Chapter 449: Little Mingming, Be Surprised

The Phoenix Demonic Lotus still bloomed, refusing to wither. It was as enchanting and beautiful as a heavenly sacred flower, yet it emitted a destructive aura like hellish magma.

In the center of the Demonic Lotus, a fiery stamen slowly lifted a figure. Yun Che, engulfed in flames and wielding a heavy sword, appeared in everyone's sight. He appeared somewhat weak, his body trembling slightly, and he was gasping for breath, seemingly struggling even to stand. Yet, his gaze remained so sharp that no one dared to meet it directly. People stared at him blankly... At that moment, it was as if they were witnessing a Flame Monarch ruling over the world!

“This is... the fifth and sixth stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture! A realm your Phoenix Divine Sect... has never achieved! For five thousand years, the highest realm your Divine Phoenix's Phoenix Nirvana Scripture reached was merely the fourth stage!” Yun Che gasped, his voice booming like thunder with every word: “Now, are you still going to claim... that my Phoenix bloodline comes from your Phoenix Divine Sect?!!”

Yun Che had come to this Seven Nations Ranking Tournament precisely to resolve his grievances with the Phoenix Divine Sect... However, this 'resolution' was not about clearing all enmity with the Phoenix Divine Sect, nor was it destined to be. The outcome he desired was to shift the Phoenix Divine Sect from being the aggressor to being on the defensive, under the watchful eyes of the entire world!

As he possessed the Phoenix bloodline, the Phoenix Divine Sect's intention to 'cleanse their lineage' seemed perfectly justifiable in the eyes of the world. But if he could prove that his bloodline did not originate from the Phoenix Divine Sect, then their pursuit would lack any legitimate cause.

The best opportunity for this was the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, observed by heroes from across the land and attended by the Four Sacred Grounds!

Otherwise, if he were to confront the Phoenix Divine Sect directly, even if he could truly prove his bloodline was not from them... it would be akin to seeking death.

Furthermore, after gaining renown throughout the world at the ranking tournament, the Phoenix Divine Sect would not dare to openly kill him, and even attempting an assassination would be fraught with complications.

Before coming to Divine Phoenix City, the best method Yun Che had conceived to prove his point was to defeat the strongest of the Phoenix Divine Sect's younger generation, leaving them speechless and forcing them to acknowledge it! If the Phoenix Divine Sect still insisted on blaming him, then the Four Sacred Grounds, always upholding their reputation for benevolence and righteousness, would very likely intervene. The profound practitioners from the six nations present would also side with him, given the historical glory he brought to their nations, putting pressure on the Divine Phoenix Empire... However, the chances of success were only fifty-fifty. But after Jasmine informed him that the Phoenix Spirit had been extinguished, his chances of success rose to seventy or eighty percent.

With this, he could unreservedly display the fifth and sixth stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture! This would serve as the most solid and irrefutable proof of his bloodline!

As for Xia Yuanba's arrival, which indirectly provided him with an additional layer of protection from the Absolute Monarch Sanctuary, that was entirely unforeseen.

The Phoenix Demonic Lotus began to slowly wither. After ten breaths, it completely vanished from everyone's sight, but the shock and visual impact it had created were deeply imprinted in everyone's minds.

Admittedly, doing this would undoubtedly make the Phoenix Divine Sect even more determined to kill him... because they would never allow another Phoenix lineage to appear and proliferate on the Profound Sky Continent, especially one whose Phoenix profound arts were two full stages higher than their own! They would also intensely covet his Phoenix Nirvana Scripture.

However, Yun Che would rather the Phoenix Divine Sect harbor a killing intent a hundred or a thousand times stronger than before, than allow them to pursue him as if it were their undeniable right! Nor would he allow himself to be seen by the world as someone who was rightfully being hunted down!

This was his dignity and his arrogance!

After the Burning Star Demonic Lotus disappeared, the bodies of the nine Phoenix disciples reappeared in the area previously covered by the fiery lotus. They were all covered in blood, each severely injured, but none had died. Evidently, despite being engulfed by the fiery lotus, they had not been harmed... This was Yun Che granting face and leeway to the Phoenix Divine Sect, even a form of benevolence... Because if the nine most talented young disciples of their generation were to perish, it would be an incalculable loss to the Phoenix Divine Sect.

Whether they appreciated this gesture or had any shame was up to the Phoenix Divine Sect itself. For Yun Che, who was usually vindictive, to go to such lengths was truly an act of utmost benevolence and righteousness.

In the silence, a sharp voice from the spectator stands completely shattered the stillness.

“Wow! Did you hear that? The fifth and sixth stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture! Doesn't the Phoenix Divine Sect's Phoenix Nirvana Scripture only have four stages? What is going on?!!”

The speaker was none other than Ling Jie. He mustered all his profound energy, amplifying his voice to the maximum, as if afraid someone might not hear him.

“Isn't it obvious?!” Hua Minghai immediately chimed in, his voice several times louder than Ling Jie's: “It proves that Yun Che's Phoenix bloodline and Phoenix Nirvana Scripture are simply not from the Phoenix Divine Sect.”

“Huh? But isn't the Phoenix Divine Sect the only one on the Profound Sky Continent with the Phoenix bloodline and Phoenix Nirvana Scripture?!”

“Are you stupid?! The Phoenix Divine Sect's Phoenix bloodline comes from the inheritance of a remnant Phoenix spirit, but who told you there's only one Phoenix inheritance on the Profound Sky Continent?! The fact that only the Phoenix Divine Sect had the Phoenix bloodline for the past five thousand years merely means that other Phoenix inheritances hadn't been discovered yet, and now, Yun Che has found one. Didn't Yun Che clearly state earlier that his Phoenix bloodline isn't from the Phoenix Divine Sect, but from another Phoenix inheritance?”

“Before, I certainly wouldn't have believed it. However, Feng Xiluo, the most talented of this generation in the Phoenix Divine Sect, and thus the one with the strongest Phoenix bloodline power, was completely defeated by Yun Che. Now Yun Che has also displayed the power of the fifth and sixth stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture... These two points are ironclad proof! If you still don't believe this, then your head must be full of shit!!”

“That's right! Yun Che's Phoenix bloodline absolutely cannot be from the Phoenix Divine Sect, and his Phoenix Nirvana Scripture is even less likely to be... Wow! So there's another Phoenix inheritance on our Profound Sky Continent! My heart is pounding with excitement! After the ranking tournament, I must desperately search for it... No one can stop me!”

Ling Jie and Hua Minghai, speaking in perfect harmony, swayed everyone's thoughts with every word. The arena gradually became filled with fervent discussions. If, at the start of the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, Yun Che had claimed his Phoenix bloodline wasn't from the Phoenix Divine Sect, absolutely no one in the audience would have believed him. But he had completely defeated Feng Xiluo and then demonstrated higher stages, two full stages higher, of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture... This left no room for disbelief!

The discussions in the arena grew louder and louder, almost all centered on the idea that 'Yun Che's bloodline could not possibly be from the Phoenix Divine Sect'. The Phoenix Divine Sect's Sect Master, elders, and princes all wore grim expressions. They had absolutely not anticipated events unfolding in this manner.

Originally, the Phoenix Divine Sect had merely regarded Yun Che as an ordinary individual with leaked bloodline, and figures of Feng Hengkong and Feng Feiyan's stature had only occasionally inquired about him, never truly taking it to heart... because no matter who the person was, they could not escape the fate of having their 'lineage cleansed'. They even disdained to let Yun Che interfere with the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament's schedule, so they hadn't proactively mentioned his Phoenix bloodline during the competition.

But unexpectedly, under Yun Che's step-by-step guidance and display, the situation had evolved into something they could never have dreamed of.

Now, even they themselves believed that Yun Che's bloodline was indeed not from the Phoenix Divine Sect, and his Phoenix Nirvana Scripture certainly wasn't either... However, they absolutely could not admit this fact. Once publicly acknowledged, they would lose all right to 'protect their bloodline' and 'cleanse their lineage' concerning Yun Che. And after today, Yun Che was bound to become famous throughout the world. At that point, not only would they be unable to openly attack him, but even covert attempts would become incredibly difficult... It was likely that if anyone else targeted Yun Che, suspicions would immediately fall on the Phoenix Divine Sect.

If they were to admit Yun Che's bloodline and allow him to leave safely today, then on the Profound Sky Continent, their Phoenix Divine Sect would no longer be the sole Sect of Divine Spirit! How could they permit such a thing to happen!

Feng Ximing glanced at Feng Hengkong's grim face, took a deep breath, stood up, and loudly declared: “Nonsense! Absolute nonsense! Do not be deceived by his blatant fabrications! On the Profound Sky Continent, since ancient times, there has only been one Phoenix God, and only one sect inheriting the Phoenix legacy! Our Phoenix Divine Sect's great Phoenix God has stated more than once that it is the sole remnant Phoenix spirit on the entire Profound Sky Continent! If other remnant Phoenix spirits existed, how could our esteemed Phoenix God not have detected them! If other Phoenix inheritances existed, how could they have remained undiscovered for five thousand years?!!”

“This Yun Che... no matter how he argues or conceals it, his Phoenix profound veins absolutely cannot be from any other Phoenix inheritance; coming from our Phoenix Divine Sect is the only possibility!”

Feng Ximing's words were firm and righteous, but to anyone listening, they clearly sounded like specious arguments. Xia Yuanba immediately turned his head and roared, “You're spouting nonsense! My brother-in-law single-handedly defeated your Phoenix Divine Sect's top ten disciples, leaving them worse than dogs! How dare you claim my brother-in-law's bloodline is from your Phoenix Divine Sect? Pah!! This is an absolute insult to my brother-in-law!”

Xia Yuanba's words were utterly domineering and incredibly crude, their severity akin to a bucket of faeces being splashed onto the face of the dignified Divine Phoenix Crown Prince in full view of everyone. Feng Ximing's face instantly turned a liver-like purple, and Yun Che also stared wide-eyed... My heavens! Did that really come out of Yuanba's mouth!?

“Yuanba, that's enough rudeness!” Real Man Gu Cang secretly gave a bitter smile and could only offer a symbolic reprimand, then added: “However, in my humble opinion, Yun Che's bloodline indeed should not be from your esteemed sect. His Phoenix Nirvana Scripture alone is enough to explain everything.”

Although Real Man Gu Cang's words were mild, given his strength, background, prestige, and status, he was undoubtedly the most authoritative voice in the entire arena. His statement was clearly an act of support for Yun Che... It was laughable! His direct disciple was practically risking his life for Yun Che, so he couldn't possibly remain silent even if he wanted to. Moreover, he had developed admiration and appreciation for Yun Che's talent; even without Xia Yuanba's connection, he would have spoken up for Yun Che.

Real Man Gu Cang's intervention made Feng Hengkong and the others' expressions turn even uglier. Feng Ximing took a deep breath, bowed to Real Man Gu Cang, and forced himself to say: “Senior Gu's words naturally carry immense weight. However... this matter concerns the bloodline taboo of my Phoenix Divine Sect, and there can be no compromise whatsoever. His defeat of my fourteenth imperial brother only indicates his high talent; it has nothing to do with the purity or origin of his bloodline. Those two moves he just displayed... he merely claimed they were the fifth and sixth stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture! Who in this world has ever truly witnessed higher stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture? Even our sect's Phoenix God does not possess knowledge of higher stages of the Phoenix Nirvana Scripture, so how could he possibly have them?!! Clearly, those were just other flame profound arts he used as a disguise!!”

As soon as Feng Ximing finished speaking, Real Man Gu Cang frowned slightly, and Xia Yuanba's hair instantly stood on end. Just as he was about to burst into curses, a delicate voice suddenly rang out:

“Oh my, oh my, oh my... Look at what Little Mingming is saying, how utterly shameless! I simply can’t bear to listen anymore... Little Mingming, it’s not like I’m talking about you, but you’re still the Divine Phoenix’s little Crown Prince, and your father is Little Kongkong. How can you speak with such an utter lack of shame...? As a person, you really need some shame. Even if you don’t want shame, the Phoenix Divine Sect still needs it. Even if the Phoenix Divine Sect has no shame left, the Divine Phoenix Nation still needs it... Little Mingming, be good, quickly pick up the shame you’ve discarded. I really detest people who have no shame.”