Chapter 472: Suzaku

In the illusory realm, white snow fluttered.

The water mirror shattered instantly, like lightning tearing through clouds.

Almost instinctively, Baizang retreated a hundred zhang in an instant.

At the same time, beside the water mirror, the shredded paper immortal seemed to receive a command and began to spin. Soon, flames ignited along the edge of each piece of paper, and the entire immortal fragment was consumed by fire almost instantly.

But this was not the abandonment of a tool after its use; it was nirvanic rebirth.

The shredded paper burned completely, and a grayish-white, translucent spiritual entity floated out from it. The spiritual entity hovered in the air for a moment before vanishing instantly.

Only after confirming that there was no danger around her did Baizang cease her attack stance. Her flying hair and skirt quickly settled.

What on earth happened…

Baizang looked at the spot where the water mirror had shattered, her mind unsettled.

Even though she had fallen from her divine throne, she was still once the ruler of a divine realm. Few things in this world could make her fear, and only another terrifying being, still seated on their divine throne, could inspire such dread in her.

The Vermilion Bird!

Baizang was sure her eyes hadn't deceived her.

Just now, in the water mirror, she had seen a figure appear behind Zhao Xiang'er with almost no trace.

It was an exceptionally beautiful silhouette, like a dancer adorned in splendid silks, or an elegant and graceful queen.

Yet, her silent appearance was also like that of a true ghost.

The Vermilion Bird…

The Three Thousand Worlds belonged to Zhao Xiang'er. How did the Vermilion Bird manage to infiltrate it so silently? If she hadn't spoken just now, wouldn't Zhao Xiang'er have already…

Right… what about Zhao Xiang'er now?

Baizang's thoughts raced.

She stretched out her hand and drew circles in front of her again, but the lines of every circle she drew twisted uncontrollably, preventing the formation of a water mirror that could connect to the Three Thousand Worlds.

This was the influence of spatial laws!

Had something already happened to the Three Thousand Worlds…?

Within the Three Thousand Worlds, in Zhao Xiang'er's palace, as the words 'It's ready' rang out, a chilling sensation ran down Zhao Xiang'er's neck. Her body felt as if swept by an electric storm, every bone paralyzed.

But there was no need to think; Zhao Xiang'er's body had reacted instinctively at the very first syllable.

There was no time for her umbrella-sword to be unsheathed. Zhao Xiang'er instantly twisted her waist, her phoenix skirt erupted in flames, and her red umbrella lunged back and then unfurled with a rustle. At the same time, Zhao Xiang'er spun and drew her sword; the umbrella-sword slid out with a metallic clang, flashing an extremely fine gleam, cutting through the fierce flames, and striking at the darkness behind her.

That was peerless phoenix fire.

In just an instant, the cool palace was filled with intense heat; every particle of air seemed like ash ready to ignite. Yet, the cold edge of the umbrella-sword swept forth, carrying an icy, bone-chilling gleam.

In a flash, the palace floor tiles turned to dust, the exquisite dressing table and bed shattered completely, and the entire palace was annihilated the moment Zhao Xiang'er drew her sword. The explosive sound caused in that blink of an eye reverberated throughout the Three Thousand Worlds!

Zhao Xiang'er was the master of the Three Thousand Worlds; logically, her all-out, murderous strike should have been unstoppable.

The Vermilion Bird indeed failed to block it.

The sword pierced through her hand, entered her chest, and emerged from her back, making her solemn, ancient red dress particularly striking.

The fierce flames illuminated their faces.

This was the first time Zhao Xiang'er clearly saw her face.

The Vermilion Bird's facial features were extremely soft; her eyes and lips perfectly embodied the classical beauty ideal. Her red-dominated dress fit her perfectly, accentuating her captivating figure. She was like a concubine described in ancient texts, capable of enchanting all beings with a single dance on the city wall even as an army besieged it.

Flames enveloped them, making it impossible to distinguish between phoenix fire and Vermilion Bird's fire.

The Vermilion Bird quietly gazed at her. Though pierced by the sword, her face showed no pain, only an inexplicable tenderness.

Zhao Xiang'er pressed her lips tightly, her exquisite face as cold as frost, her long black hair dancing wildly, like a flock of crows struggling in flames.

"Xiang'er, it's been many years. You truly haven't disappointed your mother." The Vermilion Bird smiled as she looked at the umbrella-sword piercing through her body.

Scenes from the past also flashed through Zhao Xiang'er's mind. Back then, she lived in a side hall of the Qianming Palace, often sneaking to the main hall at night to find her mother. But all the wooden windows of Qianming Palace were closed day and night, and each time she returned empty-handed.

At that time, she was young and naive, seeing her mother as her most revered figure. She rarely saw her, and even when she did, she forgot the encounter almost immediately. The only image etched in her memory was of her mother, dressed in a luxurious and intricate red gown, standing behind a beaded curtain, gently looking back at her with a tender smile…

This was a scene she had replayed countless times in her mind.

It wasn't until later, during the Vermilion Bird's illusion, when the 'Nine Feathers' scheme was revealed, that she suddenly realized this so-called mother was actually the enemy who had killed her thousands of years ago.

At that moment, she couldn't accept it, but with the blade already at her neck, she had no choice but to draw her sword and fight.

And it was the same now!

Zhao Xiang'er did not reply. She twisted the umbrella handle, pressing with all her might, and all the laws of the Three Thousand Worlds surged towards the Vermilion Bird at that instant.

The sharp gleam of the umbrella-sword sliced through her body, and blood splattered.

Under the onslaught of the laws and scorching flames, the Vermilion Bird became like cracked porcelain, her entire body covered in fissures. Only her smile remained tender.

"Xiang'er, your mother watched you grow up. Even if you harbor resentment, why must it be like this?" The Vermilion Bird chuckled and said, "But then again, young girls always have their rebellious phases. I haven't been able to be by your side all these years, so I suppose I've neglected your discipline."

Listening to the Vermilion Bird's gentle yet condescending words, Zhao Xiang'er could no longer suppress the rage in her heart. Her thin lips burned like fire, her eyes blazed like fire, and her entire figure resembled a furiously burning inferno.

"Silence!"

Zhao Xiang'er roared, leaping into the air instantly, and swung her sword down.

The Vermilion Bird tilted her head up, neither dodging nor evading, allowing the girl to strike down with her sword.

The sword plunged into the Vermilion Bird's shoulder, tearing her body apart directly from the shoulder.

In the fierce flames, the Vermilion Bird's form shattered.

But she did not die; instead, another identical figure emerged from the burning flames, offering Zhao Xiang'er a calm smile.

Zhao Xiang'er stood with her sword in the flames, raising her slightly pale face, staring at the Vermilion Bird. She charged again with her sword, sweeping past the Vermilion Bird in an instant.

Blood splattered.

The Vermilion Bird looked at the hole that instantly appeared in her chest, her heart torn into pieces within it.

She smiled helplessly, her form dissipating, and then emerged perfectly intact from the flames once more.

She was the Vermilion Bird, yet her nirvanic rebirth seemed like child's play.

Within the Three Thousand Worlds, firelight intertwined, and Zhao Xiang'er's fierce dance, her white blade reaching the sky, and her sword qi, like rampant execution knives, sliced the beautifully illusory Three Thousand Worlds into a purgatorial realm where demons danced wildly.

Yet, the Vermilion Bird was like an unkillable phantom, her red dress fluttering as she danced with the specters.

Amidst the sky-burning flames, Xueyuan and Shiyu were both alarmed and came forth.

They initially thought it was a powerful enemy invasion or that Her Highness had suffered a cultivation deviation, but when they saw the magnificent figure in the firelight, they were both stunned.

"Mother…"

In Xueyuan's eyes, the icy hue instantly vanished. Her body went limp, and she almost knelt in prostration.

Shiyu also stood frozen in place.

This was also her first time truly seeing the Vermilion Bird. Mother was so perfect…

Only Zhao Xiang'er remained 'unfilial,' still fighting that figure. The phoenix fire and Vermilion Bird's fire intertwined and surged skyward, and two distinct cries echoed throughout the world.

The Vermilion Bird glanced at them from afar.

"They are formed from one of my feathers, so they are considered kin after all," the Vermilion Bird said, retracting her gaze. "But my most beloved and most hoped-for daughter is still you, Xiang'er… You cannot kill me."

Zhao Xiang'er stopped her attacks and calmed down somewhat. As she calmed, countless doubts churned in her mind simultaneously.

Her supreme authority was still intact; not to mention the Three Thousand Worlds, even if she personally went to the Western Kingdom, she would likely be unimpeded. So why, within her own Three Thousand Worlds, could she still not defeat the Vermilion Bird?

Most importantly, why had the Vermilion Bird's divine realm opened now, without any warning?

The sudden opening of the Tishan Divine Realm indicated a misalignment of stars, but even with a misalignment, the Year of the Vermilion Bird shouldn't begin until March…

Where exactly did she come from?

Zhao Xiang'er turned her head, gazing at the Vermilion Bird, and asked coldly, "What exactly do you want?"

The Vermilion Bird looked at her, her eyes showing a hint of pity. "What do you think Mother came to find you for?"

Zhao Xiang'er showed no reaction to her constantly shifting attitude.

She would never feel any warmth just because the Vermilion Bird gently called herself 'mother' a few times. The moment flames ignited the Three Thousand Worlds, they became sworn, unceasing enemies.

Seeing Zhao Xiang'er's silence, the Vermilion Bird smiled charmingly and said, "You've truly changed so much; you're no longer the wild girl who used to run around everywhere. Alas, daughters truly don't stay once they grow up."

Zhao Xiang'er said coldly, "You're here to kill me."

The Vermilion Bird nodded without hesitation. "Isn't that what I've been doing all these years?"

As she spoke, she couldn't help but show a hint of regret. "It was my improper planning… The appearance of the Nine Feathers back then was too hasty. If it were now, you would surely be dead."

Zhao Xiang'er asked faintly, "Do you want the Three Thousand Worlds?"

The Vermilion Bird smiled softly and said, "Is Xiang'er willing to hand it over to Mother?"

"Dream on." Zhao Xiang'er's distinct black and white eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Truly a disobedient child," the Vermilion Bird said with a smile.

The Vermilion Bird walked slowly through the flames, her skirt hem singed by the fire, yet she seemed completely oblivious.

Zhao Xiang'er gripped her sword tightly, watching her every move intently.

"You are not human," Zhao Xiang'er stated with certainty.

The Vermilion Bird did not get angry; instead, her smile deepened. "You finally noticed?"

Zhao Xiang'er remained silent.

The Vermilion Bird said, "I know you have many questions. It's fine; we have plenty of time."

The Three Thousand Worlds were engulfed in raging fire.

"Xiang'er, I presume you already know your origins?" The Vermilion Bird held her hands gracefully in front of her. "Your current life was crafted by both me and Chang'e. Our objectives are essentially the same: to acquire the power of the Three Thousand Worlds within you, as it represents the highest-tier spatial authority."

Zhao Xiang'er walked through the firelight with her, listening quietly, not even nodding.

Together, they walked towards the highest point of the world.

"Unlike me, Chang'e hoped you would grow up safely and awaken your powers naturally, then cooperate with her. I, however, wished to seize that power for myself, directly taking its place. That's why I created Nine Feathers from my own shadow, to stay by your side and await an opportunity."

The Vermilion Bird revealed her plans for all these years without reservation.

Zhao Xiang'er remained speechless.

She had known all this for a long time, so she was naturally not surprised.

The Vermilion Bird continued, "So I set up many schemes: for instance, the Old Fox of the Imperial City, the White Bone Lady of Linhe City, and even my two daughters, Xueyuan and Shiyu. These were overt plots. I also laid out many smaller arrangements in the Zhao Kingdom, making you feel the omnipresence of fate, making you understand that you could never escape the destiny I arranged for you throughout your life. Even if you escaped those, the Vermilion Bird Illusion, tailor-made for you, would still be waiting here."

Zhao Xiang'er hummed softly. Although she possessed innate pride, she also understood that if it weren't for Bukeguan saving her from behind the scenes, she would probably have died when she was sixteen.

The Vermilion Bird looked at the girl's exquisitely beautiful profile and, after a moment, chuckled, "But I never truly expected to kill you, after all… I chose an excellent husband's family for Xiang'er."

"I am a Divine Lord, only able to appear in this world once every thirteen years, while Bukeguan has resided in this world for a long time. No matter how intricate my plans, as long as Chang'e protects you at any cost, I absolutely cannot kill you."

The Vermilion Bird gazed in the direction of the moon in the sky.

Zhao Xiang'er looked at her and asked, "Then what was the point of all your efforts to kill me and corrupt my Dao heart?"

The Vermilion Bird smiled at her and said, "This reason is a bit embarrassing to admit. Do you… want to hear it?"

Zhao Xiang'er said coolly, "Tell me or not, it's up to you."

"Such a rebellious little girl," the Vermilion Bird said, her anciently beautiful face showing affection. "Many years ago, I defeated you, but before I could occupy your ancient kingdom, I was forced back to the human world by Hou Yi, who drew his bow and arrow. At that time, Chang'e and I fought several battles, all ending in my crushing defeat. If I hadn't comprehended the Dao of Nirvana during our battle, I might have perished directly in the Primordial God War, just like Tianzang Mingjun and the others."

The Vermilion Bird's expression was calm, and her words were equally calm. "Afterward, I ascended to the divine throne and became the supreme ruler. At that time, I wanted to seek revenge on Chang'e, but I couldn't find any trace of her. I was filled with immense regret… Just as I thought I would live immortal with this regret for the rest of my life, she appeared, without any warning, just as I appeared behind you moments ago."

That was Chang'e returning from her moon prison, naming herself Ye Changong.

"And so, I was defeated again," the Vermilion Bird said, no longer calm, letting out a long sigh.

At that time, Chang'e appeared in her divine realm, and she used the might of her entire kingdom to kill her, yet Chang'e remained completely unharmed… She then walked fearlessly before her, placed a finger against her neck, and invited her to formulate a plan to slay Yuanfu.

Later, the Vermilion Bird understood that Chang'e had transferred the damage she should have sustained onto the moon.

Listening to her tone, Zhao Xiang'er understood somewhat. "In my previous life, I wasn't on good terms with Changxi. Did you set a trap to kill me, then make Master personally save her former romantic rival, thereby deriving some pleasure from revenge?"

The Vermilion Bird also laughed self-deprecatingly. "It's quite boring, isn't it?"

Zhao Xiang'er nodded. She, too, found it somewhat unacceptable that her tumultuous life was merely a pawn in someone else's petty rivalry.

The Vermilion Bird showed a sorrowful expression. "But Xiang'er, you must understand, when facing an insurmountable enemy, one is always powerless. Besides this small act of defiance, what else could I do?"

Zhao Xiang'er's thin lips formed a straight line. Her hand gripped the sword hilt firmly, unmoving and unshaking.

"Alright, don't look so utterly disappointed. That was just an insignificant reason. The most important goal was to make you gradually awaken the power of the Three Thousand Worlds under layers of immense pressure. Otherwise, you would still live in ease for thousands of years, just like in your Xihe incarnation, and even if Dijun used the slave-markings, it would be useless," the Vermilion Bird said. "Without true life-and-death danger, how could you become who you are now?"

Slave-markings…

Zhao Xiang'er's dark pupils contracted slightly.

The method of slave-markings originally stemmed from Ning Changjiu; his identity as the Patriarch of the Joyful Union Sect was also somewhat related to it. Back then, he researched this kind of spell, actually for the purpose of…

Even with a formidable enemy at her side, Zhao Xiang'er's heart couldn't help but beat faster. She completely failed to imagine such a scenario.

"So now…" Zhao Xiang'er's eyelashes fluttered as she whispered, "Are you satisfied?"

The Vermilion Bird looked at her and smiled. "I am very satisfied… According to Chang'e's and my original plan, today the Thunder Prison Divine Realm should have illuminated, and your husband would have returned to life. Afterward, Ye Changong would reshape the authority of time, combining with your spatial power to form a true spatio-temporal 'infinity.' Empowered by such peerless strength, Hou Yi would once again wield his bow, uniting the power of all human cultivators to swiftly kill the Dark Lord. But…"

"Deviations still occurred."

The Vermilion Bird gazed at the nine heavens and said, "The Dark Lord secretly swapped the stars, inverting Thunder Prison and Vermilion Bird. So, it's not your husband who arrived today, but your mother."

So that's how it is…

"Thank you for clarifying," Zhao Xiang'er nodded and said. "Just now, the immortal told me that the world is the key to opening all worlds."

"Indeed," the Vermilion Bird smiled. "You guessed correctly; I possess the ability to open the Thunder Prison Divine Realm."

Zhao Xiang'er stared at her, her gaze sharpened with an uncontainable edge.

"Actually, Chang'e also anticipated this," the Vermilion Bird said. "Even if the stars weren't misaligned, if something went wrong with Uranus, it could still affect the opening of the Thunder Prison Divine Realm. Therefore, activating the Vermilion Bird Star was also Chang'e's contingency plan, except…"

"Except, you wouldn't obediently go and open the Thunder Prison Divine Realm, would you?" Zhao Xiang'er continued, following her words. "You've always wanted to kill me and claim the Three Thousand Worlds for yourself. Before, Master obstructed you, but now Master isn't here, and no one can stop you, so you still want to try, don't you?"

The Vermilion Bird nodded and said, "Xiang'er truly is Mother's daughter, unparalleled in wisdom."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "What is the real reason you're trying every method to obtain the Three Thousand Worlds?"

The Vermilion Bird did not answer directly, but said, "According to Chang'e's plan, I wasn't meant to appear in this battle. If you could win, I would directly enjoy the fruits of victory. If you failed, then I would be one of the few remaining gods in the world, and your scattered authorities would all be mine for the taking, which I could use to find another path to survival. That doesn't seem like a bad outcome for me."

Zhao Xiang'er held her umbrella-sword, quietly observing the Vermilion Bird. She didn't believe a single word the Vermilion Bird said, and she brazenly sought the Vermilion Bird's weaknesses, intending to destroy her seemingly immortal body.

Since Master could defeat her in the past, it meant the Vermilion Bird was not truly immortal.

"So what? What else are you dissatisfied with?" Zhao Xiang'er asked indifferently.

The two of them arrived at the highest point of the Three Thousand Worlds.

The 'mother and daughter' stood together, gazing out at the world.

Within the Western Kingdom's boundary marker, there was no snow, but beyond it lay a vast, white plain.

A dark shadow ran from afar.

Zhao Xiang'er's delicate brows furrowed.

The shadow was immense, coming from the east.

That was an ancient god… Zhao Xiang'er quickly made her judgment.

This ancient god was massive, with broken chains wrapped around its body, looking as if it had just escaped from a prison.

"King of the Wasteland?" Zhao Xiang'er recognized its identity.

It was the King of the Wasteland, suppressed beneath the Tianhuan Sect. When Siming passed by the Tianhuan Sect and killed its sect master, she had entered its dungeon, seen the King of the Wasteland once, and spoken with it about certain matters.

The King of the Wasteland ran from afar, dragging chains, leaving enormous footprints all over the snowy ground.

He arrived outside the boundary marker, knelt on the ground, and presented a stone tablet, speaking ancient, incomprehensible words.

The Vermilion Bird could understand.

She extended her hand, and the stone tablet floated from beyond the boundary marker into her palm. She looked at the tablet, nodded, and said, "It's ready."

Like the shredded paper immortal, the King of the Wasteland seemed to have received a great pardon and let out a long roar towards the sky.

Then, the remaining chains transformed into black flames, consuming the King of the Wasteland's immense body. From the ruins of his corpse, a grayish-white, translucent shadow floated out and vanished in an instant.

Zhao Xiang'er frowned and said, "Is that a spirit?"

"Yes. That is a spiritual entity, an eternal path I found for those who follow me," the Vermilion Bird said.

Zhao Xiang'er knew about spiritual forms.

A unique spirit like Liu Xiyuan could switch between the ethereal and corporeal forms of spiritual entities, but spirits, like humans, would still perish and were never eternal, unless the Vermilion Bird had found a completely new path.

"You intend to build a Spirit Realm and become its master?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

The Vermilion Bird smiled faintly. "I do intend to forge a Spirit Mountain in the Western Heavens, but I will not rule over it, because I have farther places to go."

The Vermilion Bird lowered her head, looking at the stone tablet.

The tablet was inscribed with many obscure, long-lost characters.

"What does it say?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

"It records a 'pathway.' Thousands of years ago, I feared I would forget my original aspiration during the long passage of time, so I recorded many things as my dying words," the Vermilion Bird slowly explained. "But now it seems I worried unnecessarily. I have wavered these past years, but I've never forgotten my true heart."

She crushed the ancient stone tablet, letting its fragments scatter like dust in the wind.

"I want freedom," she said.

This was her summary of the tablet's contents, and also her unchanging desire to this day.

Her voice, as melodious as a spring, seemed to hold the vast changes of time.

Zhao Xiang'er remained indifferent to this.

She merely looked up at the sky.

Above, a faint, thin barrier was discernible.

"So the Western Kingdom is truly this vast," Zhao Xiang'er mused.

The Vermilion Bird smiled softly. "Indeed, the Three Thousand Worlds lie within the Western Kingdom… Half of its authority is mine, and half is yours."

Zhao Xiang'er closed her eyes.

The Vermilion Bird had never intended for her to easily obtain the immense power of the Three Thousand Worlds. Thus, she positioned the Three Thousand Worlds within the Western Kingdom, sharing its authority equally with Zhao Xiang'er. Only two outcomes were possible now.

One was for the Western Kingdom to devour the Three Thousand Worlds from outside in, and the other was for the Three Thousand Worlds to retaliate and consume the Western Kingdom from inside out.

This was their jointly ruled kingdom.

The Vermilion Bird looked at her and said, "Before you turned sixteen, I truly regarded you as my daughter. It's a pity I can no longer hear you call me 'mother.'"

Zhao Xiang'er said coldly, "At a time like this, why bother with pretenses?"

The Vermilion Bird looked at her, her expression so gentle it was almost morbid. "I speak the truth. How could Mother not love such a lovely Xiang'er? It's just that fate has decreed that we cannot be true mother and daughter."

As the Vermilion Bird spoke, she even reached out, intending to touch the girl's hair.

Zhao Xiang'er blocked with her arm.

The Vermilion Bird smiled slightly apologetically and withdrew her hand.

The setting sun descended from the Western Kingdom, casting their figures in blood-red light.

"It's ready," Zhao Xiang'er said.

Her tone was identical to the Vermilion Bird's.

The Vermilion Bird looked at the girl's delicate figure silhouetted against the setting sun and smiled. "Xiang'er probably didn't get to fight to her heart's content in the battle against Nine Feathers in the Vermilion Bird Illusion, did she?"

Zhao Xiang'er did not reply, but her sword was already slowly being drawn from her red umbrella.

The white blade was tinged blood-red by the setting sun.

In an instant.

The Three Thousand Worlds and the Western Kingdom, like gates of hell flung open, burst into raging flames.

Between heaven and earth, red lotuses bloomed everywhere.