Chapter 96: Perfect

And almost as soon as this phoenix cry echoed through the Double Phoenix Mountain Range, the surrounding auspicious qi and rosy light became so dense that they poured out like a waterfall, sweeping onto Phoenix Nest Mountain.

Within the mountains and forests, countless vital forces burst forth; countless vital forces, as if the earth returned to spring, nourished Phoenix Nest Mountain and the Double Phoenix Mountain Range, causing the mountains' refined qi to visibly condense, as if a spring breeze brushed the land.

The Mountain God has truly revived!

At that moment inside the cave, the white bird watched this scene and began to dance joyfully.

Within the cave, seven-colored flowing light flashed, and instantly a beautiful woman dressed in seven-colored feathered robes, with a graceful figure and a waist like flowing silk, appeared inside the cave.

She seemed to be the essence of the mountains' and rivers' refined beauty; her phoenix eyes swirled with intense, bright colors, and her gaze made the heavens and earth seem to gain an extra layer of gorgeous radiance.

She outshines all flowers, her beauty unmatched in the world!

A divine dao body?

Seeing this, Bai Xianyin furrowed her brows, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.

Still unable to restore the true phoenix form!

Hearing this, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King turned her gaze over and spoke softly.

"I am already a ghost‑god body; how could I be easily revived? Obtaining even a fraction of the phoenix's essence is already a heaven‑sent blessing—I, Phoenix Spirit, will not press further!"

At this moment the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King's face was calm, yet a hint of regret lingered in her eyes; the essence left by the phoenix feather could only help her cleanse her foundation and refine impurities, but could not truly let her achieve nirvana.

From death to rebirth!

Many things, once lost, are hard to regain.

From now on she can only strive to rebuild the phoenix's body.

Now that her phoenix soul is whole, plus that single phoenix feather, she still has a chance to undergo nirvana again and reforge the phoenix body.

Her heart overflowed with joy, yet the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King still solemnly bowed to the two of them.

"Phoenix Spirit thanks the two fellow daoists for their help!"

"Especially, Brother Zhang, setting aside past grievances and giving your all to assist, Phoenix Spirit is deeply grateful!"

The Mountain God then performed a proper salute, and Zhang Jian hurriedly helped him up and said:

"Mountain God, please don't do this; this is due to your own deep blessings, and also because this little attendant of yours gave her all to mediate, allowing us to withdraw in time!"

Zhang Jian pointed to the white bird beside him.

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King glanced at the somewhat shy white bird, a smile appearing in her phoenix eyes.

In fact, she had heard the conversation between Zhang Jian and Bai Xianyin.

She was grateful that Zhang Jian finally gave up using the Soul‑Fusion Seal to control her; otherwise, things might have turned out differently.

And there was Zhang Jian's sword that burst forth.

That sword light drove back the scheming cultivator of the Cavern God Observatory.

She took all these changes to heart.

Deep down, she secretly felt grateful.

She whispered: "Brother Zhang's great kindness, Phoenix Spirit will surely repay!"

Beside her, Bai Xianyin's expression suddenly became displeased, and she urged: "What about me!"

"Right, there's also Fairy Bai!"

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King nodded, also feeling a bit embarrassed.

She now had nothing to her name, with nothing to offer in return; after glancing at the humble mountain hollow, a hint of shyness flashed in her eyes, she hesitated, then in an instant she waved her hand, drawing forth threads of pure divine power that instantly shaped the place into a cave dwelling.

She then said leisurely:

"The mountains are cold and desolate, with no attendants or divine generals to keep us company; fortunately there are still plenty of wild mountain fruits behind the peak, and deep in the earth's crust lie some spirit stone stalactites, jade‑green stone marrow—please, honored guests, do not disdain these!"

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King's expression was sincere.

Seeing her like this, Zhang Jian laughed and said:

"How could I disdain them? These mountain delicacies and rare fruits are treasures; who else could have such fortune!"

The Phoenix Spirit Ghost King glanced at Zhang Jian, gave a slight nod, then activated her divine arts, summoning mountain sprites to begin preparations.

Zhang Jian's mood was relaxed at this time.

Never mind the delicacies; just having a beautiful woman nearby is already a scenery of unparalleled beauty!

He may not be a social butterfly, but he's certainly no wallflower; a few witty remarks in succession instantly shifted the atmosphere.

He could see clearly that after the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King recovered, she was genuinely grateful to him from the heart—this was an opportunity for him.

Near the old nest there could still be a phoenix divine beast standing guard; for the Zhang family that would naturally be a great boon.

What's more, he has now essentially completed the three trials of the Divine Mountain Lineage; initiation is imminent, and in the future he might even be called upon as a strong ally.

……

"Success!"

At that moment outside Phoenix Nest Mountain, Xuan Jiu and his grandson had been monitoring the changes within Phoenix Nest Mountain; gazing at the boundless auspicious qi and rosy light replacing the dark, bone‑chilling yin and evil qi, Xuan Jiu stroked his beard slightly.

Thanks to this, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King restored the origin of her phoenix soul, and the multitude of common folk inside and outside Phoenix Yang Prefecture also escaped a great calamity.

This deed can be said to have bestowed blessings upon all beings.

They, grandfather and grandson, were also beneficiaries.

Of course, the greatest beneficiary is still this Young Master Zhang; he not only passed the trial smoothly, is about to obtain the Immortal Longevity Method, and also received a gift from the True Monarch Slaying Demons.

Whether it is the karmic merit of rescuing a phoenix descendant, or this great fortune, to Zhang Jian both are extremely precious.

For the cultivation after stepping onto the path of immortal longevity, it will be beneficial.

Especially for cultivators like Zhang Jian who strive to walk the path of the mortal world.

"It seems the rumor is unfounded; the True Monarch Slaying Demons is not unapproachable, but rather…"

Just as this thought arose, Xuan Jiu's expression suddenly changed, yet he saw the surrounding void shift—without realizing it, his form was locked by a spell and whisked away.

A bitter smile appeared in his eyes.

He needs to take back the thought in his mind.

"I think you want to chat with me!"

At this moment, in the void, there was also a cold laughter sound appearing.

……

Outside Phoenix Nest Mountain, the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King personally sent the two out of the mountain.

Bai Xianyin, at the mountain foot, looked at Zhang Jian, smiling, and performed a salute.

"Congratulations, young master, for passing the three tribulations, your fortune is complete, officially recorded in the Slay Demon lineage!"

"Shared joy!"

Zhang Jian also had a hint of smile in his eyes; toward this little girl he also liked her dearly, so he simply held up his hands and followed the Dao.

"Thanks to Xianyin your guidance in the dark, I could smoothly join the Slay Demon lineage; Xianyin, you are indispensable!"

The little girl giggled: "Young master, don't praise me!"

After the joy, Bai Xianyin also said: "Young master also needs to make some preparations; after entering the sect, next you should be bestowed the fundamental dharma; besides, this time young master passed the three tribulations, fortune huge, the sect should have additional rewards; I will first return to the sect, inquire for you, if the master appears, then definitely won't let you suffer loss."

Zhang Jian's eyes moved, then he said: "Xianyin, when can I meet my master?"

Bai Xianyin glanced at Zhang Jian and said: "Young master, if needed, the master will naturally see you!"

Zhang Jian nodded.

……

And in the depths of the lofty Divine Mountain

At a place on the mountainside, there is a huge spiritual pool; by the pool side there constantly resides a Daoist.

This place is a famous holy land of the Divine Mountain Dao Lineage; after the Phoenix Spirit Ghost King recovered part of the phoenix essence, an invisible breeze blew into the spiritual pool, the pool's waves surged, visibly strengthened, and furthermore a burst of colored light burst out from the pool, revealing an omen.