The Phoenix Clan's Territory, Egg-Stealing Expert

"An insider?"

Ancestral Dragon's eyes flashed like lightning as he stared at Qiankun Ancestor's phantom.

The seawater froze, and time stood still. All the countless aquatic beings in the Eastern Sea prostrated themselves, trembling in fear.

Lu Chen was nearly suffocated by the dragon's might, but his mind raced.

What did Qiankun Ancestor mean? Was there a traitor within the Dragon Clan? It made sense. With the Three Clans locked in war, there had to be traitors within each clan. But how did the ancestor know—and why was he so certain?

Qiankun's phantom said leisurely, "Fellow Daoist Ancestral Dragon, the restrictions on your Dragon Clan Treasure Vault were personally set by you. No one without Dragon Clan blood can enter, correct?"

"Correct," Ancestral Dragon replied, his voice rumbling like thunder.

"Then look at this young man." The phantom pointed at Lu Chen. "Is he a member of the Dragon Clan?"

Ancestral Dragon swept him with his Divine Sense and snorted. "A lowly Human Clan ant, merely disguising himself with a drop of essence blood."

"Then that is strange." The phantom smiled faintly. "How did a human who isn't part of the Dragon Clan enter the third level and steal the treasure just before your Third Prince arrived?"

Ancestral Dragon's whiskers trembled slightly, and a thoughtful look passed through his eyes.

"You mean..."

"This old man hasn't said anything." The phantom waved a hand. "I'm only reminding you to investigate the whole matter. Killing this young man would be easy, but if the true thief is still inside the Dragon Clan, next time you lose something, it may be more than the Sea Calming Divine Pearl."

The words cut deep.

Ancestral Dragon's expression darkened.

Of course he had suspected a traitor within his ranks. The vault's restrictions were intact, the guards had noticed nothing amiss, and the Third Prince had arrived at just the right moment... It was all too convenient.

If an insider really had conspired with an outsider, the implications were serious. Anyone with access to the third level of the vault had to be a core Dragon Clan elder at the very least!

"Speak! Who are your accomplices?" Ancestral Dragon's might pressed down on Lu Chen even harder.

Lu Chen nearly spat blood, but gritted his teeth and held on. "This junior... This junior was only being used!"

His mind worked at lightning speed as he started making up a story. "Half a month ago, a senior in a black robe found me. He gave me Ancestral Dragon Essence Blood and a restriction-breaking talisman, and told me to go to the Dragon Palace and retrieve a few things. He promised me thirty percent afterward... I was greedy, so I agreed."

"A man in a black robe? What did he look like?" Ancestral Dragon pressed.

"I couldn't see his face, but he wore a token at his waist engraved with... with a Kirin stepping on clouds!" Lu Chen fabricated without hesitation.

"The Kirin Clan?!" Ancestral Dragon roared in fury, then quickly regained his composure. "No. The Kirin Clan couldn't possibly have Dragon Clan blood."

"Precisely." Qiankun's phantom interjected at just the right moment. "There is something suspicious about this matter, and it needs to be investigated thoroughly. Why not let this young man stay in my custody for now? Once you've uncovered the truth, you can decide what to do with him."

Ancestral Dragon fell silent.

He certainly wanted to slap Lu Chen to death. But although Qiankun Ancestor had perished, his influence remained, and he had been on good terms with many powerful figures. More importantly, the fact that this phantom could manifest out of nowhere meant Qiankun had left something in reserve. It would be unwise to fall out with him.

"Fine." Ancestral Dragon finally nodded. "But if it turns out this young man was the mastermind, you will give me an explanation."

"Of course." The phantom smiled.

The dragon's might faded, and the seawater began to flow again.

Lu Chen felt his whole body grow lighter and nearly collapsed.

Qiankun's phantom swept him up, transformed into a streak of light, and vanished into the distance in an instant.

In a cave on a deserted island deep in the Eastern Sea.

The phantom set Lu Chen down. Its form had grown much fainter.

"Young man, this remnant of mine can only last another incense stick's worth of time," the phantom said. "You've got quite the nerve, raiding the Dragon Clan Treasure Vault."

Lu Chen hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Ancestor, for saving my life!"

"No need to thank me. Since you received my inheritance, you can be considered half my disciple." The phantom waved a hand. "But after today, I won't be able to protect you anymore. Ancestral Dragon was only bluffed for now. Sooner or later, he'll uncover the truth."

"This junior understands." Lu Chen smiled wryly.

"Still, your performance today impressed me." The phantom studied him. "You kept your head in a crisis, reacted quickly, and even kept something in reserve—you didn't take all the treasures, did you?"

"I left thirty percent," Lu Chen admitted honestly.

"Clever." The phantom nodded. "Remember: leave some room in everything you do. It gives you a way out—and leaves others guessing."

Lu Chen listened respectfully.

"Enough. There isn't much time." The phantom grew serious. "What do you plan to do next?"

"This junior wants to go to the Phoenix Clan's territory." Lu Chen made no secret of it. "With the Three Clans at war, it's the perfect time to fish in troubled waters."

"The Phoenix Clan..." The phantom mused. "Buzhou Mountain is Yuanfeng's lair, and its restrictions are even stricter than those at the Dragon Palace. But if you have this, you may have a chance."

He pointed, sending a stream of information into Lu Chen's mind.

[Method for Breaking the Nirvana Restrictions · Qiankun's Deduction]

[Weakness: On each full moon, the Nirvana Divine Fire subsides to nourish the Phoenix Eggs. The guards are weakest in the central area at that time.]

[Suggestion: Disguise yourself as a member of the Phoenix Clan and steal the highest-quality Phoenix Egg.]

Lu Chen's eyes lit up.

Steal an egg! That was much safer than breaking into a treasure vault. Once it hatched, the phoenix would recognize him as its master—an elite spirit pet and mount!

"But be careful," the phantom warned. "Phoenix Eggs are divided into three grades: Mortal Phoenix, Spirit Phoenix, and Heavenly Phoenix. A Heavenly Phoenix Egg appears only once in ten thousand years. If it has Golden Crow blood, it's a treasure among treasures."

Golden Crow blood?

Lu Chen's heart jolted.

The ten princes of the future Demon Clan Heavenly Court were Three-legged Golden Crows, born of the Solar Star. But in the early days of the Primordial World, the Golden Crows seemed to have some connection to the Phoenix Clan...

"This junior will remember," he said solemnly.

The phantom nodded, its form beginning to fade.

"One last warning: the great tribulation has begun, and killing is rampant. You carry Merit, so don't involve yourself in too much karma. Otherwise, when disaster comes, no one will be able to save you."

With those words, the phantom disappeared completely.

The cave fell silent once more.

Lu Chen was quiet for a moment, then bowed three times toward the spot where the phantom had vanished.

"Rest assured, Ancestor. This junior will... do his best."

He meditated for three days until he had recovered completely, then set off for Buzhou Mountain.

Buzhou Mountain lay in the southern part of the Primordial World. It erupted year-round, with flames raging like a sea. Any ordinary cultivator who came within a hundred miles would be reduced to ashes.

Protected by Zhurong Essence Blood and the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner, Lu Chen could just barely withstand the flames at the outskirts.

Following Qiankun Ancestor's instructions, he found a concealed volcanic vent and slipped into an underground river of magma.

Deep within the magma river, a scarlet palace floated—the heart of the Phoenix Clan's territory, Nirvana Hall!

Eight Phoenix guards stood outside. Each was a Golden Immortal, patrolling warily.

Lu Chen hid in the magma, concealing his presence as he waited.

Three days later, on the night of the full moon, the Nirvana Divine Fire in the center of Nirvana Hall began to draw inward, just as the phantom had predicted. It became a gentle halo that enveloped a certain area inside the hall.

The guards' attention was fixed on the halo as well. That was where the Phoenix Eggs were incubated!

"Here's my chance."

Lu Chen took out the Primordial Phoenix Tail Feather he'd previously swiped from Divine Phoenix, then pulled out a bottle of Phoenix Essence Blood obtained by refining her bloodline. He smeared it over himself.

The Ancestor Dragon Nine Transformations could turn him into a dragon. With a few modifications, he had created the Phoenix Transformation Art. It was crude, but paired with the Primordial Phoenix Tail Feather, it was good enough to disguise him as an ordinary phoenix.

"Vmmm—"

He transformed into a three-zhang-tall fire phoenix. His aura was indistinguishable from that of the Phoenix Clan as he flew toward Nirvana Hall in full view.

"Stop!" A guard blocked his way. "The Nirvana restricted area is off-limits tonight. Only elders may enter!"

Lu Chen mimicked the Phoenix Clan's haughty tone. "I am here by order of Lady Yuanfeng to inspect the incubation of the Heavenly Phoenix Egg."

As he spoke, he showed them the Primordial Phoenix Tail Feather. Though it had been plucked from its owner, its aura could not be faked.

The guards sensed Yuanfeng's aura on the feather and immediately grew respectful. "So you're Lady Yuanfeng's special envoy. Please, come in."

He had made it through!

Lu Chen entered Nirvana Hall.

The temperature inside was scorching. At the center stood a crimson jade platform, above which floated nine Phoenix Eggs.

They were arranged in three tiers: six red eggs on the bottom, Mortal Phoenix Eggs; two purplish-red eggs in the middle, Spirit Phoenix Eggs; and a single golden-red egg at the very top, its surface marked with sun patterns!

A Heavenly Phoenix Egg! And it had Golden Crow blood!

Lu Chen's heart raced.

But he didn't act right away. The jade platform was guarded by the Nirvana Divine Fire. Though it had subsided, any touch would wake it.

He watched carefully and noticed a subtle pattern in the fire's flow. Every nine breaths, there was a brief gap in its pulse, lasting one-tenth of a breath.

"One-tenth of a breath. That's enough to take the one on top."

He timed it carefully. At the moment the fire pulsed, the Qiankun Diagram unfurled and swept toward the Heavenly Phoenix Egg.

Success!

But just as the Heavenly Phoenix Egg was taken—

"Crack..."

One of the Spirit Phoenix Eggs in the middle tier suddenly split open.

A damp little head emerged and gazed at Lu Chen in a daze.

"Chirp?"

Lu Chen: "..."

Little Phoenix: "Chirp, chirp?"

Their eyes met.

The next second, the little phoenix opened its beak and shrieked:

"Thief! Someone's stealing the eggs—!!!"

Its piercing cry rang through all of Nirvana Hall!

"Damn it!"

Lu Chen's scalp prickled. He swept the Qiankun Diagram out and scooped up the remaining two Spirit Phoenix Eggs and three of the Mortal Phoenix Eggs. Since he'd been exposed, he might as well take as many as he could!

"Enemy attack—!"

The guards rushed in. Seeing the empty jade platform, their eyes went bloodshot.

"Stop him!"

The eight Golden Immortal phoenixes joined forces, and the Nirvana Divine Fire turned into a net that descended over him.

Lu Chen used the Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner to protect himself, forced his way through the net, and swung the Black Brick repeatedly.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Three guards were sent flying, but more Phoenix Clan experts surged in from every direction.

A Great Luo aura descended!

"Little thief, you'll pay with your life!" With a cry, a thousand-zhang fire phoenix swooped down, its claws tearing through the void.

A personal guard of Yuanfeng's—a Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and burned all the remaining Phoenix Essence Blood. His speed surged as he raced toward the volcanic vent.

"After him! Activate the Buzhou Mountain grand formation!"

The entire Buzhou Mountain came alive.

Countless volcanoes erupted at once. Magma cascaded upward like waterfalls, and clouds of fire covered the sky. A primordial grand formation spanning ten thousand miles activated, sealing off every escape route.

Lu Chen was trapped in the middle of the sea of fire, surrounded by Phoenix Clan experts on every side.

There was no way out!

He looked at the Heavenly Phoenix Egg in his arms, gritted his teeth, and dripped a single drop of Three Lights Divine Water onto its shell.

"Little one, you're my only hope!"

"Vmmm—"

Brilliant golden light burst from the Heavenly Phoenix Egg. Its shell cracked, and a golden fledgling, no bigger than his palm, emerged.

Three golden feathers sprouted from its crown, and it had three legs—part Three-legged Golden Crow, part phoenix!

The little creature opened its eyes. The first thing it saw was Lu Chen, and it rubbed against his hand affectionately.

Then it looked at the sea of fire overhead, seemingly displeased.

"Chirp—"

A soft cry rang out.

Every flame on Buzhou Mountain came to a halt!

Even the Great Luo phoenix moved a hundred times slower!

Time had stopped?!

Lu Chen had no time to be shocked. He snatched up Little Golden Phoenix, broke through the sea of fire, and escaped into the void.

Behind him came Yuanfeng's furious shriek:

"You stole my Heavenly Phoenix, you snatched my divine egg! Lu Chen of the Human Clan, I will kill you!!!"

Lu Chen escaped Buzhou Mountain, but Little Golden Phoenix fell asleep in his arms, as if that one cry had drained all its strength.

Worse still, the Primordial Phoenix Tail Feather on him suddenly burst into flames and turned into a brand that embedded itself in his body—[Phoenix Clan Eternal Kill Order]!

At the same time, a streak of purple light stretched thirty thousand miles across the eastern sky, and a bell rang throughout the Primordial World: Dao Ancestor Hongjun was about to lecture on the Great Dao of Hunyuan at Jade Capital Mountain! The three-thousand-year appointment had arrived!