Rise of a Lunar Legend

As Tang Chun Xi processed the information she had received, a wave of surprise and confusion swept through her mind. The revelation was monumental: her inability to cultivate previously stemmed from the fact that her special physique, called the Lunar Imperial Body, had not yet fully awakened. This body required an immense amount of spiritual energy to connect to the cosmos and manifest its full potential.

The Lunar Umbrella, now bonded to her soul, provided a basic description of the properties of this physique:

It could generate unique lunar and stellar energies.

Lunar energy had healing and nourishing characteristics, benefiting both herself and others.

Stellar energy, on the other hand, had the ability to interact with natural elements, granting them the properties of stars themselves.

'Properties of stars? What exactly does that mean?'— Tang Chun Xi reflected. The part about lunar energy seemed clear, reminiscent of the wood element with its regenerative abilities. But the description of stellar energy was vague.

'Interacting with elements to grant them the properties of stars… Does this have to do with what happened yesterday, when the energies of the five elements underwent that strange transformation?' — she pondered. The balance of the energies, which should have been a complicated and time-consuming process, had occurred almost automatically. Moreover, she had advanced in cultivation with astonishing speed—something that would typically take weeks or months.

Tang Chun Xi looked at the Lunar Umbrella, which then conveyed another message:

"The information provided only includes the confirmed properties of your physique. Other abilities and characteristics must be discovered by you."

—"So that's it. I need to explore further to fully understand the potential of the Lunar Imperial Body," —she murmured. With that, she also concluded that the excruciating pain from the previous night was likely the result of her physique awakening. The transformation in her appearance must also have been a direct side effect.

Tang Chun Xi approached a mirror. Her reflection revealed a supernatural and dangerous beauty. It was obvious that such an appearance would draw a great deal of attention—something she definitely wanted to avoid. As she considered how to deal with this, she felt a sudden shift.

To her surprise, her appearance reverted almost entirely to normal, except for her eyes, which remained purple and shimmering like lunar crystals. Tang Chun Xi instinctively tried to understand what had happened. When she focused her thoughts on "returning to normal," her appearance completely reverted to what it was before.

'Could I take on any appearance I wish?'— she wondered, attempting to transform her face into something completely different. However, she couldn't. On the other hand, reverting to her previous appearance was effortless.

'I see… it seems my physique can conceal my true form. But would this work against powerful cultivators? Is there a limit?'— Her mind buzzed with questions when she was suddenly interrupted by a familiar voice.

—"My daughter, you called me. May I come in?"— Tang Chun Xi's father's voice echoed from outside, filled with urgency and concern.

Recovering from her reverie, Tang Chun Xi took a deep breath, pushing aside the conflicting emotions that overwhelmed her. Her gentle but firm voice filled the room:

— "You may come in, Father."

The door slowly opened, revealing Tang Wei. His eyes, heavy with concern, immediately scrutinized his daughter. He noticed something that made his heart skip a beat: Chun Xi's eyes were different, reflecting a peculiar glow. Moreover, he sensed a lightness in her aura that indicated something extraordinary. She had finally broken through the barrier that had held her back, reaching the first level of the Body Tempering stage.

His expression, initially marked by worry, softened into a smile of relief and joy. Yet, he noticed Chun Xi's anxious demeanor, as if she hesitated to speak. Without a word, Tang Wei retrieved a formation disk from his spatial pouch. With a practiced motion, he activated the artifact, and a subtle barrier enveloped the room.

— "My daughter, you can speak freely now," — he began, his voice firm yet comforting. — "This is a third-level formation disk. Cultivators below the Spiritual Sea realm won't be able to hear or spy on us. We are safe."

With that, he gestured for her to sit beside him on the sofa. Chun Xi complied, but hesitation still lingered on her face.

Taking a deep breath, she began to recount what had happened. She tried to explain everything as clearly as possible, from the moment she drank the Amber Natal Milk to the transformation she felt in her body and the mysterious vision of the moon. Tang Wei listened intently, his eyes narrowing as the story unfolded.

When she finished, he remained silent for a moment, processing the information. His expression shifted from solemnity to a mix of deep concern and restrained happiness.

— "My daughter," — he began gravely, — "based on your description, it seems you've awakened a special physique. And considering the properties you mentioned, I believe this physique is far from simple. Moreover, I am almost certain that the phenomenon that shook the three regions last night was caused by the awakening of your physique."

Chun Xi's eyes widened in surprise. She had no idea of the magnitude of what had occurred outside her room.

Tang Wei sighed and calmly explained what had transpired: the abrupt disappearance of spiritual energy, the chaos it caused in the neighboring regions, and, of course, the celestial phenomenon of the five moons. Chun Xi was speechless. She never imagined that something so grand could be linked to her.

— "Physically speaking," — he continued, — "special physiques can be either innate or acquired. The innate ones are usually more powerful. Each physique grants unique talents, along with general abilities like faster cultivation speed, superior comprehension, and elemental affinity if it's an elemental physique. But nothing is perfect, my daughter. Every physique has its weaknesses."

Tang Wei paused, allowing Chun Xi to absorb the information.

— "For example," — he said solemnly, — "the Pure Yin Physique. Most who possess this physique are women, and it grants immense talent in charm arts, illusions, and notable affinity with water. However, such individuals are in extreme danger. Their physique can be exploited by others as a shortcut for dual cultivation or even as a means to steal cultivation."

The silence in the room was heavy with implication.

— "My daughter," — Tang Wei continued, his voice laden with concern, — "I fear that your physique is as rare and coveted as the Pure Yin Physique, but far more precious and powerful, given that I've never heard of a physique causing a phenomenon of this scale. Moreover, with yesterday's celestial event, the attention of many powerful forces has been drawn. If anyone suspects you, you will be in grave danger."

He closed his eyes for a moment, suppressing the sorrow growing in his heart. As a father, he knew that protecting Chun Xi would become an increasingly difficult challenge.

— "You will need to be extremely careful. Do not reveal your true nature to anyone, not even to those you trust. I will do everything within my power to protect you, but there are limits to what I can achieve."

Chun Xi felt the weight of her father's words. She knew he was right, but the responsibility resting on her shoulders felt overwhelming. Even so, a spark of determination lit in her eyes.

— "I understand, Father. I will do whatever it takes to protect myself and ensure our family remains safe."

Tang Wei looked at her, proud of her strength and maturity, but deeply worried about what the future might hold.

After that he turned his gaze to the Lunar Umbrella.