Phoenix Nirvana

"Is that Senior Phoenix?"

Deep in the Star Dou Great Forest, a stunning silver-haired beauty stared in astonishment at the blazing crimson-gold flames before her.

Gu Yuena wasn't sure. The aura of this mass of flames was very similar to one she remembered.

Not long ago, the flames had fallen from the sky, crashing straight into the Star Dou Great Forest!

Even she had been startled!

"My lord, is that really the Phoenix God-King?"

Di Tian, standing nearby in a black robe embroidered with gold stripes, asked respectfully.

The Phoenix God-King he spoke of had been one of the only two Supreme God Kings of the Soul Beast Clan! A lord of the Soul Beasts who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Dragon God!

The Phoenix God-King was nothing like that insignificant Second-Level God who had stolen the title in this day and age.

"Perhaps..."

Gu Yuena kept it brief. She wasn't sure either, but she hoped it was true!

After all, in the scraps of inherited memories she possessed, the Phoenix God-King and the Dragon God had gotten along rather well!

Right now, she desperately needed the Phoenix God-King's help!

"My lord, the flames seem to be weakening?"

Xiong Jun rumbled, pointing at the flames as they gradually dimmed.

"The Phoenix God-King was most skilled with fire, though I don't know what happened..."

Gu Yuena's gaze darkened. With a wave of her hand, she summoned a large white worm.

Before the worm could say a word, Gu Yuena casually tossed it into the flames.

"Ah..."

A feeble scream rang out, and a translucent silver-white Soul Ring appeared above the flames.

But then!

As the flames suddenly flared up after gaining fuel,

even the Soul Ring crackled as it burned!

"Wah~ wah~"

"Does that sound coming from the flames... seem like crying?"

Bi Ji focused. She thought she heard a baby crying.

"Mm..."

Gu Yuena groaned, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth!

With a wave of her hand, she flung a burst of seven-colored divine power toward the flames!

If energy worked on this mass of fire, she certainly wouldn't hold back!

If the one inside really was the Phoenix God, who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the Dragon God, then to bring the Phoenix God out,

she'd be willing to throw even Di Tian into the flames!

(Di Tian: ???)

"Everyone, attack together! It should help, even if only a little!"

Gu Yuena shouted. As she summoned her divine power, the Asura Divine Power rampaging through her body made her groan again!

"Yes, my lord!"

The Ferocious Beasts answered in unison and sent their Soul Power toward the flames!

Screee!

As the Soul Beasts released their Soul Power, a clear cry rang out!

Along with that cry,

the Million-Year Soul Ring, the seven-colored divine power, and the Soul Power of the beasts, each a different hue, were swallowed up in an instant by the surging golden-red flames!

Then!

With a bang, the flames vanished completely!

All that remained was a child who looked about one year old!

A few white hairs stood atop his head, but a faint trace of black could be seen along their edges. His eyes were crimson.

The only thing he wore was a diaper wrapped around his bottom.

"Hungry! Hungry!"

Fu Xi waved his little hands, his lively eyes fixed on the silver-haired woman above him.

"My lord?"

Di Tian stared at the nearly bald child, at a loss for words. Had they gone to all that trouble just to make a human baby?

"Di Tian, he was able to absorb our Soul Power and divine power. How can you simply treat him as a human child?"

Gu Yuena shook her pale face and, moved by sudden inspiration, held out a finger. Little Fu Xi grabbed it tightly with one of his waving hands.

"Hungry!"

Fu Xi babbled incomprehensibly as he grabbed the finger and shoved it into his mouth.

"Are you hungry..."

Feeling his finger enveloped by the child's warm mouth, a look of understanding flashed through Gu Yuena's eyes.

"Human Phoenix Martial Souls always have the ability to undergo Nirvana. Perhaps... it comes from the Phoenix God-King?"

Bi Ji offered thoughtfully.

When she'd seen the flames turn into a child, the word "Nirvana" had inexplicably surfaced in her mind.

And... she felt an inexplicable urge to prostrate herself before the child.

"Indeed. According to my inherited memories, the Phoenix God-King did possess the ability to undergo Nirvana."

Gu Yuena said it without batting an eye.

As if she had any inherited memories to begin with! She was lucky she even remembered a Phoenix God-King who played with fire!

"Then who could have beaten the revered God King into this state?"

Di Tian lowered his head and looked at little Fu Xi, nestled in Gu Yuena's arms and absorbed in sucking on his finger.

Even his Dragon God hadn't been beaten this badly!

Di Tian was ninety percent certain that the Phoenix God-King had absolutely no memories of who he'd once been!

"The Soul Beast Clan has endured many calamities. But with the Phoenix God-King's help in the future, we may yet be able to counterattack the Divine Realm."

Gu Yuena drew a deep breath.

Honestly, she didn't have much confidence in counterattacking the Divine Realm herself. But with the possible addition of the Phoenix God-King after his Nirvana, her confidence had soared!

"Bi Ji, find him some milk. For now, we'll treat him like a child."

Gu Yuena looked at Bi Ji and began issuing orders.

Since the Phoenix God-King had chosen to take this form, it was best not to interfere.

"My lord, should we give him a name?"

Bi Ji asked curiously. They couldn't just keep calling him Phoenix.

"Let's wait until he's grown up to decide on a name. It shouldn't be up to us to choose one for him."

"For now..."

Gu Yuena looked at Fu Xi's clear, bright eyes and was quite sure this child was innocent to the point of having no brains.

"Until his memories return, let's call him Little Phoenix."

Gu Yuena made the decision!

Honestly, she'd feel a bit awkward calling a child something like "Your Majesty, God King"~

Five years later...

"Little Fu Xi, it's time to awaken your Martial Soul~"

On the shore near the Lake of Life, a gentle woman in a green dress smiled as she spoke to the water.

Suddenly, a handsome little white-haired boy popped his head out of the lake!

He mischievously spat a mouthful of lake water at Bi Ji.

"All right, all right, stop playing. Come on out. By human standards, you're old enough to awaken your Martial Soul~"

Bi Ji helplessly wiped the water stains from her skirt, then grabbed the black edge at the very tip of Fu Xi's hair.

Then she gave it a hard tug!

Fu Xi's exceptionally sturdy hair hauled him onto the shore.

"How strange. Little Fu Xi clearly has a fire attribute, so why does he always like going to the Lake of Life?"

Bi Ji couldn't make heads or tails of it.

"I don't like cold water... warm water... smooth and comfy."

Fu Xi shook his head and rubbed his hair.

"Little Fu Xi sure is hardy..."

Bi Ji's mouth twitched. He was probably the only one who found the Lake of Life warm at his age.

"How do I do it?"

Fu Xi tilted his head and looked at Bi Ji in confusion.

"Leave it to me. Little Fu Xi, don't move~"

Bi Ji smiled and led Fu Xi to sit on the ground, not at all worried about dirtying her skirt.

Then Bi Ji circulated her Soul Power and guided Fu Xi through his Martial Soul Awakening.