Within the Heavenly Phoenix Clan.
A Wutong Tree of a kind rarely seen in this age rose ten thousand zhang high, piercing the clouds.
Even the branches spreading from its trunk were far thicker than ordinary ancient trees.
Birds bearing powerful auras wheeled among the lower branches, coming and going in endless streams. At the very top, however, all was tranquil. No one dared disturb it.
For that was the abode of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan's sole Great Vehicle Heavenly Venerate, the Heavenly Phoenix Old Ancestor.
Branches like bars of stone formed a magnificent palace resembling a bird's nest. The Heavenly Phoenix Old Ancestor roosted there.
Suddenly!
She opened her wrinkled eyes and looked toward the depths of the palace.
Inside a secret chamber, Soul Lamps stood in neat rows, each burning with a vigorous flame.
The Heavenly Phoenix Clan had learned how to make Soul Lamps from the Human Race.
Their Soul Lamps took only a trace of a clansman's soul power, however. They did not leave the soul incomplete or interfere with normal cultivation.
The lamps were installed simply to keep track of whether the clan's prodigies were alive.
And this was no pointless measure!
Years ago, a member of the Heavenly Phoenix Clan named Qixia had possessed the purest Phoenix Bloodline. From the moment she was born, she had become the clan's most celebrated prodigy. The Heavenly Phoenix Old Ancestor had even taught her personally, passing down a peerless Cultivation Method.
Two thousand years ago, Qixia had vanished without explanation. The outside world had said she was dead.
But the Heavenly Phoenix Old Ancestor had never panicked, because her Soul Lamp remained.
Though the flame of Qixia's Soul Lamp had flickered faintly, it had burned on tenaciously.
Later, guided by the lamp, they had even drawn Qixia