Chapter Fifteen
The immortals looked up at the sky, where layers of five-colored lotuses parted to reveal the white-bearded High Lord Dong Hua, clad in Daoist robes and holding a dust whisk, standing somewhat abashedly upon the clouds.
Seeing the ethereal and dignified High Lord Dong Hua, the immortals were truly astonished. A century ago, after attaining the state of a Demigod, the old High Lord had sent word to his fellow immortals across the realms, declaring that he would seclude himself and refuse all visitors until the day he entered the Divine Realm. For someone of his cultivation level, entering closed-door cultivation was a matter of utmost importance. Yet he had emerged from seclusion for a disciple who had been under his tutelage for barely a century—it was simply...
The immortals turned this over in their minds but could find no reasonable explanation. Thus, their gazes toward Little Fatty Gu Jin carried a hint of subtle envy.
"Master Sovereign." Dong Hua's appearance clearly surprised Gu Jin as well. He felt uneasy inside, his face tinged with shame.
In the sky, High Lord Dong Hua glanced at the anxious Gu Jin and gave him a slight nod. Treading upon auspicious clouds, Dong Hua swept across the heavens and landed between his young disciple and the group of Phoenix Clan Elders. The five-colored lotuses in the sky did not disperse with Dong Hua's descent; instead, they layered over the Phoenix Tree Forest, their profound divine power even more potent than before, radiating in all directions.
This lightning-fast descent and flamboyant entrance were hardly characteristic of the old High Lord Dong Hua, who for tens of thousands of years had always been slow and deliberate in handling matters. The pressure of Dong Hua's Demigod aura enveloped the entire Phoenix Tree Forest, making his protective stance unmistakable.
It seemed there were quite a few people looking out for the child A Qi.
Before the immortals could recover from their surprise, Feng Ran glanced at the sky full of five-colored lotuses, placed her hands behind her back, and spoke calmly, "It has been two hundred years since we parted at Great Marsh Mountain. The old High Lord remains as distinguished as ever, truly enviable. Now that the old Divine Lord has attained the state of a Demigod, it will not be long before you enter the Divine Realm and become a pillar of our Immortal Realm."
Back then, when Dong Hua celebrated his birthday at Great Marsh Mountain, she and Rear Pond had attended the banquet with an invitation from High God Gu Jun. At the feast, they had challenged Zi Yuan, subdued Jing Zhao, and encountered Jing Jian... If not for Dong Hua's grand birthday banquet two hundred years ago, which invited guests from across the Three Realms, the ups and downs of the following centuries might never have unfolded.
As Feng Ran spoke, there was a touch of nostalgia and lament for how things had changed, along with an implicit intention to keep Dong Hua in the Mortal Realm to bolster the Immortal Realm's prestige. The Immortal and Demon Realms had been locked in confrontation for centuries. Although hostilities had temporarily ceased, the deep-seated enmity between the two races remained. Having one more High God in the Immortal Realm could deter the Demon Realm from recklessly waging war. Though Feng Ran did not crave power, since she had accepted Mu Guang's decree of succession, she would strive for the sake of the Immortal Realm's inhabitants.
"Your Majesty flatters me. This old Daoist's divine power is merely the benefit of having lived a long life." Dong Hua cupped his hands toward Feng Ran, smiling warmly. "I dare not deceive Your Majesty. After entering the Divine Realm, this old Daoist will ascend to the Divine Realm and will not remain long in the Immortal Realm."
Dong Hua had been born during the era of Shang Gu and was over sixty thousand years old, a contemporary of the former Celestial Emperor Mu Guang. His seniority surpassed even that of the Phoenix Clan's Grand Elder. Moreover, having spent these years in seclusion cultivating divinity and rarely involving himself in worldly affairs, his response did not surprise the immortals.
Still, Dong Hua had clearly come to Phoenix Tree Island for his troublemaking disciple, yet he could so decisively decline the Phoenix Sovereign's recruitment—such confidence was remarkable.
"The old High Lord is devoted to cultivation, and I shall not impose." Feng Ran nodded, accepting Dong Hua's words.
With that, the pleasantries between the two great figures concluded. The waiting Phoenix Clan Elders fixed their dagger-like gazes upon Dong Hua, awaiting his next words.Gu Jin noticed their unfriendly gazes and, unwilling to let Dong Hua bear the burden for him, stepped forward to take the blame himself. Dong Hua waved his dust whisk, freezing him in place. He glanced at Feng Ran, then turned his gaze back to Gu Jin.
Gu Jin, ever perceptive, understood Dong Hua’s deeper meaning at once. Feng Ran would not bear to see him suffer physical punishment, but without the backing of an esteemed High Immortal like Master Sovereign, how could they hope to quell the Phoenix Clan’s fury over the loss of their Little Phoenix Lord?
Dong Hua bowed respectfully toward Feng Ran, cupping his hands. “Your Majesty, esteemed Elders, my foolish disciple’s recklessness has caused the Little Phoenix Lord’s soul to vanish entirely. This catastrophe is a failure of my teaching. I beg Your Majesty and the Elders, in consideration of this old daoist’s humble standing, to grant my disciple an opportunity to atone for his wrongs.”
“How can this be remedied? A soul lost within the Three Realms is like searching for a needle in the ocean. How can my Feng Yin’s soul possibly be recovered?” Feng Zhi, who had earlier been restrained by Feng Yun, could no longer contain his anger. This old daoist from Great Marsh Mountain wasn’t afraid of boasting so grandly it might trip his own tongue! Even with the entire Phoenix Clan’s combined strength, such a task would be nearly impossible—what solution could Dong Hua possibly offer?
Elder Feng Yun also turned a skeptical gaze toward Dong Hua.
Dong Hua looked at the lifeless Feng Yin in the arms of the Phoenix Clan Elder and sighed softly, as if making a weighty decision. With a wave of his dust whisk, a small, emerald-green pagoda brimming with spiritual energy materialized before the assembled immortals.
From high above in the clouds, a captivating voice drifted down, tinged with casual surprise.
“Oh? Dong Hua is quite the righteous one, to bring out even this treasure.”
Amidst the clouds, Tian Qi, draped in flowing violet robes, lounged lazily on a wooden chair formed from the Purple Moon, gazing down at the scene below with an air of amused detachment.
“Divine Lord, is that the Soul Suppressing Pagoda?” Beside Tian Qi stood a handsome youth with delicate features, dressed in pristine white robes, exuding an aura of upright righteousness.
In the Ancient Divine Realm, there was once a well-known anecdote among the gods: the personalities of the two True Gods, Bai Jue and Tian Qi, were as different as stillness and motion—one aloof and reserved, the other bewitching and unpredictable. Yet, curiously, the temperaments of their divine beasts seemed to mirror each other’s masters. Bai Jue’s qilin, Hong Ri, was like an overly energetic busybody, while Tian Qi’s divine dragon, Zi Han, forever maintained the appearance of a solemn, unsmiling, and handsome young lad.
Needless to say, due to this temperament and appearance, Zi Han became the darling of the goddesses in the Divine Realm. As for Hong Ri’s status… the word “heh” was enough to sum it up.
Though Zi Han was said to be over a hundred thousand years old—even older than Shang Gu—he always shape-shifted into the form of a tender youth in his teens. After tens of thousands of years of headaches and embarrassment over his divine beast’s peculiar tastes, Tian Qi eventually let him be.
When you’ve been alone for so many years, it’s understandable to have a few eccentric little quirks.
Though Tian Qi muttered this to himself, he seemed not to realize that he was, in fact, entirely complicit in the matter.
Tian Qi snapped his fingers. “Correct, it’s the Soul Suppressing Pagoda I gifted to Dong Hua.”
A century ago, Tian Qi had sealed A Qi’s Divine Power and brought him down to the Mortal Realm to seek a master. The gift presented upon becoming his disciple was this very Soul Suppressing Pagoda, personally forged by Shang Gu. Since the Ancestral God Qing Tian and Bai Jue faded away, Shang Gu remained the only one in the world capable of forging a Soul Suppressing Pagoda. Now, within the Three Realms, only two existed: one suppressing ghosts and deities in the Nine Nether Underworld, and the other in Dong Hua’s possession.The Soul Suppressing Pagoda is an ancient divine artifact capable of nurturing souls and divine power. Under its protection, the dangers of undergoing the divine tribulation could be reduced by half. Tian Qi had always been generous—placing his own child at Great Marsh Mountain for training and being equally generous in his dealings with Dong Hua. However, he never expected that Dong Hua would be willing to part with such a life-protecting divine artifact for A Qi’s sake. It seemed Dong Hua truly held a sincere master-disciple bond with A Qi.
“This old Daoist Dong Hua is indeed sincere. He is more than qualified to be Little A Qi’s master.” Zi Han spoke unhurriedly, glancing at the Soul Suppressing Pagoda in the forest and nodding with satisfaction toward Dong Hua.
“The people I choose have never been lacking.” Tian Qi raised a phoenix eye, exuding an air of arrogance.
The Soul Suppressing Pagoda was a legendary divine artifact. In the past, when Shang Gu, then known as Rear Pond, seized one, it caused chaos across the Three Realms, leading to her banishment to a nameless world for a century. Legend had it that cultivating with the Soul Suppressing Pagoda could allow divine power to advance by leaps and bounds, soaring directly to the Divine Realm.
The immortals in the Phoenix Tree Forest never expected Dong Hua to possess one. They all widened their eyes to gaze at the Soul Suppressing Pagoda, and even Feng Ran’s eyes flickered with faint surprise.
Gu Jin looked at the Soul Suppressing Pagoda in the sky, understanding Dong Hua’s intentions, and his eyes slightly reddened.
“What does the old High Lord mean?” Feng Ran turned to Dong Hua.
“Your Majesty, this old Daoist understands that souls scattered across the Three Realms are difficult to recover, and even with the full strength of Great Marsh Mountain, it would be impossible. However, although the Little Phoenix Lord’s soul is lost, her physical body remains. This old Daoist is willing to offer this pagoda to the Little Phoenix Lord to nurture her body. When her soul returns in the future, she will be spared millennia of arduous cultivation. I implore Your Majesty and the Elders to accept this pagoda and grant my disciple an opportunity to atone for his wrongs.” Dong Hua waved his dust whisk, and the Soul Suppressing Pagoda landed in his hand. Holding it, he bowed halfway and stepped forward, presenting it to Feng Ran.
“Your Majesty.” The Great Elder Feng Yun, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly spoke. He glanced at Gu Jin before addressing Feng Ran: “Although Gu Jin is mischievous, he harbors no ill intent. The grave mistake he committed is now a fact, and harsh punishment would serve little purpose. The old High Lord offering the Soul Suppressing Pagoda to nurture Feng Yin’s body is a sincere gesture of atonement, and for Feng Yin, it could be a great opportunity. Sixty thousand years ago, when our clan descended to the Mortal Realm, we received the old High Lord’s care. Why not repay kindness with kindness today by accepting this Soul Suppressing Pagoda and avoiding unnecessary conflict between Phoenix Tree Island and Great Marsh Mountain?”
Feng Yun was highly respected within the Phoenix Clan. Once he spoke, no other Elder dared to voice dissent. Feng Ran had never intended to punish A Qi severely, and with Dong Hua and Feng Yun providing a way out, she felt relieved.
“If that is the case, this Emperor will accept the old High Lord’s goodwill.” Feng Ran waved her sleeve, raised Dong Hua, took the Soul Suppressing Pagoda from his hand, and passed it to Feng Yun.
“This Emperor respects the old High Lord’s devotion to his disciple. However, wrongdoing must be met with punishment. Even with the old High Lord’s plea today, Gu Jin has committed a grave offense, and this Emperor cannot let him off lightly.”
Feng Ran’s expression turned solemn as she bypassed Dong Hua and looked toward Gu Jin.
Dong Hua understood that the Phoenix Clan had already made a concession and said no more, stepping aside.
“Gu Jin, do you admit your guilt?”
Gu Jin lowered his head and replied to Feng Ran, “Your Majesty, Gu Jin admits his guilt for the grave mistake he has committed.”
“Good.” Feng Ran waved her hand toward the sky, and a golden imperial decree tore through space, appearing above the immortals. “Gu Jin, kneel and receive the decree.”
Gu Jin nodded and knelt on one knee."Gu Jin, your unruly nature has led you to recklessly enter the Phoenix Tree Forest and disrupt Feng Yin's Nirvana Rebirth, causing her Three Hun and Seven Po to scatter completely. Today, this Emperor sentences you to cultivate with utmost dedication in the Forbidden Valley of Great Marsh Mountain. The day Dong Hua, the High Lord, emerges from seclusion shall be the day you leave the valley; the moment Dong Hua, the High Lord, ascends to godhood shall be the time you descend from Great Marsh Mountain. Otherwise, you shall never set foot in the Three Realms again!"
Feng Ran's clear voice echoed through the Phoenix Tree Forest as she looked at Gu Jin with an imposing demeanor. "Do you accept this decree?"
As Feng Ran spoke, the celestial edict suspended in mid-air revealed her decree word by word.
Silence fell over the Phoenix Tree Forest. The assembled immortals were stunned, finding it difficult to judge the severity of this punishment.
If High Lord Dong Hua's ascension were to occur soon, it might be manageable. But if the venerable one required thousands or even tens of thousands of years of cultivation to achieve Ascension, wouldn't Gu Jin be trapped forever in the Forbidden Valley of Great Marsh Mountain, with no hope of ever leaving? After all, no one could predict the exact timing of such an ascension.
Among all the Immortal Lords present, only Dong Hua understood Feng Ran's deeper intentions.
Yuan Qi was born with an exceptionally noble destiny, having been doted on by High Gods since childhood. Within the Lower Three Realms, almost no one could restrain him. If he grew up still possessing this unrestrained and impulsive temperament, how could he shoulder the responsibilities of the Divine Realm? When Tian Qi sent him down to the Mortal Realm, it was with this very consideration in mind.
The ultimate path of cultivating immortality and the Dao lies in cultivating the heart. Gu Jin possessed brilliant natural talent but lacked the steady, tempered heart forged through experience. It was hoped that by confining him to Great Marsh Mountain through this incident, he would devote himself wholeheartedly to cultivation.
"I accept. Gu Jin has committed a grave error and willingly accepts punishment." Though surprised by Feng Ran's sentence, Gu Jin's straightforward nature acknowledged his wrongdoing, and he accepted the penalty without hesitation.
"Good. The sentence takes effect from today. You may go!"
As Feng Ran's words settled, she traced a few strokes in the air with her hand. Ancient runes transformed into a Fire Phoenix, which flew above Gu Jin. After letting out a few strange cackles, it grabbed the collar of his robe and carried him off toward Great Marsh Mountain.
True to the Celestial Emperor's decree, the sentence began without further ceremony or farewells. Before the immortals could fully process what had happened, the troublemaker Little Fatty Gu was already on his way to receive his punishment.
As Little Fatty Gu was carried away from the Phoenix Tree Forest, for some reason, his final glance was not toward the Peacock Princess Hua Shu, whom he had longed for, but toward Feng Yin, cradled in the arms of the Phoenix Clan Elder.
That single glance spanned years. The pale yet exquisitely beautiful face of the girl in red became the most vivid memory in his mind before his confinement in the Forbidden Valley.
In the Phoenix Tree Forest, Feng Ran waved her hand, and the decree in the air descended into Dong Hua's grasp.
"Venerable High Lord, does this arrangement meet with your approval?"
"Your Majesty is benevolent and virtuous. Dong Hua has nothing to say. Please rest assured, Your Majesty and all Elders. Upon returning to the mountain, this old Daoist will set up restrictions in the Forbidden Valley to ensure my disciple cultivates diligently to atone for his sins. There will be no leniency." Dong Hua paused, then added to Feng Ran, "When we meet again, it may be centuries from now. The affairs of the Three Realms are unpredictable. In the future, our Great Marsh Mountain will still rely on Your Majesty's care. We part here now. May Your Majesty take care."
Dong Hua bowed once more to Feng Ran and the Phoenix Clan Elders, then decisively led his disciples from Great Marsh Mountain in the direction where the Fire Phoenix had vanished.
Dong Hua was skilled in divination. His words today... Feng Ran raised an eyebrow slightly, committing them to memory.
Feng Ran then turned to look at the guests from the Immortal Realm gathered behind her."Esteemed fellow immortals, it appears today is not the day for our clan's Feng Yin to undergo Nirvana Rebirth. When Feng Yin is ready for her rebirth in the future, I shall once again invite you all to gather at Phoenix Tree Island. For today, let us conclude here. Feng Yun, please see our guests out." Feng Ran gave a slight nod to the assembled immortals, took Feng Yin from the Elder's hands, and flew toward the Phoenix Tree Hall.
Though the immortals felt regret over the fall of the Little Phoenix Lord, they had still witnessed quite a spectacle. Each returned to their grotto abodes with a mix of satisfaction and lingering disappointment.
Hua Shu had followed closely behind the Peacock King the entire time, never once revealing any sign of impropriety. It was only after the Fire Phoenix took Gu Jin away for punishment that she truly breathed a sigh of relief. However, she never expected that a single careless remark of hers would ruin Feng Yin's Nirvana, pushing her birth into the distant future. As Hua Shu left the ancient forest, she cast a distant glance toward the Ancestral Phoenix Tree, her expression indescribably complex.
She had her own life to live, and could only hope that the matter concerning Gu Jin and Feng Yin would be buried deep, never to be mentioned again.
In the blink of an eye, the guests in the Phoenix Tree Forest had all departed.
A ripple of Divine Power spread out, and Tian Qi and Zi Han appeared in mid-air.
Zi Han wore a stern expression but chuckled, "Divine Lord, I told you that with Feng Ran's capabilities, she would handle this matter properly. Why did you have to rush all the way here from Purple Moon Mountain, showing more concern than her own parents?"
Tian Qi glanced at Zi Han. "I felt like it. Got a problem with that?"
Zi Han spread his hands, shrugged, and decided it wasn't worth arguing.
"Let's go." Tian Qi stood up and waved his hand, tearing open a rift in space before them.
"Where are you going now?" Zi Han scratched his head in surprise. "Don't tell me you plan to search the Space-Time Turbulence after finding nothing within the Three Realms?"
Tian Qi carried a burden in his heart, having searched for a certain old friend for a hundred years without a single trace, yet his stubbornness persisted to this day.
Tian Qi did not answer, stepping directly into the Space-Time Turbulence. Zi Han sighed and resignedly followed him, both vanishing together.
Within the Phoenix Sovereign's great hall, Feng Ran ignited the flames of the Soul Suppressing Pagoda and placed Feng Yin's body inside to nurture it.
Feng Yun, having seen off the guests, entered the hall and stood behind Feng Ran.
"Your Majesty, Demon Lord Chang Qin invites you to her Demon Spirit Mountain for wine whenever you have time. She has prepared fine wine awaiting your visit."
"I understand." Feng Ran smiled and nodded. She turned to look at the Phoenix Clan's Grand Elder. "You've guessed Gu Jin's identity, haven't you?"
Feng Yun nodded honestly. "Only that Little Divine Lord could approach the Ember Fire." He glanced at Feng Yin within the Soul Suppressing Pagoda. "Ah, who knows in which year or month A Yin's soul will finally return."
Feng Yin's soul was scattered across the Three Realms. Even with the full might of the Phoenix Clan, it would take over a century to completely recover it.
"The Nirvana of the Fire Phoenix lineage has always been fraught with tribulations. This calamity was destined for A Yin, unavoidable." Feng Ran sighed softly, walking to the side of the Soul Suppressing Pagoda. Looking at her disciple's still-youthful face, she felt a pang of heartache.
"I only hope her tribulations are not like mine... Feng Yun, I entrust the affairs of the Phoenix Clan, both great and small, to your care. I have already handed temporary governance of the Celestial Realm to Lan Feng. From today onward, I will enter seclusion at the overseas Phoenix Island to focus on nurturing Jing Jian's soul. Unless I emerge on my own, do not strike the Severed Dragon Stone."
The overseas Phoenix Island existed within the eye of a storm at the edge of the heavens, inaccessible without demi-god power. The only means of transmitting a message was the Severed Dragon Stone located outside the island."Yes, Your Majesty. Please leave with peace of mind. I will spare no effort in mobilizing the entire clan to recover Ah Yin's soul as soon as possible." Feng Yun knew that Feng Ran had been haunted by Jing Jian's death for a century, unable to let go, so she said no more and took charge of the Phoenix Clan's affairs.
"Some things need not be forced. Do your best, and when the time comes, she will return one day."
Feng Ran nodded, then shook her head, leaving these words behind before vanishing from the Phoenix Hall.
From then on, the blazing fire within the Soul Suppressing Pagoda in the Phoenix Hall burned for years.
Until years later, when Gu Jin was trapped in the Forbidden Valley of Great Marsh Mountain, holding the Water Condensation Beast he had raised for half a year that had yet to open its eyes, drinking Drunken Jade Dew, he recalled this past event.
He had never forgotten Feng Yin, who had opened her eyes to the world with a phoenix crown appearing on her forehead within the Ancestral Phoenix Tree, just as he had always remembered that pale, closed face that could never descend into the world again.
Feng Yin, his divine beast, had become his lifelong sin before she was even born.
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