Outside the window, the sun gradually dipped toward the west. The golden-red afterglow filtered through the carved window frames and spilled into the room, yet it failed to dispel the heavy atmosphere that filled the space.
A simple, ancient black wooden box sat quietly in front of Wu Yan.
Tao’er had cast aside her usual playful demeanor. Her slightly chubby, baby-faced expression was now filled with gravity. She reached out her pale, delicate hand and gently flipped the wooden box open.
A crisp click echoed through the room.
Immediately following that was a piercing sound of howling wind. *Whirrr—*
In an instant, a visible current of cyan air swept out of the box like a flood breaking through a dam. However, the current did not scatter. Instead, it was bound by some invisible force 3 feet above the box, where it swirled and roared frantically.
That was no ordinary wind from the countryside; it was the far more violent Astral Wind. Even the mere aura leaking out was enough to cause tiny ripples in the surrounding space, and even the surrounding light seemed to be sliced apart.
In the center of that cyan storm, a piece of ore the size of a fist hovered above the middle of the box. Its entire body was cyan-black, yet its surface was covered in pulsating silver veins that resembled blood vessels. It floated silently in the air, appearing as light as a feather yet giving off a suffocating sense of weight.
“This is the trial I spoke of,” Tao’er said gravely. “This ore is called Meteor Wind Iron. It was discovered by its original owner by a fortuitous opportunity, but they were unable to master it, so it was traded to our Tianbao Pavilion.”
“According to the appraisal of our professionals, this ore is highly likely to have originated from the legendary Outer Void.”
The Outer Void.
Wu Yan had heard of this term before. It was said that the cultivation techniques and demonic tools used by the Demonic Cultivators of today came from that place. At the same time, the origin of monster beasts was also very likely related to the Outer Void.
However, nothing had been proven yet.
Tao’er’s gaze flickered as she looked at the violent Meteor Wind Iron. “Sister Wu Yan, you possess a Wind Spirit Root, so you should be able to feel its power.”
Tao’er took half a step back and made a gesture of invitation, her tone turning solemn. “To possess it, Spirit Stones alone are not enough. One must have a pure affinity for wind and a will strong enough to suppress a Void Storm.”
“If an ordinary cultivator tried to touch it by force, their soul would likely be torn apart by the Astral Wind the moment they got close.”
Speaking to this point, Tao’er paused. Her innocent, large eyes narrowed slightly as she stared intently at Wu Yan. “Even so, do you still want to try?”
Wu Yan stood before the table. Her ink-black hair was tossed about by the overflowing gusts, but her form remained motionless. Facing the violent Meteor Wind Iron, she unexpectedly did not feel the sense of pressure Tao’er had described.
On the contrary, she could feel that the hunk of iron was actually sending out a signal to her.
Wu Yan tentatively extended a portion of her Divine Sense to touch the edge of the cyan storm. At the moment of contact, a feeling of longing actually welled up within her.
That longing was like a lonely king meeting a subject who had been waiting for many years.
‘What is going on?’
“Hmph, this thing certainly puts on a grand show.”
An extremely disdainful voice rang out in Wu Yan’s ear. Drawn by the Astral Wind from the Meteor Wind Iron, the inner Wu Yan leaped lightly onto the red sandalwood table and crouched beside the floating ore.
Her complex red robes spread across the tabletop, and her face was almost pressed against the iron.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk. This is a so-called Spirit Treasure? Doesn’t look like much to me.”
Inner Wu Yan poked the storm with her slender finger, yet she did not encounter any attack.
She curled her lips in boredom, her eyes full of provocation. “Little Wu Yan, I think this little brat is trying to egg you on! Her attitude clearly shows she wants you to try it!”
“But that’s fine. I happen to fall for that sort of thing! Back when I was bathing in the Endless Demon Abyss, this broken stone was probably still drifting somewhere unknown!”
Inner Wu Yan stood up from the table and waved at Wu Yan. “Go on! Little Wu Yan, take it for me!”
Wu Yan took a deep breath and adjusted the frequency of her breathing. Then, she moved.
She did not use any defensive Spirit Treasures, nor did she activate any techniques. Wu Yan simply reached out her left hand, her fingertips tracing an elegant arc in the air before gently landing on the cyan cluster.
*Whirrr—*
The moment her fingertips touched the edge of the storm, Tao’er unconsciously held her breath. She had even secretly prepared a defensive Dharma treasure, ready to step in and save Wu Yan the moment the storm backlashed.
The expected backlash did not erupt. In fact, there wasn’t even a hint of rejection.
The wind blades that were originally so violent that even those at the Soul Transformation Stage would avoid them became incredibly docile the moment they touched Wu Yan’s fingertips. Those wind blades wound around Wu Yan’s fingers and emitted a crisp, pleasant chime, giving off the feeling that they were acting spoiled.
‘Is this a Resonance?’
Tao’er watched the scene before her in shock.
At that moment, the spiritual power within Wu Yan’s body operated at full capacity, perfectly merging with the Astral Wind from the Outer Void. The wind-attribute spiritual power within the Meteor Wind Iron not only failed to harm her, but instead actively flowed into her body through her meridians, nourishing her and even assisting her in cultivating her Sword Bone.
After obtaining Tao’er’s permission, Wu Yan broke the restriction.
Freed from the seal, the Meteor Wind Iron floated up cheerfully, bobbing up and down around Wu Yan. Visible wisps of Clear Breeze blew around Wu Yan, making her already beautiful and otherworldly face look even more like that of a celestial being.
The scene was breathtakingly beautiful.
“Huh?”
The inner Wu Yan, who had been waiting on the table for a good show, was stunned by the sight. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the Meteor Wind Iron—which was as obedient as a lapdog beside Wu Yan—in disbelief. She couldn’t help but jump off the table and walk a couple of circles around the stone. “No way? Is this broken stone really just attracted to a pretty face?”
“Hey, have some backbone! You’re a Spirit Treasure from the Outer Void! Where’s your pride? How did you turn soft the moment you saw this block of wood?”
Inner Wu Yan reached out to poke the iron beside Wu Yan. To her surprise, the iron actually followed her hand and tried to float toward her.
Inner Wu Yan hastily pulled her hand back, afraid the stone would actually land on her.
“Tch, how boring!” Inner Wu Yan pouted and drifted behind Wu Yan, resting her chin on Wu Yan’s shoulder as she looked at the stone and muttered, “Birds of a feather really do flock together. You’re just like this big idiot—you’re both the closeted type!”
The wind blades around Wu Yan gradually dissipated, and the Meteor Wind Iron slowly landed in her hand. Tao’er put away the defensive Dharma treasure she had prepared and was about to congratulate Wu Yan when a sudden change occurred!
The wind-attribute spiritual power that had merged into Wu Yan’s body had not dissipated. Instead, at the moment it fully integrated, the Resonance with Wu Yan reached its peak.