Authors Note: To all my readers I thank you for your constant support, comments, and votes on my story. You guys rock!!! Let me apologize for the update delay. I recently underwent surgery and I'm at home recuperating. Updates will come but it will be slow until I feel better. With that being said, here is the latest update on the story. Enjoy 😊

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Identity encompasses the memories, experiences, relationships, and values that create one's sense of self. This amalgamation creates a steady sense of who one is over time, even as new facets are developed and incorporated into one's identity. Authenticity is also a cornerstone of mental health. It's correlated with many aspects of psychological well-being, including vitality, self-esteem, and coping skills. Acting in accordance with one's core self—a trait called self-determination. Each being must prepare for death whenever it comes by cleansing the mind of impurities. Taking a step forward in this direction requires letting go of attachments to possessions and other people. It means accepting that nothing in life is permanent. Once a person does these things, they can be free from experiencing nonstop death and rebirth.

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Feng Jiu became fully aware of who she really was and what she needed to do in her ascension trial. "Laoshi"

"Yes Feng Jiu"

"Please stay close to Dong Hua, he will need you."

Mo Yan knew exactly what Feng Jiu asked of him. He didn't need to question her determination.

"I'm proud of you Feng Jiu."

Feng Jiu bowed to him. "Feng Jiu is grateful for laoshi's guidance." Mo Yan smiled at Feng Jiu.

Dong Hua was meditating in the other side of the island, near the Holy Blue Sea, he sensed a powerful essence coming near him. He opened his eyes and was surprised to see a little boy with silver hair in front of him. He looked up at Dong Hua and simply smiled at him.

"Who are you?"

The boy remained silent. He was observing Dong Hua.

"All right you have my attention. Is there a message that you need to deliver to me?" Dong Hua asked the little boy. The boy nodded to him and said: "The journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. If you want to find out about the road ahead, then ask about it from those coming back."

"What lies on the road ahead?" Dong Hua asked the little boy.

"You have asked the right question. However, I will ask of you: what did you get, that you took, and then it left you?"

Dong Hua eyes widen, he remembered this question asked to him when he went to Feng Jiu's core with her. He couldn't answer the little boy.

The little boy smiled at Dong Hua's expression. "I see that you remember. The answer lies in the patterns in time where your response will be clearly revealed. It is there that the one ripe pearl that is hidden will be given to you. It will be very difficult for you to go there but once you arrive everything will be okay again."

"Have we met before?"

The little boy nodded at Dong Hua.

"Where?"

"Soon". And with that the little boy disappeared in front of him giggling. Dong Hua sensed his powerful aura but was in disbelief. He kept this conversation to himself wondering about the little boy's identity.

Meanwhile Zhe Yan and Feng Jiu's mother were waiting for them to arrive at the mansion's entrance. Feng Jiu saw her mother and hugged her. "I love you mama." Feng Jiu inhaled her scent.

"And I love you Xiao Jiu." Feng Jiu's mother replied.

"I love you too fùqīn." She earnestly hugged Zhe Yan. Her mother and Mo Yan looked at each other surprised at Feng Jiu's gesture towards Zhe Yan.

"Sweetheart. I dearly love you. Are you all right?" Zhe Yan asked her.

"Yes, I am." Feng Jiu said.

"How come it feels like if you are saying goodbye to us?" Zhe Yan asked her.

"Nonsense, I'm just a bit emotional before my trial." She gave him a reassurance smile.

"Xiao Jiu, you can't fool this old phoenix. I know you are up to something." Zhe Yan mentally said eyeing his daughter carefully.

"Where is Dijun?" Feng Jiu asked.

"I'm right here Jiu'er." Dong Hua materialized in front of her. "Are you ready to go?"

She looked at Mo Yan and nodded to Dong Hua. "Yes, I am. Let us all go back to Qing Qui."

Dong Hua kissed his little fox forehead, then he wrapped everyone into his powerful aura and transported everyone back to Qing Qui.

As soon as Feng Jiu's feet touched Qing Qui's ground, the grotesque panorama changed. Zhe Yan, Mo Yan and Dong Hua sensed it. They all looked at Feng Jiu questionably. They all walked to the Fox Palace entrance where the Bai family was waiting on their return.

"Xiao Jiu granddaughter is good to see that you are back" the Fox empress said, she embraced Feng Jiu.

"Grandmother, Grandfather" Feng Jiu paid her respects to them.

"Come here kittling, we are all here for you, remember that" Bai Zhi smiled at Feng Jiu.

Bai Yi extended his hand to his wife to come to his side.  He simply smiled at Feng Jiu. "Xiao Jiu we are proud of you" He told her.  Feng Jiu smiled at him a gave him a small bow. Dong Hua was observing their interaction in silence. 

Bai Zhen went near Zhe Yan and scanned his aura. "Are you all right Zhe Yan, you seemed to be worried about something."

"I'm all right; no need to worry Bai Zhen" Zhe Yan told him.

When the Bai family saw Dong Hua coming nearby, they all bowed to him "Dijun, thank you for getting our queen back."

Dong Hua moved his hand to them, "Rise. As part of this family is my duty as Qing Qui Prince Consort to secure her majesty security. My wife is ready for her ascension trial. Mo Yan, Zhe Yan and myself will assist her in everything she needs." Dong Hua moved and took Feng Jiu's hand and smiled at her.

"I'll be here Jiu'er. Are you afraid?"

"I will not lie to you", she nodded to Dong Hua "but deep inside I know that I'm not alone."

"That's right little fox. Remember your training with Mo Yan, we all be here to take care of you. Our love is the greatest strength that will guide you to come back to me, use that force. I will be waiting for you my love." Dong Hua gave her a sweet kiss on her lips. With that he lifted a barrier encasing them inside.

"Jiu'er I'm proud of you." Feng Jiu looked at his eyes and could see sincerity and devotion radiating from them. She placed her hand on his face and simply smiled. "I love you Dong Hua"

"And I love you Jiu'er."

The sky turned the blackest black, thunder roaring and lighting was striking at their direction.

"Dong Hua please lift the barrier I have to go through this trial alone." Feng Jiu said to him.

Dong Hua hesitated but knew that she was right. He removed the protection barrier from them. Feng Jiu stepped away from Dong Hua and immediately was carried up to the sky. Her body was struck time after time by lightning. Dong Hua helplessly was watching his beloved little fox receive hit after hit. Feng Jiu courageously held on. Her family was proudly watching from the ground how their Xiao Jiu was ascending. They were all marveled at her bravery. She was hit 8 consecutive times. Suddenly the last hit was a massive lightning that struck Feng Jiu's body and made her disappear from everyone's sight. Dong Hua feared the worst and went to find her. But a strong force crashed him on ground preventing him to get up.

"JIU'ER, JIU'ER!!!!!" Dong Hua screamed her name repeatedly.

Mo Yan went to Dong Hua's aid; he was losing control of his emotions. "Brother calm down, remember that she is going thru a transformation after her ascension, she is alive, find her essence. Stabilize your chi."

Zhe Yan went to assist Mo Yan to help control Dong Hua, they were afraid that the environment will turn worst if Dong Hua's anger will build up. "Dong Hua we all knew that her trial is not a normal one, please calm yourself for the good of all realms. Don't bring unbalance into the universe." Zhe Yan admonished Dong Hua.

Dong Hua was absently looking where Feng Jiu was before she was struck by the last blast. He felt his heart sank. He closed his eyes to calm himself before bringing destruction to all realms. He was able to locate her essence and knew that she was alive. "Jiu'er if you are able to hear me please let me know where you are" he mentally tried to communicate with her.

Feng Jiu's battered body was concealed by an invisible force, she was being carried up higher above the storm clouds until she reached the clear skies. She faced the sun and slowly opened her eyes. A dimension portal opened and sucked her inside. She was drifting in space, a voice in her mind started to talk to her, more like guiding her thru another process.

"Feng Jiu, form is emptiness, emptiness is form. Form is not other than emptiness; emptiness is not other than form. The same is true with feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. Therefore, in emptiness there is neither form, nor feeling, nor perceptions. No mental formations, no consciousness. No eye, no ear, no nose, no tongue, no body, no mind. No form, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no objects of mind. No realms of elements from eyes to mind consciousness. No interdependent origins and no extinction of them. No ill-being, no cause of ill-being, no end of ill-being, and no path. No understanding, no attainment. Find no obstacles for your mind. Having no obstacles, overcome fear, liberating yourself forever from illusion and realizing perfect nirvana."

Feng Jiu's body was engulfed in purifying flames. All her energy awakened. She began to feel her body slowly transform. A beautiful fire phoenix began to fly in space. "This is you Feng Jiu. Your identity. You were born to bring balance to the universe with purity and fire. You were chosen to be your husband's equal. You are also the sweet fox that with her ancient powerful magic can purify the evil that exists throughout the universe. The fusion of these two spirit animals makes you a unique and powerful immortal. You have regenerative powers, and they are limitless. You have cultivated the most valued virtues like goodness, reliability, and kindness. Do not let this power distort your pureness of heart. Do not let your ego cloud your judgment. Learn to flow in both forms."

Feng Jiu was taken to a top of a high mountain. She woke up on the ground and felt vigorous. 

There was a beautiful house surrounded by a lotus pond. She felt compelled to enter the house for some reason. The scenario was serene and calm. There was a high bais seat in front of her. A woman appeared and greeted her "Welcome Feng Huang, please have a seat"

"Mrs. Wu?" Feng Jiu surprisingly asked.

The woman smiled at Feng Jiu. "My dear I've been waiting for you."

"How do you know that I was coming?" Feng Jiu asked her.

"Your chi is a bit unsettled. You need to remain calm to complete your ascension properly. Come here and have a seat near me."

Feng Jiu obediently sat in front of Mrs. Wu. "I take that your name is not Mrs. Wu."

The lady sweetly smiled at Feng Jiu; it gave her a sense of harmony. "My dear, I'm known with many names and have many forms, I chose this form because you feel comfortable around it. Don't be afraid, I'm not going to harm you."

"Why am I here?" Feng Jiu shyly asked.

"Don't be frighten. You are here to receive the metempsychosis seal that will help you on your next rebirth cycle. Please give me your right hand." Mrs. Wu opened a giant lotus flower and extracted a single drop of dew from it. She then placed it on Feng Jiu's hand. 

"This will guarantee that your saṃsāra will be unpainful and satisfactory. You have paid such a high price to be here Feng Huang your new life awaits you in the other side. You are precious and you can choose to keep your identity a secret or not. It will depend on you."

"My family doesn't know?"  Feng Jiu asked.

"No, they don't, only a few do. You need to learn these principles Feng Huang:

1. The world is impermanent. The body is a source of pain, ultimately empty. Life and Death is nothing but a series of transformations—hallucinatory, unreal, uncontrollable. The intellect is a wellspring of turpitude, the body a breeding ground of offenses. Being a phoenix, you will gradually break free of death and rebirth. Your seal will protect you.

2. Too much desire brings pain. Death and rebirth are wearisome ordeals, originating from our thoughts of greed and lust. By lessening desires, you will realize absolute truth and enjoy peace, freedom, and health in body and mind. Learn to establish this balance Feng Huang.

3. Your mind is never satisfied or content with just enough. The more you obtain, the more you want. Creating offenses and perform evil deeds. Instead, choose to be content. Nurture living a quiet life in humble surroundings—their sole occupation, cultivating wisdom.

4. Idleness and self-indulgence are the downfall of people. With unflagging vigor, even the great ones break through their afflictions and baseness. Learn to always do-good deeds to others.

5. Stupidity and ignorance are the cause of death and rebirth. Apply yourself and deeply appreciate study and erudition, constantly striving to expand wisdom and refine eloquence. Transform other living beings. Curve your inner desires that will harm your chi Feng Huang.

6. Suffering in poverty breeds deep resentment. Wealth unfairly distributed creates ill-will and conflict among people. Practice giving. Do not harbor grudges or despise amoral people regardless of who they are.

7. The five desires are a source of offenses and grief. Cultivate the path of righteousness with impeccable purity towards all creatures, continue to be kind and compassionate.

8. Like a blazing inferno, birth and death are plagued with suffering and affliction. Therefore, resolve to cultivate the Great Vehicle, to rescue all beings, to endure hardship on behalf of others, and to lead everyone to ultimate happiness.

Once awakened, you will even feel more energetically to continue to cultivate the path. Steeping in kindness and compassion and grow in wisdom. You will need this in the future to help achieve an important mission along with your husband. Engrave these awakening principles in your heart and mind Feng Huang and apply them daily. You will always be free of birth and death and will abide in eternal bliss."

"Right. I have a question to ask."

"Then do"

"How do I release my attachment to the pain that I have experienced in the past?"

"The past is just that, it's in the past. So it cannot be changed, altered, or removed no matter how hard we want it to. Past, present, or future events or situations will always be positive, negative, or neutral. As a situation is happening, depending on how you react and respond, can change it to any of the three outcomes (positive, negative, or neutral). To handle past events, there is only one thing that you can and should do to "remove" or release your pain from it – acceptance. Because there is nothing we can do about the past, there is no need to constantly dwell on it and wishing on the should have's and but's and if only's. The best you can do is meditate on the painful experience, accept it and accept that there will be no change in it, and move on. By dwelling on the past like that, you would be missing out on happy and peaceful moments in the present. Meditating on the situation and accepting it might take several sessions, but it will get easier to accept and let go. Change comes slowly, imperceptibly, like building a mountain out of grains of sand. It is not easy. We often become miserable because we have an unwillingness to engage wholeheartedly with life as it is happening now and experience its freedom and abundance no matter what our immediate circumstances. Another way of "using" personal suffering is to see it as a moment of empathy with others who are suffering. You my dear are not alone. Countless of beings suffer pain in their existence, find the most tender and fascinating aspect of living with these painful experiences, and learn, grow and move on."

"Thank you, Mrs. Wu, for your enlightenment. I will make sure to apply these principles daily and meditate upon them. Nevertheless, I'm a bit confused as to why my roots were hidden."

"My child, what you need to know is that it was for a powerful reason. You are loved and treasured by the Bai family as their own. Every event surrounded your birth was preordained. Your real father needed to propagate his nature into the world as being the only one left of his kind. Your true animal spirit is the phoenix; however, you were bound as a fox by birth. Your existence needed to be concealed for the time being until you were ready to discover your true potential. You are truly one of a kind. Both spirits flow in your being creating a harmonious essence governed by pure fire. Just remember that you are also your husband's equal in all areas. He needs you to be well balanced and steady. There is much to be done in the universe. You two will have to figure out how to achieve it. When the time comes you will know what to do. Don't doubt yourself or your capabilities. Don't keep your husband waiting, he's anxious to have you back. Remember our chat dear one, and give him what he wants" Mrs. Wu lifted her hand and sent Feng Jiu back to the portal she came in. Her body was floating down like a feather.

"Jiu'er, Jiu'er are you all right?" Dong Hua was mentally communicating with her. He saw her body coming down the sky and immediately caught her in midair. "Jiu'er my love please say something to me."

Feng Jiu slowly opened her eyes to see her beloved ethereal face, she was fixated in his beautiful features. Feng Jiu was staring him with her big doe eyes mesmerized. Dong Hua smiled at her "Is my lovely wife trying to seduce me right at this moment hmm?" Dong Hua playfully asked her.

Feng Jiu sweetly smiled at him. "Your boldness has no limits little fox; I see that you want to play." He scoffed. "We will have plenty of time for that, come I need you to rest." They descended from they were at. Dong Hua carried her to their chambers to recuperate. Zhe Yan and Mo Yan followed them.

"Jiu'er be good and rest for a while. Zhe Yan has prepared some powerful elixirs for you to recuperate." Feng Jiu nodded and closed her eyes. Dong Hua placed a sleeping enhancement on her and a healing barrier to restore her health.

"How is she?" Zhe Yan asked.

Dong Hua stared at her and calmly said "She is more than fine, she has transformed." Dong Hua looked at Zhe Yan, he understood the predicament. Mo Yan remained silent. "Is up to her now Zhe Yan." Dong Hua said.

The Bai family were waiting outside the door. Dong Hua saw their anxious faces and signaled them to come in.

"How is our Xiao Jiu?" Bai Zhi asked.

"Her trial was successful, she has ascended. She needs to rest and recuperate." Dong Hua expressionlessly said.

"We will start on the banquet preparations. Let us know when she is awake so we can ready her." The Fox Empress happily said. Dong Hua nodded. And with that the Bai family retired from their chambers. Bai Zhen curiously eyed Zhe Yan. He followed.

"Is there something you want to discuss?" Zhe Yan asked Bai Zhen.

"I guess I have the same question to you Zhe Yan. Are you sure that our Xiao Jiu is fine?" Bai Zhen was suspicious that something was off.

"She is. Don't you worry. Come help me prepare her medicine." Zhe Yan told him.

Mo Yan stayed with Dong Hua. "Let me scan your health, brother. You received a powerful hit."

"I'm all right Mo Yan."

"Old habits die hard. Let me do it anyways for my peace of mind." Dong Hua allowed him to do so and Mo Yan found that his health was optimum.

"There is no need to remind you Mo Yan that your discretion will be required." Dong Hua seriously stared at Mo Yan.

"My lips are sealed. Let me know if you will need my assistance in this matter in the future. Send me a missive to Kun Lun as you always do."

"Hmm" Dong Hua nodded to Mo Yan and he left their chambers.

Dong Hua simply admired his beloved wife resting body next to him.  "My little fox is not so little any more."  He shrugged.