Chapter 590: Where Is the Ancient Emperor Jiang? I'll Go Find Him to Settle Accounts

Lu Yang's plan was to set a new record in the ancient realm and enter the fourth layer. He expected many demon clans to block the exit, pressing him to hand over the rewards he received from the ancient realm. He especially anticipated the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan, given how much he had targeted Qin Feng within the ancient realm. Surely, they would be the primary attackers outside.

First, Qin Feng would challenge him to a duel, declaring that the strong reign supreme. Then, after Qin Feng's defeat, an elder from the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan would intervene, bullying a junior. At that moment, the Phoenix Clan would step forward to support him, blocking the Nine-Headed Serpent elder's attack. Given the Nine-Headed Serpent Clan's ability to incite trouble, members of the Demon Clan Alliance would all side with them, saying things like, "Your virtue doesn't match your position; a junior like you isn't worthy of such a treasure from the ancient realm," or "Hand it over quickly, and we'll spare your life," and even, "How dare you humiliate someone from our Demon Clan Alliance? You will surely die today!" The Phoenix Clan would be no match for the Demon Clan Alliance, and he would find himself in grave danger. Then, Senior Jiang Lianyi would make her entrance, supporting him. With a fierce glare from her phoenix eyes, she would release her semi-immortal pressure, declaring, "I'd like to see who dares to touch him!" She would then lay waste to her surroundings, striking fear into the hearts of all.

How satisfying that would be!

So why were only Old Meng and Third Senior Sister at the exit?

Seeing that the situation outside differed from Lu Yang's plan, Jiang Lianyi stopped waiting for his signal and proactively emerged from the ancient realm. She wore a dazzling red gown, her tall figure and indifferent expression inspiring awe.

Meng Jingzhou was stunned. Where did this extra person come from? He hadn't seen her inside the secret realm.

Third Senior Sister's reaction was even stronger than Meng Jingzhou's. Her voice trembled as she asked, "You... are you the ancient ancestor of the Phoenix Clan?" The Phoenix Clan had portraits of their ancient ancestor, which Third Senior Sister had seen. The person her junior brother brought out looked exactly like the figure in the ancient paintings, as if she had stepped right out of one! No, she was even more vibrant than the painted image. Third Senior Sister was passionate about archaeology, and the appearance of a living ancient figure, especially the legendary and renowned ancient ancestor of the Phoenix Clan, thrilled her beyond words!

Third Senior Sister quickly calmed herself. No, she thought, no matter how lucky her junior brother was, he couldn't have found the Phoenix Clan's true ancient ancestor. This must be an avatar, a clone, or something similar left behind by the ancient ancestor.

"I am Jiang Lianyi," she stated. The common people in the third layer city spoke modern language, which Jiang Lianyi had learned instantly with a quick scan of her divine sense. Upon hearing Jiang Lianyi introduce herself, Third Senior Sister's heart skipped a beat. Could this truly be the legendary ancient ancestor of the Phoenix Clan?

Meng Jingzhou stared at Jiang Lianyi and Lu Yang as if he had seen a ghost, his face etched with disbelief. "What's going on with you, kid?" he thought. "How did you go to the ancient realm and bring out the Phoenix Clan's ancient ancestor?"

Third Senior Sister, still excited, asked, "Legend says you have already transcended. Have you returned through Nirvana rebirth?"

Jiang Lianyi was speechless. Had the tale of Nirvana rebirth really spread this far and endured until now? Would admitting she had been "playing dead" until now tarnish her image?

She said calmly, "Do not speak of this matter. Only the three of you know of my return." The three nodded in quick succession.

"By the way," she continued, "what about the other Phoenix clans?"

Lu Yang mused to himself that since he had woken up the Phoenix Clan's ancient ancestor, and with his connection to the Undying Immortal, it shouldn't be a problem for him to become the Phoenix Clan's second ancestor.

Third Senior Sister then recounted in detail everything that had transpired from Lu Yang's entry into the ancient realm until his departure.

Jiang Lianyi frowned slightly, displeased. "How audacious of Zhu Tian," she scoffed. "To actually try and use an embryonic Dao Fruit to control my Phoenix Clan? Does he truly believe I'm no longer here?"

Zhu Tian was the name of the ancient Dijiang; the Dijiang Clan was entirely red and took "Zhu" as their surname. As a fellow possessor of the "survival of the fittest" embryonic Dao Fruit, Jiang Lianyi understood precisely what it meant to have a master-servant mark implanted by such a fruit. It signified absolute control of the strong over the weak, where even life and death could be decided in a single thought. Even in ancient times, she had never resorted to such methods. It was unthinkable that in the current era, where immortals were absent, Zhu Tian had grown so bold as to not only seek to unite the demon race but also prepare to control the Phoenix Clan. If the Phoenix Clan's foundation were slightly weaker, they would have likely been controlled long ago.

"Where is Zhu Tian?" she demanded. "I'll go find him!" She naturally possessed a fiery temper, and with Zhu Tian practically walking all over the Phoenix Clan, did he truly believe she was dead?!

Lu Yang was startled and secretly asked in the mental space: "Fairy, didn't you say that those who awaken from slumber would have their strength greatly diminished and require a long time to recover?" he whispered. "Senior Jiang has just woken up; can she really defeat the ancient Dijiang?"

"Are you kidding?" the Undying Immortal scoffed, hands on her hips. "Don't confuse my feigned death technique with those other hodgepodge methods! When I use the feigned death technique, all life force is completely locked within the body. Lianyi's current strength is exactly the same as it was in ancient times; she's at her peak!" The Undying Immortal placed her hands on her hips, extremely proud of her feigned death technique.

Assured that Jiang Lianyi's strength was undiminished, Lu Yang became even more deferential and quickly advised, "Senior, please don't let this matter upset you. Senior Zhu Tian's whereabouts are hard to trace, but the national founding ceremony is about to be held. As the ruler, Senior Zhu Tian will certainly be present. We can simply find him there."

"That works too," she conceded.

Lu Yang kindly suggested, "There's one more thing. Your current attire is quite conspicuous. You might be recognized before even attending the ceremony, and if Senior Zhu Tian learns of your arrival, he might hide. Would you consider a simple disguise?" Even without considering Jiang Lianyi's identity, her appearance alone, ranked among the top three beauties of ancient times, would draw countless eyes wherever she went, making her the undeniable center of attention. Furthermore, with portraits of Jiang Lianyi existing within the Phoenix Clan, it would be strange if her appearance didn't cause a stir.

Jiang Lianyi considered this and realized he had a point. She pulled a black cloak from her storage ring and draped it over herself with practiced ease, as if she had done it countless times. "Hmm? Why did I do that so instinctively?" she mused. Jiang Lianyi paused, feeling a pang of confusion. Given her personality, she never acted covertly; she shouldn't be accustomed to wearing cloaks so often. It didn't make sense.

Without missing a beat, the Undying Immortal transmitted a message to Jiang Lianyi, explaining, "I often used to take you and Xiao Ling to auctions, where we'd 'act like pigs to eat the tiger' – feigning weakness to ambush. We all wore cloaks then."

Third Senior Sister then took out a beast hide, invited Jiang Lianyi to sit on it, and they set off for the Dijiang Clan. The four embarked on their journey.

As they traveled on the beast hide, the Undying Immortal, feeling bored, suddenly recalled something. "Aren't the ways you and Lianyi address each other a bit off?" she asked. "Lianyi calls me 'sister,' but Lu Yang, you call her 'Senior,' and Lianyi calls you 'Lu Yang.'"

"What's wrong with that?" Lu Yang wondered, seeing no issue. What else was he supposed to call her, "Sister Lianyi"?

"No, no, that's all wrong," the Undying Immortal insisted. "The seniority is completely muddled. Although I haven't formally taken Lianyi as a disciple, there's essentially a master-disciple relationship between us. Lu Yang, as the second-in-command of the Undying lineage and my personal disciple, your status should actually be higher than Lianyi's, according to our sect's hierarchy."

"So?" Lu Yang prompted.

"So, you are Lianyi's Senior Disciple Brother!"

Jiang Lianyi nodded. "I'll follow Immortal Sister's lead," she said. "What about you, Senior Disciple Brother?"

Lu Yang was speechless. "Fairy, please don't speak such nonsense," he thought. "I'm afraid the Qilin Immortal will suddenly appear behind me." "And Senior Lianyi, please don't joke around," he also thought. "My fate is too shallow to bear such a title."