The dawn had just begun to break when the front gate of the dome-home creaked open, ushering in a new day.
Fan Yumei, accompanied by her soul beasts Lufei and Maxius, stepped into her backyard, exhaling in visible puffs against the crisp morning atmosphere rich with qi. The mist danced lightly in the air as Mystic hovered just above, basking in the early sun while a conjured rain cloud delicately sprinkled moisture onto her iridescent skin.
"Good morning, my beloved niece," greeted Hanji, her uncle, with exuberant enthusiasm that felt somewhat superfluous for the hour.
"Morning, sweet girl," chimed her father, Fan Yangwei, as he meticulously inscribed the final rune on a camping tent he was assembling.
Fan Yumei approached with a focused eye on the remaining tents awaiting her runic enhancements. "Are we nearly finished with the tents?" she inquired as she moved towards her father.
Her father and uncle were positioned by a stone bench, diligently inscribing runes and applying spells to the tents and gear in preparation for that evening's campout. Yangwei, having recovered from his prior injuries, no longer required the support of a cane and instead carried a jade case in both hands.
"Come here, sweet girl," he called out.
Standing alongside him, her mother, Ka Sanni, meticulously wiped nonexistent dust from a silken-lined container that housed an array of softly glowing soul enhancement pills. "These will facilitate the evolution of your soul beasts," she informed.
Fan Yumei moved closer, feeling the familiar weight of responsibility press on her chest, paired with an undercurrent of deeper emotion.
Opening the jade case, Yangwei revealed two soul-seed pearls. Each pearl was threaded with core-tuned qi filaments designed to enhance energy flow. "One for Maxius, one for Lufei. Your energy levels and bondlines are at the precipice of evolution. Any delay could lead to instability in their transformation."
Hanji stepped forward, presenting her with a jade chest. As he opened it, he explained, "Inside, you will find Whispering Kiproot—a biocompatible root that promotes sensory enhancement—along with Caylion Soul Nuts and two Evolve Soul Crystals. These components will aid in the cleansing and tuning process, allowing your soul beasts to perceive their evolved forms and undergo successful transformation."
Ka Sanni interjected gently, "Fortunately for you, your core is unique. Instead of anchoring them, you will amplify their development."
Fan Yumei accepted the items, her grip steady despite her swirling emotions. "Thank you."
"Keep in mind," her mother cautioned, "once the evolution process begins, your guidance will be crucial for stabilization. A lapse in focus could result in destabilization of the transformation."
Yangwei met her gaze with intensity. "Should you succeed, it won't merely be about survival in the Secret Realm; you will carve out your own path through it."
Fan Yumei responded with a nod, her calm demeanor masking an inner tumult. "They're prepared."
Surveying the components bestowed upon her to facilitate the evolution of her soul beasts, she felt the impending shift within her approach.
"Your friends should be arriving shortly for the campfire," her father commented as he finalized runes on various camping supplies.
"I'm just awaiting a few food deliveries, plus we're planning a hunt for some meat to grill," she responded, checking the status of the deliveries via her Oni9x mobile device.
"That's my girl, always organized," Yangwei praised, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat before affectionately ruffling her hair.
Fan Yumei ducked her head, scowling slightly at her father's playful gesture that left her unruly hair in disarray—a main reason she typically opted for braids.
"Leave her be, Yangwei. No girl appreciates her hair being tousled, even by her father," Ka Sanni reprimanded, sharply pinching his side.
"Ow! I helped create this child! Can a father not tousle his daughter's hair?" Yangwei exclaimed, rubbing his sore side.
"Haha, serves you right! Get him, sister-in-law!" Hanji interjected, eager to stoke the banter.
"Shut up!" both Ka Sanni and Yangwei chimed in, effectively silencing Hanji's jovial enthusiasm.
Just as Fan Yumei attempted to sneak away toward the house to finalize preparations for the evening's activities, she experienced an unexpected inverse pull.
"Ehh!?" Before she could comprehend, she was suctioned into her inner-dimensional sanctuary, Lufei and Maxius in tow, the event transpiring so swiftly that there was no time for reflex.
The sanctuary activated instantly upon her crossing the threshold, revealing its ethereal clinic that glimmered with a soft luminescence, augmented by suspended qi-crystal lanterns gently swaying in an unseen breeze.
Lufei was lowered beside her with an almost reverential calm, while Maxius hovered behind, one wing momentarily phasing through the clinic wall, a knowing smirk playing across his features.
As the counter lights activated, she followed the familiar path toward the counter.
There, precisely arranged on a silver tray, were two emerald-hued pills and a single pale blue pill, sealed in translucent jade wrapping and lightly glowing with refinement markings.
"What are these for?" she asked, inspecting the pills with curiosity. "Mmh, they have an intriguing aroma—herbaceous and something else."
Scanning the clinic, she noted, "I don't recall any of these pills being present during my last visit."
Fan Yumei surveyed the clinic, noting its lack of visible pharmaceuticals from her previous visit.
"Perhaps these pills are intended for our use. They emit a fragrance reminiscent of Master's exquisite concoctions—certainly non-toxic. Let's ingest them, Master," Maxius suggested, striding toward Fan Yumei, his wings fluttering in anticipation.
While Lufei remained silent, Fan Yumei sensed her eagerness for the pill through their empathic connection.
"Fortunately, my core is quite unconventional," Fan Yumei murmured, breaking the jade seal.
She distributed one pill to Lufei and another to Maxius, keeping the pale blue pill for herself.
"Are we prepared?"
Both beasts affirmed with a nod.
Fan Yumei settled onto the clinic floor, inhaling deeply before consuming her pill. She felt an influx of energy surge through her, activating her core and enveloping it with her mental, qi, and soul power.
Instantly, the qi within the sanctuary thickened, charged with potential.
Lufei began her consumption of a soul bead, Caylion Soul Seeds, an Evolve Crystal, and the Whispering Kiproot, methodically absorbing their energies.
Drawing upon her bodily energies, Lufei connected with her core, instigating her evolutionary transformation. Fan Yumei adeptly began to weave a robust rope—rather than a mere thread—integrating all four energies and establishing a stable link to fuse with Lufei's core, meticulously guiding her soul and energy to facilitate a natural transformation.
She shuddered once, then rose, her small body enveloped in radiant green light. Fan Yumei's core throbbed rhythmically, pulsating with soul power and synergy.
With concentration sharpening amidst the pain, Fan Yumei maintained her focus, ensuring Lufei's evolutionary process proceeded without error.
Lufei underwent a transformation. Her crystal antlers elongated, curving into fractal crowns, radiating soft golden-green qi. Her white fur shimmered like silk illuminated by moonlight, embellished with subtle runic designs beneath the surface.
Then, an explosion of green-gold qi erupted outward.
Lufei's form elevated from the ground, her antlers branching into flickering crown-prongs. The sheen of her fur became even more ethereal, nearly snow-white, with crystalline veins emanating a soft green glow beneath her skin. Each step she took left behind healing soulprints that reshaped the sanctuary's flooring.
Her eyes transformed to a pure gold hue, and an ethereal crown of qi-leaves floated above, never touching her head.
Fan Yumei persisted in channeling energy into Lufei's core and soul world, detecting that Lufei's transformation process was not yet complete.
As the light intensified, Lufei's stature grew taller and more regal. Her hooves skimmed the ground, leaving ephemeral tufts of grass and moss to blossom and wither in her wake.
Fan Yumei leaned to the side, breath hitching from the strain of excess energy in her core. "You can do this, Lufei. Recognize your path and tread it with confidence!" She perceived Lufei's trepidation and could only offer reassurance that the journey she embarked upon was the correct one.
Lufei gently pressed her forehead against Fan Yumei's, sharing silent reassurance and profound empathy. Their mental energies intertwined, merging into a singular force.
Trembling, Lufei's antlers shimmered with strands of light. After ingesting the emerald pill discovered in the clinic, it dissolved within, enwrapping her in cocooning qi. The tips of her white fur darkened to a pale gold, and crystalline patterns cascaded along her spine. Her antlers branched into six prongs, each like the limb of a celestial tree.
Then came the pivotal shift—her eyes glowed with a profound, soul-deep luminescence.
⸻
Lufei: → Celestial Verdant Crowned Antler Spirit
— Transcendent Class
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🧬 New Abilities:
• Bound Eden (Ultimate): Creates a shielded grove that accelerates allies' spirit regeneration, mitigates mental disruptions, and dissipates hostile qi. Radius expands progressively.
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• Sanctuary Crown (Passive): Enhances the mental fortitude of all allies within the vicinity. Diminishes soul rage and stabilizes untamed beasts.
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• Echo Root Surge: Transmits a regenerative pulse through battlefield ley-lines, neutralizing corrupted qi sources and rejuvenating those of allies.
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• Antler of Echoing Serenity: Reflects hostile emotional qi and fear-based techniques.
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• Verdant Domain: Establishes a healing field that rejuvenates allies' spiritual pathways during sustained engagement.
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• Lifeweft Hoofprints: Each step repairs ground-bound qi formations or damaged terrain, gradually mending the battlefield over time.
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🔐 Hidden Trait – Fracture Mender:
Capable of entering the soul-thread of another being to restore frayed instincts or willpower, healing spiritual trauma at the cost of her own energy.
(To be continued...)