Immortal Phoenix

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Chapter 90: The Arena Master Competition

As Old Bird explained, Fang Lie finally reached the cave’s bottom—a vast space spanning hundreds of meters. At its center stood a peculiar stone altar, atop which loomed a muscular man over three meters tall. Bare-chested and clad in an animal skin skirt, his body was coated in congealed blood, giving him the appearance of a sinister stone idol.

Upon seeing this, Old Bird exclaimed excitedly, "Haha! It truly is him—the Ancient Heroic Soul! Boy, how did you stumble upon such extraordinary luck?"

"Luck?" Fang Lie snorted dismissively. "This isn’t luck. Someone’s scheme to harm me merely makes it seem so!"

"Ah, well said!" Old Bird chuckled. "The Ancient Heroic Soul Puppet is powerful, but it has a fatal flaw—it consumes the user’s Original Essence Blood. A cultivator’s three vital essence blood reserves are the tongue-tip blood, three drops of heart blood, and the most precious third eye blood. Activating this puppet requires all three!"

"Look at its condition," Old Bird continued. "The blood coating it has nearly solidified. Clearly, it hasn’t been worshipped for centuries. The heroic soul within is starved and parched. Reviving it would demand more essence blood than even the Mo Sect’s Higher-ups combined could supply! Those scoundrels gave this to you with malicious intent."

"Then they’re surely gloating now!" Fang Lie fumed. "I’ve wasted days gaining nothing, lost spirit pills, and let those Nanping swindlers profit. It infuriates me!"

"Patience!" Old Bird cackled. "Their scheme will backfire—they’ll lose more than they gain!"

"What?" Fang Lie blinked. "You mean I can claim this Ninth-Rank puppet? But Qi Sea cultivators can’t wield high-tier treasures. I struggle with third-tier items, let alone a Ninth-Rank!"

"Worry not," Old Bird reassured. "After millennia sealed, its power has dwindled to third-tier level. Otherwise, no amount of blood could revive it."

"Infinite essence blood? Do I possess that?"

"Obviously! Your Nirvana Healing Technique regenerates limbs—of course it restores essence blood! This puppet was practically made for you. No one else could sustain its demands."

"Who created such a thing? Did they not consider the toll on users?"

"You misunderstand," Old Bird explained. "This was originally an ancestral guardian statue from ancient tribes. Tribal ancestors’ souls would inhabit such statues, activated by worshippers’ willing essence blood offerings. It would then protect them, slaughtering even mighty demon beasts."

"Ah," Fang Lie realized. "So it’s righteous, not demonic!"

"Correct. It only absorbs essence blood infused with sincere devotion. The Ancient Heroic Soul embodies sacrifice and protection—purest righteousness. The more devotees, the stronger it grows. After its tribe fell, Mo Sect ancestors modified it using Mechanical Arts, creating this Ninth-Rank combat puppet."

"Sadly, it retained its weakness. Without willing essence blood, its power fades. Cultivators hoard their essence blood—who’d feed a puppet? Thus, it weakened into obscurity."

"What majesty…" Fang Lie gazed at the statue with reverence. "Such a guardian deserves better. I’ll become its patron!"

"Excellent!" Old Bird said. "Kneel at the altar’s center, offer essence blood while praying sincerely. If convinced, it’ll absorb your blood. Once revived, it’ll serve as your lifelong protector."

Without hesitation, Fang Lie knelt before the altar, performing three bows and nine kowtows. "Mo Sect disciple Fang Lie humbly requests your aid to cleanse corruption and restore righteousness!"

He bit his tongue, spraying tongue-tip blood at the statue’s feet, then tapped his chest to extract three heart blood drops. When no response came, he gritted his teeth and drew third eye blood—the most precious, fused with his soul’s essence.

Crimson light erupted as the statue absorbed the blood. Its eyes blazed with crimson fire.

"Pure devotion marks you as a righteous warrior," boomed the Ancient Heroic Soul. "But I’m too weak to aid you."

"Essence blood is no obstacle," Fang Lie declared. "I have plenty!"

Already, his Nirvana Healing Technique had replenished his losses. He offered more blood.

The Ancient Heroic Soul stared in astonishment. "A Divine Phoenix Nirvana Scripture successor! With limitless essence blood, I may yet regain my glory!"

"You shall!" Fang Lie vowed respectfully, maintaining humility despite holding the puppet’s fate.

The Ancient Heroic Soul nodded approval. "The required blood is astronomical. Your claim of infinity remains unproven."

"Let’s test it," Fang Lie replied, ceaselessly offering blood as the soul absorbed it.

Three days later…

The Outer Sect Competition commenced at Ascending Immortal Tower, a colossal structure overlooking a square that served as the arena. Seven tiers of viewing platforms accommodated cultivators by rank—Thunder Tribulation Immortals at the top, down to Qi Sea cultivators below. Outer disciples crowded outside while Inner Elite Disciples watched from within.

At dawn, Clan Leader Mo Qianxun announced from the tower’s peak: "Let the thirty-two life-and-death Arena Masters step forth!"

Thirty-one cultivators flew to the square, arranged by arena number. They bowed to the elders—men and women of varying ages, all radiating competitive fervor.

The crowd buzzed when Fang Lie’s absence became apparent.

"Fang Lie’s too scared to face third-tier magical items!" some jeered.

"Nonsense!" others countered. "His integrity would compel him to attend, even defeated. Something must detain him!"

As speculations multiplied, the competition began—its first match already shadowed by the missing Arena Master’s mystery.