Chapter 511: The Natal Tree Spirit of Nirvana

My temples throbbed violently; it was obvious that no matter how great the paulownia tree's power, it could not withstand that formation's force, and I would ultimately be pushed upward by the formation.

At this moment, what awaits me outside Mount Cangwu?

Does this also fall within Nirvana?

Nirvana…… Nirvana Tribulation……

So, I have not truly passed this tribulation yet.

Above my head, bird calls gradually increased.

They seemed to be eagerly waiting for something, unable to hold back a couple of cries.

This made my back go numb instantly.

I recalled the scene that night on Mount Song when the Empty Silence Abbott summoned a flock of eagles to peck at food.

I looked up, but saw nothing.

But I could imagine the scene of those birds waiting to feast on my flesh.

So I roughly guessed what formation that was below.

Nothing else but four words—voluntary sacrifice.

In the past, the Buddha cut his flesh to feed the eagles, and the Buddha became the Buddha.

Today, I too can be forced into "voluntary sacrifice."

The Nirvana fire completely entered my body, nourishing my flesh and blood; theoretically, before the Nirvana fire fully dissipates, I can endlessly regrow flesh and blood.

Likewise, I can endlessly offer my flesh and blood as sacrifice.

The place of Nirvana is not limited to that sea of fire.

Wherever the Nirvana Phoenix is, that is the place of Nirvana!

After they devour my flesh and blood, then what?

Will they become Nirvana Phoenixes? Will they be able to ascend?

This also reminded me of Li Qingying's story.

Her clansmen, her brothers and sisters, cut off her horn, mixed it with her fresh blood and swallowed it; thus they also grew horns.

It turns out the story of voluntary sacrifice that let the Buddha become the Buddha is not exclusive to Buddhism.

But they overlooked one thing.

The Buddha could become the Buddha because he held the world in his heart, saved all beings, and was immensely compassionate, merciful, loving, and impartial.

But in their hearts there is only endless greed, avarice, and killing karma!

They deserve to go to hell!

At that moment, a pale green light suddenly appeared ahead to the right, continuously extending toward us.

Immediately after, an aged voice sounded: "Ah Jiu, Ah Wu, follow the green light forward; no matter what happens or what you hear, do not turn back—I cannot send you far; the road ahead must be walked by yourselves."

Ah Jiu, Ah Wu……

This inexplicably familiar address seemed to come from a distant time and space, and I suddenly recalled something.

This cry of "Ah Jiu" is not Xiao Jiu, but the Ah Jiu of Feng Wu Jiu.

This aged voice came from the Wutong Granny.

Whether it was the Fire Witch God, the Phoenix Lynx Servant, or even my present self, all have received the Wutong Granny's care.

But my memory is chaotic; the harder I try to grasp a fragment, the more my head hurts.

Feng Wu choked up: "Granny……"

"Ah Wu, take Ah Jiu away; this is our mission, obey." The Wutong Granny urged, then lifted us a bit higher, bringing us before the green light.

Feng Wu took my hand, about to lead me onto that green, shining path; my toes touched it, then jerked back.

My foot indeed touched the ground, but the green light flowing along the surface was not like the white path laid for us by the Seven Halls Yama on Mount Hu.

These green lights…… are plant sap!

No need to ask; this is the Wutong Granny using her own bodily sap to guide us.

These sap carry mana; sending us farther consumes more of her strength, and her saying she cannot send us far means she will eventually wither and die from this depletion.

This path cannot be stepped onto lightly; once stepped on, there is no turning back.

I gritted my teeth and said, "Granny, I have already undergone rebirth; I want to go up and meet those birds."

"No, Ah Jiu, you cannot go up." The Wutong Granny sighed, saying, "Ah Jiu, are you reluctant to consume my mana? Silly Ah Jiu, my existence in this world is solely for your sake.

As the saying goes, a phoenix does not perch except on the paulownia; you bear the destiny of a golden phoenix and the form of a Nirvana Phoenix, having descended into the world—I sensed your birth, thus I broke through the soil, grew against the wind, accumulated spiritual qi here, awaiting the moment of your Nirvana.

True phoenix Nirvana, after undergoing the baptism of heavenly thunder and lightning, transforms the true form into a body of fire, soaring high on wings; as your natal tree spirit, I will exert all my power to sway branches and leaves, spraying sap and spiritual qi to help you extinguish fire and lift you to the highest branch.

Meanwhile, your kin, all the birds, will gather above at this moment; at your appearance they will loudly cry blood to feed you, and with the whole clan's strength pave a Nirvana path for you.

This is true phoenix Nirvana, a hundred birds facing the phoenix.

The formation of a single Nirvana Phoenix is the honor of the entire clan, and also the foundation of its continuation and prosperity; this is our mission, an unchanging law.

The Wutong Granny's words shocked me.

Yet I also became certain this is the truth.

Only my memory has been altered and scrambled, preventing me from recalling it at first.

"This is already your third Nirvana; the first time you nearly reached the top branch, but at that moment your head felt like it would split, your spirit collapsed, and you fell from the highest branch; the second time the opportunity for Nirvana had not arrived, yet you were determined to sacrifice yourself to the Nirvana fire, nearly destroying yourself; this is the third time, and also your last chance.

Whether your Nirvana succeeds or not, I will wither, and Mount Cangwu will collapse along with my withering; countless eyes above watch you, countless mouths await to eat your flesh and drink your blood.

They are well-trained, not for their own ascension, but to catalyze the Nirvana fire into forming a pill before its brief cooling period ends.

Forming a pill is the sign of successful phoenix Nirvana and fiery rebirth; if unable to form a pill, the Nirvana fire will reignite, burning you to ashes, declaring Nirvana a failure.

I understood.

Above should have been the bird flock to save me, but they were trained by Dìshì into my death-summoning birds.

His goal is to let me quickly form a golden core, guaranteeing Nirvana's ultimate success.

What he wants is this Nirvana Phoenix Inner Elixir.

This inner elixir can take my place, and it won't be as difficult to control as I am.

But he also wants the eggs in my belly.

Dìluàn said, Dìshì wants a phoenix fetus.

So, my inner elixir will ultimately be controlled and formed in the Little Guy's egg sac, while the Little Guy grows by absorbing Spiritual Qi, Merit, etc.

Once the inner elixir is absorbed into the egg sac, the Little Guy will grow swiftly in the wind and quickly mature.

He only needs to leave behind a mature phoenix egg, and it's two birds with one stone, while I... just like Dìluàn, am merely a puppet that can be used up and thrown away.

I'm even worse than Dìluàn; he only wanted Dìluàn's skin, yet he wants to feed me to a flock of birds!

So Wutong Granny won't let me go on an adventure, after all if I fail again, even a Great Luo Divine Immortal coming couldn't save me.

She used her last Xiūwéi and Mana to open another path of survival for me.

If I delay any longer, I will only disappoint Wutong Granny's painstaking efforts.

Wutong Granny's words having come to this, I only gritted my teeth, stepped onto the small path covered in Wutong sap, and ran forward...