“Ah.”
Feeling the pain, the young girl raised her hand to look at her injured palm and couldn’t help but sigh again.
Now, since all that lay ahead was a dead end, she could only turn back!
Just as the girl was thinking this, the stone door that had seemed unchanged for thousands of years seemed to sense the blood on the ground and began to emit waves of light.
Then, the blood on the ground was drawn into the stone door.
When all the blood had completely fused into the stone door, the previously immovable door rumbled open.
To the girl’s disappointment, the stone door did not lead to an exit, but only to a sealed chamber. The room was very empty, except—
At the center of the chamber, a stone pedestal stood quietly, and on the pedestal rested an oval-shaped egg.
The call she had been feeling grew even stronger as the door opened. It became so intense that it even affected the girl’s mind.
Guided by this will, the girl entered through the stone door and, step by step, climbed the stone stairs to the pedestal that was calling out to her.
She stretched out her still-unhealed hand and reached for the egg on the pedestal.
The moment she touched it, as her not-yet-dried blood made contact with the egg, the previously dormant egg immediately burst forth with a scarlet glow, followed by the sound of cracking.
Moments later, as the egg completely shattered, a piercing cry of a Phoenix rang out, accompanied by a fiery red figure.
That figure was bright as fire, as if it were the incarnation of flames itself. Unknown scarlet flames circled its entire body at every moment, and its crimson feathers adorned it from head to toe.
Several long, flowing plumes extended from its back, spreading freely, making it look majestic beyond compare.
Anyone who saw this scene would be unable to help but secretly marvel—this was truly a worthy divine beast.
“Ah! Finally free!”
Bursting forth from its shell, the Phoenix, at last free, spread its wings with abandon and danced gracefully around the girl:
“Not bad, not bad at all! You carry my bloodline, and you are also the Tianming Zhi Nu, blessed by Heavenly Fate. I dare say, when you grow stronger in the future, you will be a great help to my true body.”
At this moment, the girl finally regained her senses.
As her consciousness returned and she understood her current situation, she was startled, her expression tense, and she nervously asked the divine bird that kept sizing her up, “You… who are you? I… I don’t taste good.”
Although the girl felt that the divine bird didn’t seem to have any malicious intent toward her—there was even a sense of familiarity—she had heard many stories before.
In those stories, once a divine beast awakened, it required a sacrifice, usually for a ritual. Sometimes, the sacrifice was even a child.
And wasn’t she just right for a sacrifice? So the girl thought.
“Taste good? What does whether you taste good have to do with me?”
Although the divine bird’s words weren’t exactly polite, the meaning in its tone let Feng Aotian know she probably wouldn’t be eaten.
But, for peace of mind, she confirmed again: “So… so you’re not going to eat me?”
“Ha! Why would I eat a descendant who shares my bloodline?”
“Eh? Descendant?”
“No wonder you look like that—you really know nothing. Alright, little one, I won’t eat you, so don’t worry. In terms of status, I, your elder sister, am actually your ancestor!”
At this, the Phoenix raised her head, looking as if she expected to be worshipped.
“A… ancestor?”
“That’s right!”
Hearing the divine beast’s confirmation, Feng Aotian immediately knelt before the great bird and began to cry her grievances:
“Ancestor, I really don’t want to marry someone else, I beg you, please spare me!”
“What… what? What are those idiots thinking? They actually want the Tianming Zhi Nu to marry someone else? Don’t tell me those fools have been inbreeding for so many years to keep the bloodline pure that they’ve all gone stupid!”
Clearly, the Phoenix was furious, but the consequences… Sorry, there were none. Because she was just a rootless avatar.
She had been placed here by her true body only as a guide. As a result, she had slept here ever since. If not for the arrival of the Tianming Zhi Nu before her, the Phoenix might have slept forever.
Her awakening was entirely thanks to this young girl, and of course, she had no power now, so she couldn’t punish those idiots.
But if she said she couldn’t do anything at all, wouldn’t that tarnish her dignity as a divine beast? So, the Phoenix cleared her throat and spoke in a solemn tone:
“Ahem, girl! This is your destined tribulation. If you want to break free, you’ll have to rely on yourself. The help of others is ultimately fleeting.”
“Only when you stand up on your own is it real. So, my many-generations-removed descendant, do you want to cultivate immortality?”
“I do!” Feng Aotian answered without hesitation, her words full of determination. But then she grew crestfallen: “But, they say my talent is poor…”
“Poor talent?” The Phoenix nearly laughed in exasperation. The Tianming Zhi Nu has poor talent? Then who has good talent?
“Yes! When my talent was tested before, I accidentally broke the Testing Stone. As a result, they said my talent was so bad the Testing Stone couldn’t bear it, so they wouldn’t let me cultivate.”
Remembering that scene, Feng Aotian couldn’t help but feel a little aggrieved.
“Absurd, truly absurd! Ignorance should have its limits. I’ve decided. Girl, I will make you into someone those ignorant fools can only look up to. Are you… ready?”
At this, the Phoenix pointed her wings at Feng Aotian and spoke solemnly.
“I’m ready! What should I do first?” Feng Aotian clenched her small fists, her expression excited.
“The first step, of course, is to choose a suitable cultivation method to break through Foundation Establishment.”
“Mm, I’ll listen to whatever Ancestor says!” Feng Aotian looked eagerly at the Phoenix before her. In her mind, such a divine beast must have some incredible cultivation techniques.
However, the Phoenix simply shook her wings: “Once you reach Foundation Establishment, the cultivation method most suited to you will come naturally.”
“But… then… how do I break through Foundation Establishment?” Feng Aotian said, a bit troubled.
“Ahem, when you have time, go to the Scripture Repository. I’ll help you pick out a cultivation method.”
“But…” Feng Aotian didn’t know why, but she felt something was off.
The Phoenix didn’t care what Feng Aotian wanted to say, directly interrupting her: “Stop fussing! Let’s go! I haven’t been free in who knows how many years. Take me out for a stroll first!”
With that, the Phoenix transformed into a delicate little Phoenix, fluttered her wings, and landed on Feng Aotian’s shoulder.
“Wow! Ancestor, you can get this small?”
“That’s nothing! I can even turn into a great beauty! Also, don’t call me Ancestor anymore. It sounds so old. Call me Elder Sister instead.”