Chapter 856: Immortal Smoke Descends

On the summit of Mount Fuji, Lingyun's figure stepped out from the Void, standing still as he gazed at the crater before him.

"Come to think of it, time really does fly!" Lingyun spoke. "Mokou should have awakened by now, too."

In Lingyun's perception, the battle inside the crater had long since ended, and the figures of the Phoenix and Mokou were buried beneath the lava. His Divine Sense penetrated the lava, allowing him to glimpse the scene beneath its surface. Beneath the lava, a golden-red giant egg over a person tall emitted a faint glow. As the egg's light flickered, the fiery power within the lava was drawn into it one after another.

Divine Sense seeped into the egg, and inside the shell lay not a slumbering Phoenix, but a girl curled into a ball. Clearly, in this battle, it was the girl who had the last laugh, successfully devouring the Phoenix's power.

Suddenly, the sleeping girl snapped her eyes open, awakening from her slumber.

"Crack, crack—"

Countless fissures appeared on the eggshell, and strands of golden-red fire seeped out from the gaps. The emergence of the fire instantly stirred the entire lava pool, causing the silent crater to erupt once more.

"You came just in time!" Lingyun gazed at the frantically boiling lava, a hint of a smile appearing on his face.

"Boom—"

A massive lava column shot into the sky, wildly unleashing nature's might as Mount Fuji erupted in its most violent volcanic eruption. Even those dozens of miles away could see the smoke column formed by the volcanic ash shooting into the heavens.

Suddenly, the soaring lava column was split open by a streak of golden-red light from within. Accompanied by a clear, crisp cry, the light transformed into a golden-red firebird that flew and circled around the crater, as if celebrating its rebirth.

Lingyun narrowed his eyes at the Phoenix in the sky, with no intention of going up to disturb it. The Phoenix circling in the sky spotted Lingyun standing at the crater's edge, let out a pleasant cry, and lunged toward him.

Golden-red flames rose as the Phoenix, in midair, transformed into a girl's form and dove straight into Lingyun's embrace. Lingyun extended both hands, catching the girl falling from the sky. Though flames rose on the girl's body, not even a corner of his clothing was scorched.

Lingyun gazed at the girl in his arms, the corner of his mouth lifting into a familiar smile. Her black hair and eyes were now things of the past; the present Fujiwara no Mokou had hair like snow and vermilion eyes like fire, with flickering flames visible within. Her clothing had long since turned to ash in her struggle with the Phoenix, and golden-red flames veiled her naked, delicate form, outlining a splendid feathered robe. At this moment, the girl exuded a breathtaking beauty.

"Master, I'm back!" Fujiwara no Mokou threw herself into Lingyun's embrace, her voice carrying a hint of heaviness.

"Welcome back, Mokou." Lingyun smiled and tightened his hold on the girl in his arms.

Fujiwara no Mokou, embraced by Lingyun, pressed her face against his chest, her body trembling slightly. Although she had successfully defeated the Phoenix this time, recalling the battle's circumstances left her still with lingering fear.

Facing the near-immortal Phoenix, Fujiwara no Mokou was initially at a disadvantage in battle, repeatedly burned by its flames to the brink of collapse. Yet each time, she felt an unknown force supporting her, calming her— as if Lingyun were beside her.

Relying on this state, Fujiwara no Mokou and the Phoenix engaged in a fierce offensive and defensive battle in the lava pool, trading life for injury, dragging the Phoenix repeatedly into the brink of Nirvana. Ultimately, the berserk Phoenix swallowed Fujiwara no Mokou whole, transforming itself into the purest Nirvana Fire and directly activating its Nirvana power, attempting to overwhelm Fujiwara no Mokou, who possessed immortality.

In this life-or-death struggle, Fujiwara no Mokou, sustained by the Eternal Mark, ultimately prevailed. The Great Youkai-level Phoenix was completely consumed in Nirvana, becoming the foundation for Fujiwara no Mokou's title of Immortal Smoke.

"You did well, Mokou." After the girl in his arms calmed down, Lingyun smiled and stroked her head.

"Ugh—" The girl in Lingyun's embrace, after calming, flushed red in the cheeks and hurriedly broke free from his hold.

"Well done, Mokou." Lingyun casually pulled, and a spatial door opened before him. "But for now, we should head back to the Bamboo Forest."

"Alright." Fujiwara no Mokou naturally obeyed Lingyun's words.

After returning to the Bamboo House, Fujiwara no Mokou hurriedly ran toward her room. Though she wore clothing woven from fire, in Lingyun's presence she always felt as if she were not wearing anything.

"Mokou has grown up too!" Watching Fujiwara no Mokou rush away, Lingyun suddenly chuckled.

Lingyun couldn't help but recall the first time he saw Fujiwara no Mokou— back then, her personality was timid, and her body, weakened by long-term malnutrition, appeared extremely frail. When he first arrived in the Bamboo Forest, he had spent considerable effort nursing her health. Combined with Kaguya's guidance, Mokou's personality gradually became more open.

Gazing at Fujiwara no Mokou, now dressed and walking out of her room, a hint of relief appeared on Lingyun's face. The little girl from before had now grown into a graceful young woman. In every movement, there was a trace of a strong presence— compared to the past, it was as if heaven and earth apart.

"Hmm, is this the satisfaction after raising a girl?" Lingyun's thoughts drifted without him realizing it.

"Master, what are you thinking about?" Fujiwara no Mokou sat down beside Lingyun, asking curiously.

"Nothing much, just some feelings— Mokou, you've grown up!" Lingyun said.

"No matter how Mokou changes, she will always be my student." Fujiwara no Mokou looked at Lingyun and said. "By the way, Master, I recall I've been asleep for quite a while— I wonder if the Lunar War has already begun?"

"Actually, Mokou, your awakening timing is perfect— Yakumo Yukari's side is nearly ready. As soon as the next full moon night arrives, it will be the time for youkai to attack the Moon Capital."

"The next full moon night? That's only a few days away!" Fujiwara no Mokou's tone carried a hint of eagerness; she wanted to test just how strong her power had become after overcoming the Phoenix.

"Mokou, I think you need proper training to learn how to control the power within you." Feeling the surrounding temperature rise due to Fujiwara no Mokou's excitement, Lingyun spoke.

"Yes, Master!"

Fujiwara no Mokou also knew that her sudden surge in power had weakened her control over it, otherwise she wouldn't have experienced power leakage due to emotional shifts. Normally, this wouldn't be a serious issue— a little time to adjust would suffice. But now time is short, and in a few days she must head to the Lunar battlefield, so she must seize this moment to train urgently.

"Then rest a bit, and we'll begin!" Lingyun said as he rose to his feet.