the chaotic fire attribute, gradually bringing it under control. It was a delicate process, requiring all of his skill and concentration. He could feel the resistance, the fire fighting back, but he pressed on, determined not to let it consume her.
Minutes turned into hours, and hours into days. The sun rose and set, the sky above the Heavenly Blessed Mountain shifting through its cycle as Feng Qian worked tirelessly to stabilize Feng Chenxin.
Finally, after two days of constant effort, the chaotic fire attribute within Feng Chenxin's spiritual essence began to subside.
The flames that had threatened to engulf her were now stabilized. Feng Qian released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding as he carefully unwound the chains of ice from around her.
Feng Chenxin, in her phoenix form, lay on the ground, her body exhausted but stable. Feng Qian knelt beside her, his own body heavy with fatigue, but his heart filled with relief.
"Finally… it's over," he whispered, his voice hoarse from the effort. The ordeal had taken its toll on both of them, but they had made it through. For now, the danger had passed, and Feng Qian could finally allow himself to rest because he had used almost all of his Spiritual Energy to care for Feng Chenxin.
Few hours later...
As the sky darkened into the gentle hues of twilight, Feng Chenxin slowly opened her eyes. The remnants of her chaotic phase left her body weak, but her mind was clear—perhaps clearer than it had ever been.
She blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light around her, and turned her head to find Feng Qian resting beside her, his breaths slow and steady in slumber.
Carefully, so as not to disturb him, Feng Chenxin pushed herself up from the ground. Once she was sure that Feng Qian was truly asleep, she shifted into her human form.
However, in this form, it looked like there was a change in her demeanor. The soft light of the setting sun highlighted the somber expression on her face, a shadow of gloom that clung to her like a shroud. Her eyes, once bright with innocence, now held a depth that spoke of unspoken burdens.
If Feng Qian was awake, he would probably immediately notice that Feng Chenxin's usual innocent and timid demeanor was gone, replaced with a mysterious demeanor like she was carrying a lot of weight on her mind, like an adult who has lived a very long time.
She approached Feng Qian quietly, her footsteps barely making a sound. For a moment, she simply stood over him, watching his peaceful face as he slept. Then, with a gentle touch, she poked him a few times with her finger, testing to see if he would wake. But Feng Qian was deeply asleep, his body worn out from the strain of the past few days.
Satisfied that he wouldn't wake, Feng Chenxin wrapped her arms around the Qilin's neck, pulling Feng Qian into a soft embrace. "Thank you, Brother Qian…" she whispered, her voice tinged with a sadness that seemed to come from the depths of her soul. Though she smiled, it was a smile filled with unspoken sorrow, a farewell that weighed heavy on her heart.
If Feng Qian and the others heard it, they would be surprised and happy to hear that Feng Chenxin could now speak.
Then, carefully, she released him and stood up, her eyes lingering on him for a moment longer before she quietly left the cave. Feng Chenxin moved with purpose as she made her way to Feng Jin's abode.
As she arrived, she found the giant tortoise laying still, deep in his slumber as he continued to absorb the Soul Core of the Golden Tortoise Emperor. Nearby, the little dragon, Feng Lanruo, was playing around, and didn't pay attention to Feng Chenxin's arrival.
Feng Chenxin watched the young dragon for a moment, a fond smile tugging at her lips. Feng Lanruo, noticing her presence, stopped playing and looked up at her curiously.
Feng Chenxin's smile softened, and she walked over to Feng Jin, gently stroking his massive shell.
Without a word, she plucked a single Phoenix Feather from her tail—vibrant and glowing with an inner warmth—and carefully placed it atop Feng Jin.
The feather glimmered softly in the dim light.
There were so many things she wanted to say, so many words she wished she could voice. But in the end, Feng Chenxin kept her thoughts to herself, letting the silence speak for her. With one last glance at Feng Jin, she turned to leave, her footsteps heavy with the weight of her decision.
As she exited the cave, she found Feng Lanruo following her, the young dragon curious and confused. Feng Chenxin crouched down to be at eye level with her and gently stroked the dragon's colorful scales. "Little Lanlan," she said with a warmth in her voice that contrasted with the sadness in her eyes, "Big sister will leave now. Take care of everyone, okay?"
Feng Lanruo blinked up at her, not fully understanding the meaning behind her words but nodding nonetheless. The little dragon's innocent response brought a bittersweet smile to Feng Chenxin's face. She stood up, giving Feng Lanruo one last pat on the head before turning to leave.
The young dragon watched her go, tilting her head in confusion as Feng Chenxin walked away, her figure growing smaller and smaller until she finally disappeared from sight.
Feng Chenxin continued walking, her heart heavy with the knowledge that she was leaving her family behind. As she reached the edge of the Heavenly Blessed Mountain, she turned back for one final look at the place she had called home for so long. The mountain stood tall and serene, a sanctuary that had protected and nurtured them all.
"Chenxin will take her leave first," she whispered to the wind, her voice barely audible. "Brothers, Sisters, I'm sorry… If fate pleases, I hope we can meet again."
With those final words, Feng Chenxin turned away from the mountain and walked into the unknown, leaving behind the only home she had ever known. The path ahead was uncertain, but she carried with her the memories of her family, the bond that would forever tie her to them, no matter how far she traveled.
...
Several days later, Feng Qian finally woke up with all his Spiritual Energy replenished, but soon he noticed something unusual, "Hmm? Where is she?