### Chapter Thirty-Five: The Transformation of Wings

According to the Priestess’s constant observations, she has come to some conclusions.

There are many ways for beings in this world to grow stronger, yet very few of them.

The most efficient way is, of course, through intense battles that sharpen oneself, increase attributes, and corresponding levels. The stronger the enemies defeated, the more enhancements gained in battle.

Just like Liliya, who quickly climbed to a considerable level and learned more skills by defeating numerous beastman warriors at a low level, thanks to the extra attributes granted by the [Ascendance Box]. That’s the strongest proof.

Of course, this is just a general overview. More specific details, like how simple finishing blows seem to yield no improvement, or how sometimes one might not grow stronger even after battle… such perplexing but real situations cannot really be explained by a gaming-like theory of [experience points].

If one must say, perhaps this embodies a certain manifestation of the world’s laws.

But life-and-death battles are no child’s play. Most of the time, reality does not support living beings with only one life engaging frequently in such deadly games. Because of this, most people choose less efficient but safer methods.

Warriors hone their bodies, mages meditate for will, and priests pray to the gods. Though seemingly different, they are fundamentally similar actions. Even the supposedly cost-free faith-based magic requires constant sincere prayers to the Light Goddess to become stronger.

This is the process called “accumulation.”

However, there exists a type of being that has mastered a completely different shortcut.

Their power is not confined to the individual; rather, it is concentrated, refined, and sublimated through their bloodline. The tribesmen draw strength and wisdom from ancient inherited bloodlines, and upon becoming stronger, they purify and nurture the bloodline in return, forming a cycle.

To walk this path, one must meet certain conditions, one of which is to have an ancestor who has already transcended the ordinary world, capable of passing on their power through the bloodline. After that, the descendants inheriting this bloodline become extraordinary individuals walking amongst mortals yet possessing extraordinary power.

Such exceptional beings are called [Mythical Species].

At this moment, Leila, a descendant of angels, must draw that extraordinary power from her bloodline to break through the barrier known as [Transcendence].

“Whoosh—whoosh—”

The vigorous wind swirled around the cramped carriage.

Including Vilyric, the other three girls still in the carriage did their utmost to remain silent, afraid to make noise and disturb Leila as she focused her mind.

White halos spread out like rippling water waves, continuously sweeping around as if they had substance. If it weren’t for the barrier Vilyric had set up in advance to block it, it might have long rushed out into the world, becoming common knowledge.

Raising her hands, Vilyric pulled the relatively weaker Tilysha behind her to prevent her from being harmed by the overflowing bloodline aura. As Vilyric’s gaze focused, she noticed Leila’s small white feathers by her ears gradually retracting within the halo.

Although a bit unclear, Leila’s aura remained stable; even Renée, the fellow Winged Person, did not show any signs of discomfort, so the Priestess refrained from intervening.

“Ah…”

Until the second pair of ear feathers completely disappeared, Renée, who had been staying beside her sister, suddenly seemed to sense something and quickly distanced herself. The next moment,

“Crack—crack—crack…”

Accompanied by some tooth-grinding sounds of bones and muscles writhing, a brand new pair of snow-white wings, equal in size to the wings on Leila’s back, burst through her clothing and began to unfurl!

“Boom!”

The white light swirling wildly in the carriage suddenly froze, and then, just like the sea taking all into its embrace, it surged toward the smooth center of Leila’s forehead along with the golden patterns spreading across her body, converging into an exceptionally magnificent golden divine pattern.

“Hmm…? What is this…?”

Staring at the pattern on Leila’s forehead for a moment, the girl wearing the white fox mask couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise and slight bewilderment.

The pattern appearing on the creature’s forehead is a mark representing their inherited bloodline source. Generally speaking, only those of basic Mythical Species or above can possess such symbols.

Of course, certain blessed followers of gods or extremely powerful beings might also display similar traces under specific conditions, exemplified by Tilysha in relation to the Life Goddess, and Hilde Kurk, who was forcibly transformed into an angel by the Withering Goddess, one of the [Four Wings] from the Kingdom of Azure.

Leila is a member of the Winged People from the Kingdom of Azure. Even if she traces her lineage back, her bloodline should originate from the Archangel Minerva under the Earth Mother Goddess Xi Fu. But if Vilyric remembers correctly, the shadow of Minerva appearing in the Temple of Sky had a pattern on its forehead that resembled two intertwined branches, one blue and one gray, corresponding to the two powers of the Earth Mother Goddess Xi Fu that she serves.

Moreover, Minerva’s six wings grow from her back, ears, and head separately. Adding the holy pattern representing inheritance, Leila’s current form already shows very clear differences from hers, which… oddly resembles the evolved form of the Priestess’s own [Divine Wings]. What could this mean?

Thinking of this, Vilyric carefully observed the splendid pattern that seemed to be breathing, radiating patterns of light rhythmically.

This design is a bit strange; to be honest, it’s hard for the Priestess to find anything from the known world that perfectly fits its image.

It looks like a luminous golden sphere, yet it is clearly neither the sun nor the moon. On the left side, three small white wings grow, while on the right, an equivalent number appears as colorless wings, giving off a certain sense of void, an eerie emptiness.

Describing it, it looks very much like an “egg” with six wings.

Though it appears strange, for some reason, this image gives Vilyric a faint sense of familiarity, as if she has seen something similar somewhere before, yet it seems different at the same time.

“Whoosh…”

As she pondered, the swirling aura in the carriage gradually calmed down with Leila’s advancement completed. The white-haired girl with four wings opened her eyes, and her azure gaze turned into a light golden beauty, with a sharp and powerful aura flashing in the air like a streak of golden lightning, only to quickly retract.

“Uh, sister…?”

Looking at the white-winged girl, whose appearance remained unchanged, yet some details, particularly her aura, seemed to undergo a tremendous transformation, Renée quickly leaned forward and called out anxiously and worryingly.

Seeing her little sister’s cautious demeanor, Leila could only helplessly yet fondly ruffle her head, chuckling.

“What’s wrong? I’m advancing, not mutating. You, of all people, who slack off every day, are finally showing concern and fear now?”

“Ahhahahaha…”

Hearing the white-winged girl’s tone, which was just like usual, the tension Renée felt due to the changes finally eased, and she quickly wore a somewhat awkward smile, emphasizing, “Don’t get too cocky! I’ll catch up soon!”

“Alright, alright, just be sure not to rely on empty words.”

After calmly soothing her little sister, the girl with four wings also turned her gaze toward the quietly observing Miss White Fox beside her, a warm and friendly smile appearing on her face with added traces of holiness.

“Miss Xī, I kept my promise; I did it.”

   

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