Chapter 816 : The Fire Phoenix's Peril

Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden of Exquisite Beauty] could not help but feel a flicker of doubt, then sneered, "Perhaps it is because the Demon Race [a collective term for sentient non-human races, often possessing bestial traits and formidable power] possesses far less aptitude for comprehending the Hundred Crafts of Cultivation [the myriad arts and techniques of cultivation, including alchemy, forging, and formation-crafting] compared to the Human Race."

"Moreover, with the bloodline of a Fire Phoenix [a mythical bird of flame and rebirth], to be stuck at the Primordial Spirit Early Stage [the initial phase of the Primordial Spirit realm, where one's spiritual core first solidifies] for eight thousand years without a breakthrough—this Fire Phoenix's innate talent is likely among the very lowest within the entire Phoenix [a race of divine avian creatures associated with fire and renewal] clan."

Hearing this, the others could not help but reveal smiles.

It was fortunate, indeed, that this Fire Phoenix's talent did not seem particularly extraordinary. Otherwise, had it broken through to the Primordial Spirit Mid Stage [the intermediate phase of the Primordial Spirit realm], their task would have been far more difficult.

Considering this, the Solar Fire Path Master [a title for a cultivator who has mastered the Path of Solar Fire] stroked his long beard thoughtfully and said, "Since the defensive Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, confinement, or amplification] is not strong, our only remaining concern is that the Fire Phoenix might flee with its treasures if it sees the situation turning against it."

"That matter is simple to resolve," Eldrin Chen [the Sword Immortal of the Returning Abyss] declared. "We strike with overwhelming speed, giving it no chance to gather its possessions."

Having spoken, Eldrin Chen decided they must act swiftly, wasting no more time.

The four cultivators, their resolve firm, delayed no further. They immediately cloaked their auras and set off towards Earth Flame Island [an island imbued with terrestrial fire energy].

They traveled concealed, revealing themselves only at the very outskirts of Earth Flame Island, before launching their assault in a single, devastating instant.

"*Screech—*" Read the full novel exclusively on @udio-novel.com.

Eldrin Chen was the first to strike. His Heavenly River Positive Water Sword [a divine sword technique that channels the power of a celestial river] bloomed forth instantly. With a resounding *clang*, it cleaved through the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that shields a mountain] of Earth Flame Island.

In but a single breath, the denizen of Earth Flame Island was roused—the Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor.

Upon sensing the assault, the Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor erupted in fury. With a deafening roar, it beat its wings and soared skyward, unleashing a cataclysmic tide of Heavenly God [a powerful cultivation realm] flame that sought to drown everything, surging toward the attackers.

At that moment, the Solar Fire Path Master [a title for a master of the Solar Fire cultivation path] summoned his Solar Fire Treasure Gourd [a magical gourd that can absorb and contain fire]. The gourd devoured the overwhelming tide of Heavenly God flame. Only then did he chuckle, "The Phoenix [a mythical firebird] True Flame [the pure, innate flame of a phoenix] is nothing remarkable."

"Damnation!"

Seeing its innate True Flame fail to subdue the foe, the Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor's pupils contracted sharply. It immediately released two treasures to suppress the group.

Of these treasures, one was an exquisitely beautiful crimson-gold wheel. The second was a fan crafted from phoenix feathers.

The wheel was named the 'Crimson Flame Golden Wheel', forged from Sixth Rank [a high grade of material] Crimson Flame [a type of powerful crimson fire] Adamantine [an incredibly hard, mythical metal]. The fan was called the 'Fire Phoenix Feather Fan', a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact] refined from the true feathers of a Phoenix.

Faced with the overwhelming might of these two treasures, even a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has mastered the Primordial Spirit realm] would struggle to withstand them.

Fortunately, the group's strength was extraordinary, and they wielded multiple Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasures. With five besieging one, they steadily pressed the Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor [an ancient, progenitor-level demon beast] into retreat.

After exchanging little more than one hundred blows, Eldrin Chen seized an opening. He unleashed a Four Symbols Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique embodying the power of the four celestial beasts], shattering the protective spiritual aura [a defensive barrier of condensed energy] surrounding the Fire PhoenixDemon Ancestor. The impact sent the ancient phoenix demon reeling through the air, coughing up blood from the grievous wound.

"Aargh!"

Severely injured, the Fire PhoenixDemon Ancestor realized it could gain no further advantage in this fight. With a final, hate-filled glare at the assembled cultivators, it had no choice but to beat its wings, tearing a rift in the fabric of space and vanishing from the heavens in an instant.

Watching the Fire PhoenixDemon Ancestor retreat, the group collectively released a breath they had been holding, only for it to turn into a sigh of mixed relief and regret.

Solar Fire Path Master shook his head and spoke, "Unless one possesses a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure capable of sealing space itself], it is exceedingly difficult for a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator whose spiritual core has fully manifested] to truly slay another of their realm."

"Today, we have made a mortal enemy of the Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor. From now on, we will have a powerful foe sworn to our destruction."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, yet added, "But upon this path of cultivation, can any of us truly expect a journey of perpetual peace and harmony?"

"When matters of the Path [the fundamental Dao or principle of cultivation and existence] are concerned, contention for resources is inevitable. Enemies are simply an unavoidable consequence."

Solar Fire Path Master nodded at these words, offering no further argument on the matter.

Noticing the subdued mood, Exquisite Jiang nearby smiled and interjected, "The Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor has been driven off. Now, it is time to see what spoils our victory has yielded."

"Indeed, let us see what treasures this Earth Flame Island holds."

Eldrin Chen nodded and immediately set about plundering the treasures of Earth Flame Island.

Soon, they had stripped Earth Flame Island bare, acquiring over thirty Fifth RankSpirit Herb [rare plants imbued with spiritual energy] of varying ages. In addition, they found a single Primordial Spirit Flower [a legendary flower that nourishes the Primordial Spirit] with a medicinal age of eight thousand six hundred years.

Eldrin Chen gathered these Spirit Herb, especially the Primordial Spirit Flower, which he intended to transplant back to his clan to serve as a foundational treasure for future generations.

Only after securing these treasures did the group turn their attention to the volcanic depths beneath Earth Flame Island.

The extreme heat of Earth Flame Island was inhospitable for most Spirit Herb, hence their haul had not been vast. Visit AUDIO-NOVEL.COM to enjoy the complete series.

Yet everyone understood that the true cradle of treasures was the Primordial Fire Ancestral Vein [a primeval, fiery ley line of immense spiritual power] concealed within the island's heart.

"Let us first venture into the Ancestral Vein,"

Eldrin Chen declared, leading the others into the depths of the Underground Fire Vein.

They proceeded directly to the core of the Underground Fire Vein. Before long, within the fiery heart of the Fire Vein, they discovered an exquisitely formed pool of molten rock.

"This is..."

Gazing upon the lava pool before them, the group's expressions shifted subtly.

Within the pool, several precious treasures were being nurtured. Among them was a piece of Sixth Rank Violet Flame Heavenly Gold [a rare metal imbued with the essence of violet celestial fire], and a half-formed piece of Quasi-Sixth Rank Fire Vein Ancestral Marrow Jade [a jade said to contain the condensed marrow of ancient fire veins].

Yet, neither the Sixth Rank Violet Flame Heavenly Gold nor the half-formed Fire Vein Ancestral Marrow Jade were the focal point within the lava pool.

There, suspended in the void above the molten rock, floated a crimson lotus of flawless, crystalline purity.

Upon the bloom of that lotus rested an egg, its surface intricately patterned with Phoenix Patterns [mystical patterns resembling those of a phoenix's plumage]. It seemed to be drawing upon boundless Fire Elemental Power [the fundamental energy of the fire element] for its incubation.

"An Immortal Phoenix [a mythical bird of supreme fire and rebirth] egg?"

Eldrin Chen gathered his wits from the initial shock, instantly comprehending the egg's origin.

With his current mastery of Celestial Mechanism [the art of divining fate and cosmic patterns], a glimpse of the egg's past and future unfurled in his mind. A swift calculation with the Great Deduction Star Plate [a mystical artifact used for complex astrological and fate-based calculations] confirmed his intuition, drawing a sigh from his lips.

"Alas, so that is how it is!"

"What is it?"

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but inquire.

Eldrin Chen shook his head and then shared the results of his divination with the assembled Mortal Path cultivators: "This egg's origins are extraordinary, its lineage stretches back to a truly distant past."

As Eldrin Chen recounted the tale in detail, the group soon understood the cause and effect.

It turned out that several hundred thousand years ago, within the Southern Sea Cultivation World, there was a Fire Phoenix who had attained the Ascension and Attainment of the Path realm and subsequently ascended to the Ethereal Ascension [the higher immortal realms].

Before her ascension, that Fire Phoenix Immortal faintly divined a future Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly calamity] for the Purple Seal Realm. In preparation, she used a single drop of her Vital Essence Blood [lifeblood containing immense spiritual power] to manifest a Fire Phoenix Egg.

This egg lay hidden within a Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated fire energy] in the Southern Sea, secretly absorbing boundless Fire Elemental Power [the fundamental energy of the fire element]. It existed in a state of semi-seal and semi-incubation, waiting only for the moment the Great Tribulation [the prophesied era-ending calamity] began to serve as a contingency for the Immortal [the ascended being] to face the tribulation.

According to the Fire Phoenix Immortal's plan, once the Great Tribulation commenced, she would descend from the higher realms using a world-shaking immortal technique. Her supreme immortal soul would then inhabit this Fire Phoenix body, allowing her to quell the cataclysm threatening the Purple Seal Realm.

The crimson lotus within this Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth energy] is named the 'Nirvana Immortal Lotus' [a legendary lotus symbolizing rebirth]. It was also a supreme treasure left behind by the Fire Phoenix Immortal to accompany her future incarnation.

Yet, unforeseen was that the Fire Phoenix Immortal's true self in the Immortal Realm [the higher realm of immortals] met with misfortune; it seems she had already perished many years ago.

Originally, with this Fire Phoenix Egg [a miraculous egg containing the potential for a Fire Phoenix's rebirth] as a contingency, even if Fire Phoenix Immortal perished within the Immortal Realm, she should have been able to rely on this Fire Phoenix Egg to undergo Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life] within the Purple Seal Realm.

Yet, contrary to all expectations, after the Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] fell, this Fire Phoenix Egg lost its Celestial Mechanism [a profound cosmic arrangement or destiny] protection. Through the machinations of the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm], it was ultimately discovered by the Fire Phoenix Patriarch [the founding ancestor of the Fire Phoenix lineage].

That Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor was, in truth, a rare type of Demon Beasts known as the 'Nest-Stealing Cuckoo' [a parasitic demon beast infamous for usurping the nests and heritage of others], most adept at seizing what belongs to others, plundering their bloodline essence and foundational heritage.

Upon discovering the Immortal Egg [an egg laid by an immortal being, containing immense potential] left behind by Fire Phoenix Immortal, this demon began using its innate demonic arts to drain the egg's vital essence, seeking to metamorphose into a body of an Immortal Phoenix [a supreme phoenix of immortal rank].

Unexpectedly, this process dragged on for several thousand years without complete success. It had only managed to pilfer superficial traces, remaining nothing more than a hybrid-blooded Phoenix.

After hearing this tale, everyone present could not help but wear expressions of profound sorrow.

The Solar Fire Path Master [a master who follows the Dao Path of Solar Fire] shook his head and spoke, "A world-shaking contingency left by an Immortal, actually plundered by a mere 'Nest-Stealing Cuckoo'."

"It seems the struggles between immortals and demons are far more brutal than we ever imagined." Original English translation available at audio-novel . com.