Chapter 717: Divine Phoenix Nightmare

Beyond the Four Great Sacred Grounds, the only sect in the Profound Sky Seven Nations with Emperor-level practitioners was the Divine Phoenix Sect. The emergence of the Divine Phoenix Sect's first Emperor-level practitioner marked its rise to an entirely new level of power. The most direct evidence of its growing strength was the increasing number of Emperor-level practitioners.

A thousand years ago, the number of Emperor-level practitioners in the Divine Phoenix Sect surpassed ten, shaking the entire Profound Sky Continent, including the Four Great Sacred Grounds. This achievement also signified that the Divine Phoenix Sect had truly earned the right to challenge the Sacred Grounds.

For five millennia, the Divine Phoenix Sect's Emperor-level practitioners had always died of old age, with their successors proving even stronger. The death of an Emperor-level practitioner was unprecedented for the Divine Phoenix Sect. Currently, the sect had thirteen Emperor-level practitioners. While there might be more powerful hidden assets, they wouldn't significantly exceed this number. The loss of a single Emperor-level practitioner would instantly and severely diminish the Divine Phoenix Sect's deterrent power. For the entire sect, this was not merely the consequence of losing a finger... it was almost equivalent to having an entire hand severed!

It shattered one of the Divine Phoenix Sect's mere dozen foundational pillars!

Therefore, Feng Hengkong's words were undoubtedly a bolt from the blue for all members of the Phoenix clan.

All the Phoenix elders and imperial princes were struck with shock, their expressions changing drastically. Although these words came directly from the Divine Phoenix Sect Master's mouth, they simply couldn't believe them.

“Impossible! Elder Tianyu is an Emperor-level practitioner, one of the most powerful people in this world! How could he possibly die... impossible...”“Could it be Yun Che... No, impossible... With Elder Tianyu's strength, how could he lose to Yun Che? Even if he encountered someone from the Sacred Grounds, nothing should have happened so quickly... Sect Master, there must be a mistake.”“What about Tianqing... Grand Elder Tianqing?”

The Phoenix elders were in disarray. The demise of an Emperor-level Phoenix practitioner was a loss and a blow infinitely more severe than the deaths of four imperial princes and five elders. Feng Hengkong's face turned ashen. He had a faint suspicion that this might indeed be Yun Che's doing... Before his mind and expression could even slightly recover, the sound of another soul imprint shattering echoed in his mind. His pupils dilated once more, and his already agonizingly heavy chest felt as if a poisoned blade had been brutally plunged into it again...

“Elder Tianqing... is also dead...” Feng Hengkong murmured, his eyes vacant, his body limp. Under the crushing blow, he couldn't muster even an ounce of strength.

Another thunderclap from the heavens violently struck everyone's souls, making their heads spin.

Within the soul of every Divine Phoenix Sect Master, soul imprints of the sect's core members were inscribed. These imprints were connected to each individual's life soul, and upon death, the imprint would shatter, instantly notifying the Sect Master.

These words, coming from Feng Hengkong's mouth, could not possibly be a jest. His reaction and words clearly indicated that the soul imprints of Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing had... both shattered and vanished.

“Wh-who could it possibly be?” Feng Feilie stammered.

“It absolutely cannot be Yun Che... Even if Yun Che possessed immense power, he couldn't possibly be a match for two Grand Elders... and it's even more impossible for him to have killed both of them in such a short time... Who could it be?!” Feng Ximing growled quietly.

“The only ones in this world capable of harming two Grand Elders are people from the Sacred Grounds... Are they preparing to declare open hostility?” A Phoenix elder gritted his teeth. None of them could possibly believe that the deaths of Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing were due to Yun Che. Feng Tianyu was a Level Three Emperor-level practitioner, and Feng Tianqing a Level Two. The demise of an Emperor-level practitioner was arguably the most difficult feat on the Profound Sky Continent.

To kill both Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing in just fifteen minutes... was utterly impossible, even for a Level Five Sovereign Profound Realm practitioner.

“Sect Master, we must go quickly and investigate!” Feng Feilie said, preparing to soar into the air.

“Even Elder Tianyu and Elder Tianqing have perished together... Are you preparing to needlessly throw your life away?!” The low voice froze Feng Feilie in place. Feng Hengkong finally straightened up, his face still ashen, every muscle in his face trembling uncontrollably, and his profound energy utterly chaotic. The unfolding events, day by day, were far exceeding his expectations, and the outcomes were growing more terrifying with each passing day...

When Yun Che first arrived, Feng Hengkong had secretly rejoiced, thinking he had walked into a trap... But in just four days, Yun Che had destroyed the Phoenix God statue, killed four of his sons, five elders, and hundreds of disciples... And now, he had even killed two Grand Elders at the Emperor level! He had truly shaken the very foundations of the Divine Phoenix Sect!!

For these four days, he felt as if he had been living in a dream—unreal, yet a terrifying nightmare.

He was beginning to realize that he hadn't provoked a small fry who could be easily manipulated, but a true devil.

“Ming’er...” Feng Hengkong murmured in a daze.

“Your son is here,” Feng Ximing quickly stepped forward.

Feng Hengkong extended his hand and placed a wondrous jade emitting a scorching red glow into Feng Ximing's hand: “This is the Phoenix God Jade... Take it, enter the Phoenix Fire Sanctuary... Go see your grandfather... Tell him... that Elder Tianyu and Elder Tianqing have perished... and also about your four imperial brothers...”

“But... but...” Feng Ximing held the Phoenix Jade, momentarily at a loss. The Phoenix Fire Sanctuary was an absolute forbidden zone of the Divine Phoenix Sect. Although he was the Divine Phoenix Crown Prince, he had never been permitted to enter it in his more than a hundred years of life.

“Go quickly!”

“Yes!” Feng Ximing could only agree, then quickly rushed towards the Divine Phoenix Great Hall. The sole entrance to the Phoenix Fire Sanctuary was within the Divine Phoenix Great Hall.

Feng Hengkong chose not to go personally, feeling that he had no face to confront his father alone. As the Divine Phoenix Sect Master, he understood better than anyone what the loss of two Emperor-level practitioners meant. It was an enormous loss that would take the Divine Phoenix Sect centuries and countless resources and effort to mend.

“Alas, so be it.” Feng Feilie sighed deeply: “Our sect's strength has grown annually, long making the Four Great Sacred Grounds uneasy. They must have been plotting for a while... With the deterrent power of our ancestral Phoenix God, they wouldn't dare act recklessly within Divine Phoenix City. But this time, Elder Tianyu and Elder Tianqing left the city's bounds, which is why they were ambushed...”

This was the only explanation Feng Feilie could conceive based on his understanding. Because only the Four Great Sacred Grounds possessed the power to kill Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing. While this explanation was somewhat far-fetched, he couldn't think of any other possibility.

“No,” Feng Hengkong slowly shook his head: “Even if the masters of the Four Great Sacred Grounds came in person, their people wouldn't easily attack our sect's Emperor-level practitioners... The one who killed Elder Tianyu and Elder Tianqing was Yun Che.”

“What?!” Everyone around them was startled, their faces displaying expressions of utter disbelief: “That’s impossible... Absolutely impossible! No matter how powerful Yun Che is, how could he be a match for two Grand Elders who have entered the Emperor-level realm... And earlier, when confronted by the Grand Elder's personal attack, Yun Che's first reaction was clearly to turn and flee! It cannot possibly be Yun Che, no matter what!”

“It's not impossible just because you think it is... I myself can barely believe it,” Feng Hengkong's breathing was incredibly heavy. “Elder Tianyu left no soul message before his death, indicating he was caught completely off guard... Elder Tianqing, on the other hand, died by destroying his own heart and profound veins... The soul message he left before his death contained only two words...”

“Yun Che...”

At that moment, everyone in the Divine Phoenix Sect was suffocated.

“There... there must be some other circumstances involved! Three years ago, Yun Che was only slightly stronger than the Fourteenth Prince. Even if his growth speed was defy-heavenly, it's impossible...” Feng Feilie still couldn't believe it, and neither could anyone else.

“Don't panic yet. Once the Grand Sect Master emerges from the Sanctuary, all calamities will be resolved,” the Fourth Elder said, trying to sound as calm as possible. At present, they could only wait for the Grand Sect Master to come out and take charge.

At the mention of "Grand Sect Master," the heavy atmosphere noticeably lightened. Although Feng Hengkong was currently the Sect Master, at his age, he was still in a period of growth. To the elders' generation, the title "Grand Sect Master" carried a thousand times more weight than "Sect Master."

However, this respite in the atmosphere did not last long. All the Phoenix elders' expressions suddenly changed, and they simultaneously looked towards the southeast. From that direction, a violent wave of energy was rushing towards them at an extremely high speed.

This time, Yun Che made no attempt to conceal his aura. The terrifying profound energy field, though still nearly a hundred miles away, had already caused all the Phoenix elders to turn pale with fright.

“Quickly activate the Phoenix Fire Barrier!!” Feng Hengkong roared.

Such terrifying momentum... Yun Che was clearly approaching with rage and murderous intent! With his ability to kill Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing, once he arrived and began slaughtering, no one would be able to stop him! There was no telling how many Phoenix elders and disciples would perish by his hand.

With Grand Sect Master Feng Tianwei yet to emerge, they absolutely could not afford another wave of massive losses before he did.

Yun Che moved at full speed, maintaining his profound energy in the Burning Heart state, his gaze fixed on Divine Phoenix City. As he approached, an unusual profound energy fluctuation suddenly appeared before him. Yun Che quickly slowed down, but his body still slammed violently into a transparent barrier.

With a 'bang', Yun Che was sent flying backward. In front of him, a crimson light momentarily appeared, then instantly vanished.

“A protective barrier?” Yun Che's eyes narrowed, and he sneered. He summoned the Heaven Smiting Sword, and with a single strike, he smashed it towards the barrier.

A colossal roar nearly shattered the sky. The entire barrier, and even the entire Divine Phoenix Sect, trembled. Inside the barrier, many lower-level Phoenix disciples were instantly deafened by the roar, their vision blurring to black.

Within Divine Phoenix City, countless individuals were knocked to the ground on the spot, clutching their ears and wailing in agony.

Sword after sword, like the hammer of the heavens, struck violently against the Phoenix Fire Barrier. Each strike shook the sky and earth, reverberating through every inch of Divine Phoenix City.

With the thirteenth sword strike, this thousand-year-old barrier, which protected the entire Divine Phoenix Sect—the foremost sect in the Profound Sky Seven Nations—developed crimson cracks that spread rapidly across its surface before Yun Che.

Inside the barrier, the Phoenix elders, who had utterly refused to believe Yun Che could kill Feng Tianyu and Feng Tianqing, all changed their expressions, becoming as terrified and aghast as if they had just witnessed a legendary demon god...