Fire Phoenix Scorches the Plains

"Haha, it truly is a supreme treasure of our Phoenix Clan!"

Fire Phoenix's voice rolled like thunder, his aura vast and majestic, carrying unquestionable authority.

His cultivation was higher than the Golden-Winged Great Peng's, having already reached the Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal. He was only one step away from entering the realm of the Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal.

Red Cloud's heart sank. The appearance of this Fire Phoenix meant that the Phoenix Clan had already learned of the Parasol Tree. The pursuit to come would only grow more frenzied.

Sure enough, the moment Fire Phoenix appeared, he opened his mouth and spat out a stream of crimson-gold flames.

The flames were unimaginably hot. Wherever they passed, even rock was instantly vaporized before turning into rolling magma.

Red Cloud did not dare receive it head-on. With a twist of his body, he shot diagonally out from underground and finally returned to the surface.

Facing the pincer attack of two Primordial Unity Golden Immortals, the Earth Escape Technique had lost its advantage of concealment.

Remaining underground instead restricted Red Cloud's movements.

"Bald Daoist, hand over the Parasol Tree!"

Fire Phoenix and the Golden-Winged Great Peng spoke at the same time.

Red Cloud stood atop a mountain peak, looking up at the two Primordial Unity Golden Immortals in the sky. His expression remained composed, and a cold smile curled at his lips. "You want the Parasol Tree? Then let's see whether you have the ability to take it."

Before his words had faded, golden light soared from Red Cloud's body. A powerful aura erupted as the phantom of the Illustrated Record of Literary Fortune appeared behind him. Countless golden characters flew forth, transforming into runes that protected his entire body.

Seeing Red Cloud's state, a trace of gravity flashed through Fire Phoenix's eyes. What a profound divine ability.

He could sense that this cultivator before him was no simple figure. Although his cultivation was only at the Early Primordial Unity Golden Immortal stage, his aura was incomparably deep and solid. He was certainly no ordinary man.

"Bald Daoist, state your name!"

Fire Phoenix shouted deeply. If Red Cloud was merely a Rogue Cultivator, then he would kill him and seize the treasure. If Red Cloud had some great figure behind him, then he would maim him badly before seizing the treasure.

Red Cloud did not answer Fire Phoenix. A divine sword appeared in his hand, its blade flowing with an icy blue radiance.

This was a divine sword formed from Ice Soul Essence. It took Ice Law as its blade, restraining flames of the utmost hardness and blazing yang nature.

Red Cloud had named it the Ice Soul Sword. Though its power was inferior to the Firecloud Banner, it was still a handy Dharma treasure.

Unlike the Firecloud Banner, the Ice Soul Sword was founded upon ice. Every sword ray within it contained Red Cloud's comprehension of Ice Law, fused with his understanding of swordsmanship.

"Since you refuse to speak, then I'll beat it out of you!"

Hearing Red Cloud's words, Fire Phoenix's expression darkened. With a beat of his wings, he launched the first attack.

Fire Phoenix's attacks were simple and violent. Opening his mouth, he unleashed a stream of crimson-gold Phoenix Truefire. The flames transformed into a phoenix that bared its fangs and brandished its claws as it pounced toward Red Cloud.

Phoenix Truefire was one of the Primordial World's supreme flames, said to be capable of burning all things to ash. It was rumored that even Zenith Heaven Golden Immortals did not dare touch Phoenix Truefire lightly.

Though Red Cloud's cultivation was not weak, he did not dare be careless before such flames. As he retreated explosively, he drew the Ice Soul Sword and fired out a curtain of sword light.

The sword curtain was formed from countless streaks of blue sword light.

Every streak contained bone-chilling power, slicing the incoming fire phoenix into countless fragments.

Yet Phoenix Truefire was simply too hot. The severed flames did not disperse. Instead, they transformed into a rain of fire that came pouring down from all directions.

Seeing this, Red Cloud's brows furrowed slightly, and his heart turned cold. Though he had anticipated it, he discovered at this moment that he had still underestimated the strength of a Peak Primordial Unity Golden Immortal.

This Fire Phoenix had clearly cultivated his signature ability, Phoenix Truefire, to an extremely high realm. The flames contained the power of law and were not so easily dealt with.

"Literary Dao divine ability, Heaven and Earth Righteous Energy!"

Red Cloud shouted in a low voice. The phantom of the Illustrated Record of Literary Fortune behind him suddenly bloomed with dazzling light. The righteous energy of heaven and earth gathered in, transforming into countless golden characters that formed an impenetrable barrier around Red Cloud.

The rain of fire fell upon the barrier with sizzling sounds, yet it could not pierce the protection of Heaven and Earth Righteous Energy.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng had not remained idle either. Taking advantage of the gap while Red Cloud resisted Fire Phoenix's attack, he flashed and appeared behind Red Cloud. His pair of golden wings slashed down like two heavenly blades, as though even the void had been cut apart.

This strike came swift and ruthless. The golden wings tore through the air with a piercing howl, while the gale they raised carved deep ravines into the earth.

Red Cloud had long been on guard against this move.

The instant the Golden-Winged Great Peng appeared, Red Cloud transformed into a streak of light and vanished from where he stood. Only an afterimage remained, cut in two by the golden wings.

"What swift escape arts!"

A flicker of surprise passed through the Great Peng's eyes.

The escape art Red Cloud cultivated was a divine ability that had been iterated through countless versions by the Illustrated Record of Literary Fortune: Firecloud Escape. When unleashed at full strength, it was no slower than the Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation.

The Golden Crow Rainbow Transformation was the innate divine ability of the Golden Crow Clan. In a single escape, it crossed one hundred and twenty thousand li. A Primordial Unity Golden Immortal could complete one escape in as little as 0.2 seconds. One hundred and twenty thousand li was sixty million meters, making a single escape equivalent to three hundred million meters per second.

That speed had already surpassed the speed of light.

In the Primordial World, the speed of light was the limit. To surpass it, one either had to comprehend Space Law or possess the cultivation of a Zenith Heaven Golden Immortal. Otherwise, one's speed could only approach the speed of light.

Though Red Cloud's Firecloud Escape could not cross one hundred and twenty thousand li in a single escape, it could still cross one hundred and eighteen thousand li.

That was also the confidence that had emboldened him to take the Parasol Tree. Even if he could not win, he could still flee. So long as he was fast enough, no one could catch him.

"Trying to run? Dream on!"

Sensing Red Cloud's intention to flee, Fire Phoenix sneered. His wings spread fiercely, flames scattering as an terrifying pressure erupted from his body.

Under this pressure, the void within several hundred thousand li seemed to freeze solid. Red Cloud's Firecloud Escape was heavily suppressed, and his speed plummeted.

Feeling the pressure upon his body and his mana being suppressed, Red Cloud's expression changed. This is bad. I never expected this Fire Phoenix to possess such a method.

They were both Primordial Unity Golden Immortals, yet Fire Phoenix's pressure could actually affect an opponent of the same realm. Red Cloud had never expected it. He had underestimated the people of the world.

The Phoenix Clan was indeed one of the Three Clans. The foundation within its ranks was not something other races or Rogue Cultivators could compare with.

A fierce glint flashed through Red Cloud's eyes. "Damn it. Since I can't run, I'll take care of one first!"

At this moment, Red Cloud knew he could not keep fleeing. If these two Phoenix Clan experts tied him down until more pursuers arrived, then even with wings, he would have no way to escape.

Rather than flee passively, it was better to take the initiative, deal with one first, and then find a way out.

With that thought, Red Cloud's gaze fell upon the Golden-Winged Great Peng. Compared with Fire Phoenix, the Golden-Winged Great Peng's cultivation was slightly weaker, only at the Mid Primordial Unity Golden Immortal stage.

Moreover, the Golden-Winged Great Peng excelled in speed, while his defenses were inferior to Fire Phoenix's. He was the best point of breakthrough.

Having changed his approach, Red Cloud hesitated no longer. With a turn of his body, he charged straight at the Golden-Winged Great Peng.

Seeing Red Cloud rush toward him, the Golden-Winged Great Peng was not alarmed but delighted, and he took the initiative to meet him.

In his eyes, Red Cloud was nothing more than an unknown nobody. How could he, a mighty general under the Phoenix Clan, possibly fear him?

"Hmph, courting death—Instant Feather Kill!"

In an instant, the Golden-Winged Great Peng beat his wings, and countless golden feathers shot forth like a torrential rain.