"And now, it's time for the Second Trial - Arrows of the Phoenix," the Phoenix's voice rang out, but nothing happened. "...or so I intended to say, but..."
"..." Xichen stared at the pair of Phoenix's eyes in confusion, not understanding why the Second Trial hadn't begun.
"Arrows of the Phoenix are useless against someone who possesses the Six Paths Spiritual Profound Veins, which grant absolute control over the five elements plus the element of Light," the Phoenix said with a sigh, clearly a little frustrated. "Therefore, we will proceed directly to the Third Trial - Corruption of the Heart's Flame. If your pursuit of power is genuine, you will be able to pass it and become the True Inheritor."
"I am ready," Xichen said calmly. It was impossible for the Phoenix soul fragment to access the memories of his past life. The Third Trial would rely on the memories of the original Xichen, so he wasn't overly worried.
When Xichen opened his eyes again, he found himself in a luxurious room filled with decorations, his head resting in the lap of an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
The woman was enchanting, with long black-silver hair and a pair of purple eyes, wearing imperial attire. She was looking down at him with a loving, beautiful smile.
Xichen could easily recognize the person before him. Her name was Zhu Zhuqing, the original Xichen's mother.
"Mother..." Xichen murmured, staring at the woman he hadn't met since his transmigration. He hadn't had the courage to see her, even though she was one of his favorite characters.
According to the memories of his past life, Zhu Zhuqing was from the novel Soul Land, but for some reason, she existed in the ATG world as his body's mother, and she didn't seem to know anything about Soul Land.
But that wasn't the important part. It seemed Zhuqing had a relationship with Xichen and was cheating on her husband, Feng Hengkong, with their own son.
That's why Xichen hadn't dared to face her. She was the one who knew the original Xichen best and might recognize who he truly was, even though he possessed the original Xichen's memories.
Drip!
Drip!
Suddenly, two drops of water fell on Xichen's face, pulling him out of his thoughts to see a pair of tearful purple eyes.
"I'm sorry, Chen'er," Zhuqing said in her melodious, yet sorrowful voice, hugging Xichen tightly. "Your royal father has discovered our relationship. That's why we must run away together."
"..." Xichen stared at Zhuqing calmly. He would be lying if he said he felt nothing, especially since he had inherited the original Xichen's memories and emotions.
But he wasn't ignorant. He knew what he had to do. He had sensed Zhuqing's subtle movement—she had a dagger hidden in her sleeve, ready to stab him.
"Of course, let's run away together," Xichen nodded, embracing Zhuqing carefully and tenderly, closing his eyes while hoping the dagger stab wouldn't hurt too much.
"..." The Phoenix soul fragment stared at the scene before her, not showing much emotion. Incest was a normal thing in this world, practiced by many, especially families with certain bloodlines. Therefore, the scene before her wasn't all that strange.
'Does he intend to let her stab him without doing anything...?' the Phoenix soul fragment thought, watching as the dagger in Zhuqing's hand was only an inch away from Xichen's back.
Right before the Phoenix soul fragment's eyes, and under Xichen's tension, Zhuqing stabbed Xichen while tears streamed from her eyes.
"Hiss... it hurts a lot," Xichen hissed as his body trembled slightly. This was the first time he had been stabbed, so it was quite painful, but it seemed the pain had been greatly reduced in this illusion.
Suddenly, the illusion began to fade, and Xichen returned to the same position as before the trial began, with a pair of noble, compassionate fiery eyes staring at him.
"Why didn't you do anything and allowed her to stab you?" the Phoenix soul fragment's voice rang out, confused yet investigative, echoing throughout the space. "With your strength, you should have sensed what she intended to do. You could have used the dagger to kill her."
"It's true that I am not the best or most virtuous person, but I will not harm those close to me just to gain power," Xichen said sternly with a resolute look. This wasn't an act or a lie. He wasn't prepared to hurt those close to him for a trivial reason like gaining power.
"..." The Phoenix soul fragment stared at Xichen in silence, as if searching for any trace of deceit or hypocrisy in his eyes, but she couldn't find any.
"Congratulations, mortal. In the thousands of years that have passed, you are the eighth person to pass all trials and the first to refuse to harm your loved ones for power," the majestic and noble voice of the Phoenix rang out. The surrounding world illuminated, revealing the full form of the place made of white stone and the ethereal form of the Phoenix.
"As a True Inheritor, you will receive the fifth and sixth stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix, including Soul Essence, origin energy, and all of the bloodline."
The moment the Phoenix soul fragment finished speaking, ten drops of Phoenix Origin Blood and a jade slip containing the fifth and sixth stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix appeared before Xichen.
"With my legacy, it should help you reach the Late stage of the Emperor Profound Realm," the majestic and noble voice of the Phoenix continued. "Once you finish absorbing the ten drops of Phoenix blood, you will gain the Soul Essence and origin energy. Unfortunately, you will not receive any Profound Energy, as I intend to use every ounce of my remaining power to build a barrier and protect the villagers outside. But this isn't bad for you, as it will give them ample time to grow and support you in the future, especially if you intend to seize the throne of your empire."
"...The throne of my empire, huh?" Xichen murmured softly, staring at the ten glowing drops before him. Each drop contained ancient and majestic energy, flames that did not belong to this world.
He slowly raised his hand, all his senses focused on feeling the sacred heat emanating from the Phoenix Origin Blood.
They pulsed as if they were living hearts.
"Do not forget, Xichen... If you wish to walk the path of the peaks, your heart is your true weapon. You survived the trial of the heart... but the real world is far crueler," the Phoenix soul fragment said, her voice soft this time, the divine grandeur gone, replaced by a hint of sorrow and expectation.
"The Phoenix bloodline is not a burden... it is a fire. You will either burn with it... or use it to burn the heavens."
"..." Xichen said nothing. He closed his eyes and began absorbing the Phoenix Origin Blood. Soon, he felt a comfortable, gentle warmth throughout his body while his pores began secreting a black, sticky substance with a foul odor, which evaporated quickly due to his body's rising heat.
This black, sticky substance was nothing but the impurities in his body. Although he had obtained the Heavenly God's Spiritual Veins and absorbed the residual medicinal power in his body, that didn't mean he had rid himself of impurities. But now, the Phoenix flame was purifying his body of these impurities, making his future path easier.
[Ding! The host has seized the Phoenix Legacy before Yun Che, preventing him from obtaining it. Yun Che's Fortune Value has decreased by 1,100, and the host has gained 5,500 Destiny Points.]
...
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