Chapter 652: Snow Child Awakens

In Phoenix City, Divine Phoenix Empire. Inside the Divine Phoenix Main Hall, Feng Hengkong held a large map depicting the territories of the Blue Wind Nation. However, etched upon it were numerous flame patterns, marking the areas that his Divine Phoenix Empire had already conquered.

His gaze remained fixed on "Floating Cloud City" at the far right of the map, unmoving for a long time, lost in thought.

Suddenly, an exceptionally loud, prolonged cry echoed from outside, making Feng Hengkong's entire body tremble. This was no ordinary cry; it was unmistakably the cry of a phoenix! The majesty and nobility of this phoenix cry instantly caused the phoenix blood in his veins to boil, and his very soul was filled with an intense urge to worship.

At the same time, he vaguely saw a fleeting golden glow in the sky outside.

"The Phoenix God's cry?" Feng Hengkong dropped the map from his hand, gasping in astonishment. He knew perfectly well about the Phoenix God's demise... yet, such a phoenix cry clearly originated from the Phoenix God. No one, no creature, not even the strongest individual in the Phoenix Divine Sect, could imitate it.

Feng Hengkong swiftly moved forward; just as he was about to rush out of the hall, he saw Feng Ximing sprinting towards him. Upon seeing Feng Hengkong, Feng Ximing quickly landed, too excited to bow, and exclaimed with a face full of elation: "Father Emperor, it's Xue'er... Xue'er, she's awake!"

"What?" Feng Hengkong froze, then an extreme surge of excitement and ecstasy washed over him. Without another word, his entire body transformed into a streak of fire, flying directly towards the Phoenix Divine Temple. Feng Ximing quickly followed suit.

Three years ago, after Feng Xue'er escaped from the Primordial Profound Ark and publicly revealed the truth and Ye Xinghan's crimes, she collapsed into a tearful coma... She had not woken up since.

Until today, she had been in a coma for a full three years.

Her coma did not seem to be a normal one. After she fell unconscious, crimson phoenix flames spontaneously ignited on her body, and then, enveloped in the fire, she was transported to the Phoenix Divine Temple where the Phoenix God had resided during its life. This timing coincided precisely with the moment the last remnants of the Phoenix God's soul completely vanished after intimidating Ye Xinghan, Gu Cang, Ji Qianrou, and others.

Since then, Feng Xue'er had remained in a coma, her body continuously engulfed in phoenix flames that never extinguished for a moment. Moreover, these phoenix flames were intensely hot; no one in the Phoenix Divine Sect could touch them. Even with Feng Hengkong's cultivation, he couldn't approach within five *zhang*.

Throughout these three years, Feng Hengkong personally visited the Phoenix Divine Temple every day to check if Feng Xue'er had woken up, never missing a single day. Just an hour ago, he had made his usual visit... Now, hearing that she had awakened, the Divine Phoenix Emperor was so excited his entire body trembled. To Feng Hengkong, Feng Xue'er was more important than his own life, more important than the entire Phoenix Divine Sect. During her three years of unconsciousness, he had been consumed by intense anxiety every single day.

Rushing into the Phoenix Divine Temple like a whirlwind, Feng Hengkong immediately saw Feng Xue'er standing there. He stopped, then staggered forward, his voice trembling as he said: "Xue'er... Xue'er... you're awake... you're finally awake."

"Xue'er..." Feng Ximing also rushed in right after him, his eyes filled with endless excitement... and fervor, as he looked at the awakened Feng Xue'er.

Feng Xue'er raised her gaze to look at her Father Emperor and elder brother. However, in stark contrast to their ecstasy and excitement, her face showed no joy. She softly, almost despairingly, whispered: "Father Emperor, Prince Brother..."

Feng Hengkong's steps slowed. His initial ecstasy quickly dissipated, replaced by a sudden pang in his heart. After three years in a coma, his daughter's appearance had not changed in the slightest. Her face was still more perfect than that of a fairy, and her eyes were purer than any elf's... Yet, from those very eyes, he saw an utterly unfamiliar dullness.

His Xue'er, whenever she saw him, always had the purest, most beautiful smile on her face, happily calling him "Father Emperor." No matter how angry or anxious he was, seeing her smiling face would make all negative emotions vanish, leaving only boundless warmth and contentment... The greatest pride of his life was not his position as Divine Phoenix Emperor, nor his status as Phoenix Sect Master, but having the most perfect daughter in the world.

But after she woke up, what she revealed was no longer a smile, but sorrow... an utterly unfamiliar, unprecedented sorrow.

This dullness and sorrow instantly pierced Feng Hengkong to the core. He would rather be riddled with a thousand arrows than see such sadness on Feng Xue'er. At this moment, the Phoenix Sect Master and Divine Phoenix Emperor, admired by all, was utterly distraught. His voice was filled with deep heartache and panic: "Xue'er, what... what's wrong? Are you uncomfortable somewhere after just waking up? Tell Father Emperor quickly."

The change in aura emanating from Feng Xue'er... it was a world-shattering transformation. From her, he actually sensed a vast, ancient aura, akin to that of the departed Phoenix God... Even from his grandfather, currently the strongest in the Phoenix Divine Sect, he had never felt such a profound aura. Ordinarily, he would have been utterly shocked and pressed for answers, but at this moment, he couldn't spare a thought for it.

And to a tremendous extent!

With Feng Ximing slapped away, Feng Hengkong's words finally managed to slightly stabilize Feng Xue'er's out-of-control emotions, and the flames on her body gradually subsided. She gazed straight ahead, her eyes unfocused despite being directed at Feng Hengkong, and she softly murmured: "Father Emperor, how long... how long have I been asleep..."

"Three years, it's been three years," Feng Hengkong said softly, pausing briefly, then quickly added: "Xue'er, if you want to keep sleeping, that's perfectly fine."

"Three years..." she mumbled in a daze...

"I'm afraid of many things... and now... before my eyes, what I fear most is seeing you truly lose your life here. In front of you, my soul, tainted with countless filth and sins, is almost ashamed of itself... Your appearance is like a radiant pearl embedded in my soul, so precious that I barely have the courage to touch it. So, no matter what, I won't stand by and watch you die... At least for now, I'd rather die myself. I will definitely fulfill what I promised Xue'er... Three years from now, in the Frozen Cloud Asgard of the Blue Wind Nation, I will watch the boundless falling snow with Xue'er. Three years from now, Xue'er, wait for me there, okay? Xue'er... wait for me..."

Drip... Drip...

On her cheeks, more luminous than white snow, teardrops silently streamed and fell, growing in number, unstoppable. An aura of extreme sorrow spread, filling the intensely hot space with profound desolation.

"Xue'er..." Feng Hengkong reached out, unsure what to do or what to say... The Emperor of the Divine Phoenix Nation was utterly helpless at this moment. He couldn't imagine, let alone understand, why his daughter would be so heartbroken over Yun Che... Even if he saved her life, it shouldn't be to this extent.

"Father Emperor..." she whispered dreamily: "I... want to go to the Blue Wind Nation... to the Frozen Cloud Asgard... May I?"

"Blue Wind... Frozen Cloud Asgard?"

Feng Hengkong paused, then without a second thought, quickly nodded: "Good! Good! Wherever Xue'er wishes to go, it's fine. Wherever you want to go, Father Emperor will personally accompany you... Father Emperor will arrange the profound ark and itinerary immediately. We'll depart in fifteen days at most... Oh no, ten days, how about that?"

"Mm... Thank you, Father Emperor. Father Emperor, Xue'er has one more request..." Feng Xue'er's tears continued to fall. She had grown up under the utmost protection of the Phoenix Divine Sect and Feng Hengkong's extreme doting, always accompanied by smiles... She had never known that she would one day shed so many tears.

And nearly all the tears of her life had been shed for Yun Che.

"Tell me... whatever Xue'er requests, Father Emperor will agree to it, no matter what," Feng Hengkong said, his heart aching so much at the sight of the tear stains on his daughter's face that he could barely breathe.

"Xue'er requests Father Emperor... to treat the Blue Wind Nation kindly from now on... because it's... Brother Yun's hometown... as a small... repayment... from Xue'er... to Brother Yun... Is that alright..."

Feng Hengkong's entire body stiffened abruptly, but then he immediately nodded: "Good! Father Emperor will treat the Blue Wind Nation kindly from now on, and will no longer demand tribute from them... And, I will absolutely not allow the other five nations to bully Blue Wind. Your Brother Yun will surely be very happy to hear these words from you in heaven."

"Thank you, Father Emperor... Xue'er's heart is very troubled right now, I've made Father Emperor worry... Xue'er wants to stay in Phoenix Roost Valley for a while..."

"Alright! Father Emperor will go with you now."

"Xue'er can go by herself..."

The valley was surrounded by mountains on three sides, with the Thousand-zhang Phoenix Cliff to the south. Compared to the dry, scorching yellow of the Divine Phoenix City area, Phoenix Roost Valley seemed to gather all the spiritual energy of the entire Phoenix Mountain Range. It was a sight of pure, serene green, and even the slightest breeze was exceptionally gentle and fresh, like a fairy land.

By the clear small lake, the echoes of her and Yun Che's laughter from when they caught fish together seemed to still linger. Feng Xue'er nestled against the Snow Phoenix Beast, its soft, snowy feathers gradually dampened by the purest, most precious tears in the world...

"Brother Yun... why did you have to let me meet you...? If I hadn't met you... Xue'er wouldn't be this sad... and Brother Yun wouldn't have died..."

"Why did you have to let me meet you... Brother Yun..."

"Sect Master, what are your orders? I heard Princess Xue—"

"Immediately issue a command!!" Feng Hengkong's face was rigid and grim: "No one in the Sect is to discuss our invasion of Blue Wind...!" Feng Hengkong's eyes narrowed: "No! Command everyone in the entire Divine Phoenix City: no one is to publicly discuss the matter of invading Blue Wind! Those who violate this... shall be executed without mercy!! Especially within the Sect, anyone who dares to bring it up... I'll make sure they die without a burial place!"

The Phoenix Elder, standing before him receiving orders, trembled inwardly... The killing intent emanating from Feng Hengkong startled him, and for the dignified Phoenix Great Emperor to even utter "I" just now showed how serious the matter was. He dared not ask further, and quickly nodded: "Yes."

"Also, prepare the Phoenix Divine Ark. I will personally go to the far north of Blue Wind within ten days... Hurry now!"

"Yes, yes." The overwhelming killing intent prevented the Phoenix Elder from lingering for another moment. He took two steps back and swiftly departed.

Bang!!

Feng Hengkong slammed his fist hard into the wall, burying his entire fist deep within it. Thinking of Feng Xue'er's tear-stained face, he violently shook his head, his inner turmoil raging like a wild fire.

"The Phoenix God said that Xue'er's Phoenix God power would take at least three hundred years to fully awaken... Three hundred years is too long; they will surely discover the Phoenix God is gone. By then, without enough capital to resist, my Phoenix Divine Sect will be in grave danger... What I did... was not wrong!"

"Xue'er... forgive Father Emperor. Father Emperor did it all for the entire Divine Phoenix Empire!" Feng Hengkong muttered to himself, his face etched with pain.