The Phoenix is Born

The deeper he ventured, the lower the temperature dropped, and the visibility dimmed accordingly.

"I keep feeling like something is watching me from all sides."

Ye Lin muttered to himself as he walked. After about ten minutes, he finally reached the deepest part of the valley.

Before him stood a massive round table. In the center of the table sat a wooden box, and perched atop it was a Demon Scorpion at the ninth level of the Qi Refining realm.

Scattered around the area were eight other Demon Scorpions, also at the ninth level of the Qi Refining realm.

"I have collected four Demon Scorpion stingers so far; I still need six more."

Ye Lin checked his Spatial Ring, whispered to himself, and raised his sword.

"Life from One Sword, slash."

The next moment, a fiery red streak of Sword Qi sliced the ninth-level Demon Scorpion on the table in two. The massive commotion instantly roused the surrounding scorpions.

They lumbered toward Ye Lin, their colossal bodies exuding an overwhelming sense of oppression.

Ye Lin lunged toward the round table, snatched the small box, tucked it into his Spatial Ring, and rolled to the back of the table.

"Life from One Sword, slash."

Ye Lin roared, unleashing five consecutive strikes of Sword Qi. Enhanced by his Mystic Grade High-Tier Longsword and Phoenix Fire, these attacks were impossible for the naturally defense-weak scorpions to withstand.

Under the barrage of Sword Qi, the five scorpions were cleaved in two. After collecting their stingers, Ye Lin activated Demon Shadow No Trace and bolted toward the exit of Demon Scorpion Valley.

The disturbance had been too great; he could clearly sense countless auras surging toward his position. If he were surrounded, he would be as good as dead once his spiritual energy was exhausted.

The escape was fraught with peril but successful. Ye Lin burst out of Demon Scorpion Valley and sprinted into the dense forest ahead. Behind him, the countless remaining scorpions could only hiss in frustration as they watched him disappear.

They dared not leave the valley; their survival depended on their unity, and venturing out alone would mean certain death.

"Phew, this Demon Scorpion Valley is truly dangerous. If it were night, even a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Realm wouldn't dare guarantee they could make it out alive."

Ye Lin leaned against a large tree, sighing. The moment he had rushed out of the valley, he had sensed no fewer than twenty auras at the ninth level of the Qi Refining realm.

It was utterly absurd.

"Now, it's time to head to Saint King Valley. Though, if I recall correctly, it lies deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains."

Ye Lin muttered a few words, recovered the spiritual energy he had expended, and set off toward Saint King Valley.

Saint King Valley, located deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, was extremely perilous. Even for Ye Lin, every step had to be taken with the utmost caution.

Unlike Demon Scorpion Valley, Saint King Valley was vast. As Ye Lin traveled, he spotted three separate Foundation Establishment beasts, though none of them detected him.

"These Hundred Thousand Mountains are far too dangerous. I must press on as quickly as possible."

Upon reaching Saint King Valley, Ye Lin accelerated. Suddenly, the sound of explosions echoed from the distance.

Puzzled, Ye Lin crept forward stealthily. Reaching the cover of a stone wall, he peered ahead to see three figures surrounding a Foundation Establishment beast.

"Heavenly Sword Sect? What are disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect doing in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, which fall under the jurisdiction of the Azure Cloud Sect?"

Watching the battle, Ye Lin muttered to himself. The Hundred Thousand Mountains were the territory of the Azure Cloud Sect; the Heavenly Sword Sect had no right to interfere. But now...

The next moment, Ye Lin turned and fled. All three figures were at the Foundation Establishment Realm; the consequences of being discovered would be unthinkable.

Ye Lin proceeded through the valley without further obstruction. The ongoing battle had drawn away the beasts that usually occupied the area, allowing him to reach his destination unimpeded.

He arrived before a wall and pressed his hand against it, exerting a slight force. The wall collapsed, revealing a hidden cave dwelling.

Ye Lin felt a surge of joy and stepped inside. In the center of the chamber sat a skeleton, and beside it lay a dusty yellow bag.

Ye Lin stepped forward and picked up the bag. A brief probe confirmed it: a Beast Taming Bag, just as he had hoped.

Inside was a square space, ten meters long and ten meters wide—immensely vast.

After tucking the Beast Taming Bag into his Spatial Ring, Ye Lin bowed to the skeleton.

"Senior, please forgive this intrusion."

With that, Ye Lin stood up and dashed back toward the outside world.

The journey back was uneventful, and Ye Lin arrived safely at the Azure Cloud Sect, heading straight for his living quarters.

Once inside, he locked the door and took out a shovel to unearth the Phoenix Egg.

"Little one, don't let me down."

Ye Lin murmured, then produced a Demon Cloud Fruit and some medicinal herbs. He placed the Demon Cloud Fruit onto the Phoenix Egg, and in the next instant, the entire fruit was absorbed.

Ye Lin opened the wooden box he had retrieved. Inside lay a piece of wood that, based on its aura alone, was extraordinary.

As he placed the wood onto the Phoenix Egg, the entire piece crumbled into powder and fused into the shell.

The life force within the Phoenix Egg grew increasingly potent.

"Still not enough? It seems I require a treasure like a Mystic Grade spiritual fruit."

Ye Lin felt a twinge of shame. The value of the treasures he had fed this little one would make even a Golden Core cultivator green with envy.

Crack.

Just as Ye Lin turned away, a faint sound reached his ears. He whipped his head around to see fiery red flames circulating through the mysterious patterns on the surface of the Phoenix Egg.

The cracks on the shell were spreading rapidly.

Crack.

Another sound echoed, and the next moment, the entire eggshell shattered. Lying in the center of the shards was a chubby, fire-red chick.

"Is this a phoenix? Why does it look so much like a chicken?"

Ye Lin stared at the fire-red phoenix in the center of the shell, feeling rather puzzled. Why was it so fat? Could there have been a mistake?

"Ree, ree, ree."

At that moment, the Little Phoenix opened its eyes and flapped its wings toward Ye Lin, looking extremely excited.

The next instant, the Little Phoenix opened its mouth wide, devoured the eggshells until they were all gone, and then began circling around Ye Lin.

"As expected of a divine beast descendant; it possesses the cultivation of the peak Foundation Establishment stage the moment it is born."

Watching the Little Phoenix flap its tiny wings around him, Ye Lin couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

There was truly a reason why the divine beast clans were able to dominate the ancient era, an age where powerhouses emerged in droves.

"Since you're so red all over, I'll call you Little Red."

Ye Lin crouched down in front of the Little Phoenix and reached out to stroke its head. Not only did the Little Phoenix not refuse, but it also seemed to enjoy it immensely.

It knew in its heart that the human before it had saved its life. Divine beast clans did not easily acknowledge a master, for they were proud creatures, born with immense nobility that placed them above all other races.

However, once a divine beast acknowledged a master, it was for a lifetime. If its master fell in battle, the divine beast would never choose to live on in this world.

"Little Red, I need a drop of your blood now. Would that be alright?"

Ye Lin stroked Little Red's head, smiling warmly.

The next moment, as if it understood him, Little Red opened its tiny beak and spat out a drop of fire-red blood, with the image of a phoenix coiling around it.

As soon as the blood appeared, the surrounding space began to warp.

Immediately after, Little Red collapsed onto the ground, appearing extremely weak.

Ye Lin hurriedly tucked Little Red into his Beast Taming Bag, then turned his gaze to the drop of blood floating in the air.

He never imagined that he had only asked for a drop of blood, yet Little Red had actually given him a drop of its essence blood.

The essence blood of a divine beast was of immeasurable value. Little Red had just been born, and by giving him this drop, it had become incredibly weak.

This made him feel both affection and heartache.

"It seems Little Red has acknowledged me as its master."

Ye Lin felt a surge of joy. Divine beasts would not easily surrender their essence blood; it was clear that Little Red already viewed him as its master.

For a divine beast to acknowledge one as its master—this was something countless people could only dream of.