Kong Xuan

Within the parasol tree grove, demonic aura surged into the sky. The man at the forefront wore a crimson-feathered cloak and stood in midair, phantom fire crows circling around him. Several demon soldiers behind him each held a demon banner, surrounding the half-destroyed stone platform.

This demon was named Yu Chi. His true form was a crimson-feathered fire crow. In his early years, a wisp of fire essence from the Sun Star had granted him intelligence. Later, he pledged himself to the Demon Court, and Di Jun appointed him a demon marshal, specifically responsible for recruiting avian clans.

The aura of a Taiyi Golden Immortal descended, making the faces of many Phoenix Clan remnants in the parasol tree grove turn several shades paler.

Although the Phoenix Clan had once ruled over all birds of the world, after the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, most Phoenix Clan experts retreated into Southern Brightness Volcano, suppressing the volcanoes to cleanse themselves of endless karmic sin. The remnants who remained outside had long lost their former glory.

Yu Chi looked down from above at Kong Xuan, who stood atop the damaged stone platform, and said, "Kong Xuan, the Demon Emperor has decreed that all birds within the Primordial World must enter the Demon Court. If your Phoenix Clan is willing to submit to the Demon Court, the Demon Emperor will naturally find you a place to settle."

As his words fell, the pressure of a Taiyi Golden Immortal spread outward.

The Phoenix Clan members beside the stone platform were forced directly to their knees by that pressure.

"The Phoenix Clan will not enter the Demon Court!" Kong Xuan gritted his teeth, forcibly straightened his back, and spoke word by word.

Hearing this, Yu Chi said coldly, "Do you think the Phoenix Clan is still the same Phoenix Clan that once ruled over all birds in the Primordial World? Since you refuse to recognize what is good for you, do not blame this marshal for showing no mercy."

With that, he waved a hand. Several demon generals behind him immediately raised a black demon banner. Engraved upon it was a Golden Crow spreading its wings. As the banner stirred, the fortune of the Demon Court pressed down upon the parasol tree grove.

At the same time, the demon soldiers behind him charged downward.

Five-Colored Divine Light suddenly flared behind Kong Xuan. A demon soldier approaching him had just unleashed a treasured blade when it was directly swept to the ground by the five-colored radiance.

But in the next moment, the fortune of the Demon Court crashed into him. Kong Xuan's chest tightened sharply, and a strand of black-red fiery karmic sin emerged from his shoulder.

Yu Chi sneered and said slowly, "So what if you possess Yuanfeng's bloodline? You bear the Phoenix Clan's endless karmic sin. No matter how powerful the Five-Colored Divine Light is, how many times do you dare use it? If you still refuse to submit today, this marshal will personally capture you and bring you to the Sun Star to meet the Demon Emperor."

Kong Xuan raised his head, five-colored radiance flowing through his eyes.

"You can try."

Yu Chi's expression turned completely cold. The aura of a Taiyi Golden Immortal came crashing down without restraint, while the demon banner behind him unfurled, sending black-red demon fire raining into the parasol tree grove.

At that moment, a deep blue sword light slashed in from outside the grove. The sword light was not vast, but it was so pure that it was nearly blinding.

The moment the black-red demon fire touched the sword light, it was as though it had been washed by clear water, instantly scattering for the most part.

Yu Chi saw this and abruptly looked toward the direction from which the sword light had flown.

"Who dares interfere in the affairs of my Demon Court?"

Outside the parasol tree grove, Xuan Heng walked forward at an unhurried pace. He did not deliberately release any pressure, yet Profound Pure Immortal Light flowed around him. The fiery karmic sin, demonic aura, and lingering aura of the old calamity within the ruined grove all silently retreated, unable to approach him.

When Yu Chi saw the newcomer, his pupils contracted. As a demon marshal of the Demon Court, he naturally recognized him.

A small cushion at Purple Cloud Palace, the Dao Ancestor's direct disciple, Kunlun's Fourth Pure One, Xuan Heng.

"Yu Chi of the Demon Race pays respects to Immortal Xuan Heng."

Xuan Heng glanced at him and said evenly, "Has the Demon Court now begun deciding the allegiance of every bird in the Primordial World? If they refuse to submit to your Demon Court today, are you going to start a massacre?"

Yu Chi's expression stiffened slightly at Xuan Heng's questioning. He forced himself to answer, "Immortal Xuan Heng misunderstands. The Phoenix Clan remnants are lonely and without support. The Demon Emperor remembers their former renown, so he sent me to invite the Phoenix Clan to the Demon Court."

Hearing Yu Chi's words, Kong Xuan snorted and said, "Heh, that was not what you said just now."

A flicker of fire flashed through Yu Chi's eyes, but he did not refute him.

Xuan Heng remained calm as he spoke again. "After the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity, most of the Phoenix Clan imprisoned themselves within Southern Brightness Volcano. It is true that your Demon Race wishes to recruit countless demons and expand its strength, but the Phoenix Clan—even the remnants before us—is entangled with the vast karmic sin of the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity. Do you truly think that a mere demon marshal like you can make such a decision for the Demon Court?"

At this point, Xuan Heng looked at Yu Chi and said with a smile, "I would guess you never received Fellow Daoist Di Jun's permission. You merely wish to recruit the Phoenix Clan and then claim credit before Fellow Daoist Di Jun."

Xuan Heng did not believe Di Jun would be foolish enough to absorb the Phoenix Clan into the Demon Court. The Phoenix Clan bore supreme karmic sin from the great calamity. Bringing them into the Heavenly Court would bring the Demon Court a hundred harms and not a single benefit.

Yu Chi's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. Xuan Heng was right: he had indeed received no decree from Di Jun and had come here on his own to recruit the Phoenix Clan.

Still, he forced himself to ask, "Is Immortal Xuan Heng intending to stand up for the Phoenix Clan?"

Xuan Heng chuckled. "I am merely reminding you. If the Phoenix Clan willingly enters the Demon Court, naturally no one has anything to say. But if the Demon Court forcibly pressures the Phoenix Clan remnants, then when karmic sin backlash strikes, I do not believe Fellow Daoist Di Jun will reward you."

Yu Chi lowered his head and cupped his hands. "I will bring Immortal's words back to the Demon Court."

Xuan Heng said, "Just bring them back."

Yu Chi put away the demon banner and gave Kong Xuan a long look.

"Kong Xuan, with Immortal Xuan Heng here today, this marshal will not pursue the matter with you. But the Demon Court's recruitment of avian clans will not happen only once."

"Hmph, no matter how many times you come, the answer will be the same!" Kong Xuan shouted at the departing Yu Chi.

After all the demons had left, an elderly woman emerged from the depths of the parasol tree grove and cupped her hands toward Xuan Heng. "Many thanks to Immortal Xuan Heng for saving us today."

The other Phoenix Clan members present also thanked Xuan Heng in succession.

Xuan Heng raised a hand to support them and said, "I was merely passing by today. It was only a small favor."

The elderly Phoenix Clan woman gave a bitter smile.

"To Immortal, it may have been a small favor, but to us, it was the grace of life and death."

Xuan Heng did not respond to that. Instead, he turned to Kong Xuan and asked, "Your name is Kong Xuan?"

Hearing Xuan Heng call him, Kong Xuan turned to look at him as well. The youth's gaze still carried pride as he answered, "Yes."

"That Five-Colored Divine Light just now—is it your innate divine ability?"

Hearing Xuan Heng's question, Kong Xuan did not hide it and nodded. "The qi of the five elements is naturally compatible with me."

"Mm. It is a fine divine ability, but unfortunately, you cannot control it yet."

Kong Xuan's expression changed slightly, and the Phoenix Clan members fell silent as well.

Kong Xuan pressed his lips together, clearly unconvinced, and said again, "I can already sweep down the treasured blades of Golden Immortal Realm demon generals."

Xuan Heng said, "The treasured blade of a Golden Immortal Realm demon is nothing remarkable. In the future, those who set their eyes on your Five-Colored Divine Light will be far more troublesome than these demon soldiers today."

Kong Xuan said nothing.

Xuan Heng continued, "From the moment you were born, you carried immense karmic sin. Every time you use the Five-Colored Divine Light, it draws upon the karmic sin within your body. Today, the strongest enemy was only a demon marshal at the Taiyi Golden Immortal Realm. If, in the future, mighty experts at the quasi-saint level—or even saint-level experts—attack you, how many of their attacks do you think you can sweep away?"

"You saw it?"

Kong Xuan's expression shifted slightly.

Xuan Heng said nothing. Raising a hand, he summoned the Purifying White Lotus. Purifying white light descended, and the strand of black-red fiery karmic sin on Kong Xuan's shoulder immediately revealed itself. It was like a thin chain wrapped around his origin.

The Phoenix Clan members' expressions changed when they saw this.

Kong Xuan himself was stunned. He only knew that whenever he used the Five-Colored Divine Light, fiery karmic sin within his body would backlash against him. He had never truly seen that karmic sin before.

Xuan Heng cleansed away the outermost strand of fiery karmic sin from Kong Xuan. It was not that he did not wish to help him, but this was all he could do. The karmic sin borne by the Phoenix Clan was not something a few streams of purifying light could erase.

Kong Xuan's shoulder relaxed, and his breathing immediately became much smoother.

He looked up at Xuan Heng. The pride in his eyes remained, but there was now a trace more shock.

"Can you help me dissolve the Phoenix Clan's old calamity?"

Xuan Heng shook his head. "No."

Kong Xuan frowned.

Xuan Heng said, "The karmic sin borne by the Phoenix Clan involves the Dragon-Phoenix Calamity and the karma of heaven and earth. If you wish to cleanse it all in a single day, you are dreaming."

Hearing this, Kong Xuan fell silent.

Xuan Heng looked at him, his voice softening slightly.

"But I can help you slowly suppress that karmic sin, and perhaps eventually remove the karmic sin weighing upon you."

Kong Xuan did not speak immediately.

After a long while, he finally asked, "Do you want to take me as your disciple?"