Under the blazing fury, the old emperor hesitated slightly, then gritted his teeth, making up his mind with tremendous resolve!
“Send out the decree—proclaim the Celestial Assembly as scheduled. Post the imperial edict immediately: regardless of righteousness or evil, whoever can subdue this monster shall receive from me the supreme treasure of the empire—the Divine Flame Pill!”
Several high ministers departed with the order. When only the National Preceptor remained, his expression changed. Kneeling hastily, he urged, “Your Majesty, this is unwise! The Divine Flame Pill is a miraculous medicine of the Three Realms. In the hands of mortals, it can not only revive the dead but also extend life by three thousand years. Such a supreme treasure should naturally be reserved for Your Majesty. How can you—”
“Hmph!” The aged emperor responded with a cold snort. Today’s upheaval had already cost the Preceptor his favor. “Master, your words make sense, but after all these years you’ve searched for the Pill on my behalf, have you found any clue?”
“This… I have failed Your Majesty,” the Preceptor admitted helplessly. Bowing deeply, he tried once more, “Still, Your Majesty, if this draws demons and evil beings, wouldn’t that be—”
“Master, my decision stands. No more words.”
Though aged, the emperor still bore the air of a sovereign. After suppressing the Preceptor’s momentum, the old ruler suddenly turned warm, beckoning the Preceptor closer.
After a brief hesitation, the emperor handed him a yellowed parchment. Lowering his voice, he said, “This was passed down by my ancestors—it relates to the Divine Flame Pill. I’ve studied it for decades without uncovering its secret. Now, you shall release it to the world and see if any expert at the Celestial Assembly can decipher it.”
His voice paused, his eyes revealing the majesty and shadow of a monarch. “Master, I don’t want this matter to cause further complications. You only need to prepare thoroughly, secretly gathering capable hands. Once the Pill appears, bring it to me…”
“Your Majesty is wise!” The Preceptor, known as Master Lei Huo, rarely bowed with such sincerity. As the National Preceptor and a cultivator, he clutched the parchment with secret delight—his long years of effort had finally brought him one step closer to the treasure!
“Swish!” Within a day of the edict’s posting, commoners buzzed with curiosity and speculation. But the true stir was among the sects of the cultivation world.
The Divine Flame Pill was known in the Heavens as the Nine-Heavenly Phoenix Flame Pill, a treasure left behind by the ancient mythical bird Fenghuang upon its rebirth. To cultivators, it was worth more than gold, jewels, or any fleeting fame!
“Whoosh—” Clouds over the capital scattered in the sky as mysterious winds blew. Many cultivators who had once scorned the “Celestial Assembly” now emerged from seclusion, all drawn by the Nine-Heavenly Phoenix Flame Pill!
The monster—Pipi San—was now deeply etched into every cultivator’s mind. Within a thousand miles around the capital, flying “immortals” began to appear, leaving commoners in awe and amazement!
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A long, clear bird cry rang out, filled with crispness yet tinged with fatigue. The powerful wings of the Azure Phoenix no longer moved with their usual elegance.
“Qing Luan, how bad is the injury?” On the bird’s back, the barefoot, dark-robed immortal gently stroked its feathers. Her usually calm voice now carried urgency and concern.
“Divine Lady, I’m fine—watch out for the demoness’s attack!” Though firm, Qing Luan’s voice betrayed her exhaustion. With each flap of her wings, two more feathers drifted into the wind.
The White Jade Fan’s power was no trifling matter, not even for a Golden Immortal of the Highest Heaven. Though the Phoenix had narrowly escaped the pursuit of Princess Jade Fan multiple times, the repeated escapes had left Qing Luan wounded and precious time wasted. After countless detours, the Divine Lady finally shook off the Princess of Ten Thousand Demons and arrived in the mortal realm.
Feathers twirled helplessly in the breeze. Usually composed, the disciple of the White Jade Sect could no longer suppress true human emotion. “Qing Luan, rest quickly and heal. I still need you to return me to Purple Mansion Mountain!”
The exhausted immortal bird could barely speak. It nodded weakly, then trembled. A burst of radiant light enveloped it. When the glow faded, Qing Luan had transformed into a jade pendant shaped like a blue bird, hanging from the Divine Lady’s waist.
Her eyes closed briefly, then reopened, their deep beauty calm once more. From her flowing hair to her flawless bare feet, the Saintess of Purple Mansion descended slowly into the mortal world, a sight that could make heaven and earth pause.
Just a short while after the Divine Lady vanished, at the very same spot, a new exquisite figure emerged in midair—no, not a figure of beauty, but a demonic silhouette!
“Kya, kya… Little girl, do you really think you can escape me? Mmm, this human world smells delightful. I’ll play with you for a few more days!”
Perched lazily on her enlarged White Jade Fan, Princess Jade Fan, though in the midst of deadly pursuit, still maintained her seductive, languid charm. Her delicate, slender form exuded an irresistible allure, even in the heat of life and death.
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