Chapter 930: Visiting the Remnant Phoenix Clan
"Alright."
Yun Che agreed. He turned around to leave, but before he could take a step, he suddenly stopped in place, then turned back to face the Golden Crow Soul Spirit.
"I've changed my mind." Yun Che took a light breath, and his expression suddenly became relaxed. "I've decided not to pursue this matter any further."
"Oh?" The Golden Crow Soul Spirit showed slight surprise, then understood. "Hmph, it seems you're worried about affecting that woman named Xiao Lingxi."
"Yes." Yun Che nodded in acknowledgment. "Lingxi is not a person of the Xuan path. She has no pursuit or desire for Xuan power or authority. Her world is simple and pure. Although I am extremely curious about what this black jade and the 'Heaven-Defying World Scripture' it records truly are, if it comes at the cost of involving her... then I'd rather they had never appeared at all."
Yun Che flipped his palm and tossed the mysterious black jade into the Heavenly Poison Pearl. "From now on, I will never take out this black jade again. Whatever it is, let it remain silent forever."
"...Since this is your choice, so be it. You are already an invincible existence in this plane. There is indeed no need to forcefully pursue anything further. Unless you want to go to the Realm of the Gods."
"You... seem to really want me to go to that place called the God Realm." Yun Che looked up and said.
"Hahahaha," the Golden Crow Soul Spirit laughed loudly. "Of course! Your body carries my final source blood and soul origin, and even more so, the inheritance of the Evil God. This world's overly thin elements and excessively turbid air will only greatly limit your growth, wasting your talent and the bloodline I bestowed upon you. How I long to see to what extent a 'freak' like you would grow if you went to the God Realm."
"Unfortunately, even if you truly go to the God Realm, I will no longer be able to see it."
"I also want to go very much. I want to see Mo Li again... otherwise, it will be a lifelong regret for me." Yun Che said as he slowly clenched his fists. "After leaving here, I must begin training. Within five years, no matter what, I must go to the Realm of the Gods at least once."
Not because of his curiosity about the Realm of the Gods, nor because he craved even greater power... he just wanted to see Mo Li.
The longer Mo Li had been gone, the more this feeling had not faded with time but instead grew stronger every day.
"Very good." The Golden Crow Soul Spirit approved. "Within five years—if it were anyone else, I absolutely would not believe it. But you, perhaps it's truly possible. However, I am destined not to see that day."
Yun Che's gaze moved, sweeping around as he worriedly asked, "Your time of existence..."
"You said last time that you had found a way to cure Hua Caili's fatal affliction? Is it true?" The Golden Crow Soul Spirit interrupted him and suddenly asked.
Yun Che nodded. "Yes. And I believe that method will definitely succeed. However, I'll have to wait a few more months, and all the power Caiyi obtained from you back then will dissipate completely."
"..." The Golden Crow Soul Spirit was silent for a long time, then said in a deep voice, "If it truly comes to pass, bring her before me. I will have something to give her."
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Everything had settled. Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi stayed in Liuyun City, while Xiao Yun and his wife shuttled back and forth between Liuyun City and Yaohuang City, enjoying themselves immensely. Cang Yue resumed control of the Cangfeng Imperial Clan, and the prestige of the Cangfeng Kingdom grew day by day, sweeping all before it. Su Linger devoted herself to studying medicine under Yungu, her exceptional comprehension allowing her medical skills to advance by leaps and bounds. She was deeply passionate about the medical path, and her greatest wish was to be able to help Yun Che, not just to enjoy his protection.
Xia Yuanba remained in the Huangji Sacred Domain, striving to adapt to his position as Saint Emperor. His Overlord Emperor Divine Meridian, along with his relationship with Yun Che, ensured his seat was extraordinarily stable despite his youth and insufficient Xuan power.
But Xia Qingyue remained without any news at all.
After enjoying a long period of leisure and freedom, Yun Che's desire to see Mo Li grew increasingly intense. He finally calmed his mind and prepared to begin training in earnest, determined to break through the boundary of the Sovereign Xuan realm within five years and reach the legendary Divine Path, so he could go to the Realm of the Gods where Mo Li resided.
The best place for training was undoubtedly the Ice Extreme Snow Domain. It was vast and quiet, with eternal cold that could freeze away all distracting thoughts.
Before that, Yun Che first took Feng Xue'er to the place he had promised to bring her many years ago.
"Ahead, that stretch of continuous mountains, is the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range."
Yun Che and Feng Xue'er rode the wind. In their line of sight was a fast-approaching dark mountainous area. Although it was called a "mountain range," there were no very high peaks, and it was only a few hundred miles from north to south.
"This Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range is very small, but because of the Phoenix aura at its center, it gathers an extremely large number of Xuan Beasts. That's how it got its name." Yun Che explained to Feng Xue'er.
Back then, he and Cang Yue had been chased by Xiao Zaihe of the Xiao Sect branch and forced to fall into the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. At that time, the mountain range was an extremely dangerous place for them. Now, even if all the Xuan Beasts within surged at them, they couldn't pose the slightest threat.
"Although there are many Xuan Beasts in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, their levels are generally very low. The highest are Earth Xuan Beasts... maybe a few Heaven Xuan Beasts exist. But given the Xuan power level of the Cangfeng Kingdom, this is an extremely dangerous place. Coupled with the fact that the Xuan Beasts appear in groups, almost no Xuan practitioners in the Cangfeng Kingdom dare to force their way in."
"Brother Yun, that curse you mentioned before—was it really that terrible?" Feng Xue'er asked.
Yun Che nodded slightly. "The Phoenix Soul Spirit here is different from the Phoenix God, the ancestor of your Phoenix God Sect. Its temperament is extremely rigid. Many years ago, an ancestor of the Phoenix clan here accidentally burned down a village with Phoenix Flame. The Phoenix Soul Spirit was furious and set a very cruel curse within their Phoenix Bloodline... and this curse was passed down through the bloodline, causing generation after generation of this Phoenix clan to be unable to break through the Initial Xuan realm. To protect themselves, they had to hide forever in this place where no one could approach... It wasn't until this generation that they finally found release. I wonder how they are doing now."
"One person's mistake—why should all the clan, and even their descendants for generations, atone for it? It's really pitiful." Feng Xue'er said softly. "When I see them, I will convey Father's sincerity. If they are willing to merge into the Phoenix God Sect, we will welcome them without reservation. If they are unwilling, we will do our best to help them."
"Let's see them first. I don't know if they still remember me, after so many years." Yun Che said with nostalgia. This place was a huge turning point in his life, the place where he obtained his first drop of Divine Bloodline.
"Brother Yun is their savior. He even lifted the bloodline curse they had borne for so many years. How could they possibly forget him?" Feng Xue'er said with a smile.
Soon, they arrived above the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. Following the location in his memory, Yun Che took Feng Xue'er and flew all the way to the center of the mountain range—the place where he and Cang Yue had fallen all those years ago.
But just as they approached the central area, an unusual aura came from afar. Yun Che slowed down, and Feng Xue'er said in surprise, "Such a strong Phoenix aura!"
"...Let's go down and take a look."
The two descended from the air. The place where they stood was only about thirty miles from the central area of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range—where the remnant Phoenix clan lived in seclusion. But right in front of them, there was a huge invisible barrier.
And on this invisible barrier, an especially strong Phoenix aura was clearly emanating.
This barrier covered the central zone of the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, completely enclosing an area of over sixty miles. Yun Che reached out and touched the barrier before him. As he expected, his hand passed through effortlessly. The barrier offered no obstruction to him.
The moment his palm touched it, he was completely certain: this was a one-way isolation barrier. Only those with Phoenix bloodline could freely enter and exit; those without Phoenix bloodline could only exit, not enter.
"Brother Yun, was this barrier here before?" Feng Xue'er asked.
"No," Yun Che shook his head. "This barrier can only be entered by those with Phoenix bloodline. If it had existed before, you and your sister Cang Yue could not have entered. To form such a massive isolation barrier, it must have been done by the Phoenix Soul Spirit here. It seems that after lifting their bloodline curse, feeling that the punishment borne for generations was too cruel, it built this barrier to ensure they would never again suffer a calamity like that one. Under this barrier's protection, they can grow in peace and become strong enough to freely leave this place."
Yun Che withdrew his arm and turned around. "Xue'er, let's go."
"Mn." Feng Xue'er did not hesitate and nodded happily. "It's a bit regrettable, but they have suffered so many years of hardship and only now obtained peace and the personal protection of the Phoenix God. It really wouldn't be right for us to disturb their tranquility."
Yun Che smiled. "Now that their bloodline curse is gone, they must be training with all their might. In a few years, when they are strong enough, this barrier will disappear. We'll come back then."
"Alright."
The existence of this Phoenix barrier made the two abandon their plan to visit the remnant Phoenix clan inside. They ascended high into the air and were about to leave... when, from another part of the barrier, a small, delicate girl's figure ran out from within. Behind her, a slightly thin young man followed hurriedly.
This pair of young boy and girl looked only fifteen or sixteen years old. The girl had bright eyes and white teeth, dressed in red. Her youthful, tender face already revealed stunning beauty. Her slender brows arched upward, her face full of smiles, as she flew out of the barrier like a released red butterfly, occasionally letting out clear, ethereal laughter.
The young man behind her was about the same age and even bore many resemblances to her in appearance. Unlike the girl's soaring joy, his face was full of panic as he chased after her, panting: "Xian'er! You can't! You can't go out of the barrier! It's too dangerous! Come back... Mom and Dad will scold us!"
"Hehe, it's fine. The outside isn't as dangerous as Mom and Dad say. Last time I sneaked out, that big monster with the strange shape wasn't that tough either." The girl said carelessly, giggling.
"No, no! Xian'er! Stop! There really will be danger!"
Although the young man was chasing with all his might, the girl was running very fast, preventing him from ever catching up. Before they knew it, they were several miles away from the barrier.
Just as they were about to fly away, Yun Che and Feng Xue'er stopped, looking at the boy and girl who had suddenly appeared in their sight. Yun Che was briefly stunned, then softly called out, "Zu'er, Xian'er!"
"Brother Yun still remembers them?" Feng Xue'er said with a smile.
"They are twin siblings, the children of the clan leader Feng Baichuan. When I saw them back then, they were only eight years old. In the blink of an eye, they've grown so much." Yun Che said with great emotion, his gaze following their movements. Eight years had passed. The two brave, innocent children from before—one was now a graceful young woman, the other a tall youth. Seeing their changes, Yun Che felt the passage of time more acutely than ever before.
"In just eight short years, their Xuan power has grown from the Initial Xuan realm to the Earth Xuan realm. What incredible talent. Half of it is due to the Phoenix bloodline, and the other half... should be because they've always worked very hard." Yun Che said approvingly. Feng Xian'er's Xuan power aura was at Earth Xuan realm, Level 2, while Feng Zu'er was at an astonishing Earth Xuan realm, Level 4. Their cultivation levels had both completely surpassed that of Ling Yun at the same age—Ling Yun, who had once been the number one young expert of the Cangfeng Mystic Realm.
At this rate, they should be able to break through to the Heaven Xuan realm before they turn twenty.