Chapter 656 – The Secret Realm
"Hmph, what's the point of saying any of this now?"
Gu Yun let out a mocking laugh.
"If you speak up, maybe we can still collect your corpse for you later."
Tian Ba likewise retorted with a sneer.
"Then I really should thank you, huh?"
"Only, I wonder if you'll wet yourselves on the spot once you learn the truth."
"Heh, Smelly Kid, you think I got scared this big?"
"I've reached Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer—what kind of young lord haven't I killed? Even if you were born into an Immortal Ancient Family or the Five Great Imperial Dynasties, I'll still mess you up!"
Tian Qi spoke with a cold chuckle.
"Little friend, don't refuse a face that's offered; my patience has limits!"
Heavenly Three's expression turned frosty.
"Oh, really?"
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. "Then go ahead and search. I come from the Xiangu Yun Family—don't look up the wrong clan!"
As he spoke, the figures of the two began to flicker again.
"Damn bastard!!"
"Move—stop them, don't let them escape!"
The three moved at once: one stayed still, one shot skyward, and one punched the ground, exposing everything within three hundred meters beneath.
"Rumble—!!"
But right then, the towering mountain behind them began to quake.
Boulders tumbled; the earth shook.
An ancient, vast, searingly holy torrent of power erupted from deep within the mountain.
A scarlet gateway appeared where the two stood.
The trio's actions achieved nothing; Gu Yun hadn't even budged.
"Tsk tsk, fine circus act, gentlemen. Come perform at my Immortal Ancient Yun estate next time—guaranteed standing ovation!"
Gu Yun said with a grin, then stepped into the gateway and vanished.
"Damn bastard!!"
"Xiangu Yun Family—does a clan like that even exist?"
Tian Qi scratched his head, racking his brains for any Immortal Ancient Family surnamed Yun—and came up blank.
"You moron! 'Xiangu Yun Family'? Can't you see he's been playing you the whole damn time?!"
Heavenly Three exploded, slapping Tian Qi's head so hard he nearly ate dirt.
"O-oh!"
"Damn bastard!!"
"Enough. Looks like we've all been played by that brat."
"He knew this secret realm would appear here long ago."
Tian Ba walked to the gateway, checked briefly, and found nothing amiss.
"No matter what, enter the secret realm first."
Heavenly Three decided on the spot: "If we want to find them, it can only be done inside."
He strode forward to force his way in—only to be hurled back by a terrifying force.
"What?!"
Tian Qi and Tian Ba stared, stunned.
Heavenly Three dusted himself off. "Seems there's a restriction here—Dao-Achievers can't enter."
"Then bringing them out will be up to you two."
Tian Qi and Tian Ba exchanged glances: "We'll get it done!"
They turned to step through—when suddenly—
"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!"
Several mighty auras of Demon Emperors erupted from the depths of Qixia Mountain Range, locking the pair in place.
"Who dares cause trouble in my Qixia Mountain Range?!"
"Humans! This is a chance destined for our demon race—keep your hands off!"
A thunderous voice boomed across the sky like a clap of lightning.
Four colossal silhouettes then tore through the air from different directions, hovering above the valley and blotting out the sun.
"Ice Chi Demon Emperor, Golden Flame Lion Emperor, Dark Demon Tiger Emperor, Qingmu Tree Emperor!"
Heavenly Three's face turned ugly; nearly every great demon nearby had arrived. Among them only the Golden Flame Lion Emperor was a First-Tribulation Demon Emperor like himself, while Dark Demon Tiger and Ice Chi were Second-Tribulation. Most terrifying of all—
His gaze settled on the gentlest of the four, the Qingmu Tree Emperor; Heavenly Three knew clearly this was the most fearsome.
Its strength was definitely beyond the Third Tribulation.
"My fellow Daoists, I am Heavenly Three of Shadow Tower. I came only to carry out a mission, with no intention of offending anyone, nor any desire for your race's opportunity."
"Please grant us passage and let my two incompetent subordinates enter the secret realm to capture their target; we will leave Qixia Range at once and trouble you no further."
Facing such pressure, Heavenly Three stepped forward, cupped his fists and bowed, lowering his stance to the utmost.
"Shadow Tower? Hmph, throwing your weight around, are we?"
A hundred-zhang-long ice dragon covered in dark-blue scales spoke, its voice bone-chillingly cold and dripping with undisguised ridicule.
"Since when does a secret realm in my Qixia Mountain Range allow humans to call the shots? 'Grant passage'? You don't even know the situation!"
The Golden Flame Lion Emperor, wreathed in golden fire, let out a roar that shook the valley: "Scram—or die!"
Heavenly Three's expression chilled: "Must you push things this far, fellow Daoists?"
"I stated my purpose to show respect; if it comes to forcing our way, you may not be able to stop us."
"Hmph! Try it if you dare!"
Dark Demon Tiger Emperor spoke, its voice icy.
"Please calm your anger, everyone; hear me out."
At that moment, the Qingmu Tree Emperor spoke slowly, its voice deep and measured.
"I have just checked; this secret realm repels the aura of Dao-Achievers."
"Since none of us can enter, there's little point in a stalemate. Let each side send their Quasi-Emperor juniors to compete inside; destiny will decide the fortune. What say you?"
"You two only wish to find someone, so feel free—but do not interfere with our actions. Fellow Daoist Heavenly Three, do you agree?"
"Tree Emperor's benevolence; Heavenly Three is deeply grateful."
Heavenly Three cupped his fists, understanding the other was offering him a favor.
The demon race was hardly monolithic; these four clearly formed two loose factions. The lone Qingmu Tree Emperor feared its juniors would suffer and hoped Heavenly Three's men would lend a hand—perfectly reasonable.
The other three Demon Emperors snorted coldly, seeing through the ploy.
But if Qingmu Tree Emperor truly joined forces with Heavenly Three, they would gain no advantage, so they kept silent and summoned their clansmen.
Soon each of the four Demon Emperors had gathered a squad of Quasi-Emperors.
The three Emperors had seven or eight each, while Qingmu Tree Emperor brought fifteen or sixteen—the disparity in strength was obvious.
Compared to them, Tian Qi and Tian Ba looked utterly alone; their impact on the situation would be negligible.
Which allowed the three Demon Emperors to breathe easier.
"Everyone's here—let's go in."
At Qingmu Tree Emperor's words, Tian Qi and Tian Ba stepped through first, followed by the Quasi-Emperors of the four demon races.
Heavenly Three's icy eyes bored into the entrance of the secret realm.
"Brat, let's see just how you plan to slip through my fingers this time."
//657//
Chapter 657: The Phoenix Secret Realm (Two-in-One)
As Gu Yun and his companion stepped into the crimson light gate, they immediately felt a dizzying sensation of the world spinning around them.
Extremely nervous, Di Yunshu hurriedly hugged Gu Yun's body tightly, unwilling to let go even for a fraction of a second.
"Ouch."
Waking up again, Di Yunshu propped herself up on a patch of soft ground and sat up. Looking around, she felt a scorching and ancient aura rushing toward her, as if she were inside a furnace.
"Where is this? Why does it feel a bit... familiar?"
For some reason, a trace of sorrow welled up in Di Yunshu's heart.
"Ahem, Ninth Princess, I think it's better if you get down first before we talk?"
"With you like this, I find it hard to guarantee that no accidental... sparks will fly in the next moment."
Gu Yun's slightly helpless voice came from beneath her. Di Yunshu looked down and realized she was straddling Gu Yun's waist and abdomen.
From behind her... a strange sensation had already begun to register.
"Ah—!"
Di Yunshu cried out in alarm and instantly sprang up, frantically straightening her dress.
"S-sorry, Young Master Yun, I-I didn't mean to."
She spoke incoherently, her eyes darting everywhere as she didn't dare to look at Gu Yun.
Gu Yun slowly sat up and immediately moved past the incident: "We can't let our guard down. The assassins from the Shadow Tower might still catch up."
"If we can't find anything useful in this secret realm, both you and I might still fall here."
"Mm."
Di Yunshu also realized that the danger was far from over: "Young Master Yun, I-I feel like we might find something in that direction."
As if possessed, she suddenly pointed toward the south and spoke.
"Oh?"
Gu Yun smiled slightly: "What, have you been here before? You seem so certain."
"Heehee, it's just an intuition."
Di Yunshu laughed; by Gu Yun's side, she felt a strange sense of peace.
"Alright then, I'll trust you this once."
"Brother Yun is the best."
Without hesitation, the two of them sped directly toward the south.
The space within the secret realm was extremely unstable. Gu Yun's Spatial Law could only cross a distance of about ten meters, which was slower than moving normally.
Therefore, the two adopted the most primitive method of travel.
They soon began scouring the secret realm. The direction Di Yunshu pointed was incredibly accurate, and the quantity of spirit herbs was quite abundant.
As the saying goes, when a whale falls, all things flourish.
Thanks to the unique conditions of this secret realm, it was no joke that there was a Saint Herb every three steps and an Emperor Material every nine steps.
Just gathering them along the way took quite a bit of effort.
After pocketing a Crimson Phoenix Fruit at the end of a small path, Gu Yun looked at Di Yunshu and praised: "Your intuition is truly divine."
Hearing this, Di Yunshu's lips curled up high, her large eyes curving into crescents. Her heart felt sweeter than if she had eaten honey.
"Heehee, I told you, you can't go wrong following me."
She puffed out her chest with some pride; it was about the size of a delicate handful.
"So, where should we go next?"
Gu Yun had given her enough trust, which caused a sense of responsibility to well up in Di Yunshu's heart.
She closed her eyes slightly and sensed carefully for a moment before pointing in a direction for Gu Yun: "We should go back now. After reaching that fork in the road we just passed, turn right. The opportunity there should be very important."
"Alright, then we'll go there."
Gu Yun picked up Di Yunshu with practiced ease and began moving again with agile shifts.
The time was almost right. Back when they entered the secret realm, Gu Yun had already released the Divine Armor Puppet, the Four Divine Beasts, and the Four Perils. Maintaining an attitude of 'leaving nothing behind,' he was dedicated to sweeping the entire secret realm clean, leaving not even a needle or thread for those who came after.
Only the south remained unexplored, which made Di Yunshu's perception incredibly accurate.
Now that the opportunities had basically been gathered, it was time for Di Yunshu to learn the whole truth.
When a whale falls, all things flourish.
What had fallen in this secret realm was not a giant whale, but... a Phoenix of the Great Emperor Realm!
Gu Yun and his companion stopped before a crimson tide. The scorching power blocked their path forward.
Di Yunshu's heart became anxious: "What should we do, Brother Yun? I feel that the greatest opportunity here is behind this crimson tide, but these flames... even a Great Emperor might not dare to face them head-on. How are we supposed to get across?!"
The hand she held Gu Yun's with was trembling; she seemed to have already anticipated something.
"Let's go, don't be afraid, Yunshu. He won't hurt you."
Holding Di Yunshu's hand, Gu Yun strode forward with great purpose.
Di Yunshu was shocked by Gu Yun's choice: "N-no, Brother Yun, we can't..."
Di Yunshu's cry of alarm caught in her throat because they had already stepped into the crimson tide, yet the expected pain of being burned to ash did not come.
Those crimson flames, which looked as though they could incinerate everything, actually split to both sides like obedient pets the moment they touched Gu Yun and her body, revealing a passage just wide enough for the two of them.
The flames licked at the edges, emitting a terrifyingly high temperature, yet they were unable to intrude into the passage in the slightest.
"This is..."
Di Yunshu looked at this wondrous sight in astonishment, then at Gu Yun's steady profile. Her unease was replaced by a strange sensation.
"Let's go."
Gu Yun tightened his grip on her hand. He didn't explain, but simply led her deep into the flame passage.
He didn't need to say anything; he only needed to show Di Yunshu everything.
For every bit they moved forward, the passage behind them was refilled by the crimson tide. This was destined to be a one-way path, and also a father's final uplift for his daughter.
The passage wasn't long, yet it felt as if they had walked through a vast stretch of time.
Finally, the view ahead suddenly opened up.
At the end of the flame passage was an incredibly vast, empty space surrounded by crimson crystal walls.
In the center of the space, an indescribably massive phoenix skeleton, entirely red-gold and shimmering with light, hung suspended in mid-air like a mountain!
Its wings were spread as if to embrace the firmament, but it had lost all life, leaving behind only a hollow skeletal frame.
The skull was missing, making the entire scene eerie and unsettling.
Directly beneath the suspended phoenix skeleton was a massive blood pool.
The pool water was dark gold and as thick as mercury, emitting a pure Profound Phoenix Origin aura.
"Child, you have finally come to this place."
Suddenly, a soft sigh echoed. Before Di Yunshu's stunned gaze, a slightly illusory red-gold figure slowly emerged from atop the phoenix skeleton.
He wore a loving smile and a look of relieved satisfaction on his face, but when he saw Gu Yun's hand holding Di Yunshu's, his brow furrowed imperceptibly.
"Y-you are..."
Di Yunshu spoke tremulously. A throbbing from the deepest part of her bloodline struck her heart, leaving her momentarily at a loss.
Fortunately, Gu Yun was still holding her hand tightly, which gave her flickering emotions a bit more peace.
Seeing this, the red-gold phantom felt a sense of loneliness but also a hint of relief.
It drifted closer, and the two could finally see his appearance clearly. It was the phantom of a tall, slender, and upright man.
His face was peerlessly handsome, and his features bore a two or three-tenths resemblance to Di Yunshu. He carried an inherent nobility and majesty that looked down upon all living beings.
Red-gold hair fell to his waist, and his handsome face was adorned with a few feathers unique to the Phoenix Clan.
"Child... my poor child..."
"I have finally seen you again. Mm... Wan'er, our child has grown up."
He reached out, wanting to touch Di Yunshu, but it was ultimately in vain. His remaining origin power was only enough to condense a visible spiritual body.
Di Yunshu looked at him, her eyes brimming with tears, which suddenly began to fall uncontrollably.
She kept wiping them away, but she couldn't stop them at all: "No, why? Why? Who... who are you? It's so sad. Why do I feel like this when I see you..."
In a short time, she was already sobbing so hard she couldn't even finish a coherent sentence.
"Senior, please do not get too excited; you are frightening her,"
Gu Yun said.
The red-gold figure then shifted his gaze from Di Yunshu, and his emotions stabilized.
"Forgive me, I lost my composure."
"Child, do not be afraid."
"I am... your father."
"Fa... ther?"
Di Yunshu looked up through tear-blurred eyes, staring at the phantom in disbelief.
Imperial Father?
Wasn't Di Shitian of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty her Imperial Father?
This strange phantom with an ancient and powerful aura... "Yes, child, I am your biological father."
"Not that... despicable Di Shitian!!"
The remnant soul of the Phoenix Demon Emperor was filled with guilt and love, but when he mentioned Di Shitian, it immediately transformed into heaven-shaking rage and extreme fury... "Damn it, in such a vast world with such dense fire elements, how can we not find a single heavenly treasure!"
A Quasi-Emperor expert from the Dark Demon Tiger Clan spoke angrily; he possessed a Quasi-Emperor Eighth Layer cultivation.
By his side were three other cultivators of the same clan, all at the mid-stage Quasi-Emperor level.
Those qualified to enter this secret realm were all the mainstays of their respective clans, hoping to find an opportunity to become an Emperor. Now that their hopes were shattered, they were all becoming somewhat exasperated.
"Big Brother Hu Yi, do you think those two humans we're chasing got here first?"
"It's possible!"
"No one knows how long they had been inside before we arrived."
"Damn it, the major factions' bickering and stalling gave these small-timers time!"
Hu Yi spoke coldly.
After using his divine sense to probe the surroundings one last time and still finding nothing, he gave up on that unrealistic hope.
"Forget it! The fire elements are extremely dense not far ahead. Let's go check that place out. If there's still nothing, we'll head back to the entrance and wait."
"They think they can take the opportunities in the secret realm and leave unscathed?"
"Hmph! It won't be that easy!"
Filled with frustration, Hu Yi's group moved toward the direction where the fire element fluctuations were most intense.
As they went deeper, the temperature in the air began to rise, which reignited hope in their hearts.
"Such a dense Fire Origin... there must be something extraordinary ahead!"
Hu Yi's spirit was roused, and he quickened his pace.
Soon, they arrived at a crimson plain. In the center of the plain grew a strange, giant tree burning with raging flames.
And beneath that giant tree, a woman was sitting cross-legged.
The woman was dressed in a fire-red dress, her slender and curvaceous figure tracing breathtaking lines.
She sat with her eyes closed, her skin as white as jade and her features exquisitely refined, carrying an innate noble coldness.
A red-gold flame mark at the center of her brow added a touch of allure and charm.
"This is...?"
Hu Yi and the others paused, their eyes instantly exploding with a light of greed and amazement.
They could clearly feel just how pure and powerful the bloodline power contained within this red-dressed woman was!
If they could turn her into a cultivation vessel, their own bloodlines would be sublimated, and proving their Dao in the future would no longer be a distant dream.
"Such pure bloodline, so beautiful..."
For a moment, all the tiger demons' hearts swayed, and wicked thoughts arose.
However, this secret realm was mysterious, and since they couldn't be sure of her state, they didn't dare to act rashly.
"Looking at her aura, she seems to be at a critical moment in her cultivation. Her aura is somewhat unstable..."
One tiger demon couldn't suppress the desire in his heart and whispered.
A sharp light also flashed in Hu Yi's eyes. Although this woman's aura was extraordinary, she was only at the mid-stage Quasi-Emperor level. Even if her bloodline was powerful, she was definitely no match for so many of them.
"Surround her first, don't let her escape!!"
Hu Yi barked softly, and the five Quasi-Emperors of the Dark Demon Tiger Clan immediately spread out, surrounding the red-dressed woman in a semi-circle and slowly closing in.
The seated woman seemed completely unaware of all this, still sitting silently with her eyes closed.
As the distance grew closer, the tiger demons' faces became incredibly distorted: "Hehehe, little beauty, come into Lord Tiger's bowl!!"
Someone reached out with greedy hands, about to seize the woman.
But at that moment, the red-dressed woman suddenly snapped her eyes open and gave the speaking tiger demon a cold smile: "What, you think you can eat me with just the likes of you?!"
The cold words exploded in the tiger demons' ears, but they didn't have time to react.
The woman's body didn't move, but a pair of flame wings that blotted out the sun suddenly unfurled behind her with a boom!
"Not good! Retreat!"
Hu Yi's pupils shrank, and he roared in horror. The fear originating from the depths of his bloodline made his hair stand on end instantly.
It was too late.
The flame wings flapped gently.
A silent, blazing white light instantly swallowed a range of a thousand feet.
The three mid-stage Quasi-Emperor cultivators didn't even manage to scream; their powerful physical bodies were directly vaporized in the light.
Only Hu Yi barely managed to escape the light's range in a wretched state, though he paid the price of a leg. He looked toward the center of the flames with lingering fear.
"Such terrifying bloodline power. Who exactly is this person, and why is she here?!"
Instantly killing three mid-stage Quasi-Emperor cultivators of the same realm—this kind of crushing power was absolute bloodline suppression.
But how was it possible? The Dark Demon Tiger Clan was already an Emperor Clan with a Great Emperor presiding over it. How could there still be such a terrifying demon race in the Three Thousand Dao Domains?
"No, I must leave here immediately."
Hu Yi made a split-second decision and turned to flee.
"Only thinking of running now, isn't it a bit too late?!"
At that moment, a soft and charming voice appeared in his ear, and a crystalline jade hand pierced through his chest.
//658//
Chapter 658: Massacre—Di Yunshu's True Origins (Two-in-One)
"You… when did you…"
Hu Yi's voice faltered, blood constantly spilling from his mouth.
With great effort he lowered his head, staring at the jade hand that had pierced through his chest—eyes filled with disbelief, dread, and despair.
Even though he stood at the Quasi-Emperor Eighth Layer and she only the Sixth, the moment real fighting began he was no match at all.
He had barely sensed danger when her strike had already landed.
Such a gulf in power—utterly disheartening.
"Sorry—I never said you could leave."
A frigid voice rang out. Vermilion-gold flames wrapped Hu Yi's body, instantly reducing him to ash; not even his soul escaped.
"Tch—just as my master predicted: some blind fools would come along to help my cultivation."
The woman in red devoured every wisp of the demonic beasts' lingering origin energy. An alluring smile suddenly graced her cool, elegant face.
Truly ravishing, born to enchant—yet not a single soul remained to admire her.
She was none other than Vermilion Bird, dispatched ages ago by Gu Yun to scour for opportunities, having secluded herself inside the Great Luo Dao Pagoda all this time.
Her strength had long since returned to Quasi-Emperor Sixth Heaven; with the terrifying bloodline of a former Immortal King, she could now fight even a Half-step Great Emperor.
And against demon cultivators, that suppressive effect was most pronounced.
The iron law of bloodline supremacy remains unchanged, even in the Immortal Realm.
"One step shy of Quasi-Emperor Seventh Heaven—time to see if any other lucky souls are about."
Vermilion Bird intended to take the initiative. Though Gu Yun had said she could use any heavenly materials she found, she preferred not to.
If she appeared before her master with an endless array of treasures, wouldn't she look no different from those seven idiots?
Hence, to achieve a similar result, these demon brothers would have to suffer a little.
Rest assured—Vermilion Bird will remember your sacrifice; when success is won, you'll share in the credit!
…West of the secret realm, a field of jagged rocks.
An Ice Qilin quasi-emperor was pinned to the ground by a gigantic claw shimmering with teal-gold light and covered in dragon scales, unable to move.
"A hornless wretch dares covet my master's treasure?"
"Delusional!"
"Damn it! A true dragon serving a human—disgrace to our demon race!!"
The Ice Qilin—at Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer—felt as if he'd run head-first into his progenitor; he was crushed from start to finish without the slightest chance to retaliate.
He'd thought himself top-three among the demons who entered, destined for great deeds—only to die a humiliating death before even getting started.
Azure Dragon took human shape: clad in cyan, face handsome, eyes carrying a mocking glint.
"Disgrace?"
"Following my master is my greatest glory—who are you ants to comment?!"
Before the words faded he pressed slightly with his foot.
Crack!
The Ice Qilin's tough skull burst like a melon; along with his soul it was ground to primal energy by Azure Dragon's pure, overbearing dragon might. With a single inhalation Azure Dragon swallowed it whole.
"Not bad."
He smacked his lips; the aura around him seemed a shade denser.
Without sparing the headless corpse a glance he transformed into a streak of azure light and shot toward the next potent energy fluctuation…
…North of the secret realm, several Golden-Flame Lions lay in pools of blood. Before them a snow-white tiger licked the remaining blood from its claws.
"Too weak—these guys are all too weak!"
"I hope the next one can take a beating!"
The tiger's maw curved in an eerie grin as it turned into a white blur and vanished…
"Damn—where did this stinking turtle come from? Why's it so tough?!!"
"You lot, use branches to fish those spirit herbs out of its shell; then we leave—no more tangling with it."
The Greenwood Treemen had fought for ages yet still couldn't break the mysterious giant turtle's defense at the center of the spirit pool.
With their spirit energy nearly spent and nothing gained, they could wait no longer.
Fortunately the turtle seemed mindless, knowing only defense and launching no attacks.
They schemed to snatch the herbs from the fire, creeping closer.
But the moment they came within thirty zhang, the colossal turtle's eyes snapped open.
"Crap—it spotted us!!"
"Faster—don't let it react!"
Rather than retreat, they rushed forward.
"Heh—so I'm invisible to you?"
A teasing voice sounded. What everyone had taken for shell patterns on the turtle's back slowly morphed—revealing a serpent with a dragon's head, phoenix wings, and a python's body. Before the treemen could react, it gulped them down whole.
Hic…
"Old pal, you've nerves of steel. If I'd let those twigs tickle me for so long I'd have snapped long ago."
The serpent's voice was languid and teasing—a rather sharp female tone.
"Turtle-Wu feigns sleep to lure foes."
"Ain't my trick workin' fine?"
The deep, self-satisfied voice of Turtle-Wu sounded.
"Hah—dumb luck meeting stubborn fools. These stick-men are just too pig-headed to dodge your crude trap!"
"Did it work or not?"
"Enough—back to sleep."
…Throughout the secret realm, similar scenes played out every moment.
The bloodlines of the Four Fiends and Four Divine Beasts are apex even in the Immortal Realm; against these imperial-path demons it was child's play. And apart from Vermilion Bird, the rest had all advanced to Quasi-Emperor Seventh Heaven.
Even meeting a Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer opponent, they could subdue them effortlessly.
Who could imagine that while four Great Emperors outside eyed the place like tigers, inside this realm—capped at Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer—someone was carrying out a ruthless massacre of demon quasi-emperors?
Meanwhile, two rather ragged, icy figures stared at the surging crimson sea of flames ahead, their faces grim.
They were none other than Shadow Tower's Tian Qi and Tian Ba.
All along they had tracked the faint remnants of Gu Yun and Di Yunshu's aura to this place.
Yet the scarlet tide before them had become an insurmountable chasm.
"Damn it! This flame… it can even incinerate divine sense!"
Tian Qi tried probing with his divine sense; the moment a wisp of it brushed the edge of the Crimson Tide, it was instantly burned away. He grunted, his face paling further.
"Perhaps it was left by the master of this secret realm."
"What do we do? Do we charge in and take a look? Maybe the opportunity to become a Great Emperor really is inside?!"
Both were Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer experts; entering this secret realm wasn't merely to complete a mission. If they could seize a heaven-sent chance at the Dao, all the better.
"You'll need to stay alive to get in!"
Tian Ba said coldly, "The owner of this realm was no ordinary being; the rules left behind would bind even a Great Emperor. Rush into this Crimson Tide—think we'd survive?"
"Then what?"
"Their trail ends here—that brat and the little girl definitely went in. How did they manage?"
Tian Qi couldn't fathom it; they wouldn't believe Gu Yun and Di Yunshu had simply thrown their lives away in desperation.
They'd entered early; there was no need to stubbornly follow one path.
So many forks ahead, yet only this one held the pair's aura. Eliminate every impossibility, and whatever remains—however absurd—must be the answer.
"Forget it. If we can't get in, we won't let them stroll out either."
Tian Ba sneered, "We'll camp right here. I don't believe they can hide inside forever!"
"Sooner or later the demon clans will track this place down; when they do, those two little things won't escape even with wings!"
"Good—settled!"
The two clapped hands and sat cross-legged, cultivating with the realm's thick spiritual energy… "You say you're my father—what proof do you have?"
With Gu Yun beside her, Di Yunshu's fear faded; facing the sudden Phoenix Demon Emperor, she dared to speak.
The Phoenix Demon Emperor's remnant soul hesitated, then chuckled, "Simple: your blood carries the same power as mine."
As he spoke, he lightly tapped Di Yunshu's forehead.
A phoenix cry rang out; Di Yunshu's body flushed crimson, and an identical flame seal appeared between her brows.
That shared, blood-deep belonging stunned her. She stared at the father who'd appeared so abruptly, utterly at a loss.
"Senior, why don't you tell us what happened back then."
"I think Yunshu will need time to accept this."
Gu Yun said.
"Very well, I'll speak."
The Phoenix Demon Emperor sighed. "My name is Feng Lingxiao; once I was the sole phoenix of the Qixia Mountain Range, its only sovereign…"
Feng Lingxiao began, recounting how he and Di Yunshu's mother, Guo Yunwan, met and fell in love.
Such a forbidden love was scorned by the world. He'd wanted to bring her to Qixia, yet feared she couldn't adapt to the wilds; with her pregnant, he delayed.
Just then turmoil erupted inside Qixia, forcing Feng Lingxiao to leave his beloved and return to quell it.
That parting lasted two years.
After crushing the rebellion, he joyfully rushed to the Eternal Imperial Capital—only to be thunderstruck: his Wan'er had become Di Shitian's Concubine Wan.
Reason snapped within him!
Alone he charged into the Eternal Imperial Palace, demanding an answer from Di Shitian.
"But… I never expected Di Shitian to be so prepared."
Feng Lingxiao's voice carried bone-deep hatred and exhaustion. "The moment I found Wan'er, I stepped into a Fatal Grand Array he'd laid; Di Shitian had been waiting for me."
"The Eternal Imperial Dynasty's fortune waned daily; to reverse it, he sought to use the luck of the era's sole phoenix—me—to defy fate."
"In that battle I burned my very source, striving to break out with Wan'er."
"I nearly succeeded!!"
Feng Lingxiao's voice grew ever more tragic, his mind back decades. "But at the crucial moment the Eternal Imperial Dynasty's ancestor struck, grievously wounding me and snatching my last chance."
"I never imagined that, just as I prepared to be captured, Wan'er threatened death to buy me a final opportunity."
"Like a dog I fled back to the Qixia Mountain Range, my body already burnt-out."
Feng Lingxiao's voice trembled, crimson-gold tears slipping silently.
"Yet… I failed her. In such a state I could no longer command the demon clans."
"Nor could I set foot again in the Eternal Imperial Capital to save mother and daughter…"
"Child, can you tell me—how is Wan'er now?"
Di Yunshu's delicate frame shook, tears falling like snapped strings of pearls.
She gazed at the guilt-ridden, hopeful remnant soul, throat blocked. At last she choked out, "Consort-Mother… when I was three… she… she died of illness…"
Boom—!
Feng Lingxiao's illusory body lurched; already dim light flickered wildly, as though about to scatter.
"No—no, how? That bastard Di Shitian! With Wan'er's Quasi-Emperor Realm body, how could she die of sickness? How?!"
"Wan'er… it was my fault… I harmed you…"
A low, despairing wail echoed through the Crimson Tide-ringed space.
"Father…"
The call pulled Feng Lingxiao back. Looking at the daughter who resembled Wan'er by sixty percent, his emotions slowly steadied.
The dead are gone; as a mere remnant soul he had no reason to brood—perhaps the true Feng Lingxiao and Guo Yunwan had already reunited in another world.
"Forgive me, little Yunshu; Father lost composure."
He gazed at Di Yunshu, eyes again gentle yet resolute, and continued his tale. "After returning to Qixia, those ungrateful wolves somehow learned of my condition. Forced to feign death, I slipped away."
"Dragging this ruined body here, I used my last ounce of strength to create this secret realm."
"Perhaps deep down I still clung to a vain hope: I severed my own head, letting my remaining phoenix essence drain to form this Blood Pool."
"Hoping that one day our little phoenix would arrive, so I could return this final bloodline power to you, intact."
Thankfully… my hope… was not in vain."
//659//
Chapter 659: Feng Yunshu
The phantom figure of Feng Lingxiao's remnant soul grew dimmer, like a candle flickering in the wind, threatening to extinguish at any moment.
But the gaze he fixed upon Di Yunshu was filled with contentment and relief.
"You finally came."
"Child, the Blood Pool contains most of my essence blood origin. I hope it can give you one last helping hand."
Di Yunshu listened blankly to all this. The massive amount of information flooding into her mind made it difficult for her to process everything quickly.
The Emperor she had called Father for so many years actually shared no blood relation with her.
She already believed most of what Feng Lingxiao said.
Her sole surviving memory of her Imperial Mother was of a woman full of loving tenderness, yet her brows always held an unresolved sorrow.
Her subsequent death from illness was also shrouded in mystery.
"No, it can't be, Imperial Father... Imperial Father, he isn't my father. Imperial Mother, Imperial Mother was killed by him..."
Di Yunshu's emotions completely shattered. She collapsed beside the Blood Pool and cried out loud, "Imperial Mother... Wuwuwu, why? Why did this happen..."
Feng Jiuxiao and Gu Yun stood silently beside her. Such a bolt from the blue was indeed difficult for a young girl to accept.
But the truth should never be buried beneath the earth. As the child they had risked everything to protect, Di Yunshu had the right to know everything.
Feng Lingxiao was also willing to take the time to wait for her to accept all this.
Soon, Di Yunshu's sobs gradually ceased. Her hands were stained with the energy from the Blood Pool, and the feeling of bloodline connection deeply moved her.
"Child, I told you all this not because I want you to avenge us."
"Di Shitian is the ruler of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty, possessing immense power. Within the vast Eternal Imperial Palace, countless old monsters at the Late-stage Great Emperor realm are slumbering."
"In my youth, my ambition reached the heavens, yet I was brutally smashed back down to earth."
"Child, I don't want you to follow my old path, and I believe Wan'er felt the same way. It's just... I still hope you can gain the ability to protect yourself."
"This pool of Blood Pool is the last thing Father can do for you."
Feng Lingxiao's voice grew softer, and his phantom figure became more transparent.
"Go in, child. Absorb this bloodline power. It will completely transform you and give you the foundation to stand firm in this world."
He looked at Di Yunshu with loving kindness, his eyes full of reluctance, yet also relief.
The time his remnant figure could remain was short; he had to finish explaining everything.
"Father..."
Di Yunshu's eyes were blurred with tears as she watched her father, who was about to completely vanish.
The panic and fear in her heart reached their peak. She reached out to grab him, but it was futile.
The father and daughter had long been separated by life and death; to be able to meet again now was already a blessing from the heavens.
"Go, child."
Feng Lingxiao's figure began to transform into tiny specks of crimson-gold light: "Take my power and Wan'er's expectations, and live well."
"Live... happily."
Before his soul dissipated, his gaze fell upon Gu Yun. He had no time left to learn more about this young man who had arrived with his daughter.
But the fact that he had earned his daughter's trust meant... "No! Don't!!!"
To be reunited only to part again immediately—how cruel this was to Di Yunshu.
She watched helplessly as her father's soul completely vanished before her eyes, turning into a shower of light that merged into the inverted Phoenix skeleton.
Di Yunshu let out a heart-wrenching scream, reaching out futilely to grasp the light specks, only to watch them slip through her fingers.
"Father... don't go... please... don't leave..."
She slumped to the ground, her tears flowing like a burst dam. The immense grief nearly drowned her.
Gu Yun walked over to her, knelt down, and without saying much, gently pulled her into his embrace, allowing her to release all the pent-up emotions in her heart.
After crying for an unknown amount of time, Di Yunshu's wails gradually subsided into quiet sobs.
She leaned against Gu Yun's chest, her small face pale, her eyes red and swollen. Yet, her expression now held a resilience beyond her years.
"Brother Yun..."
"Mm."
"Did Father... really leave?"
"Yes. To see you again and leave the most important things to you."
"He has no regrets now."
"The path ahead must be chosen by you. Whether you want to pretend ignorance and continue being your Imperial Dynasty's princess, or rise up and fight to avenge your birth parents, it's all up to you."
Gu Yun said this, his voice calm, as if discussing a trivial matter.
"I..."
"Don't worry, I will stay with you, no matter what choice you make."
Gu Yun squeezed Di Yunshu's hand and spoke firmly.
Feeling the warmth emanating from his palm, Di Yunshu's expression softened.
Finding courage from somewhere unknown, she looked up and kissed Gu Yun on the lips!
The kiss was utterly unskilled. Di Yunshu simply absorbed strength desperately, and only then did the overwhelming sorrow in her heart barely manage to subside.
After a long time, their lips parted.
Di Yunshu released Gu Yun's tightly held hand: "Thank you, Brother Yun. Th-this is my reward for you!"
Her heart hammered like a drum. Di Yunshu wished she could immediately find a hole to crawl into.
Gu Yun looked at the little girl in front of him, who was so shy she almost curled into a ball, and smiled softly: "Very sweet. This is the best gift I've received these past few days."
"You must have... already made your decision, right?"
Di Yunshu's eyes became firm, and she nodded gently: "Mm, Brother Yun, I've thought it through."
"I might not be able to do it now, but I don't want... I don't want to still be unable to do anything when I potentially *can*!!"
"I want to inherit Father's power. I want to become strong."
"I want to uncover the truth about Imperial Mother's death, and I want those who should pay the price, to pay the price!"
"I will no longer choose to run away. I want my life to be held firmly in my own hands!!"
The girl's voice was clear and powerful, echoing throughout the crimson space.
Her eyes were filled with determination and resolve, as if she had matured in an instant.
Something seemed to be emerging from its cocoon within her. The formerly naive Imperial Princess had now become a Phoenix of the Nine Heavens capable of standing on her own!!
"From today onward, I have truly found myself. I am... Feng Yunshu!"
"Feng Yunshu..."
Gu Yun savored the name, a smile playing on his lips: "Indeed, it suits your temperament better."
Receiving Gu Yun's affirmation, the brilliance in Feng Yunshu's eyes intensified, and a faint smile finally appeared on her face.
But soon, that smile was replaced by solemnity.
She looked at the dark golden Blood Pool, which was calm but contained terrifying energy. She took a deep breath, her gaze resolute.
"Brother Yun, I'm going in."
"Go." Gu Yun nodded. "I will stay here the entire time to protect you until you succeed."
Feng Yunshu no longer hesitated. She took one last look at the inverted Phoenix skeleton, as if bidding farewell to her father, then turned and leaped into the Blood Pool.
"Plop."
A ripple spread across the surface of the pool, then quickly returned to calm.
Gu Yun sat cross-legged by the pool. Before him, a phantom figure miraculously began to slowly reappear.
//660//
Chapter 660: Old Geezer, Why Are You Dying? Come Out and Drop Some Gold Coins!
"Young man, I didn't expect you to have the ability to make me reappear."
Looking at the familiar surroundings, Feng Lingxiao's remnant soul was clearly somewhat shocked.
"It's just a small trick, nothing to mention."
Gu Yun's expression was calm, and a wisp of pure Myriad Transformation Power quietly retracted from his fingertip.
"Why didn't you use this technique just now?"
Feng Lingxiao was slightly puzzled by Gu Yun's superfluous action.
"Your existence is an obstacle to her growth."
Gu Yun's voice was cold, devoid of any emotion.
Feng Lingxiao's expression was a little stunned, and he twitched his mouth, saying, "You really only think for her."
"Then I think Senior might have misunderstood. I only think for her right now."
"My heart is vast; it won't just house one person."
Gu Yun smiled lightly, appearing completely nonchalant.
[Ding! Feng Lingxiao produced negative emotions, rewarding 1000 villain value.]
"You Smelly Kid."
"Hmph, you're not even pretending anymore. I already felt that you weren't a good match, and Yunshu is just young, which is why you've led her around by the nose."
Feng Lingxiao's remnant soul phantom flickered slightly, appearing somewhat exasperated.
However, this expression only lasted for a moment: "If I were still alive, perhaps I could say something, but now..."
"I just hope you don't bully her in the future, kid."
"That's natural. At least she can make many friends, and I believe she'll be even more carefree than in the Eternal Imperial Palace."
"Kid, who exactly are you?"
Gu Yun's consistently calm and indifferent demeanor piqued Feng Lingxiao's interest.
"Who I am isn't important. I called you out just to reassure you that I won't follow your old path."
"Eternal Imperial Dynasty... I will uproot them all!"
Gu Yun's voice instantly turned icy, making people feel as if they had fallen into the Nine Nether Cold Pool.
Feng Lingxiao was slightly startled, feeling a sense of pressure rise in his heart as he looked at the young man before him.
However, as someone who had been through it, he naturally knew how terrifying the foundation of the Eternal Imperial Dynasty was. Dragging his crippled body, he felt it necessary to give a warning.
"I know better than you how powerful the Eternal Imperial Dynasty is."
"Back then, I had just passed the seventh Emperor Tribulation, full of vigor, thinking the world was in my hands."
"But I was beaten by those old guys in the Eternal Imperial Palace, losing three opportunities for Nirvana."
"I let Yunshu inherit my power, not to send her to her death for you, you..."
"I said, what you couldn't do doesn't mean I can't do it either."
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly. He made a wiping motion with his hand, and a small flame imprint suddenly appeared on the back of his hand.
"If Senior wishes, I can also let you witness the arrival of that day with your own eyes. Of course... this is my limit. After that, you will completely dissipate between heaven and earth."
"Don't worry, that day won't be far."
Feng Lingxiao stared blankly at the young man, a helpless smile curving his lips: "You really are young and arrogant. You are even more outstanding than I was back then, but also much more arrogant."
"Arrogant?"
Gu Yun smiled and said, "Senior, you are mistaken. I never fight unprepared battles."
"On this point, Senior still has much to learn from me. You suffered a loss in the Imperial Palace battle back then, and after all these years, it seems you haven't learned your lesson."
"What do you mean by that?"
Feng Lingxiao frowned, only to see a crimson light soar into the sky before him.
At the center of the Blood Pool, Di Yunshu's brows were tightly furrowed, her originally fair, jade-like skin stained with a striking crimson.
Wisps of heat constantly emanated from her skin, and her entire being was on the verge of collapse.
"How can the power you left behind be so violent? How can Yunshu, who is only in the Dragon Transformation Realm, possibly bear it?"
"Did you leave your inheritance without considering the consequences?"
Gu Yun's sarcastic words did not provoke a rebuttal. Feng Lingxiao's heart was already completely focused on his daughter: "This... how could this be...?"
"It shouldn't be..."
"Alright, stop being so wishy-washy."
"I'll make a move for you one last time. Who told you to be my... esteemed father-in-law?"
Gu Yun's lips curved slightly, and he took a step forward, directly embracing Di Yunshu's body from behind.
Feng Lingxiao's pupils constricted as he watched this scene unfold, completely an incompetent old father.
He was completely an incompetent old father.
"D-damn bastard, where are you touching?!"
[Ding! Feng Lingxiao generated negative emotions such as anger, rewarding 3000 villain value.]
The fabricated spiritual power couldn't last long, and Feng Lingxiao dissipated again, filled with indignation.
After extracting the last bit of dowry from his old father-in-law, Gu Yun tightly embraced Feng Yunshu's soft, delicate body. The Myriad Transformation Power on his body surged, quickly covering both of them completely.
Feng Lingxiao's arrangement certainly wasn't so crude; it was just that Gu Yun had preemptively added all the spirit herbs he had harvested in the secret realm into this Blood Pool.
The energy instantly overflowed, which led to the situation just now.
There was nothing he could do; who told Gu Yun to be kind-hearted and want to give Feng Yunshu the best of everything?
Presumably, his father-in-law would be grateful to him once he knew.
With the fragrant, soft jade in his arms, Gu Yun felt perfectly at ease.
Feeling the familiar aura, Feng Yunshu gasped, "Brother Yun, hot, so hot."
She frantically tore at her clothes, then turned and directly embraced Gu Yun, kissing him.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host, for successfully unlocking the forty-eighth page of the xuan qing treasure mirror. Reward upgraded! Congratulations, Host, for obtaining 1 Red Treasure Box.]
[Ding! Child of Destiny Liu Feng lost an important opportunity – the Phoenix Blood Pool. destiny value decreased by 10000 points.]
"Pfft--!!"
"What's going on? What exactly happened?!"
Following his inner guidance, Liu Feng had already arrived at the entrance of the secret realm, but the surroundings were already tightly surrounded by the Four Great Demon Emperors and Heavenly Three.
At this moment, he clutched his throbbing chest, a mouthful of rebellious blood (rebellious blood) spurted out, his face instantly turning ashen, and his aura weakened somewhat.
His already unhealed internal injuries became even more severe. His eyes were unfocused, filled with horror and rage.
"Who is it? Which damn bastard is it?! Don't let me find you, or I'll skin you alive and pull out your tendons!"
[Ding! Child of Destiny Liu Feng is furious, rewarding 10000 villain value.]
However, it seemed he was out of luck.
Liu Feng's fluctuating aura instantly revealed his already precarious disguise.
"Who's there?!"
Qingmu Tree Emperor's gaze shifted, and he roared.
A vine instantly attacked Liu Feng's position.
The latter was directly knocked over, sent flying, his fate unknown.
"Brother Tree, why the anger?"
"It must be some small demon from somewhere, without any manners."
Qingmu Tree Emperor said coldly. For some reason, he also felt a little uneasy.
"I hope no accidents occur."
//661//
Chapter 661 – Reborn from the Ashes
"Brother Yun, I…"
Three days had passed; the secret realm was now a scene of devastation.
The once-viscous, gigantic Blood Pool had vanished. Suspended above it, the mountain-sized phoenix skeleton had lost its luster.
The divine charm that once flowed over the bones had completely dissipated, leaving only weather-beaten remains.
Gu Yun and Feng Yunshu sat cross-legged at the pool's center. The girl, shy and blushing, nestled in the boy's arms. A faint crimson-gold halo enveloped them, their auras mingling in endless cycles.
Once merely a junior cultivator in the Dragon Transformation Realm, Feng Yunshu had soared in strength, leaping an entire major realm into the Dao Body Realm and even knocking on the gate of the Xiantai Realm.
She had become a genuine First-Tier Xiantai cultivator, truly stepping through the doorway of cultivation.
At this moment her skin glowed; she seemed reborn, her bearing ever more noble and ethereal.
The way she looked at Gu Yun was filled with alluring tenderness, the coy charm of a woman now mature.
When the vast phoenix origin had filled her body and she'd teetered on collapse, she hadn't truly felt fear.
She knew her destined hero would descend from the sky to save her from peril.
All she had to do was give everything she had to lessen the burden.
Fortunately, Gu Yun hadn't disappointed her; the legacy Feng Lingxiao had left behind proved a great boon to them both.
"Only one step away from Quasi-Emperor Fifth Tier."
"Once we leave this secret realm, I won't be able to hide my Quasi-Emperor tribulation."
At this critical juncture Gu Yun still had no intention of revealing his identity. A First-Tier cultivator changed nothing, but alerting Di Shitian prematurely would be unwise.
"Little Yunshu, do you still want to break through?"
Gu Yun's low voice suddenly sounded beside her ear, making Feng Yunshu's ear tingle.
She tilted her head to look at him, confusion written on her still-flushed face.
"Yes…"
Even so, she answered instinctively, rubbing her head against his chest. The two were now completely open to each other, their hearts closest they had ever been.
"I dream of it day and night. I wish I had power like the Supreme Empress, so I could storm the Eternal Imperial Palace and avenge Father and Mother!"
The little one clenched her fists hard, then relaxed. "But alas, I'm still too weak."
"I don't yet have the right to turn hostile."
"Rest assured, I'll help you. Di Shitian won't strut around much longer."
Gu Yun spoke with a smile.
"Brother Yun, don't tease me. I understand: the Eternal Imperial Dynasty is powerful; avenging them alone will be hard."
"So I'll hide myself carefully and make sure they don't find me."
Having received her father's gift and risen in strength, Feng Yunshu still had her own methods.
As a half-demon she possessed two sources of origin. The True Phoenix Power was formidable, but the strength of her Mystic Phoenix Saint Physique could provide the perfect concealment.
With that method she was confident she could remain hidden within the Eternal Imperial Palace.
Slowly gathering power, she would find her chance one day.
"Who says I can't rival the Eternal Imperial Dynasty? In these Three Thousand Dao Domains the Di family doesn't monopolize everything."
"Don't forget, I come from the Xiangu Yun Family."
"Hahaha, Brother Yun, stop teasing. Of the three Immortal Ancient Families, there's no such thing as the Xiangu Yun Family."
Feng Yunshu thought he was joking and answered with a laugh.
Seeing the girl disbelieve him, Gu Yun offered no further explanation, only a mysterious smile. "So you saw through me."
"Hehe, of course; I'm very clever."
"All right, then let me ask: do you still want to break through?"
"Just now, while I was assisting you, a portion of the power flowed into my body."
This is the True Phoenix Origin your father left for you; if I absorb it, I'd be wasting a treasure."
"It's fine. Without you, Brother Yun, I'd have exploded from that vast power long ago. A bit of energy is nothing—just let me hold you a little longer."
Feng Yunshu nuzzled closer to his chest; after this ordeal her reliance on Gu Yun had deepened.
Her mother had died of illness, and her father had just vanished before her eyes.
If anything in this world was still worth cherishing for Feng Yunshu, it was Gu Yun.
"That won't do. Your father entrusted me to look after you before he died; how could I keep for myself what he left you?"
Gu Yun was utterly serious. In truth he was suffering too, forcibly suppressing that power and unable to break through.
Never had he imagined he'd one day experience the bitter torment his master had endured.
"Th-then what should I do?"
Feng Yunshu was stunned by his seriousness and asked aloud.
"Very simple—something everyone knows."
Gu Yun leaned to her ear and whispered a few soft words.
Her already rosy cheeks turned crimson; she covered her mouth in disbelief. "How is that possible? Something like that… how could we?"
"Brother Yun, you mustn't do anything bad."
"If-if you still want to, Yunshu can…"
Feng Yunshu stood up, and though she swayed weakly she was exceptionally resolute.
But Gu Yun pulled her back into his arms. "Little Yunshu, that won't work."
"The union of yin and yang is the path of creation; it would instead hinder the transfer."
"Only this way can help you to the greatest extent."
"Really?"
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
O-okay…"
Th-then I'll try…"
Feng Yunshu swallowed, finally steeling herself… "Damn it, how long has it been? Why aren't those two coming out?!"
Tian Qi and Tian Ba were growing frantic. As time passed the Crimson Tide surged ever more violently, forcing them to relocate again and again in utter disarray.
The longer the delay, the greater the variables.
The demon reinforcements they'd hoped for still hadn't arrived, casting a shadow over both their hearts.
"No worries—just two juniors. They can't stay in there forever,"
Tian Ba consoled.
"Damn it, I say we charge straight in. I refuse to believe this Crimson Tide is that troublesome!"
Tian Qi snorted and suddenly struck, slamming a palm toward the tide. A vast Phoenix True Flame erupted, swallowing his attack—and surged back at him.
The backlash surged violently.
"Old Seven!!"
Tian Ba paled, but Tian Qi was quick enough to barely dodge.
"Don't act recklessly!"
"Fine, I get it. I just wanted to test its depth. Hmph, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse."
Tian Qi said coldly, his desire for the Dao growing keener.
Right at that moment—
"Hum!"
A soft chime rang out as the surging Crimson Tide suddenly stilled. Terrifying scarlet flames slowly parted to either side.
//662//
Chapter 662 – Turtles in a Jar
The raging crimson-gold flames calmed, a straight passage leading deeper.
Two figures stood shoulder to shoulder, walking out at a measured pace.
Tian Qi and Tian Ba's eyes snapped wide, the corners of their mouths lifting in cold smiles. "Finally willing to come out?"
"A pair of little mice—did you plan to hide in there forever?"
"Your illustrious Highness the Ninth Princess, you've nowhere left to run."
"Kid, hand over what you obtained inside and we might still grant you a quick death!"
Tian Qi licked his lips, gaze slithering over the two like a venomous snake, yet he didn't strike at once.
The core reason: Feng Yunshu who had stepped out of the Crimson Tide now exuded a transformed aura, and a killer's instinct warned that something was off.
Wariness was wariness, but fear? Never.
They were Shadow Tower's apex assassins; above them, aside from that 'Old Sixth', stood only Great-Emperor-level experts. In combat strength they far surpassed the Demons' Quasi-Emperors, making them the absolute top force within this secret realm.
Taking down Gu Yun and his companion would pose no problem; the only worry was the pair dragging the secret of breaking into Quasi-Emperor down to hell with them.
"Hmph, since when can maggots butt in?!"
Feng Yunshu, who had been chatting and laughing with Gu Yun, her mood finally steady, turned gloomy the instant she heard the two men speak.
She was no longer the powerless princess of the Imperial Dynasty; having received Feng Lingxiao's full legacy, within this secret realm she feared no one!
"Maggots?"
Tian Qi's gaze turned sinister, killing intent congealing. "Little girl, a scrap of fortune and you forget the height of the sky?"
Your strength has indeed soared—leaping straight to the Saint Realm—but before us… you're still an ant!"
Feng Yunshu's sudden jump had shocked them, yet after the surprise came boundless greed: an opportunity that could turn a Dragon-Transformation junior into a Saint—how terrifying!
If they could seize it, they would shoot straight to the heavens!
Before his words faded he exploded into action; in the cramped space his speed peaked.
In a blink he was behind Feng Yunshu, a dagger glinting with eerie blue venom appearing in his hand, stabbing straight for her heart.
Tian Ba locked his gaze on Gu Yun, a cold smile curling his lips. "Kid, in this space your every move is easy to predict."
"Don't bother trying your slippery spatial laws—I've been watching you the whole time."
"Rather than watching me, you'd do better to keep an eye on your partner."
"Careful you don't capsize in the gutter; the Shadow Tower 'Heaven'-rank brand will be smashed by you two."
Gu Yun remained unruffled, as though the matter didn't concern him at all.
"A Saint Realm threatening a Quasi-Emperor Ninth Layer—have you lost your mind or have I?"
Tian Ba sneered; he didn't believe such nonsense.
Yet before his voice died, sudden change erupted!
Feng Yunshu, facing Tian Qi's lethal strike from behind, neither dodged nor blocked.
At the instant the attack was about to land, the Crimson Tide behind her seemed to sense danger, lunging forward to assail Tian Qi.
Feng Yunshu was someone the goddess had designated to be kept alive; Tian Qi dared not deal a true death blow.
But the Crimson Tide might actually claim his life.
Weighing the odds, Tian Qi forcibly halted his charge and fled in haste.
Watching Feng Yunshu bathed in the Crimson Tide, her expression solemn, the two felt they were seeing a peerless deity walking out of flames.
"You… can actually control the power of the Crimson Tide?!"
Still shaken after his narrow escape, Tian Qi panted.
"Just a petty trick. Pity I can't take it out with me, or all three of you could be reduced to ashes under the flames!"
"Hah! Arrogant junior!"
"Though the flame surrounds you and obeys your will, with your Saint Realm cultivation, how much might can you draw forth?!"
"True, with that thing aiding you, we can't touch you."
"But to dream of keeping us here is pure fantasy!!"
"Move!"
Tian Qi's tone was arrogant, yet the two instantly reached consensus.
They could not contend with the Crimson Tide, but Heavenly Three, a Great Emperor, might have a way.
Besides, whether the pair could even bring the tide out of the secret realm remained uncertain.
In other words, once they left this place, the advantage would return to them!
Without warning the two turned into streaks of light fleeing outward.
"Want to run? Not a chance!"
"After them!"
Feng Yunshu's eyes were icy as she commanded the Phoenix True Flame to pursue.
Boom!!
Suddenly a loud crash rang out; the pair slammed into a solid rock wall and had to stop.
"Damn it, which bastard blocks this lord's path?!"
Tian Qi roared, raising his eyes to see a colossal Ink-Black Xuanwu Turtle whose huge frame blocked the cave mouth completely.
The only remaining gaps were swiftly filled as several more figures stepped out.
Seeing demon cultivators arrive, Tian Ba relaxed; the Qixia Mountain Range was a mixed bag. They had slipped in first and had been lying in wait outside the Crimson Tide, unaware which demon clans the four Demon Great Emperors had sent in.
Spotting the Eight Celestial Beasts, they assumed reinforcements had come.
"Why so slow? Are there really that many fortunes in this secret realm worth collecting?!"
"Still, better late than never. Right now… the greatest opportunity in this realm has fallen into these two's hands."
His words carried an air of course, aiming to spark a clash so he and Tian Qi could slip away in the chaos.
Tian Qi caught on and added, "Right, if this realm weren't you demon brothers' territory, I'd have snatched it long ago."
Saying so, the two looked toward Gu Yun and Feng Yunshu, delighting in the tension written on the princess's face.
Yet… the expected response never came; heaven and earth fell into an eerie silence.
Finally Vermilion Bird couldn't hold back and giggled, "Oh my, did everyone hear that? These two want us to attack our master~~"
//663///
Chapter 663 – The Strife of Phoenix and Sparrow
The Vermilion Bird's silvery laugh shattered the deathly stillness; Tian Qi and Tian Ba's expressions froze mid-breath.
M-master?!
What in the world—these were supposed to be the demon reinforcements from the Qixia Mountain Range, weren't they?!
With several pairs of eyes now fixed on them, the two felt as though ants were crawling beneath their skin.
"H-how is this possible? You're all demons—why would you acknowledge a human as your master?!"
Tian Ba's voice came out hoarse and cracked; even now he refused to believe it.
Even Feng Yunshu stared in shock. The auras of the figures who had suddenly appeared were, every one of them, almost on par with her current bloodline level.
There were eight such existences, and all addressed Gu Yun as master.
W-what exactly was going on?
"Insolent! What we choose to do is none of your concern, ants!"
Before Tian Ba's words had faded, the White Tiger's claws were already descending.
He had never liked wasting words on enemies—slaughter was instinct.
Once someone fired the opening shot, the rest of the Divine Beasts struck without hesitation, every ounce of power unleashed.
A web of dazzling, ruinous light wove itself in an instant, swallowing Tian Qi and Tian Ba whole.
Against the White Tiger alone they could still struggle and flee, but against the combined onslaught of eight, their resistance was laughably futile.
In the end, amid the Vermilion Bird's flames, the souls and bodies of the two Quasi-Emperors turned to ash.
When the dust settled, only a few wisps of smoke remained to prove the two had ever existed.
Feng Yunshu's lips parted slightly; she stared blankly, mind a blank canvas.
I-it's over, just like that?
She watched the approaching figures with a hint of envy—when could she wield such power?
When that day came, would vengeance finally be within reach?
"Master~ how did this servant perform?"
Having disposed of the foe, the Vermilion Bird reined in her killing intent and drifted to Gu Yun's side with a coquettish smile, her sultry figure nearly brushing against him, her gaze thick with charm.
"W-what do you think you're doing?!"
A sudden sense of crisis flared in Feng Yunshu; she hugged Gu Yun's arm and glared warily at the alluring red-clad woman. "Stay away from Brother Yun!"
"Oh my, little sister, are you jealous?"
The Vermilion Bird's laughter turned even more bewitching as she looped her arms around Gu Yun's neck from behind, exhaling by his ear. "I'm merely reporting my mission, Master~~ we always do it this way, don't we?"
Her mellow voice carried a unique allure, but thanks to his earlier marathon with Feng Yunshu, Gu Yun's resistance was at an all-time high.
Feng Yunshu, newly confirmed as his lover, flushed crimson under the provocation. "Y-you shameless bad woman!"
"Keep your hands off Brother Yun—he's mine!"
She hugged his arm tight and tugged it toward her, small yet irresistibly cute.
Sandwiched between two distinct kinds of softness, Gu Yun found the situation anything but pleasant.
"Tsk tsk~~ little sis, being so possessive isn't healthy. With a master this outstanding, admirers are everywhere; can you stop every flood and beast?"
The Vermilion Bird giggled and, right in front of Feng Yunshu, planted a kiss on Gu Yun's cheek. "Better get used to it."
"Y-you—!!"
Feng Yunshu fumed; their auras clashed, and in terms of bloodline alone they seemed evenly matched.
It made the Vermilion Bird click her tongue—such a tiny Three Thousand Dao Domains, yet tigers and dragons lurked everywhere.
"All right, you two, enough fooling around."
Gu Yun shook his head helplessly and flicked the Vermilion Bird's smooth forehead. "Still love teasing little girls?"
"Master's biased~ I'm only thinking of you, yet you reject me and even…"
She put on a pitiful act, leaving the other Divine Beasts dumbstruck.
"…Old worm, when did that violent bird become like this?"
The Qiong Qi avatar was a rugged middle-aged man; he stared at the Azure Dragon in shock.
The Azure Dragon looked equally mortified. "Hmph, the fearsome Qiong Qi of the Immortal Realm—aren't you now as docile as a puppy?"
"Hey, old worm, you asking for a fight? How is that the same?!"
"I'm just being pragmatic—must we get beaten black-and-blue before we wise up?"
"What did you say?!"
Six pairs of eyes swiveled toward him at once, making Qiong Qi's scalp tingle.
His mouth twitched. "What's there to glare about? I'm not wrong."
"Hmph…"
Six voices sounded in perfect unison; they turned away and lapsed into silence.
"Enough chatter. Those targets—dealt with?"
Ignoring the Vermilion Bird's pout, Gu Yun asked seriously.
"Of course… every possible heavenly treasure in the secret realm has been swept clean, and every demon that sneaked in has been eliminated."
"Only, I'm puzzled—once you leave, several Imperial Ancestors from outside clans will still be waiting. Won't that…"
Feng Yunshu's heart leapt into her throat; she looked at Gu Yun, eyes full of anxiety.
Having inherited Feng Lingxiao's legacy, she now understood the layout of power within the Qixia Mountain Range.
It was a vast world of demon beasts; in terms of emperor-count it might not lose to the Eternal Imperial Dynasty, only sorely lacking in apex quality.
After all, the strongest had once been Feng Lingxiao—a mere Seven Tribulation Great Emperor.
Yet even that was more than enough to handle the present group.
Yet Gu Yun remained unperturbed; he nodded, clearly satisfied with their efficiency. "Well done, everyone."
With that, he linked his mind to the Great Luo Dao Pagoda.
Hum—
An invisible spatial ripple enveloped the eight Divine Beasts.
"Master… this…"
The Vermilion Bird was puzzled; they had thought Gu Yun still needed them against the emperor-level demons outside.
With Immortal King bloodline suppression, even a full major realm gap could still let them contribute.
"You don't need to handle what comes next—I made arrangements long ago."
"If you truly want to help, cultivate inside the pagoda. Only once you recover to the Great Emperor realm can I give you bigger tasks."
"Yes, sir!"
The Vermilion Bird and the rest winked at Gu Yun; truthfully, facing Great Emperors at their current level still made them nervous.
Yet if Gu Yun dared, how could they as subordinates let him lose face?
Now that he was thinking of their welfare, how could they not be moved?
A flash of divine light—and every figure vanished.
In the blink of an eye the lively scene was left with only Gu Yun and Feng Yunshu.
//664//
Chapter 664 Leaving the Secret Realm
Brother Yun, are we...
Feng Yunshu looked at the empty surroundings and couldn't help speaking; the earlier unpleasantness was forgotten, her mind now entirely gripped by the danger ahead.
Five Great Emperors were waiting outside, how did Gu Yun make all these powerful helpers disappear?
Leaving aside how he managed it, the logic of it was baffling enough.
Their presence would only cause us extra trouble instead of helping.
Gu Yun said. To create opposition one should be the weakest party.
Only when they feel no threat, able to twist us at will, will their greed peak.
Feng Yunshu grew anxious; she didn't understand Gu Yun's decision, but she would fight with all her might for him.
Relax, Yunshu, I have a plan.
Gu Yun held her hand, eyes sincere and bright. "Believe me, all right?"
Under his gaze Feng Yunshu felt her heart race; despite their intimacy, she still tasted that first sweetness.
Y-you shouldn't do that, it's unfair.
She turned away, cheeks flushed, unable to think clearly.
Gu Yun chuckled at her reaction and pulled her into his arms. "How could I let anything happen to you?"
In a moment listen to me. When we go out, don't hide your phoenix bloodline aura; let it be more noticeable.
Ah, won't that alert them? Father said the beasts of Qixia Mountain Range are all ungrateful traitors.
If they detect my bloodline they likely will...
That's exactly the effect I want.
Gu Yun's smile turned meaningful. "Phoenix bloodline is unique, the needs of the four Demon Emperors and Heavenly Three differ. What do you think will happen next?"
Feng Yunshu caught on quickly. "Brother Yun, you're so bad.
Five Great Emperors and you're scheming against them—so daring.
If I weren't daring, how could I join my little Shuer in rebellion?
Hmph, slick tongue. Tell me, have you promised this to many women?
The two headed toward the exit, Feng Yunshu's IQ retaking high ground, the earlier displeasure resurfacing.
Ahem, Shuer, what are you saying?
My feelings for you are absolutely sincere.
Didn't I prove enough sincerity in the Blood Pool just now?
Ahhh, and you still bring it up! Why do you think I'm clinging to your arm, don't you feel guilty? You beast, next time I won't let you in.
Really?
Then I'll have to seek Vermilion Bird instead.
You dare! You won't go anywhere until I'm satisfied.
The royal-born Feng Yunshu quickly accepted that Gu Yun had more than one woman and felt light-hearted again.
Being with Brother Yun is already the greatest happiness in this world.
She had lost her mother and father; she couldn't lose Brother Yun too. Outside the secret realm—
Qingmu Tree Emperor, Dark Demon Tiger Emperor, Golden Flame Lion Emperor, and Ice Chi Demon Emperor, along with Heavenly Three of Shadow Tower, five Great Emperor-level experts stood like statues, cold auras focused on the fading portal.
Their patience was almost exhausted.
Why haven't they come out after so long?!
Golden Flame Lion Emperor's temper flared as he growled impatiently.
Wait a bit longer. Maybe this place really was related to the king back then,
Qingmu Tree Emperor's voice was old and steady, and the other demons fell silent.
King?
Heavenly Three narrowed his eyes; the opportunity here had nothing to do with him. As long as he safely brought Feng Yunshu out, his mission would be done.
He couldn't understand why the goddess insisted on keeping her alive; otherwise things wouldn't be so troublesome.
By this point he felt exhausted, a Great Emperor chasing two brats—if word spread, his reputation would be finished.
At that moment—
Buzz!
The dim portal trembled and two figures staggered out one after another: Gu Yun and Feng Yunshu.
Both looked disheveled; Gu Yun's aura was unstable, Feng Yunshu pale, yet faintly emanating a pressure that shook the hearts of all demons present—a pure, primordial phoenix pressure.
That was an incredibly pure, primordial phoenix pressure!
Damn bastards, hold it right there!!
//665//
Chapter 665: Tacit Understanding, The Crazed Four Great Demon Emperors
"Presumptuous!!"
At the critical moment, Feng Yunshu shouted angrily, and the noble bloodline belonging to the Phoenix Clan instantly surged from her body.
The Four Great Demon Emperors, who had originally intended to detain the two, all had a change in expression.
They acted together, instantly sealing off the surrounding environment.
Such pure Phoenix bloodline was an absolute tonic even for them; it could allow them to break through their shackles and give their stagnant cultivation a chance to grow once more!
Perhaps, they could even get a glimpse of the splendor of the late stage of the Great Emperor realm, just like Feng Lingxiao back then.
Although they were noble Demon Emperors, they could only live on the edge of the Qixia Mountain Range, near the human territories. If the aura of the bloodline drifted out and was sensed by the entire Qixia Mountain Range, they wouldn't have a chance to get a piece of the pie.
Locking down the scene now was a temporary measure.
Only Heavenly Three's body trembled slightly; he felt that something was a bit strange.
"The murderer is right before your eyes, yet you come to question us now. Have you forgotten who the true ruler of the Qixia Mountain Range should be?!"
Facing five Great Emperor realm experts, Feng Yunshu didn't show the slightest cowardice. Her heroic posture actually bore a resemblance to Feng Lingxiao.
This caused the Demon Emperors, who had emerged from the shadow of the Old Phoenix Emperor's power, to shake. They glanced at each other, and finally, the Qingmu Tree Emperor spoke to ask, "What do you mean by that? Why do you say the murderer is right before us?"
"Hmph, do you need me to be even clearer?"
"To be able to kill so many of our fellow demon kin in the secret realm, could it possibly depend on two minor cultivators like us, who haven't even reached the late stage of the Quasi-Emperor realm?!"
"Those two guys coveted the bloodline in my body and tried to seize it by force. Thanks to our fellow kin who fought to the death to protect us, we managed to escape with our lives."
"What?!"
"You..."
The Golden Flame Lion Emperor was about to say something when he felt himself instantly locked on by three auras.
"Everyone, these words are full of holes; do not believe them!"
"This woman is the ultimate goal of our Shadow Tower's operation. I hope you will hand her over to me. With the interrogation methods of my Shadow Tower, I will definitely give everyone justice!"
Heavenly Three stepped forward, his voice cold.
With Tian Qi and Tian Ba dead, his anger had reached its peak. He wished he could capture Feng Yunshu immediately to vent his rage.
But just as he was about to step forward and take the two away, a burly figure blocked his path. Looking up, it was the Dark Demon Tiger Emperor.
"Tiger Emperor, why are you blocking me?"
The Dark Demon Tiger Emperor sneered, "So many Quasi-Emperor experts of my Dark Demon Tiger Clan entered the secret realm, and now not even their bones remain."
"The only clue is right before us, yet you are in such a hurry to take her away. What exactly are your intentions?"
"Exactly. You aren't trying to make sure dead men tell no tales, are you?"
The Ice Chi Demon Emperor also spoke coldly, not giving Heavenly Three any face at all.
Heavenly Three was faintly pinned down by the Dark Demon Tiger Emperor and the Ice Chi Demon Emperor from left and right, his face instantly turning as gloomy as water.
"Everyone, do you really want to oppose my Shadow Tower for such a ridiculous reason?"
"Before making a choice, please consider carefully whether it is truly worth it!"
If the Four Great Demon Emperors insisted on blocking him, it would be truly difficult for him to take Feng Yunshu away today.
But Heavenly Three couldn't afford to lose face by returning empty-handed like this!!
"Although the Shadow Tower is strong, it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of my Qixia Mountain Range. If Fellow Daoist Heavenly Three has any questions, everything will come to light once we have investigated everything."
"At that time, we will not interfere with who this woman belongs to."
"However... before the truth is clear, no one can take them away."
His tone was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable determination.
Although the other three Demon Emperors didn't speak, their auras had already faintly merged with the Qingmu Tree Emperor's to jointly resist Heavenly Three's pressure.
The life and death of the clan's juniors was secondary; the most important thing was the Phoenix bloodline in Feng Yunshu's body.
At this moment, a strange consensus was reached in everyone's hearts.
Gu Yun and Feng Yunshu wanted to use the power of the Demon Emperors to escape Heavenly Three's pursuit, while the Four Great Demon Emperors also coveted the Phoenix bloodline and refused to let Heavenly Three take them.
They all harbored thoughts of leaving everything behind; as long as they could obtain the Phoenix bloodline, they would leave the Qixia Mountain Range and head to a Dao Domain where the demon race's power was even stronger.
In any case, the Quasi-Emperor juniors of their clans had all died in the secret realm. The passing of their pillars of support made their already faltering clans even less valuable.
It would be better to start anew elsewhere.
"You... you all!!"
Heavenly Three's expression became extremely ugly.
"Hmph! Since you all refuse to come to your senses, don't blame me for being heartless."
"There has never been a time when the Shadow Tower couldn't get the person it wanted!"
After dropping those words, he turned to flee without hesitation.
However, the Qingmu Tree Emperor was faster than him.
Countless vines spread from all directions, sealing the original entrance of the valley tightly.
"Heavenly Three, do you think we will still let you leave at this point?"
"If those old fogies in the depths find out, our end would be a hundred times more miserable than offending the Shadow Tower."
The Qingmu Tree Emperor's aged voice rang out. Countless thick vines danced like tentacles, emitting a dense vitality and toughness, completely sealing off the valley's exit.
The Dark Demon Tiger Emperor, Golden Flame Lion Emperor, and Ice Chi Demon Emperor also spread out, faintly forming an encirclement to trap Heavenly Three in the center.
"Are you... insane?!"
Heavenly Three's face was ashen, his eyes full of disbelief. "For an inexplicable little girl, you're going to completely tear faces with my Shadow Tower?!"
"As long as you are dead, how will the Shadow Tower know who did it?"
"Hmph, you are too naive. I have already notified the Tower. Once my Soul Tablet shatters, they will soon be able to trace it here."
Heavenly Three spoke with bravado but was actually uncertain. Right now, the forces of the Shadow Tower were all preparing within the Eternal Imperial Dynasty's borders; it was impossible for them to send people to support him immediately.
At this moment, he could only pray that his words would make these greed-blinded Demon Emperors reconsider the pros and cons.
"Hehe, by the time the people from the Shadow Tower arrive, we will have long since left the Qixia Mountain Range."
"When that time comes, I'd like to see if your mysterious Tower Master dares to venture deep into the heart of the Endless Demon Territory to find us."
In the Three Thousand Dao Domains, the demon race was the second most powerful force after the humans, and the Endless Demon Territory spanned three hundred Dao Domains, falling under the jurisdiction of the Demon Court.
The Lord of the Demon Court had an extremely strong sense of territoriality. Let alone the Shadow Tower, even the Shadow Immortal Palace wouldn't dare to provoke them easily.
The demons were willing to abandon the Qixia Mountain Range they had managed for so long and flee millions of miles away; they had already resolved to fight to the death.
Hearing these words, Heavenly Three's heart sank to the bottom.
"A bunch of fools, don't you know you're being used as tools by someone else?!!"
"Whether it is right or wrong, there's no need for Fellow Daoist Heavenly Three to judge."
The Qingmu Tree Emperor spoke coldly. As soon as he finished speaking, the Four Great Demon Emperors attacked Heavenly Three together.