Mutual Benefit

Yuanfeng's voice carried a trace of bitterness and wariness. "I have already sworn to retire from the world, and the Phoenix Clan no longer has any ambition to contend for supremacy. If you have come here today to seek revenge, then even if I must make Undying Volcano erupt completely, I will drag you down with me!"

"Fellow Daoist Yuanfeng, you misunderstand."

Dijiang smiled faintly and withdrew the Spatial Imprisonment he had placed on the Phoenix Clan elders.

"We did not come today to seek revenge, but to make a deal with you."

"A deal?" Yuanfeng sneered. "In my current state, what do I have left to trade with you?"

"You have used your own body to suppress the earthfire and preserve the Phoenix Clan, but the earthfire's upheaval and the backlash of karmic fire cannot be pleasant, can they?"

With a single sentence, Dijiang exposed Yuanfeng's predicament.

Yuanfeng fell silent.

Dijiang was right. Although she had sworn to suppress Undying Volcano, the earthfire's violent nature had far exceeded her expectations.

Every day, she endured the agony of blazing flames searing her heart. Not only could her cultivation not advance, it was even continuously declining.

"You... have a solution?" A trace of hope finally appeared in Yuanfeng's voice.

"Of course."

Dijiang pointed at Zhu Rong and Houtu beside him. "My younger brother and sister here, one controls the Flame Law and the other controls the Earth Law. If they take action, they can surely help you regulate the earthfire and ease your burden."

"What are your conditions?" Yuanfeng was no fool. There was no such thing as a free lunch.

"Very simple."

A sharp glint flashed through Dijiang's eyes. "I want one Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure containing the Flame Dao, along with three High-Grade Spirit Treasures and two High-Grade spiritual roots."

"This..."

Yuanfeng hesitated. She herself was trapped within Undying Volcano. Although she was confident that she could drive Dijiang and the others back, simply driving them away would solve nothing. Every one of them was a Primordial Origin Golden Immortal. She might be able to protect the Phoenix Clan for a time, but not forever. Reaching the Peak Primordial Golden Immortal realm was only a matter of time for Dijiang and the others. If they truly fought to mutual destruction, it would not be worth it, even for a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure. Besides...

"I can agree to your demands, Fellow Daoists, but I have one additional request. If you agree to it, then even if you do not help suppress the earthfire, I am still willing to offer everything you want with both hands."

"Please speak, Fellow Daoist Yuanfeng."

Dijiang raised his brow slightly. Naturally, the best outcome would be obtaining what he wanted without lifting a finger. Of course, that depended on whether Yuanfeng's condition was reasonable. If it was truly too harsh, Dijiang would not hesitate to act.

"If disaster should befall the Phoenix Clan in the future, I hope that, in consideration of today, you will show the Phoenix Clan some care."

Yuanfeng knew full well that her cultivation was weakening day by day beneath the burning of karmic fire, and that she could not protect the Phoenix Clan forever. Thus, she wanted to use this opportunity to establish a connection with Dijiang, offering Spirit Treasures as a favor in exchange for his promise.

"Fine, I agree."

Dijiang nodded immediately without the slightest hesitation.

One promise in exchange for a Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, three High-Grade Spirit Treasures, and two High-Grade spiritual roots—no matter how he calculated it, this deal was not a loss.

As for the Phoenix Clan facing trouble in the future?

With all Twelve Ancestral Witches now possessing the strength of Primordial Origin Golden Immortals, along with the foundation of Pangu Hall, who in this Primordial World could make them wary, unless Hongjun personally intervened after becoming a saint?

"Fellow Daoist, you are straightforward."

From deep within the volcano, relief seeped into Yuanfeng's voice.

"Vermilion Bird, take them to the treasury. Let them choose as they please."

"Yes, Clan Leader."

A crimson streak of light flew out from the depths of Undying Volcano, transforming into a woman clad in crimson feathered battle armor, her features valiant and imposing.

She was Vermilion Bird, the Phoenix Clan's current second-in-command, also an early Primordial Origin Golden Immortal.

Vermilion Bird cast Dijiang and the others a complicated glance.

"Everyone, please follow me."

Dijiang led the eleven Ancestral Witches and swaggered after Vermilion Bird into the interior of Undying Volcano.

The Phoenix Clan treasury was hidden within an independent space at the very core of Undying Volcano, surrounded by dense layers of Innate restrictions.

But before Dijiang's Space Law, those restrictions were no different from mere decoration.

Rumble—

The treasury doors slowly opened, and dense Innate spiritual energy mingled with the radiance of countless treasures, rushing toward them in an instant.

Hiss—

Even the Twelve Ancestral Witches, who had seen countless treasures, could not help drawing a sharp breath.

As expected of the former overlord who had ruled Birdkind throughout the Primordial World!

The treasures stored in this treasury could only be described as piled up like mountains.

Countless Innate spiritual roots, divine gold ores, and rare treasures gleaming in every color dazzled the eye.

"Everyone, the Clan Leader has made the terms clear: one Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, three High-Grade Spirit Treasures, and two High-Grade spiritual roots. Please proceed." Vermilion Bird spoke coldly.

Dijiang nodded faintly and swept his gaze across the treasury.

Very soon, his eyes settled upon a jade platform in the center of the treasury, carved from ten-thousand-year warm jade.

Above the platform floated an ancient palace lamp emitting nine-colored divine flames.

"A Supreme-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp!"

Dijiang recognized its origin at a glance.

The Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp was one of the Three Lamps of Heaven, Earth, and Man. It contained the Tushita Divine Flame, capable of burning the heavens and boiling the seas. It was practically a perfect match for Zhu Rong's Southern Bright Flame.

"Zhu Rong, the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp is yours." With a wave of his hand, Dijiang drew the Eight-Scenery Palace Lamp into his grasp and handed it to Zhu Rong.

"Hahaha! Thank you, Big Brother!"

Zhu Rong excitedly accepted the palace lamp and fondly turned it over in his hands.

He could sense that once he fully refined this palace lamp, his strength would undergo a tremendous transformation.

Afterward, Dijiang carefully searched through the treasury once more.

He selected a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Wind-Calming Pearl, for Tian Wu; a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Myriad Poisons Banner, for She Bishi; and a High-Grade Innate Spirit Treasure, the Divine Thunder Hammer, for Xi Zi.

As for the two High-Grade spiritual roots, Dijiang chose an Innate Fire-Date Tree and a branch of Parasol Tree Wood, intending to bring them back to Pangu Hall for planting.

"Fellow Daoist Vermilion Bird, we have finished choosing."

Dijiang put away the selected treasures and cupped his hands slightly toward Vermilion Bird.

Seeing that every item Dijiang had chosen was a supreme treasure, Vermilion Bird's heart ached so badly that it twitched. "Since you have finished choosing, please fulfill your promise and help the Clan Leader regulate the earthfire."

"Of course."

Dijiang turned to Zhu Rong and Houtu. "You two, go."

"Yes, Big Brother!"

Zhu Rong and Houtu accepted the order. With a flash, they vanished directly into the deepest part of Undying Volcano.

Boom!

The moment they entered the earthfire core, a terrifying heat capable of instantly incinerating a Taiyi Golden Immortal swept toward them.

But Zhu Rong and Houtu were both Primordial Origin Golden Immortals and controlled the origin laws of fire and earth. Such heat was no more than a gentle breeze brushing their faces.

"Houtu, you suppress the earth veins. I'll regulate this violent fire energy!"

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