[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world":3,"chapter-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-222":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Phoenix Returns to Rule the World",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2353346,4602,"Chapter 222: The Curtain Falls, Setting Sail","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-222",222,"\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi paced back and forth in the storeroom, his brain racing at high speed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He could not fathom how a thief had entered the storeroom without breaking any doors or windows, and made off with a mountain of gold and silver treasures in a single night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With so many items, it would take forever to move; even if he hired a whole group of people, they wouldn't finish in several days and nights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the thief had done it silently, leaving not a single footprint or even a strand of hair, as if the gold and silver treasures had grown wings and flown away on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The more Quan Tianyi thought, the more terrified he became. Suddenly, his heart skipped a beat, and he strode toward the study in three steps.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a creak, Quan Tianyi shoved the study door open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He crossed the room in a few strides to the secret compartment where the military tally was kept, but as his hand touched the edge of the compartment, he froze in mid-air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The compartment was completely empty; sure enough, the military tally had also vanished!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi’s pupils contracted sharply, his eyes bloodshot. He scanned the study, only to see the books on the shelves neatly arranged, the tables and chairs unmoved, and not a single strange footprint on the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He reached out to touch the area around the secret compartment; there were no scratch marks from prying, and everything was eerily quiet, as if no one had ever been there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, the military tally was truly gone. Beads of sweat the size of beans rolled down his forehead, his back was soaked through, his undergarments clung tightly to his skin, and a chill crept up his spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone, come here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi was nearly driven mad by a mix of shock, rage, and fear; his head felt as if it were about to smoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Come here!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He shouted again, his voice filled with a mix of despair, anger, and a hint of trembling.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Finally, hurried footsteps approached from afar. Several guards rushed into the study in a panic, knelt on the floor with a thud, and dared not even breathe loudly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Has any outsider been to the study?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Yi asked through gritted teeth, his hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles turning white.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard said with a trembling voice:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your Highness, other than the servants of the Wang Fu, no outsiders have entered or left these past few days.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi frowned deeply. If it wasn't an outsider, then there must be a mole in the household, but he thought for a long time and couldn't determine who had betrayed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He vaguely felt that the theft of the storeroom and the military tally were the work of the same person.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Search! Search the Wang Fu from top to bottom, inside and out, again! If you don't find the military tally, you will all pay with your heads!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi roared, kicking over a chair beside him with a loud crash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still not satisfied, he kicked the guard in front of him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guard trembled all over but dared not dodge, taking the kick head-on.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Get out!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Following Quan Tianyi’s angry shout, the guards received their orders and hurried away, their footsteps gradually fading at the end of the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without the military tally, his private army would be like scattered sand, impossible to control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And once this tally fell into the hands of others, especially the Emperor, his years of plotting would likely be exposed, and his life would be in jeopardy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Tianyi, who was frantically running around his estate and turning the Wang Fu upside down, would never know until his death how the items in his house had been lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of the palace, the Emperor sat before the dragon desk, toying with the newly acquired military tally, a meaningful smile curling his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yi'er, oh Yi'er, did you think I was blind? I have seen every one of your sneaky little maneuvers clearly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He whispered, his voice soft yet filled with unquestionable majesty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A flash of resolve crossed the Emperor's eyes:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Someone, tell the Dragon and Tiger Guards to seal the Wang Fu. No one is to enter or leave; those who disobey will be executed. Prince Yi is to be imprisoned for life. Seal the secret river passage, and execute all the Northern thieves and traitors.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The few rooms in Jun Ziqin’s space were packed to the brim, with no room left to step, and even the beds in her dormitory were piled high with boxes of gold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These gold and silver treasures were things she had impulsively swiped from the Wang Fu's storeroom while she was there to steal the military tally.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a thought, all these items had silently entered her space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, these gold and silver pieces bore the mark of the Wang Fu, so they had to stay there for now; she would need to find time to melt them down before she could openly spend them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin looked at the boxes piled high, almost to the ceiling, and felt delighted. She reckoned Quan Tianyi’s pockets were cleaner than his face right now; tsk tsk, that expression must be spectacular.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If one were to ask who was the richest person in the world, it was none other than Jun Ziqin; her private wealth could easily rival several national treasuries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she emerged from her space, triumphant, Feiying appeared with a look of schadenfreude.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Master, something has happened at the Wang Fu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A faint smile curled Jun Ziqin’s lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Oh? What happened? Tell me.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feiying hurriedly said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I heard that Concubine Jun died suddenly, taking her unborn child with her. She died a miserable death, tsk tsk, her insides were completely rotted before she breathed her last. Also, the Wang Fu has been surrounded, and Prince Yi is imprisoned for life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin said with a calm expression:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Jun Yiyi brought this upon herself. As for Quan Tianyi... only imprisonment? But I wanted his life.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feiying nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Quan Tianyi certainly deserves to die. Does Master already have a plan?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin pondered for a moment, her gaze darkening, and gave a few instructions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Emperor wouldn't kill him, then let the heavens take him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feiying was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Will this work?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was full of doubts about this plan; after all, it sounded too incredible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin’s lips curled slightly, her smile carrying a hint of unquestionable confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You'll know once you try.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the blink of an eye, spring arrived, and thunder rumbled in the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A strange event occurred in Tianqi, and many people witnessed it: a bolt of lightning struck straight down onto the roof of the Wang Fu, hitting the very room where Prince Yi was imprisoned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The roof was blown off, and the Wang Fu erupted into a raging inferno.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Flames shot into the sky, turning half the horizon red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, no one dared to put out the fire. People were whispering, saying this was Heaven punishing Prince Yi, and no one dared to provoke the heavens.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the eyes of the crowd, this was the will of Heaven, a judgment on Quan Tianyi’s crimes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only Feiying knew the truth of the matter; it was simply that he had hidden iron on the roof of the Wang Fu beforehand, as Jun Ziqin had instructed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the power of nature, he had completed this lightning strike that appeared to be the will of Heaven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Wang Fu burned for days and nights, and Quan Tianyi died, burned to nothing but ash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor slowly closed his eyes, filled with helplessness, sighs, and memories of the past.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heaven's will, it is all Heaven's will. Yi'er, you committed every evil deed. I had originally intended to just lock you away for life, but the heavens would not let you go... I only hope that in your next life, you will be a good person.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin and Quan Aoyu stood in the distance, watching the sea of fire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin let out a soft breath, as if a boulder that had been weighing on her heart for a long time had finally been lifted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Aoyu looked at her, his gaze filled with complex emotions, both admiration and a hint of worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This has finally completely eliminated a great scourge.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin said in a low voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"But your actions, in the end, were a scheme against the heavens. I worry...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He worried that one day Jun Ziqin would suddenly disappear, just as she had suddenly appeared by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ever since the Phoenix Ring recognized its master and the phoenix was reborn, she had been familiar with everything in the Phoenix Ring space, and he knew her origins were not simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although she said nothing, she also hid nothing. He asked nothing, but he knew in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Aoyu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin chuckled and leaned her head gently on his shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Heaven is just; for every cause, there is an effect. I merely borrowed its hand. Don't worry, we will both be fine.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, a breeze blew, bringing with it a faint scent of smoke. Jun Ziqin coughed a few times, and Quan Aoyu hurriedly stepped forward to pat her back gently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What are your plans for the future?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Aoyu asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I want to go to Hepu County to see it, and build a hospital there. I want to travel, practice medicine, teach, and help more people. I also want to go to the Northern Kingdom.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin raised her eyes to look into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Quan Aoyu was slightly stunned, then smiled:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I will accompany you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jun Ziqin glanced at him and did not refuse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, Quan Tianchen, dressed in white and as elegant as an immortal, had intended to walk toward them, but when he saw the two of them leaning against each other, he smiled and quietly backed away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two turned and left the sea of fire, the flames behind them gradually diminishing, becoming a thrilling chapter in their legendary story.\u003C\u002Fp>",1698,"2026-06-21T03:35:40.407Z",1,"Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite","a951ba3f37bbea039bfe588c66a629d3ab5213e5e32270b37a428857ffd499de","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-223","the-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-chapter-221",224,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-phoenix-returns-to-rule-the-world-cover.jpg"]