Chapter 954

The male phoenix's forbearance and steadfastness were seen by everyone.

Especially Shan Shan and Ao Jing, they once again witnessed such righteousness of the male phoenix, and were once again shocked and moved by him.

Shan Shan felt as if a fire burned in her chest; she anxiously glanced at Xiao Jiu, then at Ao Jing.

She wanted to help the male phoenix.

She did not want him to die.

Actually, everyone present—whose heart isn't in extreme anguish?

A Cheng devoted himself entirely to the great cause of the Feng Clan; he cherished talent the most.

During the time the male phoenix stayed with the Feng Clan, A Cheng truly taught him hand in hand.

The male phoenix also possessed extraordinary talent; A Cheng liked him more and more the more he looked.

What a pity that heaven envies talent!

In this situation, anyone with clear eyes can see that the male phoenix is using his own body as a vessel, sealing the Dust-Sealing Pearl within him.

He intends to perish together with the Dust-Sealing Pearl.

No, to be precise, what he wants to trap is not the Dust-Sealing Pearl itself, but the spirit that depends on the Dust-Sealing Pearl for its existence.

This is the only method available now.

"Shan Shan, give me a fire." the male phoenix hoarsely shouted.

Just after shouting that sentence, he began to cough violently, each cough bringing out a spray of fresh blood.

Shan Shan shook her head straight away; she could not be such an executioner.

But at that very moment, the male phoenix's face suddenly showed lacerated wounds, very similar to those on A Cheng's body.

A Cheng immediately said, "The male phoenix can't hold on much longer; that thing is using the mana of the illusory space to break the seal on his body!"

"I'm in so much pain." the male phoenix said weakly, "Shan Shan, please give me a quick end…… Don't be afraid, this is voluntary on my part; I won't blame you, I will only be grateful to you……"

The wounds on the male phoenix's body kept increasing; his body swayed, his eyes ached, and he could no longer keep them open.

Ao Jing gripped Shan Shan's hand tightly and said hoarsely, "Go, Shan Shan, use your true feather power to give him a swift end."

Ao Jing also felt terrible in his heart, but if he could take Shan Shan's place, he would never let her face this.

Shan Shan clenched her lips, her eye sockets filled with red, tears swirling.

But she still let go of Ao Jing's hand.

Just as Shan Shan prepared to face this cruel reality, a figure stepped in front of her.

Xiao Jiu transformed into phoenix form, flapped its wings and flew above the male phoenix, its sharp phoenix claws gripping his body and lifting him up.

No one knew what Xiao Jiu intended; when the male phoenix was seized, the crowd burst into exclamations.

Shan Shan stood frozen in place, unconsciously murmuring, "Mom……"

Xiao Jiu seized the male phoenix and flew straight toward Mount Cangwu.

During this process, Xiao Jiu cried out several times, opened its long beak, and fresh blood dripped from its beak onto the male phoenix's lips.

At first, the male phoenix's consciousness was already somewhat hazy.

In order to seal the spirit inside the Dust-Sealing Pearl with his body, he spared no effort to reverse his meridians, causing his essence blood to flow backward and his internal qi to run wild; if Shan Shan did not intervene, using her true feather power to pour into his body to make him burst apart, even if he endured to the end, the outcome would be the same.

Doing this is very risky and gruesome, but the success rate could reach seventy or eighty percent.

The male phoenix felt that wagering his life on a seventy- to eighty-percent chance was still worthwhile.

In his muddled consciousness, fresh blood rich with vital essence dripped onto his lips, quickly absorbed by him, and the male phoenix suddenly opened his eyes.

One drop, two drops…… fresh blood kept flowing into his mouth, and the male phoenix's spirit and vigor returned all at once.

He looked up in surprise and saw Shan Shan's mother, the phoenix called Feng Wu Jiu.

Initially, it was she who sensed him hidden deep in the earth's veins.

Later, it was also because of her that the Earth Vein Dragon God, Shan Shan, and others helped him, allowing him to successfully hatch and come into this world.

One could say that this woman has granted him a rebirth.

And now, she is feeding him with her own phoenix essence blood……

The male phoenix was puzzled; this move of his was a dead end, why would she waste her own phoenix essence blood to sustain his life?

Before the male phoenix could even ask, Xiao Jiu's voice echoed in his sea of consciousness: "Whether Shan Shan uses her true feather power to help you burst apart, or you yourself hold out until the end and burst apart, there is a certain chance it will be futile; that creature, relying on the Dust-Sealing Pearl for its existence, cannot die even in the Nirvana fire domain— a mere burst may not even faze it, and more importantly, your body might already be torn apart by the illusory space before you burst."

The male phoenix's eyes widened sharply.

The pain continuously coming from every part of his body clearly told him that Xiao Jiu's words were correct.

Bursting apart to die was merely the best ideal outcome he could imagine, but reality was not optimistic.

The male phoenix, feeling somewhat defeated, said, "This…… this is already the limit of my ability."

"No, this is not your limit." Xiao Jiu said, "Male phoenix, you are the unique fire seed left by the ancient Feng Clan; your genes are exceptionally excellent, and your conduct has withstood trials; we all wish you to live."

"A phoenix as outstanding as you, having never undergone a single Nirvana, how can you claim to have reached your limit? Since you have the courage to face death, why not gamble on Nirvana rebirth?"

The male phoenix murmured, repeating Xiao Jiu's words: "Nirvana rebirth……"

"Yes, Nirvana rebirth." Xiao Jiu said, "During the Nirvana process, do your best to fuse with the Dust-Sealing Pearl; the Pearl is essentially a phoenix gallbladder, sharing the same origin as you, you can do it; the spirit that has left the Dust-Sealing Pearl cannot survive in the Nirvana fire domain."

At this moment, the male phoenix felt his heart pounding violently.

He had never considered this before.

Xiao Jiu continued, "Of course, all of us will stand guard around Mount Cangwu, waiting for you, hoping that the one who finally walks out from within will be you!"

As they spoke, they had already arrived above Mount Cangwu.

Everyone also followed along.

Liu Junyan immediately resealed the earth veins around Mount Cangwu, and Ao Jing stood ready at any moment to draw the water of the Ling Sea over.

No one knew Xiao Jiu's and the male phoenix's plan, but their trust in Xiao Jiu made them cooperate without reservation.

"I am willing to give it a try." the male phoenix said, "I will do my utmost."

As a phoenix, to finally die in the Nirvana fire region is also an honor.

Moreover, he might not die at all.

Before Xiao Jiu released the male phoenix, she raised her head and let out another hiss.

A flash of light from the Five-Colored Earth appeared between her brows.

Lowering her head again, as the phoenix essence blood dripped into the male phoenix's mouth, five-colored light flashed.

When the male phoenix swallowed that mouthful of phoenix essence blood, it felt something different.

He felt an invisible force surge through his entire body in an instant, and most of the numerous wounds torn open by the illusory space on his body began to heal rapidly.

"Go." Xiao Jiu released the male phoenix, "We await your triumphant return."