Above the firmament, two emperors fought to the death.
Vermilion Gold Li Fire surged like a tide. Tian'ou—or perhaps Heavenly Li—had reclaimed his true form and broken free of the cage of vast wood.
The Vermilion Bird's traits returned one by one, proclaiming his boundless majesty.
His original body was immortal fire of the Golden Core level, manifested by the [Southern Bright Li Fire Warden]. In theory, he was something split off from a True Lord, an existence akin to an Immortal Affiliate. Yet the one now seated upon the throne of li fire was a jackal wolf, not a bird, and so the cage of vast wood had deeply suppressed Swan's true form, keeping this emperor perpetually constrained!
Now, however, things were different.
The Vermilion Bird's Dao manifestation had been released. Although the [Blazing Vast Wood Oath] bound it against causing havoc, leaving it subject only to Nanxian's commands, this held tremendous significance for Swan, an existence akin to a Vermilion Bird Scion!
Below, the Song Clan's True Persons trembled to the depths of their souls. One after another, they lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at the imperial silhouette bathed in flame.
Tian'ou drove Xiao Xian back with one slash. Divine light blazed like torches in his vermilion eyes, and his voice rang across the heavens like a great bell:
"How is Li understood? As a net, as attachment, as affliction. Attach yourself to what is centered and upright, let double radiance follow in succession, and only then can yielding gentleness temper unbending strength, and brightness discern danger and calamity! Thus successors are established, inheritors carry on, and its Dao never ends."
"Today's li fire lies in affliction. It wages war without the Dao, brutal and unyielding, displaced from its rightful station. Like fierce fire entering