Chapter 351: Origins

Shi Hao’s heart was in turmoil. Since he was very young, he had heard the elders speak of the Mountain Treasure. In the following years, ancient beasts roamed the land, battling fiercely in the depths of the mountains, causing endless slaughter. All of it was because of the Mountain Treasure!

“I’ll interrogate Little Rascal later and get to the bottom of this,” Shi Hao muttered to himself.

Ancient trees towered into the sky, their lush branches rooted in the magma of a volcanic crater, continuously absorbing divine energy. The gnarled old trunk, its bark cracked, glowed faintly. A fiery-red bird preened its feathers, wreathed in crimson mist. Upon hearing his words, its onyx-like eyes gleamed with interest, clearly intrigued.

Shi Hao put on a serious expression. “When the time comes, you can come to Stone Village and study the Mountain Treasure with us.”

As he spoke, his heart wasn’t entirely calm. Though this bird was small, it was ferocious—capable of battling the likes of the Devouring Roc and the Qiongqi. Back then, it had fought tooth and nail for the Mountain Treasure. Would it really stay indifferent now that it knew?

The crimson bird narrowed its eyes, seemingly satisfied. “Fine, I’ll reluctantly agree to study it with you.”

“How about you also reluctantly teach me a divine ability?” Shi Hao bargained.

“My treasure techniques are profound and unfathomable. Your talent is too lacking, your comprehension too weak—you wouldn’t grasp them,” the little red bird retorted, clearly unwilling.

“If you say that, I won’t accept it. Teach me, and I guarantee I’ll master it quickly,” Shi Hao insisted.

“Are you questioning my judgment? Do you want a beating?” The scarlet bird hopped onto its golden nest, eyeing him sideways. Though its voice was melodious, its intentions were far from friendly.

“So stingy. I invite you to study the Mountain Treasure, yet you won’t even spare a single feather,” Shi Hao grumbled under his breath.

Though he knew it was the Fire Nation’s Guardian Spirit, he felt no reverence. To him, this bird wasn’t some ancient elder—just a young, arrogant creature.

“What do you mean by that? How crude!” The little red bird scoffed, tilting its head. “I remember giving you a feather once.”

Shi Hao was speechless. First the little pagoda, now this bird—both leaving him with nothing but feathers.

“Some lousy feather you gave me. People just shake their heads when they see it—utterly embarrassing! Typical case of making a mountain out of a molehill!” he complained.

The little red bird exploded in fury, swiping him into the Sky-Transforming Bowl. Flames surged, scorching him until he was charred black, howling in agony.

In the end, he crawled out, thoroughly humiliated.

The bird refused to reveal more about the Mountain Treasure. Shi Hao wanted to pry further, but its beak was tight, and its pride unyielding.

However, it did disclose some details about their current location—this was the only palace the Primordial Vermilion Bird had established in the Barren Lands. Its main celestial palace lay in another domain. Even so, this place brimmed with divine energy, a result of the Vermilion Bird’s nirvana here long ago, which forged this fiery realm.

The little red bird’s ancestors were descendants of the Primordial Vermilion Bird. Eons ago, they awakened in these flames, inheriting its true bloodline, eventually ascending to become Heavenly Deities. Its grandmother, a mighty figure of antiquity, was born in these fires, later igniting her divine spark to become the Fire Nation’s Guardian Spirit.

This lineage was extraordinary—though merely a branch of the Vermilion Bird’s bloodline, they had evolved anew, becoming immensely powerful. Sadly, their numbers dwindled. The Heavenly Deity of old had vanished, and the grandmother was suspected to have passed, leaving no ancient powerhouses behind.

“No wonder someone like you became a guardian spirit—picking the best of a bad lot,” Shi Hao mused inwardly.

The little red bird’s perception was sharp. Its dark eyes seemed to pierce his thoughts. “Brat, what’s that look in your eyes?”

Shi Hao felt that since he’d come to the Fire Nation’s ancestral land and learned of its ties to the Primordial Vermilion Bird, he couldn’t leave empty-handed. He chattered away, trying to cozy up to the bird, sensing that this so-called Guardian Spirit wasn’t as unapproachable as it seemed.

“I’m even willing to share the Mountain Treasure with you, yet you won’t teach me a single technique? That’s just stingy. At least give me a treasure artifact!”

“I gave you a divine feather,” the little red bird declared righteously.

Shi Hao nearly lost his temper. Why did he keep running into such tight-fisted creatures? The little pagoda and this bird would make perfect friends.

“That feather you gave me? People just scoff when they see it—utterly worthless!” Seeing the bird’s darkening expression, he quickly added, “Fine, forget the Vermilion Bird’s divine arts. Just give me one Primordial True Feather.”

“Pah! Dream on! The only way you’re getting our divine techniques is if you trade them for a True Dragon’s treasure art!” The bird sneered.

“Fine, forget the techniques. Just one Primordial True Feather?” Shi Hao pressed shamelessly.

“That’s the only feather connected to the Primordial Bone! Unless one becomes a True God, there’s only one in a lifetime—and you want me to give it to you?!” The bird’s killing intent flared.

“From ancient times till now, your lineage has produced more than one mighty figure. Surely a feather or two was left behind?” Shi Hao wheedled, subtly reminding it of his generosity with the Mountain Treasure.

Though the bird was notoriously stingy, its pride was pricked. After a moment’s hesitation, it muttered, “Let me think about it.”

Shi Hao already knew—this descendant of the Vermilion Bird would never teach him anything.

“Are you trying to refine the Five Beasts Fan?” The bird’s eyes narrowed. “How many Primordial True Feathers have you collected?”

Shi Hao stayed silent. This creature was trying to probe him—even eyeing the feathers he already had. “None,” he lied.

“The Five Beasts Fan was fearsome in ancient times—a single wave could shatter mountains and reduce divine peaks to dust. But you? You’ll never succeed,” the bird scoffed.

Shi Hao’s eyes gleamed as he studied it.

“Stop scheming, or I’ll peck your eyes out!” the bird threatened.

After some thought, it said, “There’s a ruined palace here. It might still hold a Vermilion Bird’s True Feather.”

Shi Hao’s eyes lit up. He hadn’t expected such a lead.

“In this fire realm lies the Sacred Imperial Palace, filled with deadly restrictions. I recall a Primordial True Feather of our lineage being there,” the bird said.

Shi Hao grinned, rubbing his hands. Wasn’t that the Fire Clan’s sacred ground? Even Princess Huo Ling’er longed to enter.

“You’ve grown even more shameless over the years. What’s with that stupid grin? You look downright shady!” the little Vermilion Bird snapped.

“Nonsense! I’ve always been a good person,” Shi Hao said solemnly.

“When I first met you, you were like a porcelain doll—adorable. Now? You just look like you need a good thrashing,” the bird remarked, eyeing him.

Shi Hao wanted to argue but thought better of it.

“That palace requires great fortune to enter. The Fire Emperor once asked me to let his daughter in. I’m still considering it.”

“Then what’s the holdup? Send us both in!” Shi Hao laughed.

“I am a Guardian Spirit of principle!” the bird huffed.

Then, lowering its voice, it muttered, “But the Fire Emperor promised me a wisp of True God’s fire… and you’re letting me study the Mountain Treasure… Hmm… I suppose it’s worth considering.”

Abruptly, it looked up. “Once inside, no blabbering. You earned this chance through fate, understand?”

“Understood!” Shi Hao agreed readily—though inwardly scoffing at its hypocrisy.

“Go now. Let this princess think it over,” the bird said.

“Princess? You’re female?” The words slipped out before he could stop himself.

“Out!” The bird’s eyes flashed murderously before it kicked him flying—clear across the ancient forest and out of the forbidden grounds.

“Ahhh—!” Shi Hao wailed the entire way, cursing his loose tongue.

Flames wreathed his body, and lightning-like pain wracked him. If not for his indestructible physique, that kick would’ve shattered him.

He immediately sought out Huo Ling’er, telling her that a stingy, unprincipled, and arrogant little red bird would help them enter the Sacred Imperial Palace.

“Really?” Her beautiful eyes widened. She knew only two ways to enter—sheer luck or the Guardian Spirit’s aid.

Shi Hao was speechless. Even the Fire Emperor hadn’t told his daughter—this was clearly a grand opportunity.

“But it’s dangerous. Even with fortune, some never return,” Huo Ling’er worried.

“Don’t fret. With that unprincipled, arrogant bird around, we’ll be fine,” Shi Hao assured.

**Boom!**

A torrent of flames descended, engulfing him. He yelped and howled as the fire seared into his very bones.

“One more word against me, and I’ll roast you for a hundred days! And remember—once inside, you’re cut off from the outside world. If danger strikes, not even a Heavenly Deity can save you. Don’t expect me or the Fire Emperor to intervene,” the bird fumed.

Finally, a fiery passage opened, leading underground where magma churned and crimson mist billowed. A colossal celestial palace loomed amidst the flames.