The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 194: I Am Just A Woman!

I Am Just A Woman! . . .

"What is your name, girl?" The woman's voice held a gentle, inquisitive tone as she turned her attention toward Su Ye-Yue.

With Cha Eun Xiao's hand firmly grasped in her own, Su Ye-Yue replied in a quivering voice, "I am Su Ye-Yue. Thank you for saving Xiao Xiao."

The woman acknowledged the name with a nod, her enigmatic eyes gleaming with approval. "Su Ye-Yue. A beautiful name indeed. As the night resuscitates, there shines the moon," she praised cryptically, paying little heed to the gratitude expressed for saving Cha Eun Xiao. Her indifference suggested that he held little significance in her eyes.

"Girl, have you experienced anything out of the ordinary recently?" the woman inquired softly, her voice laced with curiosity.

For countless millennia, she had been on a quest to locate a girl blessed with the Phoenix Body, though her search had yielded naught but disappointment. Eventually, she had ceased actively seeking, confident in her ability to detect such a rare existence as her cultivation reached new heights. The arrival of a Phoenix Body bearer should have been impossible to miss. However, she had only sensed Su Ye-Yue's presence in recent months, a perplexing turn of events that left her mystified.

"Something special? I don't believe so," Su Ye-Yue replied, her brow furrowed in confusion.

The woman's frown deepened as she contemplated the situation. "Seeing you now, I am certain you were not initially born with a Phoenix Body," she observed. "Yet, your body underwent a profound transformation in recent months, evolving into a Phoenix Body. Such a powerful metamorphosis... If nothing extraordinary occurred to you, how could this be?"

Perplexed by the inquiry, Su Ye-Yue considered for a moment before offering, "Well, there might be one thing. I consumed a supreme dan bead a few days ago. Could that be the cause?"

"A supreme dan bead?" The woman's interest piqued, and her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Tell me more about this dan bead. What purpose does it serve, and how could it bring about such a transformation in you?"

Su Ye-Yue hesitated briefly before clarifying, "It's not a supreme dan bead, actually... It was a Pei-Yuan Dan."

"Pei-Yuan Dan..." The woman's reaction was less than enthusiastic, and she appeared on the verge of incredulity. "You're suggesting that a low-grade dan like the Pei-Yuan Dan could transform your body into a Phoenix Body? If not for your current status as the Phoenix Body bearer, I would be tempted to dismiss such a notion outright."

The unexpected revelation left Cha Eun Xiao bewildered. Su Ye-Yue had not possessed the Phoenix Body initially, but her recent transformation had enabled the woman to detect it. It had occurred independently of the Pei-Yuan Dan, prompting a cascade of questions and uncertainties.

"What could this change signify?" Cha Eun Xiao pondered, increasingly convinced that the Pei-Yuan Dan was not the catalyst for Su Ye-Yue's transformation.

However, aside from the girl's recent consumption of a supreme Pei-Yuan Dan bead, nothing out of the ordinary had occurred in her life.

As Cha Eun Xiao pondered the mysterious transformation, his thoughts shifted to a peculiar incident involving Su Ye-Yue. At a time when she had been overwhelmed with emotion and distress due to the revelation of his illness, he had utilized the Primordial Purple Qi within the space to clear her Jing and Mai, hastening her recovery.

During this process, a peculiar event unfolded. The egg-shaped object that had rested within the space, previously dormant and unresponsive, exhibited signs of agitation. It emitted a dark yellow glow, as if resisting the Primordial Purple Qi's influence.

Unperturbed by the egg's unusual reaction, Cha Eun Xiao continued to focus on Su Ye-Yue's recovery. In his determination to aid her, some of the Primordial Purple Qi breached the egg's barrier and entered her Jing and Mai.

Subsequently, the egg fell silent, seemingly exhibiting signs of depression, disappointment, and unhappiness, as if it had suffered a grievous wound.

Throughout this entire ordeal, Su Ye-Yue remained oblivious, having fallen into a deep coma during the critical moments.

Cha Eun Xiao couldn't help but wonder whether this event played a role in Su Ye-Yue acquiring the Phoenix Body.

Meanwhile, the enigmatic woman continued to observe Su Ye-Yue with an air of confusion. The recent transformation of Su Ye-Yue's body into a Phoenix Body remained a baffling mystery. How had it occurred, and why hadn't she sensed it until now? These questions weighed heavily on her mind.

Driven by curiosity and a growing sense of urgency, the woman reached out and grasped Su Ye-Yue's arm. She channeled a stream of pure spiritual power into Su Ye-Yue's Jing and Mai to investigate further.

Suddenly, a startled scream escaped her lips. Her face flushed red with astonishment, an uncharacteristic display of emotion.

She had not anticipated the startling revelation that awaited her.

Su Ye-Yue's Phoenix Body was not only genuine but also exceptionally pure. It exuded an ancient and potent power that surpassed her own. The woman found herself utterly taken aback, her sense of shock palpable.

Recollections of her master's teachings flooded her mind. The words of her mentor, spoken during her early days of martial arts cultivation, resonated with newfound meaning.

"The Dancing Phoenix Art is an extraordinary martial art," her master had once told her. "It is a creation that transcends human capabilities and belongs solely to the universe itself."

"There have been a few martial arts in history that approach the harmony of the Dancing Phoenix Art. Our Phoenix Bodies possess unique gifts, but we are still far from possessing true Phoenix Bodies created by the Primordial Pure Qi. Although it is possible to elevate our martial art to a higher level, none of us can achieve it. Only someone with a genuine Phoenix Body, crafted by the Primordial Pure Qi, can reach the pinnacle of our martial art—Phoenix In Nine Heavens."

The woman recalled her master's wistful sighs after imparting these teachings. Over time, she had become the most formidable practitioner of the Dancing Phoenix Art, but she had never fully comprehended the depth of her master's words until this moment. The martial art she had dedicated her life to held the potential to lead its practitioner toward the grandeur of the universe, yet the limitations of their physical bodies had always stood as insurmountable barriers.

The woman's expression shifted from amazement to one of profound astonishment. Her gaze remained fixated on Su Ye-Yue as if she had stumbled upon a miracle—a discovery that filled her with both awe and frustration.

It was undeniable—the girl before her possessed the rare and coveted Phoenix Body, the essence of Primordial Pure Qi, and a natural-born Mai. The combination of these attributes was nothing short of extraordinary.

In response to the woman's sudden outburst, Su Ye-Yue could only stammer, "Wh... Wha... What are you screaming for?"

Taking a deep breath to compose herself, the woman addressed Su Ye-Yue with urgency, "Su Ye-Yue, Yue-Er, you must become my disciple."

Startled by the woman's insistence, Su Ye-Yue took a cautious step back and stammered, "I... I don't..."

The woman interrupted her without hesitation, asserting, "Girl, if you swear to follow me, I will guide you to become the most formidable being beneath the heavens and beyond. I can grant you eternal life and unending glory. I can offer you..."

The woman proceeded to enumerate a multitude of benefits, each more enticing than the last. She was convinced that her persuasive pitch would be irresistible, sealing Su Ye-Yue's allegiance.

Yet, Su Ye-Yue's next question caught the woman off guard. She inquired, "What about him?"—her gaze directed at Cha-Eun Xiao.

Without even sparing a glance at Cha-Eun Xiao, the woman dismissively remarked, "He is not part of the equation. He is too feeble, utterly unqualified."

Su Ye-Yue reacted swiftly, shaking her head and declaring, "I am not going with you."

The woman found herself dumbfounded. "What? What did you say?" she exclaimed. "You refuse to come with me? Do you comprehend the gravity of your decision? Do you realize what you are relinquishing? You are rejecting the most glorious and powerful..."

Su Ye-Yue lowered her head and began to speak slowly, as if piecing together her thoughts. "In truth," she continued, "all those things hold little significance to me. I am but a woman, much like my mother. Since my childhood, my mother instilled in me the belief that the most crucial pursuit in a woman's life is to find someone who loves and cares for her. We are meant to spend our lives together, bear children, labor side by side, face challenges together, and grow old as a couple. In our twilight years, we should revel in the joys of grandchildren's laughter and the solace of our children's care..."

She paused, her words delivered with a hint of uncertainty, as if she were struggling to articulate emotions she had never expressed before. Yet, her longing for such a life was palpable.

"I am just a woman," Su Ye-Yue concluded softly.

The woman stood there, utterly stunned by the simplicity and sincerity of Su Ye-Yue's wishes. Her own heart stirred by the profound yearning embedded in those words.

"What a straightforward desire," she thought. "I, too, am a woman. I yearn for such a life, but it eludes me. Perhaps I could attain it, but I do not desire it."

In that moment, the woman found herself grappling with a profound realization—the power, glory, and immortality she could offer paled in comparison to the humble yet profound dreams of the woman standing before her. Su Ye-Yue's unwavering commitment to a life of love and companionship resonated deeply within her, even as it challenged her own path as a cultivator