Chapter 1712: A Sudden Increase in Strength (3)
The huge fiery wings refreshed the cultivators’ worldview.
Most of the young cultivators’ understanding of fierce beasts was limited to what their elders told them and the books. Although the pa.s.sages between the golden lotus domain and the Unknown Land had opened, it did not mean the cultivators could go there as they pleased. Hence, they were very curious about beast emperors, divine beasts, and even Saint slayers. Even if they had seen pictures in the books, it could not compare to seeing them with their own eyes.
After the eight-leaf limit had been broken in the golden lotus domain, the fierce beasts and the Birth Chart beasts that appeared in the golden lotus domain had also been very shocking in the beginning.
Naturally, they were shocked when they saw Fire Phoenix and Ling Guang.
The sky was burning, and the high temperature scorched everyone’s shocked faces. After a while, they gradually calmed down. In their opinion, the Saint Sky Pavilion had already created so many miracles; this time was no different.
Ling Guang said in a low voice, “Put away your meaningless anger.”
The Fire Phoenix’s eyes were like the sun as it stared at Ling Guang and asked, “Do you think I’m afraid of you?”
The conflicts between fierce beasts were often inexplicable. It could be just a simple ‘I don’t like the way you look at me’ that caused a fight,
Ling Guang said, “I know you’re not, but do you think I’m afraid of you?”
Neither side was willing to back down. They looked as though they were about to pounce at each other at a moment’s notice.
At this time, Zhu Honggong flew out and landed between the duo, intending to mediate. He said, “If there’s an issue, let’s talk it out. There’s no need to fight.”
Jiang Aijian chimed in, “That’s right, that’s right. Both of you are peerless and revered. With so many people watching, it’s really a little inappropriate.”
The Fire Phoenix glanced at the human cultivators who were as weak as reptiles. All of them wore varying expressions of shock and awe. Upon seeing this, its pride successfully extinguished its flames of fury. It thought to itself, ‘Indeed. These humans aren’t worthy to witness the might of us n.o.ble beings…’
After Fire Phoenix extinguished its flames, Ling Guang extinguished his flames as well.
Suddenly…
Boom!
The fourth pillar of light shot out and pierced the clouds. When the clouds dispersed, wave-like ripples swept out in all directions.
“Be careful!”
The human cultivators hurriedly retreated.
Jiang Aijian and Zhu Honggong turned to look, using their own ability to defend against the shockwave.
Ling Guang looked down at the southern pavilion and frowned slightly. Then, he flew toward the southern pavilion and used his flaming wings to block the shockwave.
The Fire Phoenix looked at the pillar of light and said, “Powerful human.”
“It’s good that you know,” Zhu Honggong said.
The Fire Phoenix suddenly lowered its head and said to Zhu Honggong, “Hand over the Little Fire Phoenix.”
Zhu Honggong frowned and said, “Are you kidding me? We helped you take care of it! Why are you so aggressive? Are you asking to be punished?”
Naturally, the Fire Phoenix knew that the Little Fire Phoenix was very well taken care of. However, its hatred toward humans was too deep-rooted. It said disdainfully, “You take care of the Little Fire Phoenix because you want it for yourself! Humans are all hypocrites. Do they think they’re superior just because they have divine beasts as their mounts?”
“Oh, you know a lot,” Jiang Aijian said. Then, he pointed at the eastern pavilion and added, “In any case, Senior Ji invited you here. You can speak to him.”
“Okay.”
The Fire Phoenix flapped its wings and rose high up into the sky.
Swoos.h.!.+
True fire began to burn in the sky again as the Fire Phoenix flew toward the eastern pavilion. Its voice that imitated human speech was slightly off, but it was deep and powerful as it said, “Hand over the Little Fire Phoenix!”
Boom!
Just as the Fire Phoenix arrived at the eastern pavilion, the fifth pillar of light shot out. This time, it did not head for the clouds. Instead, it shot toward the Fire Phoenix.
Everyone looked at the pillar of light in shock and disbelief.
The Fire Phoenix continued flapping its wings, and the flames surged to resist the pillar of light.
Boom!
The pillar of light landed on one of the Fire Phoenix’s wings. The flames on its body weakened slightly, and it was pushed back more than 3,000 feet. It was instantly enraged. It spread its wings. The flames were even more exuberant than before. Its eyes were like the sun and the moon as it opened its beak.
Jiang Aijian frowned. “Fire Phoenix, we called you here for a reason, and it’s not to fight! Stop!”
The Fire Phoenix naturally did not pay attention to him. Humans were like ants in its eyes. Following that, dragon-like flames shot out of its mouth.
“Fire Deity!” Jiang Aijian shouted.
Ling Guan turned to glance at the Fire Phoenix before it flew over. “Since you insist on acting like that, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
Ling Guang was like a ball of light as it blocked the fire.
The flames in the air caused the temperature in Golden Court Mountain to rise; it was really uncomfortable. Some plants that could not withstand the heat had already withered.
The cultivators retreated further and further away as they watched the two flaming experts with worried and shocked expressions on their faces.
Suddenly, the Fire Phoenix’s feathers suddenly stood up straight. Then, a screech escaped from its mouth.
The Fire Phoenix’s attack might not do anything to Ling Guang, but the same could not be said for the others.
“Run!”
The cultivators watching the battle turned around and fled.
Jiang Aijian said, “This has gone too far. Protect your senior brother and my sister. Go!”
Zhu Honggong agreed readily. “Okay.”
Just as Zhu Honggong flew toward the Evil Sky Pavilion, a figure flew over from the eastern pavilion. When it arrived, it hovered among the clouds, flas.h.i.+ng with blue electric arcs. A blue lotus could be seen under its feet. 14 leaves spun around the lotus.
Clearly, Lu Zhou had successfully used the five Qilin’s life hearts to activate 5 Great Birth Charts.
Lu Zhou could feel the surging power from the blue lotus, and it was not any weaker than his golden lotus that had the full 36 Birth Charts. If it was just pure strength alone, the blue avatar was incomparably powerful. It was just lacking in regard to the power of the laws, but Lu Zhou could make up for it with his divine power. In other words, strength-wise, the blue avatar was like a supreme being.
“What’s that?” someone asked from afar when he saw the blue lotus.
“Another expert!”
Jiang Aijian, Ling Guang, and the Fire Phoenix watched as Lu Zhou hovered above the blue lotus. He spread his arms and raised his head with his eyes closed, enjoying himself as he absorbed the energy between heaven and earth.
After a moment, Lu Zhou opened his eyes. Without saying another word, he calmly pushed his right hand down slightly. In the next moment, an astrolabe appeared, and a beam of light shot out and struck the Fire Phoenix.
Boom!
The Fire Phoenix felt as though it had been struck by lightning. Its body was numb. Electric arcs appeared on its body before they surged inside and entered its Eight Extraordinary Meridians, restricting its Primal Qi and power. Just like that, its fire was quickly extinguished.
Ling Guang was also shocked by this scene. He did not think he would be able to do it so easily.
“...”
The Fire Phoenix flapped its wings a few times before it looked at the figure and exclaimed in surprise, “It’s you?”
Lu Zhou withdrew his right hand and placed it on his back. He looked down at the Fire Phoenix and said, “We’ve not seen each other for many years, but your temperament is still the same.”
“Give the Little Fire Phoenix back to me!” the Fire Phoenix said.
“I didn’t call you here for this,” Lu Zhou said.
“What do you want?”
“I need a little of your blood essence,” Lu Zhou said.
“...”
The Fire Phoenix flew up and drew level with Lu Zhou. It spread its wings and asked, “Why?”
Lu Zhou replied, “Because my disciple has taken care of the Little Fire Phoenix for 100 years.”
“...”
“Over the past 100 years, it has absorbed a large amount of Great Void energy. It’s been in the Unknown Land for the past 100 years,” Lu Zhou said.
Just like Lu Zhou’s mounts, the Little Fire Phoenix was staying in the Unknown Land for the time being.
“The Unknown Land?” the Fire Phoenix was a little surprised.
Lu Zhou extended his hand and said, “It’s time to fulfill your promise.”
“What promise?” The Fire Phoenix was puzzled.
“Blood essence.”
Back then, the Fire Phoenix had left its feather with Lu Zhou so Lu Zhou could summon it when he needed it. Now it seemed to have turned hostile and refused to acknowledge Lu Zhou.
When Lu Zhou saw the Fire Phoenix hesitating, he said in a low voice, “If it’s so inconvenient for you, I can just take it myself.”
“?”
Lu Zhou strolled leisurely in the air as the blue lotus under his feet followed him. He emitted a mysterious and indescribable aura. The electric arcs flas.h.i.+ng on his body made him look even more threatening and oppressive. His eyes were piercing and shone with a mysterious light every so often.
The Fire Phoenix felt like its body was still a little numb from the attack earlier. It suddenly tucked its wings to the sides and said, “I’ll give it to you.”
Lu Zhou stopped in his tracks. He nodded and said, “Very good.”
The Fire Phoenix’s wings flashed before a small ball of red light flew out of its body.
In the past, the Fire Phoenix had felt angry and humiliated when it lost a drop of true blood in the green lotus domain. 200 years later, he lost another drop of its blood. How embarra.s.sing.
History had a tendency of repeating itself after all.
Lu Zhou waved his hand casually, using an energy seal to protect the Fire Phoenix’s blood essence. Then, he tossed it to Jiang Aijian and said, “Give it to him.”
Jiang Aijian caught the blood essence and nodded. “Understood.”
Then, Jiang Aijian turned around and flew to the southern pavilion.
At the same time, Ling Guang flew up to the right of Lu Zhou. He looked at Lu Zhou with a complicated expression and said, “You’ve become stronger.”
“Are you surprised?” Lu Zhou replied with a question.
“No,” Ling Guang shook his head and said, “Everyone knows that you’ve veered off the orthodox path to the unorthodox path. You walk alone on your cultivation path. It’s within reason that you’ve grown stronger.”
“You also hate the unorthodox path?” Lu Zhou asked.
Ling Guang shook his head again. “In the Fire Deity clan, there’s no distinction between the orthodox and the unorthodox. Humans like to force their opinion on others and label everything. What’s right and what’s wrong? When they’re unhappy, they use eradicating evil as a pretext to kill their opponents. In the end, the only distinction is the strong and the weak.”
At this moment, the Fire Phoenix asked in a hoa.r.s.e voice, “What are you talking about?”
Ling Guang looked at the Fire Phoenix as though it was an idiot as he said, “You’re the n.o.ble Immortal Bird. Even if you haven’t met him before, you should have heard of his legends. At this point, how is it that you’re still unable to recognize him?”
“...”
The Fire Phoenix flapped its wings and stared at Lu Zhou intently with its sun-like eyes. It recalled its three battles with him. The first time was in the Unknown Land. At that time, it had just become a divine beast. It had used all its might but was unable to break his Golden Buddha’s Body. The second time was in the green lotus domain. It had been searching for the Little Fire Phoenix at that time. At that time, it had been struck down by his palm seals, causing him to lose a drop of its true blood. The third was today in the golden lotus domain. It had already become a divine lord, but it was still no match for him. The pillar of light earlier had filled its heart with… fear. Until now, the numb and tingling feeling had yet to disappear.
Ling Guang’s words stirred the Fire Phoenix’s memories before realization dawned on it. Then, it lowered its head and said in a somewhat disbelieving tone, “It’s you! You’re back?!”