Chapter 1345: Red Sparrow Transforms into a Phoenix

"Me? What can I do?" Su Youwei looked at Zhao Mushen, somewhat taken aback. She was completely unfamiliar with this kind of struggle over destiny; wouldn't her intervention only make things worse?

Zhao Mushen, however, focused his gaze on Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao's bodies. "Don't underestimate yourself," he said. "You possess the Yin-Yang Divine Palace and were born with the two energies of Yin and Yang, which hold profound mysteries. Currently, Zhou Yuan is unconsciously and wantonly plundering the last portion of the Saint Dragon Qi. If you can use your Yin-Yang energies to harmonize their intertwining souls, you can naturally help them maintain balance."

"Once that balance is established, it will no longer be one party wantonly seizing from the other, but rather a unique fusion. This might just save Wu Yao's life."

Hearing this, Su Youwei's eyes flickered, and she said, "Then I'll try."

If she could wake Zhou Yuan and simultaneously save Wu Yao's life, that would naturally be the most ideal outcome.

So, Su Youwei knelt down between Zhou Yuan and Wu Yao, took both their hands, and slowly closed her eyes.

Simultaneously, the two Yin-Yang energies circulated within her, flowing into their bodies.

Using Su Youwei as a conduit, the Yin-Yang energies connected the two of them. The energies circulated, then flowed back, entering each other's bodies.

In the dark depths underground, the three figures appeared to form a complete connection. The Yin-Yang energies flowed continuously between them, emanating an aura of perfect harmony and completeness.

Within that soul space...

Wu Yao, whose soul was already on the verge of dissipation, suddenly felt a strange, cool sensation emerge. This brought her back to a dazed awareness. Following that, she felt Zhou Yuan's almost tempestuous plundering gradually become calm and gentle.

Immediately afterwards, a scorching and abundant power suddenly surged out from Zhou Yuan's soul.

Infused with that scorching power, Wu Yao's soul, which had been on the verge of collapse, surprisingly received a renewed surge of vitality, becoming increasingly bright.

That sudden sensation of warmth sparked a hint of intoxication even in someone of Wu Yao's disposition. Their souls merged, as if inseparable.

At the same time, a feeling of sudden enlightenment welled up within Wu Yao.

In that instant, she finally understood what it was she truly wanted to do...

The Saint Dragon Qi had accompanied her for many years, but ultimately, it was not hers. She possessed a destiny that truly belonged to her—one that was genuinely suited for her.

"My destiny..."

A low murmur echoed deep within Wu Yao's heart.

Faintly, a clear cry seemed to ring out.

Deep within her mind, light blossomed, and the shadow of a crimson sparrow soared with outstretched wings.

Back then, when the Python Sparrow devoured the Dragon, all three of them possessed their own distinct destinies.

Wu Yao's original destiny was that of the Crimson Sparrow. However, after she seized the Saint Dragon destiny, it usurped control, suppressing her inherent destiny, which Wu Yao, as its master, gradually forgot.

Now that the Saint Dragon Qi was departing, Wu Yao, in that moment of enlightenment, reawakened her own destiny.

Wu Yao gazed at the shadow of the soaring crimson sparrow and softly said, "I'm sorry for forgetting you for so many years."

Wu Yao could feel her vitality beginning to recover, yet she had an uncanny premonition that the moment the Saint Dragon Qi fully departed her body, she would still die.

"When dragon and phoenix contend, the devourer survives."

This was fate, and breaking it wouldn't be easy.

This was the curse incurred from devouring the Saint Dragon Qi that had never truly belonged to her.

To truly sever this curse, her own destiny would need to be strong enough to withstand the Saint Dragon Qi's backlash. However, with her current Crimson Sparrow destiny, that was clearly not possible... yet, there was still one possibility.

It was the metamorphosis of destiny.

Wu Yao gazed at the shadow of the crimson sparrow with bright eyes, then resolutely extended her hand.

"Are you willing to contend with me for this?"

The crimson sparrow's shadow let out a long cry. The next moment, it transformed into a fiery light that shot skyward, then directly collided with Wu Yao, igniting a roaring blaze.

Within the intense flames, a colossal crimson egg seemed to take shape.

Wu Yao was seeking that chance for metamorphosis; failure would mean death.

The colossal crimson egg emitted a powerful suction, absorbing everything within Wu Yao's body. Normally, even if Wu Yao were completely sacrificed, it would likely be insufficient to trigger such a destiny metamorphosis. However, fortunately, the channel formed by Su Youwei's Yin-Yang energies was continuously drawing power from Zhou Yuan's body as well.

That was no ordinary power, but power infused with the Saint Dragon Qi.

The colossal crimson egg deepened in color, and mysterious luminous patterns slowly began to emerge upon its surface.

Outside...

Between Zhou Yuan, Wu Yao, and Su Youwei, the Yin-Yang energies circulated, forming a continuous cycle.

Imperceptibly, the three achieved a perfect balance.

And within this cycle, the souls of all three began to strengthen at an astonishing rate.

Zhao Mushen watched this scene, his eyebrows raising slightly. "The Saint Dragon Qi truly is the foremost destiny in all the world," he said, a hint of longing in his voice.

At this moment, Zhou Yuan's Saint Dragon Qi was fully recovering. Su Youwei, using her Yin-Yang energies, harmonized him with Wu Yao, creating a perfect balance among the three. Consequently, the Saint Dragon Qi also permeated Wu Yao and Su Youwei.

Clearly, being permeated by the Saint Dragon Qi in its complete form would bring immense benefits to both Wu Yao and Su Youwei.

"This guy was already such a nuisance with incomplete Saint Dragon Qi," Zhao Mushen mused, sighing. "Now that the Saint Dragon Qi is fully restored, who knows what monstrous level he'll reach?" Even someone as arrogant as he was, he felt a deep wariness towards a prodigy like Zhou Yuan.

As Zhao Mushen sighed, within that soul space, with the last wisp of Saint Dragon Qi drawing away from Wu Yao's body, Zhou Yuan's soul suddenly erupted with dazzling light. An unspeakably grand and ancient aura swept out from within him.

Zhao Mushen, quick-witted, swiftly formed a barrier of Genesis Qi to conceal the area. Otherwise, if such a commotion attracted powerful Saint Race experts, the consequences would be dire.

He stared intently at Zhou Yuan. All injuries on the latter's body had vanished completely, and faint, sacred dragon scales seemed to shimmer on his skin, forming a protective layer akin to dragon armor.

Most astonishing of all was the mysterious might emanating from Zhou Yuan's body; that power was even more astounding than that of a typical Third-Stage Law Domain expert.

"It's the complete Saint Dragon Qi..."

"I really want to... devour him."

In that moment, Zhao Mushen couldn't help but wipe his mouth. The Saint Dragon Qi emanating from Zhou Yuan's body was simply too alluring to him; if he hadn't retained a shred of rationality, he would have pounced.

However, the aura Zhou Yuan was now exuding also filled him with a subtle sense of dread.

As Zhao Mushen's thoughts churned, Zhou Yuan's body suddenly trembled. Then, his tightly closed eyes slowly opened.