Chapter 711: The Trembling Phoenix Divine Sect

These past few days, Yun Che had been causing chaos in the Phoenix God Sect, relying solely on his extraordinary speed. This naturally led the Phoenix God Sect to subconsciously assume that Yun Che’s power was limited to his speed, and that he lacked the courage, or even the qualification, to face them directly. However, today, first Feng Yunzhi was killed by a single punch from him, and now, they watched as the combined attack of three grand elders was… directly shattered into six pieces by Yun Che’s sword!

The shattered bodies were swept away as if by a storm, flying far into the distance and trailing six crimson bloodlines, dozens of meters long, across the sky.

At that instant, the eyes of nearly all the Phoenix disciples trembled as if about to shatter. The Phoenix elders, who had been attacking at full speed, were so utterly stunned their souls nearly left their bodies. These were not mere nobodies or ordinary disciples of the Phoenix God Sect; they were elders who wielded immense power over the entire sect, standing at the apex of the Seven Nations of Heavenly Profound, each one capable of shaking the world!

In a single encounter, with one swing of Yun Che’s sword, they were torn apart as if they were three pieces of rotting wood…

This was a sight that could never occur even in their most absurd dreams. Yet, at this very moment, it was vividly displayed before their eyes.

While everyone else recoiled in shock, only Feng Hengkong, who had all but lost his sanity, charged directly at Yun Che without the slightest reduction in speed. As Yun Che’s image clearly reflected in his crimson pupils, he let out a furious roar filled with intense hatred. Flames converged on his right arm, generating an unparalleled force that distorted the very space around it, as he lunged for Yun Che’s head, screaming, "Yun Che!! I will have you die!"

"Sect Master, watch out!"

All the Phoenix elders were collectively aghast. The image of the three Phoenix grand elders being struck down by Yun Che’s sword was still fresh in their minds. Even if they refused to believe their own eyes, they understood the terrifying strength required to achieve such a feat. Although Feng Hengkong’s profound energy was at the tenth level of the Tyrant Profound Realm, stronger than any of the three Phoenix elders Yun Che had slain, it was undeniably no match for the combined might of three Phoenix grand elders. Given the horrific power Yun Che had just unleashed, if he were to strike mercilessly, the consequences would be unthinkable.

Facing Feng Hengkong’s Phoenix flames, Yun Che sneered. Three years ago, Feng Hengkong’s strength was an insurmountable height for him. Now, however, their respective power levels had been completely reversed.

Yun Che positioned his heavy sword horizontally behind him with his left hand, while his right arm erupted with Phoenix flames, striking directly at Feng Hengkong. It was the same move as Feng Hengkong’s, the same Phoenix flames, but Yun Che’s expression was far more relaxed, and a cruel smirk played on his lips: "You… are not qualified enough."

A resounding boom, like an airborne volcanic eruption, shook the sky. Space violently collapsed amidst the rolling waves of flame. At the epicenter of the fiery explosion, an incredibly crisp snap echoed. Feng Hengkong’s striking arm was instantly bent backward by the immense impact, and in the next moment, his bones split directly down the middle. An even more formidable force followed, striking him directly in the chest. Feng Hengkong’s Phoenix Battle Armor instantly shattered into dust, and he was sent flying sideways like a cannonball.

"Sect Master!"

Several Phoenix elders swiftly rushed to catch Feng Hengkong. The elder who intercepted him from the front had his arms make contact, and before he could even sigh in relief, his expression drastically changed. An immense, overpowering force, far beyond his imagination, transmitted through his arms, instantly knocking them aside as Feng Hengkong’s body slammed violently into his chest. With a cracking sound, a large section of his ribcage shattered and caved in, and a large spray of blood mist splattered all over Feng Hengkong. The two, still clinging together, crashed heavily to the ground, creating a crater ten meters deep amidst a thunderous roar.

This sight made all the rushing Phoenix elders gasp sharply.

Yun Che had already seized the Heaven Smiting Sword and descended from the sky, aiming directly for Feng Hengkong. At that moment, a loud shout also came from the right: "Do not harm my Sect Master!"

Second Elder Feng Feiran, wielding his Phoenix sword, charged towards Yun Che at an unprecedented speed. The Phoenix flames blazing across his body boiled to their extreme amidst his shock and panic. He wasn’t charging at Yun Che, but rather trying to position himself in front of Feng Hengkong, desperately attempting to intercept Yun Che before he reached Feng Hengkong. However, at this moment, Yun Che’s trajectory suddenly shifted. From heading towards Feng Hengkong, he abruptly turned towards Feng Feiran, moving at twice his previous speed.

Feng Feiran was solely intent on shielding Feng Hengkong, never anticipating that Yun Che would suddenly divert his attack when he had the perfect opportunity to severely injure or even capture Feng Hengkong. Combined with Yun Che’s lightning-fast speed, the only action Feng Feiran managed to take in the instant his pupils constricted was to shift the Phoenix sword in his hand half an inch closer to his chest.

Pffft!!

The sound of violent tearing ripped through the air above the Phoenix God Sect. Feng Feiran’s body, protected by his ninth-level Tyrant Profound Realm energy, was pierced through in an instant by the Heaven Smiting Sword, as if it were brittle, tattered leather. Blood gushed from his body, and under the Heaven Smiting Sword’s terrifying impact, it sprayed several miles away.

"Ugh…"

The last sound escaped Feng Feiran’s lips. His fading gaze fixed upon Yun Che’s indifferent face and the crimson greatsword piercing his body. There was no hatred in his pupils, only an overwhelming shock and a dreamlike disbelief. He could not comprehend that he, the second-ranked elder of the Phoenix God Sect, had simply died like this. And the one who had killed him was merely a twenty-two-year-old youth…

Even more unbelievable was the power emanating from Yun Che, which had instantly pierced his body. It was so immensely powerful that it… completely surpassed the strength of the Tyrant Profound Realm!

"Second… Second Elder…" The pupils of those witnessing everything contracted violently, and even their shouts trembled as if in a biting wind.

"Heh…" Yun Che let out a faint sneer, gazing at the faces that looked as though they had seen ghosts. Golden Crow Flames ignited around him, and he suddenly flung the Heaven Smiting Sword downwards…

"Blazing Sun Burst!"

A ball of flame, less than three meters long, ignited on the Heaven Smiting Sword. Yun Che nonchalantly flung it downwards, along with Feng Feiran’s corpse.

BOOM!!

The flames, seemingly insignificant even to the most ordinary Phoenix disciples, exploded into a catastrophic sea of fire the moment they landed, engulfing dozens of Phoenix disciples. In an instant—a mere instant—these Phoenix disciples were incinerated into nothingness, unable to even utter a single scream before their demise.

Nightmarish scenes unfolded one after another; this was a true nightmare. Previously, they had been furious over Yun Che’s swift escape, but now they realized that his escape had been nothing short of a tremendous blessing and mercy. Following their awe of Yun Che’s speed, they finally witnessed his true power—a terror just as profound as his velocity.

All the Phoenix elders present had converged around Feng Hengkong. Dozens of elders pooled their strength, yet it offered them not the slightest sense of security. Each person’s pupils rapidly constricted and dilated, and not a single one dared to charge at Yun Che.

Yun Che’s gaze shifted, causing the bodies of all the Phoenix elders to violently tremble at the same instant. However, Yun Che did not descend again. He slightly furrowed his brow, coldly staring at Feng Hengkong, whose face was utterly distorted, in the center of the large pit. "Feng Hengkong," he said, "you should truly thank the heavens for bestowing upon you such a good daughter… although you are utterly unworthy of being her father. If not for Xue’er, even if I spared your life today, I would still cripple your limbs."

"Although you have foolishly squandered three opportunities I granted you, I will continue to offer them, still for Xue’er’s sake. Of course, you are free to continue wasting them. However, the consequences of wasting opportunities will grow more severe with each instance… Let me eagerly anticipate tomorrow, hahahahaha!"

Amidst his loud laughter, Yun Che soared into the sky, his figure disappearing into the clouds in the blink of an eye.

With Yun Che’s departure, the nightmare seemed to finally pause. Yet, the Phoenix God Sect’s tremors continued unabated for a long time.

"Imperial Father, are you alright?"

"Sect Master…"

Feng Hengkong’s arm was broken, and blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, yet his overall injuries were not severe. In contrast, the Phoenix elder who had caught him was severely injured and unconscious. Everyone nearby could clearly see that Yun Che had held back, otherwise, Feng Hengkong’s life might have been directly taken.

Feng Hengkong stared blankly at the sky, his eyes unfocused, his lips trembling violently. "Impossible…" he muttered, "How can this be his strength? Impossible… It’s simply impossible…"

Feng Hengkong’s voice was the collective lament of everyone present. Three years ago, while Yun Che’s displayed strength had shocked the Seven Nations, it had, at its absolute peak, only reached the late stage of the Sovereign Profound Realm. Although he was an unparalleled existence among the younger generation, to the powerful Phoenix elders, he was merely an ant that could be crushed with a flick of a finger.

From then until today, only three years had passed… merely three years!

He killed Feng Yunzhi with one punch, shattered three Phoenix grand elders with one sword, severely wounded Feng Hengkong and another Phoenix elder with a single blow, and then slew the second-ranked Phoenix grand elder, Feng Feiran, with another sword. This demonstrated at least the strength of a half-step Emperor, or perhaps even having just entered the Emperor Profound Realm!

In just three years, how could such… a growth that utterly defied common sense and was akin to defying the heavens, possibly occur!

"Impossible… Impossible!!!"

Feng Hengkong let out a mournful cry, then violently spat out a large mouthful of blood. His face turned pale, and he fainted.

"Sect Master!"

"Imperial Father!!!"

Only sorrowful shouts answered Feng Hengkong.

Hundreds of meters underground beneath Phoenix City lay an absolute forbidden area, one that even princes and Phoenix elders were not permitted to approach freely.

Flames enveloped this place, forming a seemingly boundless sea of fire. And these flames were not ordinary profound fire, but incredibly scorching Phoenix flames.

At that moment, heavy footsteps echoed within this forbidden place, filled with Phoenix flames. The flickering firelight then illuminated Feng Hengkong’s face. As the Divine Phoenix Emperor, who usually held his head high, he now dared not exude any arrogance or imperial aura. As he walked, he even made an effort to keep his head bowed low.

Gradually, his steps grew slower. Finally, in the deepest part of the flames, he halted, then knelt heavily, his head bowed even lower.

Amidst the gentle swaying of the intensely hot Phoenix flames, a blurred figure was vaguely reflected. A calm yet heavy voice emanated from this figure: "Hengkong, the Phoenix aura has been greatly disturbed these past few days. What is the reason for this?"

Before this figure, Feng Hengkong prostrated himself deeply. "Your son is incompetent," he said. "Please punish me, Imperial Father."

"Your aura and vital essence are in chaos, and even your soul is severely weakened. Who is it that has driven you to such a state?" The voice from within the flames deepened slightly. "Could it be a Sacred Ground?"

"No," Feng Hengkong replied, still prostrate, daring not to straighten his body. "It’s… it’s Yun Che."

"The young man who defeated our sect’s younger generation three years ago and saved Xue’er?" The voice carried a slight note of surprise.

"Yes… it’s him. He did not die in the Primordial Profound Ark three years ago and has now returned alive… He has come to seek revenge for the affairs of the Azure Wind Nation."

"I see… And what powerful expert is assisting him?" The voice from within the flames remained low and calm.

Feng Hengkong took a deep breath. "Only him… alone," he replied.

The Phoenix flames quietly burned, swayed, and boiled, yet the entire fiery space remained silent for a long time. Feng Hengkong’s upper body remained completely prostrate on the ground, not daring to move.

A full ten breaths passed before the voice from within the flames spoke again: "Tian Yu, Tian Qing, go and lend Hengkong a hand. Return swiftly once it is concluded."

"Yes."

From within the sea of fire, dozens of miles away, two old, deep voices responded.