Chapter 92: Salvation (Part 1)

"How did it become like this?"

Bai Xianyin gazed at this scene, also feeling it was hard to believe.

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King actually ended up like this?

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King's essence is that of a phoenix; after death it unexpectedly acquired a hint of resentful essence, which combined with its own resentment, earning it the title "Resentment Does Not Scatter, Ghost King Does Not Die".

Now it is clearly on the brink of death.

At the same time, she was somewhat shocked.

No one knows what that stone mirror in the Zhang family manor is; it is truly awe-inspiring.

"Give back my phoenix soul!"

On the ground, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King also noticed Zhang Jian's arrival; deep in her eyes lay a deep obsession, and she let out a low cry toward Zhang Jian.

A starved camel is still bigger than a horse!

A strong surge of majestic might instantly rushed toward Zhang Jian.

Zhang Jian retreated a few steps.

His gaze flickered slightly.

Even though he had succeeded in the Foundation Establishment after testing his fate, facing this innate ghost king he still felt like a speck in the vast sea.

If it were at its peak, probably just one encounter would leave him with regret.

But now this innate ghost king only has that faint spiritual pressure left.

His whole body is already riddled with holes like a sieve.

Zhang Jian saw this scene and turned his gaze to Bai Xianyin as he spoke.

"Xianyin, does this situation count as me having passed the three tribulations…"

"Eh…"

Bai Xianyin gazed at this scene, also feeling at a loss for words.

But she still nodded.

"Young master, the master said that luck is also a form of strength; if the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King perishes, you would also be considered to have lifted the phoenix's calamity!"

"Master!"

At that moment, the white bird Bai Xianyin had been holding suddenly let out a sharp cry.

It suddenly woke from its numb state and struggled desperately.

"How did you end up like this? You're a phoenix—I am the god of the bird clan; you will surely be fine!"

Bai Xianyin shook her head and said: "Even gods can be injured and can fall!"

Seeing the white bird still squawking, Bai Xianyin gave a soft hum, then grabbed it and shook it a couple of times, instantly leaving it unable to speak.

Meanwhile, Zhang Jian slowly drew the Dragon Chant Sword from his hand, his gaze calm as he looked at the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King, a hint of killing intent flickering in his eyes.

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King is now very weak—weak enough that a single strike from him could seemingly kill it.

Just then, the white bird, enduring dizziness, spoke: "You cannot kill the master; the master has already incorporated the spirits of the mountains into his soul. If the master dies, the entire Twin Phoenix Mountain Range will collapse, and countless living beings will be buried with him!"

"You cannot do this!"

Zhang Jian's hand paused.

Bai Xianyin was stunned for a moment, then her delicate and beautiful expression turned solemn as she spoke to Zhang Jian.

"That's right, young master; I almost forgot this point. This Phoenix Spirit Ghost King is different from other mountain gods: besides being a phoenix's stillborn fetus, it is also born from the spiritual essence of the Twin Phoenix Mountain Range, giving it a dual identity!"

Seeing Bai Xianyin also speak to stop him, Zhang Jian immediately furrowed his brows.

"A dual identity—isn't that still a mountain god?"

Zhang Jian felt somewhat helpless inside; he felt that ever since meeting Bai Xianyin, his questions had come one after another.

But seeking knowledge means asking a few more questions is no problem.

This is better than suffering losses later.

Bai Xianyin shook her head and said: "Spirits of the mountains can become mountain gods, but mountain gods are not necessarily spirits of the mountains!"

She explained: "Only a very few great mountains and rivers receive the essence of heaven and earth, accidentally giving birth to spirituality, which then develops wisdom; such beings are mostly innate mountain gods, whose essence is extremely powerful!"

"Moreover, they are not easy to kill!"

"Killing such beings will bring heavenly retribution!"

Zhang Jian furrowed his brows.

"Then wouldn't that mean it cannot be killed?"

If killing this Phoenix Spirit Ghost King were to cause earthquakes and disasters throughout Fengyang Prefecture, he would clearly be putting the cart before the horse.

He came to resolve disasters, not to bring them.

But simply leaving it unattended is also not acceptable.

"But not killing it is actually fine!"

Zhang Jian's heart stirred as he recalled the newly acquired secret technique!

Perhaps carrying this phoenix back and taking it to the ancestral shrine might still offer a solution!

Just then, the white bird cried out sharply at this moment:

"Please, two seniors, save my master; my master is not necessarily a villain of extreme evil, only because the phoenix soul is split, lacking a part of the soul, making it more susceptible to being bewitched by power and hatred. If the phoenix soul were whole, perhaps part of my master's kindness and noble nature could be recalled!"

It continued to vigorously defend the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King.

Bai Xianyin was also impatient, but Zhang Jian stopped her rough action, his gaze calm as he looked at the white bird and said:

"You seem to know quite a lot!"

"What exactly are you?"

Bai Xianyin also stopped her rough action.

This chubby white bird, upon hearing this, instead spoke softly.

I am merely a little spirit born from that parasol tree on Phoenix Nest Mountain; I have no cultivation at all, and I myself am utterly useless.

But I still want to speak fairly for my master: I personally witnessed my master's birth. Having absorbed the spirit of the mountains and rivers, my master's spiritual wisdom awoke early; in fact, long ago my master longed to be born, and transformed into a human.

Having said that, upon seeing Zhang Jian, Bai Xianyin's gaze came over, and it added: 'The master is fortunate!'

When the earth dragon overturned, she obtained a divine seal and became a mountain god.

With the body of the mountain god, she also came to see the outside world; even long ago she was especially kind-hearted, and whenever any creature in the mountains was injured, or any plant suffered from wind, frost, rain, or snow, she would bestow divine techniques to care for them tenderly.

Zhang Jian frowned upon hearing this, and found a loophole in the white bird's words.

You didn't say you had only taken human form for less than three hundred years?

Upon hearing this, the white bird lowered its brow and said: 'Although I have taken human form for less than three hundred years, I have received the phoenix's grace, and my spiritual wisdom has matured early.'

It then continued:

A hundred years ago, my master was actually a mountain god more compassionate than any deity, pitying all living beings in the mountains, protecting the young beasts and mountain folk, and full of wisdom.

Until the appearance of that human, he destroyed everything!

Speaking of that human's appearance, the white bird gritted its teeth.

He learned from my master that, after the phoenix shed its mortal form, he became sworn siblings with my master, and he often tempted my master with worldly tales, until my master completely trusted him!

... You cannot imagine how deceitful the human named Yu Qing is!

He first deceived my master's trust, then used evil arts to bind my master's mountain god's body, forcibly draining most of my master's essence; if my master had not possessed a strange treasure he did not know of, which dealt him a heavy blow, my master would surely have died, but before that person died, he also laid a great formation to imprison my master's soul. You say my master has been trapped for a thousand years, watching his enemy die of old age yet unable to take revenge, suffering day and night from hatred—how could he not go mad?

Upon hearing this, both Zhang Jian and Bai Xianyin fell silent.

Zhang Jian suppressed the killing intent in his eyes somewhat; according to what the white bird said, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King is indeed also an unfortunate one.

At the same time, Zhang Jian also revised his understanding of the lower limit of King Mian.