Ye Chen casually swatted away a couple of pesky intruders trying to sneak in.
It didn't take long before Li Feihuang floated back gracefully, her expression serene. She glanced at Ye Chen with a faint smile, then found a spot to sit cross-legged, settling in to wait for the Phoenix Blood to fully coalesce.
Defeating An Yuyi? Li Feihuang didn't have much to say about it. After all, An Yuyi couldn't even beat Ye Chen. She wasn't even worth considering as a rival.
Not long after, An Yuyi stord into the hall, her eyes flashing with defiance as she shot a glance at Li Feihuang. If she hadn't been held back by the lack of a Blood Sea Golden Lotus, her spiritual root would've been perfectly balanced. She could've fused her Thunder Arts with her Star Arts seamlessly. Lose? Her? Impossible.
"Just wait," she thought. "Once I find a treasure to enhance my spiritual root, you're done for, Li Feihuang."
But even if she lost in combat, when it ca to claiming the Phoenix Blood, she hadn't been defeated. Not yet.
With newfound confidence, An Yuyi strode up to Ye Chen and spoke earnestly. "Ye Chen, there's been a lot of misunderstanding between us. So things… well, I admit I was wrong. I acted childish, and I ssed up. After my aunt scolded , I realized my mistakes."
She paused, her tone softening. "I'm saying this because, honestly, I kind of like you. You gave
that cultivation technique, protected
from the Earthheart Python, and even handed
a spot in the Divine Will Pool. All of that touched
deeply. And when you fought at the Divine Will Assembly, crushing all those opponents, especially how easily you took down Li Feng—it left
in awe."
"Those monts made
start to feel sothing for you. And I know you like
too!" Her voice grew bolder. "So, after we leave this secret realm and both break through to the Golden Core stage, how about we beco cultivation partners?"
In that mont, An Yuyi laid her heart bare. Part of it was because things had dragged on with Ye Chen for too long, and she wanted to lock things down. The other part? A deliberate jab at Li Feihuang. Sure, I might not beat you in a fight, she thought, but Ye Chen? He's mine.
anwhile, Ye Chen had been quietly musing that An Yuyi needed to practice more if she was that weak. But her sudden confession hit him like a bolt from the blue.
"Uh… what?"
Ye Chen was dumbfounded. Who gave you this kind of confidence? An apology and a casual "I like you," and now they were supposed to be cultivation partners?
Even setting aside the fact that Ye Chen had no intention of pairing up with anyone right now, if he did choose a partner, his master would be the first in line. Then maybe Yao Xi. Even the little demoness Su Yuxuan, Li Feihuang, or An Miaoli would rank higher than An Yuyi.
Her? She didn't even make the list.
Talk about ordinary yet overflowing with confidence!
Ye Chen's heart churned with exasperation, but his face betrayed only a flicker of hesitation. He stayed silent, unsure how to respond to An Yuyi's audacious proposal.
An Yuyi, catching his expression, curved her lips into a smug smile. He must be thrilled, she thought, convinced her sudden offer to beco cultivation partners had left him stunned with joy. She'd give him a mont to process. After all, she was certain Ye Chen would agree in the end.
Triumphantly, she glanced at Li Feihuang. So what if you won? she thought. I'm destined to be Ye Chen's partner. With that bond secured, the Phoenix Blood would surely be hers. A fleeting victory in combat ant nothing—true success was about who'd have the last laugh. Once she claid the Phoenix Blood and ford a ninth-grade Golden Core, fixing her spiritual root issue would be a breeze. Then, facing Li Feihuang again? She'd crush her with ease.
Her smile widened at the thought. Finding a spot near Ye Chen, An Yuyi sat cross-legged, settling into ditation to regulate her energy.
...
anwhile, Li Feihuang overheard An Yuyi's bold declaration. Her gaze shifted from the smug An Yuyi to Ye Chen, whose brow was furrowed in hesitant contemplation. A faint frown creased her own forehead.
Li Feihuang held no romantic feelings for Ye Chen—her loyalty to him was that of a vassal to a lord, nothing more. If he chose a cultivation partner, she wouldn't interfere. But if An Yuyi thought she could compete for the Phoenix Blood, that was another matter entirely.
After a brief mont of consideration, Li Feihuang held her tongue. On one hand, she had faith in Ye Chen. He'd already gifted her a spot in the Divine Will Sect and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold, proving his willingness to support her rise. The Phoenix Blood? She was confident he'd hand it over willingly, paving the way for her to don the imperial mantle.
On the other hand, if Ye Chen made the wrong choice, it wouldn't derail her plans. It would rely disappoint her. The Phoenix Blood was critical, tied to her Golden Core formation and the evolution of her physique. It was an opportunity she couldn't afford to miss.
If Ye Chen continued to back her as he always had, his loyalty would be rewarded. When she ascended as empress, his contributions would propel him to the heavens. But if he faltered and chose poorly? She'd take the Phoenix Blood by force.
Li Feihuang was suprely confident in her strength. With her Earth Spiritual Root and Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, she was nearly invincible among her peers. Suppressing An Yuyi earlier had taken only a sliver of her Southern Radiant Fire. If she unleashed the full might of her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, An Yuyi wouldn't last a single move.
And Ye Chen? He stood no chance against her either. She'd overpower him effortlessly.
Li Feihuang didn't want it to co to that. She saw great potential in Ye Chen—his talent was only slightly beneath her own. He could beco her most trusted confidant in the future, a vital ally. So, she sincerely hoped he wouldn't make a mistake.
If Ye Chen chose wrongly, she wouldn't hold it against him entirely. Even after ascending as empress, she'd repay his past help a hundredfold out of sentint. But the bond of loyalty between lord and vassal? That would be gone forever.
With a aningful glance, Li Feihuang looked deeply at Ye Chen, her eyes carrying an unspoken warning. Then she closed them, focusing inward to adjust her state. The Phoenix Blood was nearly within her grasp. It was ti to prepare for her Golden Core formation.
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...
In the blink of an eye, five days passed.
Outside the grand hall, half the disciples had already dispersed. The Divine Will Cave Heaven was hard to access, brimming with rare herbs and spirit beasts—opportunities too precious to miss. But the remaining disciples were far more curious about what was happening inside the hall.
Who was the direct disciple inside? Why could Li Feng and An Yuyi enter, even fight and return, while others were barred? Most perplexing of all, why hadn't anyone co out yet? Was sothing wrong with the Phoenix Blood? Or was there another issue?
The questions gnawed at them.
Qiao Ciguang and Shi Wanli, in particular, sat stubbornly by the entrance. They no longer cared about other opportunities. They just wanted to know who the bastard was that had outmaneuvered them. The two most celebrated prodigies of their sects, unable to even step inside, had beco a laughingstock.
They were convinced the person inside was so low-profile scher, a wolf in sheep's clothing who resented their brilliance and was deliberately targeting them.
...
Inside the hall, the dormant formation suddenly flared to life, emitting a dark red glow tinged with ominous black mist. A spectral phoenix, pitch-black from head to tail, materialized in the air.
An Yuyi and Li Feihuang's eyes lit up instantly. The Phoenix Blood was finally erging.
Ye Chen, however, frowned slightly, tempted to scoff. Does the Boundless Demon Sect have to be so grim? he thought. This creepy formation—can the Phoenix Blood it produces even be used?
But then he shrugged it off. Doesn't matter. It's not for
anyway. His furrowed brow relaxed.
A piercing cry echoed through the hall, a sound so commanding it instilled awe and an urge to submit, as if a supre ruler had fallen and now lingered in death's shadow. Monts later, a single drop of blood appeared—crimson as fla, so intense it seed to burn the very air around it, warping the space with its heat.
The droplet hovered briefly before descending into a jade bottle on a table at the hall's deepest recess.
The Phoenix Blood had finally taken form.
An Yuyi's eyes glead with eager anticipation. Even Li Feihuang, whose face was usually an unreadable mask, broke into a genuine smile. She had crossed tens of thousands of miles to reach the Divine Will Sect, all for this mont. And now, it was hers.
Li Feihuang didn't imdiately reach for the Phoenix Blood. Instead, her gaze settled on Ye Chen. She wanted to see his final choice.
If Ye Chen chose correctly, everything would fall into place. He could remain her Golden Dragon King, perhaps even rise to the rank of Equal King. But if he chose wrongly, she wouldn't be devastated—only disappointed. Better to see his true colors now than face betrayal later. It all hinged on Ye Chen's decision.
So, Li Feihuang waited.
An Yuyi was watching him too, her eyes a mix of impatience, anticipation, and a flicker of unease deep within. Ever since she'd confessed her feelings and offered to beco his cultivation partner, Ye Chen hadn't given her an answer. The silence gnawed at her.
I'm offering to be your partner—why are you hesitating?
If Li Feihuang weren't standing there, An Yuyi might've stord over and demanded a response, face be damned.
Still, she clung to her belief that Ye Chen liked her. Why else would he hesitate this long? That Li Feng—plain and unremarkable—couldn't possibly be the reason. No man would choose her. Was Ye Chen being coerced? Did Li Feng have so leverage over him?
The five days of waiting had been torture for An Yuyi. Though she remained confident, a thread of anxiety had crept into her heart. Like Li Feihuang, she watched Ye Chen, waiting for his answer.
...
Ye Chen, who had been calmly focusing on his own cultivation, seed to reach a decision. He turned to An Yuyi and gave her a gentle smile. Her eyes lit up instantly.
"He's smiling at !" she thought. "He's choosing !"
Li Feihuang, witnessing this, let out a soft sigh. Ye Chen had let her down after all. Still, she rembered how he'd unhesitatingly given her the Divine Will Sect direct disciple slot and the Phoenix Blood Crimson Gold. That loyalty earned him one more chance.
"Fellow Daoist Ye," she said solemnly, "are you certain you've thought this through? Once you make your move, there's no going back. A wrong choice now, and you'll have no second chances in the future."
Ye Chen's expression remained warm, but his eyes held an unshakable resolve. He nodded firmly.
Li Feihuang sighed again. "Very well. Forget what I said before. But for your past support, I'll still repay you a hundredfold in the future."
Choosing a woman over her? Such a person was unfit for great things. So be it.
Her regret was fleeting. Li Feihuang quickly regained her composure, her gaze clear and focused. Without sparing Ye Chen another glance, she started toward the hall's depths.
But Ye Chen moved in a flash, blocking her path.
Li Feihuang paused, looking at him with a calm, even tone. "You know you're no match for . And though you've betrayed , you've helped
before. I don't wish to fight you. Step aside."
Ye Chen didn't budge. He only smiled and said, "I want to try."
An Yuyi, that weakling, hadn't given Li Feihuang any real challenge. So, Ye Chen would stick to the original plan.
It was ti to give Li Feihuang a beating.
Li Feihuang glanced at Ye Chen and let out a sigh. He was undoubtedly a genius, capable of defeating her without her Phoenix Blood Spirit Body and even outmaneuvering two of the Divine Will Sect's direct disciples, barring them from entering the hall. But geniuses ca in tiers. In her presence, aside from a select few from the Holy Land, who else could claim that title?
Yet, despite witnessing the power of her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, Ye Chen still had the audacity to stand in her way. His courage was comndable. The only pity was his wavering resolve, hesitating so long over a woman. A man like that, no matter how talented, was destined to fall short of the Great Dao.
Li Feihuang stopped advancing. She rose gracefully, a spark of blue fla igniting in her eyes. Behind her, the silhouette of a phoenix materialized, its terrifying aura flooding the hall. Eyes blazing with divine fire, a fiery phoenix at her back, she looked down at Ye Chen with the indifference of a god.
"Make your move," she said coolly. "For old tis' sake, I'll go easy on you."
With the Phoenix Blood within reach and her Golden Core formation imminent, Li Feihuang no longer cared if word of her presence in the Divine Will Sect spread. She was done hiding. Even with An Yuyi watching, she unleashed the full might of her Fire Phoenix Spirit Body, intent on ending this quickly—and showing Ye Chen what a true prodigy looked like.
An Yuyi's eyes widened in disbelief. She'd always thought Li Feihuang was only slightly stronger than her. But now, the gap was undeniable. Even if she balanced her dual spiritual roots and perfectly fused her Thunder and Star Arts, she likely wouldn't stand a chance against Li Feihuang. Gritting her teeth, frustration burned in her eyes.
But then her expression shifted to anticipation. Li Feihuang was strong, sure, but so what? Her partner, Ye Chen, had beaten her once. He could do it again. In the end, she'd still co out on top.
Catching An Yuyi's gaze, Li Feihuang seed to recall sothing. A mont later, her body shimred with light. When it faded, An Yuyi's pupils constricted, her eyes nearly popping out.
The woman before her had transford. Li Feihuang's figure was now graceful and elegant, her face breathtakingly perfect, with features so refined they seed sculpted. Her flowing red hair blazed like a phoenix's flas, radiant and dazzling. This was Li Feihuang's true appearance? Only slightly less beautiful than herself?
An Yuyi's confidence, already shaken by Li Feihuang's strength, crumbled further. Her looks had been her last bastion, but now even that was shattered. She clenched her jaw, her heart twisting with discomfort.
Li Feihuang caught her expression and smirked faintly.
...
Ye Chen, watching Li Feihuang's theatrics, shook his head in exasperation. Her strength was nothing special, but her flair for showing off was unmatched.
Ignoring An Yuyi, Li Feihuang's gaze returned to him. "Go ahead," she said. "This might be your only chance to strike."
Ye Chen's lips twitched. He'd planned to humor her a bit longer, let her ego inflate further, but she was already insufferably arrogant. Enough was enough.
Without another word, his right eye flared. A beam of crimson divine light, pulsing with a terrifying aura of destruction, shot forth.
Li Feihuang rely smiled, raising a hand. A shield of Southern Radiant Fire ford before her, confident and unyielding.
The next mont, a deafening explosion rocked the hall. Li Feihuang, her face a mask of disbelief, was sent flying backward.
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