The Last Immortal

Chapter Ninety-Eight

The day Feng Yin awoke was a fine one. On the second day after the Ember Fire of the Ghost Realm pierced the heavens, the ancient forest on Phoenix Tree Island that had been destroyed by Gu Jin a millennium ago revived overnight. Flowers bloomed across the island, nine-colored clouds and mist shrouded the entire North Sea, the merfolk who never appeared during daylight gathered around the island singing hymns, and the Phoenix Clan, from the Elders down, sent a hundred phoenixes soaring through the skies, their cries echoing across the nine heavens. Such wondrous sights spread throughout the Immortal, Demon, and Ghost Realms in a single day.

Across the Three Realms, it was said that the Little Phoenix Lord of Wutong Phoenix Island had returned amidst such marvels, surely accompanied by a destiny blessed by heaven’s fortune.

Yet it was strange: a thousand years ago, the Celestial Emperor had hosted a grand feast for the Three Realms to celebrate the Little Phoenix Lord’s birth, but this time, upon her return to the world, Wutong Phoenix Island showed no sign of hosting any guests. There were only rumors that the returned Little Phoenix Lord possessed extraordinary majesty and peerless immortal grace across the Three Realms. Though the immortals itched with curiosity, having no chance to witness the Little Phoenix Lord’s immortal grace left them helpless. They consoled themselves that since Celestial Emperor Feng Ran was soon to ascend to the Divine Realm, as the next Phoenix Sovereign, there would surely come a time to behold this Little Phoenix Lord of Wutong Phoenix Island.

No one knew that on the day the Ghost Realm’s Ember Fire broke through the boundary, the Fire Phoenix Jade that had hung at the waist of Clear Pond Palace’s High Lord Pu Yan for a century vanished without warning.

Beside a tranquil pool of water, he stared blankly at his now-empty waist, a faint trace of loneliness and reminiscence flickering through eyes that had remained calm for a thousand years.

“Little Phoenix, even you have disappeared. Truly, no old acquaintances remain by my side anymore. But so be it. With your return, the weight of my sins may lessen by one.”

The white-robed Immortal Lord gazed toward the direction of Great Marsh Mountain, a bitter smile curling at the corner of his lips.

His sigh dissipated deep within Clear Pond Palace, unheard and unnoticed by anyone for a millennium.

Compared to the outside world’s curious discussions, the atmosphere on Phoenix Tree Island was subtly lively, and for no other reason than that the awakened Feng Yin had utterly astonished the Phoenix Clan’s Elders. They had expected the return of the lively, clever, and willful Little Phoenix Lord from a thousand years ago, but never imagined…

That day, when several Elders rushed into the Phoenix Hall and saw the phoenix lord sitting upon the throne with a composed brow, deep in contemplation, radiating extraordinary majesty, their faces filled with surprise and delight. Silently, in their hearts, they removed the word “Little.” Faced with Feng Yin, who had already become a Demigod and whose lordly presence rivaled that of the Phoenix Sovereign, none dared address her as “Little Phoenix Lord” any longer.

Although Feng Yin’s temperament after her return was not as charmingly naive and playful as in her childhood, the clan’s most venerable Elders were overjoyed beyond measure. Ignoring Feng Yin’s mature, youthful face, they still flocked to the Phoenix Grace Palace daily, each time bringing different offerings—from the celestial jade of the nine heavens to the treasures of the Four Seas. As long as it could bring a slight curve to the lips of the little ancestor in Phoenix Grace Palace, the Elders would be delighted for an entire day.

When Feng Ran returned from the Heavenly Palace after handling Immortal Realm affairs, what she witnessed was the entire clan fawning over her little disciple in such an obsequious manner.

However, to transform into a Demigod within a mere millennium—aside from Yuan Qi, who was born divine—Feng Yin could be considered unique throughout the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands, past and present. No wonder the Elders cherished and valued her like the apple of their eye. If not for the returned little phoenix’s genuinely low-key and reserved nature, the Phoenix Clan would likely have already hosted a grand feast to entertain the Three Realms, inviting all gods and buddhas to behold their own astonishing Little Phoenix Lord.Not to mention the Elders of the Phoenix Clan, even Feng Ran was genuinely astonished when she first saw Feng Yin. It wasn't because of her demi-god power, but rather because of her worldly weariness and her deep, unfathomable temperament. Even Feng Ran, who had lived for tens of thousands of years, had rarely seen such indifferent and lonely eyes.

What exactly had her little disciple experienced over the past millennium to develop such a temperament? Feng Ran was puzzled, but after Feng Yin awoke, she had been recuperating in the Phoenix Palace, leaving Feng Ran no opportunity to ask.

Three months later, at the Phoenix Roost Hall, Listening Cloud Terrace.

A chessboard, a cup of Putuo tea, and a wisp of faint fragrance.

Master and disciple faced each other over the chessboard. Feng Yin placed a piece and, meeting Feng Ran's probing gaze, smiled. "Master Sovereign, your gaze is making your disciple uneasy. If you have questions, please ask directly."

Feng Ran raised an eyebrow. "Your Master Sovereign has never been one to pry into others' private affairs. Speak if you wish; I won't force you."

Feng Ran's domineering nature had persisted for millennia, and after serving as the Celestial Emperor for so many years, she was hardly one to be intimidated by her own disciple.

Feng Yin shook her head, a trace of helplessness flickering in her phoenix eyes, which resembled Feng Ran's. After a millennium of worldly experience, she was no longer the little phoenix who would act cute and silly on Feng Ran's shoulder, but she also wouldn't display a rebellious temperament in front of Feng Ran.

She knew what Feng Ran wanted to ask. After sleeping for a millennium, she had awoken as a Demigod, her temperament completely different from a thousand years ago. Everyone on Phoenix Tree Island was likely curious and concerned, but only Feng Ran could ask outright.

"During my Nirvana Rebirth, I was destroyed by..." Feng Yin's voice paused almost imperceptibly, "Immortal Lord Gu Jin of Great Marsh Mountain. My soul scattered across heaven and earth, with one fragment entering the cycle of reincarnation in the Ghost Realm. Perhaps it was due to the instinct of a Fire Phoenix's Nirvana, but throughout the millennium of reincarnation, I retained the memories of every lifetime. In the final lifetime, a millennium later, I leaped into the Bridge of Helplessness, my soul returned to Phoenix Tree Island, and I awoke from Nirvana."

Feng Yin looked at Feng Ran, somewhat resigned. "Master Sovereign, I have experienced dozens of lifetimes, tasting all facets of mortal life and worldly status. Although my current temperament may seem detached, it spares me the trouble of further worldly trials in the future."

Although Feng Ran had anticipated that Feng Yin's millennium had likely involved hardships, she hadn't expected her to have lived in such a manner. Though her expression remained unchanged, she was deeply astonished inwardly.

It wasn't uncommon for immortals to descend to the mortal realm to undergo trials, but even the True Gods of the Divine Realm had never undergone such a process. This was hardly a mere descent for trials—it was more like an accelerated tempering of the soul and mind. No wonder Feng Yin's temperament had transformed so drastically in just a millennium. Yet Feng Ran remained puzzled: worldly trials could only temper Feng Yin's soul power. Where, then, did her demi-god power come from? Although the Soul Suppressing Pagoda had nurtured her body for a millennium, a thousand-year-old Demigod was still too unbelievable. Moreover, her transformation into a god had not triggered a Thunder Tribulation—something unheard of.

"You were mischievous in your youth, and I once worried your temperament would be unfit to lead the Phoenix Clan. Now..." Feng Ran took a sip of tea and sighed. "I no longer have to worry. My Ascension to the Divine Realm is imminent. Succeed me as the Phoenix Sovereign."

As she spoke, Feng Ran took an object from her sleeve and tossed it toward Feng Yin. Feng Yin hurriedly caught it, and as soon as the object touched her hand, it slid smoothly onto her thumb.Feng Yin lowered her head to look at the Phoenix Sovereign jade ring on her finger. Even after experiencing a thousand years of worldly life, she couldn’t immediately process what had just happened. “Master Sovereign, you…”

“Oh, our Phoenix Clan has no family fortune to speak of. We’re quite poor and have always kept things simple. That just now was your succession ceremony. From today onward, you are the Phoenix Sovereign.”

Succession ceremony? By tossing a ring? Feng Yin pondered Feng Ran’s words, and her expression instantly turned colorful.

A thousand years ago, when I was born, Phoenix Tree Island held a grand feast for the entire Three Realms that lasted three full days! The endless banquet spread was enough to cover an Immortal Mansion’s expenses for ten years! Feng Yin rolled her eyes a hundred times in her heart, but the words “respect for teachers and reverence for the Way” weighed heavily on her head, forcing her to respond with a reluctant “Yes.”

Feng Ran was delighted to see her youthful demeanor, inwardly overjoyed but showing none of it on her face.

Feng Yin, however, began to reflect on Feng Ran’s earlier words and raised an eyebrow. “Ascending to the Divine Realm? Master Sovereign, I’ve only just returned, and you’re already planning to ascend to the Divine Realm. Isn’t that a bit too hasty?”

“Hasty? If you hadn’t been in deep slumber all this time, leaving the Phoenix Clan without a sovereign to inherit the throne, I would have ascended long ago. Now, I can delay no longer.” Feng Ran gazed in the direction of the ancient Phoenix Tree forest. “Jing Jian is about to awaken. I must take his soul to the Divine Realm and ask Shang Gu to use Primordial Chaos Power to reconstruct his body.”

Feng Yin was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed, revealing a rare smile since her Nirvana Rebirth. “Master Sovereign, is my master-husband going to wake up?”

Feng Ran was both amused and exasperated by the title but found it quite endearing. She nodded. “It’s been over a thousand years. Back then in Rakshasa Land, I thought his soul had vanished forever from the Three Realms. I never imagined I’d live to see the day he returns…” Feng Ran seemed to recall something, her voice suddenly trailing off as she sighed.

This sigh was unlike Feng Ran’s usual decisive and straightforward demeanor. Feng Yin chuckled. “Master Sovereign, my master-husband is about to return. Why are you sighing?”

Feng Ran sighed with emotion. “I’m just reflecting on the unpredictability of fate. Who would have thought that a hundred years after Jing Jian’s departure, Rakshasa Land would erupt in another war between immortals and demons, and Yuan Qi would even…”

“Master Sovereign.” Without warning, Feng Yin suddenly interrupted Feng Ran, speaking as if it were of no concern. “I heard that after my soul scattered and spirit dispersed, some rather eventful things happened in the Three Realms. The Elders have told me all about it these past few days, but it’s all ancient history from a thousand years ago, and it has nothing to do with me anyway. What I’m curious about is, once you ascend to the Divine Realm, what are your plans for the position of Celestial Emperor? The current Demon Emperor is a Ten-Tailed Heavenly Fox. If the Celestial Emperor is incompetent, the Immortal Tribe might not fare well for the next ten thousand years.”

Feng Ran shrugged. “Our Phoenix Clan is originally an ancient divine beast lineage, not part of the Lower Three Realms. It’s just that our clansmen have grown accustomed to living on Phoenix Island over the past sixty thousand years, so I never bothered to relocate the entire clan back to the Divine Realm. Back then, if Mu Guang hadn’t pleaded with me, I would never have taken on the role of Celestial Emperor. Now, a thousand years have passed, and it’s time to return the position of Celestial Emperor to the Immortal Tribe.” Feng Ran’s eyes held wisdom. “My temperament simply isn’t suited to being the ruler of a realm high above the heavens. Lan Feng would have been a good choice back then, but alas, fate is unpredictable…” Feng Ran shook her head. “Yesterday, I already issued the Proclamation of Reverence to Heaven across the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands. Whoever can break through the Nine Palaces Tower I’ve set up in the Heavenly Palace three months from now and retrieve the Celestial Emperor’s seal inside will become the next Celestial Emperor.”The Nine Palaces Tower has nine levels, each guarded by an Immortal Lord. With each level ascended, the challenger's Immortal Power diminishes by a portion, until only one-tenth remains upon reaching the ninth level. Feng Ran's use of the Nine Palaces Tower to select the Celestial Emperor is indeed a method, but within the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands, there are many powerful old deities with formidable strength, and several among them possess the capability to break through the tower. If multiple individuals succeed in breaking through, how will the final decision be made?

Feng Yin then said, "Master Sovereign, isn't using the Nine Palaces Tower to choose the Celestial Emperor a bit too arbitrary? What if more than one person breaks through the tower?"

Feng Ran placed another chess piece, pleased with the favorable situation on the board, and smiled. "I personally guard the final level. Don’t worry. Mu Guang entrusted the Immortal Realm to me, and if I ascend, I will not betray the trust he placed in me back then. What, do you think your Master Sovereign is so unreliable, merely playing around while sitting on the Celestial Emperor’s throne?"

Feng Yin rubbed his nose and quickly apologized, "Master Sovereign has considered everything so thoroughly; it was my oversight. However..." Feng Yin suddenly added, "With Master Sovereign’s Divine Power, aside from the Little Divine Lord of Clear Pond Palace, I doubt anyone could break through the Nine Palaces Tower after losing nine-tenths of their Immortal Power. Master Sovereign must already have a candidate in mind for the Celestial Emperor..." Feng Yin blinked at Feng Ran. "Master Sovereign, that Little Divine Lord was raised by you personally. Aren’t you afraid the Immortal Tribe will accuse you of favoritism, saying he rose through connections?"

Feng Ran had long since ascended to High God status. Aside from Yuan Qi, who had undergone Divine Transformation and possessed Primordial Chaos Power, who else could break through the Nine Palaces Tower after losing nine-tenths of their Immortal Power? Although Master Sovereign had issued the Edict of Reverence to Heaven, inviting deities from across the Nine Provinces and Eight Wastelands to challenge the tower, once it became known that she was the final guardian, wouldn’t the Three Realms understand her intentions?

Feng Ran smiled but neither confirmed nor denied it, revealing only a meaningful expression. She turned to Feng Yin and said, "That’s not necessarily true. He was raised by me, but you were taught by me. If you wish to become the Celestial Emperor, you could try competing with him."

Upon hearing this, Feng Yin waved his hands repeatedly, his eyes filled with disdain. "Master Sovereign, being the Phoenix Sovereign is already exhausting enough. Please don’t burden me with the Celestial Emperor’s throne. Those old deities in the Heavenly Palace are always fussing over trivial formalities, and I have no patience for that."

"Your temperament truly resembles mine," Feng Ran shook her head. "Very well, if you don’t wish to, then so be it. Just focus on guarding the Phoenix nest. You are already the Phoenix Sovereign, and though you’ve spent a thousand years reincarnating in the mortal realm, you are unfamiliar with the Sect Leaders of the various domains and the High Immortals of the Heavenly Palace. This time, as deities gather at the Heavenly Palace for the Celestial Emperor selection, accompany me to the Ninth Heaven to meet the Sect Leaders of the various domains. It will also help you in governing the Phoenix Clan in the future."

Feng Yin nodded, agreeing to Feng Ran’s request. As the future sovereign of the Phoenix Clan, even though Phoenix Tree Island remained aloof from the conflicts of the Three Realms, the vast Phoenix Clan would inevitably interact with the various races of the Three Realms.

"I was somewhat surprised by your awakening this time," Feng Ran looked at her disciple.

"Oh? Why is Master Sovereign surprised?"

"Given your temperament as a child, with such an extraordinary reincarnation experience, you would have eagerly boasted to your master and perhaps even gone to the Ghost Realm to confront the Ghost King. This time, I didn’t ask, and you didn’t mention it at all. You’ve truly grown up." Feng Ran spoke calmly but suddenly asked, "Feng Yin, did your lost soul directly enter the cycle of reincarnation in the Ghost Realm after dissipating from Phoenix Island?"Feng Yin had not expected Feng Ran to suddenly ask such a question. She was slightly taken aback, yet her expression remained completely unchanged. "Naturally, she went to the Ghost Realm for reincarnation. Even though I am a Fire Phoenix, a single wisp of a soul can hardly survive alone in the Three Realms."

Feng Ran nodded and said no more, turning her attention back to the chessboard. Feng Yin placed a piece, turning a desperate situation into one of rebirth and reversal. Feng Ran clicked her tongue in admiration twice. "Indeed, after so long training in the mortal world, your chess skills are no less than your master's. How dull, how dull. Rest well now. In three months, accompany me to the Heavenly Palace."

With a flick of her sleeve, Feng Ran tossed the chess piece in her hand back into the white jade chess box and walked toward the Listening Cloud Terrace. After taking two steps, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and looked at her little disciple, who was toying with a chess piece. She suddenly called out to her, "Feng Yin."

There was a hint of playfulness in her tone. Feng Yin looked up and met her Master Sovereign's wise and probing gaze.

"Although I am getting on in years, I am not one to forget things. Since your Nirvana Rebirth and descent into this world, you have never been to the Heavenly Palace. How do you know that the old deities up in the Nine Heavens are always fussing over those tedious formalities every day?"

Feng Yin's hand, which had been toying with the chess piece, paused. She did not respond smoothly, hesitating slightly.

"When I was young on Phoenix Island, I heard you and the Elders speak of it often. Naturally, I remember what those old deities in the Heavenly Palace are particular about."

"Oh? Is that so?" Feng Ran drew out her tone. "Your memory is indeed good, remembering things from a thousand years ago when you were still in the phoenix egg. Your Master Sovereign is getting old, and I must admit it..."

Feng Ran sighed as she descended from the Listening Cloud Terrace, leaving Feng Yin alone on the platform. Her retreating figure made it impossible to discern the deeper meaning behind her sighs.

After a long while, the chess piece Feng Yin had been toying with fell onto the board, producing a crisp sound. She suppressed the indifference in her brow, revealing the bone-chilling coldness buried deep within.

A thousand years had passed like a long dream. The moment she opened her eyes again on Wutong Phoenix Island, she finally understood that the last cry of "Ayin" on the Bridge of Helplessness had never been meant for her, but for that female immortal from Great Marsh Mountain who had died in Rakshasa Land over a thousand years ago.

That Water Condensation Beast Ayin, who had lived a brief life in innocence and purity, yet bore a lifetime of slander and injustice, her soul scattered and spirit dispersed, never to be reincarnated. No one knew that the Phoenix Sovereign of the Phoenix Clan had experienced those absurd and ignorant years, but what did it matter?

Feng Yin stood up and gazed in the direction of the Heavenly Palace, her brow sharp and profound.

The Water Condensation Beast Ayin was dead, but she, Feng Yin, was still alive. She would uncover every truth buried deep within Great Marsh Mountain, one by one. As for those Demons of the Demon Tribe who had killed her comrades, she would spare not a single one.

As for the pain and hatred, love and resentment from a thousand years ago—what did they have to do with her, the Phoenix Sovereign of Wutong Phoenix Island?

On the third day after Celestial Emperor Feng Ran issued the Decree of Reverence to Heaven, the various immortal mansions of the Immortal Realm, restless over the position of the Sovereign, received invitations delivered from the Heavenly Palace.

Hua Shu, the Peacock Clan princess acting on behalf of the Four Seas, widely invited immortal friends from all mansions to honor the Heavenly Palace with their presence for the 1,200th birthday celebration of High Lord Pu Yan of Great Marsh Mountain, to be held half a month later.