Phoenix Clan's Accusation, Crisis of the Frost Phoenix Lineage

After Ancestral Dragon's divine thought departed, Guixu enjoyed a brief period of peace.

Dragon-Suppressing Pass was still being reinforced.

Guixu Academy continued holding classes.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage gradually adapted to life in the outer city as well.

Feng Li began teaching the Frostflame Method at the Academy.

Frost Phoenix Frostflame differed from the ordinary divine fire of the Phoenix Clan.

The flame was cold on the outside and blazing within. It could freeze demonic baleful energy and temper water veins.

For a small realm like Guixu, where water aura was especially abundant, Frostflame was instead exceptionally suitable.

After attending her lectures, many aquatic cultivators gained a new understanding of Frostflame.

Feng Li was very quiet when she taught.

She did not like wasting words.

Yet her explanations were extremely precise.

She pointed out every place where one could easily suffer Frostflame backlash, where Northern Darkness Water Aura could be used to balance it, and where the Guixu Stillness Art was needed to suppress the fire in one's heart.

In just a few hundred years, there were far more disciples at Guixu Academy cultivating fire-and-cold methods.

Lu Chen was quite pleased by this.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage truly was useful.

After Guixu's five-element balance improved, the Guixu Womb Membrane became even more stable.

He even felt that if every member of the Phoenix Clan were as reasonable as Feng Li, that would be perfectly fine.

Unfortunately, reality soon shattered that thought.

On this day.

Beyond Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

Firelight from the south dyed the Northern Sea red.

A sheet of crimson divine feathers tore through the water.

Wherever it passed, Blackwater steamed and cold mist scattered.

The formation patterns of the Outer Gate of Dragon-Suppressing Pass immediately lit up.

Ao Lie raised his head and looked toward the southern flames.

"The Phoenix Clan."

Feng Li was teaching at Guixu Academy when she suddenly sensed a familiar aura, and her expression shifted slightly.

She looked toward Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

"Elder Zhu Yan."

Han Jue happened to be patrolling outside the Academy. Hearing this, he immediately came over.

"Here for you?"

Feng Li's expression turned faintly cold.

"He is here for the Frost Phoenix Lineage."

Beyond Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

An elderly man clad in a crimson-feathered robe stood upon flames.

His hair was fiery red, his pupils burned like flames, and behind him hovered the phantom of a crimson Phoenix.

He was Elder Zhu Yan of the Phoenix Clan.

Supreme Unity Golden Immortal Peak.

Though he had not entered the Great Principle realm, he controlled the Phoenix Clan's Southern Bright Fire Lineage and held great status among its branches.

He stared at Dragon-Suppressing Pass, his voice exploding like flames.

"Feng Li, bring out the Frost Phoenix Lineage."

"How can Phoenix Clan bloodlines be bound by the rules of outsiders?"

"Her Majesty Yuanfeng has yet to speak, yet you fled into Guixu. That is no different from deserting before battle."

"Today, by the order of the clan, this elder has come to bring the Frost Phoenix Lineage back south."

His voice carried into the outer city.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage immediately grew tense.

They had long known that the Phoenix Clan would send someone sooner or later.

They simply had not expected them to come so quickly.

Nor had they expected Zhu Yan to come.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage had never been on good terms with Zhu Yan's branch.

Zhu Yan's branch governed Southern Bright Fire. They were forceful by nature and looked down on Frost Phoenix Frostflame.

Within the Phoenix Clan, they had always advocated incorporating the Frost Phoenix Lineage into the southern fire-vein battlefield, using Frostflame to suppress the enemy's aquatic forces.

Put simply, they treated the Frost Phoenix as tools of war.

Feng Li walked out of the Academy.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage followed behind her.

They arrived atop Dragon-Suppressing Pass and looked at Zhu Yan.

"Elder Zhu Yan, the Frost Phoenix Lineage has already entered Guixu."

"Those who enter Guixu are protected by Guixu's rules."

Zhu Yan sneered.

"Guixu's rules?"

"Phoenix Clan bloodlines have Phoenix Clan rules."

"You think that hiding in Guixu lets you forget where you came from?"

Feng Li remained calm.

"The Frost Phoenix have not forgotten their Phoenix Clan origins."

"But the Frost Phoenix Lineage does not wish to become meaningless battlefield fodder."

The fire in Zhu Yan's eyes surged.

"Impudence!"

"Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin are contending. All races are caught in the tribulation."

"For Phoenix Clan bloodlines to fight for the Phoenix Clan is only natural."

Behind Feng Li, a young member of the Frost Phoenix Clan could not help speaking.

"But we have already been conscripted seven times in succession."

"More than half of the clan's young and strong have died or been wounded."

"We can barely preserve the young ones anymore."

Zhu Yan looked over coldly.

"What war does not claim lives?"

"Even more of the Phoenix Clan's main branch have died."

Feng Li stepped in front of that clanswoman.

"That is why the Frost Phoenix Lineage entered Guixu Calamity Evasion."

"I have been examined by the Book of Cause and Effect."

"Guixu has permitted my clan to stay temporarily."

"If Elder Zhu Yan wishes to take us away, then go ask the Mysterious Abyss Emperor."

Zhu Yan's gaze darkened.

"You are using the Black Tortoise to pressure me?"

Feng Li did not retreat.

"I am only speaking of Guixu's rules."

Atop Dragon-Suppressing Pass, Han Jue tightened his grip on his spear.

He had disliked Zhu Yan for quite some time already.

Ao Lie glanced at him.

"Do not be rash."

Han Jue frowned.

"It is strange hearing that come from you."

Ao Lie said blandly, "This is an internal matter of the Phoenix Clan. Let us first see how Feng Li handles it."

Lan Shuang also arrived atop the wall.

Holding the Book of Cause and Effect, she stood at Feng Li's side.

"Elder Zhu Yan, the Frost Phoenix Lineage entered Guixu and has already been examined by the Book of Cause and Effect."

"Their killing karma is not heavy, and they once protected weaker races."

"Under Guixu's rules, they may reside in the outer city temporarily."

Zhu Yan looked at Lan Shuang, his tone contemptuous.

"What are you, that you dare judge Phoenix Clan bloodlines?"

Lan Shuang's expression did not change.

"I oversee Guixu's Bureau of Cause and Effect."

"You have come outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass, so naturally you must abide by Guixu's rules."

Zhu Yan laughed in fury.

"What fine Guixu rules."

"This elder would like to see whether Dragon-Suppressing Pass can protect a traitorous branch of the Phoenix Clan."

As his words fell.

Zhu Yan raised a hand.

Southern Bright Fire transformed into a towering sea of flames that swept toward the cold mist outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

The sea of flames struck the cold mist, instantly turning vast stretches of it into steam.

Though Zhu Yan had not entered the Great Principle realm, Southern Bright Fire was exceptionally tyrannical.

The Outer Gate of Dragon-Suppressing Pass formation patterns rapidly lit up.

Ao Lie's Dragon eyes turned cold.

"You want war?"

But Feng Li stepped forward first.

"I will handle this."

A Frost Phoenix phantom appeared behind her.

Ice-blue Frostflame spread outward and collided with Southern Bright Fire beyond Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

Sizzle! Sizzle! Sizzle!

Fire and cold intertwined.

Vast amounts of Blackwater evaporated, only to be frozen again by frost.

Zhu Yan sneered.

"Feng Li, this elder watched your Frostflame grow."

"You think you can stop me?"

He spread his five fingers.

Southern Bright Fire transformed into a crimson Phoenix and slammed viciously into Feng Li.

Feng Li's face paled, and the Frost Phoenix phantom behind her was driven back dozens of yards.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage cried out in alarm.

"Elder Sister!"

Feng Li gritted her teeth and steadied herself.

Her Frostflame talent was extremely powerful, but her cultivation was ultimately lower than Zhu Yan's.

Zhu Yan was also an established Supreme Unity Golden Immortal Peak expert of the Phoenix Clan who had controlled Southern Bright Fire for many years.

In a direct clash, she was indeed at a disadvantage.

Han Jue could no longer hold himself back and was about to act.

But Lan Shuang raised a hand to stop him.

"Wait."

She looked into the depths of Guixu.

The Emperor had yet to act.

Or rather, the Emperor was waiting for Feng Li to overcome this trial herself.

If Feng Li wished to truly establish the Frost Phoenix Lineage in Guixu, she had to personally face the Phoenix Clan's accusation.

Lu Chen was watching as well.

He did not particularly want to interfere in the Phoenix Clan's internal conflict.

But Zhu Yan had already burned his way to the Outer Gate of Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

That meant he could not simply ignore it.

The system's voice sounded.

"Detected Phoenix Clan Zhu Yan accusing the Frost Phoenix Lineage. Please choose, Host."

"Option one: Personally suppress Zhu Yan and intimidate the Phoenix Clan. Reward: a wisp of Southern Bright Fire."

"Option two: Expel the Frost Phoenix Lineage and avoid Phoenix Clan karma. Reward: Fire-Repelling Pearl."

"Option three: Use the water aura of the Northern Darkness Sea to empower Feng Li's Frostflame, allowing the Frost Phoenix Lineage to prove its worthiness to stand in Guixu. Reward: Coldflame Wutong Seed."

Lu Chen chose option three.

Personally suppressing Zhu Yan could easily draw Yuanfeng here.

Driving out the Frost Phoenix Lineage would be too great a loss.

The third option was best.

Feng Li would win on her own; Guixu would merely grant her a little support.

"Choose the third."

"Congratulations, Host, for obtaining the Coldflame Wutong Seed."

Within the Northern Darkness Sea, a stream of deep-blue water aura rose.

The Black Tortoise Sea-Calming Pearl spun faintly.

That stream of water aura passed through the Guixu Womb Membrane and descended upon Feng Li.

Feng Li had originally been suppressed by the Southern Bright Fire, her frostflame on the verge of dispersing.

Yet the instant the Northern Darkness Water Aura entered her body, her frostflame suddenly became even deeper.

Amid the icy blue appeared a wisp of dark, mysterious black.

The phantom of the Frost Phoenix spread its wings once more.

This time, the frostflame did not clash head-on with the Southern Bright Fire.

Instead, it flowed along with the flames, freezing, entwining, and devouring them bit by bit.

Zhu Yan's expression changed.

"Northern Darkness Water Aura?"

"Guixu actually dared interfere in the Phoenix Clan's affairs?"

Feng Li raised her head, her gaze firmer than ever.

"Having entered Guixu, I am under Guixu's protection."

"Elder Zhu Yan, the Frost Phoenix Lineage will not return with you."

She spread her wings.

The frostflame transformed into a massive icy-blue Frost Phoenix and crashed head-on into Zhu Yan's Crimson Phoenix.

Boom!

The two Phoenix phantoms collided beyond Dragon-Suppressing Pass.

The Southern Bright Fire was forced back by the frostflame.

Zhu Yan grunted and staggered back several steps.

Atop Dragon-Suppressing Pass, the Frost Phoenix Lineage erupted into cheers.

Feng Li had won.

At least in that strike, she had truly forced Zhu Yan back.

Zhu Yan's expression turned incomparably ugly.

He had never expected that borrowing Guixu Water Aura would allow Feng Li's frostflame to transform to such a degree.

"Good."

"Very good."

"Feng Li, you dared borrow the strength of outsiders to defy an elder of the Phoenix Clan."

"Yuanfeng will surely learn of this!"

The moment his words fell,

a Phoenix cry suddenly rang out from the southern horizon.

That Phoenix cry pierced through the Blackwater of the Northern Sea, carrying the majesty to burn the heavens and boil the seas.

All the flames outside Dragon-Suppressing Pass instantly fell silent.

Zhu Yan's expression changed drastically, and he immediately knelt.

"Greetings, Yuanfeng!"

Feng Li's entire body trembled.

The Frost Phoenix Lineage all dropped to their knees.

Atop Dragon-Suppressing Pass, every living being of Guixu felt a terrifying pressure completely unlike that of the Ancestral Dragon.

The ruler of the Phoenix Clan.

Yuanfeng's divine sense had descended upon the Northern Sea.