Chapter 222: Phoenix True Flame

Initially, Li Haoran was resistant to Su Yiren. He believed a dignified man like himself shouldn't rely on a woman financially. He aspired to be independent, just like Senior Brother Lu.

Later, he found Su Yiren beautiful, kind-hearted, gentle, considerate, and possessing a nurturing, almost maternal quality that made one instinctively want to seek comfort and affection from her.

Now, witnessing Su Yiren's powerful punches and kicks leave the phoenix unable to move, he realized his own small physique was no match for the phoenix's durability. For safety, he decided it was best to keep his distance from Su Yiren.

This was his so-called 'return to his initial resolve.'

Li Haoran's legs trembled, swiftly extinguishing any lingering thoughts of relying on a woman that had just begun to surface.

He had the inclination, but not the physical fortitude.

Walking down the street with her arm in his might just result in a broken arm; if their relationship progressed further, he couldn't even imagine the physical devastation his body would endure.

Lu Yang seemed to grasp Li Haoran's mental state, patting him on the shoulder. "Everything has its advantages and disadvantages," he remarked.

Not only Li Haoran, but even the Prefect and the Mo Family Head felt their hearts tremble at Su Yiren's terrifying fighting style.

This senior looked so gentle and delicate, yet when she fought, it was as if she transformed into an entirely different person.

They had ventured underground intending to offer assistance, but now they worried that if they went down, Su Yiren might inadvertently beat them up as well.

"Is this senior from the Wen Dao Sect a body cultivator?"

Both of them had assumed Su Yiren was an elder or a figure of similar standing within the Wen Dao Sect.

"Senior Su is not an elder of our Wen Dao Sect; she is his fiancée," Meng Jingzhou declared, solemnly introducing Li Haoran, the outstanding young man from Luofeng Prefecture.

The Prefect and the Mo Family Head were filled with profound respect.

While the group above chatted amiably, the situation for the Nine Nether Cult members below was far from ideal.

To refine the phoenix corpse, annihilate Luofeng Prefecture, and incite conflict between the human and phoenix races, he had schemed for years. He consulted ancient texts, perused old books, visited venerable predecessors, and explored ancient ruins, finally uncovering the method to refine the phoenix corpse.

The Phoenix race was a peace-loving faction, maintaining relatively harmonious relations with humanity. If he could exploit the refining of the phoenix corpse to ignite a conflict that escalated into war, it would undoubtedly lead to countless casualties, sending more souls into the cycle of reincarnation.

Just one step away!

So close!

How could someone at the 'Body Integration' stage suddenly appear?

"Even if you're at the Body Integration stage, it won't be enough!" the Nine Nether Cult member shrieked, completely losing his mind.

Controlling such an enormous corpse was a tremendous test for both his cultivation and mental power.

Normally, other Nine Nether Cult members would have helped him share the immense pressure of control, but Su Yiren had already eliminated them.

The ancient phoenix erupted in raging flames, crackling and popping, distorting even the very fabric of space. Lu Yang and his group, standing at the very edge, could feel waves of intense heat washing over them, one after another.

Having no other recourse, the Prefect retrieved a string of golden bells from his storage ring and cast a protective barrier over everyone.

Su Yiren stomped on the phoenix's back, causing it to plummet downwards, yet its flames showed no sign of weakening.

Phoenix True Flames could incinerate all things, and earth was no exception. This underground cavern had been burned out by the True Flames; if allowed to spread, the entire Luofeng Prefecture would be engulfed in a vast ocean of fire!

Phoenix True Flames and Golden Dragon True Flames were renowned, holding a reputation comparable to the Samadhi True Flames.

"Phoenix True Flames are as formidable as ever when unleashed," mused the Immortal Fairy, observing the battle from her mental space and recalling the Phoenix clan prodigies she had once mentored.

Prodigies of both the Dragon and Phoenix races naturally mastered their respective racial specialties, wielding flames with absolute mastery—making them exceptionally suitable for cooking.

"Is there any way to counteract it?" Lu Yang quickly asked. If not, he would have no choice but to summon his Senior Sister.

"There's a unique acupoint in the middle of its neck, specific to phoenixes; it's the source of the Phoenix True Flames. Strike that point, and it won't be able to breathe fire anymore," the Immortal Fairy explained, proving reliable by offering a solution at the critical moment.

Upon hearing this, Lu Yang quickly sent a telepathic message to Su Yiren. Su Yiren turned her head in surprise to glance at Lu Yang, but didn't dwell on it, simply assuming that a Wen Dao Sect disciple, being well-informed, must have learned of it during sect lectures.

After all, his master was the Wen Dao Sect Master.

Su Yiren targeted the spot Lu Yang indicated and lunged forward. The Phoenix True Flames surged towards her as if maddened. She gathered her fingers, clenched her right hand into a fist, placed it at her waist, and unleashed a powerful punch that utterly distorted the space before her, preventing the Phoenix True Flames from approaching any further.

"Die!"

Su Yiren delivered another punch, producing a muffled, thunderous sound as it struck the ancient phoenix's neck. The Phoenix True Flames, as if deprived of their source, gradually vanished.

"What just happened?!" the Nine Nether Cult member exclaimed in horror. Phoenix True Flames were legendary for incinerating all things and being inextinguishable, so how could they simply vanish?

What the Immortal Fairy had revealed to Lu Yang was a closely guarded secret of the Phoenix clan, known to very few even within the clan itself, let alone a Nine Nether Cult member.

Deprived of the Phoenix True Flames, the ancient phoenix was no longer a threat. The Nine Nether Cult member, still attempting to desperately fight his way out, found himself utterly immobilized by Su Yiren's relentless blows.

Su Yiren, too, was seething inwardly. She had spent days pretending to be a quiet, refined lady, finally managing to make a good impression on Li Haoran, only for it to be ruined by this individual.

Damn the Nine Nether Cult!

Die, die, die!

Watching Su Yiren unleash earth-shattering punches, one after another, Li Haoran's eye twitched uncontrollably.

If those blows landed on him, he mused, there likely wouldn't even be a soul left.

Finally, Su Yiren delivered a punch of ultimate strength and ferocity. The resonant sound pierced through the earth, audible throughout Luofeng Prefecture, signifying the battle's conclusion.

She tore open a gash in the phoenix corpse, pulled out the Nine Nether Cult member, and immediately performed a soul search, then frowned.

During the recent battle, this cult member had used his spiritual sense far beyond its capacity, leaving his mind in a chaotic state where nothing could be discerned.

In other words, the cult member had gone mad.

"How unfortunate," Su Yiren muttered, snapping the cult member's neck and sending him to the Nine Nethers.

The underground cavern left by the battle posed a challenge to deal with. Su Yiren temporarily used the power of rules to stabilize the overhead space, delegating the subsequent clean-up to the Great Xia Dynasty.

After all, she wasn't adept at handling such matters.

"Many thanks for your assistance, Senior. Without you, Luofeng Prefecture might not have escaped this calamity," the Prefect said, clasping his fists in heartfelt gratitude.

"Don't be so quick with your thanks. What exactly is this Phoenix Bloodstone, and what's its story?"

"Senior, this Phoenix Bloodstone is truly nothing of significance. I merely found it peculiar…" The Prefect clearly had no intention of telling them the truth.

Lu Yang produced a recording orb. "This contains evidence of the Prefect trespassing, stealing property, and defecting to the Nine Nether Cult," he stated.

"Wait a minute, trespassing and stealing property aside, when did I defect to the Nine Nether Cult?"

Lu Yang played the recording orb. The recording showed the Nine Nether Cult member scaling a wall, followed by the Prefect and the Mo Family Head, as they all entered Meng Jingzhou's guest room.

The recording abruptly ended there.

"What about the rest? Where's the footage of us uncovering the Nine Nether Cult's true intentions and preparing for battle?" the Prefect and Mo Family Head demanded, looking frantic.

Lu Yang remained expressionless. "The recording orb is broken," he stated. "It doesn't display anything beyond that point."

"If the Prefect is willing to explain the circumstances to us, perhaps I'll find a way to repair the recording orb."

"The disciples of the Wen Dao Sect truly live up to their reputation," the Prefect said through gritted teeth.