Its Feather as the Rite

At this moment, Qin Yi was still jumping up and down, cursing the Orange Peel Old Daoist Nun in his mind. "You menopausal, unwanted Extinction Master, you just wait!"

Liusu, holding her hand, asked, "Who is Extinction Master?"

"Uh... a story character, similar to this Xi Yue, also a monk who always has a stern face and tries to break up his disciple's marriage."

"Is she pretty?"

"?" Qin Yi asked curiously, "It's not a matter of whether she's pretty or not, she's just the kind of person who... Anyway, Bangbang, your focus is a bit strange."

A subtle, enigmatic smile flickered in Liusu's eyes, "Just asking."

Qin Yi casually said, "It depends on the version. In some versions, Miejue is even prettier than the female lead."

Liusu's smile deepened.

Qin Yi had no idea what it was thinking, and he wasn't in the mood to delve into it at the moment. "Never mind, you've distracted me, and even my urge to curse has been diverted. I'd better check on Qing Ying first."

"Ahem." A cough came from the side. "So you still remember me?"

Qin Yi quickly turned his head, and Meng Qingying, who had woken up at some point, was leaning against the cloud, looking at him with a half-smile.

Qin Yi quickly went over to her, helping her up and asking, "When did you wake up? How are you feeling?"

"I woke up just as you were about to kiss." Meng Qingying blinked. "I wanted to see Minghe... but unfortunately, the most fun scene was ruined."

Qin Yi's face flushed with embarrassment. "... Why do you all like watching Minghe's stuff...?"

"You?"

"Uh, no." Qin Yi quickly changed the subject. "How are you?"

Meng Qingying leaned against him in silence for a moment, seemingly introspecting, before finally saying, "My condition might be a little better than Minghe's... I have a key medium..."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Feng Yu, who was standing in the center beside him.

The phoenix feathers still shone with a soft light.

As Meng Qingying watched, her gaze gradually became melancholic.

Qin Yi, thinking she was confused again, quickly said, "If the phoenix feathers are too strong, should I stop them for now?"

"No... it restored some of my memories and protected my Sea of Consciousness," Meng Qingying said softly. "Qin Yi, where did you get this?"

Qin Yi said, "I just got it; it's in a cave inside the Sea Clan."

Meng Qingying frowned. "Why would it be in the sea? That doesn't make sense..."

"Hmm?" Qin Yi asked curiously, "This is a phoenix feather that fell off during the High Antiquity battle between the dragon and the phoenix. It shot straight into the sea from the sky, forming a deep abyss that runs straight into the netherworld. If it's not in the sea, where else could it be?"

Meng Qingying pondered Qin Yi's words several times, her pupils shrinking slightly. "Are you saying it has always existed on the seabed and has never moved?"

Qin Yi thought for a moment, "Logically, there shouldn't be one; its origin is very clear."

Meng Qingying looked at Qin Yi's profile with a very strange expression.

In her previous dream, the phoenix feather that suddenly pierced her was the one that saved her from losing her last bit of spiritual light, allowing her to be reborn... Was it this one? It was never moved? Why is that?

Or is there another one?

Where do so many feathers come from? Does the phoenix pluck feathers from everywhere?

Qin Yi, unaware of her thoughts, pondered and said, "Judging from this, you might have a connection with the phoenix? If that's the case, this phoenix feather should be yours to carry, as it might be of great benefit... But it belongs to someone else, and I..."

"No need." Meng Qingying placed a finger on his lips and said softly, "It should be taken by you... it must be taken by you."

"Should be taken away" is understandable, but what does "must be taken away" mean? Qin Yi suddenly realized he couldn't understand Meng Qingying's words.

Meng Qingying also realized that her words sounded strange, and explained as if to cover it up, "Well... this thing is too closely related to my past life. If it were in my hands, I would inevitably be gradually invaded by my past life consciousness, and then I wouldn't be myself anymore. You'd better take it away."

What started as a cover-up turned into a serious statement because it could indeed be true.

Qin Yi looked at Feng Yu and hesitated for a long time before whispering, "Your past life was... a phoenix?"

Meng Qingying shook her head. "At present, it is very likely to be a fire."

"Even a phoenix is a phoenix." Qin Yi suddenly realized where his phoenix-like aura came from...

No wonder it's said to be the Phoenix's Will, rather than the Phoenix Blood in his body... From this perspective, he certainly possesses both the Will of the Chenghuang Emperor and the Will of the Phoenix.

This phoenix intent was extremely faint and distant, leaving even Feng Yu completely baffled. This was because Qing Ying was not a phoenix in this life; it was from another life. At most, one could only say that there was a faint hint of it.

Is that how it is? How did he even come up with that idea before? I racked my brains but couldn't figure it out!

So, the reason why using Qing Ying's blood allowed her to see in the Netherworld wasn't because her Myriad Images of the Universe Cultivation Method caused all blood to have this effect— the Cultivation Method shouldn't be able to produce this effect in blood... The real reason is that it was originally the blood of a bastard that hadn't yet awakened!

The phoenix is Netherfire Phoenix, and its blood can naturally grant it the ability to see into the spirit world.

In fact, the strange behavior of the two people before did not necessarily prove that they were Styx or scorpions. They might just be related, such as creatures that were very close to them, or they might have witnessed scorpions dying in the Styx and going down together with them. If they suddenly saw the ruins now, their past life memories would flood in, causing their Sea of Souls to churn.

Therefore, Meng Qingying could only say "very likely," not that she was certain.

Qin Yi, however, was even more certain than her that she was definitely from the Phoenix lineage.

Regardless of whether it is true or not, if you want to explore your past life, following this clue will definitely be the right thing to do.

The question now is whether or not to continue exploring.

Qin Yi took out the black Waist Tag he had obtained from the tomb of Jade True Person: "This is the token of the Nether Emperor Sect. You can keep it; it might come in handy."

"No. Since you don't want the phoenix feather, I don't want this either." Meng Qingying's expression was slightly sarcastic. "Hey... The phoenix, a symbol of steadfastness and justice, shouldn't it be the Minghe? Instead, the Netherworld River, flowing coldly in the Netherworld, swallowing souls and washing away flesh and blood, is extremely evil. Shouldn't it be me, Meng Qingying? It seems to be the other way around. How ironic."

Qin Yi's expression was also quite strange. If that's the case, then this pair seems to be... reversed?

Did they die together in their past lives? The scene looks somewhat like it...

This...

"Whether it is true or not, I don't want to pursue it." Meng Qingying's expression turned cold. "Upholding integrity and justice are none of my concern."

"Hey," Qin Yi couldn't help but say, "Whether it's just or not is another matter, but you need to be more steadfast."

Meng Qingying was somewhat amused and exasperated. The way he spoke always sounded like a car wheel running over her face... She couldn't help but laugh, "You're just a mere Cauldron, trying to bargain with this Young Master?"

"Pah." Qin Yi looked around. "There's no one else here, and you're still weak, little lady. Be good, or else..."

Looking at his feigned evil expression, Meng Qingying suddenly turned to look at the phoenix feather stuck to the side.

Phoenix feathers, like candles, illuminated this River Styx with warmth.

Her gaze softened even more. "If this phoenix feather is yours... it is the gift of your marriage to me."

Qin Yi didn't understand the deeper meaning of her words, only assuming it referred to the fact that he had saved her with the phoenix feather. He was quite curious. "Is my Young Master Meng such an easily moved person? You're offering yourself in gratitude after just one rescue?"

Meng Qingying smiled slightly, "If you gave me my life, then what else isn't yours?"

Qin Yi felt that there were more and more hidden meanings in her words, but upon closer examination, there was nothing wrong with them, which was strange.

Meng Qingying didn't give him time to think, and suddenly said in a seductive voice, "If Minghe is the River Styx, then we are lying in her arms right now... Would you like to... lie in Minghe's arms...?"

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat.

Liusu was dumbfounded.

Didn't you see a Little Ghost floating in front of you the whole time?

How could you say such shameless things to my face?

That being said, the Winged Human Race's first down is a ritual, and the Phoenix's feathers are also a ritual. Do you bird people use feathers as key ceremonial objects? Does plucking human body hair count? If not, does nose hair count?