Chapter 450: Covenant of Will

After cultivating the Vermilion Bird spirit body, the most intuitive and stirring feeling for Hua Changxi was that she could transform into a "flame in the shape of a Vermilion Bird."

When the Vermilion Bird appears, pure light illuminates all, and myriad evils flee; it burns away all filth and purifies heaven and earth!

Turning her physical body into flame—this sensation was too novel. Standing on a lotus of fire, Hua Changxi controlled her body, wanting to feel the experience of transforming into flame once more.

As the thought arose, her form began to blur and rise, her flesh, blood, and bones all transforming into flowing crimson-gold flames; her silhouette stretched and extended—a "Vermilion Bird" formed entirely of Southbright Lihuo suddenly took shape!

At first, she could not fully control this power and could only transform into a fist-sized "little Vermilion Bird," exquisite and translucent, shedding specks of crimson light when it flapped its wings, like stars falling into a sea of fire.

As she continuously experimented, regulated her breathing, and perceived, her control over spiritual power became increasingly refined. She then tried to grow larger.

With a thought, the flames surged violently!

Ten zhang, fifty zhang...

In an instant, a crimson-gold Vermilion Bird spanning a hundred zhang circled in the air, its wings blotting out the sky, its tail flame like a waterfall, its body wreathed in an aura of might that could burn the heavens and boil the seas.

The "Vermilion Bird" flapped its wings and swept past, stirring up a thousand layers of huge waves on the magma sea of fire; when it dove downward, it was like a falcon hunting, swift as thunder, yet carrying an ancient and solemn divinity.

Hua Changxi circled several times above the sea of fire, sometimes soaring straight up, sometimes skimming low over the molten rock, feeling the exhilaration of wind and fire merging, experiencing the mystery of "no body, no self; only fire remains."

That kind of freedom transcended the shackles of the physical body, as if heaven and earth could be her nest, and all fires could be her feathers.

Only when the novelty gradually faded and her mind returned to calm did Hua Changxi slowly fold her wings, withdraw the crimson-gold light and flames, and recondense her form like smoke and mist—her human shape reappeared.

She lightly landed back on the lotus of fire and sat cross-legged.

The blazing crimson-gold in her eyes slowly settled, eventually restoring her clear black-and-white irises, though deep within there remained an imperceptible hint of gilded afterglow, like the first light of morning.

The fire mist swirling around her quietly dissipated; her skin was lustrous as usual, with no trace of abnormality.

Even the tiny flickering flames at the tips of her hair, like weary birds returning to the forest, silently vanished into her black tresses.

Suddenly, her expression changed slightly—the crimson dharma robe on her body had, at some unknown point, been burned to ashes and disappeared without a trace.

Hua Changxi's cheeks warmed slightly, and she muttered, "The grade of the dharma robe Tong Yao gave me is still too low."

But her dharma robes were only the seven sets given by Tong Yao.

One each of red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Now the red one was burned. After a moment's thought, recalling her status as the peak master of the Dan Sacred Hall, she turned her wrist and took out a green dharma robe to put on.

After tidying her appearance, Hua Changxi's figure flickered; a crimson-gold light tore through the void, and in the blink of an eye she left the underground of the Transmission Hall and returned to the main hall of Lingguang Hall.

"Hmm?"

Sensing that Lingguang Hall suddenly had the auras of several dozen Spirit Platform realm cultivators, Hua Changxi was first startled, then her gaze sharpened as if she understood something, and she quickly summoned the "Vermilion Bird Army Roster."

Sure enough, the "Vermilion Bird Army Roster" had changed.

At this moment, dozens of names at the front of the roster were shining brightly—behind each name appeared a miniature Vermilion Bird flame pattern, with clear lines and abundant fire intent.

"This is..."

A manifestation of the Vermilion Bird's will?

Hua Changxi seemed to be pondering. Because she had successfully recruited a full hundred thousand Vermilion Bird soldiers, she had obtained a drop of Vermilion Bird essence blood.

She refined the essence blood and achieved the Vermilion Bird spirit body, allowing the Vermilion Bird's will to manifest and resonate with the entire Lingguang Hall, awakening the resonance of all those who had once been baptized by the Vermilion Bird's will.

These several dozen Spirit Platform realm Vermilion Bird soldiers were those who had truly internalized the Vermilion Bird's will; only thus could they, at the moment of the Vermilion Bird will's manifestation, break through their bottlenecks and directly advance in realm!

The flame patterns on the "Vermilion Bird Army Roster" were actually a manifestation of a "Vermilion Bird Will Covenant."

Looking at the names of Vermilion Bird soldiers with flame patterns, Hua Changxi was in a good mood: "This is a good way to select useful people."

What delighted her most was that most of the stewards of Lingguang Hall, as well as the vast majority of the chiliarchs, now had the Vermilion Bird flame pattern after their names.

With the full complement of one hundred thousand Vermilion Bird soldiers, the numbers of stewards in various departments were clearly insufficient. Hua Changxi directly issued appointments, assigning all these people to various posts.

After arranging the affairs of Lingguang Hall, Hua Changxi left Lingguang Hall. She did not return to the Dan Sacred Hall but went to the Xuan Mansion.

She planned to investigate the Ghost Fire Well!

But before that, she, who had not seen her family for over ten years, had to go see them first.

The Xuan Mansion was still shrouded within a barrier.

But outside the barrier, things were no longer what they used to be.

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Centered on Xuanfu Mansion, extending in all four directions—east, west, south, and north—except for the north where there was still a capital city, the other three directions had already stretched out into endless markets, pavilions, and spirit-field estates.

Ten years ago, when Hua Changxi passed by, there weren't many people here, but now cultivators had gathered and come to live in this area.

Taking in the scene, Hua Changxi descended directly from the sky and strolled through the markets and buildings.

She discovered that Xuan City's construction layout was ring-shaped, with Xuanfu Mansion at the center radiating outward in sequence, and it had currently been built up to the fifth ring.

The fifth ring was also the most densely populated area for cultivators; on the contrary, the closer to Xuanfu Mansion, the sparser the population, with the second and third rings almost uninhabited.

"Hmm?"

On the second-ring street closest to Xuanfu Mansion, Hua Changxi saw many familiar names.

"Central Sacred Land, Dan Saint Hall, Artifact Saint Palace, Talisman Saint Pavilion, Array Saint Sect, South Elephant City, East Elephant City, North Elephant City, West Elephant City, Taisu Palace, Sanqing Palace, Leiyin Temple..."

The mansions built along the second ring all bore plaques of the major powers and sects.

"This... is the liaison station of the major powers in Xuan City?"

Lost in thought, Hua Changxi crossed the street and arrived outside Xuanfu Mansion.

It was still heavily guarded here, with Xuan Army soldiers patrolling regularly, strictly forbidding outsiders from approaching.

"I am Hua Changxi. Please pass the word—I want to enter the mansion to see my family."

The Xuan Army soldiers on duty were initially wary of Hua Changxi's sudden appearance, but after hearing her announce herself, they all showed curiosity and surprise, looked her over, and quickly reported up the chain.

"Hua Changxi, you finally remember that you still have family."

Before the person arrived, the voice came first.

Ripples suddenly rose across the barrier, and Qin Feng walked out with a broad laugh.

Seeing Qin Feng come out in person, Hua Changxi raised an eyebrow and greeted him with a smile: "General Qin, long time no see."

Qin Feng smiled and said, "It's indeed been a long time. It's already been ten years since you last sent your family to Xuanfu Mansion." As he spoke, he ushered Hua Changxi into Xuanfu Mansion.

Along the way, Qin Feng voluntarily mentioned the Hua family's situation in Xuanfu Mansion. After a round of pleasantries, he asked as if casually, "The outside world is spreading rumors that you are the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall. Is that true?"

Hua Changxi countered, "General Qin, do you think I look like the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall?"

Qin Feng was taken aback for a moment, then laughed, "I think you do."

Hua Changxi looked at him with a smile: "Since General Qin thinks I look like one, then I am."

Hearing this, Qin Feng was speechless. "Then if I think you're not?"

Hua Changxi's smile did not waver: "Then I'm not."

Qin Feng was choked off and felt that this conversation could not continue.