Chapter 25

Feng Yun let out a long sigh. "Alas... during the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, our clan committed far too much slaughter and accrued karmic debt. Now, it is more than ten times harder for the Phoenix Clan to break through bottlenecks than for other living beings of the primordial world."

Li Peng immediately understood. Karmic debt was precisely the root cause preventing the Phoenix Clan from reviving.

It seems I must make a trip to the Sea of Blood!

Although Li Peng wished to depart at once for the Sea of Blood to find Minghe, he had only just arrived among the Phoenix Clan. More importantly, if he left immediately after hearing of their plight, what would Kong Xuan and the Phoenix Clan think of him?

The Phoenix Clan had been burdened by karmic debt for a long time already. Waiting a few more days would do no harm.

Feng Yun then asked, "Your Highnesses, would you like this subordinate to summon the Phoenix Clan's upper ranks?"

"Summon them. I was just thinking of meeting the Phoenix Clan's elders," Li Peng said calmly.

Hearing this, Feng Yun unhesitatingly struck the small bell before the door.

"Dong—dong—dong—"

The bell's chimes turned into waves of sound and spread in every direction. Only then did Li Peng notice that this small bell was actually a Mid-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

"As expected of an ancient overlord. Their foundation is truly formidable," he mused inwardly.

After five chimes, Feng Yun stopped and turned around. "Your Highnesses, please come inside and wait."

Li Peng gave a slight nod and followed Feng Yun toward the council hall.

Half an hour later, a middle-aged woman in a fiery-red gown entered the hall.

Feng Yun immediately bowed. "Greetings, Third Elder!"

Li Peng and Kong Xuan both looked toward the newcomer. She was the Phoenix Clan's Third Elder.

The Third Elder swept her gaze over the room before finally settling on Li Peng in the seat of honor. Her expression changed drastically as the pressure of a Quasi-Saint Mid-stage expert instantly descended upon the two of them.

Li Peng smiled faintly, and an overwhelming aura erupted from his body. The two auras collided with a thunderous crash, yet the outcome was a completely one-sided suppression.

"Boom—"

The Third Elder felt as though countless mountains were pressing down upon her, making it impossible for her to move even an inch. She was horrified. This man's cultivation is actually above Ancestor Phoenix's? If he takes his offense out on the entire clan...

Thinking that she might implicate the already weakened Phoenix Clan, cold sweat began pouring down her face.

Just as panic seized her, the pressure around her suddenly vanished.

The Third Elder stood frozen in place. Before she could understand what had happened, Li Peng said calmly, "Third Elder, please sit. Once everyone has arrived, all shall be explained."

The Third Elder was filled with questions, but she did not dare ask any. The man before her was simply too powerful, far beyond anything she could contend with.

Left with no choice, the Third Elder found a seat below and quietly sat down.

Before long, the Phoenix Clan's upper ranks gradually arrived.

Although everyone was puzzled by the unfamiliar young man seated in the place of honor, seeing even the Third Elder sitting respectfully below, they remained silent and took their seats.

An hour later, Li Peng asked Feng Yun, "Have all the Phoenix Clan's upper ranks arrived?"

"They have all arrived," Feng Yun replied respectfully.

Li Peng nodded. "Since everyone is here, let me introduce myself."

All the Phoenix Clan higher-ups turned curious gazes toward Li Peng.

Li Peng looked around at everyone and declared loudly, "My name is Li Peng. I am Ancestor Phoenix's eldest son!"

Before his words had even faded, a powerful bloodline pressure instantly enveloped the entire hall.

The higher-ups immediately broke into cold sweat and found it difficult to breathe.

Yet the pressure came swiftly and faded just as swiftly. It allowed everyone to sense its immense power without humiliating them.

"Y-you are actually Ancestor Phoenix's son? How could you be this powerful?" The Third Elder's eyes widened in utter disbelief.

"Bloodlines never lie." Li Peng smiled faintly.

Upon hearing this, tears streamed from the Third Elder's eyes.

"Hahaha—"

The next moment, she began crying and laughing at once, seemingly driven mad.

After a while, the Third Elder finally calmed down. She dropped to her knees and cried out, "Clan Leader! Did you see this? Your son has surpassed you! Under his leadership, the Phoenix Clan will surely stand once more at the pinnacle of the primordial races!"

The other higher-ups looked at one another, utterly confused.

Once the Third Elder regained her composure, she solemnly proposed, "I nominate Li Peng as the Phoenix Clan's new Clan Leader. Does anyone object?"

Everyone knew that the Third Elder had already taken a stance. How could they dare object? One after another, they fell to their knees and shouted:

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

"Greetings, Clan Leader!"

Li Peng looked at the scene before him without much joy. To be honest, the Phoenix Clan did not amount to much in his eyes.

Li Peng waved for everyone to quiet down. Seeing this, the Phoenix Clan's higher-ups promptly ceased their clamor. Once the hall had fallen silent, Li Peng said, "I have no intention of becoming the Phoenix Clan's Clan Leader. If one must be chosen, my second brother Kong Xuan would be better suited for the position."

The Third Elder looked toward Kong Xuan. Although Kong Xuan possessed early-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, he was still vastly inferior to Li Peng's Quasi-Saint Peak strength. The Third Elder knelt down, tears in her eyes. "First Your Highness, the Phoenix Clan is weak now. We must have a powerful Clan Leader to deter the primordial races. Though Second Your Highness has Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, he cannot be considered among the strongest in the current primordial world. I beg First Your Highness to assume the position of Clan Leader and protect the Phoenix Clan!"

Hearing this, Kong Xuan also knew that he lacked the strength to protect the entire clan, so he urged, "Big Brother, you should be the Clan Leader. I truly cannot shoulder this responsibility."

Li Peng nodded. "Very well. I will temporarily hold the position of Clan Leader. Once my second brother has the ability to protect the Phoenix Clan, I will step down."

"Thank you, First Your Highness—no, thank you, Clan Leader!" The Third Elder wept with joy. She had been exhausted from supporting the Phoenix Clan alone all these years. Now that Li Peng, a Quasi-Saint Peak expert, was here to oversee matters, she could finally lay down her burden.

Half a year later, Li Peng had completely grasped the Phoenix Clan's circumstances, further strengthening his resolve to visit the Sea of Blood. After summoning Kong Xuan and the Third Elder to give them instructions, he left Bucephalus Volcano directly and flew toward the Sea of Blood.

Ten years passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Peng finally arrived above the boundless Sea of Blood. Neither the pungent stench of blood nor the churning sea stirred him. Standing above the Sea of Blood, he poured his mana into his voice and shouted downward, "Fellow Daoist Minghe, please come out and meet me!"

The rolling sound waves spread through every corner of the Sea of Blood. Minghe, who had been cultivating, was startled upon hearing them. He muttered, "This voice... is it Li Peng?" An ominous feeling immediately rose within him.

Li Peng's reputation in the primordial world was indeed poor, especially after he had seized the Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus from Zhunti and Jieyin. His domineering conduct had long since spread among the primordial great powers.

Has Li Peng come this time because he has set his sights on my Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus? He even dared seize Zhunti and Jieyin's Twelve-Grade Merit Golden Lotus. It would not be strange for him to now covet my red lotus, Minghe thought.

At this thought, a trace of wariness flashed across Minghe's face, but it quickly disappeared.

"Humph, Li Peng, do you think I am trash like Zhunti and Jieyin? I have long become one with this boundless Sea of Blood. So long as the Sea of Blood does not dry up, I, Minghe, shall be deathless and indestructible! Moreover, within this Sea of Blood, I can set up the Sea of Blood Great Formation. My combat power will rival that of a Quasi-Saint Peak expert, while my mana will be endless and never exhausted!"

With that thought, confidence appeared on Minghe's face. He immediately rose to his feet and muttered coldly:

"I would like to see what brings you here today. If you dare go too far, I will make you witness the might of the Sea of Blood Great Formation!"

With that, Minghe flew out of the boundless Sea of Blood. Moments later, he arrived before Li Peng.

"I did not know Fellow Daoist Li Peng would grace the Sea of Blood with his presence. This poor Daoist failed to welcome you from afar; please forgive my discourtesy!" Minghe said with a laugh.

"Not at all. I have come this time because there is something I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Minghe to help with." Li Peng returned the smile and did not immediately turn hostile. Minghe was an exceedingly troublesome man, and unless necessary, Li Peng did not wish to become his enemy.

"What matter could require Fellow Daoist to come here personally?" Minghe asked with feigned curiosity.

"It is no great matter. I merely wish to ask Fellow Daoist to help absorb some karmic debt," Li Peng answered.

Minghe sneered inwardly. As expected, he has come for my Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus. It seems a battle today is unavoidable!

"Absorb karmic debt? Could it be that Fellow Daoist is burdened by karmic debt?" Minghe pretended not to understand.

"Not me." Li Peng shook his head.

"Then whose karmic debt do you wish to absorb?" Minghe pressed.

"The Phoenix Clan's," Li Peng replied.

Upon hearing this, Minghe grew even more disdainful. He had not expected Li Peng to use the Phoenix Clan as an excuse in an attempt to fool him.

"The Phoenix Clan? Do you have ties with them, Fellow Daoist, that you are willing to help them?" Minghe asked with a cold laugh.

"My Phoenix Clan slaughtered too greatly during the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, causing karmic debt to entangle us and making further progress in cultivation difficult.

"That is why I had no choice but to come and seek Fellow Daoist Minghe's assistance," Li Peng said bluntly.

Minghe was greatly shocked. He had never imagined that Li Peng was actually Ancestor Phoenix's son and the Phoenix Clan's Clan Leader.

What surprised him even more was that Li Peng had come only to ask for help absorbing karmic debt, not to forcibly seize the Second-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus in his possession.

This change immediately dispelled Minghe's intention of fighting Li Peng.

After all, for an expert like Li Peng, it was naturally best if he could avoid becoming enemies with him.

"This is a lotus seed borne by the Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus. Once Fellow Daoist obtains it, you may use it to absorb the Phoenix Clan's karmic debt, and you will also gain an excellent Innate Spiritual Treasure."

Li Peng was rather surprised at Minghe's words. He had not expected Minghe to be so generous—the lotus seed of the Twelve-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus, if properly nurtured, could become a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure with special functions!

Though High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasures no longer caught Li Peng's eye, he had to accept this favor.

Li Peng reached out and accepted the Karmic Fire Red Lotus seed, his expression solemn as he said:

"Consider this a favor I owe Fellow Daoist today. If Fellow Daoist ever needs assistance in the future, simply come find me.

"So long as it is within my ability, I will never refuse!"

Hearing this promise, Minghe was overjoyed.

What kind of person was Li Peng?

He was a notorious and ferocious figure in the primordial world,

and the strongest expert beneath the Saints!

Exchanging a Karmic Fire Red Lotus seed for the favor of such a great power was simply too worthwhile.

Minghe then smiled. "It is rare for Fellow Daoist to visit the Sea of Blood. Why not come sit at my Daoist grounds?"

Li Peng shook his head. "Not this time. The Phoenix Clan is still suffering from karmic debt. When I return to the Sea of Blood next time, I will certainly visit and trouble you."

"Good! Then I shall await the day Fellow Daoist visits the Sea of Blood again." Minghe replied with a smile.

"Until we meet again." Li Peng cupped his hands in farewell.

He then mounted a cloud and headed straight toward Bucephalus Volcano.

After returning to the Phoenix Clan, Li Peng immediately gathered all Phoenix Clan members and used the Karmic Fire Red Lotus seed to draw out the karmic debt from their bodies.

As expected of an Innate Spiritual Treasure that fed on karmic debt, the lotus seed absorbed it at an extremely fast rate.

In less than a hundred years, the karmic debt on those Phoenix Clan members who had only recently assumed their forms had been completely absorbed.

The Karmic Fire Red Lotus seed also bloomed once, advancing into a Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure—the Third-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus.

After the Karmic Fire Red Lotus seed evolved into the Low-Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure, the Third-Grade Karmic Fire Red Lotus, its speed of absorbing karmic debt increased more than tenfold.

If this continued, all the karmic debt borne by the Phoenix Clan would be completely absorbed in another million years.

Of course, the actual time required would not be so long.

That was because the Karmic Fire Red Lotus would continue evolving after absorbing enough karmic debt, and its absorption speed would only become faster and faster.

Seeing the Phoenix Clan gradually prosper, Li Peng also began his secluded cultivation.

Of his Thirty-Six Heavens, he had only opened thirty so far, with six still unfinished.

His foremost task now was to open all Thirty-Six Heavens, then claim the selection reward and increase his own strength.

With that thought, Li Peng no longer hesitated. He entered a secret chamber and began cultivating in seclusion.

At the same time, within the Heavenly Court.

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi sat high in the seats of honor, with numerous great powers seated below them.

Ying Zhao stepped forward to report. "Your Majesty, in the primordial world, apart from the Wu Clan, Dragon Clan, Phoenix Clan, Kirin Clan, and several insignificant minor clans, all other races have already submitted to our Demon Clan.

"May I ask how our clan should develop next?"

Di Jun and Eastern Emperor Tai Yi were delighted upon hearing this.

They had founded the Demon Clan with their own hands, and its present prosperity naturally filled them with pride.

Di Jun turned to a refined young man at his side and asked, "Bai Ze, where do you think we should begin if we wish to continue strengthening the Demon Clan?"

Hearing this, Bai Ze pondered for a moment.

Then he said, "In this subject's opinion, we should first destroy the Loose Immortal Alliance."

Di Jun was quite interested. "Why choose the Loose Immortal Alliance first rather than the Wu Clan, or the Dragon, Phoenix, and Kirin Clans?"

Bai Ze answered calmly, "The Wu Clan's strength is comparable to ours, and all Twelve Ancestor Witches possess Quasi-Saint Mid-stage cultivation or higher. If we clash head-on with the Wu Clan now, we may both suffer severe losses and allow other forces to profit."