Chapter 231: Phoenix Blood Moves the Heart

Phoenix Blood Redgold is a supreme sacred artifact, rarely seen even over thousands of generations. Since ancient times, spanning over a hundred thousand years, only Emperor Hengyu has ever possessed it.

Its rarity is beyond imagination!

This sacred item is exclusive to Great Emperors. Ordinary people couldn't even dream of obtaining it, let alone catching a glimpse. For tens of thousands of years, it has remained almost mythical.

Its value is immeasurable. Although there have been several Great Emperors throughout history, only one was fortunate enough to acquire the Phoenix Blood Redgold!

This was a treasure coveted by ancient Emperors, and something beyond the reach of many sages.

Holding such a rare treasure, Ye Fan first felt a surge of excitement, but then it quickly became like a hot potato. This black stone was incredibly precious, containing an invaluable gem, but keeping it safe was a serious concern.

"Why is it so heavy?!" he complained inwardly. If it hadn't accidentally fallen to the ground, he could have simply put it away, avoiding the current predicament.

Beside him, five pairs of eyes were fixed on the black stone in his hand, their gaze so intense it seemed capable of melting steel.

A halo glowed behind the Saint Son of Yaoguang's head; sacred light enveloped his body, and auspicious rainbows descended. With his exceptional talent and lifelong ambition to become a Great Emperor, how could he not be moved by such a sacred artifact?

This was essentially the raw material for an ultimate weapon, something that could drive people to madness, a sacred item exclusively for Emperors.

Though he usually wore a gentle smile, at this moment, he found it impossible to remain calm, his eyes burning with fervor.

In the clearing, Old Dao Bazi was the most direct, taking several steps forward before stopping. He exuded a chilling aura, completely unlike his usual disheveled old man appearance.

Now, he was many times more formidable than usual, like a slumbering dragon leaping from the water, radiating extreme danger and terror.

Yao Xi's stunning beauty could not conceal the turmoil in her heart. Her eyes shimmered with a hazy glow, and her slender jade hands formed an immortal seal. The Phoenix Blood Redgold had also left her restless.

Although she did not advance, she stood in the most advantageous position. Should anyone make a move to snatch the item, she could instantly decide whether to fight or retreat.

Li Desheng was the least threatening among them. Although his eyes glowed with desire, he wisely retreated a few steps, quickly indicating his decision.

He possessed the rare Yinming Eyes from birth, a unique and uncommon ability, though not one for combat. Being the weakest in the group, he had no choice but to withdraw.

Relatively speaking, the Saintess of Jade Lake was the calmest among them. While her beautiful eyes glimmered with an unusual light and her emotions fluctuated, she showed no intention of acting.

She stood still, her sleeves fluttering, like an untainted fairy. Jade Lake, a sect that strives for harmony with the world, instilled a serene disposition in its disciples, who rarely engaged in conflict.

Ye Fan saw all this unfold and felt a pang of despair. With these individuals eyeing the treasure so intently, it would be incredibly difficult for him to keep the Phoenix Blood Redgold.

"Everyone, what is the meaning of this?" he had to ask. This standoff couldn't continue.

"Phoenix Blood Redgold is something even ancient Great Emperors weren't guaranteed to obtain. We are intrigued and wish to examine it," the Saint Son of Yaoguang stepped forward, his body enveloped in a radiant glow, subtly exerting immense pressure.

A captivating charm appeared on Yao Xi's delicate, flawless face as she smiled faintly and said, "Daoist Priest, isn't there anything else you'd like to say?"

"I'd like to say... why is this stone so heavy!" Ye Fan still harbored resentment about its weight.

This dark, fist-sized stone weighed thousands of pounds. Its immense weight was precisely what revealed its rare and precious inner contents.

Old Dao Bazi also took a few steps forward, his intimidating presence growing stronger. He said, "Divine materials are obtained by the destined. Since it is now in your hands, we will not snatch it, but we certainly wish to observe it closely."

Ye Fan was deeply surprised by his words, as he had felt the strongest killing intent emanating from this old man just moments before. Now, his statement was akin to offering protection.

"Daoist Priest, please rest assured. Though we are tempted, we would not resort to murder and theft. If you are willing to part with it, I am prepared to offer any price in exchange," the Saint Son of Yaoguang said, his face glowing.

Trading it away was out of the question. Ye Fan intended to use it to forge a cauldron. This sacred item, sought after by ancient Great Emperors, was irreplaceable.

Yao Xi's eyes sparkled, and her smile was captivating, making her lips and teeth gleam attractively. "Daoist Priest, there's no need to worry. Please display this rare treasure so we may see it," she said.

At this point, seeing that no fight had broken out, Li Desheng also moved closer.

The Saintess of Jade Lake gracefully moved forward as well, saying, "Daoist Priest, you can rest assured, no one will make a move."

Ye Fan mused that a direct confrontation was unlikely for now. After all, they were still within the Primordial Forbidden Zone, and he was skilled in Source Arts. If a conflict erupted, both sides would suffer, and these people still needed him to guide their way.

However, once they left the Primordial Forbidden Zone, anything could happen.

"Please take a look," Ye Fan said, lifting the black stone with effort into his palm, no longer concealing its power.

A coin-sized piece of the outer layer had already fallen off, revealing the divine object within. Auspicious colors streamed out, tens of thousands of divine rainbows appeared, and dazzling light radiated in all directions.

It was dazzlingly beautiful, enchanting to behold. Divine radiance flowed within its crystalline form, impossible to gaze upon directly. Faintly, one could discern patterns of a divine phoenix etched upon it, mysterious and magnificent.

"This truly is Phoenix Blood Redgold!"

Everyone exclaimed in astonishment, their eyes burning with even greater intensity.

"There's only a thin layer of stone skin. It seems this piece of Phoenix Blood Redgold is not much smaller than a fist and weighs over ten thousand pounds, which is certainly enough for crafting artifacts," Old Dao Bazi commented.

A fist-sized piece of material could indeed be used to forge a weapon, but no one knew how much divine material was truly required for an ultimate weapon; only Great Emperors could say for sure.

Ye Fan did not peel off the stone skin. Instead, he sealed the detached old skin back onto the stone. He did this to prevent the sacred item's essence from dissipating; without the stone skin acting as a seal, its essence would easily be lost before it could be forged into an ultimate weapon.

As the brilliant radiance faded, the hall returned to its dim state. Ye Fan put away the Phoenix Blood Redgold. This divine object was so precious that nothing short of ancient scriptures could tempt him to part with it.

"If one intends to forge an ultimate weapon, this amount is likely far from sufficient. It's probably just leftover material from Emperor Hengyu," the Saint Son of Yaoguang speculated.

"Phoenix Blood Redgold is a sacred artifact comparable to a divine phoenix; few things in this world can match it," Old Dao Bazi sighed, adding, "The sacred materials of the Eastern Wasteland have been almost exhausted by several Great Emperors."

"If, one day, another Great Emperor emerges to rule the world, it might truly be difficult to find divine materials," Yao Xi remarked as well.

The group searched the hall and discovered a few lines of text left by Emperor Hengyu, essentially stating that he left it for those with destiny.

Emperor Hengyu, a man of extraordinary talent whose cultivation shook ancient and modern times, was also one of great fortune. Yet, he never took everything, always leaving a sliver of opportunity for future generations.

The six individuals searched meticulously, but found nothing else in the hall—no secret techniques, only the ashes left after forging the ultimate weapon, which chronicled the Great Emperor's magnificent presence.

Exiting the ancient building, everyone turned back to gaze at the plaque. The two characters, "Hengyu," were written with powerful strokes, exuding an aura of shattering the heavens.

Each person stood still, quietly observing, hoping to gain some insight. This was not a specific teaching, but the artistic conception of the Great Dao, which could sometimes trigger an epiphany.

Ye Fan felt a stirring within him. His mind became ethereal, touched by the two characters. He wanted to unleash the Dou Zhan Sacred Technique, but he had to suppress it, fighting only by forming seals in his mind.

It must be said that the Saint Son of Yaoguang was indeed an extraordinary individual. Immersed in an ethereal state, surrounded by heavenly sacred light, he managed to draw forth a trace of the Great Emperor's divine might, which overflowed from the ancient building. Within this heavenly Great Dao artistic conception, he moved his arms, his Dharma Body like an abyss, drawing mysterious trajectories. He had gained some insight.

The Saintess of Jade Lake and Yao Xi were also exceptional individuals, gaining insights and silently comprehending. Old Dao Bazi, however, remained perfectly still and quiet, like a withered tree. Li Desheng, unable to calm his mind, his Yinming Eyes flickering, said, "I feel it again; something is watching us from the shadows."

Before long, everyone recovered from their ethereal state, their divine senses probing in all directions, but they found nothing.

Fallen Sun Ridge was eerily quiet, with nothing but the faint, blurry black sun on the ground.

Ye Fan's heart stirred, and he took out the Li Huo Divine Furnace. Its pitted body had mostly recovered. He opened the lid and then brought forth the inch-tall, crystal-clear divine furnace.

*Swish!*

With a flash of light, the Li Huo Divine Furnace sank into the black sun on the ground, and immediately, black flames surged and danced.

"Daoist Priest, what are you doing?!" Li Desheng exclaimed.

"Ancient Great Emperors chose this place to forge weapons, which proves that Fallen Sun Ridge's Yang energy is the most abundant in the world. I'm collecting some as well, for forging another ultimate weapon in the future."

Li Desheng was speechless, utterly dumbfounded. Besides ancient Great Emperors, who else could forge an ultimate weapon? This was clearly nonsense.

The others knew that Fallen Sun Ridge contained the world's most extreme Yang fire, the ultimate in rigidity and Yang. The divine fire buried underground was also a treasure, which, if acquired, would be immensely useful.

The Li Huo Divine Furnace submerged into the black sun, sinking underground to collect the black flames.

"Don't be reckless!" Old Dao Bazi warned with a frown, worried that he might disturb something beneath the ground.

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Ye Fan nodded. He practiced Source Arts and understood the risks.

"Daoist Priest, your broken furnace is about to melt!" Li Desheng's Yinming Eyes flickered, seeing through the void, and he felt like bursting into laughter.

Ye Fan frowned. The furnace was indeed somewhat deformed by the heat, and he quickly retrieved it. The deeper underground, the higher the temperature and the more extraordinary the flames became.

He could only collect the surface portion, filling the furnace completely with black flames. This time, he sealed the lid and absorbed it into his body.

The Saint Son of Yaoguang, Old Dao Bazi, Yao Xi, and the Saintess of Jade Lake also had a thought and began to act, conjuring their mysterious weapons to collect the black flames. However, they each only managed to take a small amount before immediately withdrawing, finding the temperature too scorching.

"Since these flames are so extraordinary, I'll collect some too," Li Desheng said, bringing forth his silver gourd.

*Sizzle!*

Something astonishing happened: the silver gourd instantly melted and was destroyed within the blurry black sun.

"This... a weapon from the Dao Palace Secret Realm, just like that, destroyed! My precious!" he cried out in anguish.

Ye Fan secretly assessed the flames contained within the black sun on the ground. They were incredibly terrifying; even the surface black fire was almost comparable to the sixth-level purple fire of the Flame Domain.

Not to mention the underground portion, where the fire energy was unimaginably terrifying. Emperor Hengyu chose this place to forge weapons precisely because it was the ultimate land of pure Yang.

He felt that the portion of flames he collected from underground was only marginally weaker than the fire he used to incinerate the Grand Elder of the Ji Family.

This was good stuff!

Ye Fan remained calm. Once they left the Primordial Forbidden Zone and a confrontation began, he decided he would unleash a great fire first.

Next, the group proceeded cautiously. Led by Ye Fan, they navigated the perilous area with little incident, slowly moving away from the forbidden zone.

After exiting, a vast emptiness stretched into the distance, indicating they were almost out of the Primordial Forbidden Zone.

"We're really out!"

"There are two things behind us!" Li Desheng's expression suddenly changed.

"Let's go!"

At this moment, everyone cast aside their fears and soared into the sky, flying towards the distance.

Upon reaching the edge of the Primordial Forbidden Zone, they no longer had any reservations, finally free from the demonic land.

It was now the dead of night. The world was silent, and the moonlight was like water, casting a desolate calm.

"Daoist Priest, please stop," the Saint Son of Yaoguang said with a gentle smile, blocking Ye Fan's path.

Yao Xi also smiled faintly, looking charming as she stood on the other side.

Old Dao Bazi and the Saintess of Jade Lake were also nearby. A hazy killing intent permeated the air, though it was impossible to discern its source.

Ye Fan understood. The Phoenix Blood Redgold stirred people's greed. How could an item exclusive to a Great Emperor not cause a stir?