Entering the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano, First Encounter with Kong Xuan!

Within the Eight Scenery Palace, the Three Pure Ones sat together, exchanging uneasy glances.

Yuanshi stared at the side of Laozi's face and spoke softly. "Elder Brother is easygoing and amiable, so how did this Junior Martial Nephew Li Yuan's thinking become so unbridled?"

Tongtian, emboldened, chimed in. "Indeed, indeed. A personality like this should join our Interception Sect. Elder Brother, if you ask me, why not let Li Yuan... ah, staying in the Humanity Sect is fine too." His originally spirited words, still hoping to take Li Yuan into the Interception Sect as a personal disciple—with such foresight, why worry about the Interception Sect's decline?—trailed off until he saw the sharp look in Laozi's eyes. His voice grew weaker and weaker. Years of brotherhood made Tongtian very clear: that gaze was a sign that Elder Brother was about to strike.

Laozi's eyelids drooped slightly as he said softly, "It is precisely because I valued Li Yuan's unbridled nature that I took him as a disciple. Otherwise, with Xuandu's temperament, the Humanity Sect is far too quiet and cold."

Yuanshi nodded slightly, but Tongtian continued in a low voice. "The Interception Sect is quite lively, truly." As Laozi's fierce glare fixed on him, he too wilted.

The Three Pure Ones' gazes once again focused on Li Yuan. Before long, Ao Guang had finished his preparations and returned with a beaming face. "Preparations complete. You fellow cultivators must be sure to protect me." Having led a great army to besiege the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano for so long, it was utterly impossible for the Phoenix Race to harbor no resentment. They likely even harbored thoughts of killing Ao Guang.

Li Yuan patted his chest and replied with a smile. "A Saint's disciple—guaranteed, guaranteed to keep you alive, fellow cultivator." After repeated reassurances from the group, Ao Guang led Li Yuan and the others deep into the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano.

Boom—!!! No sooner had they walked a short distance than a deafening sound came from behind. Ao Guang said cheerfully, "I had my three younger brothers lead the army to make a move, as a diversion."

Li Yuan's brows lifted slightly. Three younger brothers? That must be Ao Run, Ao Qin, and Ao Shun, then. The four great unlucky wretches of the Dragon Race, living in such stifled misery. Though they were the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas, their days were not even as comfortable as those of a great demon. [Ao Guang, Ao Shun, Ao Run, Ao Qin—the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas. Called Dragon Kings, but they are no better than the Demon Kings occupying mountain strongholds, forever pawns in the great tribulations. How pitiful.]

Within the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi stared at the contents of the Diary, his brow deeply furrowed. "Hiss... With such a formidable force as the Dragon Race, how did it come to this state? Is there not Yellow Dragon, who joined the Exposition Sect? With Yellow Dragon's support, it should..." Before he could finish, Yuanshi suddenly paused, recalling the Diary's earlier contents. Yellow Dragon True Person, Four-Nothing True Man. It seemed this disciple's treatment in the Exposition Sect was quite ordinary. Let alone supporting the Dragon Race, even his own survival was difficult. Thinking of this, Yuanshi felt quite guilty and shook his head with a sigh. "If there's a chance in the future, I'll lend some support to the Dragon Race as well." He might not have noticed it himself, but unconsciously, his prejudice against those born with fur, bearing horns, wet-born, or egg-hatched had weakened considerably.

Ao Guang led Li Yuan and the others through the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano. Before long, everyone felt an intense heat. Li Yuan looked around: chains of volcanoes stretched endlessly, the ground covered in spiderweb-like cracks with flowing lava, blackened pillars of stone stood tall, and ash plains covered everything within sight. "Where the hell have I been brought? Is this still the Primordial World?"

Several Saint disciples looked around at their surroundings with curious eyes.

It was the leading Ao Guang who smiled and explained.

"If it weren't for the need of First Phoenix's fall to Suppress this place, it would surely be a Primordial World death zone. Back then, the Sea Eye where First Dragon stood guard was the same—utterly devoid of life."

Boom—!!!

Suddenly, a scorching flame burst forth, blocking the path of Li Yuan and the others.

Ao Guang's dragon scales emitted a dazzling blue light as he raised a hand to condense a water barrier in defense, his throat rolling.

"This flame... it's Southern Blazing Fire!"

Before his words faded, the cracks in the ground abruptly widened, and a clear, resonant cry came from deep within the earth's veins, a sound like striking gold and jade.

Five-colored divine light spread like a peacock's tail—green, yellow, red, black, and white—five rainbow bridges spanning in all directions.

A youth stood upon the flames, his dark feathered robe studded with star-like golden patterns, Southern Blazing Fire dancing at his fingertips.

His brows were tightly furrowed, his eyes filled with undisguised disgust as he stared at Ao Guang at the front.

"The Dragon Race dares to venture this deep into the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano? You deserve death!"

Ao Guang sighed helplessly, as if he was quite familiar with the youth before him.

"Don't say I didn't warn you, Kong Xuan. You're just a Mystic Immortal—how dare you make a move against me, a Golden Immortal?"

"Go find your father quickly, or better yet, just have Yuanhuang come out herself."

At these words, Li Yuan's eyes widened, his gaze falling on the handsome youth.

"You are Kong Xuan?"

Kong Xuan crossed his arms, the five-colored divine feathers behind him floating in the air as he snorted coldly.

"I neither change my name in action nor in stillness—I am Kong Xuan, legitimate son of the Phoenix Race."

"And who are you lot, mingling with this old dragon Ao Guang?"

Before Li Yuan could respond, Ao Guang puffed out his chest and stood tall with pride.

"Let me tell you, these people are no ordinary folk—they are personally taught disciples of the Three Pure Saints. Can you afford to provoke them?"

At the word "Saints," Kong Xuan's fists clenched tightly.

His father, First Phoenix, had taught him day and night: provoke no one who is a Saint.

And anything connected to a Saint was not to be touched either.

"Disciples of the noble Saints, aiding Ao Guang in attacking us?"

Ao Guang pursed his lips and said impatiently.

"I came to drink with your father. Go home, child, go home quickly, and tell your father."

Kong Xuan waved his hand grandly, a hint of stubbornness surfacing in his eyes.

"Impossible. Don't try to fool me. Though I am young, I am not stupid."

"The rumbling outside never stops, your Dragon Race's assault grows fiercer by the moment. Seeking my father for a drink—what a laughable excuse!"

This reaction, as it fell into Li Yuan's eyes, was straightforward enough.

Meanwhile, within the Jade Void Palace, Yuanshi was also quite satisfied.

"As expected of the future number one under the Saints—even in youth, he displays enough heroic spirit!"

Then Li Yuan spoke with a chuckle.

"Daoist friend, rest assured. We truly came to seek Senior First Phoenix for a drink."

"This Daoist can guarantee with the identity of a Saint's disciple that it is absolutely good news."

"Besides, with only Ao Guang coming to the Southern Blazing Undying Volcano, would the Phoenix Race fear a single dragon?"

Kong Xuan pondered for a moment, finding this reasonable, but still snorted coldly.

"The Phoenix Race naturally does not fear Ao Guang, this old dragon, nor the entire Dragon Race."

"If you truly came for a drink, wait here a moment. I will go and return shortly."

With that, Kong Xuan's figure vanished. Ao Guang let out a snicker.

"This kid—says he doesn't fear the Dragon Race, yet why hasn't the Phoenix Race launched an attack? Too proud, far too proud. Been that way since he was little."

Before long, Kong Xuan returned, leading a middle-aged man whose brows carried a hint of worry, with an air of a scholar. He smiled and said.

"Since you are disciples of the Saints, I shall treat you with due courtesy. Please, come inside."

"You invite the Saint disciples, but not this old dragon?"

"Get lost!"

"..."