Chapter 740: Rebellious Son

The Divine Phoenix Empire, Phoenix Sect."Father Emperor, is... all of this true?" Feng Hengkong's face was etched with deep shock.

"This was personally told to me by Night Solitary Shadow, the Ninth Elder of the Sun Moon Divine Hall. Furthermore, he was one of the four Sun Moon Elders that Night Xinghan brought that day, so it's not just hearsay. If Night Solitary Shadow hadn't thought quickly on his feet that day, I fear Night Shi wouldn't have been the only one to die." Feng Tianwei's voice was calm, but his brows remained deeply furrowed.

"Now, this matter is no longer a secret among the Four Sacred Grounds. Night Solitary Shadow and I have been friends for many years, which is why he revealed this to me, specifically warning me never to further escalate our feud with Yun Che."

"No wonder... no wonder Yun Che dared to single-handedly invade my Phoenix Sect and remained fearless throughout. And no wonder, given Night Xinghan's vicious nature, he hasn't moved against Yun Che all this time since learning he was alive. So, it turns out Yun Che has such an overwhelmingly powerful figure behind him." Feng Hengkong's shock was hard to quell.

"'Heaven Smiting Elder,' your father heard this name mentioned by our ancestors when I was young. Nowadays, throughout the world, only the Four Sacred Grounds, with their inherited memories, and our Phoenix Sect would likely still know this name. Ten thousand years ago, he was unparalleled in the world, and now, he surpasses all figures past and present. He is the first and only human in the history of the Profound Sky Continent to enter the Half-God Profound Realm, on the same level as our ancestor, the Phoenix God... and that was ten thousand years ago!"

"I never imagined he was still alive... Reaching that realm, it's only natural to have a lifespan of ten thousand years. No, perhaps the Heaven Smiting Elder's current realm has already surpassed Half-God Profound, entering the God Profound Realm, achieving the legendary supreme 'Profound God'!" Feng Tianwei's voice carried astonishment, solemnity, as well as reverence and longing: "No wonder Yun Che, with only King Profound Realm profound energy, could make my Phoenix Sect suffer such humiliation. Your father couldn't for the life of me figure out who in the Profound Sky Continent could have trained such an anomalous prodigy as Yun Che... So, it turns out it was a god-like figure!"

"A flame the size of a finger, incinerating a mid-stage Emperor Profound practitioner into nothingness..." Feng Hengkong involuntarily gasped, unable to even conceive of such a shocking sight in his mind. Had it not been for Feng Tianwei's direct words, and the information originating from the Four Sacred Grounds, he would never have believed it.

"Considering this, the current outcome is quite good. As for avenging Luo'er and the others... never think of it again." Feng Tianwei sighed softly.

"Father Emperor! Father Emperor!!"With a shout, Feng Ximing stumbled almost breathlessly into the room. Without pausing to bow, he rushed directly to Feng Hengkong, his face contorted with unprecedented panic: "Father Emperor... your son heard you announced at the Elder's Council that you would marry Xue'er to Yun Che? What is going on... this absolutely cannot be true!!"

"It is true!" Feng Hengkong frowned deeply, his face stern.

"Wh-what?" Hearing Feng Hengkong's direct confirmation, the already panicked Feng Ximing felt as if struck by lightning. His body swayed, and he suddenly shrieked hysterically: "Father Emperor, are you insane?! Yun Che is our sworn enemy! He killed my four imperial brothers... your four sons too! And all those elders, two grand elders, a thousand clan disciples... He even destroyed the Phoenix God Statue, and Phoenix City is still riddled with scars... He is the mortal enemy of our entire clan! How can you marry Xue'er to him?!"

It was then that he finally noticed Feng Tianwei nearby. He stumbled a step and rushed over: "Grandfather, Father Emperor has gone mad! He's actually going to marry Xue'er to that demon Yun Che... Grandfather, quickly stop him!"

"Enough!" Feng Hengkong turned and snapped: "I will tell you the reasons behind this in due time. I am currently discussing important matters with your grandfather, so withdraw at once."

Feng Tianwei glanced at Feng Ximing and waved a hand: "I have said all I needed to say. Hengkong, in the coming days, prepare well for the Devil Sword Conference. This time, not only will all core figures from the Four Sacred Grounds be present, but all forces across the continent with Overlord Profound practitioners have also been invited. The scale will be unprecedented, and the spectacle frightening enough. At that time, I will personally accompany you... Ximing, you should come too."

"Father Emperor, you're going with us?" Feng Hengkong asked, surprised and pleased.

"The secret of the God Profound... just those four words are irresistible to any profound practitioner in the world, even if they know ninety-nine percent of it is merely an illusion. Even if we gain nothing, just seeing the lords of the Four Sacred Grounds present and heroes from across the world gathered will make the trip worthwhile."

Having spoken, Feng Tianwei flicked his long sleeve, and with a flash of fiery light, he vanished from the spot.

"You may withdraw." Feng Hengkong looked sideways at Feng Ximing: "You heard your grandfather's words just now. In the coming months, while rebuilding Phoenix City, you must also fully prepare for the Devil Sword Conference. Xue'er's marriage must also be prepared for early."

"Father Emperor!" Feng Ximing knelt down with a thud before Feng Hengkong, his face full of pleading. Feng Tianwei's attitude clearly showed he had no objection to the matter, which drove him to near despair: "Your son implores you... please retract your order. Your son truly cannot understand why Father Emperor would do this. That's Xue'er... she is Father Emperor's most beloved daughter, the future Phoenix God of our Phoenix Sect!!"

Feng Hengkong lowered his brows, but instead of anger, he spoke slowly: "My decision, naturally, was made after careful consideration. Furthermore, there is now an even more important reason. Ximing, do you know why Yun Che, at such a young age and only at the King Profound Realm, possesses such astonishing power? Do you know why his flames clearly surpass Phoenix flames? Do you know why he could return alive from the Primordial Profound Ark? Do you know why, after he angered Night Xinghan back then, Night Xinghan never pursued him?"

"Only today did I learn that behind Yun Che stands a master so powerful that he is unprecedented, capable of tearing open space! When Yun Che was trapped in the Primordial Profound Ark back then, it was his master who tore open space and brought him back from within! Night Xinghan did not *not* go looking for trouble with Yun Che; on the contrary, on the very first day Yun Che returned, he brought a full four Sun Moon Elders and fifteen Guardians, even deploying the Sun Moon Divine Ark to kill Yun Che. But the result was that Yun Che's master was forced to reveal himself..."

Feng Hengkong extended his index finger: "His master used merely a speck of flame the size of a finger to incinerate a Sun Moon Elder into nothingness within a few breaths... Not to mention a corpse, not even a single strand of hair remained! Had it not been that he long ago detached himself from worldly affairs and was unwilling to easily resort to killing, coupled with the Ninth Elder who was present desperately swearing that they would never provoke Yun Che again, none of those who went from the Sun Moon Divine Hall would have imagined returning alive."

Feng Ximing's face was blank, as if he had heard an incomprehensible scripture.

"Yun Che's master is so powerful that he might even far surpass our ancestor, the Phoenix God, reaching a realm we cannot even begin to comprehend. Now, even the Four Sacred Grounds would absolutely not dare to provoke Yun Che again. Although our Phoenix Sect suffered a calamity because of Yun Che, looking back now, we should rather be fortunate. If it had been Yun Che who was pushed to desperation, forcing his master to act, the consequences... would have been unimaginable!"

"Yun Che's potential is immeasurable, he possesses Phoenix bloodline, treats Xue'er with genuine sincerity, and is willing to protect her with his life... and he has such a powerful backing." Feng Hengkong closed his eyes: "Though I hate him to the core, for Xue'er's lifelong happiness, there truly is no one more suitable than him. If she can marry him, not only can we alleviate the animosity with the Blue Wind Empire, but my Phoenix Sect will also gain immense support. Even if the truth of our ancestor Phoenix God's demise becomes known to the world before Xue'er's power fully awakens, the Four Sacred Grounds would absolutely not dare to easily harm us in the slightest."

Feng Ximing's face turned pale, then green, his lips continuously trembling. Feng Hengkong's patient explanation not only failed to calm him but made his aura grow even more chaotic. He roared: "So what?! That's Xue'er! To Father Emperor, and to your son, she is the most important person in the world! How can you use her to..."

"What 'use'?!" Those two words from Feng Ximing pushed the anger Feng Hengkong had been suppressing to the brink of eruption: "Furthermore, that is Xue'er's own will! If Xue'er were unwilling, I would not agree even if it cost me my life! Is she unwilling or perfectly agreeable... Don't you really know that in your heart?!"

Feng Ximing's face paled once more. He slumped to his knees, seemingly experiencing cruel despair, his voice turning into a painful plea: "Father Emperor... no matter what, you must not marry Xue'er to Yun Che... You love Xue'er so much, you must be very reluctant to let her go, right? Xue'er... she is the future Phoenix God, she belongs to our Phoenix Sect, she shouldn't marry outside the clan..."

"Silence!" Feng Hengkong roared: "Xue'er is the inheritor of our ancestor Phoenix God, bearing the mission of protecting the entire sect in the future, but that does not mean she must forever belong to the Phoenix Sect, nor to anyone else! She belongs only to herself! In another half a year, she will turn twenty, and she can decide anything for herself. Even we only have the right to advise and guide, not to forcibly interfere or make decisions for her! This is truly for her own good! And you..." Feng Hengkong's face turned incredibly grim: "Do you truly think I am unaware of the vile thoughts you harbor for Xue'er? I have simply been unwilling to point them out!"

"Father Emperor..." Feng Ximing reached out and clutched Feng Hengkong's ankle, pleading tremblingly: "Your son truly cannot lose Xue'er. The thought of Xue'er marrying another... makes your son suffer more than death... Please, Father Emperor, retract your order. Your son will use everything to protect Xue'er, your son can give Xue'er everything she desires... Your son can give up being Crown Prince, give up the throne... can give up everything, just please..."

"Rebel!" Feng Hengkong erupted in fury, sending a kick that, amidst Feng Ximing's pained cry, sent him flying out of the main hall.

In his great rage, the kick was extremely forceful, leaving a long streak of blood splattered from the hall's entrance outwards.

"Don't even say you're her imperial brother; even if you weren't siblings, you would never be worthy of Xue'er, nor would she ever truly look at you! Get out and go to Phoenix Heart Hall, confine yourself and reflect for a hundred days! Dare to utter such nonsense again, and I will personally cripple you!"

Feng Hengkong trembled with rage. As Feng Ximing's father, how could he not clearly see his son's intentions? Coupled with Feng Xue'er's charm, which was indeed irresistible to ordinary people, Feng Hengkong, despite knowing full well, had never found it overly unacceptable.

But he had not expected Feng Ximing's feelings for Feng Xue'er to be so profound, nor that he would utter such audacious and treasonous words.

Outside the main hall, Feng Ximing propped himself up with one hand, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood. He gasped violently, then rose without a word and staggered away, but in the depths of his eyes, a terrifying malevolence seethed...

"I can have nothing... but I cannot be without Xue'er..."

"I may never have her... but no one else shall ever have her either!"

"Feng Hengkong... this is what you forced me to do..."

"It's all of you who forced me!!!"