Soon, Ye Yunfei walked into Xue'er's room.
A chill washed over him as he stepped in.
He saw a white cocoon suspended in the middle of the room, gently vibrating. Powerful surges of energy emanated from it in ripples.
“Young Master Ye, look…” Elder Tang Wu glanced at Ye Yunfei.
“Xue’er is about to break free from her cocoon,” Ye Yunfei said after a brief observation.
“That’s wonderful!” Elder Tang Wu said excitedly.
After a short while...
*Rumble…*
The white cocoon began to tremble violently.
Swirling currents of violent energy, like hurricane winds, surged forth from it in grand waves. Dimly visible within the cocoon was a dazzling, shimmering figure radiating dazzling light.
“Xue’er is coming out!” Ye Yunfei exclaimed softly.
*Boom… Boom…*
The energy fluctuations from the cocoon grew increasingly ferocious.
A moment later.
*Crack… Crack…*
A series of crisp sounds, like cracking eggshells, rang out continuously. Cracks began appearing on the surface of the white cocoon.
The cracks grew larger and larger.
“The Snow Princess is indeed emerging!” Elder Tang Wu became even more excited.
Xue'er was the princess of the Tang Clan, the spiritual heart of all its surviving members, for her father had once been the Patriarch!
*Crack… Crack…*
The crisp sounds inside the room grew denser. The cracks on the white cocoon multiplied!
Finally.
*BOOM!*
With a tremendous explosion, the white cocoon shattered! A graceful figure, her entire body emanating blinding white radiance, hovered in its place.
It was a young maiden dressed in white, with skin like crystalline jade, long silken hair cascading like a waterfall, eyes limpid as autumn waters, and lips that gleamed with a fresh, luscious crimson.
This maiden in white appeared about fifteen or sixteen years old—a classic beauty!
However, the delicate face with its closed eyes still exuded an air of innocence and naivety.
“Young Master Ye, is she…” Staring at the beautiful girl, Elder Tang Wu was completely dumbfounded.
“This is Xue'er,” Ye Yunfei said. “Her physical growth had been halted since the incident when she was a child, keeping her body in the state of an eight or nine-year-old. Thankfully, by consuming many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures and medicinal pills over the years, she maintained her life for several hundred years. Not long ago, I helped heal her body thoroughly. Now, after undergoing this process akin to a silkworm's transformative shedding, her body has returned to its proper growth state.”
“That’s excellent!” Elder Tang Wu was extremely pleased.
“Initial-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm! How is this possible! Princess Xue's accident happened when she was nine, and her cultivation was only at the Late-stage True Manifestation Realm then. Now she's at the Initial-stage Minor Mystic Pill Realm!” Suddenly, Elder Tang Wu cried out involuntarily, his face etched with disbelief.
“Xue'er possesses a rare physique called the Heavenly Cold Body,” Ye Yunfei explained with a smile. “The cultivation art I imparted to her is perfectly suited to her physique. That's why she was able to leap across three major realms in one go. It's not strange at all. With her physique and talent, if the accident hadn't occurred all those years ago, she would have been a Primordial Soul Realm expert at the very least by now. The Minor Mystic Pill Realm is nothing special for her.”
“So that's why!” Elder Tang Wu was thrilled.
“Big Brother Ye, Elder Wu… is that you?”
At this moment, Xue'er slowly opened her eyes. The moment she saw Ye Yunfei and Elder Tang Wu, she cried out in pleasant surprise.
“Princess Xue! You've grown taller, more beautiful, and you can cultivate now!” Elder Tang Wu said excitedly.
As he spoke, Elder Tang Wu waved his hand, conjuring a clear crystal mirror which floated in front of Xue'er.
“Is that so? I… Ah… Is this me?!”
Hearing Elder Wu's words, Xue'er seemed puzzled at first. Then her eyes fell upon her own reflection in the mirror, and she instantly let out a shriek.
“Princess Xue, no need for alarm! Look how lovely you are now!” Elder Wu quickly assured her.
“I…”
Xue'er stared intently at the mirror, beginning to examine herself closely.
Gazing at the beautiful, graceful young lady in the mirror, a whirlwind of emotions flickered across her face. Shock and disbelief came first, followed by pleasant surprise, excitement, and a touch of shyness. Then came joyous tears. Large, crystal drops fell unceasingly from her long lashes.
“Princess Xue…” Seeing this, Elder Tang Wu grew somewhat flustered.
“Elder Wu, don't disturb her!” Ye Yunfei quickly motioned for him to stop.
“Xue'er's body has recovered, her cultivation has advanced, and now, seeing her new appearance, her Soul Body and consciousness are undergoing a change. Her psychological state is shifting from that of a nine-year-old girl to that of a proper young lady. Let her adjust to it gradually on her own. We shouldn't interrupt,” Ye Yunfei sent via sound transmission to Elder Tang Wu.
“Oh, I see,” Elder Tang Wu replied, his worry subsiding.
Xue'er remained fixed on her reflection, her emotions gradually calming.
About half an incense stick's time later.
“Young Master Ye, thank you. If not for you, I would still be an eight or nine-year-old child.”
She finally turned gracefully and gave a slight bow to Ye Yunfei, poised and dignified, subtly carrying the air of a noble family's cultivated young lady.
“Please, there's no need,” Ye Yunfei responded quickly, feeling a little unaccustomed to this new formality. Just a moment ago, she'd been calling him 'Big Brother Ye', and now it was 'Young Master Ye'.
“Elder Wu, you've worked hard all these years. If not for you managing affairs, our Tang Clan might have truly perished.”
Xue'er then spoke to Elder Tang Wu.
“Hehe, Princess Xue, you flatter me. This is wonderful! Princess Xue, you've finally returned to normal! Now you resemble a proper young lady! The Heavens truly have eyes!”
Elder Tang Wu looked at the poised, graceful, and dignified Xue'er, overcome with emotion and cheering repeatedly.
This version of Xue'er truly resembled the Tang Clan princess he remembered!
“Xue'er, these are the medicinal pills I prepared for you. They'll aid your cultivation. As for the Heavenly Silkworm Cold Art I transmitted to you, you've only mastered the First Transformation so far. There are still seventeen more to go. Devote yourself seriously to your cultivation. Each of the Heavenly Silkworm Eighteen Transformations will bring about a qualitative leap in your power.”
Ye Yunfei handed Xue'er a jade vial.
“Thank you, Young Master Ye,” Xue'er said, accepting the vial.
“You don't need to stand on ceremony with me.”
Ye Yunfei felt somewhat helpless; Xue'er was being far too polite now. However, she had just transitioned from being a child to a graceful young lady. Perhaps she herself hadn't fully adapted yet.
“Young Master Ye… do you think… my elder brother is still alive?”
Xue'er suddenly asked, looking at Ye Yunfei with hopeful eyes.
“That… I don't know. However, there is no sign indicating that your brother has perished. Therefore, it is possible he is still alive.”
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before replying.
“I will definitely find my brother,” Xue'er murmured softly, her eyes slightly reddening.
“She… she is Princess Xue?”
When Elder Tang Wu brought Xue'er before the rest of the Tang Clan members, each and every one of them stared dumbfounded at Xue'er, completely unable to believe that this beautiful young lady before them was Xue'er!
The transformation was just too immense!