C2 The Big Bird Under the Abyss Bridge

Hu Nao was causing a ruckus in Spring Lake, railing against the sky, releasing the fury within him. Out of nowhere, the water shimmered with a brilliant golden light, dazzling to the eye. This would have startled anyone else, but Hu Nao, who had grown up around Spring Lake, was unfazed and even a bit curious. "What's happening? Could it be the spirit tool my dad placed at the bottom of the lake?"

With that thought, he plunged into the water and swam down to the bottom, determined to uncover the truth. Spring Lake wasn't particularly large or deep, so he quickly reached the bottom and spotted the dark gold feather.

The feather, about a foot long, had a subdued color and exuded a sense of simplicity. It radiated a scintillating golden light, strikingly beautiful. It was modest yet carried an air of arrogance, simple but with an unmistakable edge.

"The closer I get to this feather, the warmer the water becomes. This must be the spirit tool meant to regulate the water's temperature. It doesn't seem like a spirit tool, though; it's more like a feather from a fire-attribute spirit animal... No, this won't do; the water's too hot. I need to get out of here."

Hu Nao wiped his eyes and noticed the back of his hand was scorched red, nearly boiled. Feeling dizzy, he decided to make a quick exit. Unexpectedly, the dark gold feather burst forth from the lakebed's silt and shot directly at him.

"Damn it, what's your problem?!"

Hu Nao tried to evade, but the dark gold feather was too swift. He barely moved when it struck him in the lower abdomen and penetrated his body.

He felt a swelling in his abdomen, followed by an intense, unparalleled heat, as if a red-hot pair of tongs had been thrust inside him. The searing sensation spread rapidly throughout his body, into every limb and the depths of his flesh.

In a flash, every pore on Hu Nao's body felt ablaze, causing unbearable pain, and his soul shuddered in the fiery torment. He was gasping for breath.

"Ahhh, I'm being burned alive! No, I can't die; I absolutely must not die!"

"If I die, my wife will belong to someone else!"

Hu Nao fought to endure, concentrating on the image of his fiancée, Pei Zhiyuan's face, to find the strength to keep his mind alert and prevent himself from passing out.

Was it that he overestimated his own endurance, or underestimated the scorching heat of the dark gold feather? Either way, the searing pain soon scattered his consciousness.

In the depths of his mind, he envisioned a vast expanse of water. The water was a mournful shade of blood-red, with countless skeletons floating on its surface. Eerie green flames flickered among the bones, creating a scene of unspeakable horror.

A towering, spectacular mountain rose from the depths of the waters.

As Hu Nao's consciousness perceived the mountain, his perspective shifted dramatically. Initially, he was looking at the mountain; now, it seemed as if he had become the mountain, observing the place where he had just been.

"How is this possible?"

Confused, Hu Nao was taken aback.

Even more astonishing to him was that, just as he noticed the shift in perspective, he heard a series of agonizing wails. Then, he saw white figures plummeting from beside him (the mountain) into the blood-red waters below.

The blood-red water appeared highly corrosive, reducing the white figures to bare bones in an instant, without a single bubble escaping.

"What's happening?"

Hu Nao quickly looked up and saw a massive bridge suspended in the void above. He could just make out the intricate carvings of skulls and flashing runes on the underside of the bridge.

"Holy shit! I get it now! Those white figures are spirits, the blood-red water below is the River of Forgetfulness, and the bridge above is the Abyss Bridge. Have I actually become a mountain beneath the Abyss Bridge?"

What lay before him seemed indistinguishable from the fabled underworld.

At this realization, Hu Nao burst out cursing, "Damn it, cruel fate, I don't want to die! What will happen to Zhiyuan if I'm gone? She hasn't even married me yet! For Zhiyuan's sake, I've remained pure... Wait, hold on, am I not actually dead?"

Mid-curse, Hu Nao suddenly felt his heart pounding vigorously, a clear sign that he was very much alive.

But how could a mountain have a heartbeat?

It was utterly bizarre!

Even more peculiar was the sensation he felt when he struggled; it was as if there were two wings gently fluttering on his back. His current weakness prevented him from moving, but the sensation was unmistakable.

The moment he stirred, the countless skeleton patterns beneath the Abyss Bridge burst into a dazzling radiance.

Hu Nao was immediately wracked with piercing pain throughout his body, leaving him weak and limp.

Beams of light cascaded down, shimmering upon the blood-red River of Forgetfulness.

The river was like a mirror.

In that reflective surface, Hu Nao finally saw his own reflection.

He had transformed into a massive bird, as large as a mountain, with dark gold feathers, and was pinned beneath the Abyss Bridge!

"Damn it, how could you do this to me, God? I could accept dying young, but why turn me into a bird?"

No sooner had he finished his tirade than an exclamation rang out beside him, "Doctor Chang, Naonao has awakened! He's awake!"

Hu Nao quickly opened his eyes to find himself lying in bed, not adrift on the River of Forgetfulness.

An unparalleled joy welled up inside him. Fearing it was all an illusion, he hurriedly rubbed his eyes. To his relief, he truly had returned to the living world, lying in his own bed, surrounded by the comfort of familiarity. Overwhelmed with emotion, he patted his chest and whispered to himself, "I'm not dead, I'm not dead..."

"Naonao, what nonsense are you spouting? Did you have a nightmare?" Hu Bugui asked, patting Hu Nao's shoulder reassuringly.

Beside them stood an elderly man in green robes, his white hair and benevolent expression radiating kindness. He chuckled, "I said before, Young Master Hu merely had a momentary drowning scare, nothing serious. Now that he's awake, I shall take my leave."

"Naonao, you rest up. I'll escort Doctor Chang out," Hu Bugui said, walking the old man out of the room.

Meanwhile, Hu Nao was lost in thought, replaying the surreal events that had just unfolded.

The River of Forgetfulness, the Abyss Bridge, the stark white bones...

And the immense bird with dark gold feathers, tragically crushed beneath the Abyss Bridge.

I found myself with the perspective of a large bird, as if there was another version of myself.

Everything felt incredibly real and detailed.

"Could this all be just a nightmare?" Hu Nao wondered, his face a picture of bewilderment as he stretched lazily.

Yet, as he stretched, he felt an overwhelming strength coursing through his body, surging like a mighty river, unceasing. This was a stark contrast to his formerly frail condition—it was like night and day.

"Have I really become so much stronger?"

Overcome with excitement, Hu Nao leapt from his bed with a whoosh. But he used so much force that he shot up to the ceiling and nearly punched a hole through it.

"I've broken through! I've definitely broken through!" he exclaimed with joy.

Reaching the Fifth Heaven of Body Tempering was a milestone. Once achieved, one could rejuvenate their muscles and marrow, becoming as light as a swallow.

And that was exactly how he felt at that moment.

Trying to contain his excitement, Hu Nao hurried to the courtyard to practice his family's martial art—the Sky-Splitting Palm.

He was eager to assess his physical condition and determine whether he had indeed grown stronger.

Hu Nao had been practicing the Sky-Splitting Palm since childhood, mastering every move. Yet previously, due to his weak constitution, he couldn't unleash its full potential. But now, with just a single gesture, he created a whooshing sound as the air around him whistled.

"Wow, am I really this powerful now?"

Hu Nao began to train with renewed vigor. Each movement was executed with fierce precision, swift and agile like a dragon. He went through the entire palm technique without a pause, discovering that he wasn't the least bit tired—his stamina seemed boundless.

"In the past, I could barely make it halfway through before my body would ache and my head would throb. If I pushed any further, I'd pass out. But this time, not only has the power of my moves increased, but so has my endurance. It looks like my body has truly become stronger."

Filled with joy, Hu Nao continued his training, each palm strike resonating with a powerful force that made the air crackle.

As he reached the climax of his practice, all his strength converged into his palms, becoming incredibly focused and sharp.

Suddenly, with a whoosh, a wave of air burst forth from his palms, sharp as a sword, striking a large tree over ten steps away. The tree was cleanly bisected, crashing to the ground with a resounding thud, leaving behind only a neatly cut stump.

"Sky-Splitting Palm has reached the Large Success Stage, allowing me to break through the air and injure enemies from a distance. Have I truly mastered the Sky-Splitting Palm to such a degree?" Hu Nao stared at his palm, bewildered, struggling to grasp the reality of the moment.

Not long ago, he was a frail child, wounded from birth and deficient in innate talent. His martial arts cultivation had been stagnant at the Fourth Heaven of the Body Tempering Realm, with no progress in sight.

Yet, by a stroke of fortune, he had delved into the depths of Spring Lake and encountered the dark gold feather. The feather had seared his consciousness, leading him on a hazy journey to the Netherworld. There, he witnessed the mythical River of Forgetfulness, Abyss Bridge, and a great bird crushed beneath the bridge...

Following this transformative experience, he emerged stronger, leaving behind his previous weakness. He had not only advanced to the Fifth Heaven of the Body Tempering Realm but had also perfected the Sky-Splitting Palm.

"The dark gold feather from the lake's bottom must be the key. The Snowlands of the Northlands are a realm of bitter cold, with year-round snowfall and a frigid climate, where water elsewhere remains perpetually frozen. Yet that feather kept Spring Lake warm as spring for over a decade, clearly harboring immense fire energy. Now that the feather has merged with my body, it has infused me with all its fire energy. This energy has refined my flesh and blood, purified my sinews and marrow, and facilitated my rebirth."

Hu Nao mused to himself, torn between amusement and disbelief. While others improved through rigorous training and body refinement, he had absorbed an abundance of fire energy, undergoing a profound transformation from within...

Lost in thought, he suddenly noticed that Spring Lake, which had always been shrouded in warm mist, was beginning to ice over, and the surrounding temperature had significantly decreased.

It looks like my hunch was spot on—the dark gold feather has penetrated my body and ceased to provide warmth, causing the waters of Spring Lake to begin freezing over. But what in the world is this dark gold feather? It's truly miraculous.

Hu Nao felt a sense of bewilderment, yet his predominant emotion was one of unparalleled joy. Regardless of anything else, he was no longer frail!

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