The interior of the Phoenix Emperor’s palace was adorned with magnificent gemstones and expensive decorative artifacts. Recalling the reverence the Phoenix Clan held for him, Nie Shiyun felt his suspicion that the entire clan shared a penchant for the gaudy was thoroughly confirmed.
"What are you looking at? Are you Nie Shiyun?"
Hearing a voice from above, Nie Shiyun tilted his head slightly. He saw a man seated upon a throne at the top of a flight of stairs. Although he had long known that this Phoenix Emperor bore a striking resemblance to Xuan Yang, seeing it with his own eyes still gave him a start.
"I am."
Nie Shiyun bowed, his etiquette impeccable. However, he did not wish to appear too subservient. After straightening his back, he looked directly at the Phoenix Emperor and added, "As soon as I entered, I noticed many artifacts and decorations the likes of which I have never seen elsewhere. As it happens, I am an artifact refiner myself. It is a professional habit of mine; I cannot help but take a few extra looks. I hope you will forgive me."
The Phoenix Emperor sized Nie Shiyun up from head to toe. He did not project any overt hostility, but neither did he deliberately suppress his cultivation. Nie Shiyun felt the weight of a pressure spanning three entire major realms. It was naturally agonizing, but he could not afford to show weakness in such a setting. He maintained a smile on his face and waited quietly for the Emperor to respond.
"Thirty years to go from the Deity Transformation Stage to the mid-Integration Stage, is it...?" The Phoenix Emperor narrowed his eyes.
Nie Shiyun smiled. "It is nothing compared to a senior of the Golden Immortal rank."
The Phoenix Emperor turned his head and asked, "And what of your skill in artifact refining?"
Nie Shiyun answered truthfully. He was now capable of attempting to forge various Earth-grade Immortal artifacts. After all, it was his primary means of making a living, and he had rarely neglected it alongside his cultivation.
The Phoenix Emperor merely hummed at his answer, sitting back lazily in his seat with an air of nonchalance.
"I heard that the first person Xuan Yang saw after hatching was you, and that he grew up following you. Did you happen to teach him the way of artifact refining?"
For a fleeting moment, the remains of countless artifact cauldrons that Xuan Yang had blown up back at the Yunqing Pavilion flashed through Nie Shiyun’s mind. He offered a silent second of mourning before replying, "I did try... however, it seems Xuan Yang’s heart was not in it. Since he was young, he has always preferred cultivation and martial arts."
The Phoenix Emperor nodded. He was already quite satisfied with Xuan Yang’s aptitude. It was simply that there were too few potential artifact refiners within the Phoenix Clan; if a child he favored had potential in that area, it would have been the icing on the cake. However, learning that Xuan Yang lacked the talent—just like most of the Phoenix Clan—did not cause him much regret.
As if recalling something, Nie Shiyun said, "When he was still in the lower cultivation world, he often spoke of training hard. He said that if he could reach the Upper Realm one day, he would surely make his father look at him with new respect."
"Oh? He said that?" A trace of a smile appeared on the Phoenix Emperor’s face. "He certainly has a big mouth."
"He was young then, and he had never encountered any real setbacks. It was inevitable that he would be outspoken," Nie Shiyun explained on Xuan Yang’s behalf.
The few exchanges between Xuan Yang and the Phoenix Emperor had been incredibly brief. The Emperor had never asked what kind of life Xuan Yang led in the lower realm, but hearing Nie Shiyun speak like this, he gathered that the boy had at least lived well there.
"It sounds like something he would say. When I was young, I was even more direct than him! He truly is of my blood; even if he wasn't raised by my side, he is the same to his core," the Phoenix Emperor remarked.
Nie Shiyun thought to himself, *You don't exactly seem like the subtle type now, either.*
A brief silence fell over the room. The Phoenix Emperor looked down at Nie Shiyun and asked in a level tone, "When you found Xuan Yang’s egg, did you know he was a descendant of the Phoenix?"
Nie Shiyun looked the Emperor straight in the eye. "At the time, the egg had been abandoned in the water, and I couldn't see it clearly from a distance. Shortly after I brought it back to my residence, I discovered the truth from the patterns on the shell. Although there were no longer any Phoenixes in the lower realm, the ancient records still contained descriptions. The feathers and essence blood of the Phoenix Clan are precious treasures; had the world known, it would have surely incited a bloodbath. Thus, I kept the matter a secret and let Xuan Yang grow up within my sect disguised as a human."
"Are you trying to say that while everyone in the lower realm harbors ill intentions, you were simply a kind soul helping a Phoenix descendant?"
Facing the Emperor’s questioning, Nie Shiyun gave a helpless smile. "It might sound like I'm showing off my meager skills before a master, but to be honest, my path of cultivation has been relatively smooth. I have no need to seize things from other races. As for other motives, I did think at the time that since the Phoenix Clan possesses the Phoenix True Fire, perhaps I could take him as a disciple in artifact refining. I only later learned that the True Fire has no direct correlation with a talent for refining."
The Phoenix Emperor nodded and finally stood up, descending the high steps of his throne one by one.
"Nie Shiyun, you are a clever man. I suppose it makes sense. To be able to come to the Upper Realm from the lower world on your own when the human ascension channel has been closed for so many years—you certainly couldn't be a fool."
"You flatter me." Nie Shiyun felt a secret sense of relief. The Phoenix Emperor’s willingness to step down and speak to him at eye level was, to some extent, a significant gesture of respect. Although he knew the gap in their cultivation and status meant his bargaining chips would never be equal, it was far better than the Emperor looking down on humans from start to finish.
"Follow me." The Phoenix Emperor beckoned as he walked. Two young, beautiful Phoenix maids emerged from a corner Nie Shiyun hadn't even noticed, nimbly carrying teacups as they followed close behind.
Once Nie Shiyun and the Phoenix Emperor were seated across from each other in the adjacent guest room, the teacups were placed before them. The two maids vanished as silently as they had appeared. Nie Shiyun could not sense their presence at all, suggesting their cultivation was at least at the Great Ascension Stage or even higher.
The cup did not contain hot tea. Nie Shiyun picked it up without hesitation and took a sip. The cold, colorless liquid was like dew—sweet and delicious, with spiritual energy so potent it felt as though he had consumed a high-grade pill. Nie Shiyun did not hide his surprise, openly admitting he had never tasted such water.
"Heh, this is unique to the Phoenix territory. It is collected from the dew that forms on the Moon-Glow Flowers at the very peaks of the high mountains. You couldn't necessarily buy this on the market even if you had the money."
"Then this trip has truly been worth it for me," Nie Shiyun said with a smile.
The Phoenix Emperor glanced at him. His reason for seeing Nie Shiyun today, aside from discussing business, was primarily to give this human a warning. From everything Xuan Yang said, the Emperor could feel that the boy's feelings for the human who raised him were closer to those one has for family. This made the high-and-mighty biological father feel quite displeased.
However, while Nie Shiyun had raised Xuan Yang to be such an innocent and naive fellow, he himself was a shrewd operator. The Phoenix Emperor’s praise of him being "clever" was not mere politeness. Over the years, he had rarely held a good impression of humans, but in his limited dealings, Nie Shiyun was one of the "smarter" ones. He was neither arrogant nor overly obsequious, and every word he spoke was pleasant to the ear, making it difficult to dislike him.
"If I didn't know you had played that boy from the Dragon Clan like a fiddle, I might actually think you were an honest man."
Nie Shiyun didn't deny it, offering only a bitter smile. "So, the news has already spread?"
Thinking of the chaotic mess the Dragon Clan had become, the Phoenix Emperor’s mood improved significantly. He said with great interest, "So it really was all your doing. That Dragon junior claimed he killed you in a counterattack after being ambushed, which I assume is untrue. I am quite interested in the details. I shall take some time today to listen to your account."
Nie Shiyun thought to himself that the Emperor clearly just wanted to know the gossip, yet he made it sound as if Nie Shiyun were the one insisting on reporting it. But since he had come for exactly this purpose, he didn't mind. He recounted everything truthfully, starting from the beginning of the artifact refining competition. Naturally, he did not reveal the existence of the portable space used during his escape and faked death, instead attributing everything to his own unique artifacts and formations.
Nie Shiyun watched as a smile gradually spread across the Phoenix Emperor’s face. The Emperor clearly only wanted to hear about the Dragon boy’s misfortune and didn't bother to press for details on the methods used. Nie Shiyun realized the relationship between the Phoenix and Dragon clans must be abysmal if hearing such gossip could please the Emperor so much.
The Phoenix Emperor waved a hand, his mood excellent. "You certainly have guts! Only a greenhorn fresh from the lower realm like you would dare to do such a thing. But you did well!"
"It concerned the repair of the channel, a rare opportunity. I was simply taking a gamble," Nie Shiyun replied.
"Heh, I don't believe you when you say 'taking a gamble.' You look like the type who would leave himself more than one way out."
Faced with the Phoenix Emperor’s blunt exposure, Nie Shiyun could only give a dry laugh.
"I guessed you wanted to repair the channel. Some humans tried that in the past, even coming to the territories of the four clans to demand our assistance—after all, it was our fighting that broke it. However, in the Upper Realm, there is no rule saying that whoever broke it must pay for it," the Phoenix Emperor said. "Repairing it is not simple, and there is no benefit to fixing it. It would only mean more cultivators coming to share the resources. Eventually, internal strife broke out among the humans, and the matter was dropped."
Nie Shiyun had already gathered this information from various sources. It did not dissuade him; it only made him more cautious in his daily actions. After all, humans had diverse motives, and it was inevitable that some human cultivators might try to obstruct the repairs.
For the first time, Nie Shiyun dropped the self-referential "junior" and emphasized calmly, "I do not intend to give up."
"That is why I called you here. Now that you have a dragon scale in hand, and given your relationship with my son, he certainly won't refuse you if you ask. However... the White Tiger and Black Tortoise clans are not people you can easily meet. And a once-in-a-lifetime fool like Ao Fan—you might not encounter another for thousands of years." The Phoenix Emperor chuckled with amusement.
Could it be that simply by hearing the firsthand account of Ao Fan’s predicament, the Phoenix Emperor would actually help repair the ascension channel? Nie Shiyun was not that naive.
"May I ask if there is an opportunity to be introduced to the White Tiger and Black Tortoise clans?" Nie Shiyun took the initiative to ask.
The Phoenix Emperor replied, "The White Tiger Clan is easy enough. we still have occasional contact with them. As for the Black Tortoise Clan, even I don't know where they live. The last time I saw one of them was several hundred years ago. Those turtles... it's perfectly normal for them to pull their heads into the sea and sleep for a thousand years."
The Phoenix Clan loathed the ocean and rarely set foot there, so it seemed they had little contact with the Black Tortoise Clan. Nie Shiyun nodded, understanding the situation.
"Then, what do I need to do?"
Seeing how sensible he was, the Phoenix Emperor curled his lips into a smile. "In two years, there will be a Great Demon Gathering. You shall come along then. I don't need you to do anything else—just reveal the truth of your faked death on the spot and give the Dragon Clan a good mocking."
"...Will the Dragon Clan also be present?" Nie Shiyun asked, his lip twitching.
"What kind of foolish question is that? If the Dragon Clan isn't there, where would the fun be? I could have my subordinates spread the news that you're alive at any time, but you appearing in person is another matter entirely," the Phoenix Emperor said.
"If I cause such a scene, won't I be unable to even escape the site of the gathering?" Nie Shiyun suppressed his exasperation and tried his best to look like a humble student seeking guidance.
The Phoenix Emperor replied nonchalantly, "Since you are coming with me, they naturally won't dare to lay a hand on you. However, what happens to you after you leave is none of my concern."
Nie Shiyun fell silent for a moment. The condition the Phoenix Emperor set was truly capricious. He knew he possessed nothing that a Golden Immortal would covet. As it turned out, the Emperor simply wanted to watch a show.
By accepting this condition, he would gain the assistance of the White Tiger Clan. With that, the physical requirements for repairing the channel would be mostly fulfilled. Nie Shiyun understood that this move was even more dangerous than his previous ones, but it was indeed a rarer opportunity.
If he were to "retreat in the face of difficulty" now, he would likely remain nothing more than an "ordinary human with no courage" in the Phoenix Emperor’s eyes.
As if sensing Zhai Bairong’s anxiety through the space, Nie Shiyun took a deep breath and rubbed his palms against his knees, wondering if he could transmit his resolve.
"It's a deal," Nie Shiyun said.
As if expecting him to agree, the Phoenix Emperor smiled with satisfaction. "You humans are indeed quite interesting. Then it is settled. In two years, I will send a maid to summon you."
He stood up and signaled for a maid to escort the guest out.
As if remembering something, the Phoenix Emperor added to Nie Shiyun as he was about to turn and leave, "Tell Xuan Yang that it is disgraceful to be at the border of the Phoenix territory and not come to see his father."
"I will pass on the message," Nie Shiyun said with difficulty, his expression clearly saying, *I'll tell him, but I can't help it if he doesn't listen.*
"...Go on." The Phoenix Emperor waved a hand irritably and turned away, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.
