Chapter 47: A Glimpse of the Phoenix

  Meanwhile, Tang Mingli stood at the end of the hallway, in his room, staring at the flickering candlelight on the table. A lingering doubt weighed heavily on his mind.

  He touched the pouch at his waist, pulling out a finely carved small statue. It was an eagle, wings spread wide as if about to take flight. Its head was tilted upward, and its feathers were intricately detailed. Two small red rubies were embedded in the eye sockets.

  Pcing the statue in the palm of his hand, he recited a chant, tapping the eagle's head with his right index finger.

  "Hum!" The eagle statue's eyes suddenly glowed, emitting two red beams that struck the wall. The wall immediately became transparent, like a mirror, revealing the scene inside the opposite room where Sanbao sat.

  Through this silent "eagle-eye wall," Tang Mingli saw Sanbao sitting cross-legged on her bed. Her hands hovered over a glowing book, her eyes closed in what seemed like meditation.

  That glowing book... Could it be the "all-purpose miscelneous book" she had mentioned? Tang Mingli thought. He tapped the eagle's head again, trying to magnify the view in Sanbao's room, hoping to see more clearly what book she was reading.

  Just then, he noticed that the door to Sanbao's room wasn’t fully closed. A pair of bck eyes was peeking through the crack in the door. He quickly adjusted the eagle-eye’s angle to focus on the door.

  The door slowly became transparent, and Tang Mingli could see more clearly now.

  Outside the door, Wu Yuyu was slumped against the doorframe, her head drooping as if she had fallen asleep. But beside her, Xiao Lan was pressing her face against the door, her eyes staring straight into Sanbao’s meditative form!

  "There's definitely something off," Tang Mingli thought. "Xiao Lan, what are you up to? Is she a traitor?" He decided to find an opportunity to warn Sanbao.

  At that moment, Sanbao suddenly opened her eyes!

  Though her gaze didn’t meet the mirror-wall, it seemed as though she had sensed something.

  Tang Mingli was startled, quickly returning the eagle statue to its pouch.

  Half an hour ter, there was a light knock on his door.

  "Lord Tang," came Xiao Lan's voice, "Our young dy requests your presence."

  Tang Mingli straightened his clothes and stepped out, but he was already on alert. He followed Xiao Lan to Sanbao's door. Wu Yuyu was standing guard at the door, completely focused. Seeing her, Tang Mingli couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

  Tang Mingli pushed open the door and entered Sanbao’s room. He gnced at her, but his gaze immediately locked onto her, unable to look away.

  Sanbao had changed into a soft, vender Taoist robe. The fabric was light and flowing, swaying gently with her every movement.

  Today, she hadn’t tied her hair up. Her long bck hair fell naturally around her shoulders, with a few strands gently swaying, adding an ethereal quality to her presence.

  The robe was perfectly tailored, accentuating her slim waist and long legs. It neither constricted her nor overemphasized her figure, instead highlighting her natural curves. Her shoulders were delicate, and her waist slim, each movement creating a subtle beauty. Every slight motion of hers seemed to stir the air, carrying a quiet, dignified grace.

  At this moment, thanks to her cultivation, Sanbao's appearance had become even more otherworldly, radiating an aura that was both distant and captivating. She seemed as if she had descended from the clouds, with a beauty and mystery that ordinary people could not reach.

  Her gaze was deeper than before, as if she could see through everything. Her beauty was no longer just about external appearance, but about the aura that emanated from her soul, compelling others to take notice.

  Tang Mingli’s gaze was involuntarily drawn to her, reluctant to look away. He suddenly realized that Sanbao was no longer the frail and naive girl he had met before, drenched in blood. She had quietly transformed into a calm, decisive, and composed powerhouse.

  What shocked Tang Mingli even more was the powerful pressure emanating from Sanbao. Her spiritual energy was so overwhelming that it seemed to make the air in the room heavy. The oppressive feeling made him instinctively feel a sense of reverence. Sanbao was now a true powerhouse with real strength.

  Tang Mingli’s heartbeat quickened, and he couldn’t help but ask, "You... have broken through?"

  Sanbao smiled faintly, "Mm, I made a small adjustment to my cultivation. I should be just right to handle tonight's situation."

  "In just over half an hour, you've broken through three major stages, and I didn’t feel any fluctuation in your spiritual energy?" Tang Mingli asked with a complex expression, "How did you do it?"

  "This is my little secret." Sanbao smiled, gently petting the cat that had jumped onto the table, her eyes holding a trace of mischief.