Chapter 91

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 91: Life is but a Dream

“Huh?”

Ming He heard her words clearly and looked up, confirming that the woman named Feng Xin was not joking. In that instant, her pupils contracted, and her first instinct was to glance at Qin Chu Yi, who, dressed in pristine white, was gazing back at her with cold, inscrutable eyes that betrayed no emotion.

Facing such a gaze, Ming He felt an inexplicable pang of guilt. As she noticed Feng Xin’s lips curve into a strained smile, she realized the current predicament was even more challenging than her unconscious slumber in the ice coffin.

“Your Grace,” Ming He took a subtle step back, her expression as calm as the depths of the ocean. Meeting Feng Xin’s gaze, she spoke with composure and steadiness. “I am not a man.”

The title of Phoenix Lord was traditionally reserved for men, yet here she stood—a woman.

Ming He exhaled softly, feeling a faint sense of relief.

“Of course, I know you are a woman,” Feng Xin tilted her chin slightly, her pride and arrogance undiminished. “The title of Phoenix Lord is for my Dao partner. If I favored a man, he would be the Phoenix Lord; since you are a woman, you may be called Phoenix Queen instead. It makes no difference.

You need only answer me—do you wish to be my queen and return to Wutong Heaven with me?”

“I do not.” Ming He refrained from asking further questions, such as whether Feng Xin’s desire to bring her to Wutong Heaven stemmed from affection.

She was no fool; she didn’t believe the kind of fate that befell Dragon Hero would happen to her. It was merely a thread of Star Power that had awakened her. Though gratitude might exist, it was insignificant compared to the vast disparity in their strength.

So why did Feng Xin wish to take her to Wutong Heaven? The moment Ming He lowered her gaze, the answer became clear—Star Lock!

From the moment she obtained the Star Lock in the ancient cave dwelling of Luoyin City on the Ninth Continent until now, every person and event she encountered had underscored the significance of the Star Lock.

From Mu Xuan Ye, Left Envoy of the Demon Race, to the young leader Ji Wu Xu, Nineteen, Qin Chu Yi, and Bai Mengjiao, her cultivation journey had been profoundly altered by the Star Lock.

Thanks to it, she had repeatedly escaped life-and-death situations. If the old man within the ring Dragon Hero found in the river was his golden finger, then hers was undoubtedly the Star Lock.

Ming He stood on the stairs, level with Feng Xin, her gaze wary. Powerful individuals often could not tolerate dissent. She feared that Feng Xin, humiliated by her refusal, might resort to force.

If it came to that, she could join forces with Qin Chu Yi, Zhan Qing Yi, and Qu Yanran; it wouldn’t be impossible to resist, especially since she had only just awakened.

A calculating glint flickered in Ming He’s eyes.

“It is indeed because of the Star Lock; your mind is sharp,” Feng Xin, the master of the Phoenix Clan, easily discerned her thoughts.

She chuckled softly, her expression tinged with amusement. “Are the younger generations today so remarkable? Rest assured, I will not act against you. I have no interest in resorting to force.”

With a flick of her sleeve, spiritual energy surged, and a throne materialized in the center of the stairs, adorned with intricate phoenix carvings and radiant treasures, exuding majesty and nobility.

Feng Xin lowered her gaze and gracefully seated herself on the throne, her long robes cascading around her. Her bright eyes and regal bearing shone with the brilliance of the heavens above.

“This hall lies hidden in the Deep Sea within the Donghua Realm. The hall door is intricately designed, filled with mechanisms for rebirth, yet you few not only found the ancient Wutong Palace but also awakened me. State your purpose!”

“Our purpose is the Phoenix Fire Seed.” Ming He remained composed, showing no sign of unease at being seen through by such a formidable figure. Strong individuals possessed extraordinary insight, and she didn’t presume to deceive the master of the Phoenix Clan at merely twenty years of age.

She declared her group’s intention clearly, then descended the stairs to stand beside Qin Chu Yi, offering her a steadying hand. Together with Zhan Qing Yi and Qu Yanran, they raised their gazes in reverence toward Feng Xin.

“The Phoenix Fire Seed?” Feng Xin’s blood-red eyes narrowed slightly, and the air grew tense with her innate authority. “How did you learn that the Phoenix Fire Seed is hidden in the Deep Sea?”

“Our clan’s ancient texts speak of the Phoenix Fire Seed, the rebirth of the phoenix, and the essence of life. It burns with unparalleled intensity, rivaling the ancient golden crows that scorched the earth. In this world, only one exists, forged by the strongest of the Phoenix Clan.”

Though Ming He supported Qin Chu Yi, who leaned against her but remained upright, she spoke with clarity and confidence. Even as she gazed upward, her voice carried the pride and elegance of her noble lineage. “The Phoenix Fire Seed is hidden in the Deep Sea, within the Upper Clear Mansion, in Wutong Hall—a revelation deduced by human cultivators.”

“Qin Clan bloodline?” Feng Xin glanced at Qin Chu Yi. “Or perhaps a Qin Clan member with a shadow guardian in tow?”

Her gaze shifted to Zhan Qing Yi, a faint smile playing in her eyes. “You are the Young Master of the Qin Clan,” she stated with certainty, her tone brimming with confidence.

“I am indeed the Young Master.” Qin Chu Yi raised her chin slightly. “I am the 891st generation Young Master of the ancient Qin Clan, Chu Yi. It is an honor to meet you, Phoenix Lord.”

“From the ancient Qin clan, the 891st generation Young Master Dark Attendant, Zhan Qing Yi, pays her respects to the Phoenix Lord.” Zhan Qing Yi offered a light smile to Qu Yanran before bowing slightly in response to Qin Chu Yi’s words.

“Intriguing.” Feng Xin waved her sleeve, signaling them to dispense with formalities, then turned her gaze to Qin Chu Yi, her eyes alight with curiosity. “Was it your birth that stirred the splendor of the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb?”

Her smile deepened. “That splendor swept across the entire Tianwu Continent. Even trapped in the Deep Sea’s Mystic Ice, I could feel it. In a sense, you saved me.”

“I dare not claim the honor of saving the Phoenix Lord, but if you are grateful, please grant the Phoenix Fire Seed to Chu Yi. I would be eternally grateful,” Qin Chu Yi stated solemnly, her hands clasped in the traditional gesture of the ancient clan’s Young Master.

“The Phoenix Fire Seed, you say?” Feng Xin exhaled deeply but did not accept the gesture; instead, she rose and stepped aside. “How can you be certain the Phoenix Fire Seed is with me?”

“You must have heard of the Four-direction Compass,” Qin Chu Yi replied, her gaze hardening as she stood tall, enunciating each word clearly. “The Four-direction Compass, powered by Star Power, guided us here without fail.

The Phoenix Fire Seed is indeed with you!

Your reluctance suggests you are unwilling to part with it?” Qin Chu Yi laughed lightly, “But given the human race’s current plight, the Phoenix Lord has no choice but to comply!”

With a cold smirk, she rested her hand on her sword hilt, her calm demeanor belying the storm within. “Wutong Heaven stands apart from the Tianwu Continent, a world unto itself. The barriers of heaven and earth are not easily breached, so as long as Tianwu exists, so does Wutong.

But since you expect the human race to defend the battlefield of the heavens and the Martial Gate, you cannot expect us to do so without offering something in return.

There has never been such a favorable arrangement in this world; today, the Phoenix Fire Seed, whether the Phoenix Lord is willing or not, must belong to the human race!”

A fierce determination shone in Qin Chu Yi’s eyes, embodying the pride and responsibility of a Young Master from a noble lineage. “Please, Phoenix Lord, hand over the Phoenix Fire Seed to Chu Yi, and I will be eternally grateful.”

Though her words remained unchanged, her tone now carried an air of authority and insistence.

“And if I refuse, do you intend to slaughter the phoenix?” Feng Xin’s expression remained unaltered, though her hand, hidden within her sleeve, paled slightly.

“Yes.” Qin Chu Yi spoke firmly, “As the Young Master, I declare that the Phoenix Fire Seed must belong to the human race. Whether through negotiation or force, we will obtain it.

If necessary, we will slaughter the phoenix; since I can unleash the splendor of the Ancient Emperor’s Tomb, I can also bear the heavens’ wrath for slaying ancient fiends.”

“Very well.” Feng Xin regarded Qin Chu Yi with a newfound wariness. “I underestimated the younger generation of the human race; you are indeed formidable.”

She returned to her throne. “I can relinquish the Phoenix Fire Seed, but I have a condition.”

“What condition?” Qin Chu Yi’s voice was clear and cold.

“It concerns not you, but Ming He.” Feng Xin’s gaze shifted to Ming He, who leaned against her. A glint of mischief flickered in her eyes. “I require Ming He to swear a Blood Oath to fulfill a task for me.”

“Impossible!” Qin Chu Yi interjected immediately, “You have not specified the task. How can we know what constraints you would impose on Ming He?

She is an extraordinary genius of the human race and will not swear a Blood Oath for you.”

“Then I shall not part with the Phoenix Fire Seed.” Feng Xin’s blood-red eyes gleamed. “If you wish for mutual destruction, Young Master Qin, you are welcome to try.”

“I will swear the Blood Oath; I will undertake the task you require of Ming He.” Qin Chu Yi’s brow furrowed slightly as she spoke softly, unwilling to concede without a fight.

“The task I require of her pertains to the Star Lock, something beyond your capabilities.” Feng Xin’s smile was confident and unyielding.

“Senior Sister.” Ming He called out, taking Qin Chu Yi’s clenched fist, marked with blood, and gently opening it, her touch careful and filled with concern. “I can do it.”

Her voice was steady as she continued, “With heaven and earth as witnesses, Ming He swears a Blood Oath to fulfill a task for the Phoenix Lord Feng Xin, until death.”

As her words faded, a blood-red hexagon materialized at her feet, signifying the completion of the Blood Oath.

“Ming He!” Qin Chu Yi murmured, her eyes reflecting a tumult of emotions. As Ming He opened her hand, Qin Chu Yi clenched it into a fist, her brow furrowing as a cold aura emanated from her, directed at Feng Xin.

“Senior Sister, it’s alright.” Ming He held Qin Chu Yi’s hand firmly, opening it with care, then turned to Feng Xin with a frosty gaze. “Where is the Phoenix Fire Seed?”

“Here.” Feng Xin conjured a flame, a blazing red light that illuminated the space. She guided the light into Ming He’s hands and added with a raised brow, “The Phoenix Fire Seed is part of our agreement; you may decide whether to give it to the human race.

If you choose not to, with the Star Lock and the Phoenix Feather, you can still comprehend the First Extraordinary Fire of Heaven and Earth, the Phoenix True Fire.”

“Little Ming He, when the Phoenix Feather ignites, I will come for you. We shall meet again.” She rose gracefully, her splendid robe billowing in the wind. “And remember, what I said is true.”

She meant that she truly intended to bring Ming He back to Wutong Heaven as her Phoenix Lord.

Ming He watched her transform into flames, her eyes shimmering. Moments later, she heard the cry of the phoenix echoing across the heavens, and all she could see was a fiery red landscape, marking the Phoenix Lord’s return.

Lowering her gaze, she saw a fist-sized crystal of bright red in her palm, transparent and radiant like the sun—the Phoenix Fire Seed Qin Chu Yi had mentioned.

Beside it, a long, glowing flame with deep energy was the Phoenix Feather Feng Xin had mentioned, forged from phoenix feathers.

“Senior Sister, the Phoenix Fire Seed.” Ming He gently took Qin Chu Yi’s hand, wiping away the bloodstains, then placed the bright red crystal in her palm.

“You…” Qin Chu Yi stared in disbelief, “Are you truly giving up the Phoenix Fire Seed?”

Feng Xin was correct; this was the deal between her and Ming He. If Ming He refined the Phoenix Fire Seed, she would undoubtedly comprehend the Phoenix True Fire, thus it belonged to her.

“Senior Sister, I am also part of the human race.” Ming He smiled softly, her expression enchanting. “I believe in you.” She believed that Qin Chu Yi could maximize the Phoenix Fire Seed’s power and that the human race would stand tall, defending the battlefield of the heavens and the Martial Gate, eternally unyielding.

“Let’s ascend first!” Ming He instinctively pulled Qin Chu Yi into an embrace, glancing back at the palace before they vanished into the currents of the Deep Sea.

“Ancient texts record that the Phoenix Lord disappeared alongside the Ice Phoenix’s master. Their disappearance was due to personal grudges, unrelated to foreign races,” Qin Chu Yi’s voice resonated solemnly in the depths.

“Clearly, the beings of the Tianwu Continent are a hundred times stronger than foreign races, yet only the human race defends Tianwu. We can rely on no one but ourselves.”

“The ancient fiends inhabit their own world, detached from the Tianwu Continent. Without their bloodline, outsiders cannot find them. Moreover, as ancient fiends, killing them invokes divine retribution, fostering their arrogance,” Zhan Qing Yi’s tone was mocking. “Such matters don’t concern us; we stand aloof!”

“Then the human race must rely on itself.” Ming He declared with determination. “When the mountains and rivers are overturned, only the human race can save itself.”

“Clang!”

Suddenly, the sound of a bell resonated through the skies, more magnificent than the phoenix’s cry, enveloping the world in its vast echo. The clouds shifted, waves sparkled, and even Wutong Heaven, adrift from the Tianwu Continent, was encompassed by this sound.

“This is… the Eastern Heaven Bell!” Ming He felt her heart tremble. “Another warrior of the human race has broken through to the Human King stage. On the battlefield of the heavens, the human race gains another ally!”

Qin Chu Yi’s face glowed with excitement, passion surging within her. “The next to awaken the Eastern Heaven Bell will be me.”

“Li, Fu, Sheng!” Ming He was startled by the golden silhouette before her. “This seems to be a name—is this the warrior who broke through to the Human King stage?”

But the Eastern Heaven Bell only announces the human race and the heavens; when would a name appear? Moreover, they were deep beneath the sea, far from the Eastern Sea’s surface, yet this figure reached them?

“This is the name of the warrior who struck the Eastern Heaven Bell.” Qin Chu Yi felt a mix of disbelief and astonishment. “She broke through to the Human King stage so quickly!”

“Ming He, have you heard of the Sword Master?” Qin Chu Yi spoke softly to Ming He, who looked puzzled. “The Li surname belongs to the Sword Master; Li Fusheng is his descendant. ‘Life is but a dream’ was a legend inscribed in the Tablet of Heavenly Dao.”