Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality

Everyone present knew a little about the Dao Seeking Sect’s ethos. Although their ethos wasn’t perfect, they weren’t known for gossiping. They wouldn’t spread this matter around just because they knew about it.

So, the truth about the Phoenix Bloodstone would likely only circulate within the Dao Seeking Sect.

Everyone’s eyes turned back to Jiang Shan. He didn’t mind that the Dao Seeking Sect members were now aware of the truth.

“Who doesn’t know the reputation of the Dao Seeking Sect? They slay demons and monsters, uphold righteousness, and keep their promises. I believe you won’t spread this matter around.”

After all, it wasn’t the first time the phoenix clan had lost face with the Dao Seeking Sect. Compared to that previous incident, selling blood wasn’t such a big deal.

The three of them nodded, thinking it wasn’t a big deal.

Li Haoran, curious, pointed at the officials making Phoenix Bloodstones in the distance. “County Governor, how do you ensure they don’t leak the secret? By paying them more?”

There were quite a few officials working here, at least a dozen. If even one of them leaked the secret, the truth about the Phoenix Bloodstones wouldn’t be safe.

Who knows if someone might carelessly blurt it out.

The county governor shook his head. “They certainly won’t leak the secret.”

“Why not?”

“You should know that wearing a Phoenix Bloodstone for a long time enhances virility. Ultimately, it’s the phoenix blood’s effect.”

“If merely wearing a Phoenix Bloodstone can enhance virility, imagine the effect of working in an environment filled with their blood mist.”

“If anyone leaks the secret, none of them will be allowed to work here again.”

“Alright.”

“By the way, I’ve heard that a phoenix can be reborn from fire. Is that true?” Lu Yang recalled the old phoenix not long ago, bathing in True Fire, as if about to be resurrected. This ancient legend came to mind.

Jiang Shan nodded solemnly, filled with reverence and admiration. “Yes, but it’s almost a legend even within our phoenix clan.”

“According to legend, in ancient times, our phoenix clan had an ancestor who reached a state just a step away from attaining an immortal ariya-phala, exuding supreme majesty with every move, capable of altering the heavens with a single thought. In the history of the phoenix clan, she was the strongest, unmatched even within the demon clan’s records.”

“This ancestor had a titanic battle with the dragon clan’s ancestor. That battle shattered the stars and extinguished the sun, leaving the universe in deathly silence.”

“No one knows the outcome of that battle. A great power from our phoenix clan at the Tribulation Crossing Stage witnessed a fragment of the battle from afar.”

“He saw our ancestor lying quietly in the cosmos, lifeless, her soul silent, completely dead.”

“Her body floated like a small boat on the waves, while the dragon clan’s ancestor remained vigilant.”

“Suddenly, celestial fire rose from our ancestor’s body. She bathed in the celestial fire, spread her wings, and let out a resounding cry to the heavens. The celestial fire was dazzling, brighter than the sun. She emitted waves of phoenix cries that echoed through the universe.”

“It wasn’t just our phoenix clan; many at the Tribulation Crossing Stage watched this epic battle from afar and witnessed this scene. If you get a chance to browse through the records of other demon clans, you can find related accounts.”

“Since then, the saying ‘phoenix reborn from fire’ has existed. But it’s something only our ancestor could achieve. Some speculate that perhaps only by reaching our ancestor’s level can one transcend life and death, resurrecting after death. Thus, for ordinary phoenixes, the idea of being reborn from fire is nothing more than a legend.”

Jiang Shan spoke humbly, though he was a pure-blooded phoenix, a rarity even among the phoenix clan, with noble blood and high status. Without such an identity, how could he have received guidance from the Third Senior Sister, Gan Tian, and come to Luo Feng County to oversee the production of Phoenix Bloodstones?

“So, the rebirth by fire is real. I always thought it was a baseless legend,” Su Yiren said, eyes widened. She seldom interacted with people, let alone conversed with the phoenix clan.

The others also nodded, expressing their newfound understanding. “That phoenix ancestor must have reached a transcendent level, far beyond the ordinary Tribulation Crossing Stage,” someone remarked.

“Dare I ask where this phoenix ancestor is now?” Lu Yang was particularly interested, hoping to learn about the whereabouts of the Qilin Immortal through the phoenix ancestor.

Jiang Shan shook his head. “The ancestor has been missing for a long time. Even the oldest elders in the clan don’t know where she is.”

“Fairy, do you know anything about the phoenix’s rebirth by fire?” Lu Yang suddenly remembered Everlasting Fairy, his invaluable resource within his spiritual space.

Everlasting Fairy was sleeping and was woken up by Lu Yang.

She rubbed her eyes, yawning, barely able to keep her eyes open. “What did you just ask?”

“Do you know anything about the phoenix’s rebirth by fire?” Lu Yang repeated.

Still groggy, Everlasting Fairy struggled to recall. She tilted her head back, thinking hard. “Oh, yes, there is such a thing.”

As expected of the foremost of the five ancient immortals, her knowledge was vast.

The saying “Having an elder at home is like having a treasure” certainly applied here.

After another yawn, Everlasting Fairy continued, “I remember a long time ago, a prodigy from the dragon clan and a prodigy from the phoenix clan fought over a man. I was just watching from the side. The two of them were ruthless, using all sorts of tricks—setting things on fire, pulling hair, cursing each other. Quite the spectacle.”

“Wait, what do you mean by ‘setting things on fire, pulling hair, and cursing’?” Lu Yang thought this didn’t sound like a fight between two Tribulation Crossing Stage powerhouses.

“Oh, they were using their clan’s true flames to attack each other, burning semi-immortal level talismans, and using each other’s hair to set up curses,” Everlasting Fairy explained offhandedly.

“…Please continue.”

“Anyway, they fought fiercely. As the battle progressed, it became clear that the dragon clan prodigy had the upper hand.”

“They weren’t fighting for the first time. The dragon clan prodigy’s win rate was about sixty percent, so her winning this time was normal.”

“Just as I thought the fight was about to end, the phoenix clan prodigy used a technique she learned from me—playing dead. She lay on the ground, feigning death, her life force dissipating, making it impossible for anyone to tell she was still alive.”

“The dragon clan prodigy was baffled. Declaring victory felt hollow, but saying she lost was ridiculous. However, she couldn’t strike a dead person; that would look bad.”

“Then she had a clever idea—to burn the phoenix clan prodigy.”

“The phoenix clan prodigy was in such pain from the fire that she cried out and sprang up, her scream echoing through the universe.”

“Somehow, this got turned into the story of the phoenix reborn from fire. Who knows who spread that rumor—so unethical.”

Everlasting Fairy shook her head, displeased with the phoenix clan prodigy. “She hadn’t mastered the art of playing dead. If it were me, I would have continued pretending.”

“Fortunately, no one knows I taught her that. It’s embarrassing to say I was her teacher, given how poorly she performed.”

Lu Yang: “…”

You’re the one who’s embarrassing, Fairy.