Chapter Twenty-Three: The Three Clans at Odds, Stirring of the Demonic Clan

As the roar faded, a burly man with an imposing presence appeared in the center of the field. Taking in the scene before him, his fury erupted as he demanded, “What offense has my son committed against the Phoenix Patriarch that has stirred such murderous intent, to the point that not even his body was left intact?"

Hearing the accusation from the Dragon Patriarch, who had just arrived and was already seething with killing intent, the Phoenix Patriarch replied coldly, “You believe, Dragon Patriarch, that it was I who killed your son?"

The Ancestral Dragon let out a grief-stricken laugh. “Isn’t the situation perfectly clear? Do you still mean to deny it, Phoenix Patriarch?" This youngest son, though the least accomplished among all his children, was his favorite. Now that the boy had been slain, how could the Ancestral Dragon not be enraged?

Seeing that the Ancestral Dragon was convinced she had killed Long Tian, the Phoenix Patriarch did not bother to argue further and instead demanded, “My daughter, the Phoenix Princess, came to deliver a message to your clan, yet she was hunted and attacked by your people. How do you intend to answer for this?"

The Ancestral Dragon was briefly stunned. He calculated swiftly in his heart, recalling the misdeeds of his son, and felt both anger at his son’s failings and confusion, for the circumstances of the boy’s death remained a mystery, shrouded in chaos.

What the Ancestral Dragon did not know was that when Chen Xing saw Feng Ling’er intended to leave with him and the others, he casually disrupted a portion of the heavenly fate, restoring the course of events to its original path. If Feng Ling’er ever learned that her choice had brought doom to the Three Clans of the Great Desolation, one wonders what she would have felt in her heart.

“My son may have committed some foolish acts, but it is he who has perished here, while your Phoenix Princess is nowhere to be found. Your clan owes me an explanation!” the Ancestral Dragon barked, his voice domineering.

The Phoenix Patriarch did not back down. “My daughter’s fate is also unknown. If your clan thinks the Phoenix Clan is easily bullied, we are prepared to see this through to the end!”

“Very well! Since that is your stance, there will come a day of reckoning!” the Ancestral Dragon laughed in his rage. Noting that all the Phoenix Elders were present and knowing that he and the Phoenix Patriarch were evenly matched, he realized there was no advantage to fighting now. He said no more, gathered up the remains of Long Tian and his clansmen, and vanished into the void.

Once the Ancestral Dragon had departed, the Phoenix Patriarch gradually calmed, letting out a bitter laugh and shaking her head helplessly. She knew there was no longer any way to reconcile with the Dragon Clan. Though she could not divine her daughter’s whereabouts, she sensed that the girl was not in mortal danger. No longer in the mood to conduct a search, she turned to the Elders. “Now that we are at odds with the Dragon Clan, let us return and discuss our next move.” With that, she departed, breaking through the void, the Elders exchanging helpless smiles before following closely behind.

Yet, as the leaders of the Dragon and Phoenix Clans severed ties, none noticed that the threads of fate were growing ever more tangled, a faint, nearly imperceptible evil aura beginning to emerge in the Great Desolation...

Meanwhile, Chen Xing and his companions were flying leisurely toward Fangzhang Island in the Eastern Sea. Now accompanied by Feng Ling’er, the group strolled along, admiring the scenery. The three women chatted and laughed together, filling Chen Xing’s heart with contentment—this was the life he had always longed for. What joy was there in endless strife and slaughter?

Originally, Feng Ling’er had intended to return to her clan after escaping danger, but as the three women grew ever closer, Nuwa invited her to visit Fangzhang Island as a guest.

After a moment’s hesitation, Feng Ling’er agreed, feeling it would do no harm to delay her return a while longer.

Upon reaching the concealed heart of Fangzhang Island, Chen Xing waved his hand, and the island slowly revealed itself. The air was tranquil, spiritual grasses grew in profusion, and untransformed creatures frolicked amidst the meadows. Far from being frightened by the newcomers, these creatures ran up to Nuwa and Xiaoyao, nuzzling their feet. The women bent down to stroke the little ones’ heads, happiness radiating from their faces.

Gazing at this island, which seemed almost a celestial paradise, Feng Ling’er’s eyes widened in wonder. Having lived her whole life on the Immortal Volcano, where there was naught but endless flames, she had never seen such a breathtaking blessed land. Though some clans in the Great Desolation had also claimed such sanctuaries, those places were always choked with the smoke and filth of ceaseless struggle for survival. This serene harmony was something she had never witnessed in all her days.

Beyond the island, the grand protective array was shrouded in primordial chaos, its might evident at a glance, enough to make one’s heart tremble.

Before they knew it, the group had arrived at the island’s center. Upon seeing the strange building Chen Xing had constructed, Feng Ling’er was left speechless. In the Great Desolation, which great figure’s abode was not a grand structure, imposing and resplendent? But this odd, modest edifice before her—what was the meaning of that?

Nuwa, pulling Xiaoyao with her, approached Feng Ling’er with a teasing smile. “Ling’er, do you think Brother Chen Xing’s abode is too small and plain?” Mischief glinted in her eyes as she looked at Feng Ling’er.

Feng Ling’er quickly shook her head. “Not at all! I’m just curious why Brother Chen Xing didn’t build something grander—he’s so powerful, after all.”

Along the way, Feng Ling’er had already learned that Chen Xing was by far the most powerful among them, in no way inferior to her own mother—at least, so she believed.

Xiaoyao and Nuwa exchanged a glance, amusement sparkling in their eyes.

Nuwa took Feng Ling’er’s hand and led her toward the house, her tone mysterious. “Come, let’s find you a room to settle in first.” She offered no further explanation.

With Feng Ling’er and Xiaoyao in tow, they headed into the peculiar house, while Chen Xing, smiling helplessly, left them to their own devices. Choosing a flat spot, he waved his sleeve, producing a small tree that, catching the wind, instantly grew into a towering giant, a hundred feet high, roots firmly planted in the earth. Upon its branches hung dozens of fruits, each bearing two characters swirling with Daoist aura: “Yellow Middle.”

Admiring the tree, Fuxi sighed. “It is said that ten great spiritual roots exist within Chaos, but none have ever seen them. To think, fellow Daoist, that you have acquired this Yellow Middle Plum—your fortune is truly profound.”

Chen Xing replied with a faint smile, “It’s only a fruit tree—nothing more. It’s barely useful for quenching thirst.”

Despite his composure, Fuxi could not help but roll his eyes. One of these fruits could raise an ordinary being’s cultivation to the level of Da Luo Golden Immortal, yet this fellow used them simply to slake his thirst. Still, he understood that for someone of Chen Xing’s level, the fruit held little value—even for himself and his sister, it was now of limited use.

Indeed, this Yellow Middle Plum Tree had been found in the place given by the Ancestral Qilin. As for the formation that had guarded it, to Chen Xing it had been mere child’s play.

When Nuwa first saw that the tree was a primordial spiritual root, she had been excited—it was, after all, one of the greatest roots in all the Great Desolation! But upon learning that it held little benefit for one of her quasi-saint cultivation, she quickly lost interest.

...

At the Immortal Volcano, within the Phoenix Clan’s council hall, the Phoenix Patriarch was gathered with the clan elders to discuss how to withstand the Dragon Clan’s retaliation.

“Back during the Calamity of Beasts, it was the Ancestral Dragon who dissuaded us from joining the tribulation. Though we later entered and gained much merit from the Dao, allowing our clan to prosper in peace for hundreds of thousands of years, the Ancestral Dragon has always lorded over us, acting as if he were above us all. I’ve long found that old mudfish insufferable—does he really think the Phoenix Clan is so easily bullied?” the fiery-tempered Second Elder growled.

“Don’t be rash, sister,” another cautioned. “This matter requires careful thought. We three clans have been at peace for many years. If we truly tear apart our relations with the Dragon Clan, it will not bode well for us.”

The Fifth Elder, with a worried expression, added, “Whatever the situation between our clans, Ling’er’s life and safety are still uncertain. Our priority must be to find her and bring her back.” Having watched over Feng Ling’er since childhood, the elder was naturally anxious for her wellbeing.

The others fell silent at this.

After a long pause, the Phoenix Patriarch spoke. “Though we cannot divine Ling’er’s whereabouts, I can sense that she is in no danger. For now, we can set this matter aside.”

After further thought, she continued, “The Ancestral Dragon is convinced I killed Long Tian—this matter will not end easily. We must have our people remain vigilant and not be careless. If the Dragon Clan attacks, we will meet them head-on!”

The Grand Elder hesitated. “Though the strengths of the three clans are not far apart, the Dragon Clan is still stronger than the Phoenix and Qilin Clans. If war breaks out, our losses could be devastating. What should we do?”

The Phoenix Patriarch meditated for a while before replying, “If the Dragon Clan truly declares war on us, we should ally with the Qilin Clan to resist them together. That way, we preserve our strength and prevent the Qilins from sitting on the fence.”

“But will the Qilin Patriarch agree?” the Third Elder asked anxiously.

“He must,” the Phoenix Patriarch declared. “If we and the Dragons both suffer heavy losses, the Qilin Clan will be powerless to resist the Dragons later. The Qilin Patriarch is not a fool.”

The Grand Elder immediately stood and said solemnly, “In that case, I will go see the Qilin Patriarch and discuss the alliance. The rest of you should summon our clansmen who are traveling abroad, to avoid any surprise attacks from the Dragon Clan. The Patriarch should remain here to guard against the Ancestral Dragon’s arrival.”

All the elders agreed, rising and responding in unison, “Yes, Elder Sister!”

Nodding, the Phoenix Patriarch stood and bowed to the Grand Elder. “Thank you for your efforts.”

With that, everyone departed to carry out their tasks. After the elders had gone, the Grand Elder turned back to the Phoenix Patriarch. “Have you secured our two royal eggs?”

The Phoenix Patriarch nodded. “I have placed the two phoenix eggs deep within the Immortal Volcano. You need not worry.”

The Grand Elder nodded, sighing. “No matter what the future holds, as long as our Phoenix Clan has two princes, we need not fear a war with the Dragon Clan.” With that, she vanished.

It turned out that, many millennia after giving birth to Feng Ling’er, the Phoenix Patriarch laid two more phoenix eggs, which were divined to be the future princes. The Grand Elder had advised hiding them away, and so their existence was unknown to outsiders.

Once the Grand Elder had left, the Phoenix Patriarch’s form slowly faded from the council hall, a sigh lingering in the air.

After the Phoenix Clan had dispersed, none noticed a figure gradually materializing in a shadowy corner, a sly smile playing across his lips before he too disappeared without a trace.