Chapter 18: The Poisoned Chalice and the Phoenix's Fall**
**Imperial Palace Gardens – Moments After the Revelation**
Chaos reigned in the once-elegant garden. Cultivators vomited blood, healers rushed frantically from group to group, and imperial guards scrambled to secure the perimeter. The sweet scent of spirit flowers was now choked by the acrid smell of fear and neutralized poison.
Emperor Tianlong stood up from his throne, his face a mask of thunderous rage. The dragon bone crown on his head seemed to glow with his fury.
"Seal the gates!" he roared, his voice shaking the very foundations of the palace. "No one leaves until I find the culprit who dared to poison my guests!"
Hundreds of guards formed a tight circle around the garden, spears lowered. The atmosphere shifted instantly from celebration to interrogation.
Chen Feng stood calmly amidst the panic, his eyes fixed on the retreating backs of **Yan Lie** and **Elder Yan**. They were trying to blend into the crowd of fleeing nobles, moving swiftly toward a side exit guarded by Vermilion Bird clan members.
"Lin Yue," Chen Feng said quietly, not taking his eyes off his targets. "Take care of the team. Make sure no one else drinks anything."
"What are you going to do?" Lin Yue asked, her voice tight with concern.
Chen Feng's lips curved into a cold, predatory smile.
"Hunt."
Before she could stop him, he vanished.
**Void Step: Flash.**
---
**The Side Exit**
Yan Lie was practically running now, his golden armor clanking softly. Elder Yan grabbed his arm, pulling him behind a large decorative rock.
"Stay low," the elder hissed. "Once the initial chaos settles, we can slip out with the other nobles. The poison is untraceable; they'll never prove it was us."
"Untraceable?" a calm voice echoed from directly behind them.
Both men froze. Their blood ran cold. Slowly, terrifyingly, they turned around.
Chen Feng stood there, leaning casually against the rock they were hiding behind. His arms were crossed, and his black robes seemed to absorb the moonlight, making him look like a shadow given form.
"You..." Yan Lie stammered, his hand instinctively reaching for his weapon. "How did you...?"
"Did you really think a little parlor trick would work on me?" Chen Feng asked, pushing off the rock and taking a slow step forward. "I told you at the registration hall. Your fire is weak. And your poison? Even weaker."
Elder Yan stepped in front of Yan Lie, his aura flaring dangerously. *Golden Core Level 9.* Just one step away from Nascent Soul.
"Boy," the elder growled, his eyes narrowing. "You've made a grave mistake. Interfering with the Vermilion Bird Clan is suicide. Walk away now, pretend you saw nothing, and you might live to see tomorrow."
Chen Feng laughed. It was a short, humorless sound.
"Suicide? No. This is justice."
He raised a single finger.
"And besides... you forgot one thing."
"What?" Yan Lie snapped, trying to regain his composure.
"I don't just detect poison," Chen Feng whispered. "**I devour it.**"
He opened his palm. A small wisp of red-black smoke swirled above it—the residual energy of the Phoenix Blood Poison he had absorbed from the spilled wine earlier.
"Delicious," he mocked. "But slightly bitter. Needs more... fear."
Elder Yan's eyes widened in horror. "You... you absorbed the toxin? That's impossible! It attacks the soul!"
"My soul is older than your entire lineage," Chen Feng said coldly. "Now, pay for your crime."
"**Void Lightning Strike.**"
The black-and-blue lightning he had absorbed from the Thunder Dragon Academy earlier shot from his finger. It wasn't a wide attack this time; it was a precise, needle-thin beam aimed directly at Elder Yan's meridian points.
The elder tried to dodge, but Chen Feng was already behind him.
"**Void Step: Rear.**"
*Zap!*
The lightning struck the elder's spine. He convulsed once, his eyes rolling back, and collapsed unconscious before he even hit the ground.
Yan Lie screamed. "Uncle!"
He unleashed his full power. The spectral phoenix behind him screeched, diving toward Chen Feng with wings of pure flame.
"**Phoenix Inferno!**"
The fire engulfed Chen Feng completely, turning the corner of the garden into a miniature sun.
"I got him!" Yan Lie panted, sweating profusely. "I burned him to ash!"
But as the flames died down, Chen Feng stood there untouched. Not a singe on his robes. In fact, he looked... refreshed. The black flames around his body were brighter, feeding on the fire attack.
"**Devour Complete**," Chen Feng announced. "**Phoenix Fire Energy integrated.**"
He took a step toward the trembling noble.
"Your turn, Yan Lie."
"No! Stay back!" Yan Lie backed away, tripping over his uncle's unconscious body. "Do you know who my father is? He's a Nascent Soul cultivator! He'll kill you! He'll kill your whole family!"
Chen Feng stopped inches from him. He leaned down, grabbing Yan Lie by the collar and lifting him effortlessly into the air.
"Family?" Chen Feng repeated softly. "I have no family left. You took them from me in my past life. And now, in this life, you try to poison my friends."
His grip tightened. Yan Lie's face turned purple as he struggled for breath.
"So tell me, Young Master Yan... what should I do with you?"
"Mercy!" Yan Lie wheezed, tears streaming down his face. "I'll give you anything! Spirit stones! Techniques! My clan's secret arts! Just let me go!"
Chen Feng considered this for a moment. Then he smiled.
"Actually... I have a better idea."
He dropped Yan Lie to the ground, but before the boy could scramble away, Chen Feng placed a hand on his forehead.
"**Void Mark: Slave Seal.**"
A dark rune burned itself onto Yan Lie's skin. The boy screamed as he felt his will being suppressed, his spiritual energy bound to another's command.
"What... what did you do to me?" Yan Lie cried, clutching his head.
"A little insurance," Chen Feng said straightening up. "From now on, you belong to me. If you try to harm me or mine again, or if you disobey a direct order... your soul will shatter instantly. Understand?"
Yan Lie nodded frantically, too terrified to speak.
"Good." Chen Feng turned to leave. "Now, get up. We're going back to the banquet. You're going to confess everything to the Emperor."
"But... but they'll execute me!" Yan Lie sobbed.
"Not if I say otherwise," Chen Feng replied without looking back. "Move."
---
**Back at the Banquet**
The crowd parted like the Red Sea as Chen Feng walked back into the main garden, dragging a handcuffed Yan Lie and pulling the unconscious Elder Yan with a chain of void energy.
Silence fell instantly. Even the crying victims stopped to watch.
Emperor Tianlong descended from his throne, landing gracefully before Chen Feng.
"Young man," the Emperor said, his voice heavy with authority. "Explain yourself. Why do you bring the Vermilion Bird heirs in chains?"
Chen Feng stopped in the center of the garden and pushed Yan Lie to his knees.
"Because, Your Majesty, these two attempted to mass-murder every participant in your tournament using **Phoenix Blood Poison**."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. The Vermilion Bird representatives still present looked horrified.
"Lies!" one of them shouted. "Proof! Where is your proof?"
Chen Feng reached into his robe and pulled out a small vial—the original container Elder Yan had used. He had snatched it while marking Yan Lie.
"This vial contains residual poison energy that matches the signature found in the wine. Furthermore, my new 'slave' here," he kicked Yan Lie lightly, "has just confessed under truth-compelling techniques that this was their plan to eliminate competition."
Yan Lie, forced by the Void Mark, nodded miserably. "It's true... Uncle Yan made me do it... we wanted to win at any cost..."
The crowd erupted in outrage. Nobles turned away from the Vermilion Bird representatives in disgust. This was a violation of the sacred tournament rules, punishable by death.
Emperor Tianlong's eyes narrowed dangerously. He looked at the remaining Vermilion Bird elders.
"Is this true?"
The elders fell to their knees, trembling. "We... we didn't know! It was just Elder Yan's rogue action!"
"Rogue or not," the Emperor declared, his voice final. "The Vermilion Bird Clan has dishonored this tournament. Elder Yan will be imprisoned for life. Yan Lie... his fate lies in the hands of the victim."
He turned to Chen Feng.
"Young hero, you have saved hundreds of lives tonight. As reward, you may decide Yan Lie's punishment. Death? Imprisonment? Or exile?"
All eyes turned to Chen Feng. This was the moment of truth. Would he show mercy? Or ruthlessness?
Chen Feng looked down at Yan Lie, who was shaking uncontrollably, expecting death.
"Death is too easy," Chen Feng said calmly. "And imprisonment is a waste of resources."
He leaned closer to Yan Lie's ear.
"Here is your punishment. You will compete in this tournament... as my servant. You will fight for *my* team. You will use your fire to protect *my* allies. And if we win... maybe, just maybe, I'll consider removing the seal."
Yan Lie looked up, shocked. "You... you want me on your team?"
"Don't misunderstand," Chen Feng smirked. "You're not a teammate. You're a tool. A shield. If we lose because of you, I'll trigger the seal myself. Understood?"
"Yes! Yes, Master!" Yan Lie bowed his head to the ground, kissing Chen Feng's boots. "I swear loyalty!"
The crowd was stunned. The arrogant Young Master of the Vermilion Bird Clan, reduced to a boot-licking servant in less than an hour? It was unprecedented.
Emperor Tianlong laughed heartily. "Bold! Very bold! To turn your enemy into your weapon... that is the mark of a true leader."
He waved his hand, and a servant brought forward a golden box.
"Besides the prisoner, here is your official reward. The **Imperial Token of Merit**. With this, you have free access to the Imperial Library, exemption from all city taxes, and the right to challenge any sect in the capital without repercussion."
Chen Feng accepted the token, weighing it in his hand.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. But I have one more request."
"Name it."
"Investigate the other teams," Chen Feng said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, lingering briefly on the mysterious figures in the highest tier who were watching intently. "Poison rarely travels alone. If the Vermilion Birds dared this, others might have similar plans."
The Emperor's expression grew serious. "Wise advice. Guards! Increase security. Screen all food and drink immediately."
As the guards rushed to obey, Chen Feng turned to his team, who had just arrived at the scene.
"Let's go," he said quietly. "The show is over."
"But... Yan Lie?" Lin Yue asked, looking at the former enemy now trailing behind them like a lost puppy.
"He's useful," Chen Feng replied simply. "Fire complements our lack of ranged offense. And besides..." He glanced back at the highest tier, where the silver-haired woman was still watching. "...we need all the pieces we can get for the coming storm."
As they walked away, leaving a shaken empire behind them, Chen Feng felt the Void Flame in his dantian pulse happily.
*One step closer,* he thought. *The Six Sovereigns are watching. Let them see what I'm building.*
---
**Meanwhile – The Highest Tier**
The silver-haired woman stood up, her ice-cold eyes following Chen Feng's retreating figure.
"The Void Mark," she whispered. "He can enslave souls already? At Golden Core?"
Her obsidian-skinned companion nodded grimly. "Master was right. He is growing faster than anticipated. We must accelerate the plan."
"No," the woman said, a small, dangerous smile touching her lips. "Let him grow. Let him gather his pieces. The bigger the prey, the more satisfying the hunt."
She turned to leave, her white robes flowing like mist.
"Inform the Shadow Forest. Tell them the Void Sovereign has returned. And tell them... the game has begun."
---
**To be continued...**