The opponent was basically a walking cheat code who could take anything. How were they supposed to break that?
“Unless a Saint intervenes, we have no way of dealing with him…”
“It seems we can only ask a Saint to act.”
Randeng Daoren sighed. “I’ve sent word to Yuxu Palace, but Master has yet to respond…”
Jiang Ziya rubbed his temples, feeling a splitting headache. “Kong Xuan is so powerful; we can’t just keep the ‘Exemption from Battle’ sign up forever, can we?”
Before he could finish, a messenger rushed into the main tent.
“Reporting to the Prime Minister! A woman outside requests an audience. She says she can help our army defeat the enemy and subdue Kong Xuan!”
“What?” Everyone instantly perked up.
Jiang Ziya was overjoyed. “Invite her in quickly! This is a savior sent from the heavens!”
A moment later, a woman in red stepped into the tent. Her presence was as hot as a raging fire, and the moment she entered, everyone felt a scorching heat.
Upon seeing her, Jiang Ziya’s heart jolted. ‘This person’s aura is as vast as an abyss. She is definitely no ordinary cultivator!’
He hurried forward and clasped his hands. “This Daoist friend, may I ask your name?”
The woman in red—Su Fu—smiled faintly. “My name is not important. I was passing by and saw you blocked at Jinji Ridge, so I came to help.”
Jiang Ziya was ecstatic. “If you can help us subdue Kong Xuan, it would be a great favor! Does Daoist friend have a clever plan to help our army overcome this hurdle?”
Su Fu waved her hand. “No clever plan is needed. A mere peacock is nothing to fear. Just watch as I go meet that Kong Xuan.”
Everyone was shocked. She dared to make such a bold claim? Was she truly capable, or was she just talking nonsense?
Although Jiang Ziya had doubts, he had no other choice at the moment. He said respectfully, “In that case, I shall trouble you. I will give the order to challenge Kong Xuan once more!”
—
Meanwhile, Kong Xuan was ordering his soldiers to sort and imprison the people and treasures taken by his Five-colored Divine Light.
“General’s divine might is supreme!” the lieutenant said excitedly with a bow. “Winning in a single battle and sending the Xiqi army fleeing in panic—this is truly satisfying!”
Kong Xuan smiled slightly, feeling a secret sense of relief. To be honest, after receiving that letter earlier, he had felt a sliver of unease. But after one great battle, everything was calm; nothing had happened.
“Hmph. That Jiang Ziya is indeed only capable of schemes. What ‘return of Yuan Feng’? It’s complete nonsense! Now that we’ve faced off with real weapons and I’ve crushed them, let’s see if they dare come again!”
Just then, a messenger rushed in frantically.
“Report! General, the Xiqi army has formed their ranks again and is challenging us to battle!”
Kong Xuan raised an eyebrow. “Oh? They just fled in defeat, yet they dare return?”
He sneered and stood up to don his armor. “I’ll see what else they’re relying on. Order the entire army to form ranks!”
—
At the foot of Jinji Ridge, the Xiqi army had regrouped and was waiting in formation. Kong Xuan stood atop the city wall, looking down proudly.
“Jiang Ziya, you failed the first time yet dare to return to your death? You truly don’t know the height of the heavens! Tell me, who else dares to come die?”
As soon as he spoke, he saw a woman in red in front of the Zhou army. She didn’t look particularly special, but for some reason, his heart skipped a beat.
The woman stepped forward, her expression carrying a hint of helplessness. She sighed, looked at Kong Xuan, and said softly, “Kong Xuan, aren’t you coming home with me?”
Kong Xuan’s expression changed, and alarm bells rang in his head. He shouted, “Who are you? State your name!”
Su Fu shook her head as if looking at a disobedient child. She said no more and directly activated her Godly Power.
*Boom!*
Nirvana Fire soared into the sky!
In an instant, the world changed color. Within the flames, a phantom of a Phoenix that blotted out the sun appeared. Its wings spread, and light flowed—even more dazzling and brilliant than Kong Xuan’s Five-colored Divine Light. The Phoenix phantom became increasingly solid, looking down upon the earth as golden-red flames spread across the sky, forming a magnificent sea of clouds.
The soldiers of both the Xiqi and Shang armies were pressed to the ground by this pressure, unable to move.
“This… This is the ancient Divine Beast, the Phoenix!” Jiang Ziya cried out in shock.
*Qiang!*
A clear phoenix cry echoed through the clouds, and all living beings within 100 miles bowed their heads. This was the pressure of bloodline, the suppression of the ancient Divine Beast over all beasts in the world.
Kong Xuan’s body trembled violently. Under this terrifying pressure, he could no longer maintain his human form.
*Shua!*
The Five-colored Divine Light surged, and a giant peacock’s true form was forced to appear. His body was multicolored and his tail feathers were magnificent, yet under this Phoenix’s might, he lowered his proud head.
Suddenly, everyone realized.
“So that’s it! Kong Xuan’s true form is actually a peacock!”
“So this is… the Phoenix coming to find her child?”
“No wonder she said she could take Kong Xuan away… His real mother is here!”
Su Fu stood in the air, the massive Phoenix phantom behind her. She looked at Kong Xuan in his true form and spoke with an ethereal, serious voice, “Kong Xuan, follow me back to the clan.”
She sighed inwardly. If she had a choice, she wouldn’t have made such a grand scene, but the Investiture of the Gods War placed the most importance on status and relationships. To intercept Zhunti, she had to appear in the capacity of a mother. Only then could she take Kong Xuan away rightfully.
Just like how Zhunti was able to forcibly take Kong Xuan in the original history—wasn’t it because Kong Xuan defied Heaven’s mandate, giving him an excuse to act? Today, she appeared as Yuan Feng to break that play.
After all, in the Great Desolation, even a Saint could not be unreasonable. If Zhunti dared to forcibly snatch a child from his mother in front of everyone, that would be truly acting against Heaven.
“Mandate is as such; how can it be defied?” Su Fu sighed. “My son, return to the Phoenix Clan with me and wait for the end of the Great Tribulation.”
The Phoenix spread its wings, and ten thousand golden lights shone upon the world.
Feeling that familiar Phoenix aura, Kong Xuan was first stunned, then became incredibly excited. He never expected his mother to truly come back to life. ‘This aura… this charm… it absolutely cannot be wrong. Mother has really returned!’
But hearing her request, the smile on his face gradually faded. After hesitating, he gritted his teeth and said, “Mother, forgive your son for being unable to obey!”
Su Fu: “?”
“I cannot go back,” Kong Xuan looked up, his eyes burning. “I promised King Zhou that I would hold Sanshan Pass! As a general of the Shang Dynasty, I have a responsibility to guard the territory! I cannot just—”
*Slap!*
Su Fu sent a wing-slap directly across his face!
Kong Xuan: “???”
The peacock was slapped so hard he fell to the ground, completely dazed. “Mother?!”
Su Fu: “Are you coming back or not?”
Kong Xuan shook his head and struggled to stand. “Mother, I cannot betray King Zhou’s trust. I must—”
*Slap!*
Another wing-slap to the right!
The crowd erupted into an uproar. Whoa! This is a real mom! If you don’t listen, you get beaten!
Su Fu had no patience to reason with him or move him with emotion. Who knew when Zhunti Daoren would react? A quick battle was necessary.
Kong Xuan crawled up from the ground, still wanting to argue. “Mother, I swore an oath to King Zhou; I cannot—”
*Slap! Slap! Slap!*
Su Fu didn’t bother asking again. She went back and forth, landing ten large wing-slaps in a row! Finally, she stared coldly at Kong Xuan, her voice rising in anger. “Are you coming?!”
Kong Xuan: “…”
He had stars in his eyes from the slapping, and his feathers were drooping. He finally gave in and muttered quietly, “I’ll go.”
Everyone: “…”
‘Why put yourself through that?’
The lieutenant behind him looked on with heartache. “General, you should at least dodge!”
Kong Xuan said pitifully, “How could I! This is my mother!”
Everyone: “…”
‘You knew that, yet you still talked back?’
Chesia, watching from the side in amazement, said to Su Fu, “Just as you said—forget fighting back, he didn’t even dare to dodge.”
Su Fu snorted and turned around. “Follow me.”
Dejected, Kong Xuan let out a low cry, folded his wings, and slowly flew toward Su Fu. Su Fu raised her hand, and the Nirvana Fire swirled, carrying Kong Xuan away like a streak of red light. They soon disappeared from everyone’s sight.
Everyone: “…”
Just like that? It seemed… quite reasonable?
Jiang Ziya stroked his beard in a daze. “It feels like… a parent coming to drag a brat home.”
“Bloodline suppression is truly terrifying.”
Everyone present was shocked, and messages flooded the Great Desolation channel.
[Holy crap! The Phoenix mother descended and just snatched Kong Xuan away!]
[I never thought I’d see this scene with my own eyes in the Great Desolation!]
[Kong Xuan: I was arrogant my whole life, only to be dragged away by my mom in public?]
[Hahaha, his face is completely gone!]
[Who told him to be so stubborn? Hahaha, his mom is right there, and he’s still going ‘King Zhou, King Zhou’!]
[Phoenix: What to do with a rebellious son? Just give him a beating.]
[I’m dying laughing, hahahaha…]
Su Fu had long expected this. Kong Xuan, as the son of the Phoenix, was born proud. In the original Investiture of the Gods plot, Zhunti Daoren also had to beat him into submission before he could lead him away to be a mount. Therefore, she never intended to take a gentle approach. What to do when a brat doesn’t listen? He’ll behave after a beating!
As for Chesia’s worry about whether Kong Xuan would fight back? How could he? Kong Xuan’s devotion to King Zhou showed how much he was bound by human ethics and morality. Daring to talk back to his mother was already his limit, and that was only because of the conflict between loyalty to his lord and filial piety. Otherwise, Su Fu wouldn’t even have had to hit him; she could have just picked him up and left.
Wrapped in the Nirvana Fire, Kong Xuan followed obediently behind Su Fu. After a long while, he whispered, “Mother, are we going back to Nanming?”
Su Fu sneered. “Heh, I didn’t think you still remembered where your home was.”
Kong Xuan: “…”
He knew he was wrong, but he was stubborn. Yet, not daring to talk back, he could only stay silent. Su Fu didn’t bother with small talk and increased her speed. Having successfully intercepted him, if she didn’t leave quickly, was she supposed to wait for Zhunti to come and fight for him?
—
Meanwhile, at the Zhou army camp.
Zhunti Daoren stepped on auspicious clouds and slowly descended, calculating in his heart. ‘The people of Xiqi should have already witnessed Kong Xuan’s Five-colored Divine Light. They must be helpless right now. Appearing at this moment is truly sending charcoal in a snowstorm!’
However, the moment he landed, he heard cheering in the camp and was stunned. ‘What’s… going on? Why are they cheering after facing Kong Xuan?’
His heart sank slightly, and he hurried to find Jiang Ziya.
Jiang Ziya was quite polite upon seeing Zhunti. After bowing, he asked, “This Daoist, may I ask for your guidance?”
Zhunti smiled slightly, adopting a transcendental posture. “I have come from the West. I calculated that there is a tribulation here and have come specifically to help.”
After speaking, he waited for Jiang Ziya to show an expression of wild joy. Instead, Jiang Ziya’s expression was subtle. “Is the one Daoist mentions… General Kong Xuan, the defender of Jinji Ridge?”
“…Indeed.”
Zhunti realized something seemed wrong. Jiang Ziya smiled and said, “Daoist is too late. The matter has already been resolved.”
Zhunti: “???”
‘Where is my giant peacock?!’
He suppressed his shock and barely maintained his image as a master. “Oh? May I ask which expert acted?”
Jiang Ziya said with emotion, “It was a red-clothed female Immortal. She claimed to be Kong Xuan’s mother and took him away directly.”
Zhunti: “…”
‘Phoenix?! Didn’t Yuan Feng fall long ago?!’
Mother? Phoenix? Taken away? How is this possible! Yuan Feng had fallen as early as the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity; how could she appear again?
He immediately pinched his fingers to calculate, and his face suddenly turned pale.
“Not good! Why is this opportunity no longer mine?”
It was ruined! He had been intercepted! Someone else had picked up his prize!