Chapter 1321: Arrangements

Beyond the towering mountains of Junshan City, deep within the vast wilderness.

The Fire Phoenix Divine Emperor stood by, observing the battle from afar. In the distance, two figures hovered mid-air, locked in a tense standoff—one a man in white, the other a woman in white! Dongbo Xueying and the Cloud Phoenix City Lord were both clad in pristine white robes, yet their auras were starkly different. The Cloud Phoenix City Lord’s presence was overwhelming, vast enough to blot out the heavens and suppress all beneath her, making even the world tremble. In contrast, Dongbo Xueying’s aura was ethereal and elusive, evoking an instinctive reverence from those who sensed it. After all, his soul was unrivaled beneath the level of a ‘Hunyuan powerhouse,’ and when he unleashed his full presence, even other mighty beings couldn’t help but feel awe.

“Flying Snow Divine Emperor, I ask that you fight with all your might. In the Divine Realm, ever since I reached my current level of power, I have been the one to dominate others—never have they posed a sufficient threat to me,” the Cloud Phoenix City Lord declared, a trace of killing intent flickering between her brows.

“I will not disappoint you, City Lord,” Dongbo Xueying replied, his own battle spirit blazing.

**Boom!**

A fierce glint flashed in the Cloud Phoenix City Lord’s eyes, and the space within millions of miles distorted violently, filled with terrifying fluctuations.

Dongbo Xueying heard a piercing screech, like the cry of a great bird! The sound twisted the surrounding world and forcibly penetrated his body, shaking his soul, organs, bones, and muscles. Instantly, his body involuntarily weakened, his muscles trembling uncontrollably. He was shocked: *”Just her domain alone reduces my strength by half? If she attacks now, I might be killed in just two or three moves!”*

Compared to a true peak-level Divine Emperor, his physical body was far weaker.

Without relying on soul-based techniques, he could hold his own against most opponents—but against the Cloud Phoenix City Lord, Dongbo Xueying was forced to unleash his full power from the very start.

*”She uses her bloodline power to alter the laws of the world, manifesting this domain,”* Dongbo Xueying mused.

Every natural-born Hunyuan lifeform was a manifestation of the world’s rules.

Thus, those peak Divine Emperors who achieved the ‘Ultimate Awakening’ and reverted to their ancestral roots could become members of the natural-born Hunyuan lifeform race. Because they had greater control over their bodies, their breakthrough would immediately elevate them to ‘High-Level Hunyuan Lifeforms.’ A Hunyuan lifeform’s body was akin to a ‘world’—for example, the Broken Tooth Mountain Range was actually formed from the corpses of two colossal Hunyuan lifeforms.

Their very bodies were worlds! Naturally, they could impose rules and manifest domains.

The most supreme of natural-born Hunyuan lifeforms could even wound ‘Meta’ and rival an entire Source World in power.

Clearly, the domain the Cloud Phoenix City Lord was now unleashing was a partial manifestation of the rules contained within her bloodline. Among all peak Divine Emperors, she was the closest to achieving the ‘Ultimate Awakening’!

*”Illusory Realm of Emptiness.”* With a single thought, Dongbo Xueying summoned a vast illusory world, attempting to drag the Cloud Phoenix City Lord’s soul into it.

“Hmm?” The Cloud Phoenix City Lord’s expression shifted slightly. Nearly seventy percent of her focus was instantly diverted to resisting the illusion. *”Such a formidable soul technique.”*

With most of her mind occupied by the illusion, only thirty percent remained for combat—her strength plummeted.

The terrifying domain dissipated instantly!

Maintaining the domain required at least twenty to thirty percent of her focus, so she abandoned it to maximize her physical combat prowess.

**Rip—**

The Cloud Phoenix City Lord lunged forward, her hands slicing through the air like wings.

The heavens split in two!

Dongbo Xueying summoned a spear, twirling it to form layers of spatial vortices, blocking her slashes.

*”Good,”* he sighed in relief. With the domain gone, he could fight at full strength. The Cloud Phoenix City Lord, with only thirty percent of her focus, could barely muster half of her peak physical power—roughly on par with the Iron Dragon City Lord.

When the gap in strength wasn’t insurmountable, the profundity of techniques could bridge the difference.

…

**Boom! Boom! Boom!**

The battlefield was a maelstrom of chaos.

The two most powerful beings in the Divine Realm clashed fiercely.

“My sister’s strength has dropped so much?” The Fire Phoenix Divine Emperor watched from afar, astonished. *”How terrifying is this Flying Snow Divine Emperor? His soul techniques are this formidable?”*

The two fought to a standstill.

The Cloud Phoenix City Lord was blindingly fast, her movements elegant—her hands like wings, elusive yet razor-sharp.

Dongbo Xueying, however, was even more unpredictable. Layers of space bent to his will, his spear techniques shifting between crushing like a sheet of paper, trapping like a bubble, or folding space to keep his opponent at bay. Though she was right before him, she couldn’t land a single strike!

By channeling his power through such profound techniques, his combat effectiveness soared.

Though the Cloud Phoenix City Lord’s techniques were breathtakingly beautiful, they were slightly inferior. Only her overwhelming raw power allowed her to fight evenly.

“Careful!”

“Ah, that was close!” The Fire Phoenix Divine Emperor watched nervously. *”Flying Snow’s techniques are too insidious. Thankfully, my sister’s body is strong enough.”*

…

The battle lasted half an hour before the two finally disengaged.

For Dongbo Xueying, the gains were negligible—he had sparred with other peak Divine Emperors before, usually without using soul techniques. Once he did, they would immediately concede.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been injured,” the Cloud Phoenix City Lord remarked, gazing at Dongbo Xueying with admiration. “Today, you wounded me several times, Flying Snow Divine Emperor.”

“Such minor injuries mean nothing to you, City Lord,” Dongbo Xueying chuckled. Through their exchange, he had realized that the Cloud Phoenix City Lord possessed the most formidable physique among all the peak Divine Emperors he had encountered—even the Iron Dragon City Lord paled in comparison.

“Being wounded by you means my techniques are still imperfect,” the Cloud Phoenix City Lord said, pleased.

Unlike ascenders, who comprehended the Dao, she delved into the power of her bloodline. Upon reaching perfection, she began deciphering the ‘rules’ within her lineage, applying them in battle. She had even developed that terrifying domain and numerous killing moves. This fight had exposed her flaws, which she now sought to rectify.

The process of refinement was also one of growth.

“Cloud Phoenix City Lord, I have a favor to ask,” Dongbo Xueying said.

“Oh? Please, speak,” she replied.

“I wish for my disciple, ‘Yufeng Qingyin,’ to become your student—to be taken under your wing,” he explained. Originally, he had planned to leave this world quietly once his female disciple reached the early Divine Emperor stage. But now, with his fame spreading, he had to ensure her safety in case enemies targeted her after his departure.

“Yufeng Qingyin?” The Cloud Phoenix City Lord was startled. “Flying Snow Divine Emperor… do you intend to leave the Divine Realm?”

“Leave?” Dongbo Xueying was taken aback.

The Cloud Phoenix City Lord continued, “In the history of our Divine Realm, there have been peak-level ascender Divine Emperors. But shortly after their emergence, they all vanished without a trace. At their level, it’s impossible for them to die unnoticed. The Three Hunyuan Ancestors wouldn’t bother killing them directly. I believe they left this world. You, too, are an ascender, and your mastery of the soul path is unparalleled. I suspect you are even more extraordinary than those before you. If the Three Hunyuan Ancestors were to take you away, it wouldn’t be surprising.”

Dongbo Xueying’s heart tightened.

He had already suspected as much.

From earlier clues, he had deduced that the Divine Realm must have had peak-level ascender Divine Emperors before. His recent interactions with other experts confirmed this—many had fought against such formidable ascenders in the past.

*”Leaving this world? The Three Hunyuan Ancestors?”* Dongbo Xueying grew wary.

If he were to leave, he’d prefer to do so on his own terms.

Being taken by the Three Hunyuan Ancestors?

Perhaps they meant no harm—perhaps they intended to help.

But there was also the possibility of malice. That would be disastrous. Comparatively, Dongbo Xueying trusted Lord Luo and ‘Meta’ far more.

“The Three Hunyuan Ancestors have not contacted me,” Dongbo Xueying said. “But I must prepare nonetheless. I am concerned for my disciple, hence my request to you.”

“That is a trivial matter,” the Cloud Phoenix City Lord replied. “But my ambitions lie elsewhere. How about this—let Yufeng Qingyin become the disciple of my sister, the Fire Phoenix. She is not a native of the Divine Realm but a natural-born Hunyuan lifeform. Though her combat strength is at the peak Divine Emperor level, her survivability far surpasses that of the Divine Realm’s inhabitants. Moreover, she will never leave—she will remain here forever.”

Dongbo Xueying’s eyes lit up. “Excellent! But would the Fire Phoenix Divine Emperor be willing?”

…