Chapter Thirteen
Dong dong dong... The immortal attendant struck the ancient bell on the stone steps. Accompanied by the bell's chime, Celestial Emperor Feng Ran and the Elders of the Phoenix Clan stepped forth from the inner island upon clouds, descending together onto the high platform of the square. Over the years, the Celestial Emperor had accumulated immense authority, prompting the assembled immortals to rise hurriedly in greeting. They only resumed their seats after the Celestial Emperor had taken his place.
As the bell's echoes faded, lingering for thousands of miles, the immortals quietly awaited the Celestial Emperor's signal to commence the banquet. Instead, they saw him lift his gaze toward the east.
At that very moment, the thunderous sound of galloping horses echoed from the distant sky. Startled, the immortals looked up to see a sea of fiery clouds churning across the horizon. Suddenly, a wave of heat parted the clouds, revealing four dark spirit demon horses cloaked in raging flames, treading upon fiery clouds as they appeared before the assembly.
A woman stood holding the reins, facing the wind as she drove the chariot, cleaving through the sea of clouds straight toward the Phoenix Emperor Hall.
Silver fox, deep purple battle robes, a chariot drawn by dark spirit demon horses, and an overwhelming demonic aura that swept across the sky... The immortals gasped in disbelief, unable to fathom that Chang Qin, the leader of the demon fox race who held the second-highest position in the Demon Realm, would truly appear on Phoenix Tree Island—and in such a flamboyant and fitting manner.
Before the immortals could even sigh on behalf of the Demon Emperor of the Demon Realm, they caught sight of their own Emperor's radiant and spirited expression and silently swallowed that sigh. After all, they and that Emperor Sen Hong weren't treated much differently.
In the Three Realms, two things were set in stone: first, the eternal animosity between the Immortal Tribe and the demon race, past, present, and future; and second, the unshakable friendship between the Celestial Emperor and this Demon Lord Chang Qin, impervious to wind and thunder.
Ah well, today was a joyous occasion, and the Two Realms had enjoyed peace for over a century. The Immortal Tribe ought to display magnanimity—why be petty? As the Immortal Lords consoled themselves, Chang Qin had already approached the sky above the Phoenix Emperor Hall square. She waved the dark spirit demon horse chariot aside and descended upon clouds with a few attendants.
"Your Majesty, has that little one Feng Yin emerged yet? I hope I'm not too late!" A crisp, clear woman's voice rang across the square. Chang Qin strode directly toward the seat Feng Ran had prepared for her long in advance, even stealing a moment to greet a few of the senior Immortal Lords as she walked.
Chang Qin had already been renowned throughout the Three Realms when Feng Ran was still a child. Her seniority was unparalleled, and now, as the second most powerful figure in the Demon Realm, her status was exceedingly lofty. Though the rift between immortals and demons ran deep, the Immortal Lords she greeted each returned the courtesy.
"Not too late, I suppose. But your messenger arrived on the island three days ahead of you. What kept you these past few days?" Chang Qin was covered in a fierce aura, hardly resembling someone here to joyfully offer birthday congratulations—more like she had just returned from a great battle.
"I encountered a few nine-headed serpents stirring up trouble in the East Sea and couldn't resist the urge to cut them down."
The immortals gasped once more. Nine-headed serpents were ancient ferocious beasts that lived in groups. Only Bai Jue, the True God who had once transformed into Qing Mu, had slain a few of them centuries ago. Nowadays, few dared to provoke them—no wonder Chang Qin was three days late.
Chang Qin glanced smilingly toward the Dragon King of the East Sea. "I took action within Your Majesty Ao Lin's sea domain. I hope you won't take offense."
Though Chang Qin was on good terms with Feng Ran, she had fought against the Immortal Realm for tens of thousands of years, accumulating no small amount of resentment. Naturally, she wouldn't miss any opportunity to humble the Immortal Tribe.
The Dragon King of the East Sea twitched at the forehead and replied stiffly, "Not at all. Demon Lord Chang Qin saved the sea folk. I should thank you." After speaking, he rose and bowed to Feng Ran in apology. "Your Majesty, this humble king has failed in governing the seas. I beg for your punishment.""Today is a joyous occasion on Phoenix Tree Island. Let us speak of this matter another day. Dragon King, please take your seat." Feng Ran casually dismissed the matter, not blaming Chang Qin either, her expression unchanged from before. With a wave of her sleeve, she personally guided Chang Qin to her seat, smiling as she said, "Chang Qin, in just half an hour, this little girl will emerge. She's been cooped up in her shell for decades and has a mischievous nature. In a few years, take her back to Demon Fox Mountain and discipline her properly for me!"
As soon as the Celestial Emperor spoke these words, the square erupted in excitement, except for a few Phoenix Clan Elders and Chang Qin.
A little girl? A little girl? So the Little Phoenix Lord, who has yet to undergo Nirvana Rebirth, is actually a daughter! The old Immortal Lords with unmarried sons in their grotto abodes stroked their white beards, smiling at the Celestial Emperor with particular kindness. The male Immortal Lords could hardly conceal the flickering light in their eyes, and they began to chatter among themselves.
Hua Shu's smile froze. What she had feared had finally come true. The successor of the Phoenix Sovereign's bloodline was about to undergo Nirvana Rebirth. In a hundred years, no one would likely remember her, Hua Shu, unless... She glanced at Lan Feng across the way, seeing his expression unchanged as he simply lowered his head to drink, and she let out a soft sigh of relief.
"After you raise her for a few years, she's bound to inherit your temperament tenfold. By then, my Demon Fox Mountain won't be able to withstand her antics. Why not let me take her back today instead?" Chang Qin raised an eyebrow. "Besides, Your Majesty, don't forget—back when we were drinking and playing finger-guessing games on Demon Fox Mountain, you lost a round to me and promised to let me pick a bride for my nephew from the Phoenix Clan..."
Chang Qin grinned mischievously, pulling a small silver pearl from her sleeve to play with. "See? I even brought a betrothal gift today."
As soon as she said this, before the old Immortal Lords could voice their opinions, several Phoenix Clan Elders began to glare at her with displeasure, their beards bristling. The usually unflappable Great Elder, Feng Yun, coughed and, for the first time ever, earnestly advised Feng Ran, "Your Majesty, such words are inappropriate."
The Little Fire Phoenix was the only one of her kind born in the Phoenix Clan's hundreds of thousands of years of existence, as rare as Feng Ran, the Phoenix Sovereign herself. Back when Feng Ran was born, she was expelled from the Phoenix Clan by the Celestial Empress Wu Huan, wandering through the Three Realms and enduring great hardship, which shaped her aloof and unapproachable temperament—a lifelong regret for the Elders. Now that they finally had a Little Fire Phoenix, they naturally intended to raise her on Phoenix Tree Island from a young age, fostering a strong bond with the Phoenix Clan.
Feng Ran felt wronged. When she had drunkenly boasted on Demon Fox Mountain back then, Feng Yin hadn't even appeared yet. How could she have expected Chang Qin to remember this matter a hundred years later?
Feng Ran glanced leisurely at the shimmering silver pearl in Chang Qin's palm and scoffed, "Chang Qin, even if you offered the entire Fox Demon Clan as a betrothal gift for my Feng Yin, I'd still consider it too little. How dare you present a nine-headed serpent's Inner Core as a proposal? Aren't you afraid I'll raze your Demon Fox Mountain?"
Seeing her joke exposed, Chang Qin wasn't angered. She had a servant present the silver pearl to Feng Yun and said, "Elder, do not be upset. I was merely jesting with Her Majesty." After speaking, she shot a challenging smile at Feng Ran and glanced at the old Immortal Lords around them, who had now settled back into calm expressions. "You have sharp eyes. You're right—this isn't a betrothal gift. The silver pearl has a soul-calming effect. It's my gift to Feng Yin for her Nirvana Rebirth. However... we did have an agreement back then. When Feng Yin comes of age, I will come to Phoenix Tree Island with a proper betrothal gift to propose. Until then, Feng Yin cannot be promised to anyone else. You are the esteemed Celestial Emperor of the Immortal Tribe, not the unruly phoenix lord of Clear Pond Palace from back then. Don't go back on your word when the time comes."Chang Qin was over ten thousand years older than Feng Ran, yet had never been at a disadvantage.
Feng Ran, having been checkmated, snorted a couple of times, neither denying nor agreeing. With Feng Yin’s mischievous and clever nature, if she took a dislike to someone, there would be no need for her Master Sovereign to step in and refuse—she would have long since overturned Chang Qin’s fox den herself.
While the Celestial Emperor and Demon Lord Chang Qin bantered and reminisced about their friendship, the gathered Immortal Lords watched with a mix of envy and helplessness, passing the time by eagerly taking in the scenery around the Phoenix Emperor Hall.
This pillar is quite impressive—fragrant and richly textured, truly no ordinary item! The golden-threaded flowers planted beneath the stone steps extend life and vitality, no ordinary item indeed! And what are those beads hanging under the corridor outside the hall... Oh my, night pearls even more substantial than the treasure pearls guarding the halls of several old Dragon Kings—no ordinary item at all... Phoenix Tree Island was difficult to enter, and the Phoenix Emperor Hall even more so, visited perhaps once in a thousand years. The Immortal Lords gazed covetously at the ancient island the phoenix clan had painstakingly cultivated for tens of thousands of years, finding every detail dazzling, wishing they could use some immortal art to haul it all back to their own grotto abodes.
“No ordinary item at all!” one Immortal Lord suddenly blurted out, voicing the shared thought. The others withdrew their envious gazes, ready to chastise this seemingly unsophisticated lord, only to see him pointing a finger toward the sky, eyes wide with astonishment.
Lifting their heads, the assembled immortals reacted in much the same way.
In the twilight sky, where fiery clouds had blanketed the horizon, they quietly dispersed as ancient Sanskrit chants surged from the Four Seas. Suddenly, a streak of silver light split the heavens, and a stone gate materialized in the air without warning.
Carved with ancient Sanskrit inscriptions and entwined with chaotic Divine Power, what had abruptly descended above the Phoenix Emperor Hall was none other than the gate to the Ancient Realm!
A murmur swept through the immortals. Aside from Feng Ran, who remained unmoved on the main seat, every being, whether immortal or demon, rose and bowed in reverence. Only when the Sanskrit chants faded did they solemnly return to their seats.
At that moment, a crack opened in the gate of the Ancient Realm, and vast silver light enveloped the ancient phoenix trees. Witnessing this, the Immortal Lords understood clearly, and a sense of awe struck them—the Ancient Realm gate had clearly descended for the Little Phoenix Lord undergoing Nirvana Rebirth today.
Ancient records rarely mentioned it, but whenever the gate to the Ancient Realm descended, it was always accompanied by a High God entering the realm.
Since the True God Shang Gu sealed the Ancient Realm, aside from the Celestial Emperor and the Demon Emperor, who remained outside due to their duties, the Three Realms had not produced a single High God in a century. Could it be that the Little Fire Phoenix being reborn today was born with the qualification for Divine Attainment? This was truly unbelievable!
Feng Ran narrowed her eyes as she savored the immortal wine, feeling both amused and exasperated. Some time ago, Shang Gu had sent an envoy to the Mortal Realm, saying she would send Feng Yin a grand gift—likely this very gate to the Ancient Realm. Feng Ran had always thought Shang Gu’s doting on the younger generation reached its peak with Yuan Qi, but it seemed she treated Feng Yin even more exceptionally. However, this was too reckless. Feng Yin was already a law unto herself, and now, with the Ancient Realm gate appearing at her Nirvana Rebirth, once she emerged from her shell, who in the Three Realms besides Feng Ran could discipline her even a little?
Regardless of Feng Ran’s thoughts, the exclamations and discussions outside the square continued unabated, even growing more fervent.It was unclear which gossip-loving Immortal Lord started it, but the assembled immortals actually began listing all the Immortal Tribe members born with auspicious signs across the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands over the past sixty thousand years. Aside from those minor, unremarkable auspicious omens, the most astonishing ones were undoubtedly Hua Shu back then and Feng Yin now. Back in the day, the sky full of auspicious clouds and the singing of mermaids over Hundred Birds Island had been celebrated for a century, establishing Hua Shu's current highly revered status. Yet compared to the appearance of the Ancient Realm gate today, it seemed somewhat meager. The immortals likely felt the same way, as they occasionally glanced at Hua Shu while speaking, and their discussions gradually quieted down.
Hua Shu was neither blind nor deaf, so she naturally heard the comparisons and discussions among the immortals. Her lips pressed lightly together, and her lowered face concealed her emotions. Lan Feng watched her discomfort and increasingly stiffened back, a flicker of pity passing through his eyes.
This scene was strikingly similar to the embarrassment he had faced a century ago when Jing Jian was still in the Celestial Realm and he had been forced to remain confined on Penglai Island. It wasn't that he clung to power, but because he was born with the destiny to control the Emperor Star Constellation, which made the Heavenly Empress wary of him. For a thousand years, he could hardly leave seclusion, a stifling resentment lingering in his heart that he could never release. That was why, a century ago, when the Phoenix Sovereign invited him to the Nine Heavens to oversee the constellations, he did not refuse.
Outside the Phoenix Emperor Hall, the square was filled with joyous atmosphere. The Phoenix Sovereign, along with the Immortal Tribe ministers, raised their cups in celebration, quietly awaiting the Nirvana Rebirth of her little disciple.
Meanwhile, in the Ancient Realm.
In the century since Bai Jue's passing, Shang Gu's favorite place to linger was this Star-Gazing Pavilion within the Hall of Worship.
Blazing Sun had gathered some fine tea from the dense forest and found her in the Star-Gazing Pavilion. He happened to see Shang Gu wave her hand and send the Ancient Realm gate down to the Mortal Realm. After asking for the reason, he laughed and said, "So it's Feng Ran holding a banquet for that Little Fire Phoenix. I'd forgotten about this. When she enters the Ancient Realm later, I'll make up for it with a gift. But having the Ancient Realm gate accompany her birth... this gift is a bit too grand for that little one!"
Shang Gu's expression grew distant as she took a sip of the tea Blazing Sun had brewed, replying calmly, "This birthday gift, Feng Yin, deserves it."
Since Bai Jue sacrificed himself for the world, Shang Gu had grown indifferent to all matters. She hadn't even inquired when Yuan Qi was sent down to the Mortal Realm. Why would she care so much about a little Fire Phoenix this time? Blazing Sun found it strange. He pondered for a moment, made a calculation, then looked up at Shang Gu in surprise. "What's going on? This little one's fate is shrouded by a mass of Divine Power, her destiny has been broken. Today is not the time for her Nirvana..."
The only Divine Power in the world that could obscure his vision was the Chaos Origin. Shang Gu was sitting here perfectly fine, and Bai Jue's ashes had dissipated a century ago. The one who broke Feng Yin's destiny could only be that boy Yuan Qi.
As he spoke, he raised his hand and drew in the air. A Water Mirror appeared before the two of them. The joyous celebration outside the Phoenix Emperor Hall on Phoenix Tree Island, matching the heavens in revelry, faintly appeared. The Water Mirror rippled slightly, and the image of Gu Jin running toward the ancestral tree in the ancient Phoenix Tree forest became clearly visible.
"This boy, how did he grow into such a state?" In just a hundred years, the once handsome little child had turned into a plump, round ball. Blazing Sun, as a guardian, couldn't accept this reality for a moment. He immediately looked seriously at Shang Gu, his tone more agitated than when he had calculated Feng Yin's fate earlier.
Shang Gu also felt somewhat awkward. Glancing at the chubby ball in the Mortal Realm, she coughed lightly. "Well, twenty years ago when I saw him in the Water Mirror..." She gestured with her hands, "He was only this chubby." Then she complained, "Who knows what Dong Hua feeds him every day?"You're the one who's the mother, Dong Hua is just a master! Blazing Sun silently swallowed these words, merely using his eyes to reproach Shang Gu for a moment before putting away the Water Mirror, no longer mentioning the matter of the Little Fire Phoenix's Nirvana Rebirth on Phoenix Tree Island.
Both were the most ancient deities of the Ancient Realm; the trials and tribulations of the Mortal Realm were as natural to them as the rising and setting of the sun. If it weren't for Yuan Qi's involvement, they probably wouldn't even spare a glance.
Children and grandchildren have their own blessings. With Yuan Qi and Feng Yin's origins, how could their destinies be fulfilled without enduring hardships?
However, Yuan Qi was born with Primordial Chaos Power protecting him, so neither of them could clearly see the path of his destiny. If they had known that a hundred or a thousand years later they would face such an outcome... on this day, even with bright sunlight and starlight, clear tea and white clouds, the two would certainly not have been so relaxed and carefree.
Mortal Realm.
In the ancient phoenix tree forest, Gu Xiao Pang, carrying his plump body, ran wildly until he finally found the Ancestral Phoenix Tree that nurtured the soul of the Little Fire Phoenix. The Ancestral Tree was already over a hundred thousand years old and could have become a deity long ago, but due to its affection for the Phoenix Clan, it entered self-induced meditation ten thousand years ago, preserving its True Form to remain on Phoenix Tree Island. At the top of its trunk, it formed a Soul Gathering Platform to protect the younger generation of the Phoenix Clan. In the past hundred years, only Feng Yin remained on the Soul Gathering Platform.
At this moment, only a quarter of an hour remained before Feng Ran's Nirvana Rebirth. Scorching red Divine Power emanated from the Soul Gathering Platform, enveloping the area within ten feet of the ancient tree, making it impossible to take a step forward. At the top of the Ancestral Tree, a cluster of white flames flickered faintly, seemingly possessing a devouring force.
To have such Spiritual Power even before being born—it really is a precious treasure. Gu Xiao Pang looked up and sighed, feeling quite envious. Before he was born, Tian Qi had sealed his Primordial Chaos Power, so he had never enjoyed such domineering aura, and he felt a bit envious in his heart.
The time was almost up. Seeing that it was getting late, Gu Jin forcefully broke through this Spiritual Power, panting heavily as he inched his way to the base of the tree. Then he blinked, stretched his limbs... and began to climb the tree. Actually, waiting at the base of the tree would have been fine, but having lived this long, he had never seen a phoenix undergo Nirvana Rebirth. Suddenly feeling curious, he wanted to witness it firsthand.
What Gu Xiao Pang didn't know was that the white scorching flames during a Fire Phoenix's Nirvana Rebirth could incinerate all things. In the Mortal Realm, aside from the Celestial Emperor Feng Ran, only he, who possessed Chaos Origin within him, could approach this Ancestral Phoenix Tree. Otherwise, how could the Phoenix Clan allow Feng Yin to undergo Nirvana Rebirth alone?
Half a quarter of an hour later, Gu Jin finally managed with great effort to approach the Soul Gathering Platform. This place was essentially a one-foot-square hollow formed within the trunk of the ancient Ancestral Tree. Clinging to the trunk, his bulky body suspended in mid-air, he craned his neck to peer into the hollow—a crimson phoenix egg engraved with ancient Phoenix Clan script was quietly rotating within the white scorching flames.
Gu Jin used both hands and feet to climb to the edge of the hollow and sat down to wait for the Little Fire Phoenix's Nirvana Rebirth. At that moment, a beam of silver light descended from the sky, intertwining with the scorching red Spiritual Power, enveloping the Ancestral Phoenix Tree. Gu Jin glanced up at the sky, staring dumbfounded at that dazzling, magnificent Ancient Realm gate—Mother Goddess is really extravagant! Even the Celestial Emperor's coronation probably couldn't match this spectacle!
Just then, the floating phoenix egg in the hollow suddenly stirred. A low phoenix cry came from within the shell. Gu Jin abruptly turned his head, holding his breath as he stared unblinkingly at the egg. Now that it was truly time for the Little Fire Phoenix's Nirvana Rebirth, the thought of borrowing the Fire Phoenix Jade faded. He kept muttering to himself about what would emerge... a little phoenix? Or a fair and tender little baby? A male... ahem, a boy, or a girl?The sun set below the horizon, the evening moon rose, and as the stars began to appear, a fiery red light erupted from the ancient phoenix tree forest, soaring straight into the sky.
The immortals gathered in the square before the Phoenix Emperor Hall fell silent at the sudden surge of immense spiritual power—this little fire phoenix possessed such divine might! The Phoenix Clan had withdrawn from the conflicts of the Three Realms a century ago, with only the Phoenix Sovereign succeeding to the throne under the entrustment of the former Celestial Emperor, Mu Guang. Now, with one deity each in the immortal and demon realms, if the Little Phoenix Lord were to be born with the power of a High God and align with the Immortal Realm, the balance of the Three Realms would be instantly shattered!
Perhaps never before had the entire Immortal Realm awaited the birth of an immortal with such anticipation.
On the Soul-Gathering Platform, the phoenix cry from within the egg grew increasingly high-pitched and resonant, white flames spiraling upward with awe-inspiring majesty.
White ember fire swept through the tree hollow, emitting a dazzling radiance. Gu Jin instinctively closed his eyes. Within the light, the sound of cracking eggshells hitting the ground suddenly echoed, filling his heart with joy. He opened his eyes to look but froze in place.
Above the tongues of ember fire, a young girl stood quietly with her eyes closed, a faint, joyful smile gracing her lips as she reveled in her arrival into the world.
The fiery red jade suspended above her head emitted a soft, gentle glow, enveloping her entire being in a serene and tranquil divine power.
Clad in red robes with ink-black hair, her delicate brows and serene countenance seemed to outshine all the beauty in the world.
Who could have known that the newly born phoenix lord, Feng Yin, would already possess such grace and splendor?
The imprint of a phoenix crown appeared fleetingly on her forehead, and for a moment, Gu Jin felt as if his soul had been captured. Unconsciously, he walked up to Feng Yin and reached out to touch the fiery red phoenix crown...
Her phoenix eyes suddenly snapped open, as if surprised that someone could breach the scorching flames to approach her. With a flick of her palm, white ember fire surged from her hand toward Gu Jin.
The searing ember fire closed in, waves of heat assaulting him. Gu Jin abruptly snapped back to his senses and dodged awkwardly. His outstretched hand missed Feng Yin’s forehead but instead grasped the Fire Phoenix Jade that had fallen with her.
"It’s you."
Gu Jin was pushed back several steps by the ember fire. Without another word, Feng Yin glanced toward his palm. A century’s worth of her cultivated spiritual power and soul resided within the Fire Phoenix Jade. Only by absorbing all the spiritual power back could she truly complete her Nirvana Rebirth. Gu Jin’s appearance had disrupted the spiritual power supply from the jade, forcing her to awaken prematurely.
"It’s you?" What did she mean? Had she seen him before? Gu Jin was filled with questions. Seeing Feng Yin staring at the Fire Phoenix Jade in his palm, he felt embarrassed and walked toward her, intending to return it. However, in his haste, he tripped over a round, rolling tree trunk on the ground and fell heavily.
The sound of the heavy impact echoed through the tree hollow, shaking the entire ancestral tree. Feng Yin stared at Gu Jin on the ground, her lips quirking upward briefly before she blinked and quickly resumed her indifferent expression.
Gu Jin awkwardly scrambled to his feet, but a sharp pain shot through him. He groaned, sucking in a sharp breath, and looked down to see a deep gash on his palm from a sharp stone in the corner of the tree hollow. Blood welled up and dripped onto the ground.
Neither of them noticed that the blood had also dripped onto the Fire Phoenix Jade, which Gu Jin had been clutching tightly in his palm.
Feng Yin, who had been watching with amusement, saw his brows and nose scrunched up in pain and felt a pang of sympathy. Her expression softened as she prepared to offer a few words of comfort, but before she could speak, her face suddenly changed.
The blood-stained Fire Phoenix Jade in Gu Jin’s palm flew up without warning, hovering above his head. A blazing red light enveloped both him and Feng Yin. The Chaos Origin sealed within Gu Jin by Tian Qi surfaced on his forehead, drawn out by the Fire Phoenix Jade. The century’s worth of spiritual power belonging to Feng Yin, gathered within her spiritual sea and the jade, rapidly dissipated, madly surging toward the Chaos Origin on Gu Jin’s forehead.The Fire Phoenix Jade was forged a century ago by Shang Gu using the Chaos Origin. Gu Jin's blood triggered a resonance between the Chaos Origin within him and the Fire Phoenix Jade, causing Tian Qi's seal to loosen. Having been suppressed for a hundred years, the Chaos Origin, upon awakening, assumed the Fire Phoenix Jade was prepared for it and naturally accepted it without hesitation.
Under the restraint of the Chaos Divine Power, the two were immobilized, forced to watch helplessly as the Chaos Origin absorbed all the Spiritual Power from the Soul-Gathering Platform.
With a pale complexion and dark phoenix eyes, Feng Yin simply gazed at him quietly.
Even as his Spiritual Power was on the verge of being completely devoured, Gu Jin saw not a trace of panic in Feng Yin's eyes.
Filled with remorse and overwhelming guilt, he urgently said, "Don't worry. Once it stops, I'll return the Spiritual Power to you."
If the Fire Phoenix Jade could absorb Feng Ran's Spiritual Power, it could naturally return it to her as well.
Gu Jin spoke the truth. Though she didn't know who he was or why he had barged into the Ancestral Phoenix Tree, Feng Yin knew this plump Immortal Lord before her did not covet her Spiritual Power. After all, the Divine Power contained within the strange origin floating above his forehead was no less than her own.
An accident—it was actually because of an accident that it had ruined the Nirvana Rebirth she had prepared for a century.
Feng Yin remained silent for a long moment, then shook her head, a trace of bitter laughter flickering in her eyes.
"Master Sovereign endured ten thousand years of worldly trials before achieving enlightenment and attaining Nirvana Rebirth. I thought that since I was born defying the heavens, I would be the exception of this lineage. It seems I still cannot escape the will of heaven."
"What do you mean?" Gu Jin felt a pang of panic in his heart.
"Within the Fire Phoenix Jade is not only the Spiritual Power I cultivated over a century, but also one of my souls and one of my spirits. Today is not the day of my Nirvana Rebirth."
With the Spiritual Power of the Fire Phoenix Jade devoured, her soul would inevitably be damaged—how could she undergo Nirvana Rebirth and descend into the world?
Gu Jin finally understood the deeper meaning in her words, his expression drastically changing.
She glanced toward the sky, then looked back at him and asked, "Who are you?"
To hinder her, Feng Yin, from descending into the world—how could he be an ordinary being? She had to gain clarity.
But before Gu Jin could answer, the white Ember Fire floating in the cave frantically surged toward Gu Jin's Chaos Origin—the soul and spirit of Feng Yin within the Fire Phoenix Jade, sensing the danger of being devoured, were preparing to perish together with Gu Jin!
The Fire Phoenix Jade, restrained by two forces of Divine Power, could no longer endure. Fine cracks spread across the translucent jade, and suddenly, with a mournful cry, the Fire Phoenix Jade shattered into fragments, exploding within the tree hollow.
Chaotic Divine Power swept through the Ancestral Phoenix Tree, emitting a dazzling Divine Light!
At the same time, an earth-shattering roar echoed from the Phoenix Tree Forest to outside the Phoenix Sovereign's grand hall, where laughter had been continuous. The assembled immortals looked up in shock, only to see a strange silver Divine Power shooting up from the Phoenix Tree Forest, swiftly devouring the fiery red blaze that symbolized the Little Phoenix Lord's Nirvana Rebirth!
A moment later, the roar ceased, the silver light dissipated, and the aura of the Fire Phoenix could no longer be detected in the slightest.
The immortals stared blankly at the vanished gate of the Ancient Realm in the sky, exchanging bewildered glances in utter silence.
The Phoenix Sovereign's bloodline that Phoenix Tree Island had awaited for a century—the Little Fire Phoenix whose descent was to shake the Three Realms—had unexpectedly perished on the day of her Nirvana Rebirth without any warning.
What in the world had happened?
No one dared to glance toward the supreme seat where the ruler of the Immortal Realm, the sovereign of the Phoenix Clan, sat.
Yet everyone knew that the heavens and earth of the Immortal Realm were about to change.
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