Nine Heavens Rainbow Phoenix

I am gazing at the sky, just like everyone else.

Even though I have the power to keep running on the ground, it's all become tiresome. I yearn for the sky, for the power to soar through the sky.

Indeed, the sky is the only place that can bring me peace. After I had been calling out for who knows how long, it answered me.

Flames, scorching, with the power to incinerate everything, came to me with a power that could shake the world, whispering as they fell from the sky, ignoring all forces that tried to stop them.

It illuminated the night sky and also the longing in my heart; it was the Core Flame that belonged to me, the future I prayed for day and night throughout the endless years.

At the former site of the Nine Heavens Rainbow Phoenix Clan, Ma Hongjun's Martial Soul, the Evil Fire Phoenix, successfully evolved into Fire Phoenix after consuming the Immortal Herb, the Cockscomb Phoenix Sunflower. However, having relied on women to release his Evil Fire since childhood, he witnessed Yu Tianshuang's terrifying power, especially since Yu Tianshuang never even glanced at him during battles. This contempt and frustration made him secretly vow that one day he would become incredibly powerful, snatch all the women around this arrogant guy, and humiliate them in front of him.

"Fatty, back then, the previous Pope of the Spirit Hall led people to steal your family's secret techniques and slaughter your people. Your father and I both possessed flying-type Beast Martial Soul, and we spent a lot of time together when we were young, so we had a close relationship. Now that you've grown up, it's time for me to tell you all of this. Do you see this mural? This is how your ancestor began to obtain the power of the phoenix."

Ma Hongjun looked at the murals carved on an altar in the former family site. It depicted a person with Martial Soul resembling an ostrich, bowing his head in prayer to the sky. A fireball like the blazing sun descended beside him. It was a phoenix, a true divine beast. From then on, his Martial Soul also became Fire Phoenix.

"You should know a little about the Lower Three Sects by now, right? Yu Tianshuang and Ye Lingling are the successors of the Lower Three Sects in your generation. You are a descendant of the Nine Heavens Rainbow Phoenix Clan. Originally Lower Three Sects were closely connected. Back then, Yu Tianshuang and Ye Lingling's parents were caught up in this crisis because of your family's affairs. It's a pity that after so many years of friendship, how did it turn out like this in your generation? Sigh..."

Flender recalled how, because of his cowardice, timidity, and fear, he didn't even dare to participate in the battle. He could only hide on the sidelines like a mouse and secretly witness the battle. Finally, he found Ma Hongjun, who had been hidden by his father, in this fiery ruin.

"Teacher, you don't need to sigh. Yu Tianshuang is not only cunning and scheming, plotting against Third Brother and his son, as well as Xiao Wu, but his strength is also terrifying. Not long ago, I witnessed Boss Dai and I fighting in the battle for the Crown Prince of the Star Luo Empire. He killed nearly ten thousand soldiers with a single sword strike. Based on my relationship with Third Brother and Boss Dai, there's no way I could reconcile with him."

In fact, Ma Hongjun's statement was half true and half false, partly due to this reason, but more so because of his own selfish motives.

"This..."

As if his Phoenix Martial Soul was being summoned and guided, when he gazed at the mural on the altar and read the words aloud, his Martial Soul and the power of fire within him surged uncontrollably into the mural, just as they had done before when they needed Evil Fire.

"Clang..."

After absorbing the flame power from Ma Hongjun, the mural in front of them became as if it had been cast from lava, giving it a mysterious appearance. The mural then slowly rose up, leaving a virtual flame mural at the entrance of the altar.

"Fatty, go in. Inside should be the inheritance of your Nine Heavens Rainbow Phoenix Clan. This is your destiny!"

Looking at the mural made entirely of flames, Flender could easily tell that it was a selection process; only Ma Hongjun was allowed to enter this altar.

"Good teacher..."

Taking a deep breath, Ma Hongjun clenched his fists. He felt a strange tremor in his heart, as if behind this fiery door lay something that could grant him any wish.

"Whoosh..."

At this moment, Yu Tianshuang had already entered the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire. Because she was thinking about things along the way, her flying speed was not fast, but even so, the sound of air being torn apart was still heard.

"Something's not right. Based on the deductions I made with Qian Renxue, Qian Xunji must have already reached the final step before he went to capture Tang Hao and his wife. What method does Yu Yuanzhen have that allows Soul Master to remove Soul Ring and Soul Bone without injury, or even directly cover them up? Besides amplifying combat power, what other power does that True Dragon Nine Crowns possess..."

"Wait a minute, it seems I've been thinking and searching in the wrong direction. I'm investigating all this to find out if my parents are still alive, or who killed them. In any case, it must be related to the Spirit Hall. Qian Xunji led Yue Guan and Gui Mei to besiege Tang Hao and his wife back then. If they were also involved in the killing of my parents, then their mental fortitude is just too good..."

"Forget it. Given how pathetic they were when they saw Tang Hao, I really don't believe they could have hidden themselves so well for so long in front of me. Anyway, no matter what, I won't let any of those involved in the siege of my parents get away with it. There are two I can confirm right now: one is Qian Xunji, who was killed by Bibi Dong, so I can't take revenge; the other is Yu Yuanzhen, who made a deal with Qian Xunji to betray my father and kill my grandfather. We can put that guy aside for now; I'm no match for him."

"Since it's about revenge, I don't want to rely on others. As for those people from the Spirit Hall back then, I won't let anyone involved go. But there's no rush. Bibi Dong can't completely control the Spirit Hall yet, and my strength is too weak. For now, the investigation will stop here. As for that idiot Ma Hongjun, what could that good-for-nothing know? He probably doesn't even know who he is..."

After thinking all the way, Yu Tianshuang finally pieced together all the information and made perfect sense of it. Looking at the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire so close at hand, she could vaguely see the tallest and most magnificent building covered in the ruins left by the flames of war from the sky. It seemed that Qian Renxue hadn't done nothing before she left...

"You idiot, are you crazy? You just barged into the academy like that, aren't you afraid the people from the Heaven Dou Empire will see you? You're their number one enemy now. That old bastard Yu Yuanzhen has offered three Soul Bone as a reward—whoever can capture you will get three Soul Bone..."

Yu Tianshuang stepped directly onto the Heavenly Frost Cold Qi and landed in front of the teachers' dormitory building where she used to live. Gazing at the familiar scene, she was lost in thought when she heard a lively, adorable voice behind her, like someone caught doing something wrong. Then, a pair of small, fair hands pulled her into the shadows of the building. The girl nervously peeked out, looking around to make sure no one was there. After a long sigh of relief, she continued with a reproachful expression:

"Luckily, it's during class time, and this is the teachers' dormitory area, so there's no one around. I was the first person to spot you, otherwise you would have been discovered. Three Soul Bone! What Soul Master could resist such temptation..."

Yu Tianshuang looked at the girl beside her, whose face had matured somewhat but remained adorable. Five years had passed, and she had grown quite a bit taller, her figure showing slight changes. She smiled and gently ruffled the girl's soft, sky-blue hair, saying:

"And what about you? Aren't you going to capture me to exchange for those three Soul Bone?"