Chapter 452: Fall of the Curtain

"Father, Grand Elder, Imperial Brother… Perhaps Xue'er is simply too naive to understand your world. From Xue'er’s perspective, you are truly mistaken. The Divine Phoenix Empire is the overlord of the Seven Nations. In Xue'er's understanding, the demeanor of an overlord should inspire awe, not just fear. Xue'er also doesn't comprehend the glory and dignity you seek. The glory and dignity Xue'er understands are not about power that commands adoration, but rather a magnanimity that embraces all, a universal benevolence that blesses the world, and the forgiveness and compassion that welcome all."

"Therefore, if Father hopes Xue'er will defeat Yun Che..." Feng Xue'er turned to Yun Che and said softly, "Xue'er... yields."

All the Divine Phoenix Sect members stared wide-eyed, exchanging glances. Had these words come from any other Phoenix disciple, even Feng Xiluo, they would have been considered utterly rebellious, enough to enrage Feng Hengkong into an immediate frenzy. But since the speaker was Princess Snow, not only did no one show anger, but no one even uttered a word of refutation.

Yet, while her words challenged the Divine Phoenix Sect, they also, in their own way, genuinely preserved the sect's dignity, which had been thoroughly trampled by Yun Che that day. Her earlier display of profound energy, lasting mere breaths, had stunningly proven the formidable strength of the Divine Phoenix Sect's younger generation at its peak. Her questioning words, too, as a Divine Phoenix Princess, were an effort to uphold the justice and magnanimity of an overlord nation, ensuring that after this ranking tournament, the Tianxuan Continent would have less cause to mock and ridicule the Divine Phoenix Sect.

The entire venue fell silent, then scattered applause began, spreading like wildfire to every corner. Clapping and cheers erupted with thunderous enthusiasm, surpassing all previous displays.

This included almost all the Divine Phoenix profound practitioners. Although they were citizens of the Divine Phoenix Empire and Princess Snow had defied the Divine Phoenix Emperor's will, using her gentle words to challenge the Empire's actions and openly conceding to Cangfeng's Yun Che before the world... not a single person felt anger or shame. Instead, they experienced a profound sense of admiration that permeated their souls, and even pride!

Everyone present that day had come to know the legendary Princess Snow anew. While they hadn't been fortunate enough to see Princess Snow's true face, they had witnessed her unparalleled talent and a heart as pure and flawless as ice and snow.

"Truly admirable," Gu Cang sighed. "The only divine body in all of Tianxuan, yet she possesses a spirit as pure as crystal clear ice. I wonder if this will be her fortune... or her misfortune."

The shouts in their ears continued incessantly, the sound waves almost piercing the sky. Yun Che and Feng Xue'er faced each other, and finally, Yun Che spoke, "Xue'er, I'm sorry... I've deceived you so much. You must be... very disappointed in me, right?"

Gently, Feng Xue'er shook her head. "How could I blame Brother Yun? In fact, I've also kept something from you, Brother Yun."

"You... deceived me?" Yun Che was startled.

"Mm..." Feng Xue'er lightly nodded her head. "Actually, I knew quite early on that Brother Yun wasn't from the Divine Phoenix Sect, and that your name wasn't real. I also knew that falling from Phoenix Perch Cliff wasn't for the reason Brother Yun stated."

Yun Che's gaze wavered slightly. "When was... this?"

"When I taught Brother Yun the Master Formula," Feng Xue'er replied. "At that time, when Brother Yun was cultivating the Master Formula, a golden Phoenix imprint appeared between your eyebrows. That's when I knew. Because a golden Phoenix imprint can only appear with the purest Phoenix bloodline endowment. Furthermore, what even Father and the others don't know is that for the Golden Phoenix Imprint to appear, pure Phoenix blood is only one necessary factor; one must also be granted Phoenix elemental power and a Phoenix divine soul."

Yun Che: "..."

"So, at that time, I knew that Brother Yun wasn't from the Divine Phoenix Sect, but rather an inheritor of another Phoenix God. And what you were granted was the Phoenix Soul and elemental power inheritance that the Phoenix God can bestow only once in their lifetime... just like what I possess. Perhaps, my willingness to trust and be close to Brother Yun was also partly due to the attraction of the Phoenix Soul and elemental power."

"Then why were you still willing to let me stay there to heal, and... continue to teach me the Phoenix Extinguishing World Canon?" Yun Che's thoughts became disoriented. He had been feeling guilty about deceiving Feng Xue'er, but he never imagined that Feng Xue'er had known everything all along yet had never exposed him.

"Because I knew that Brother Yun's concealment and deception weren't intentional. I also felt that Brother Yun's kindness towards me was genuine. To be given the unique inheritance by the Phoenix God also proved that Brother Yun could never be a bad person. So, if Brother Yun wanted to learn the Phoenix Extinguishing World Canon, of course I was willing, and I was happy to teach it to you. Brother Yun is an inheritor of the Phoenix bloodline; the Phoenix Extinguishing World Canon is something Brother Yun should rightfully possess."

"Brother Yun deceived me, and I also concealed things from Brother Yun... So, we're even, right?"

The Phoenix Jade Glaze lightly swayed. Although Yun Che couldn't see her face, he could feel her gentle smile.

The shouts in the arena finally began to subside. Feng Xue'er's pure gaze met Yun Che's eyes, and she said softly yet firmly, "I will forever remember Brother Yun's kindness to me. I will always remember Brother Yun's promise to me, and even more so, what I said to Brother Yun... I, Feng Xue'er, will never do anything to harm Brother Yun."

As the shouts completely faded, Feng Xue'er turned and, under the gaze of Yun Che and everyone else, returned to Feng Hengkong's side.

"Father, I'm sorry, Xue'er has disappointed you," Feng Xue'er said softly, standing before Feng Hengkong.

Feng Hengkong shook his head, sighing wistfully. There wasn't a hint of blame in his expression; instead, his face showed distress. "How could you? Many things today were indeed Father's mistakes; it should be Father who disappointed Xue'er... Some of Xue'er's words were like a sudden enlightenment for Father..."

Feng Hengkong turned his gaze to Yun Che on the stage, his chest rising and falling slightly. Then, frowning, he personally announced, "Yun Che, in the final battle of this ranking tournament, our Divine Phoenix Empire has been defeated by your Cangfeng, and we admit defeat wholeheartedly! The matter of the Phoenix bloodline was indeed our misunderstanding. I, as the Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Empire, promise that from this day forward, we will never target you again because of your bloodline. Since we both belong to the Phoenix lineage, if you are willing to join the Divine Phoenix Sect, I would welcome it immensely!"

"Now, I hereby declare the final victor of the 39th Seven Nations Ranking Tournament... the Cangfeng Nation! As promised, the Cangfeng Nation, ranked first this tournament, and the Black Fiend Nation, ranked third, may each select three individuals tomorrow to accompany our Divine Phoenix Sect in exploring the Primordial Profound Ark!"

A tremendous roar erupted. The entire arena immediately burst into cheers. This wasn't merely applause from the Cangfeng Nation, but also cries from all six nations.

Due to the matter of the Primordial Profound Ark, this ranking tournament's events were condensed into an unprecedented single day. And the twists, turns, shocks, and results of this tournament were even more unprecedented! The weakest Cangfeng had defeated the strongest Divine Phoenix, and what's more, it was a complete victory achieved by one person against ten opponents!

The emergence of another Phoenix inheritor... the legend of the Earth Profound Battle King Xuan... an eighteen-year-old Overlord Emperor... a sixteen-year-old half-step Emperor... everything about this ranking tournament was destined to shake Tianxuan and be recorded in history.

Especially the name Yun Che, a name destined to be that of the Tianxuan Continent's future protagonist, would spread throughout the world after this day.

With Feng Hengkong's personal declaration of the final results, this ranking tournament officially concluded. Xia Yuanba quickly rushed forward, pulling Yun Che over to Grand Master Gu Cang, his excitement rendering him incoherent. In the stands, profound practitioners from various nations, guided by Phoenix disciples, began to exit in an orderly fashion.

Ling Jie's heart was still pounding fiercely, unable to calm down. With flushed cheeks and clenched fists, he exclaimed excitedly, "My decision was simply too, too, too, too wise! Aaaah... The fact that my Big Brother didn't come with me is truly the biggest loss of his life!"

"Mm, I completely agree with that," Hua Minghai nodded. Just as he was about to step out of the arena, his gaze suddenly shifted, landing directly on someone in another direction... Ye Xinghan. In that instant, a chilling glint of hatred flashed deep within his eyes.

"The vengeance for my parents, the hatred for my annihilated clan... even if it means my own pulverization... I will someday... make your Sun Moon Divine Hall pay for this blood debt."

Hua Minghai gritted his teeth, silently reciting the blood oath already deeply etched into his soul.

Previously, his wife, Ru Xiaoya, had been afflicted by a cold poison from the Sun Moon Divine Hall, and all his energy had been focused on desperately prolonging her life. Now, Ru Xiaoya's cold poison was gone, and her body was recovering rapidly... Today, having personally seen members of the Sun Moon Divine Hall, the long-suppressed fire of hatred in his heart erupted like a dormant volcano.

Ye Xinghan was lazily getting up when suddenly, a strange, chilling sensation came from behind him. He instantly turned his head, his icy gaze sweeping the rear, but he found nothing. He withdrew his gaze, narrowed his eyes, and looked towards the Divine Phoenix Sect's seating area. After his eyes briefly met those of a certain person, a meaningful, faint smile appeared on both their faces.