Phoenix Festival

As expected, not long after Shanhai left, a powerful Nine-Phoenix Clan expert at the Sage Manifestation Realm descended upon Flamewing City and brought the Nine-Phoenix Kunwu, who had Bloodline Metamorphosis into Four-Headed Phoenix, back to the Nine Phoenix Imperial City.

After undergoing rigorous testing to confirm that Nine-Phoenix Kunwu was not under anyone's control and that his bloodline Bloodline Metamorphosis was not achieved through any Evil Method, he successfully came into the sights of the important figures in the Imperial Dynasty.

Four-Headed Phoenix bloodline at the Nascent Soul Realm is already quite extraordinary. The potential of Nine-Phoenix Kunwu is undeniable. However, after investigating his identity, everyone assumed he was on the Crown Prince's side.

Prince Wu Feng only sent someone to offer a token condolence and did not attempt to win him over.

Upon learning that such a prodigy had emerged from his ranks, Nine Phoenix Crown Prince immediately ordered Nine-Phoenix Kunwu to be summoned. During their conversation, he showed the concern of an elder for a younger generation. Before leaving, he gifted Nine-Phoenix Kunwu a large amount of cultivation resources, as well as a magnificent mansion located in the central area of Nine Phoenix Imperial City.

If a normal genius were to receive such treatment, even if he weren't completely devoted to the Crown Prince, he would definitely feel great affection for him. However, because of his status, Nine-Phoenix Kunwu was destined to have only one master.

For the next year, Nine-Phoenix Kunwu stayed indoors, cultivating diligently in the mansion given to him by the Crown Prince, waiting for the Phoenix Festival to begin.

In the blink of an eye, the Phoenix Festival, held once every hundred years in the Nine-Phoenix Dynasty, officially began, and the entire Nine-Phoenix Continent became lively.

Above the imperial city, a phantom image of a Nine-Phoenix with wingspans of ten thousand feet flew out, soaring around a towering Wutong Tree. Its wings flapped, and its fiery red feathers shone with divine light, scattering wisps of crimson flames.

All living beings that have been baptized by these flames will have their talents enhanced to some extent, their cultivation will become more stable, and some of the hidden injuries left on their bodies will be healed.

The fiery rain, like a gentle downpour, lasted for half a day. Accompanied by nine earth-shattering phoenix Phoenix Cries, the Phoenix Festival officially began!

In the center of the imperial city stands a magnificent altar with 9,999 steps leading south, flanked by soldiers clad in Phoenix Battle Armor and adorned with Phoenix wings.

This is the Imperial City Guard Army, also known as the Nine-Phoenix Army. It is the only powerful army in the Nine Phoenix Realm that can be called "Nine-Phoenix".

The soldiers in this army are all at least at the Golden Core Realm. Although their numbers are small, this does not prevent them from becoming the strongest army in the Nine Phoenix Realm, and they absolutely deserve the title.

Surrounded by the Nine-Phoenix Army, the Nine Phoenix Emperor walked at the forefront, followed by Prince Wu Feng, Nine Phoenix Crown Prince, and Prince Huo Wu, then other kings and marquises, as well as representatives from the major powers of the other six continents of the Nine Phoenix Realm who came to observe the ceremony.

There were hundreds of Sage Manifestation powerhouse gathered at the altar, including several at the Late Sage Manifestation Realm.

Needless to say, Spirit Transformation powerhouse could easily smash a large area with a single brick.

Yang Tianyou, who witnessed all of this through the eyes of Nine-Phoenix Kunwu, was deeply shocked. This was only a portion of the strength of the Nine Phoenix Realm. If all the powerful figures from the seven continents were gathered together, how powerful would they be?

No wonder the other party was arrogant.

Who wouldn't be arrogant in this situation?

With this strength, regardless of whether they can conquer the Lu Wu Realm and the Qiongqi Realm, the Nine Phoenix Realm itself will definitely not fall.

Since war, regardless of victory or defeat, will not endanger oneself, it seems reasonable to be a little arrogant...

Sometimes, arrogance is simply the abuse of power by the strong?

The weak are not those who don't want to, but those who lack the ability!

After leading the powerful figures of the Nine-Phoenix Dynasty to the top of the altar, the Nine Phoenix Emperor knelt down and respectfully worshipped the Nine-Phoenix Totem carved in the center of the altar.

The Nine-Phoenix Clan all knelt down, their expressions devout and respectful. Even the usually carefree Prince Huo Wu did not dare to act recklessly in this setting.

Through the gaze of Nine-Phoenix Kunwu, Yang Tianyou glanced around and discovered that the representatives of the major powers from the other six continents did not kneel, but merely bowed slightly in submission, including the representatives of the seven Demon Kingdoms of the Ten Thousand Demon Continent.

Kneeling and bowing are clearly two completely different things.

The former can be said to have been completely integrated into this system.

However, the latter statement implies that sufficient independence has been preserved.

To draw an analogy, it's equivalent to the Four Symbols Sect and the Four Symbols Alliance.

The members of the Four Symbols Alliance retain absolute autonomy.

Just like the Yang Household, no one in the Alliance's high-ranking positions would dare to boss the Yang Household around just because they hold a position in the Alliance.

These two completely different concepts also reflect, from another perspective, the hidden undercurrents within the Nine Phoenix Realm.

Of course, even with undercurrents, the war mobilization capability of the Nine-Phoenix Dynasty system is the best among the Three Great Realms, even surpassing the Alliance Headquarters of the Lu Wu Realm.

If the latter hadn't been under pressure and forcibly restricted various forces through contracts, it wouldn't even have been a cut above the rest; it would have been left far behind, just like the Qiongqi Realm.

Due to their slow reaction time and the harsh environment of the Qiongqi Realm, both Human Race and Yaomo are generally treacherous and find it difficult to trust each other.

The Qiongqi Realm did imitate the Lu Wu Realm by creating a war Alliance, but in terms of war mobilization capabilities, it was far inferior to the latter.

The reason they have been able to hold their line so far is thanks to the Seven Great Fiend Demons who once ravaged the world. Under the influence of the world's will, they drove the Fierce Beasts across the mountains and fields to fight against the Nine Phoenix Realm army.

They barely managed to survive by relying on the seemingly endless sea of Fierce Beasts and piling up their own flesh and blood.

The transformation from destroyer to savior is, undeniably, a rather remarkable phenomenon.

"Let me see if this Phoenix Festival is what I think it is!" Yang Tianyou, far away on Purple Moon Mountain, narrowed his eyes slightly, immersing a wisp of his will into the mind of Nine-Phoenix Kunwu, briefly taking over this body.

"The Acquired Fortune Cauldron! The Netherworld-Seeing Divine Eye!"

As Yang Tianyou murmured to himself, a simple yet noble bronze cauldron appeared deep within Nine-Phoenix Kunwu's eyes, along with a magnificent eye that seemed to contain all the mysteries of the world.

His gaze pierced the heavens, and Yang Tianyou finally glimpsed the scene hidden behind the curtain.

"That is... Heaven's Mandate!" Yang Tianyou's pupils shrank, finally confirming his guess.

The Jiufeng Imperial Clan is indeed the Heavenly Mandate Race that Thirteenth Brother spoke of.