The rest of the evolution went without any issue.

Bai Jingshen's timely intervention before Qing Tianchui's blood core could fail had allowed things to progress with no further issue. As Pearl's pain lessened, his expression changed as well.

He could finally be relieved.

Seeing Pearl's relief caused the rest to sigh as well.

Alex hadn't even realized that a lump had formed in his chest that was finally lifted. He turned toward Qing Tianchui's soul-like form, which now looked much weaker than before.

Just as Bai Jingshen had said, he wouldn't last very long. But it was more or less obvious that he would at least last until the end. Alex then turned toward Bai Jingshen, acting on his curious thoughts.

"If we had known things could've been so much simpler, we could've just used your earring from the start. You should have told us it was an option."

"I never knew it was," Bai Jingshen said. "My earring was meant to use the remaining vestiges of spiritual energy inside of a corpse or a beast core. It was never meant for things like this. To be perfectly honest, it was a gamble on my end. I wasn't even sure if it would work."

Alex blinked for a few seconds before eventually nodding. "I see."

"It's also meant to only work on beings that have died recently. Even if I had used it on his actual beast core, it would've never worked. That was why I could never use it on Pearl's mother either. So I can say without any hesitation that I was just as surprised as you are that it worked."

Alex listened to his words, taking a moment to think. "The Sunheart," he said in the end. "That was likely the reason it worked."

Bai Jingshen thought about it and nodded as well. "Probably."

They waited as the gap between Pearl's body and soul grew closer and closer, and finally, after a very long day of ups and downs, it became one.

Pearl slowly opened his eyes, his body feeling different from before. He looked at everyone, his eyes now a strange shade of green rather than the normal golden color.

There weren't many visible physiological changes to his body, which was likely for the best since no one in the group wanted to let the others know that Pearl had gained Azure Dragon's bloodline. Considering what he had absorbed, his bloodline would have to be stronger than his father's too.

Pearl stood up, feeling slightly awkward to stand. He needed to test his body entirely, but for now, there was something else that took precedence.

Pearl moved toward his father, who was very clearly dying.

Qing Tianchui had lost most of his powers now and weakened to a point where his soul was pretty much transparent. He faded in and out of existence, his death now moments away.

"Father, you shouldn't have pushed yourself like this," Pearl said in a worried tone.

"Son…" his father spoke in a weak voice, his eyes barely focused on Pearl. "Did you… do it?"

"I did, Father. I succeeded. I'm an Azure Dragon now. Just like you."

Qing Tianchui smiled. "I wanted nothing more."

Pearl turned around. "Brother, what's happening to him? Can you make a pill for him?"

Alex shook his head with a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry, Pearl. But there is nothing that can be done."

"Grandfather, you can do something, right?" Pearl asked, turning toward Bai Jingshen next.

Bai Jingshen firmly shook his head as well. "His false soul is beyond repair. You have moments, Pearl. The more he speaks, the more his energy is sapped. Talk to him. Make your words count."

Tears filled Pearl's eyes and dripped down the side. "Father, I'm sorry. Because of me, you—"

"Never blame yourself for what I did," Qing Tianchui said in a weak voice. "I did what I did because I wanted to. Because it would help my son."

Pearl took in a deep breath and nodded. "It helped tremendously, Father. Thank you."

Qing Tianchui placed his nearly vanished limb on Pearl's shoulder, his forehead coming close to rest on Pearl's. "I will soon be gone now, once again leaving you. But this time, I am happy to know that you won't be alone. You have friends, families that will take care of you. Your mother and I sacrificed ourselves so you could survive, Pearl, and I am happy to see that you're doing more than just that."

"You did not only survive. You lived. That makes all of our sacrifices worth it."

"Father," Pearl spoke in a whimpering voice.

"Now, now. Don't cry. This is a happy occasion. You evolved," Qing Tianchui said. "As for me, I was happy I got to spend time with you again. I do not have my memories, but I know the feeling I get from those absent times."

"And I can tell you without a lie that I have never been happier in the millennia when I was alive than when I was with you. Getting to spend those two years with you, so long after my death, was more than I could've ever asked for. I can't imagine another father so lucky."

Qing Tianchui's arms disappeared, and then his legs.

"Ah, it's time," he said, realizing that he didn't have long. "Your mother is waiting for me, so I will be going on ahead. She'll be angry I've made her wait for so long."

His body vanished, leaving only his head.

"We will be reunited again one day in the afterlife, but promise me that you won't come for a very, very long time."

Pearl sniffled. "I promise, Father. I will live for a long time."

He waited for a moment and added. "Goodbye."

Qing Tianchui smiled, his head slowly losing shape and light as even that faded away into nothingness. Before he was fully gone, he said one final thing for his son to hear. For the world to hear.

"Always remember that we love you, son. And we're proud of who you've become."

Qing Tianchui died a second time. Only this time, he had no regrets in death.

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