Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool Appears, Calamity Strikes

Within the ancient ruins, the three factions faced off, the atmosphere taut as a fully drawn bowstring.

Black mist churned around the Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate. His cold gaze locked onto Xiao Chen, carrying both wariness and killing intent. Frost covered Feng Qing'er's pretty face as seven-colored Dou Qi circulated around her, her eyes fixed firmly on Xiao Yan. The members of the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan were equally imposing. On Starfall Pavilion's side, Wind Venerate's starry Dou Qi surged vast and mighty, yielding not an inch. Xiao Yan, Yun Yun, Zi Yan, and the others were also on full alert.

The Chaos Flame flickering at Xiao Chen's fingertips radiated a destructive aura that made souls tremble, as though it could transform into a raging torrent that would burn everything to ashes at any moment.

Just as the tension reached its breaking point—

"Buzz!!!"

Far to the group's left, from deep within the ruins of a collapsed colossal palace, a golden pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky! Within it, phantom phoenixes could vaguely be seen circling and crying out. An incomparably pure aura, containing vast life energy and ancient pressure, swept outward like a storm!

This aura far surpassed any fluctuation they had encountered before!

"That is... the Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool?! The place where true Ancient Heavenly Phoenix essence blood was left behind!" Wind Venerate cried out in shock, blazing light erupting in his eyes!

The Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate, Feng Qing'er, and the others also underwent a drastic change in expression, their gazes instantly drawn to the golden pillar! The Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool was a supreme opportunity capable of tempering one's body, purifying one's bloodline, and perhaps even granting a portion of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix's inheritance! Its value was countless times greater than that of ordinary treasures!

The attention of all three groups was instantly seized by this heaven-defying opportunity! Their previous standoff seemed utterly insignificant before such temptation!

"Go!" Without hesitation, the Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate gave a sharp shout and led the Hall of Souls members as they transformed into streaks of black light, racing first toward the source of the golden pillar!

"The Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool belongs to my clan!" Feng Qing'er also cried out, seven-colored light flashing as she and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan experts gave chase at high speed.

"We're going too!" Wind Venerate made his decision at once. Starry Dou Qi swept up Xiao Chen and the others, turning them into shooting stars as they pursued without pause!

With such an opportunity before them, no one was willing to fall behind!

Xiao Chen frowned slightly. Although the aura of that golden pillar was immense, he sensed a faint trace of ill omen within it. Yet there was no time for further thought, and he could only follow the others.

A short while later, they arrived at the source of the golden pillar.

It was an enormous underground cavern. At its center lay a golden pool roughly a hundred zhang across! The liquid in the pool was no ordinary fluid; it resembled molten gold, incomparably viscous. As it churned, it released energy fluctuations that made one's heart quail, along with vast ancient pressure! Above the pool, phantom phoenixes circled, releasing clear, resonant cries.

It was the Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool!

At this moment, dozens of figures had already gathered around the blood pool. Besides the Hall of Souls and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, who had arrived first, there were also experts from other factions that had rushed over upon hearing the news, including Ice River Valley and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion. All of them stared at the golden pool, their eyes filled with greed and madness!

"The Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool! It really is real!"

"If we can soak in it, our bodies will surely undergo a complete transformation!"

"Take it!"

No one knew who shouted first, but the scene instantly spiraled out of control! Dozens of experts charged toward the Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool like starving wolves pouncing on prey!

"Get lost! This pool belongs to the Hall of Souls!" the Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate roared. Black chains swept out, directly blasting apart several Dou Zong experts rushing at the front!

"How dare you! How can you defile the legacy of the Heavenly Phoenix?" Feng Qing'er shouted, her seven-colored ribbons slashing toward her competitors like heavenly blades.

The experts from Ice River Valley and the Wind and Thunder Pavilion also unleashed their own methods, and a chaotic battle erupted in an instant!

The thunderous crashes of colliding energy, screams, and furious roars rang out without end. The entire cavern shook violently!

Wind Venerate shielded the people of Starfall Pavilion and did not immediately join the melee. Instead, he swept his sharp gaze over the blood pool and said gravely, "The blood pool's energy is violent, and there are ancient restrictions within it. Entering rashly may cost you your lives!"

Xiao Chen sensed it as well. Beneath the vast energy in the blood pool lurked an extremely concealed will of destruction—the lingering obsession of an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix unwilling to perish!

Yet the temptation of profit was enough to make people lose their minds. Experts continually broke through the blockade and leaped into the blood pool.

"Ah—!"

But the next instant, miserable screams erupted from the pool! Those experts who had jumped in melted rapidly like ice cast into a steel furnace, even their souls devoured by the golden pool water! Only a tiny number with formidable strength or rare treasures could barely hold on at the pool's edge, absorbing strands of golden energy. Their faces bore expressions of agony intertwined with wild ecstasy.

This sight was like a bucket of cold water poured over those behind them who had been eager to move, instantly bringing many of them back to their senses.

"Something is definitely wrong with it!" Xiao Yan's expression was grim.

Just then, another change occurred!

The center of the churning blood pool suddenly bulged upward, and a phoenix phantom formed entirely from golden blood slowly rose into the air! Its eyes were hollow, yet it radiated endless resentment and a will of destruction!

"Intruders... die!"

An indistinct soul roar swept through the cavern like a storm!

The golden phoenix phantom beat its wings, and countless arrows of golden blood rained down upon every living being in the cavern! Each arrow contained terrifying corrosive power and a Soul Strike!

"Be careful!" Wind Venerate shouted, instantly expanding the starlight barrier to its limit!

"Bang bang bang..."

Golden arrows struck the barrier with a barrage of explosive impacts. The barrier shook violently, ripples spreading across its surface. The experts from the other factions were caught completely off guard and instantly riddled with holes, even their souls annihilated!

The sudden attack forced all sides in the melee to temporarily stop fighting and focus entirely on defense.

Xiao Chen's gaze turned cold as he prepared to destroy the phoenix phantom.

Suddenly, the unremarkable black jade pendant hanging on his chest shattered without warning with a crack!

This jade pendant was the protective jade talisman he had left with his father, Xiao Zhan, when he departed Wutan City. It was linked to his mind! There was only one possibility for the talisman to shatter—his father had met with disaster! And it was a life-or-death crisis!

An icy killing intent erupted from Xiao Chen's body like a volcano, shooting into the heavens! It even overwhelmed the phoenix phantom's will of destruction!

He abruptly turned his head, his gaze seeming to pierce through endless space as he stared fixedly in the direction of the Jia Ma Empire! His expression instantly became incomparably ugly, even carrying a trace of panic never seen before!

"Father!!!"

Xiao Yan also noticed his brother's abnormal reaction and the shattered jade talisman. He instantly understood what had happened, and his face went deathly pale. "Dad... what happened to Dad?!"

Xiao Chen forcibly suppressed the killing intent and anxiety that were nearly spiraling out of control. His Soul Power surged wildly as he tried to sense the distant place through the lingering aura of the shattered jade talisman. A blurry scene that nearly shattered his heart and soul flooded into his mind—

Above Xiao Sect in Wutan City, space had been forcibly torn apart! Several terrifying figures shrouded in dense black mist descended. The aura of their leader far surpassed that of a Five Star Dou Venerate! Despite the desperate protection of several elders, Father Xiao Zhan was still pierced through the shoulder by a black chain, blood pouring from the wound as he was dragged toward a Spatial Rift! Hai Bodong lay heavily wounded on the ground, while Queen Medusa had revealed her true form and was fiercely battling a Hall of Souls expert—yet she, too, was firmly entangled! The entire Xiao Sect was in ruins, flames soaring into the sky!

It was the Hall of Souls! And true experts dispatched from the Hall of Souls headquarters! Taking advantage of his and Brother Yan's absence, they had struck at the Xiao Family! Their target was most likely the... Tou She Ancient God Jade on Father!

"Hall... of... Souls...!"

Xiao Chen forced out the words through clenched teeth, his voice hoarse and laden with towering fury and boundless regret! No matter how carefully he had planned, he had never expected the Hall of Souls to be so despicable as to strike directly at his family!

"Brother! Father, he..." Through the bloodline connection between the brothers, Xiao Yan had also vaguely sensed that horrifying scene. His eyes instantly turned blood-red, and he looked as though he had gone mad!

The sudden turn of events stunned everyone within the lava cave. Even the golden phoenix phantom seemed to sense Xiao Chen's utterly terrifying killing intent, its attack stalling for an instant.

Wind Venerate's expression changed drastically as he immediately understood the situation. He urgently said, "Young Friend Xiao Chen, stay calm! If you return to the Jia Ma Empire now, I fear..."

"I have to go back!" Xiao Chen abruptly cut him off, his voice resolute and beyond question! His father was in mortal danger—how could he possibly remain here?!

He glanced at the chaotic lava cave, then at Xiao Yan's face, filled with anxiety and pain, and made his decision in an instant.

"Brother Yan!" Xiao Chen grabbed Xiao Yan by the shoulder, his gaze more solemn and resolute than ever. "Stay here. Fight for this opportunity and do everything you can to grow stronger! I'll save Father!"

"No! Brother, I'm going back with you!" Xiao Yan roared. He could not bear to watch his father face danger while he remained here fighting for an opportunity!

"Listen to me!" Xiao Chen shouted sternly, a powerful force restraining Xiao Yan. "Going back now won't help anything! Only by becoming stronger can you truly protect our family! This ruin is your opportunity—don't miss it! Trust me. I will bring Father back safely!"

His words carried an irresistible force, as well as the heavy charge of an elder brother.

Xiao Yan looked into his brother's bloodshot yet incomparably steadfast eyes, and tears spilled from his own. He knew his brother was right. With his current strength, returning would only make him a burden! He bit down hard enough for blood to seep from his gums, then nodded heavily and forced out several words from his throat. "Brother... be careful! You must... bring Father back!"

Xiao Chen took one deep look at his younger brother and hesitated no longer. He abruptly turned, his gaze sweeping over the Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate and Feng Qing'er like a sharp sword. His icy voice seemed to rise from the depths of hell:

"Hall of Souls, Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan... If my father suffers even the slightest harm, I, Xiao Chen, swear here and now that I will flatten every branch hall of your Hall of Souls and make your Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan... bleed rivers of blood!"

Before his words had even faded, the space around him collapsed with a thunderous boom! With utterly tyrannical force, he forcibly tore open an enormous Spatial Rift that spanned the inside and outside of the ruin!

He did not even have the time to search for a stable exit, directly choosing the most dangerous and most exhausting method—forcing his way through the ruin's Space Barrier!

Riiip—!

Under countless shocked gazes, Xiao Chen stepped into the violent Spatial Turbulence. His blue-robed figure was instantly swallowed by endless darkness and silver light, vanishing without a trace! Only that freezing, bone-chilling oath continued to echo through the lava cave, making everyone shudder!

Everyone was stunned by Xiao Chen's decisive and terrifying method!

In order to save time, he had actually forcibly torn apart the ruin's space! This was a mad act that even high-level Dou Venerates would not dare attempt lightly!

Xiao Yan stared in the direction where his brother had disappeared, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails sank deep into his palms and blood streamed down. He suddenly turned his head, his blood-red eyes fixed on the Hall of Souls Heavenly Venerate and the Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool. An unprecedented desire for strength ignited within him like a wildfire!

"Strength! I need strength!"

He let out a low roar and, disregarding the phoenix phantom's attack, began walking step by step toward the Heavenly Phoenix Blood Pool!

His father's peril, his brother's charge, and his hatred for the Hall of Souls... all of it became the driving force behind his reckless, frenzied pursuit of power!

The struggle for the ancient ruin entered an even more brutal and unpredictable stage because of Xiao Chen's departure and Xiao Yan's madness!

And in the distant Jia Ma Empire, a crisis concerning life, death, and the ancient jade awaited Xiao Chen, whose heart was racing home!