Chapter 1508: Inheritance Ground
The Ice Phoenix phantom’s wings spanned over three hundred meters when fully spread, each flap carrying it three hundred li.
“The Ice Phoenix Ancient Saint Body is as renowned as the True Dragon Body, only slightly weaker than the True God Body. The Phoenix Clan is famous throughout the world for their speed. At Lingxi’s current speed, even if she encounters a One-Step Saint King, she should have the ability to escape,” Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Following behind the Ice Phoenix phantom, he had no idea how far they had traveled.
Gradually, thick Rainbow Transformation Vines appeared ahead, weaving between the sky and the ground. They looked like colorful divine trees on one hand, and a multicolored net on the other.
Mu Lingxi said, “The sensation has grown stronger. We should be close to the Ice Fire Phoenix’s inheritance ground.”
Suddenly—
“Whoosh!”
A ball of flame burst out from the Rainbow Transformation Vines, striking the Ice Phoenix phantom flying above.
With a bang, the Ice Phoenix phantom let out a mournful cry and fell from midair.
The light radiating from the Ice Phoenix phantom dimmed considerably.
Because her True Essence Shadow had been attacked, Mu Lingxi felt her blood and qi flow unevenly, making it hard to steady herself. Her delicate body stumbled backward. Just then, a warm yet broad hand pressed against her back, forming a vortex-shaped energy current that dissipated the force she had endured.
Mu Lingxi turned her head and saw Zhang Ruochen’s handsome face and sharp gaze.
“Let me handle this.”
A firm, confident voice came from Zhang Ruochen’s mouth.
The ball of flame did not dissipate; instead, it dove downward.
It was a sacred bird with three heads, but the flames radiating from its body were so blinding that it looked like a fireball.
Zhang Ruochen cast a cold glare at the flame sacred bird. Forming a palm seal with his right hand, he struck out.
From his palm, a dragon shot forth, crashing into the flame sacred bird. Both exploded simultaneously, scattering into a rain of fire.
Mo Yin showed a hint of surprise. “Was that a sacred bird or a fireball?”
“Just a pattern drawn by some old fellow,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Mu Lingxi withdrew her True Essence Shadow into her body, guessing who the old fellow Zhang Ruochen referred to was. A slight curve appeared on her crystalline lips, revealing an amused expression.
“Zhang Ruochen, I am a master of painting. You’d better show some respect.”
From among the multicolored Rainbow Transformation Vines, an old man in a Confucian robe stepped out.
The old man held a bronze painting brush, his face stern, his eyes bright and spirited. An air of pride naturally emanated from him.
Who else could it be but Chu Siyuan?
“Master of painting? Senior Mr. Ju, have you gotten a bit swollen-headed after breaking through to the Saint King realm?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Hearing the words “Mr. Ju,” Chu Siyuan’s old face bulged with prominent veins. A powerful spiritual force surged from his heart, gathering into the bronze brush in his hand.
Throughout the entire Kunlun Realm, no more than three spiritual power cultivators specializing in the painting path had reached the Saint King realm. So, in Chu Siyuan’s view, calling himself a “master of painting” was perfectly normal and well-deserved.
With his current spiritual power and painting skills, was he not worthy of the title?
Yet here he was, mocked by a junior, and called by the title he hated most. How could he tolerate it?
“So what if I’m swollen-headed? Today, I’m going to teach you a lesson.”
The bronze brush in Chu Siyuan’s hand moved like a spiritual snake, dancing swiftly as he traced strange patterns in the air.
“Swish.”
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen appeared before Chu Siyuan. The Abyssal Ancient Sword in his hand pointed at Chu Siyuan’s brow, its sword light flickering.
“So fast.”
Chu Siyuan muttered inwardly, but his brush came to an abrupt halt, stopping mid-stroke.
Zhang Ruochen held the heavy black sword level. “Master of painting, so what? Even if your spiritual power were twice as strong, as long as you’re within thirty zhang of me, I could kill you with one sword strike.”
Chu Siyuan showed no fear in his eyes. He kept his old face cold, as if daring Zhang Ruochen to strike.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Where is Qiu Yu?”
“He escaped,” Chu Siyuan said.
Zhang Ruochen naturally did not believe him. “He was heavily injured at the time. With your cultivation, you couldn’t subdue him?”
“Do you think I didn’t want to kill that spineless traitor who sided with the Rakshasa Clan? But he got away,” Chu Siyuan said, recalling the incident with some irritation. “I chased him all the way into the Phoenix Nest. But inside the Phoenix Nest, something strange happened.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “What strange thing?”
“A leaf from a parasol tree took him away. That leaf flew incredibly fast. I used all my strength but couldn’t catch up,” Chu Siyuan said.
Mu Lingxi blinked and laughed. “It sounds like you, senior, are making up a story.”
Chu Siyuan fumed. “I am a master of the Confucian path. I act with integrity and have never told a single lie in my life.”
Zhang Ruochen knew that Chu Siyuan, that stubborn old man, valued his reputation more than his life. He probably would not lie.
Had Qiu Yu really been rescued by a leaf?
Behind Chu Siyuan, eight graceful and beautiful figures stepped out. Each possessed stunning beauty and a unique aura, like eight fairies descending to the mortal world.
Shengshu Cainü, Qing Mo, Siming Shennü…
Except for Canglan Wusheng, all eight Xuan Nü were here.
Shengshu Cainü said, “In the Zuling Realm, two Great Saints had close ties with the Ice Fire Phoenix: Wujin Dasheng and Qiao Zu. Legend has it that Qiao Zu was a parasol tree, and the Ice Fire Phoenix’s nest was built atop that tree.”
Zhang Ruochen withdrew the sword from Chu Siyuan’s brow. “But there is no parasol tree near the Phoenix Nest.”
“That only means the tree has died, leaving behind a lingering thought. That thought sensed Qiu Yu’s aura and drove a leaf to take him away to receive Qiao Zu’s inheritance,” Shengshu Cainü analyzed, though her tone carried certainty. This possibility was the only one that fit.
Zhang Ruochen looked past Chu Siyuan and the eight Xuan Nü. “Is Wan Canglan inside, seizing the Ice Fire Phoenix’s inheritance?”
“Exactly,” Shengshu Cainü said.
“Let’s go.”
Zhang Ruochen took Mu Lingxi’s small hand and strode deeper into the Rainbow Transformation Vines.
Chu Siyuan and several of the Xuan Nü rushed forward, blocking Zhang Ruochen’s path.
“What are you doing? We found the Ice Fire Phoenix’s inheritance first. Are you trying to take it?” Siming Shennü’s voice was quite cold.
“And if I am?”
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, and a powerful sacred might erupted. Even from over ten zhang away, it forced Siming Shennü to stumble backward.
The other Xuan Nü and Chu Siyuan gathered their strength, ready to fight, but Shengshu Cainü stopped them.
Shengshu Cainü watched Zhang Ruochen tightly holding Mu Lingxi’s hand, feeling a stir in her heart—an indescribable envy, and a trace of bitterness.
But her expression flickered only briefly, revealing no emotion.
Shengshu Cainü used her spiritual power to send a message to Chu Siyuan and the Xuan Nü: “Let them pass. With our strength, we cannot stop Zhang Ruochen. Besides, Sister Canglan has a Fire Phoenix body and can only take part of the Ice Fire Phoenix’s inheritance. Mu Lingxi has an Ice Phoenix body, which is perfect for claiming the other part.”
After saying this, the bitterness in Shengshu Cainü’s heart deepened by another degree.
Zhang Ruochen led Mu Lingxi through the Rainbow Transformation Vines to the edge of a Yin-Yang lake.
Half the lake was filled with Nether Winter Water, the other half with Purifying Divine Flame.
At the center of the lake floated a three-foot-tall, dazzling crystal. Inside the crystal was a palm-sized phoenix, woven from strands of sacred dao rules. The aura it emitted created immense pressure, inspiring awe.
That crystal was the Ice Fire Phoenix’s sacred source.
Canglan Wusheng stood on the eastern side of the Ice Fire Phoenix’s sacred source, half her body submerged underwater. The lake there was formed from condensed Purifying Divine Flame, with extremely high temperatures.
The flames had turned into liquid.
On Canglan Wusheng’s back, a pair of crimson flame phoenix wings spread wide. As she continuously cycled her technique, the liquid Purifying Divine Flame from the lake slowly merged into her body.
“Can Canglan Wusheng withstand the refining of the Purifying Divine Flame?”
Zhang Ruochen extended his spiritual power to probe and soon noticed some clues. A look of sudden realization crossed his face, and he smiled. “I see.”
The Purifying Divine Flame at the lake’s edge was not pure; it had mixed with some Nether Winter Water, neutralizing each other. Thus, its temperature and power were not very strong, appearing pale green.
The closer to the Ice Fire Phoenix’s sacred source, the deeper the lake’s color, and the more terrifying the Purifying Divine Flame. At the point closest to the sacred source, the Purifying Divine Flame reached the Middle Purification level, showing a mix of green and white.
The other side of the lake was the same.
At the lake’s edge was only century-old Nether Winter Water, gradually turning into millennium-old Nether Winter Water, then ten-thousand-year-old Nether Winter Water. At the point closest to the Ice Fire Phoenix’s sacred source, it had transformed into Extreme Yin Nether Ice Force.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Obtaining the Ice Fire Phoenix’s inheritance will likely be quite dangerous.”
“Nothing in this world comes without effort. Danger and opportunity go hand in hand.”
Mu Lingxi did not want to live forever under Zhang Ruochen’s protection. She knew this was her greatest chance. Even if it meant death, she had to take the risk.
A moment later, Mu Lingxi stepped into the lake, standing at the very edge. Century-old Nether Winter Water surrounded her body.
Even the century-old Nether Winter Water was bone-chillingly cold. Mu Lingxi’s delicate, slender frame trembled slightly, but she stood firm, refusing to retreat to the shore.
As she cycled her technique, a pair of dazzling phoenix wings spread from her back.
“Why is every woman I know so determined? They could live much easier lives,” Zhang Ruochen thought, several beautiful figures involuntarily flashing through his mind, stirring countless emotions.
But soon, a piercing sword cry snapped him back to reality, burying those thoughts deep in his heart.
“Master, someone is trying to seize the Merit Record Wall…”
“Boom.”
A powerful sword qi struck Mo Yin, sending her flying backward. The vines wrapped around the Merit Record Wall were severed by the sword qi, turning into wood shavings and dust.