Chapter 707: Sealing Phoenix Forbidden Formation?

South of Divine Phoenix City, Yun Che sat cross-legged in a hollow of a barren mountain, his eyes closed. His profound energy gently undulated throughout his body, and above his head, a faint small pagoda slowly revolved, emitting intermittent pale golden light.

When he opened his eyes, the sky was already bright. Yun Che stood up, feeling refreshed and invigorated, his profound veins filled to the brim with profound energy. With his current mastery of the Great Way of the Buddha, he no longer needed sleep. When cultivating the Great Way of the Buddha, the nourishment from the aura of heaven and earth allowed him to gain the equivalent of several hours of sleep for an ordinary profound practitioner in just a few dozen breaths.

Or, to put it another way, he no longer needed to consciously cultivate the Great Way of the Buddha; his regular sleep was itself a form of cultivation.

"It was surprisingly quiet last night. It seems the Divine Phoenix Sect has given up searching for me," Yun Che murmured to himself, looking in the direction of Divine Phoenix City. "In that case... those dozen or so old monsters at the Sovereign Profound Realm should be making an appearance now, shouldn't they?"

"Don't underestimate the Divine Phoenix Sect just because you've had consecutive successes," Jasmine warned coldly. "I detected the aura of late-stage Sovereign Profound Realm practitioners there... and more than one!"

"Don't worry. If I were the kind of person who gets careless and underestimates my enemies, I would have died hundreds of times over by now."

"Hmph, haven't you 'died' enough times already?!"

"Are you still planning to sneak in today?" Jasmine asked.

"No need," Yun Che said, floating into the air and flying towards the Divine Phoenix Sect. "Surprises are only good once; a repeat would be boring."

A dangerous sneer appeared on Yun Che's face. "I've already given the Divine Phoenix Sect their chance. The leniency of the past two days was my way of repaying Xue'er... From today onwards, I will make them realize... what a true nightmare is!"

Yun Che flew at extreme speed, a gale of wind trailing far behind him as Divine Phoenix City quickly transformed from a faint outline into a clear sight. Just like the day before, he set out early in the morning to "visit" the Divine Phoenix Sect.

Yun Che made no attempt to conceal himself as he soared over Divine Phoenix City, heading straight for Phoenix City. Beneath the Phantom Light Thunderclap, all anyone could hear was an incredibly sharp whooshing sound. When they looked up to see where the sound came from, they could barely make out a black speck rapidly disappearing into the far reaches of their sight.

As Yun Che slowed down, Phoenix City came into view.

"Divine Phoenix City is really quiet today. All the Phoenix disciples searching for me have been recalled. It seems I'll be facing several old monsters at the Sovereign Profound Realm today." Despite his words, Yun Che's expression showed little caution. He might not be able to defeat the Divine Emperors of the Divine Phoenix Sect, but at his top speed, the only one in the world who could easily catch him was the Little Demon Empress. Even the masters of the Four Great Sacred Grounds would likely find it difficult to pursue him.

And for now, the Divine Phoenix Sect could not produce experts of the Sacred Ground Master level.

"It seems I'll have to disappoint you. The auras of those dozen or so Emperors are still in their original positions," Jasmine said indifferently.

"Hmm?" Yun Che looked surprised. "That's not right. I killed two princes, yet they haven't even touched a single hair on my head, and today they directly gave up the search. Even if Feng Hengkong is a 'Ninja Turtle,' he shouldn't be reluctant to summon those old monsters. Could it be... he's prepared some other trick?"

"Within a three-hundred-zhang radius of Phoenix City's central area, there's a very well-hidden profound formation." This profound formation, which required the combined strength of dozens of Phoenix elders and eight whole hours to construct and conceal, was not only instantly detected by Jasmine but also clearly met with her disdain. "This profound formation must be prepared for you. Its aura is similar to the sealing profound formation that Princess Xue was trapped by three years ago on the Primordial Profound Ark."

"Phoenix Sealing Formation?" Yun Che's brows furrowed. Three years ago, Feng Xue'er was trapped by Feng Feiyan's Phoenix Sealing Formation, a formation whose profound energy and bloodline were inferior to her own. Yet, it sealed her entire profound energy for twelve hours, demonstrating its formidable power.

"No wonder they didn't invite those old monsters out; it turns out they prepared such a grand gift for me," Yun Che sneered. "Such a massive Phoenix Sealing Formation... they really spared no effort. It seems I'll have to be a little careful after all..."

"Careful? Hmph, ridiculous!" Jasmine scoffed disdainfully. "Your profound veins were forged by the Undying Blood of the Evil God; they are the Evil God's Profound Veins! In this world, no power, unless it's of the divine level, can seal or suppress your profound veins. A mere Phoenix Sealing Formation is nothing but a joke in front of the Evil God's Profound Veins."

"...Oh, really?" Yun Che's eyes widened, then he nodded slightly, whispering, "That does sound right..."

The Heaven Might Soul Suppressing Formation of the Heaven Might Sword Region could forcefully suppress the profound energy of his grandfather, Yun Canghai, who was at the late Sovereign Profound Realm, yet it had no effect on Yun Che when he was only at the Earth Profound Realm. The Phoenix Sealing Formation, no matter how powerful, couldn't possibly be stronger than the Heaven Might Soul Suppressing Formation, could it?

Yun Che completely put his mind at ease. With a flicker, he instantly entered the boundaries of Phoenix City.

"What? The entire army was annihilated?"

The news from Azure Cloud instantly enraged Feng Hengkong. His mood was already extremely foul because of Yun Che. Shortly after dawn today, he received yet another unexpected piece of terrible news.

"Impossible!" Feng Hengkong thundered. "Yun Che is clearly here in Divine Phoenix right now! Without Yun Che, how could a mere Azure Cloud resist my Divine Phoenix army?! What exactly happened? Could Yun Che have rushed back overnight?!"

"Both the Western and Eastern armies, each twenty thousand strong, marched overnight towards Azure Cloud Imperial City, arriving at roughly the same time this morning. After the Western army sent back news that they were nearing Azure Cloud Imperial City, there was no further activity from them, including their supervising elder, just like the previously vanished Central army! The Eastern army reported that supervising elder Feng Leiming engaged someone in battle but suffered a crushing defeat. Feng Leiming, likely in despair, tried to ignite all his profound energy to burn down Azure Cloud Imperial City, but his attack was turned back against our army by the opponent's extremely powerful wind profound energy, causing heavy casualties for the Eastern army. Only forty thousand remnants survived in the end," Feng Feiran reported grimly.

"Wind profound energy? Could there be another expert in Azure Cloud, besides Yun Che, who surpasses my Phoenix elders?" Feng Hengkong's face grew darker. Yun Che had never used wind profound energy, so that person naturally couldn't be him... But any elder-level figure of his Divine Phoenix Sect was an invincible existence capable of moving unchallenged across the Seven Nations of Profound Sky. It was already hard enough to believe that Azure Cloud Nation produced a Yun Che, which even shook the entire Profound Sky Continent, so how could there be anyone else?!

"That person indeed isn't Yun Che. As for their identity, I will immediately dispatch people to investigate. However, with the Central army annihilated and the Western and Eastern armies severely crippled, the morale of our Azure Cloud garrison is now in chaos... Alas," Feng Feiran sighed deeply.

"That's not too significant, actually," said Crown Prince Feng Ximing, uttering words that any outsider would find deeply puzzling. "After all, we've largely acquired what we wanted, so even if we were to withdraw our troops now..."

"But Yun Che must die!" Feng Hengkong declared hatefully.

At that moment, a nightmarish voice followed Feng Hengkong's low growl, echoing from outside: "Old dogs of the Divine Phoenix Sect, your Grandpa Yun has arrived! Hurry up and come out to greet me!!"

"Yun... Che!" Feng Hengkong's surging rage and hatred immediately found an outlet. All his black hair stood on end in an instant, the flame mark on his forehead appeared directly, and furious flames erupted. This time, Yun Che's voice came not from the center of Phoenix City, but from the city gates. This clearly meant he couldn't be bothered to sneak in quietly like yesterday; he had arrived brazenly and was loudly announcing his presence, as if afraid the Divine Phoenix Sect wouldn't notice.

This was, without a doubt, blatant contempt for the Divine Phoenix Sect!

"I... will personally tear him to shreds today!!" Feng Hengkong had repeated these exact words countless times, and each time the hatred they contained far surpassed the last. Just as he was about to charge out, Feng Feilie quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Sect Master, calm down for a moment. We deliberately relaxed our guard, even recalling the search parties, to lure him into sneaking in like yesterday and falling directly into the Phoenix Sealing Formation. But it seems we miscalculated. From his voice, he's clearly at the city gates... Regardless of whether his movement profound skill is the Phantom Light Thunderclap, we cannot possibly catch him at that speed. To capture him, the most reliable method right now is to lure him into the Phoenix Sealing Formation."

Feng Hengkong halted. His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the Ninth Prince, Feng Xilin. "Lin'er, among all my sons, besides Ximing, you possess the most composed mind and the bearing of a great general. I entrust this important task to you. Do you have the courage for it?"

Feng Xilin stepped forward and said without hesitation, "Your son will certainly not disappoint Father Emperor."

"Good!" Feng Hengkong nodded heavily. "With those words, you haven't disappointed me. Rest assured, Xichen and Xiluo have successively fallen victim to Yun Che's venomous hand. I will absolutely not allow any of you to suffer misfortune again. That Phoenix Sealing Formation combines the power of thirty-six elders. Even if your grandfather were to enter it, he would struggle to resist. If we can lure Yun Che in there, even if he possesses immense power... he won't be able to escape again!!"

Boom!!!

Feng Hengkong, consumed by rage, shot skyward, directly collapsing the several-foot-thick roof of the great hall. Above the Phoenix City gates, Yun Che floated with his arms crossed, still wearing an expression of calm nonchalance and a contempt that made all Phoenix disciples long to tear him to shreds. All the Phoenix elders had also moved out immediately, but instead of encircling him as they did yesterday, they were scattered across the sky above Phoenix City, firmly locking onto him with their gazes and auras.

However, behind each wave of elders, a prince was firmly protected. Evidently, with two princes having successively died at Yun Che's hands, the Divine Phoenix Sect had become like startled birds, and each prince was now guarded by several elders acting as bodyguards, fearing Yun Che might target another prince. They had even considered hiding the princes elsewhere, but Phoenix City itself, possessing the strongest defensive power, was paradoxically the safest place in the entire Divine Phoenix Nation...

Compared to the previous two days, seeing Yun Che again today, from the Phoenix elders down to the disciples, everyone felt a deep fear and trepidation. When he first arrived, all anyone thought was that he was seeking death. Yet, in just two days, he had successively killed two princes of the Divine Phoenix Sect, even with nearly all the elder-level figures present. And he himself was not only alive but showed no trace of injury whatsoever.

The dignity of the Divine Phoenix Sect had, for the first time, been so utterly trampled underfoot by a single individual.

Upon seeing Feng Hengkong appear, Yun Che's gaze immediately shifted to him. "Feng Hengkong, it's another beautiful day, and we meet again. Do you suppose another one of your sons will die today?"

These greeting words would instantly infuriate even the most ordinary person, let alone the Sect Master of Phoenix. Feng Hengkong gritted his teeth until blood seeped, barely suppressing the urge to rush forward and tear Yun Che to shreds. He spoke in a voice so low it was almost a growl: "Yun Che... you have killed two of my sons... This is an irreconcilable vendetta, and I will make you pay back ten thousand, a hundred thousand times over!!!"

"Heh," Yun Che sneered faintly. "Whether you can avenge your sons' deaths, I don't know. But for the blood debt your Divine Phoenix Sect owes for killing my father emperor and trampling my nation and its people, I will make sure you pay back every single bit of it in blood!"