Collecting Departing Fire, Encountering Phoenix's Two Sons

"Kid, don't you have the Three Lights Divine Water? Wrap your mana with it, then use your mana hand to reach into the center of the glazed flames and grab the seed of the Southern Bright Departing Fire. Use water to counter fire," Xuan Gui reminded him from the side.

He had witnessed battles between the Dragon and Phoenix races back in the day. When facing the powerful Southern Bright Departing Fire nurtured within the Phoenix race's bloodline, the Dragon race would counter it by collecting the essence of myriad waters to condense the Xuan Ming Heavy Water, One Origin Heavy Water, and other special divine waters. This was all valuable experience accumulated from years of combat between the two races.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun also realized that countering fire with water was precisely the Way of Five Elements' Birth and Destruction!

"I understand. Thank you for your guidance, senior."

He immediately took out a drop of Three Lights Divine Water and used his Nascent Soul to control the divine water, wrapping it around the palm he had condensed with his mana. Then, he braved the glazed flames filling the sky and reached for the flame in the center, intending to seize it.

As soon as the mana palm left the protection of the Pure World White Lotus, the surrounding flames instantly engulfed it. The flames burned the outer layer of the Three Lights Divine Water, emitting a "hissing" sound. As the two forces clashed, the core of the Three Lights Divine Water continuously released essence, transforming into divine waters of the sun, moon, and stars to contend with the flames.

The closer the mana palm got to the flame in the center, the more intense the scorching heat became. As his Nascent Soul guided the mana hand nearer to the flame, Jiang Yun could clearly feel the temperature outside his Nascent Soul rising almost abruptly.

Gazing at the Southern Bright Departing Fire, which was now within reach, he calmed his excited emotions and reached out to grab it. The moment he touched the outer layer of the flame, all the surrounding flames seemed to retract like tired birds returning to their nests, and the flame's temperature surged once more.

Seizing the opportunity, Jiang Yun did not hesitate. With the outer flames cleared away, he directly removed the Three Lights Divine Water wrapped around his mana hand and then grabbed the flame, catching it completely off guard.

Looking at the Southern Bright Departing Fire seed, now enveloped by the divine water, he nodded in satisfaction. He then controlled his mana hand to bring it closer.

"Senior Xuan Gui, how should I devour and refine this Southern Bright Departing Fire?"

"You've already wrapped it with the Three Lights Divine Water, which has solved most of the problem. The next step is to bring it into your Dantian, create a space within your Sea of Mana, and then use your mana to erode and purify it. You will naturally establish a connection, and all that's left is to spend some time," Xuan Gui said. It was the first time he had seen someone capture the Southern Bright Departing Fire so easily.

"Uh... it's that simple!"

Such words sounded incredibly boastful to anyone else. Xuan Gui couldn't be bothered to reply.

Not receiving a response, Jiang Yun didn't feel awkward and decided to put away the Southern Bright Departing Fire seed and find a safe place to refine it.

Just then, a sharp cry suddenly echoed from the sky, "Li—"

The sound was like thunder, piercing the clouds. This long cry carried immense power, and the sound waves vibrated, scattering the clouds in the sky.

The moment Jiang Yun heard the sound, he immediately waved his hand to put away the fire seed and looked up. He saw a giant Peng bird flapping its wings and flying through the sky. Its wings were like clouds hanging from the heavens, obscuring the sun and the earth. In the blink of an eye, it arrived above the volcano and finally transformed into a cultivator with an eagle-like beak, descending. Following closely behind this cultivator, a seven-colored rainbow light also arrived instantly, transforming into a handsome, cold-faced cultivator.

As for the eagle-beaked cultivator, he was the Golden-Winged Great Roc, born from the interaction between the Phoenix and the Yin-Yang Origin Qi. From the moment of its birth, it possessed immense power and extraordinary talent, known as the Peng Demon King.

He inherited some of the divine nature of the Phoenix race, was fierce by nature, and preyed on dragons. His colossal form, with wings spread wide enough to blot out the sun, allowed him to fly at incredible speeds. With a single flap of his wings, he could soar ninety thousand miles into the sky, like a golden lightning bolt streaking across the heavens.

The one following behind him was the first peacock born from the interaction between the Phoenix and the Five Elements Origin Qi, none other than Kong Xuan, who would later shine brightly in the battle of deification.

As everyone knows, the eyes of an eagle are like precision aiming devices. When observing the earth from high above, they can clearly distinguish the subtle movements of a tiny ant on the ground. Moreover, their field of vision is extremely wide, like a panoramic camera, taking in every rustle of wind and grass within their sight.

When the eagle-faced Great Roc was flying in the air just now, it saw Jiang Yun's action of putting away the Southern Bright Departing Fire, which prompted it to dive down.

The Great Roc and Kong Xuan sensed the residual aura of the Southern Bright Departing Fire in the air, and were immediately surprised. Besides being born from the Phoenix bloodline, the Southern Bright Departing Fire could only be found in the Immortal Volcano. They hadn't expected to encounter it here.

"Hey, you rogue! Hand over the essence of my Phoenix race's Southern Bright Departing Fire immediately, or you won't be leaving this southern volcano!" the Great Roc said arrogantly.

"Oh~~ You want me to not leave the southern volcano? Who are you, you squawking bird? With that hooked beak of yours, you dare call yourself part of the Phoenix race? Go look in a mirror!" Jiang Yun sensed the Great Roc's aura and found it far inferior to his own. However, the one behind him had a cultivation level comparable to his own; he was someone significant.

Kong Xuan, on the other hand, was very helpless with his younger brother, the Great Roc. This Great Roc always liked to stir up trouble, and more importantly, he wasn't dedicated to cultivation at all, only messing around all day. Sensing that the opponent's cultivation was similar to his own this time, he wanted to use this opportunity to teach the Great Roc a lesson, to stop him from always using his name and acting like a tiger by borrowing a wolf's might. He quietly watched from the side, remaining silent.

Hearing Jiang Yun's mockery, the Great Roc's heart filled with anger. Although he and Kong Xuan were born from the Phoenix, they did not have the form of a phoenix. One transformed into a Golden-Winged Great Roc, and the other became a peacock. They didn't even inherit the Southern Bright Departing Fire or the skill of Nirvana Rebirth from the Phoenix bloodline, making them outcasts within the clan and subjected to much ostracism.

Kong Xuan was better off; he was proud and devoted to his cultivation, completely disregarding those and things inferior to him, and not dwelling on trivial matters. The Great Roc, however, was inherently ferocious, arrogant, and prone to outbursts at the slightest displeasure.

Now, Jiang Yun's words reminded him of the ostracism he faced within the clan. The pent-up resentment in his heart suddenly erupted. With a ferocious expression, he roared loudly, "Hmph, you impudent fellow! Today, I will tear you to shreds to quell my hatred!"

With that, his body flashed, and he charged towards Jiang Yun, preparing for close-quarters combat.

This was the Golden-Winged Great Roc's usual fighting style. After all, it was a ferocious Great Roc capable of preying on dragons. Its body was strong and sturdy, allowing it to fight true dragons. Coupled with its incredible speed, it preferred surprise attacks and close-quarters combat.

Unexpectedly, the moment he moved, Jiang Yun instantly condensed a giant mana hand and casually slapped him. He didn't even have time to react before he was sent flying.