A colossal Tree of Life pierced the clouds.
It stood in magnificent splendor, with rolling seas of cloud at its feet.
Countless living creatures made their homes among the ancient tree's sprawling branches and leaves. Healing-type spirits flourished everywhere, songbirds chirped and flitted between clouds, and emerald-green long-eared spirits peeked out, having built their huts on the tree. Born from this tree, the place was both their origin and their home.
Beneath the great trunk lay a tranquil spring, secluded and untouched.
It was sacred ground—no one dared disturb it.
This ancient tree had always been the centerpiece of the world, and the rich lake beneath it seemed to be its very cradle.
Suddenly—
A soaring phoenix's cry echoed across the heavens and quickly spread throughout the world.
Countless creatures lifted their heads, first stunned, then awed, and finally prostrated themselves in worship. They felt a gentle, warming aura—the presence of the supreme deity of their world!
The Goddess of Life!
A legendary figure slowly appeared, like a perfect image from a painting; delicate and unparalleled, with wings that seemed to emerge directly from a work of art.
Yet in the next instant, that perfect blue phoenix condensed into a human figure.
She had long, silky, pale blue hair cascading to her waist, and emerald-green eyes that glimmered with intelligence and soft gentleness. She gazed down upon the land; golden threads of faith gathered about her.
Her white, delicate feet hovered in mid-air, arches lifted as if she were treading lightly on air. A jade-green anklet accentuated her fair, glowing skin.
"Arise, my people..."
Azure Luan spoke softly.
Her hands folded neatly at her waist, her face adorned with a gentle, peerless smile. She was as distant and untouchable as a true deity—revered but not to be profaned.
This was her first time taking human form. Until now, she'd always appeared as a soul beast, but with Xuan Ji and others gradually gaining human shapes (not fully human, but capable of shifting between their beast and human forms, much like Ditian from the original), she too had grown impatient. Today, she gained her own human form at last.
She wondered... would her Lord be satisfied?
While countless spirits bowed in worship, their so-called deity, the mistress of their world, could only think of something else—her cheeks involuntarily flushed with embarrassment.
They'd been with their Lord through so much. Back when Snow Empress first benefited from gaining a human form, she was the first to win their Lord's affections.
But her...
Today was the very first time she had revealed her human form before their Lord.
Before, she had only ever stood before him in her blue phoenix body.
She had always tried to be his strongest healer—their team's near-invincible support. No matter how dire the enemy, her lifesaving skills could always pull them back from the brink. Her all-round abilities made her the ultimate support, like a motherly presence, giving Su Wen comforting rest with her soft wings whenever he was tired.
No one else in the team could match that sense of warmth and protection.
As she accepted the worship of countless creatures, Azure Luan's thoughts drifted.
"What's even good about taking human form...?"
By the lake, a being with giant eyes and waving tentacles blinked as it stared up at Azure Luan in the sky.
In its eldritch, Cthulhu-like form, it truly couldn't appreciate such so-called beauty. To it, only chaos and disorder were beautiful.
"She's doing it for the Lord, not for you. Why are you so nosy?" Xuan Ji folded his arms, commenting coolly.
"Goldie, how many blades did you eat today? You're way too sharp-tongued!" Big-Eyes snapped back, flailing its tentacles.
"Heh, I've got enough for you, Big-Eyes," Xuan Ji shot back, looking at him dismissively.
"..."
The other contracted beasts quietly watched their bickering.
Both were founding members of this 'battleship,' and now main combatants—one able to traverse space and time, the other absurdly strong physically. Their status was high, and the rest respected them greatly.
As Su Wen's strength increased, so did the intelligence of his contracted beasts. In just a few years, these once-clueless soul beasts had evolved to human-level wisdom.
Even among just a dozen or so beasts, a subtle hierarchy and order had emerged.
The later arrivals—Mirror, Li Ya, Bai Xiu Xiu, Qiongqi, and so on—liked to gather in the corners during meetings, whispering quietly. Earlier members like Snow Empress, Gu Yuena, and Xuan Ji stood at the core and had more authority.
As one of the true founding members, Azure Luan naturally ranked at the top.
With her transformation today, the only ones not present were Ah Yin, who stayed at the ancient golden tree, and the Deep Sea Demon Whale King, who was off with his wife. All the rest came to watch.
"She's beautiful..."
Li Ya, swimming in the Sea God Lake, flicked her fish tail. Her jewel-like eyes—body half-emerged from the water—couldn't help but gaze at the scene in awe.
"Lady Azure Luan is as gentle and powerful as ever, just like in her true form."
But soon, her gaze drifted to Su Wen—the man who had saved her and Bai Xiu Xiu from near death long ago. He had swept in like a god from the heavens and rescued them at their darkest moment.
Now, her entire Sea Princess tribe had been taken into his spirit world, enjoying safety and tranquility. Her people adored her, treating her like a goddess, and her sisters envied her for following such a powerful existence.
Yet deep down, she still felt regret.
When would she, among so many who followed the Lord, finally become his...?
Su Wen had only just recovered from the shock of Azure Luan's transformation, glancing at Li Ya as she kept her eyes locked on him. He gave her a warm smile—and her face flushed pink before she quickly hid beneath the waves, blowing bubbles like Bai Xiu Xiu used to.
"Am I really that charming...?"
Su Wen suspiciously touched his own face.
The water's surface reflected a handsome man.
Hmm... no wonder, it's me after all.
"Lord..."
Azure Luan's figure withdrew from the World Tree to stand beside the Life Lake. Her emerald-green, gentle gaze shimmered with shyness and resolve as she stared at him.
"So many years... and I finally see your human form," Su Wen said, a hint of emotion in his voice.
To be honest, she did resemble Bi Ji in appearance. But where Bi Ji's features ended, a faint gold framed Azure Luan's hair, and her beauty completely surpassed Bi Ji's—she was worthy of being called a matriarch among the Emerald Swan Clan. Next to her, Bi Ji looked more like an outstanding lesser member of that race.
...