Inside a palace on Phoenix Perch Mountain.
After hearing Feng Xi's account, Xuanming understood.
The last Spirit Refining Phoenix of their lineage within Great Xuan had perished a century ago, and the bloodlines of the remaining Qi Refining Phoenixes were impure.
After learning of the revelation ten years ago, they had risked ancestral reversion in hopes of further purifying their bloodlines. But their haste for success had brought devastating losses.
Now, the Phoenix Clan had only three Purple Phoenixes of that lineage left: one at Qi Refining and two at Essence Refining. None had a bloodline as pure as Mysterious Swallow's.
They had been settled in Pure Lake, deep within Jade Beauty Mountain, rather than on Phoenix Perch Mountain. The environment there suited the Purple Phoenixes better.
That was why the Phoenix Clan valued Mysterious Swallow so highly.
They hoped to nurture her to Spirit Refining, then combine the power of the five phoenix lineages to free their ancestor and bring them back into the world.
When that happened, the Phoenix Clan could return to its former glory.
Xuanming's gaze fell on Mysterious Swallow. Seeing the plump little girl plunge headfirst into a mountain-like pile of Spirit Fruit, the corner of his mouth twitched.
Then his lips curved upward.
Mysterious Swallow had been with him longer than anyone except the spirit deer Longevity, and she had accompanied him on several journeys.
She had been nourished by his Dao resonance day after day, eaten plenty of fine things, heard the Yellow Court Scripture several times, shared in the benefits of Spirit Refining cultivators' Dao discussions, and even had her nest settled on Nonbeing Wood.
Besides, she was his sole seedling of the Phoenix bloodline—how could he not dote on her? Despite her humble origins, Mysterious Swallow had done him proud, cultivating