#3: The Phoenix Tribe (3)

Walking through a narrow and dark passage, at its end lay the forbidden land of the Phoenix Tribe: the Phoenix Nest. Bai Rong navigated it with practiced ease, pushing aside the Wutong tree branches in front of him, and in an instant, the view brightened. The stone walls around the Phoenix Nest were adorned with fiery red Flame crystal stones, hot and dazzling. In the center was a massive bird’s nest formed by intertwining Wutong branches.

On top of the bird’s nest, in the very spot where a phoenix could originally perch, sat a man clad in moon-white robes. His exposed skin was lustrous and fair, without any scars, save for a white silk band covering his face. This was Zi Chen, reborn through Nirvana.

Throughout history, every member of the Phoenix Tribe was born here. If their body suffered significant damage, they could also rapidly recover by absorbing the Phoenix Tribe’s spiritual energy here. Especially now, after thousands of years without a phoenix recuperating or being born here, the spiritual energy had reached its peak, incredibly abundant.

The Zi Chen of now was both the same and vastly different from his past self. His high nose bridge, pointed chin, thin and light lips—his facial features were still the same as before, but his aura was completely different. Even if he said not a word, showed no expression, just sitting there quietly, he exuded an intense and suffocating pressure.

All his power had returned. Having passed his tribulation, he had even made further progress.

“Zi... Chen?” Bai Rong approached, calling out softly.

Zi Chen tilted his chin slightly, turning his head. Although his eyes were covered with a white silk band, Bai Rong always felt as if he was looking directly at him, with an intense gaze.

Under Zi Chen’s stare, Bai Rong seemed to have a thousand words stuck in his throat. Whether it was due to Zi Chen’s immense power or his own inner regret, their father-son roles seemed to have reversed, leaving Bai Rong utterly unwilling to overstep.

After a long while, Bai Rong finally spoke uncertainly: “Do you... still recognize me?”

Zi Chen remained motionless, offering no reply.

Just then, Feng Yuan, having heard the news, scurried in and said, “It’s been ten thousand years! The young master has finally returned!”

In the Phoenix Tribe, Feng Yuan was the most senior, generations older than even Bai Rong. When Zi Chen saw him, he respectfully addressed him as: “Grandpa Yuan.”

Zi Chen, without a change in expression, glanced faintly at him, then straightened up, flew down from the Phoenix Nest, and landed in front of the two. Bai Rong and Feng Yuan’s faces lit up with joy, anticipating his words, but to their surprise, he adjusted his clothes, didn’t even look at them, and walked straight out.

Bai Rong didn’t dare to step forward, but Feng Yuan chased after him, gesturing as he walked: “When you were born, I was the one who gave you your first bath. You were just tiny then. Later, after Di Yan ascended, the Three Realms fell into chaos. Your mother lost her life protecting you, and you went missing ever since. Your father, unable to bear the blow, became deranged, and even now, he spends most of his time in a foolish state.”

“These past years, Ling Que and I have been searching for you, ever since you went missing. Now, after all these years, we’ve finally found you. Your mother promised you this marriage back then...”

Upon hearing this, Zi Chen finally frowned and stopped.

“Marriage?” Zi Chen spoke indifferently, his tone cold.

Feng Yuan nodded and said directly, “Ling Que has waited for you for many years, Chen’er. You cannot betray her.”

Feng Yuan spoke earnestly, coupled with his loving expression, which made even Bai Rong feel pity. Bai Rong sat nearby, taking in this expression, at times beaming with joy, at times filled with guilt, at times like a child, and at times fully adopting the demeanor of a clan leader. But regardless of his appearance, he never initiated conversation with Zi Chen.

He was afraid of him, demonstrating it in every minute detail.

“My heart already belongs to someone else. I’m afraid I cannot agree.” Although Zi Chen used the word “afraid,” his tone was condescending, showing no inclination to follow the elders’ wishes.

“Heart belongs to someone else? What do you mean by ‘heart belongs to someone else’?” Feng Yuan’s voice suddenly rose. He shed his loving demeanor and said angrily, “You are the hope of our Phoenix Tribe, the future of the Phoenix Tribe! Are you going to betray Princess Ling Que, who has waited for you for many years, and abandon this great opportunity to form an alliance with the Sparrow Tribe?”

“Elder Feng Yuan, what does the revitalization of the Phoenix Tribe have to do with who I marry?” Zi Chen looked at him coldly, the chill emanating from his eyes sending shivers down one’s spine.

“Ling Que is the Peacock Princess, and her father ranks first in influence among the Fourteen Great Divine Tribes. Furthermore, Ling Que is a favored individual in the White Emperor’s eyes. By marrying her, you will undoubtedly produce powerful descendants.”

“White Emperor?” Zi Chen frowned.

Feng Yuan nodded, his narrow eyes gleaming with an inscrutable light: “The White Emperor Xi He is a direct subordinate of the Heavenly Monarch Hao Yue, holding a position in the Thirty-Third Heaven that is second only to one, and above tens of thousands of others...”

“Enough,” Zi Chen couldn’t listen anymore and interrupted him, “Elder Feng Yuan, please position yourself correctly. If even a mere White Emperor can make you bow and scrape, it’s no wonder the Phoenix Tribe has fallen to its current state.”

After Zi Chen spoke, he strode away. Feng Yuan and Bai Rong were both stunned.

“Stop!” Feng Yuan regained his composure, immediately chased after him, blocked his path, and angrily said, “What do you mean, a mere White Emperor? How can the White Emperor’s name be casually insulted? Now that you know your identity, you should prioritize the Phoenix Tribe in everything! If such rebellious words spread, they will implicate the entire Phoenix Tribe!”

“The Phoenix Tribe?” Zi Chen sneered, “Now the Phoenix Tribe has one old and one mad, leaving only me. I am the Phoenix Tribe, and the Phoenix Tribe is me. How can there be any implication?”

“You!” Feng Yuan was rendered speechless by his words. After a long moment of composure, he said, “Is the person you like Yao Yin?”

Zi Chen curled his lips, a cold smile playing on them: “I don’t need to report to you.”

Feng Yuan took his words as an affirmation and continued, “To save you, Yao Yin has already signed a permanent indenture with me. She can never leave the Phoenix Tribe in this life and will serve as a slave and servant for generations.”

As Feng Yuan spoke, Zi Chen’s eyebrows visibly furrowed.

Feng Yuan, seeing his apparent emotional stirring, thought his words had taken effect and continued to persuade him: “If you like Yao Yin, there’s no harm in taking her as a concubine, but Ling Que must be your only officially wedded wife. Only she is worthy of you!”

“What a joke. If the rise of the Phoenix Tribe depends on women, then even if it rises, it will fall again.” Zi Chen said, pushing Feng Yuan aside, and continued walking forward.

His eyes were covered with a white silk band, so others could not discern his emotions. But as he spoke, his hair, light as silk, fluttered in the wind, changing from black to white strand by strand. Before long, all his long black hair had turned silver, perfectly complementing the surrounding flame crystals, shining brilliantly.

“Silver hair...”

Feng Yuan looked at Zi Chen’s retreating back, his expression one of unspeakable shock.

“So he is Heavenly Monarch Hao Yue...” The bewildered Bai Rong, at this moment, was also filled with surprise, staring at him foolishly. It wasn’t until Zi Chen’s figure disappeared into the passage that Bai Rong broke into a wide smile, giving a thumbs-up in the direction he had left: “My son is truly amazing.”