Chapter 1580: Phoenix Blood

“The opportunity lies here—it’s up to him whether he can take it.” The Blood Phoenix spoke as its massive form shrank from the size of a mountain to just over three feet in length. With a flap of its wings, it perched on the cliff.

The heat was scorching, and the cliffs themselves seemed to spew flames. Any ordinary being who touched them would instantly be reduced to ashes. Strangely, despite enduring such extreme temperatures, the cliffs did not melt into magma—a peculiar phenomenon indeed.

Amid the flames, over twenty vessels hanging from the main cliff glowed with an ancient aura. Though weathered by time, their extraordinary nature was unmistakable, each carrying the weight of countless years.

Were these relics left behind from an ancient era? What was the Blood Phoenix Clan doing, preserving their blood here, suspended above the cliffs?

Without a doubt, this blood was beyond precious. A single vial would drive the outside world into a frenzy—this was the blood of immortality, capable of granting rebirth to those who bathed in it.

“Behind these cliffs lies our sacred ground, where our ancestors and sages meditate in seclusion. No one is permitted to disturb them,” the Blood Phoenix revealed, sending a chill through the hearts of the several Supreme Beings present. The forbidden zone encircled by these cliffs was off-limits to outsiders, guarded by peerless experts in deep cultivation.

In the past, when the Blood Phoenix Clan migrated to the foreign realm after the great war between worlds, they settled here. Many powerful beings visited, including even an Immortal King, who bestowed the highest honor upon their clan.

Due to the unique nature of their blood, some visitors sought the true essence of their lineage. At the time, the Blood Phoenix Clan, newly arrived in the foreign realm, could not refuse these requests outright. Thus, they sealed portions of their true blood and hung them here, allowing fate to decide who could claim them.

“So, anyone who seeks it may come here?” one of the Supreme Beings asked, astonished after hearing the Blood Phoenix’s emotionless recounting of past events.

“Provided they can take the blood,” the Blood Phoenix replied.

Not everyone was destined to obtain it. The blood of the Fallen Blood Phoenix had long since mutated, no longer pure phoenix blood. For some, it was a supreme elixir; for others, a deadly poison.

Those who sought the blood could only determine their compatibility by touching the vessels on the cliffs. Otherwise, if the clan had freely given their true blood to every powerful visitor, much of it would have gone to waste, as many would have found it unusable.

Shi Hao, immobilized by the spells of the Supreme Beings, floated forward in his ice coffin, approaching the ancient vessels on the main cliff.

“After all this time, some of the phoenix blood remains unclaimed?” Even the Supreme Beings showed surprise.

Clearly, the Fallen Blood Phoenix’s true blood had issues—it was not suitable for all beings. In fact, only a select few could use it. Otherwise, how could such precious blood still remain?

A true phoenix would never have such problems—it was a creature of auspiciousness and benevolence. But the Fallen Blood Phoenix had undergone a sinister transformation, its blood altered.

The Supreme Beings also harbored doubts: after so much time, was the blood still fresh? Had its divine essence diminished?

“Rest assured, our blood has been perfectly preserved. None of its essence has been lost,” the Blood Phoenix on the cliff declared.

As the ice coffin drew near, the flames receded, revealing the ancient vessels in their full glory.

“The ice coffin is melting!” someone frowned.

The Supreme Beings had no choice but to intervene, jointly reinforcing the coffin with seals to preserve it. This was no ordinary ice but a divine jade, one of the rarest and most resilient materials. Yet even it could not withstand the heat here.

Without it, Shi Hao would never have been able to approach—the coffin was his only protection.

“So, you’re the young man who’s been reduced to this state. The Gu Clan’s vindictiveness remains as strong as ever, crippling a junior like this,” the Blood Phoenix remarked, gazing down at Shi Hao in the coffin.

“How do we test whether this blood suits him?” a Supreme Being asked.

“Open the coffin and let him touch the vessels,” the Blood Phoenix replied.

“In his current state, opening the coffin would reduce him to ashes,” another Supreme Being countered.

With a thunderous roar, the Blood Phoenix inhaled, drawing all the scorching heat from the cliffs into its mouth. It then temporarily sealed the cliffs.

Though Shi Hao could not move, with the Supreme Beings’ assistance, he had no trouble extending his fingers to touch the vessels.

The first vessel, a small fist-sized ancient jar containing crimson blood, trembled violently upon contact.

“He can use this blood,” the Blood Phoenix confirmed.

Surprisingly, things went smoothly from the start.

“These bloods vary in color—does that signify different effects?” a Supreme Being inquired, intrigued despite their lofty status.

The Blood Phoenix nodded. “Indeed. Their potency differs, and they come from different Blood Phoenixes.”

Though immobilized, Shi Hao could still project his divine sense. He wished to test other vessels. Knowing the foreign realm’s Supreme Beings sought to heal him—albeit for their own ends—he saw no reason to hold back.

The second vessel was a crystalline orb the size of a baby’s fist, containing a single drop of radiant, mesmerizing scarlet blood. Clearly, this was the essence of a mighty being.

Upon contact, the drop trembled intensely, reacting to Shi Hao’s touch.

The Blood Phoenix on the cliff was astonished—he could use this blood as well.

Curious to see just how extraordinary Shi Hao was, the Supreme Beings encouraged him to continue testing.

From then on, Shi Hao encountered no obstacles. Each vessel resonated with him, awakening the dormant true blood within.

Some blood was golden, molten like liquid gold—clearly extraordinary. Others shimmered with five-colored brilliance, as if untouched by corruption, resembling pure phoenix blood. One particularly striking drop emitted phoenix cries, infused with chaotic energy, radiating an otherworldly aura.

…

Yet, in the end, Shi Hao was drawn to the last vessel, forsaking all others.

It was a small bone jar, its material peculiar, soaked in blood until it became translucent, revealing the dark, murky liquid within.

This blood lacked luster or any trace of divine aura. It was a deep, almost blackish crimson, resembling tainted, necrotic blood.

But when Shi Hao’s hand rested upon it, he refused to lift it again.

“What’s special about this blood?” an Imperial Clan Supreme Being asked.

Having assisted Shi Hao thus far, they naturally sought answers.

“It’s more potent than the others,” the Blood Phoenix replied tersely.

“This is the one,” Shi Hao declared.

A glint of desire flashed in the Supreme Beings’ eyes. Were it not for their duty to heal Shi Hao, they might have sought excuses to claim some of this blood for themselves.

The Blood Phoenix’s pupils contracted, but it eventually nodded. Its reluctance betrayed the blood’s extraordinary value.

“Let’s hope it doesn’t harm you,” the Blood Phoenix said.

The bone jar was finally removed from the cliff after countless years.

Though called a jar, it contained only a single drop—thick, viscous, and so dark it bordered on black.

With the Supreme Beings as escorts, Shi Hao departed the Scorching Lands, the bone jar placed inside his ice coffin as they flew toward Immortal Terrace Mountain.

Under the protection of the Supreme Beings, their journey was unimpeded—no one would dare intercept them.

They returned to Immortal Terrace Mountain, where Shi Hao would undergo his transformation and escape his dire predicament.

On the mountain, Chi Meng Hong, descendant of Chi King, remained outwardly compliant, knowing any resistance would be futile.

“I can’t help but feel resentful,” one Supreme Being muttered, gazing at Shi Hao in the coffin.

The phoenix blood was peerless, and combined with the mountain’s soul-nurturing properties, it would undoubtedly restore Shi Hao to his former strength—or beyond.

Yet this was no descendant of theirs, nor even a native of their realm. He was an enemy from the Imperial Pass. To lavish such resources on him seemed a waste.

Another Supreme Being shrugged. “As the old Gu Clan fellow said—what does it matter if we heal him? We can always kill him later. For now, let’s just ensure the Immortal King isn’t displeased.”