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..."Sigh..."
A faint sigh drifted from the depths of the valley.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion sat on a smooth piece of white jade, her chin resting on her hands as she watched the clouds roll and unroll across the horizon, her eyes filled with loneliness.
"Clearly, not long ago... I seemed to sense his presence."
She murmured to herself, her long golden hair dancing lightly in the wind. "Could it be that I miss him too much and I'm hallucinating?"
In fact, decades ago, when Xuan Ming, Gu Yuena, and Annihilation Spirit Child first descended upon the Spirit Star, she had indeed sensed him. But that sensation had been fleeting, and instead of drawing closer to her, it had quickly vanished.
Later on, she intermittently sensed the presence of Xiao Wu, Ning Rongrong, and others, but that one presence she yearned for most never appeared in this valley.
"Bad man..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion pouted, kicking a small pebble by her feet with a hint of grievance. "He must have forgotten about me. Well, with so many beautiful sisters around him, how could he still remember me?"
"Or... is he intentionally avoiding me?"
At the thought of this possibility, her heart suddenly clenched, and a sense of panic from being abandoned instantly spread through her.
"No, I'm going to find him!"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion stood up abruptly, a flash of determination in her eyes. "I want to undergo Ascension! I'm going to the God Realm to ask him clearly! If he really doesn't want me anymore, then I'll... I'll..."
She thought for a long time but couldn't come up with any harsh words, eventually only able to stomp her feet resentfully.
"I'll bite him to death!"
Just as she was prepared to mobilize the Power of Destiny within her body to forcibly break through the Planar Barrier and trigger the Ascension Lightning Tribulation—
"Bite me to death?"
A familiar, gentle, yet slightly teasing voice sounded behind her without warning. "So fierce? Then I might not dare take you away."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion's entire body shuddered.
This voice... She whipped her head around.
At the entrance of the valley stood a man in black robes with white hair draped over his shoulders, standing there quietly with that unforgettable smile on his face.
Xuan Ming.
He had really come.
"You..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat felt as if it were stuffed with cotton, unable to make a sound. Tears welled up in her eyes uncontrollably.
And Xuan Ming, looking at the young girl before him, was also somewhat dazed.
One could even say... he was shocked.
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion in his memory was still that majestic little golden three-eyed lion cub.
But now, standing before him was a true, flawless human girl.
Moreover, the appearance of this girl... was simply too "familiar."
She had long golden hair that fell like a waterfall, the color pure and dazzling, looking exactly like Qian Renxue's;
Her eyes were a deep, mysterious purple, and in the movement of her gaze, there was a majesty and deep affection unique to Bibi Dong;
And her temperament—noble, cold, and elegant, with a subtle sense of detachment—was practically a carbon copy of Gu Yuena.
How was this just one person?
She was practically the ultimate fusion of Bibi Dong, Qian Renxue, and Gu Yuena! Or... the daughter the three of them had given birth to?!
Xuan Ming felt his brain struggling to process this. The visual impact was a bit overwhelming.
"What's wrong?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion noticed Xuan Ming's stunned expression, and the joy in her heart was instantly replaced by a trace of anxiety. She lowered her head in a panic, looking at her skirt and then touching her face.
"Is it... ugly?"
Her voice was very small, carrying a hint of insecurity. "This is my first time fully transforming into human form. I didn't know if you would like it..."
"No, it's not ugly."
Xuan Ming snapped out of it and waved his hands hurriedly. "It's very beautiful. Truly, very beautiful."
That was the truth.
Though she was a "fusion," it had to be said that combining the best traits of those three women didn't create a mismatched feeling; instead, it achieved a wonderful harmony that was breathtakingly beautiful.
"I just... didn't quite understand."
Xuan Ming walked up to her, carefully observing that familiar face, and couldn't help but ask, "How did you become like this? When a Spirit Beast transforms, they either shape their face according to their own will or imitate a human they've seen and were deeply impressed by."
"Most Spirit Beasts choose the latter. A few, like the Ice Empress and Snow Empress, evolve based on the characteristics of their original forms."
"But you..."
Xuan Ming pointed at her hair and then her eyes. "This is clearly... modeled after certain people, right?"
Hearing this, the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's cheeks instantly flushed with two red clouds, and her eyes became evasive.
"That's because..."
She twisted her fingers bashfully. "I didn't know what kind you liked."
"I only knew that you liked Sister Bibi Dong's type, and Sister Qian Renxue's type, and Sister Gu Yuena's type..."
"So, when I was transforming, I thought that if I could be like them and have the qualities they have that you like, then maybe... you would like me a bit more too?"
"So..."
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion looked up, her purple eyes full of sincerity and expectation. "I modeled myself after them and turned into what I am now."
"Xuan Ming, do you... like it?"
After hearing this, Xuan Ming was completely stunned.
He hadn't expected this seemingly willful little girl to have such humble and delicate thoughts.
To please him, she had actually given up the unique appearance she might have had to imitate others, trying to turn herself into what he liked.
How deep must her obsession and love be to reach this point?
"Silly girl..."
Xuan Ming sighed softly, reaching out to gently stroke her long golden hair, saying tenderly:
"You don't need to turn into someone else. In my heart, whether it's the little lion who always liked to snuggle in my arms or this beautiful Auspicious Beast now, you are unique."
"However..."
Xuan Ming looked at those eyes that so closely resembled Bibi Dong's and couldn't help but smile.
"Since you've already become like this, then so be it."
"After all, this face... is indeed very much to my taste."
Hearing these words, the anxiety in the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's eyes vanished instantly, replaced by endless joy.
"Really?!"
She suddenly lunged into Xuan Ming's embrace, just like before, nuzzling her head against his chest. "That's great! I knew you would definitely like it!"
"Then... did you come this time to take me away?"
She looked up, her eyes sparkling. "I don't want to stay here alone anymore. I want to go to the God Realm, I want to follow you forever!"
Feeling the warm body of the girl in his arms, the string in Xuan Ming's heart named "responsibility" was plucked once again.
He remembered what Gu Yuena had said; this child's feelings for him had long since ceased to be mere dependence.
"Of course."
Xuan Ming nodded with a smile and wrapped his arms around her.
"I've come to take you home."
"And..."
He leaned in close to the Three-Eyed Golden Lion's ear, his voice turning somewhat low.
"Since you worked so hard to turn yourself into what I like, I can't let your efforts go to waste, right?"
The Three-Eyed Golden Lion was startled, then seemed to understand something as her face flushed completely red, all the way to her ears.
"Then... then you must keep your word."
She buried her head in Xuan Ming's chest, her voice as soft as a mosquito.
"Anyway... I've long been prepared."
Hearing this, Xuan Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud.
"Alright."
"Let's go, my... little lion."