Chapter 725: Reason

Feng Tianwei’s actions, in the face of Feng Xue’er’s tearful “forgiveness,” were utterly shameless and despicable, especially considering he was the Phoenix Grand Sovereign, an immensely powerful Level Six Emperor. He had completely abandoned his dignity and reputation. Yet, everyone who witnessed this scene, except for Feng Xue’er, showed no surprise or felt anything was amiss.

This included Yun Che himself.

The blood feud that had plagued the Divine Phoenix Sect, Yun Che’s terrifying strength, his ruthless and decisive temperament, and Feng Xue’er’s clearly extraordinary feelings for him—every one of these factors was enough for the Divine Phoenix Sect to want him dead at any cost.

And now was the best opportunity to kill Yun Che!

Even if it meant being ridiculed by the world as despicable and shameless, they would never allow Yun Che to leave alive once he retracted his domain. Feng Tianwei himself was even the first to strike.

This profound light from Feng Tianwei was incredibly fast; the mere sound of it tearing through the air could reach the furthest corners of Divine Phoenix City. Yet, before anyone could even hear that sound, this deadly profound light had already reached below Yun Che, aiming straight for his vital points.

Yun Che was still fully occupied with retracting his Golden Crow domain, showing no reaction... or perhaps, in his current state, it was simply impossible for him to react to such an incredibly swift and sudden attack.

“Yun Che... die!” Feng Ximing’s eyes, fixed on the sky, glowed with a crazed, ecstatic glare.

Boom!

A deafening roar erupted in the air, but it wasn’t the sound of the profound light striking Yun Che. Just as Feng Tianwei’s fiery profound light was less than five feet from Yun Che, a dazzling flash of fire suddenly appeared, colliding with it. Immediately, the fiery profound light’s trajectory shifted dramatically; instead of piercing Yun Che’s neck, it now tore through the space behind him, soaring directly into the sky. Yun Che was not harmed in the slightest; only the clothes on his back were torn by the overly violent aftermath.

Feng Tianwei’s expression changed drastically, and Feng Ximing’s face, twisted with ecstasy, suddenly froze.

Beside Yun Che, Feng Xue’er had moved from his side to stand directly in front of him, her back pressed tightly against his chest. Her delicate hand reached out, and a ball of crimson flame burned in her palm. In the past, her phoenix flames had always been warm and gentle, but now, that relatively small flame flickered with unusual intensity.

Tear marks were still wet on Feng Xue’er’s face; her expression was one of pain, heartbreak, and disbelief... and perhaps even a hint of despair.

Malice, shamelessness, treachery, despicableness... these were traits she had only ever witnessed in her life on the Primordial Profound Ark, specifically in Ye Xinghan and Feng Feiyan. Those two had been the first people to evoke the emotion of “hatred” in her.

But this time... it was brought upon her by her own closest relatives.

“Why...” she murmured, unsure if she was questioning her relatives or herself and the world. “Grandfather... why would you do this?!”

“...” Feng Tianwei remained silent, his heart filled with astonishment.

Although that fiery profound light was a sudden strike from him, it was by no means rushed. He had been quietly accumulating power for several silent breaths before striking, so that profound energy was infused with Feng Tianwei’s full, unreserved might. He was certain that not only was the exhausted Yun Che incapable of resistance, but even a Yun Che at full strength would have no chance of defending against it. If struck, death was certain.

And with Feng Xue’er’s pure heart, she wouldn’t have anticipated him suddenly attacking Yun Che. Therefore, she must have acted in the fleeting instant between his strike and its impact on Yun Che...

To act so hastily, using even thirty percent of her power would have been the limit, yet she had managed to deflect the fiery profound light he unleashed with all his might!

“Xue’er, you’re still young, you can’t possibly understand now...” Feng Hengkong said bitterly. “But, doing this is truly for our entire clan! When you grow up and see the rules of survival in this world for yourself, you’ll understand.”

“I truly don’t understand... and I never will!” Feng Xue’er’s fair face was filled with sorrow. The phoenix flame in her hand still burned, and her other hand gripped Yun Che’s arm tightly as she shielded him with her body and fire. “All I know is that you killed so many innocent people from the Blue Wind Nation who bore no grudge... I only saw Big Brother Yun choose forgiveness, yet you tried to kill him anyway, and in such a... despicable way!”

“Father Emperor... Grandfather... you shouldn’t be like this!”

With that last sentence, Feng Xue’er’s suppressed tears fell again, causing Feng Hengkong and everyone else in the Divine Phoenix Sect to feel a sharp pang in their hearts.

“No need to say more,” Feng Tianwei said in a low voice. “Xue’er can’t grow up all at once. And Yun Che must die today, no matter what. Especially after what just happened... with his ruthless character, if he were truly allowed to leave, his future revenge...”

Everyone understood Feng Tianwei’s words. Despite having the absolute advantage, the other party ultimately chose to retract his domain, freeing the Divine Phoenix Sect from the brink of destruction. Yet, they had launched a sudden, treacherous attack after he granted forgiveness. Even the most benevolent person would harbor intense hatred because of this... let alone Yun Che!

If he didn't die, the future retaliation... merely thinking about it sent shivers down their spines.

Feng Hengkong gritted his teeth, crushing the already faint trace of hesitation in his heart. He averted his gaze from Feng Xue’er’s eyes and declared in a deep voice, “All elders, listen to my command! Block all escape routes for Yun Che! Kill him by any means necessary!”

“Yes!”

Feng Xue’er: “...”

At Feng Hengkong’s command, all the Phoenix Elders rose into the air, forming a wide encirclement that tightly trapped Yun Che at its center. However, Feng Xue’er stood directly in front of Yun Che, pressed closely against him. The elders exchanged glances, and for a moment, no one dared to make a move.

“Xue’er, come to Father Emperor.” Feng Hengkong slowly floated closer and extended a hand to Feng Xue’er. “Even if you resent me, even if you hate me... we must kill Yun Che today. When you grow up, you will naturally understand Father Emperor’s painstaking efforts.”

Feng Xue’er neither shook her head nor moved away from Yun Che; her tears had even stopped falling. Around her, the faces that usually brought her comfort and warmth now seemed terrifying, and the gazes typically filled with affection and gentleness had become strange and ugly...

She finally began to understand the meaning of the words Yun Che had spoken to her three years ago in Phoenix Perching Valley...

“Big Brother Yun, I want to grow up quickly. After I turn twenty, I can leave the Divine Phoenix Empire and go anywhere I want.”

“...Xue’er, I, on the contrary, hope you never grow up.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Because the older you get and the more you understand, the more you will lose, and those lost things can never be regained... Although you can go to a wider world, what you’ll see more of isn’t the world’s beauty, but its darkness and ugliness... Especially since you are the Divine Phoenix Princess, carrying the future of the Divine Phoenix Sect.”

“Hmm...?”

“Father Emperor, can you give Xue’er a reason?” Feng Xue’er’s voice was somewhat ethereal.

“Xue’er, he killed your four imperial brothers... he killed so many of our clan members! Are these reasons not enough?!” Feng Hengkong exclaimed agitatedly.

Feng Xue’er slowly shook her head and said softly, “Many things, I truly don’t understand. But this matter, I see it clearly... it wasn’t Big Brother Yun who killed them, but you, Father Emperor!”

“It’s precisely because Father Emperor ordered the invasion of the Blue Wind Nation, turning the peaceful and tranquil Blue Wind Nation into a land of suffering and rivers of blood, and even causing the death of Big Brother Yun’s father... that Big Brother Yun came for revenge, to stop the war! That’s why they died... Father Emperor, do you truly not understand that you are the culprit behind all of this! It’s the retribution for the mistakes you committed... They didn’t die because of Big Brother Yun, but because of Father Emperor.”

“...” Feng Hengkong swayed, his face turning ashen. Similar voices had assailed his mind more than once these past few days, almost becoming an inescapable nightmare. But hearing these words from Feng Xue’er’s mouth was even more piercing than any nightmare. He rasped, “Xue’er, you don’t understand... you truly don’t! Everything Father Emperor did had a reason; Father Emperor did it for the future of our Divine Phoenix Sect... it concerns the very survival of our entire clan!”

“Can we just wantonly trample and destroy others’ lands and lives for our own survival?!” Feng Xue’er shouted loudly.

“Xue’er, please listen to us.” Feng Ximing pleaded, “The law of the jungle is the most fundamental rule of survival in this world. The historical development of the Profound Sky Continent, the establishment and growth of dynasties, have all been driven by war...”

“Was that war?!” Feng Xue’er’s angry retort cut Feng Ximing off, her eyes and voice trembling. “War, at its most basic, requires not harming civilians—even newborn infants know this. The most fundamental and important basis for the establishment and growth of dynasties is stability and winning the people’s hearts. But what did the Divine Phoenix Army do in Blue Wind? Hunting down civilians, burning cities, destroying land and forests... this was nothing but a massacre... an act of dehumanized devils!”

Feng Hengkong’s lips trembled, unable to speak.

Feng Xue’er placed her hand over her chest, where the pain was more than just heart-wrenching. “I, Feng Xue’er, was born in Divine Phoenix City. From birth, I received the Phoenix God’s grace and the affection of Grandfather, Father Emperor, and all my relatives and clan members. I witnessed the might of the Divine Phoenix Nation, which no one dared to bully... For years, I have deeply felt fortunate and proud to be a citizen of the Divine Phoenix Nation and to be Father Emperor’s daughter. I relied on Father Emperor, respected every clan member, and even firmly believed that Father Emperor was the greatest person in this world, convinced that the Divine Phoenix Sect where I was born was the greatest sect and family in the world. Every day, I yearned to someday use my own power to inherit the Phoenix God’s will and bear the future of the Divine Phoenix Sect...”

“...Xue’er...” Feng Hengkong slowly closed his eyes.

But was all of this... just an illusion? To slaughter so many innocent people like devils for their so-called survival and expansion... tens of millions of lives, turning a nation into a terrifying hell... Even if a Divine Phoenix, tainted with countless blood and sins, could become the most powerful entity in the world... it would only make me, and everyone else, fearful and disgusted. Not even the Phoenix God would be able to accept or forgive it.

“...” Feng Hengkong’s chest felt suffocated, as if crushed by a massive steel plate. The turmoil in his mind blurred his consciousness.

At this moment, an extremely violent profound energy suddenly erupted in the stifling, oppressive space. The previously silent Feng Tianwei suddenly struck, his hand burning with crimson flames like a devil’s blood claw, aiming straight for Yun Che’s heart.

No one, not even Feng Hengkong and Feng Ximing who were closest, had anticipated this.

When Feng Tianwei struck, he was less than thirty zhang from Yun Che. At such a close distance, a sudden strike would likely gravely injure even an equally powerful expert who was unprepared, let alone Yun Che.

For Feng Tianwei, Yun Che had to die today, no matter what. His death would eliminate future troubles and also put an end to Feng Xue’er’s affections. As for other matters, they could be gradually smoothed over later. After all, phoenix blood flowed through Feng Xue’er’s veins, and she was a daughter of the Divine Phoenix imperial family.

At such close range, with a Level Six Emperor unleashing his full power when no one was prepared, Feng Tianwei was absolutely certain he could tear Yun Che to shreds in the next instant, then burn his remains to ashes.

However, just as his palm was about to reach within ten zhang of Yun Che, an oppressive force so heavy it almost instantly solidified his blood suddenly descended from the sky. His movements violently froze, and immediately after, his vision was completely obscured by a sudden burst of crimson fire...