This was a shattered world. Inside it, a once-vast continent had been broken and ruined beyond recognition.
The broad land was littered with countless black, ground-scarring chasms as far as the eye could see, all of them cracks rent open by violent force.
Not a single animal, nor even many plants, inhabited this continent. Treading upon its surface, one encountered nothing but sand, dust, and rubble everywhere—a scene of utter desolation.
Cui Hong led Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao to land on the continent and then made their way to its central area.
"Huh? Senior, what's happening up ahead?"
Suddenly, both Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao looked ahead in surprise.
Ahead lay a vast stretch of terrain filled with undulating mountain ranges. Among these mountains, there was a surprising sight: ancient trees reached for the heavens, and vines and creepers grew thickly.
Peaks dotted the landscape like stars scattered across the sky, and one could even see many beasts moving about within, punctuated by the occasional roars of fierce animals.
Ye Yunfei noticed that some of these beasts exuded intensely dangerous auras.
In other parts of this continent, decay and ruin reigned, with bare sand and stone exposed. Not only were there no beasts, one would be hard-pressed to find even a single blade of grass. Yet this region before them was teeming with vitality, bustling with all sorts of flourishing plants and animals.
"This area contains vast quantities of Earth-Energy beneath the ground, and there are definitely many high-grade Earth Dragons lying in wait," Ye Yunfei observed. Noticing the majestic aura of the mountain range ahead, with its many lofty peaks rising imposingly and the terrain patterns holding profound mysteries that perfectly matched the rare topographic formations recorded in the Art of Geomancy, he couldn't help but feel a secret astonishment.
"My corpse is hidden in this forbidden area," said Cui Hong as he came to a halt before this mountainous region, his expression also growing rather grave as he spoke to Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao.
"This is a Forbidden Land, inhabited by quite a number of incredibly powerful and mysterious entities. We must be careful when we enter. Try as much as possible not to provoke anything within arbitrarily."
Cui Hong transmitted this warning to Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao via Sound Transmission. Then, taking the lead, he walked into the mountainous area ahead, which was emanating an aura of profound mystery.
"Senior, this place somewhat resembles a large-scale perilous terrain. Could it have been arranged by some accomplished Geomancer from ancient times?" As he moved within, Ye Yunfei discovered that not a single mountain range here was simple. Between the ridges, lakes of various colors dotted the landscape.
Splash splash…
Ye Yunfei saw that the surface of one of the white lakes in the distance suddenly began to churn.
"What kind of fish is that?"
Xiao Xiao suddenly pointed a trembling finger at the lake and asked.
A large, jet-black fish suddenly appeared on the surface of that lake. This big fish actually possessed a ghastly, pale, and weird-looking human face. Its sinister-looking fish eyes radiated ferocity and malevolence as it glared fiercely at the three of them.
"Don't pay any attention to it," Cui Hong quickly transmitted to Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao, leading the two of them to bypass that lake.
"Why do I get the feeling that fish is emanating energy at the Deity level?" Jin Jiao Long Silkworm couldn't help but transmit to Ye Yunfei.
"Senior, look over there, there's a human skeleton walking around!" Xiao Xiao suddenly pointed at a tall peak in the distance and exclaimed in surprise.
Ye Yunfei's gaze immediately shot over. Sure enough, halfway up that mountain, a tall human skeleton was leaping and running along the mountain path.
"That is a legendary Bone Tribe member. This race is extremely powerful. Don't point your finger at it; it would be troublesome if he took notice of us," Cui Hong said with a start, hastily moving Xiao Xiao's pointing hand away.
Suddenly, that skeletal figure on the distant peak stopped. From afar, it turned its gaze towards Ye Yunfei and the other two.
In its eye sockets were two wisps of crimson-red flame, dancing continuously.
Cui Hong hurriedly led Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao to take a detour.
"Remember, no matter what strange existence you see, ignore it. This is an ancient Forbidden Land, where many strange beings live."
And so, Cui Hong led Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao deeper into this uncanny and dangerous mountainous terrain until they arrived before a red lake.
"My corpse is stored here," Cui Hong said as he stopped.
At a glance, Ye Yunfei saw a man sitting cross-legged at a certain spot beside this crimson lake, seemingly in closed-door seclusion for recuperation.
This man was precisely Cui Hong. Or, to be more accurate, Cui Hong's corpse, for the man's body exuded an aura of death and lacked any life-force.
When the three of them arrived at this lake, another Cui Hong suddenly appeared in the space next to Cui Hong's corpse.
Ye Yunfei recognized at once that this suddenly-appearing Cui Hong was Cui Hong's energy form, whereas the one who had led them here was a Soul Power imprint. Because it was just an imprint, its strength was relatively weak, which explained why he had been so extremely cautious all along.
Cui Hong's energy form raised a hand in a beckoning gesture, summoning his Soul Power imprint over and merging it back into his energy form.
"Senior, it seems the waters of this lake are perpetually burning."
Ye Yunfei suddenly noticed that the surface of the red lake before them was covered by a faint layer of flames, as if the crimson lake water was on fire.
"This lake should be True Phoenix Divine Fire left behind by the ancient True Phoenix Divine Clan. It is said to be of the same kind as the flames in which the Divine Beast Phoenix bathes for Nirvana and rebirth, containing the mysteries of rising from the ashes.
I long ago heard, by chance, that True Phoenix Divine Fire existed here, which is why I risked entering this Forbidden Land and placed my corpse here to refine and absorb the energy of this divine fire, hoping my corpse would have a chance to kindle a spark of life by rising from the ashes."
Cui Hong replied.
"True Phoenix Divine Fire... Containing the mysteries of rising from the ashes?"
Both Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao felt deeply moved as they gazed at the faint layer of flame on the lake's surface.
"Senior, if this True Phoenix Divine Fire is truly useful, why don't we simply take some with us to use later?" Ye Yunfei couldn't resist saying.
"I thought the same back then," Cui Hong replied with a wry smile. "However, a truly terrifyingly powerful being lies hidden at the bottom of this lake. Under normal circumstances, he does not appear. But if anyone tries to take away the True Phoenix Divine Fire here, he will immediately emerge and attack.
Long ago, I saw with my own eyes several advanced Void Gods instantly annihilated into nothingness, completely incapable of fighting back. That's why I could only let my corpse sit by the lakebank, slowly absorbing the energy aura that this True Phoenix Divine Fire emanates."
"So that's what it is."
Ye Yunfei felt a twinge of regret as he looked at the red lake before him. Having such precious treasure right in front of you, yet being unable to reach out and take it—it was an uncomfortable feeling.
"You two, wait for a moment. I'm going to merge my energy form with my corpse now; this will require some time. Afterwards, I can take you both on a proper exploration of this True Phoenix Tomb."
Cui Hong said.
Having said that, Cui Hong's energy form sat down cross-legged beside his corpse and began the fusion process.
"Young Master Ye, though we cannot take away these divine flames, you can attempt to absorb the energy they radiate right here.
My corpse has spent all these years refining and absorbing the energy emitted by the True Phoenix Divine Fire, and that powerful being at the bottom of the lake has never made a single move, never emerged to stop it, so he likely permits it.
The energy of True Phoenix Divine Fire is rather suitable for the Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture you cultivate."
Cui Hong suddenly transmitted this via Sound Transmission to Ye Yunfei.
"Alright then, I shall try it now."
Upon hearing Cui Hong's words, Ye Yunfei acted without hesitation. He promptly sat cross-legged by the lakebank. Within his body, his eight Chaos God Veins simultaneously manifested, bursting forth with a powerful suction force. The three massive golden balls of light within his Dantian also surged up and down, erupting with suction.
With a ‘whoosh’ sound, the energy around the lakebank began to gather and converge towards Ye Yunfei's body, affected by the pulling force.
What filled the space around this lake was entirely energy radiating from the True Phoenix Divine Fire, for this divine fire had existed in this location for an extremely long time. The energy contained in the surrounding space now mainly consisted of this True Phoenix energy.
As vast quantities of energy continuously poured into his body, Ye Yunfei immediately sensed that the energy of this True Phoenix Divine Fire was, indeed, extremely advanced.
For the time that followed, Ye Yunfei remained focused on absorbing the energy from this region.
At the same time, at the very bottom of this lake, a figure that emitted a multi-colored radiance of seven lights, who had been sitting with eyes closed, suddenly opened its eyes. Two terrifyingly powerful beams of divine light shot out from them.
"He actually possesses Chaos God Veins, just like my old sworn brother back then," said the figure in a low, self-murmuring voice.
"Alas, that sworn brother of mine had a fate plagued with hardship. Back then, he was implicated because of me, and met with a desolate end. I feel shame before him."
The figure spoke these words in a voice heavy with sorrow.
"This young man possesses Chaos God Veins; I wonder if he is related to my brother from all those years ago?
Nevermind, whether there is a connection or not, perhaps this is a kind of fate. I shall gift him some True Phoenix Divine Fire, as a commemoration for my brother from long ago."
The figure immersed itself in sorrowful memories for a few moments before speaking again.
Then it pointed a finger. Whoosh… The water of the red lake began to churn.
"What's happening?"
By the lakeside, Cui Hong, Ye Yunfei, and Xiao Xiao were all startled, simultaneously retreating some distance away.
They all knew that an extremely terrifyingly powerful being hid within this lake. Now that the lake was suddenly showing abnormal signs, they didn't know if it was that being issuing a warning.
"Be careful, everyone. It's possible we inadvertently offended that powerful being. We must leave immediately."
Cui Hong's expression grew extremely grave as he transmitted this warning to Ye Yunfei and Xiao Xiao. He had personally witnessed the dreadful might of that being residing in the lake long ago. But as soon as Cui Hong's words were uttered, more than ten wisps of vibrantly colorful, seven-colored flames rose from within the lake and, instantly, pierced through space to arrive before Ye Yunfei.
A total of fifteen wisps of flame, flickering uncertainly, looking like fifteen flowers of dazzling, vibrant hues.
"What's going on?"
Ye Yunfei stared blankly at the brilliant flames before him, unsure of what was happening.
"Young Master Ye, be careful! Those are the True Phoenix Divine Fire, possessing astonishing incinerating power. Dodge, quickly!"
Cui Hong, seeing those dozen-plus wisps of flame, recognized them instantly as True Phoenix Divine Fire. He believed it was extremely likely that the powerful being in the lake had become angered and was planning to use this divine fire against Ye Yunfei.
Upon hearing Cui Hong's words, Ye Yunfei immediately activated his movement technique to retreat rapidly. However, after retreating a good distance, he discovered those dozen-plus vibrant flames had followed, arriving again before him.
"Young Master Ye, get away now!" Seeing the flames persistently following Ye Yunfei, Cui Hong's face changed dramatically. With a low roar, he instantly moved to a spot not far from Ye Yunfei's body, ready to lend his aid at any moment.
Ye Yunfei was also highly wary at this point. He once again activated his movement technique to swiftly retreat. But as soon as Ye Yunfei made a move, the flames suddenly all alighted upon his body.
"Oh no!"
Cui Hong paled dramatically at the sight. Xiao Xiao also rushed over, preparing to help Ye Yunfei. But Ye Yunfei sensed that these flames seemed to hold no ill will towards him; they merely leapt gently upon his body.
"Take them. These are gifted to you."
A voice sounded within Ye Yunfei's soul ocean.
Hearing this voice, Ye Yunfei froze momentarily before immediately informing Cui Hong.
"Excellent! Young Master Ye, that mysterious powerful being actually gifted these True Phoenix Divine Flames to you," Cui Hong said excitedly.
"Young Master Ye, each wisp of this True Phoenix Divine Fire is extremely precious. Don't be fooled by the vast size of this lake; in truth, it doesn't actually contain very much True Phoenix Divine Fire—most of it is illusory transformation.
To gift you over a dozen wisps in one go, that senior must consider this a significant gesture indeed!
You can use these divine flames to cultivate the Fourth Cycle of your Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture. True Phoenix Divine Fire is a kind of flame rarely found in this world, and is considered an object of ultimate Yang and utmost solidity."
Cui Hong explained to Ye Yunfei.
"Senior Cui Hong, these True Phoenix Divine Fire should also be useful to you. Shall we share them equally?" Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before offering.
"This is a gift from that senior to you, your own serendipity. How could I possibly take it?"
Cui Hong said.
"Senior Cui Hong, had you not guided me here, how could I have encountered such an opportunity? Moreover, these divine flames are also useful for you. I could not possibly take them all for myself."
Ye Yunfei insisted.
"Alright then. Give me four of the True Phoenix Divine Fire wisps to nurture my corpse. Any more would be unnecessary for my purposes," Cui Hong thought it over, then nodded in agreement.
Thus, Ye Yunfei promptly retrieved four wisps of flame from his body and handed them to Cui Hong. The True Phoenix Divine Fire behaved extremely docilely in Ye Yunfei's hands, undoubtedly due to some means employed by the powerful being in the lake.
"Young Master Ye, why don't we refine these True Phoenix Divine Fire right here? It is a flame of relatively great power. If any problems arise during refinement, I believe that senior might offer assistance," Cui Hong transmitted to Ye Yunfei.
"Good, then. Let's refine them here," Ye Yunfei agreed.
"Young Lady Xiao Xiao, you should take some of these True Phoenix Divine Flames as well," Ye Yunfei said, turning his gaze towards Xiao Xiao.
"Most of my cultivation methods and martial techniques are wood-attribute. These flames are of little use to me," Xiao Xiao shook her head, declining the offer.
"I see, very well then."
Not forcing the issue, Ye Yunfei found a nearby spot and sat down cross-legged.
"I will use these True Phoenix Divine Fire to cultivate the Fourth Cycle of my Nine-Yang Ancient Scripture now. I hope I can succeed," Ye Yunfei thought to himself.