The Phoenix Maiden Retreats, the Relic Is About to Open

Xiao Chen's domineering, icy words struck Feng Qing'er's proud heart like an invisible sledgehammer. As the favored daughter of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, when had she ever been treated like this? Especially in public, threatened so bluntly by a human!

She glared at Xiao Chen, her seven-colored Dou Qi circulating wildly as she tried to break through the invisible pressure of his aura. Flames of humiliation and fury burned in her phoenix eyes. Yet no matter how she struggled, it was utterly futile before that vast, star-sea-like presence. She could even feel her Heaven Demon Phoenix bloodline, which she had always taken pride in, trembling slightly as though it had encountered some existence of a higher order!

That sensation both alarmed her and made her unwilling to accept it!

The several Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan elders behind her wore ugly expressions as well. Dou Qi surged secretly within them, yet they did not dare act rashly. The strength of the Blue-robed Youth before them was unfathomable, and Wind Venerate, standing nearby, had not tried to stop him. His stance was already clear. If they truly fought, they would likely be the ones to suffer.

Wind Venerate spoke at the right moment, his voice calm yet carrying unquestionable authority. "Miss Qing'er, Young Friend Xiao Chen is a valued guest of my Starfall Pavilion. How about letting the minor misunderstanding between you and Young Friend Xiao Yan pass? If this truly escalates, it may not reflect well on the reputation of your Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan."

Though his words seemed to mediate, he was actually making clear both Xiao Chen's identity and strength. He was also subtly pointing out that if the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan bullied others through sheer power, word of it would not sound good.

Feng Qing'er's chest heaved violently. Her jade-like hands clenched tightly, her nails nearly digging into her palms. She understood that with Xiao Chen here today, there was no way she could do anything to Xiao Yan. Continuing this standoff would only bring further humiliation upon herself.

"Fine! Very well!" Feng Qing'er took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the rage in her heart. Her gaze swept over Xiao Yan like a blade before finally locking onto Xiao Chen. "Xiao Chen! Xiao Yan! I, Feng Qing'er, will remember what happened today! The mountains may not move, but the rivers will turn. We'll see!"

After throwing down those harsh words, she did not linger. She spun around sharply, and with a flash of seven-colored light, shot out of the Main Star Hall in a streak of radiance, carrying her fury and humiliation with her. The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan elders hurried after her, leaving with dark faces.

A disturbance had temporarily been settled through Xiao Chen's absolute strength and Wind Venerate's mediation.

The atmosphere in the hall immediately relaxed.

Xiao Yan let out a breath of relief and looked at his brother's back, his heart filled with gratitude and pride. With his brother around, it seemed there was no storm too great to fear.

Yun Yun watched quietly from the side, a strange light flickering in her beautiful eyes. Xiao Chen's way of handling matters was domineering yet effective. That bearing of complete control was deeply captivating.

Wind Venerate stroked his beard and laughed. "Young Friend Xiao Chen truly is extraordinary. Even that little phoenix of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan had to leave defeated before you."

Xiao Chen's expression returned to calm as he cupped his hands slightly. "You flatter me, Wind Venerate. They were merely some immature juniors. I only gave them a slight lesson."

His tone was casual, as though he had merely driven away a noisy bird. This attitude made Wind Venerate regard him even more highly.

"After this incident, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan likely will not let the matter rest," Wind Venerate reminded him. "Especially Feng Qing'er. Her status within the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan is not low, and she is particularly vindictive."

Xiao Chen smiled unconcernedly. "It doesn't matter. Soldiers come, generals stop them; water comes, earth blocks it. If they fail to recognize what is good for them, I do not mind disciplining their juniors on behalf of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan elders."

Understanding flashed through Wind Venerate's eyes, and he said nothing further. He turned to Xiao Yan instead. "Xiao Yan, since you have come to Starfall Pavilion, stay here without worry. Regarding the restoration of Yao Chen's soul, I will have people keep watch for news of the Soul Infant Fruit and the other Medicinal Ingredients required. In addition, the Starfall Meteorite Tower of my Starfall Pavilion is highly effective for tempering Dou Qi and the soul. You may use this token to cultivate there."

He tossed Xiao Yan a Star Token.

"Thank you, Wind Venerate!" Xiao Yan was overjoyed and quickly caught it. This was truly timely aid.

"As for the Ancient Sky Phoenix Relic..." Wind Venerate pondered for a moment. "According to Starfall Pavilion's investigations, abnormal Spatial Fluctuations have indeed recently appeared deep within the Tianxing Mountain Range. They seem to be connected to an ancient relic, most likely one left behind by an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. However, it is protected by a powerful seal, and it has drawn the attention of many factions, including the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan. It will likely still be some time before the relic truly opens."

Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan exchanged glances, each seeing the interest in the other's eyes. The Ancient Sky Phoenix Relic might not only contain the Soul Infant Fruit, but also other great opportunities!

"In that case, we will trouble Wind Venerate for a while and wait here for the relic to open," Xiao Chen said.

"Haha, I could not ask for more!" Wind Venerate laughed heartily. Keeping an expert like Xiao Chen in Starfall Pavilion was also a good thing for the pavilion.

Over the next few days, Xiao Chen and Xiao Yan stayed temporarily at Starfall Pavilion.

With the token Wind Venerate had given him, Xiao Yan entered the Starfall Meteorite Tower to cultivate. The tower drew upon the Star Power of the heavens, vast and majestic, bringing great benefits to stabilizing both his newly advanced Dou Huang realm and his Spirit Realm Soul. Taking advantage of the environment, he also began attempting a preliminary fusion of the powers of the Green Lotus Core Flame and Fallen Heart Flame. Though the process was difficult, he could feel his strength steadily improving.

Xiao Chen politely declined the cultivation chamber offered by Wind Venerate. He preferred to comprehend heaven and earth beneath the vast starry sky. This unique stellar space of Starfall Pavilion was also beneficial to his understanding of spatial laws and the mysteries of Chaos Flame. He often sat alone atop a floating star, the space around him twisting as Chaos Aura flickered faintly into view. He seemed to merge with the starry expanse itself, and his cultivation grew deeper without his realizing it, steadily advancing toward the Eight Star Dou Zun realm. Even Wind Venerate, who watched in secret, was left inwardly astonished by his cultivation speed and comprehension.

Yun Yun was also assigned a residence. Knowing her strength was lacking, she seized every moment to cultivate. The dense stellar energy of Starfall Pavilion benefited her immensely, and her cultivation, which had been stagnant for a long time, showed faint signs of loosening. Occasionally, she exchanged cultivation insights with Xiao Yan. Without the backdrop of the Misty Cloud Sect, the relationship between them seemed to have become much simpler, and a subtle affection quietly began to grow.

One day, Xiao Yan had just emerged from the Starfall Meteorite Tower and was preparing to return to his residence when he encountered an unexpected figure along a starlit path.

She was a little girl dressed in purple, appearing to be around twelve or thirteen years old. Delicately sculpted and exceedingly adorable, she had long purple hair and a pair of lively eyes carrying a faint golden gleam, giving her an extraordinary air of nobility and wildness. She was listlessly kicking a starstone beneath her feet, her little mouth pouting as though she was very unhappy.

Xiao Yan was first stunned when he saw the little girl, then his pupils contracted slightly. From her, he sensed an extremely concealed yet ocean-like terrifying aura! That aura even caused the two Heavenly Flames within his body to stir faintly!

"Hey, what are you staring at?" Sensing Xiao Yan's gaze, the little girl raised her head, planted her hands on her hips, and spoke in an old-fashioned manner. Her voice was crisp and pleasant.

Xiao Yan came back to himself. Finding the girl rather amusing, he smiled. "Little sister, why are you here alone? Where is your family?"

"None of your business!" The little girl snorted and looked Xiao Yan up and down. Her nose twitched lightly, and her eyes suddenly lit up. "You... smell delicious!"

"Delicious?" Xiao Yan froze.

"The two flames inside you! Their quality is a bit lacking, but they should taste pretty good!" The little girl licked her lips like a greedy little cat, but her words made Xiao Yan's scalp go numb!

This little girl could sense the Heavenly Flames in his body, and she regarded them as... food?!

"Y-you... who exactly are you?" Xiao Yan asked warily, secretly circulating his Dou Qi.

"My name is Zi Yan!" The little girl lifted her chin proudly. "As for who I am... I'm not telling you! Unless you share some of your flames with me!"

Xiao Yan's mouth twitched. Share Heavenly Flames for her to eat? Was this little girl some kind of monster?

Just as he did not know how to respond, a gentle voice sounded behind him.

"A bloodline of the Great Void Dragon Emperor, yet you have ended up wandering outside. Your energy is unstable, and you must rely on devouring unusual energies to sustain yourself... little girl, have you encountered some trouble?"

Xiao Yan turned around and saw that his brother, Xiao Chen, had somehow appeared behind him. He was calmly looking at the little girl who called herself Zi Yan.

The instant Zi Yan saw Xiao Chen, the smugness on her little face vanished. In its place came the vigilance and tension of a small animal encountering its natural predator. She instinctively took a step back, her golden eyes fixed tightly on Xiao Chen. "Y-you can see my origins?"

Xiao Chen smiled faintly without answering. Instead, he extended his palm, where a wisp of Chaos-Colored Flame quietly danced.

At the sight of that flame, Zi Yan's pupils abruptly shrank. Her small body even trembled slightly. It was an instinctive reverence from deep within her bloodline, faced with energy of a higher order!

"W-what kind of flame is that? So... so scary, but also... I really want to eat it..." Zi Yan's voice carried a trace of fear mixed with longing, an utterly contradictory blend.

Xiao Chen put away the Chaos Flame and looked at Zi Yan. "Your energy is unstable. Forcibly devouring Heavenly Flames is not a good solution. I may have a way to help you stabilize your bloodline and perhaps... grow faster."

Zi Yan's eyes immediately brightened. Most of her earlier vigilance dissipated as she asked eagerly, "Really? You can really help me?"

Xiao Chen nodded. "However, you must agree to one condition."

"What condition? Tell me!" Zi Yan answered without hesitation.

"When I need it, help me with something. Of course, I will not make you do anything against your true wishes," Xiao Chen said.

Zi Yan tilted her little head and thought for a moment. Then she looked at Xiao Chen's unfathomable appearance, as well as Xiao Yan beside him, who possessed those "delicious flames." Finally, she nodded vigorously. "Fine! I agree! As long as you help me, I'll follow you from now on!"

Xiao Chen smiled and flicked his finger. A strand of Chaos Aura containing pure Dragon Phoenix Power silently entered Zi Yan's body. This aura did not directly increase her strength. Rather, it acted like a catalyst, helping her sort through the violent energy within her and guiding her bloodline toward a more perfect evolution.

Zi Yan's body trembled slightly. An unprecedented sense of comfort flowed through her entire body, and the restless energy that had plagued her all this time actually calmed considerably! She delightedly sensed the changes within herself, and the way she looked at Xiao Chen was immediately filled with admiration and closeness.

"Thank you! Thank you!" Zi Yan cheered and ran to Xiao Chen's side, affectionately grabbing the corner of his robe.

Xiao Yan watched in utter astonishment. Just like that... his brother had taken in a mysterious little girl who was likely from the Ancient Void Dragon Clan? His methods were far too incredible!

Xiao Chen patted Zi Yan's little head and said to Xiao Yan, "Her name is Zi Yan. Her identity is special. In the future, she may become a great help to you."

Xiao Yan looked at Zi Yan, who blinked her golden eyes as she curiously examined him, and smiled bitterly inwardly. A great help? He would be lucky if she did not treat him like a snack...

Still, he could sense the terrifying power hidden inside Zi Yan. If she truly grew up, she would surely become exceptionally formidable.

At that moment, Wind Venerate appeared in the distance, a trace of gravity on his face.

"Young Friend Xiao Chen, we have just received word. The Spatial Fluctuations deep in the Tianxing Mountain Range have intensified. That ancient relic... is likely about to open! Furthermore, the various factions have already gathered there. Among them... are no shortage of experts from Soul Hall and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan!"

A sharp light flashed through Xiao Chen's eyes, and the corners of his mouth curved upward.

"Finally... is it about to begin?"

The exploration of the ancient relic, where opportunity and danger coexisted, was about to begin!

And Xiao Yan's encounter with Zi Yan seemed to have added even more variables and... possibilities to this expedition.