Chapter 450: Phoenix Divine Sect's Trump Card

At the sound of the voice, Xia Yuanba's hair, which had just bristled, immediately fell flat. He turned his gaze to Ji Qianrou, his eyes wide with terror.

Ji Qianrou's eyelids were half-lowered, his fingers idly playing with each other. His peach-blossom eyes shimmered with a watery softness that seemed to melt one's very bones. His words were gentle and lingering, like a young girl's dreamy confession, yet their content was filled with deep mockery and contempt, no less intense than Xia Yuanba's furious outburst.

*Pfft*... Half the people present were left wide-eyed and trembling, while the other half immediately spat out mouthfuls of saliva onto the ground.

Yun Che glanced at Ji Qianrou with a look of surprise. He wasn't surprised that Venerable Gu Cang would speak for him, but he had never expected Ji Qianrou, the master of the Supreme Ocean Palace, with his fiendish demeanor, sinister gaze, and complete disregard for others, to actually intercede on his behalf. No, no! This wasn't merely speaking up for him; it was akin to following Xia Yuanba's act and, with a smile, unceremoniously dumping another bucket of metaphorical faeces onto Feng Ximing's head, seemingly unconcerned about completely offending the Divine Phoenix Empire's Crown Prince, or even the entire Divine Phoenix Sect.

Ye Xinghan, the young master of the Sun Moon Divine Hall, was notoriously arrogant and disrespectful even towards Feng Hengkong. Yet, in front of Ji Qianrou, he displayed a clear apprehension. How could such a person possibly regard a mere Divine Phoenix Crown Prince? Perhaps... no one in the entire Profound Sky Continent was truly worthy of his attention.

The expressions of Feng Hengkong, Feng Feiyan, and the others changed once more. Feng Ximing's face twitched, turning a blue-purple hue as if he had just swallowed a hot pile of excrement, feeling so stifled he was on the verge of vomiting blood. Yet, even if he dared to refute Venerable Gu Cang, he absolutely lacked the courage to retort to Ji Qianrou – the only terrifying figure in this world who could make Feng Hengkong's expression change and whom he would avoid at all costs. People only saw Ji Qianrou's fiendishness, but Feng Ximing had heard of his terror and cruelty from Feng Hengkong on more than one occasion.

Ling Jie and Hua Minghai felt a wave of comfort wash over them, wishing they could throw their heads back and laugh aloud. This wasn't just mockery from an ordinary person, but from an expert of a Sacred Ground. They instantly began to find this seemingly terrifying fiend quite endearing, and hushed chuckles spread through their surroundings.

Feng Ximing's words were indeed utterly ridiculous and full of holes. The two flame profound arts that had shocked the entire audience clearly burned Phoenix Flames, and the Phoenix pressure they released far surpassed that of the Phoenix Ode of the World. How could they possibly be comparable to any other flame profound art? Even if there truly existed flame profound arts in this world that could surpass the Phoenix Ode of the World... the Phoenix shadow that had enveloped Yun Che's entire body moments ago was clearly visible, radiating a heart-pounding pressure. Anyone who wasn't blind could see it distinctly!

Therefore, although Feng Hengkong, Feng Feiyan, and the others desperately wanted to avoid admitting it, they remained silent. In the face of such undeniable evidence, denying it would only make them a laughingstock. Feng Ximing had no choice but to bite the bullet and serve as cannon fodder, but the outcome was clearly miserable: he received a metaphorical face full of 'dog poop' from both Xia Yuanba and Ji Qianrou.

Feng Ximing was utterly speechless. For a moment, not a single person from the Divine Phoenix Sect dared to utter a word, and the atmosphere settled into a stifling stalemate. After Gu Cang and Ji Qianrou had made their positions clear, this stalemate was destined to be irreversible. As a result, both today and in the future, they would no longer be able to openly pursue or control Yun Che. Their myth of invincibility was thoroughly shattered, their genius disciples utterly defeated by a single individual, and the entire Divine Phoenix Sect had been humiliated. Even their Phoenix bloodline, which they had proudly maintained for five thousand years, would no longer be unique!

At this point, let alone pursuing Yun Che further, even salvaging the current situation and preserving the Divine Phoenix Sect's last shred of dignity and reputation had become extremely difficult.

Amidst the chilling silence, Feng Hengkong's expression shifted dramatically before he finally spoke in an exceptionally calm voice, "Yun Che, do you truly believe... that among the younger generation of my Divine Phoenix Sect, there is no one who can defeat you? Among this generation's youth in our Divine Phoenix Sect, there is one individual whose talent, strength, and bloodline power surpass yours by a thousandfold!"

Feng Hengkong's words immediately astonished everyone. Ling Kun, looking thoughtful, smiled silently and remarked, "Oh? So such a genius exists within the Divine Phoenix Sect? Is it perhaps that the Phoenix Sect Master disdains to let such a talent participate in this mere Seven Nations Ranking Tournament? Or perhaps, these ten combatants are simply ordinary disciples within the Divine Phoenix Sect?"

The truth, of course, was not as Ling Kun suggested. Feng Xiluo did indeed possess the absolute top talent and strength among the Divine Phoenix Sect's younger generation. However, above Feng Xiluo, there was a trump card that far surpassed him. This trump card was simply too vital to the Divine Phoenix Sect, and before today, Feng Hengkong had never contemplated revealing it.

As soon as Feng Hengkong spoke, the expressions of several core figures within the Divine Phoenix Sect subtly changed. They all knew exactly who Feng Hengkong was referring to, but after their initial reaction, not a single one expressed any objection.

What transpired today, though seemingly just about Yun Che's bloodline, actually concerned the Divine Phoenix Sect's reputation, prestige, and dignity. It could even potentially affect, or even threaten, the very future of the Divine Phoenix Sect. The situation had now escalated to what could, without exaggeration, be called the greatest crisis the Divine Phoenix Sect had faced in five thousand years.

Therefore, even if today's situation was destined to be irreversible, and even if they had to reveal their trump card, they absolutely had to reclaim some ground! At the very least, they needed to let the entire world know that even if another Phoenix inheritance appeared, it could never surpass that of their Divine Phoenix Sect! This was the absolute, unyielding bottom line of the five-thousand-year-old Divine Phoenix Sect, one that would not easily be trampled upon!

Feng Hengkong's brow furrowed, then he turned his head, his gaze settling on Feng Xue'er beside him. As he looked at his only daughter, his previously somber expression unconsciously softened, and his state of mind instantly became more peaceful. He sighed inwardly and whispered, "Xue'er, your father knows that what you dislike most is contention. But the outcome of today's matter is truly too important for our sect; it concerns the entire five thousand years of glory and dignity of our Divine Phoenix Sect. So... please help your father with this, alright?"

Feng Hengkong's voice was somewhat strained, imbued more with reluctance and guilt. Perhaps only Feng Xue'er in this world could make him feel this way.

Not only was Feng Xue'er his most cherished daughter, but she was also the very soul of the entire Divine Phoenix Sect, and indeed, the entire Divine Phoenix Empire.

Feng Xue'er remained silent. After a brief pause, she gently stood up. This simple action instantly drew all eyes and attention in the entire arena. People stared, mesmerized, at her figure. As their gaze lingered on her, everyone's eyes, initially surprised, uncontrollably turned to infatuation, as if their souls were being drawn to her, swaying and trembling with her every subtle movement.

"Yes, Father," Feng Xue'er replied softly, every word from her lips as melodious and ethereal as celestial music.

A hint of surprise flashed across the faces of Venerable Gu Cang, Ling Kun, and Ji Qianrou. Ye Xinghan's eyes, in particular, were fixed intently on Feng Xue'er, radiating a gaze like that of a hungry wolf. Everyone stared wide-eyed and dazed as Feng Xue'er slowly and quietly walked out of her seat, like a fairy, gracefully moving her snow-lotus-like jade feet as if treading on ethereal, dreamlike clouds.

The person Feng Hengkong spoke of... the one even above Feng Xiluo... could it be... her... Princess Snow!?

This... How could this be possible? How could the fairy-tale beautiful, ethereal, dream-like Feng Xue'er be associated with the word "powerful"? Although Feng Xiluo had suffered a crushing defeat at Yun Che's hands, his strength was undeniable, enough to make the top profound practitioners of the five nations feel utterly ashamed of themselves. How could the gentle, fairy-like Princess Snow, as soft as white snow, possibly surpass Feng Xiluo in strength?

She's just a girl, and only sixteen years old this year!

There wasn't a hint of profound energy aura emanating from Feng Xue'er. Throughout the entire arena, from the weakest spectators of the six nations to the mightiest Venerable Gu Cang, no one could sense even a trace of profound energy within her. She appeared to be nothing more than a delicate and frail young girl.

Amidst the astonishment and daze of the crowd, Feng Xue'er was already standing directly in front of Yun Che, facing him. She could clearly see his face, but Yun Che could not see her celestial countenance, beautiful enough to make the heavens and earth pale in comparison.

Yun Che had never imagined that he would face Feng Xue'er again under such circumstances. He stared at her, somewhat dazed, his lips moving for a while before he finally, with some difficulty, whispered, "Xue'er..."

Faced with the immensely powerful Divine Phoenix Sect, he could be fearless and unyielding. But facing Feng Xue'er, all his imposing demeanor completely vanished. His expression, his gaze, and his heart were filled with deep guilt, and a hint of trepidation—a fear that Xue'er would be heartbroken, or even cry, because of his deception.

She had saved his life, provided him with the safest place to heal, bestowed upon him the purest, most innocent trust, and taught him the Phoenix Ode of the World. Yet what he had given her in return was one deception after another: a false identity, a false name, false intentions. He had used the life she saved and the Phoenix Ode of the World she imparted to him against her own father and the Divine Phoenix Sect where she had grown up.

Yun Che silently exhaled, gazing at the beautiful figure before him, and said in an even softer voice, "Xue'er... I'm sorry..."

Feng Xue'er still did not answer. Instead, she suddenly extended a small, jade-like hand, palm facing Yun Che's chest.

Yun Che did not move. Even if Feng Xue'er had suddenly launched a fatal attack at him, he might have defended, but he certainly would not have retaliated.

*Whoosh!* A gentle breeze softly blew, and crimson Phoenix Flames slowly ignited around her. The flames were not wild or scorching, but incredibly profound – far more profound than any Phoenix Flame Yun Che had ever witnessed.

The Phoenix Flames slowly ascended, gradually enveloping Feng Xue'er's entire body. At this moment, a point of golden light shimmered on her forehead. Threads of golden light, passing through the Phoenix Jade Glaze, shone into Yun Che's eyes, causing his spirit to tremble violently. Simultaneously, Feng Xue'er's aura, which had been entirely concealed until now, was finally unleashed.

In that instant, everyone from the four Sacred Grounds was filled with utter astonishment.

"Wh-what?!" Ling Kun immediately shot to his feet.

"Oh?" Ji Qianrou's willow-leaf eyebrows instantly slanted, like two sharp swords.

"This..." Even Venerable Gu Cang's face clearly showed utter shock.

Ye Xinghan's eyes widened, then widened even further, and the gaze he emitted became as fervent as flames. He gripped the armrests of his seat tightly, letting out a completely uncontrolled growl: "This miraculous bloodline... This perfect body! This is truly the most perfect cauldron in the world!"