Under his towering rage, the old emperor hesitated slightly, then gritting his teeth, he made an enormous decision!
“Send out the decree—proceed with the Grand Immortal Assembly as scheduled. Post the imperial edict immediately: regardless of good or evil, whoever can subdue this monster shall receive from me the national treasure—the Divine Flame Pill!”
Several high ministers received the order and departed one after another. When only the National Preceptor remained, his expression changed. Kneeling hurriedly, he urged, “Your Majesty, this is unwise! The Divine Flame Pill is a miraculous medicine across the three realms. If mortals obtain it, not only can they return from death, but they can also extend their lifespan by three thousand years. Such a supreme treasure should naturally be reserved for Your Majesty—how could you give it away so easily?”
“Hmph!” The old emperor responded coldly with a disdainful snort. Today’s upheaval had already caused him to lose favor with the Preceptor. “Master, your words make sense, but after all these years you’ve spent helping me search for the Divine Flame Pill, have you found any clue?”
“This… I have failed, Your Majesty!” The fact was right before him, leaving the Preceptor no room for argument. Master Lei Huo bowed deeply in apology, yet still tried again earnestly, “But Your Majesty, if this draws demons and evil beings, wouldn’t that be—”
“Master, My decision is final—no more words needed.”
Though aged, the emperor still carried the unique aura of a sovereign. After suppressing the Preceptor’s momentum, the old man suddenly turned warm again, beckoning the Preceptor closer.
After a brief hesitation, the emperor handed the National Preceptor a yellowed parchment, lowering his voice, “This is something passed down from my ancestor—it relates to the Divine Flame Pill. But despite studying it for decades, I’ve never been able to uncover its secret. Now, I entrust it to you to reveal to the world. Let’s see if any expert at the Grand Immortal Assembly can decipher this map.”
His voice paused briefly with emotion, the emperor’s eyes revealing sovereign authority mixed with a dark shadow, “Master, I don’t want anything unexpected to occur regarding this map. You just need to prepare thoroughly and secretly gather capable hands. Once the Divine Flame Pill appears, it must be mine…”
“Your Majesty is wise!” Master Lei Huo bowed sincerely for once rare in his heart. As the National Preceptor, holding the parchment tightly, he secretly rejoiced—his treasure was finally within closer reach, making all his years of effort worthwhile.
“Boom!” Within less than a day of the imperial edict being posted, while ordinary people were naturally curious and gossiping endlessly, the real stir happened among the various sects of cultivators.
The Divine Flame Pill was known in the Heavens as the Celestial Phoenix Flame Pill, a sacred treasure left behind by the ancient mythical bird Fenghuang upon its final rebirth. To cultivators, it was millions of times more tempting than gold, treasures, or fleeting fame.
“Whoosh—” Clouds above the capital city scattered chaotically as mysterious winds kept rising. Many cultivator experts, who previously dismissed the Grand Immortal Assembly with disdain, now emerged from seclusion, all lured by the Celestial Phoenix Flame Pill!
The image of the demon—”Rascal San”—was deeply etched into every cultivator’s mind. Within thousands of miles around the capital, “immortals” flying through the sky or hiding underground gradually appeared, greatly widening the eyes of the common people!
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A long, clear bird cry rang out—crisp, yet revealing a hint of exhaustion. The Azure Phoenix’s wingbeats had lost their usual grace!
“Azure Phoenix, how are you injured?” On the divine bird’s back, the barefoot immortal maiden in dark robes gently stroked its feathers. Her usually calm celestial voice now carried anxiety and concern.
“Virtuous Lady, I’m fine—just watch out for the demon girl’s ambush!” Though the words were firm, as the Phoenix flapped its wings again, two feathers drifted into the wind.
The White Jade Fan’s power couldn’t be underestimated even by Golden Immortals. Although the Nymph had narrowly escaped the Princess of Jade Fan multiple times by relying on the Phoenix’s speed, after all the chases and escapes, the Phoenix had been wounded, and precious time wasted. After countless detours, the Nymph had finally shaken off the Demon Princess of Ten Thousand Beasts and arrived in the mortal realm.
Feathers swirling helplessly in the wind, the usually composed disciple of the Pure Maid could no longer suppress true human emotion. “Azure Phoenix, quickly enter hibernation to heal. I still need you to return with the Celestial Flame Pill to Zifu Mountain!”
The exhausted divine bird could barely speak. It nodded slightly, then trembled. A burst of radiant light enveloped it. When the glow faded, the Azure Phoenix had transformed into a jade-green phoenix-shaped pendant hanging from the Nymph’s waist.
Her eyes slightly closed in quiet contemplation, the Nymph remained suspended midair for a moment. When her eyelids lifted again, those deep, beautiful eyes were calm once more. From her naturally cascading hair to her flawless bare feet, the Saintess of Zifu descended slowly into the human world, a vision so breathtaking she could make heaven and earth pause.
Just an incense stick’s time after the Nymph vanished, at the exact same spot in the void, another exquisite figure appeared—no, rather, an exquisite demonic figure.
“Kya, kya… Little girl, do you really think you can escape from me? Mmm, this human world smells delightful—I’ll play with you a little longer!”
Under the weight of immense fury, the old emperor hesitated for a moment, then clenched his teeth and made a monumental decision!
“Proclaim the decree: the Assembly of Immortals shall be held as scheduled. Post the imperial edict today. Whoever it may be, regardless of their alignment, if they can subdue this demonic creature, I shall bestow upon them the nation’s treasure—the Sacred Flame Elixir!”
Several high-ranking ministers received the decree and departed one after another. When only the court sorcerer remained, his expression changed, and he knelt down urgently, saying, “Your Majesty, this is not appropriate! The Sacred Flame Elixir is a miraculous medicine of the three realms. If a mortal obtains it, not only can they be brought back from death, but they can also extend their life by three thousand years. Such a treasure should be enjoyed by Your Majesty, how could it be…”
“Hmph!” The old emperor responded with a cold snort. The day’s great upheaval had already caused him to lose favor with the court sorcerer. “Court Sorcerer, you speak reason, but you have been searching for the elixir on my behalf for many years. Have you found any clues?”
“This… Your humble servant is incompetent!” The facts were clear, leaving the court sorcerer no room for argument. The Thunderfire Sage bowed in apology, but then made another effort, “However, Your Majesty, if this attracts demonic and evil creatures, wouldn’t it…”
“Court Sorcerer, my decision is final. Say no more.”
Though the emperor was old and decrepit, he still possessed the demeanor of a ruler. After suppressing the court sorcerer’s momentum, the old man suddenly shifted from cold to warm, beckoning the sorcerer to approach.
After a brief hesitation, the old emperor handed the court sorcerer a yellowed piece of parchment, lowering his voice as he said, “This is something passed down from my ancestors, related to the Sacred Elixir. I have studied it for decades but could never uncover its secrets. Now, you shall announce it to the world and see if any of the immortals at the Assembly can decipher this map.”
The emperor’s words paused slightly, and a glint of authority and gloom appeared in his eyes. “Court Sorcerer, I do not wish for this map to cause any complications! You need only make preparations in secret, gather your people, and when the Sacred Elixir emerges, bring it to me…”
“Your Majesty is wise—” The Thunderfire Sage, for once, bowed sincerely and wholeheartedly. As the court sorcerer, he clutched the parchment, secretly pleased that he was one step closer to the treasure, and all his years of hard work had not been in vain!
“Whoosh!” Less than a day after the imperial edict was posted, the common folk were naturally curious and endlessly discussing it, but the real sensation was among the various sects of cultivators beyond the mortal realm.
The Sacred Flame Elixir, known in the celestial realm as the Nine Heavens Mystic Flame Elixir, was a treasure left behind by the ancient divine phoenix upon its demise. For cultivators, it was a temptation far greater than gold, silver, or fleeting fame!
“Whoosh—” The clouds above the capital were scattered in disarray, and mysterious winds began to blow incessantly. Many high-level cultivators who had previously scorned the “Assembly of Immortals” now emerged from their seclusion, all for the sake of the Nine Heavens Mystic Flame Elixir!
The demonic creature—the face of the rogue San was deeply etched into the minds of all the cultivators. Within a thousand-mile radius of the capital, “immortals” who could fly and vanish gradually appeared, giving the common folk a grand spectacle!
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A long, clear bird’s cry, tinged with exhaustion, echoed through the air. The powerful gusts stirred by the Azure Phoenix’s wings had lost their usual grace.
“Azure Phoenix, how are your injuries?” On the back of the divine bird, a barefoot, dark-robed fairy gently stroked the bird’s back, her cold, immortal voice now filled with anxiety and concern.
“Saintess, the Azure Phoenix is fine. Be careful of the demoness’s sneak attack!” Though the divine bird’s words were firm and strong, as it flapped its wings, two feathers drifted away in the wind.
The power of the White Jade Fan was not to be underestimated even by the Great Luo Golden Immortals. Though the Mystic Maiden had managed to escape the pursuit of the Jade Fan Princess several times thanks to the Azure Phoenix’s speed, after repeated trials, the Azure Phoenix was not only injured but had also wasted precious time. After circling endlessly, the Mystic Maiden finally managed to shake off the Princess of Ten Thousand Demons and arrived in the mortal realm.
Feathers swirled helplessly in the wind, and even the usually unflappable disciple of the Plain Maiden could not resist the genuine emotions of humanity. “Azure Phoenix, rest and heal quickly. After obtaining the Mystic Flame Elixir, I will still need you to return to the Purple Mansion Mountain!”
The divine bird was too exhausted to speak, nodding its head before its body trembled, and a radiant light instantly enveloped it. When the light faded, the Azure Phoenix had transformed into a green bird-shaped jade pendant, hanging at the Mystic Maiden’s waist.
Her fluctuating eyes closed slightly, and the Mystic Maiden stood silently in mid-air, lost in thought for a moment. When her eyes opened again, the deep, beautiful orbs were once again calm and unperturbed. From her naturally flowing hair to her flawless bare feet, the Purple Mansion Saintess, who could make the heavens and earth “pause,” slowly descended into the mortal realm!
Just as the Mystic Maiden disappeared, in the same spot, another stunning figure appeared in the void—no, a stunning demonic figure!
“Giggle, giggle… Little girl, did you think you could shake me off?! Hmm, the scent of the mortal realm is quite delightful. I’ll play with you for a couple more days!”
On the enlarged White Jade Fan, the petite and enchanting figure of the Jade Fan Princess reclined lazily. Even in the midst of a life-and-death pursuit, the delicate and slender Princess of Ten Thousand Demons never forgot to maintain her alluring and seductive charm!
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