Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The fluctuation originating from the depths of the Forsaken Land did not dissipate with the calm of the cave.

It was like an invisible wind, passing through the desolate wasteland, crossing the black canyon, ignoring the distance in space.

This is a call from the same origin.

It is the heart of the "Phoenix" and the offspring of the "Phoenix" that reunite for the first time after three hundred years.

……

Ghost Cry Valley.

The perpetual black fog seemed particularly restless today.

The blood pool at the bottom of the valley, which had long since dried up, was now bubbling up again.

The dark red mud churned, as if something was struggling underneath, trying to break through the soil.

The monk stood by the pool of blood.

He was still wearing that faded scholar's robe, the terrifying hole in his chest standing out starkly in the cold wind.

He reached out and caught a withered leaf that was falling from the sky.

The moment the withered leaf touched his fingertips, it turned a strange green tinge, before quickly withering and turning to ash.

"They're here."

The monk said softly.

His voice was soft, yet it echoed through the empty valley.

coming.

No one has come.

That energy has arrived.

That was the aura of a fully awakened, exquisitely intelligent mind.

It was also the opportunity he had been planning and waiting for for three hundred years.

Three steps behind him stood an old man in a black robe.

The old man was hunched over, carrying a miniature mountain model on his back, a unique magical artifact of the Mountain Moving Sect.

This is Liu Qingyun, the third elder of the Moving Mountain Sect.

He is also the younger brother of Liu Qingshan, the Grand Elder of the Mountain Moving Sect.

At this moment, this Transformation Realm expert, who was considered a prominent figure even in the Land of Forsaken Gods, was like a schoolchild who had made a mistake, with his head down and not daring to breathe.

His body was trembling slightly.

It's not because of the cold.

It was because of fear.

Fear originating from the depths of the soul.

He had personally witnessed how this scholar could devour a monster at the Cave Profound Realm while chatting and laughing.

He had also witnessed firsthand how this scholar used his pale hands to tear open the spatial barrier of Ghost Cry Valley.

This is a monster.

A monster that wears human skin but is more terrifying than any demon.

"Third Elder."

The monk turned around and looked at Liu Qingyun.

His face wore a gentle smile, like a schoolteacher testing his students.

"How's it going?"

Liu Qingyun trembled and immediately knelt down.

"In reply to... in reply to your question, sir."

"As you instructed, the message has been spread."

"They should receive word of this in the capital soon."

The monk nodded.

"very good."

"That tree should be back to life by now."

He looked north, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of black mist to see that distant cave.

I saw that silly young man who was willing to cut out his heart to save his wife.

I also saw that silly fox who was willing to give up her true form to protect her husband.

"It really looks like it."

The monk muttered to himself.

Just like myself back then.

Just like the little fox back then.

However, they were luckier than me.

They were born in a good era.

They also met an old guy who was willing to pave the way for them.

"gentlemen……"

Liu Qingyun cautiously raised his head.

"I do not understand."

"That sacred tree is a treasure of heaven and earth, why... why did you let that Gu Xiang take it away?"

"If you refine that tree, your injuries..."

The monk smiled.

He was smiling happily.

"Refine?"

He shook his head.

"Third Elder, you still don't understand."

Some things cannot be taken away.

"That's fate."

"It's also a calamity."

The monk pointed to his chest.

"I lost this heart three hundred years ago."

"Now, it has finally found a new owner."

"A more suitable owner for it than me."

Liu Qingyun couldn't understand.

But he didn't dare ask.

All he knew was that every decision this person made concerned the lives and deaths of countless people.

Including the Mountain Moving Sect.

"Go."

The monk waved his hand.

"Go back to your sect."

Tell Liu Qingshan not to do anything foolish.

"Some consequences are beyond his control."

Liu Qingyun was as if he had been granted a pardon.

He kowtowed heavily, then got up and backed away from the blood pool.

Only after retreating a hundred feet did he dare to turn around, transforming into a streak of light and disappearing into the black mist.

Ghost Cry Valley returned to its deathly silence.

The monk remained standing there.

He looked in the direction of the capital, his eyes becoming somewhat unfocused.

"Little fox..."

he called softly.

His voice trembled, filled with remorse.

"You...you won't blame me, will you?"

"I dumped this mess on those two kids."

"I have placed the weight of the world on the shoulders of that scholar."

"But……"

"I don't have time."

The monk lowered his head and looked at his hands.

Those hands, which were originally as pale as jade, now faintly revealed a layer of golden feathers.

Those are phoenix feathers.

A surge of heat emanated from his body.

That is the Phoenix True Fire.

But this fire is neither gentle nor newly born.

It is violent, destructive, and filled with endless resentment.

That was the remnant will of the ancient Phoenix Emperor.

It is recovering.

It is vying for control of this body.

Three hundred years ago, in order to fight against the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect and to survive, the monk made a crazy decision.

He introduced the remnant soul of the Phoenix Emperor into his own body.

He imprisoned the Phoenix Emperor with his own body.

But this cage will eventually have a time limit.

Now, the deadline is fast approaching.

"Chirp—"

A loud phoenix cry suddenly exploded in the monk's mind.

The monk's body stiffened abruptly.

His pupils instantly contracted, turning into golden vertical pupils.

A terrifying pressure erupted from his body.

The surrounding black mist was instantly dispelled.

The mud in the pool of blood exploded, revealing piles of white bones underneath.

The monk's shadow stretched long on the ground.

The shadow twisted and shifted.

Finally, it transformed into a divine bird with outstretched wings, ready to take flight.

That's a phoenix.

It struggled and roared, trying to break free from the constraints of this physical body.

"Go back!"

The monk let out a low growl.

His face was contorted with bulging veins and a ferocious expression.

He formed a hand seal and slammed his hands onto his chest.

"Bang!"

A muffled thud.

The violent aura was forcibly suppressed.

The shadow on the ground transformed back into a human shape.

The monk was panting heavily.

His clothes were soaked with sweat.

He supported himself on his knees and slowly straightened up.

The gold in his eyes faded, returning to a deep black.

But there was a hint of weariness in that black.

Deeply exhausted.

"Soon..."

He wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Gu Xiang, you'd better hurry up."