In the wails and convulsions of her soul, the North Dipper Stigma violently contracted, trembling, until at last, it turned completely into Chaos.
With the division by the White Wolf Hook, the Shenshui Monkey aspect broke apart. A blue-green Giant Ape phantom flew out from Ye Xueya's body, while the Heart Moon Fox phantom reemerged behind her...
This was a scene completely beyond belief.
Under the Miracle Imprint of the White Wolf Hook, Ye Xueya's North Dipper Stigma, which had originally been a fusion of elements, was forcefully cleaved back to its constituent parts. The Shenshui Monkey that had merged into her soul was stripped away.
Completely, whole and intact, without any remnants or lingering problems.
Ye Xueya was forcibly de-ranked.
No, it would be more apt to say it was like a system rollback—a self-demotion almost like a reversal of time, returning her to her peak Third Stage.
This was the true power of the White Wolf Hook.
As the unanimously recognized Owner of the Dongxia Genealogy, did Xuan Niao really need to engage in combat personally at any given time?
The answer was there was absolutely no need!
As the symbol of the Dongxia Genealogy, The Crowned One presiding over the legitimate Dongxia royalty, when did he ever need to charge to the front like Two Flowers and Red Sticks, to be the first in attack and last in retreat?
He merely needed to stand there to represent the Dongxia Genealogy itself.
A single word from him could represent the views and opinions of all Sublimators in the Dongxia Genealogy.
With a lift of his finger, a hundred thousand Sublimators of the Dongxia Genealogy would wield blades and spears, hacking from Penglai Road to South Heavenly Gate Pedestrian Street. After completing the task, they would retrace their steps and hack their way back. If necessary, they could repeat this five, six, seven, or even eight times.
Until he nodded and said, "That's enough. You've scrubbed them clean."
As the personal weapon of Xuan Niao, this Miracle Imprint was extracted from history and miracles. It ranked among the three great Miracle Imprints, including the Azure Blood Roll. Its true power was not for fighting to the death but represented the authority and privilege of Xuan Niao as the steward of the Dongxia Genealogy.
In the hands of its true master, Xuan Niao, it didn't even need to be unsheathed. A mere glance from the old man could instantly reduce a Sublimator of the Dongxia Genealogy from the Fifth Stage down to a novice.
Since Xuan Niao had inherited the position of Owner of the Genealogy, he had rarely exercised this supreme authority, not even much on rebels.
Those who dared to stir up trouble were casually crushed to death by the old man.
More often, it was used as a rollback device, helping juniors who failed their advancement to revert to their original state, accumulate experience, and try again.
Just like now.
As her rank plummeted, in an instant, countless gouts of plasma erupted from her pores.
Drenching Ye Xueya in red. Wounds that would be considered severe for a Fourth Stage Sublimator were lethal for one at the Third Stage!
If it weren't for the White Wolf Spirit still protecting Ye Xueya, she might have died on the spot.
"You see, I told you, we are all the same."
Bearing the excruciating, convulsive pain, she raised her head. Her bloodshot eyes fixed on the Sun Shaman Imprint before her, her smile still present as she said, "You just need a little bit of help…"
Amidst the wailing of the Sun Shaman Imprint, she staggered to her feet and stepped forward, one step at a time.
From the void behind her, the Heart Moon Fox's long tail unfurled, its fur bristled, and its eyes shone with the light of a Predator, challenging the Superior positioned above itself.
It was already ravenous, past the point of being picky.
By now, the audience watching the live broadcast fully understood what this madwoman intended to do.
The entire Xiematai was a stage meticulously crafted by the Dongxia Genealogy for Ye Xueya, to showcase to the entire world the mettle of this strongest member of Dongxia's new generation!
Having undergone one advancement, she intended to abandon the North Dipper Stigma and once again challenge the Fourth Stage!
—To advance towards the Azure Dragon of the East!
Even if dragons no longer roamed the world.
Even if the Divine Nature of the Azure Dragon had vanished without a trace, severing the path to Sublimation, leaving no road ahead.
If there was no road to follow, then she would forge one herself!
Wasn't there ample Divine Nature right before her eyes to utilize? Even if its essence was flawed and it no longer possessed its former glory, the Sun Shaman Imprint contained as much Divine Nature as one could possibly desire...
Where does she find the certainty?
In Rome, a golden-haired young man frowned in the hall, unsure whether to laugh at the audacity of this formidable adversary or admire her absurd courage.
"Such matters, aside from Xuan Niao, who dares to claim certainty?" the ancient Priest commented emotionlessly. "It's nothing more than a gamble. What you lack is precisely that."
The young man was taken aback and furrowed his brow.
"She aims to prove she's no less than Xuan Niao of yesteryear," the old Priest lowered his gaze. "She wants to be the strongest in Dongxia thirty years from now."
"…"
At this very moment, whether in Rome, the Russian Federation, India, or anywhere else, countless people had turned on their televisions to follow this absurd spectacle of advancement being broadcast to the world.
To witness the success or extinction of this foremost figure among Dongxia's new generation.
And with the fall of the White Wolf Hook, the Lustrous Sun Wheel shattered to pieces. Amidst the final lament of the Sun Shaman Imprint, endless, intense light burst forth, engulfing Ye Xueya's figure.
The Heart Moon Fox roared silently and leaped into the blaze as if rushing towards death, yet also to embrace its own rebirth.
"Don't be afraid."
In the midst of the conflagration, Ye Xueya reached out and clasped the last remnant of the Sun Witch—the broken Sword Blade—saying, "Once you count all the cracks in the sky, we will be best friends forever…"
Light.
Light swallowed everything.
.
.
.
.