The Nirvana Fruit ripened once every millennium, producing only twelve fruits per cycle. By the rules of the Phoenix God Clan, only those with Saint-level bloodlines qualified to consume them.
These days, the Phoenix God Clan had fewer and fewer individuals with Saint-level bloodlines, which had finally allowed a stockpile to build up. As a result, the fruits were now awarded as prizes in major events to the victors.
The current stock stood at a mere thirteen fruits, and Yan Zhen had just claimed ten of them. It was tantamount to carving the flesh from the Phoenix God Clan’s body.
As for the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire, it might rank only twelfth on the Extreme Flame List and qualify as merely Half-Saint level, but to the Phoenix God Clan, it held Mystic symbolic importance. It was the emblem of the Phoenix Goddess.
In the end, however, the Demon Phoenix King agreed. The circumstances left her no choice; she had to yield.
“Ten Nirvana Fruits aren’t a trifling number. We’ll hand over five first, and the rest after you release our people.”
Yan Zhen gave her no quarter whatsoever:
“Can’t you understand plain speech? Your Phoenix God Clan has no right to negotiate… If it weren’t for our need to deal with the Demon Domain, I’d simply take them by force!”
The Demon Phoenix King’s gaze nearly murdered him on the spot:
“You insolent brat, don’t push things too far!”
Yan Zhen promptly revealed his Eighth-Tier Trump Card. A palm-sized card spun erratically above his hand, radiating waves of terrifying aura:
“Put away that foul temper of yours. An Eight-Star Mystic Saint means nothing to me.”
The Demon Phoenix King’s pupils shrank abruptly. From Yan Zhen’s Eighth-Tier Trump Card, she sensed an aura reminiscent of Divine Authority:
“You—you can actually wield Divine Authority? No, this is Heavenly Mandate Power?!”
The Demon Phoenix King wasn’t the only one stunned. The elders from the Dragon and Snake Clans stared in astonishment as well. None of them had expected Yan Zhen to harbor such a hidden ace.
Heavenly Mandate Power was a prize even Nine-Star Great Saints coveted. Only they—or those with God-level bloodlines from the major God Clans, channeling it through Divine Authority—could touch it.
Unable to gauge Yan Zhen’s true depths, the Demon Phoenix King hesitated in shock and uncertainty. Ultimately, she had no choice but to compromise. She agreed to personally deliver the Nirvana Fruits to the Dragon God Clan three days later, then departed with her personal guards back to the Phoenix God Clan.
The moment the Demon Phoenix King left, the Myriad Dragon King rose to his feet. His eyes burned with eagerness as he addressed Yan Zhen:
“Son-in-Law Yan Zhen, where did you obtain that Heavenly Mandate Power? Might you—”
Before Yan Zhen could reply, the Jade Dragon Consort yanked her husband’s sleeve and snapped irritably:
“You want the child’s belonging too?!”
The Myriad Dragon King looked somewhat embarrassed.
Yan Zhen chuckled:
“It’s something my past self left for me. Only I can use it. Sorry, Dragon King.”
“Very well.” The Myriad Dragon King regained his composure as clan chief. “You’ve got some real methods, kid. You even bluffed the Demon Phoenix King. This King is starting to believe you might actually claim the Emperor Throne in a decade.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Yan Zhen brushed the comment aside and turned to the Scarlet Python King and Flower Snake Saint Lord:
“I’ll return to the Dragon God Clan first. Cai Lian, you don’t need to follow me.”
After making his arrangements, Yan Zhen accompanied Long Ying, the Jade Dragon Consort, and the Myriad Dragon King back to the Dragon God Clan. There, he reunited with the Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord, the Phoenix Goddess, and the others.
The Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord assumed the Dragon God Clan was finally releasing them. Instead, Yan Zhen had arrived—and he wanted to take her disciple, the Phoenix Goddess, too.
“You—what do you think you’re doing? Don’t touch Qing Yin!”
The Phoenix Goddess was utterly terrified. She huddled behind her master, trembling. Yan Zhen had one-shotted her earlier, leaving a deep psychological scar.
Yan Zhen eyed the two haughty phoenixes like a domineering bully and stated plainly:
“The Demon Phoenix King already struck a deal with us: ten Nirvana Fruits plus the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire in exchange for you five. I’m here to collect the flame.”
“What?” The Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord paled in shock. “That’s impossible. How could Her Majesty agree to such terms? Don’t spout nonsense.”
“I’m not spouting nonsense. Believe me or not, but the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire is mine now. Hand it over quickly, and don’t make me force it out.”
“Absolutely not!” The Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord shielded her disciple. “The Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire is our clan’s sacred treasure. We won’t yield it to an outsider.”
“Then I’ll have to take it by force.”
Tired of empty words, Yan Zhen unleashed five strands of Rootless Earth Spirit Fire to bind their movements. He then hoisted the Phoenix Goddess alone into the adjacent chamber and, in short order, stripped away her ornate upper garment. Her smooth, beautiful back lay exposed, two flame wing patterns faintly visible upon it.
Yan Zhen invoked the power of the Fire Refining Starry Sky and began slowly peeling away the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire.
Fortunately, the Phoenix Goddess hadn’t refined it for long, and the fusion remained shallow. Thus, this forcible extraction—though agonizing—was still within tolerable bounds.
An hour later, the Phoenix Goddess lay sprawled on the bed, her clothes disheveled and her face deathly pale. She was drenched in fragrant sweat, as though Yan Zhen had ravished her repeatedly. Her inner fear of him deepened further.
In Yan Zhen’s hand floated a diminutive fire phoenix, screeching threats at him.
As the Phoenix God Clan’s inherited Extreme Flame, the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire had long been nurtured tame. It showed no welcome whatsoever to Yan Zhen, this “outsider.”
Yan Zhen snorted lightly and summoned the Xuan Huang Dual Qi Flame, Rootless Earth Spirit Fire, and Azure Sea Tide Birth Fire. The three Extreme Flames encircled it.
The Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire fell instantly silent and allowed itself to be meekly absorbed into the Fire Refining Starry Sky.
Yan Zhen glanced at the Phoenix Goddess on the bed, fed her a medicinal pill, and sent her off to dress and depart.
Tears brimming in her eyes, the Phoenix Goddess fled the scene, as if she had been defiled by some roguish young master.
In truth, the ordeal was far worse than mere defilement.
The Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire symbolized the God Maiden. Without this inherited flame, she likely no longer qualified for the role—and might even face punishment from the clan for its loss.
Having finally obtained the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire, Yan Zhen eagerly secluded himself to refine it. Two days later, he succeeded. Crimson-golden flame wings coalesced on his back. With a single flap, he shot a thousand miles away at an inconceivable speed.
Yan Zhen’s cultivation advanced as well, surging from One-Star Mystic Venerable straight to Seven-Star Mystic Venerable. He continued his seclusion to stabilize his realm.
Another day passed, bringing the appointed time. Midway through his seclusion, Yan Zhen received the summons and made his way to the grand hall of the Dragon King Palace.
The Demon Phoenix King had indeed arrived, accompanied by the remaining four of the Five Phoenix Saint Lords. Evidently, she intended to avoid appearing at a disadvantage.
Unconcerned by any potential tricks, Yan Zhen cut straight to the point:
“Ten Nirvana Fruits.”
The Demon Phoenix King retrieved a square box from her storage ring and opened it. Ten crystalline fruits, shaped like flickering flames, lay nestled in its compartments.
“Where are the people?”
Yan Zhen crooked a finger, indicating she should hand over the goods first.
The Demon Phoenix King made no attempt to renege. She closed the box and tossed it to him.
Yan Zhen opened it once more, inspected the contents carefully, and confirmed everything was in order. He nodded to the Jade Dragon Consort.
She clapped her hands. Moments later, the female guards escorted the Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord and the others forward.
Upon seeing the Demon Phoenix King, the Resplendent Phoenix Saint Lord and the three Half-Saint elders lit up with excitement. Only the Phoenix Goddess kept her head bowed in dejection.
The Demon Phoenix King needed only a single glance to realize the Phoenix Goddess had lost the Thousand Feathers Phoenix Immortal Fire. Though a bitter pill to swallow, she endured it.
“A pleasant transaction.” Yan Zhen flashed an innocent, boyish smile. “Oh, right—about the alliance? What’s the Demon Phoenix King’s position?”
The Demon Phoenix King replied coldly:
“The Phoenix God Clan will agree to the alliance, but we answer to no one’s command. We deploy our own forces as we see fit.”
