Chapter 2657: Phoenix Nest Small World

There wasn't much need for extensive discussion, as the Phoenix Race had participated in the Dragon City Grand Ceremony many times before. The elders present, including Lady Huang Shi, had all led teams to Dragon City on multiple occasions.

Furthermore, since ancient times, the Dragon and Phoenix races had been as close as family, so the Phoenix Race's involvement was merely a formality, requiring no special preparations.

While the Phoenix Race's high-ranking members were in deliberation, Lu Ye was being pulled by Su Yan as they flew towards the Primordial Parasol Tree.

The dark space he was previously trapped in, located just outside the Primordial Parasol Tree, was a secret technique casually cast by the Phoenix Lord. Now that he was free, the darkness had vanished.

It was Lu Ye's first time seeing the Primordial Parasol Tree, and he couldn't help but gaze at it for a few extra moments. He vaguely sensed that this colossal tree, which seemed to pierce the heavens, was a supreme treasure, much like the Cycle Tree in the starry sky, and it clearly possessed its own will.

Elegant figures danced and frolicked among the treetops, and from time to time, clear, resonant phoenix cries echoed through the air. These were phoenixes of various colors.

Lu Ye had never seen so many phoenixes gathered together before; these beautiful and noble figures were truly a feast for the eyes.

Furthermore, the Phoenix Nest wasn't home to just phoenixes; it also housed some of the Phoenix Race's subspecies. Lu Ye spotted a Luan bird, a long, slender, and enormous snow-white figure, coiled on one of the Primordial Parasol Tree's branches.

Suddenly, two figures, one blue and one white, flew towards them from ahead. They were two small phoenixes, each about ten zhang long.

They transformed into two streaks of light, taking positions to Lu Ye's and Su Yan's left and right, walking alongside them.

The white little phoenix opened its beak, a clear voice chirping, "Sister Su Yan, is this the husband you found from outside?"

Before Su Yan could reply, the blue little phoenix added, "No, it's not 'fujun', it's 'xiang-gong'. I heard people outside call their men that."

The white little phoenix immediately retorted with disdain, "Are you silly? 'Fujun' is 'xiang-gong', and 'xiang-gong' is 'fujun'."

The blue little phoenix looked thoughtful, tilting its head to gaze at Lu Ye. "Xiang-gong Su Yan, why are you so small? What's your true form?"

Lu Ye chuckled. "This is my true form."

"Then how will you hug and cuddle Sister Su Yan?" the blue little phoenix asked, utterly perplexed.

The white little phoenix became exasperated. "You really are silly! Can't you see Sister Su Yan is also this small now? The two of them can just get close and..."

"Go play somewhere else!" Su Yan's face was as red as a cooked shrimp. With a wave of her hand, the two small phoenixes were swept away.

As they flew off, they continued to shout, "Sister Su Yan brought her husband back!" This caused numerous phoenixes throughout the Phoenix Nest to chirp and sing in a continuous chorus.

Su Yan's face grew even redder. She wished she could rush over and seal the mouths of those two little rascals. She turned her head to look at Lu Ye, seeing his smiling face, and quickly explained, "They're still young and talk nonsense. Please don't mind them."

Lu Ye nodded. "Of course not."

Su Yan paused, feeling a strange sense of disappointment.

Then she heard Lu Ye add, "They were telling the truth; there's nothing to be concerned about."

Su Yan's heart suddenly fluttered, and she quickened her pace even further.

Soon, she led Lu Ye to a specific location on the Primordial Parasol Tree.

Lu Ye looked closely and saw that it was indeed a bird's nest, but compared to an ordinary one, this nest was much larger and far more opulent.

He had noticed earlier that there were many such nests on the Primordial Parasol Tree, with phoenixes dwelling in each of them.

This, he presumed, was a Phoenix Nest.

To outsiders, the term "Phoenix Nest" referred to the entire gathering place of the Phoenix Race, or specifically, the Primordial Parasol Tree itself.

But for the Phoenix Race, a Phoenix Nest was the home of individual phoenixes; each member had their own.

"Come in!" Su Yan called out, guiding Lu Ye towards the Phoenix Nest.

Lu Ye was greatly surprised. He had been a guest in many places, but this was his first time in a place like this. He suddenly wondered what Su Yan's true form looked like; it must be magnificent if she revealed it.

He had initially thought the Phoenix Nest was just as it appeared, but only upon entering did he realize his assumption was wrong. After stepping into the nest, everything around him suddenly transformed.

It was as if he had entered another realm. Lu Ye looked around; the world wasn't very large, only a few thousand *li* in circumference. Yet, this place was a beautiful land of serene landscapes, singing birds, and fragrant flowers.

Even in the sky, a large sun hung high, casting its brilliant light everywhere.

There was a shimmering lake, and by its side, a wooden house. Su Yan led Lu Ye to the front of the house, then turned, smiling sweetly. "This is my small world."

"A small world..." Lu Ye nodded. "So, within each Phoenix Nest, there's a small world."

"That's right. Every small world in our Phoenix Nests holds the legacy of a Phoenix Race member. If one day a phoenix dies in battle outside, their essence returns to their small world, and under its nurturing, they are reborn."

Lu Ye asked in surprise, "Is the one reborn still the original phoenix?"

Su Yan shook her head. "Of course not. It's a completely different phoenix. This is unlike our race's nirvana."

Phoenix nirvana, rebirth from fire, does not alter the essence of one's life. It's different from being nurtured within a small world, which gives birth to a new life.

"Doesn't that mean your Phoenix Race members will never decrease?" Lu Ye was greatly astonished.

"Not exactly!" Su Yan shook her head. "The Lord of Blood Drinking City once captured several of our Phoenix Race members and used methods to strip their bloodlines. After those clan members died, their essence could no longer return to their small worlds."

This was also why the Phoenix Lord so deeply detested Xue Jiu, because his methods, to a certain extent, utterly annihilated those Phoenix Race members.

The Phoenix Race already had few members, and losing even a few meant it would take countless years to replenish their numbers.

"So, your Phoenix Race can only conceive new members through this method?"

"No," Su Yan said, lowering her head, seemingly a little embarrassed. "Normal reproduction methods are also possible, but the success rate is very low. The number of our Phoenix Race members is limited by the Phoenix Nests; there's an upper limit."

This was completely incomparable to the Dragon Race.

The Dragon Race proliferated greatly. Although the number of true-blooded dragons in Dragon City wasn't exceptionally high, their dragon descendants were countless. This was mainly due to the nature of dragons, who could interbreed and procreate with most races, something the Phoenix Race could not do.

"Senior Brother, how did the clan leader bring you back?" Su Yan quickly changed the subject. If Lu Ye kept asking, she wouldn't know how to answer.

"That's a long story..." Lu Ye drew out his words, then extended his hand to Su Yan. "First, give me back my item."

"What?" Su Yan was taken aback.

Lu Ye's gaze dropped, looking at her hand.

Su Yan then realized, raising the feather in her hand. "I activated its power earlier; it's useless now."

"Useful or not, it's still mine, unless you intend to take it back." Lu Ye looked at her earnestly.

Su Yan pursed her lips, but ultimately couldn't withstand his gaze. She handed the feather back, then watched as Lu Ye carefully put it away.

However, with his interruption, Su Yan completely forgot her previous question.

"Can I go inside and look?" Lu Ye asked, looking at the wooden house before them.

"Of course! I completely forgot to invite Senior Brother in," Su Yan said, looking a little embarrassed, and quickly led Lu Ye inside.

The wooden house itself was nothing special; just a simple dwelling. Upon entering, there was a main hall, and beyond that was Su Yan's private chamber.

She usually cultivated in seclusion here.

Lu Ye glanced around the main hall, then walked straight inside. Su Yan didn't even react in time and could only brace herself and follow him.

She couldn't help but recall the shouts of the two little phoenixes; this situation truly aligned with their words.

Fortunately, Lu Ye wasn't looking around inappropriately. He casually turned, then settled down, making himself comfortable as if he were in his own home. Seeing Su Yan standing awkwardly to the side, he even invited, "Sit. Why are you standing?"

Su Yan wanted to ask Lu Ye to come out and talk, but saying so felt a little heartless.

Her private chamber was quite simple, with nothing inappropriate to see, but it was, after all, her private space, and no one else had ever entered it before.

Lu Ye took out a tea-making set from his storage ring. While skillfully brewing tea, he spoke, "What were you asking just now, Junior Sister?"

Su Yan composed herself, then remembered, "How did Senior Brother encounter the clan leader?"

Lu Ye replied, "It seems Junior Sister has been cultivating in seclusion and is unaware of what's happening outside." The conflict in the Snowfield had been quite significant; Su Yan should have heard something if she had any contact with others.

He then briefly recounted the previous events, though he downplayed some of his own circumstances. He simply stated that the Phoenix Lord had gone with Ba Qiu to participate in the battle, sensed his presence, and then brought him back without explanation.

Su Yan immediately grew anxious. "The clan leader didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"

"Does throwing me into that dark space count?" Lu Ye asked with a smile.

Su Yan pursed her lips. "That doesn't count. The clan leader is very kind; she wouldn't have kept you locked up for too long. Even if I hadn't found you, she likely would have released you soon."

As she spoke, she murmured, "Ba Qiu... I know that powerful individual. It seems there's some kind of grievance between him and the clan leader."

Lu Ye clicked his tongue. "It doesn't seem like a grievance; it feels more like an emotional entanglement."

He had vaguely discerned something earlier, but it was inappropriate to inquire about the affairs of elders, and he had no means to do so anyway.

Su Yan was greatly astonished. "The clan leader and Ba Qiu have an emotional entanglement? I've never heard of such a thing."

Lu Ye mused that such matters weren't to be casually publicized. After all, the Phoenix Lord was a woman and had her dignity to uphold.

"Oh, and thank you, Senior Brother, for the Moon Wheel you gave me before," Su Yan suddenly remembered. "Su Yun told me when he returned that he definitely wouldn't have gotten his hands on this Moon Wheel if it weren't for you, Senior Brother."