Ao Jianshen carefully escorted the Golden-Eyed Black Phoenix all the way through layer upon layer of clouds and mist, finally returning to her cave mansion.
Calling it a cave mansion, though, it was more like an enormous nest.
Compared to Lin Fan's cave mansion, which appeared simple yet concealed countless mysteries, the Golden-Eyed Black Phoenix's residence was far more primitive and rugged.
There were no decorations inside—no stone tables or chairs, no Luminous Pearls hanging overhead. The four walls were all naturally formed rock faces, while the floor was covered in thick dry grass and down feathers shed by spiritual birds, faintly radiating a gentle warmth.
After all, the Golden-Eyed Black Phoenix was an ancient divine beast of noble blood. Deep in her bones, she still retained her ancestors' habit of building nests as dwellings.
Thus, the cave mansion she had built more closely resembled the nest of a giant bird, utterly different from the square, orderly cave dwellings excavated by ordinary cultivators.
This was Ao Jianlie's first time setting foot inside this cave mansion.
At this moment, however, his mind was not on the structure of the cave mansion at all. His gaze remained fixed on that golden figure, his eyes filled with concern and worry.
The Golden-Eyed Black Phoenix walked into the depths of the nest and slowly sat cross-legged atop a warm, jade-like platform at its center.
Her golden eyes half-closed as the lingering embers of true fire around her gradually withdrew into her body, and her ragged breathing slowly steadied.
Ao Jianlie and Ao Jianshen waited silently at the side, not daring to make a sound and disturb her.
After a long while, the chaotic fluctuations of Spiritual Power around the Golden-Eyed Black Phoenix were finally suppressed by more than half.
Some color also returned to