Chapter 585: Cannot Be Stopped

When Feng Qing'er heard that her clan had agreed to the transaction with the Three Great Dragon Kings of the South, North, and West—to assist them in besieging East Dragon Island and capturing the new Dragon Emperor who possessed the Dragon Phoenix Bloodline—her state of mind was imaginable.

She had been to East Dragon Island! Back then, the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit had been stored inside her own body as a vessel! How could she not know who the new Dragon Emperor the Three Phoenixes spoke of was? She had even met him!

"Why must it be East Dragon Island?" Feng Qing'er's eyes went blank, as if she had heard some earth-shattering horror; her legs grew weak, and she stumbled backward several steps, step after step, unable to control herself.

Seeing Feng Qing'er so terrified, the Three Phoenixes naturally assumed she feared opposing the Void Ancient Dragons—and this naturally provoked their displeasure.

"Hmph! Feng Qing'er, is this the bearing of a Young Clan Leader of our clan?" Eagle Phoenix swept his hand dismissively, his face dark with irritation, seizing the chance to strike.

Kun Huang narrowed his eyes, then smiled reassuringly: "Hehe, it's no wonder Qing'er is timid—after all, our clan was once vastly inferior to the Void Ancient Dragons, even mere prey to them. But times have changed. The Void Ancient Dragons have declined, their bloodline withered. If we capture the new Dragon Emperor of East Dragon Island, our Clan Leader will surely lead us into a new era."

Eagle Phoenix and Kun Huang belonged to other branches; now that Feng Qing'er had inherited the position of Young Clan Leader, it had indirectly weakened their two lines' power—so they naturally seized the chance to suppress her, hoping to find an opportunity to strip her of the Young Clan Leader title.

The beautiful woman beside them frowned tightly; if the Clan Leader saw this, he would likely revoke Feng Qing'er's position as Young Clan Leader.

"Qing'er, if you're too exhausted from cultivation, stay behind and rest. You need not come with us." Phoenix shook her head; bringing Feng Qing'er along was never meant to have her assist—only to let her tag along to earn merit, to accumulate achievements for her future ascension to Clan Leader.

Hearing the Three Supreme Elders' words, Feng Qing'er naturally understood they had misunderstood her!

"Three Supreme Elders! East Dragon Island—absolutely must not be besieged!" Feng Qing'er gritted her teeth, her eyes firm as she spoke in a low, resolute tone.

Hearing Feng Qing'er's rebuttal, the Three Supreme Elders all showed a flicker of displeasure, their gazes filled with disappointment.

"Hmph!" Eagle Phoenix let out a cold snort; a Dou Saint's aura erupted, BOOM—flinging Feng Qing'er back several meters, blood spilling from her mouth.

Even though Feng Qing'er's cultivation had reached the Sixth Transformation, the gap between her and a Dou Saint was immense—merely the pressure alone had wounded her.

"Feng Qing'er, know your place! You're merely a temporary Young Clan Leader. When Jiu Feng returns, you'll no longer hold the title. Our decisions don't require your input." Eagle Phoenix swept his sleeve angrily; how dare a mere junior challenge their decisions?

Kun Huang also wore a look of displeasure, his eyes cold and sharp: "Feng Qing'er, you've disappointed me deeply. Perhaps you're simply unfit for the position of Young Clan Leader."

Bloodied and disheveled, Feng Qing'er forced herself to stand, wiping the blood from her lips; she knew—only she could save her clan now!

If her clan attacked any one of the South, North, or West Dragon Islands, she'd applaud—but East Dragon Island could never be attacked! Because behind East Dragon Island stood the Yan Alliance—and Xiao Yan!

Feng Qing'er wiped the blood from her lips, her expression resolute as death itself, and said firmly: "Three Supreme Elders, I am not afraid of death—I only say this: East Dragon Island truly cannot be besieged!"

Seeing her demeanor and tone, Phoenix furrowed her brows and asked: "Why?"

At this, Feng Qing'er showed signs of inner struggle, for she knew—if she revealed the truth about East Dragon Island and Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan would almost certainly die.

"Because… because behind East Dragon Island stands Xiao Yan of the Yan Alliance. It was Xiao Yan who brought the new Dragon Emperor there. Even the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit that awakened the Dragon Phoenix Bloodline was obtained by Xiao Yan from the Ruins of the Creation Sage." Feng Qing'er slowly closed her eyes, as if embracing death, and revealed the origin of East Dragon Island's Dragon Emperor.

Hearing Feng Qing'er's words, the Three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes were stunned.

"And… when the Bodhi Ancient Tree emerged in the Manhuang Ancient Domain, the Yan Alliance also entered the deepest reaches of the tree. The one who obtained the Bodhi Heart… was very likely Xiao Yan. And Jiu Feng… has probably already been killed by Xiao Yan."

The Bodhi Ancient Tree was uniquely special; entering it was like entering another world—Soul Jade and Spiritual Soul connections were severed, making it impossible to determine if someone was dead.

Hearing this, the Three Phoenixes finally showed shock—they had not realized Jiu Feng wasn't inheriting the Bodhi Heart, but had already been killed by Xiao Yan!

So Feng Qing'er had been lying all along to conceal Xiao Yan's identity!

"So it's the Yan Alliance… If Xiao Yan has obtained the Bodhi Heart, then he must have reached Dou Saint."

"No wonder the Three Great Dragon Islands of the South, North, and West offered such terms to invite us. It seems East Dragon Island isn't just about a new Dragon Emperor—it has the Yan Alliance behind it."

At this moment, the Three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes all wore grave expressions. Though the Yan Alliance was no longer as fierce as it had been a year and a half ago—after dissolving the Tian Ming Sect and seizing the Huang Quan Shan Mai, it had begun to recuperate—it was undeniable that the Yan Alliance was now one of the three most powerful factions in Zhong Zhou.

If East Dragon Island joined forces with the Yan Alliance, the new Dragon Emperor stood a very real chance of fully unifying the Dragon Islands.

Seeing the Three Heavenly Demon Phoenixes begin to ponder, Feng Qing'er exhaled in relief and said: "Two years ago, when Xiao Yan was at the Bodhi Tree, he likely refined the Bodhi Heart and reached One-Star Dou Saint. That's why the Yan Alliance launched its offensive, destroying the Tian Ming Sect and seizing the Huang Quan Shan Mai."

"From what I know of him, given his talent, after so much time has passed, he may even have reached the peak of One-Star Dou Saint. I fear even you, Kun Huang Supreme Elder, are no match for Xiao Yan. Even you, Phoenix Elder, at Two-Star Dou Saint Late Stage, could only fight him to a stalemate."

Feng Qing'er had underestimated Xiao Yan—she thought he had merely come to strengthen his body; she never imagined he didn't even need the Bodhi Heart to break through to Dou Saint!

Otherwise, she wouldn't have said Phoenix could only fight him to a stalemate.

Hearing Feng Qing'er's high praise of Xiao Yan—that a One-Star Dou Saint peak could match a Two-Star Dou Saint Late Stage like Phoenix—Kun Phoenix and the others felt a flicker of displeasure.

"Even if Xiao Yan has reached One-Star Dou Saint peak, he's merely an Alchemist. What does it matter that he obtained the Bodhi Heart? His combat power cannot rival mine." Kun Phoenix swept his sleeve dismissively, clearly dissatisfied with Feng Qing'er's words.

"Still, Qing'er's concerns are valid. If East Dragon Island truly has deep ties to the Yan Alliance, then perhaps this transaction… needs reconsideration." Phoenix Supreme Elder had not finished speaking when a distant voice echoed from all directions.

"No need for further consideration. Proceed exactly as originally planned."

!?

"Hail, Clan Leader Huang Tian!!" ×3

A figure clad in Purple-Gold Robe suddenly appeared out of thin air, standing with hands behind his back. A pair of golden, supremely majestic eyes swept across the room—and settled on Feng Qing'er.

This man was Huang Tian, the current Clan Leader of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan.

An immense Demonic Beast Bloodline Suppression instantly crushed Feng Qing'er to her knees; her entire body trembled uncontrollably, her face deathly pale, utterly unable to resist.

Seeing Feng Qing'er crushed to the ground, Phoenix rose to block the pressure and asked: "Clan Leader, have you emerged from seclusion?"

Huang Tian shook his head: "This is merely a Clone. To fully refine the Divine Feather will still take several years. When I emerge, my cultivation should reach Five-Star Late Dou Saint—or even peak."

Hearing this, the Three Phoenixes' eyes narrowed sharply!

The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan, like the Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan, inherited ancestral lands and powerful legacies. But unlike the Nine Underworld Spirit Python Clan, centuries ago, Yao Xiao Tian and Yao Ce conspired to betray Yao Ming—the most gifted among them—causing the clan to fail to break through the final barrier of the Huang Quan Stone Tablet for centuries, never obtaining the complete Yao Sheng Legacy and essence blood.

The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan was different: Huang Tian successfully obtained the complete legacy left behind by the last ancient Heaven Phoenix, along with a Divine Feather imbued with essence blood.

Huang Tian's face darkened as he looked at Feng Qing'er: "Our Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan's alliance with the Three Great Dragon Kings of the South, North, and West is not merely for the Dragon Phoenix Bloodline. More importantly, we cannot allow the Four Great Dragon Islands of the Void Ancient Dragons to reunify."

!!!?

"A divided Void Ancient Dragon Clan is a good Void Ancient Dragon Clan. If the new Dragon Emperor unifies the three fractured Dragon Islands, that is an outcome we cannot accept—especially since East Dragon Island has birthed a new Dragon Phoenix."

Hearing this, Feng Qing'er finally understood: this was all unstoppable.

Because the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would never allow the Void Ancient Dragons to return from division to unity.

Even if the new Dragon Emperor of East Dragon Island killed all Three Great Dragon Kings and was left grievously wounded, the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan still could not accept it. A unified Dragon Island meant far more than mere territorial expansion—it meant complete inheritance.

Take Hei Qing—he had the strength and potential to break through to Nine Rank, but because the Dragon Island's inheritance was fragmented, his power remained stuck.

A unified Dragon Island meant inheritance and resources. Once the Four Great Dragon Islands merged and the Dragon Emperor reappeared, the Void Ancient Dragons could surge in power within a short time.

Even if Huang Tian inherited the ancient Heaven Phoenix's legacy, it would be useless—the Void Ancient Dragons' bloodline was inherently superior. Add to that the Dragon Phoenix Bloodline and a complete Dragon Island, and even ten or twenty more Dou Saints from the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan would be powerless to stop them.

The interests of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Void Ancient Dragons were fundamentally opposed!

Feng Qing'er could not stop any of this from happening.

Feng Tian's body gradually faded away, his voice drifting faintly: "If the East Dragon Island grows powerful, assist the South, North, and West Three Great Dragon Islands; if the South, North, and West Three Great Dragon Islands grow powerful, assist the East Dragon Island. We need a fractured Void Ancient Dragon Clan."

"A mere Yan Alliance is not even worthy of making us yield—not even the Soul Palace."

"Yes, Clan Leader!"

The Three Phoenixes answered in unison; the Eagle Phoenix and the Kun Phoenix exchanged glances, their eyes filled with awe for Feng Tian—they had never considered this point, assuming only that Feng Tian valued the Dragon Phoenix Bloodline!

The beautiful woman looked at Feng Qing'er and said: "Qing'er, you will stay within the clan; you will not participate in this matter."

"Hmph, you concealed many things; regardless, you have no right to hold the position of Young Clan Leader."

"How you handle it—we will discuss it properly when we return."

Space tore open; besides the Three Phoenixes, several disciples with Eight Rank power followed them into Space.

Feng Qing'er sat motionless on her chair, her eyes hollow. If she had never witnessed Xiao Yan's strength, she would have fully agreed with the Clan Leader.

The Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan took thousands of years to reach today; they could never return to the days when they were hunted by the Void Ancient Dragon Clan or enslaved by the Ancient Heaven Phoenix. Even a sliver of hope would make them fight to the death—after all, the worst outcome could only be a return to ancient times.

But she was gradually sensing that the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan might fall into an even more miserable fate than in ancient times.

At this moment, Xiao Yan, who had long left BiLuoHeaven, knew nothing of any of this.

After one and a half years, he fully refined the Bodhi Heart and the Huang Quan Demon Saint's blood, his cultivation realm rising to Two-Star Saint Late Stage. Though he had not broken through to Three-Star, this already filled Xiao Yan with immense satisfaction.

Xiao Yan went to the Huang Quan Shan Mai and found Cai Lin had not yet emerged from seclusion; after spending a few days playing with Xiao Xiao and Xiao Cai, he did not linger.

"Two-Star Saint Late Stage—hahaha! With this vast Dou Qi Continent before me, I, Xiao Yan, can go anywhere!" Xiao Yan soared across the sky of Shou Yu, freely traversing the entire realm.

Along the way, Xiao Yan sensed several extremely powerful magical beasts—many at the Semi-Saint level, even one Nine-Rank demonic tiger that had taken human form and hidden among the forests.

Shou Yu was a land teeming with hidden talents; besides the Three Great Demon Beast Families, there were also some powerful reclusive Magical Beast Families. But to Xiao Yan, these Nine-Rank magical beasts were not enough to make him wary.

As he himself had said: the world was vast, and he could go anywhere!

The only beings in Shou Yu stronger than Xiao Yan were likely Feng Tian of the Heavenly Demon Phoenix Clan and the Void Ancient Dragon Clan.

"It's been a long time since I last saw Zi Yan—that girl. Since I'm in Shou Yu now, I'll go visit her—see if I can lend a hand." Xiao Yan grinned, deeply missing Zi Yan.

After locking onto the direction, he waved his hand—and instantly tore open Space. With his current cultivation, a single step spanning a thousand li was an understatement.

As he twisted through Space, Xiao Yan appeared to walk step by step, yet each step crossed vast distances.

"Huh? Void Thunder Pool?" As Xiao Yan reached a certain location, just before arriving at East Dragon Island, his Soul Force Perception—elevated to Heavenly Realm Late Stage after refining the Bodhi Heart—detected a familiar sensation.

Xiao Yan stroked his chin, a hint of interest crossing his face, murmuring to himself: "Back then, even the Dean of the Lei Clan was driven back by the Black Demon Thunder deep within the Void Thunder Pool. Now my cultivation far surpasses his—I might as well go see what lies deep inside."

(End of Chapter)