The blazing sun hung high, its light shining upon the Innate Wutong Tree.
Its branches and leaves swayed, dappled shadows falling across the ground.
A gentle breeze drifted by. A figure sat cross-legged atop the canopy—it was Lu Ya.
Bathed in sunlight, Lu Ya was cultivating the Phoenix Clan's Nirvana Method.
Yuan Feng had created it based on her own innate divine ability. It was mysterious, obscure, and profoundly profound.
Although Yuan Feng had personally explained it to him, Lu Ya still had not fully comprehended it.
With his current understanding, Lu Ya could at most cultivate the Nirvana Method to Minor Accomplishment. Reaching Great Accomplishment was out of the question for now.
As he cultivated, Innate Flame danced around him.
Innate Five Elements Qi emerged from his internal organs and condensed into a Five-Colored Canopy.
The Mud Pill Palace emitted dazzling golden light. Within that light appeared a clear, water-like auspicious cloud, no larger than a single acre.
Three flowers rested atop the auspicious cloud above his head.
The Three Flowers were condensed from Lu Ya's Essence, Qi, and Spirit. One was red, one golden-red, and one gold.
As the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown formed, vast amounts of Innate Qi descended.
Suddenly, the Power of Law appeared around Lu Ya.
In addition, a surge of immense Magic Power emerged.
This was Grand Unity level Magic Power, capable of shaking Archaic Stars and making the Four Seas tremble.
Before long, the phantom of a Three-legged Golden Crow appeared behind Lu Ya.
Yet under the distortion of sunlight, the Golden Crow phantom was extremely blurry.
Even a Grand Unity level expert could not see it clearly.
In the distance, Yuan Feng's delicate brows furrowed slightly as her eyes fixed upon Lu Ya.
More precisely, she was watching the phantom behind him.
It was normal for some phenomenon to arise while cultivating the Nirvana Method.
When cultivating the Nirvana Method for the first time, it would be strange if no phenomenon appeared.
Yuan Feng was not surprised that Lu Ya could cultivate the Nirvana Method.
There was no need to mention Lu Ya's cultivation. How could he not be Grand Unity level?
And since Lu Ya could Planting Golden Lotuses in Fire, was it possible that he had not comprehended the Law of Fire?
As for his Dao cultivation, it should not be low either.
After discussing the Dao with Lu Ya many times, Yuan Feng had gained much as well.
At this moment, another phantom appeared behind Lu Ya.
Both phantoms were blurry.
This was caused by the distortion of sunlight.
Yet this phenomenon was rare.
Next, more and more phantoms appeared behind Lu Ya.
As time passed, the number of phantoms behind him continued to grow.
It seemed as though they could increase without limit.
Before long, countless phantoms filled the space behind Lu Ya, numbering no fewer than tens of thousands.
At this rate, they would soon exceed a hundred thousand.
Looking closely, the phantoms behind Lu Ya took all sorts of forms.
Yet some of them could be recognized as a kind of bird.
With their wings spread, they seemed ready to soar into the clouds.
Lowering their heads, they looked down upon all things, ruling everything and controlling everything.
The phenomenon caused by Lu Ya's cultivation of the Nirvana Method stirred Yuan Feng's Dao heart.
Daoist Lu Ya's origin is also among the Feathered Insects. He looks somewhat similar to the crow race, Yuan Feng thought to herself.
Grand Unity level Magic Power was vast and boundless. It possessed the ability to connect heaven and earth, observe all matters beneath the heavens, recognize all things beneath the heavens, and understand all species beneath the heavens.
Within the heavens were the Five Insects: Winged Insects, Scaled Insects, Hairy Insects, Feathered Insects, and Insects.
Winged Insects referred to creatures without shells, with sparse body hair or none at all, such as frogs. Humans were the lords of Winged Insects.
Scaled Insects referred to creatures whose bodies were covered in scales. They were mainly Water Tribe creatures, though terrestrial reptiles such as lizards were included as well. Dragons were the lords of Scaled Insects.
Hairy Insects referred to beasts whose bodies were covered in fur, such as tigers, lions, and elk. Kirin were the lords of Hairy Insects.
Feathered Insects referred to creatures whose bodies were covered in feathers. Phoenix were the lords of Feathered Insects.
Insects referred to shelled creatures, such as shellfish, crabs, and shrimp. Spiritual Tortoises were the lords of Insects.
It was said that Innate Humans had originally transformed from the "parasites" on Pangu's body, so calling them the lords of Winged Insects was fitting enough.
Of course, the status of the lords of the Five Insects remained controversial.
At least for now, most Feathered Insects recognized the Phoenix as the lord of Feathered Insects.
As for Golden Crows, how many people in the Primordial World even knew of them now?
Without fame, they naturally could not gain recognition.
Heaven saw through the eyes of its people, and Heaven heard through the ears of its people. Though this was merely one aspect of the Heavenly Dao, it was also connected to the operation of the Heavenly Dao.
Thus, when most Feathered Insects recognized the Phoenix as the lord of Feathered Insects, destiny rested with the Phoenix.
From this perspective, the struggle among the Myriad Races of the Primordial Era was not merely a struggle for resources and Fortune, but also for destiny.
With destiny's blessing came the favor of the Heavenly Dao.
As for the Heavenly Dao's favor and rejection, that was "following" and "defying." As the saying went, those who followed Heaven lived at ease, while those who defied Heaven labored.
Being the lord of Feathered Insects was only a portion of destiny within the heavens.
A higher level was the entirety of destiny within the heavens.
Beyond that was the destiny above all things beneath the heavens, which could be called the Protagonist of Heaven and Earth.
Currently, most Feathered Insects in the Primordial World recognized the Phoenix Clan, but the Phoenix Clan had yet to obtain destiny.
Without destiny's blessing, the Phoenix Clan's claim to be the lord of flying creatures was not truly deserved.
Yuan Feng had glimpsed the heavenly secrets. If the Phoenix Clan wished to obtain destiny, it had to eradicate the Fierce Beasts.
The existence of Fierce Beasts not only hindered the Phoenix Clan, but also obstructed other races.
It could be said that Fierce Beasts were the greatest stumbling block facing the Myriad Races of the Primordial Era.
The Phoenix Cave formed a world of its own. The power of the Sun, Moon, and Stars connected it to the outside world, but time flowed much faster within it.
Thus, seventeen days in the Phoenix Cave equaled one day outside.
Lu Ya had spent half a month in the Phoenix Cave, while less than a day had passed outside.
After cultivating the Nirvana Method for half a month, billions upon billions of blurry phantoms stood behind Lu Ya.
On this day, Lu Ya stopped cultivating.
Calamity Qi had long been brewing, and today it finally erupted.
The great calamity had erupted, becoming a Calamity.
And this Calamity targeted the Fierce Beasts.
Under the Calamity, the Fierce Beasts had nowhere to hide in the Primordial World.
If they could not survive this tribulation, the era of Fierce Beasts would come to an end.
Whether in the Primordial World's main world or the countless lower worlds within it, all were under the Calamity.
Countless living beings scattered throughout the Primordial World felt restless and uneasy.
Some powerful experts used their Dharma Eyes to observe heaven and earth, only to see Calamity Qi shrouding everything.
Yuan Feng stepped out of the Phoenix Cave and looked beyond the Immortal Volcano.
In her eyes, black clouds blotted out the sky while blood-red lightning roamed through the air like dragons and serpents.
It looked like an omen that the Primordial World was about to be destroyed.
When she withdrew her Dharma Eyes, however, the wind was gentle and the sun was bright, clouds gathered and dispersed, and the years remained peaceful.
"It is time to purge the Fierce Beasts," Lu Ya said calmly as he arrived beside Yuan Feng.
"Destiny shall belong to my clan." Yuan Feng's tone was calm, but her heart was anything but.
She had waited a long time for this day.
Unfortunately, the Phoenix Clan did not have enough Grand Unity level experts yet.
The Phoenix Clan had quite a few who had attained the Grand Unity Dao Fruit.
Aside from Vermilion Bird, several others stood only one step away from attaining Grand Unity.
If the Phoenix Clan had been given a few more Cosmic Epochs, it would certainly have gained several more Grand Unity experts.
And that was before the Phoenix Clan obtained destiny.
If it gained destiny, it would become much easier for the Phoenix Clan's Grand Unity level experts to attain Grand Unity.
Destiny was simply too important to a race.
That was why powerful races had to fight for destiny.
Yuan Feng was determined to obtain the destiny of "Lord of Feathered Insects."
As for the destiny of "Lord of the Heavens," it would probably have to wait until the next Calamity.
The Protagonist of Heaven and Earth? That could wait until the Calamity after next!
At the bottom of the Eastern Sea, tens of thousands of true Dragons had gathered.
A burly figure with a dragon's head and human body stood there—it was Ancestor Dragon.
Thirty-six Sea-Calming Pearls shone with divine radiance behind Ancestor Dragon.
"The time for my Dragon Clan to rise has come." Excitement filled Ancestor Dragon's face. He had waited too long for this day.
During this Calamity targeting the Fierce Beasts, the Dragon Clan had to seize destiny.
With the Dragon Clan's strength, Fortune, and foundation... what right did the other Scaled Insect races have to compete with the Dragon Clan?
As for overwhelming the Feathered Insects and Hairy Insects as well, Ancestor Dragon naturally wanted that, but he knew it was not yet realistic.
The Phoenix Clan and Kirin Clan alone could not be underestimated.
There were Fierce Beasts in the sea as well, though few in number.
Ancestor Dragon planned to first eradicate the Fierce Beasts in the Four Seas, then eradicate the Fierce Beasts on land.
Buzhou Mountain was the Heavenly Pillar, transformed from Pangu's spine.
First Kirin stood at the foot of Buzhou Mountain.
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