Xuan Yang was shocked to learn from the messages sent by Nie Shiyun and the others that enemies were pursuing them. Although Nie Shiyun had said it wasn't a major issue—that the three of them had been leading their pursuers in circles for days without a direct confrontation and were all perfectly safe—he couldn't help but worry. In his heart, he cursed his so-called father three hundred times over for indirectly causing this situation.
If the Phoenix Emperor hadn't wanted to use others to amuse himself at the Dragon Clan's expense, Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong wouldn't have become targets of such resentment.
Furthermore, if the Phoenix Emperor had shown that he was "protecting" these people, many demon tribes wouldn't have dared to act so recklessly. But after having his fun, he had simply dusted off his hands and left. The opposing side felt that while they couldn't afford to provoke the Phoenix Emperor, they could certainly handle two human cultivators in the Integration Stage, and so they had come swarming in after catching wind of the situation.
Knowing that other demon tribes were wandering nearby, Xuan Yang immediately became alert, concealing his aura and proceeding with caution.
Before long, he heard the sound of conversation.
"They’ve vanished completely."
"Dammit, how are those two so good at running? I clearly saw them just a day ago. How did they disappear right under our noses after turning a single corner? Could they have already left the small world?"
"They’re just two humans; how could they get out? Besides, aren't there plenty of demon tribes patrolling near their respective teleportation arrays? Everything is quiet all around; it doesn't look like anyone has passed through. If a fight broke out anywhere, the commotion would surely be felt by everyone nearby."
From a corner, Xuan Yang caught a glimpse of the two cultivators. They were both in human form, so he couldn't tell which tribe they belonged to. However, their cultivation bases weren't particularly high, which allowed Xuan Yang to breathe a sigh of relief. Since Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong hadn't displayed their martial prowess at the banquet, most of the demon tribes sent here were not elites.
"Say, if we really catch those two humans, what kind of reward can we get from the Dragon Clan? I’ve rarely seen the Dragon Emperor so displeased; for all we know, he might not even want to see these humans at all. We’d better not do a 'good deed' that ends up being a mistake and get punished instead." Having achieved nothing all day, the demon cultivator wandering nearby lost his patience and began chatting with his companion.
"You worry too much. When the time comes, whether it's a reward or a punishment, it won't be our turn to receive it anyway."
"...True."
As the two demon cultivators talked, they lost their drive and simply sat down to slack off.
A short while later, not only did they not leave, but several of their kinsmen who had been patrolling further away also returned. They huddled together to discuss something, appearing to have no intention of moving. Hidden in the shadows, Xuan Yang grew anxious. How was he supposed to slip past them like this?
Should he transform back into his original form? If he were a magpie or a sparrow, it would be fine, but a phoenix... was simply too large.
It was only after coming to the Upper Heaven Realm and seeing many of his kin that Xuan Yang realized his own frame was considered quite large even among the Phoenix Clan. His body, combined with his long trailing tail, measured nearly ten feet. He had previously assumed all adult phoenixes were this size.
Dismissing that idea, Xuan Yang gradually felt his legs going numb from crouching in the grass. He didn't mind the discomfort, but knowing that his partner was being hunted by a large group of demons alongside Nie Shiyun, how could he have the patience to wait obediently for the enemies nearby to leave?
There was no other way; he had to try it.
Though he felt some disdain for the method in his heart, Xuan Yang made up his mind.
The demon cultivators resting under the shade of the trees knew they should continue searching, but the "mere humans" they thought would be easy prey had turned out to be so difficult to catch that they couldn't muster any enthusiasm.
"Which of you will go nearby and ask the other tribes if there's any news?"
"You're dreaming. We're all competitors now. Who would share something that could let them take sole credit in front of the Dragon Clan..."
"...Shh! Quiet, I hear something!"
Suddenly, the demon cultivators fell silent at once.
The hearing of the demon race was excellent. The moment their chattering stopped, they keenly captured the sound of footsteps walking over fallen leaves in the distance.
They looked at each other suspiciously, feeling it was unlikely to be Nie Shiyun and the others. These footsteps sounded too bold and open, not at all like someone who was being pursued.
"It seems to be another demon," one of them sensed the aura of their own kind and sighed. "Probably someone from another tribe. Hah, you're just getting nervous over nothing."
"...Ph-Ph—"
"Huh?"
Hearing his companion stammer out a single syllable, the demon cultivator followed his gaze in confusion, and then he too stood frozen, mouth agape.
The figure walking in the distance... was that the Phoenix Emperor?
The other party treated them as if they were non-existent, walking straight ahead with an expressionless face.
"Why would he be here..." the demon cultivator muttered to himself.
All of them had seen the Phoenix Emperor's appearance from a distance at the banquet. It was truly a face that one could never forget after seeing it once.
A low mutter at such a distance shouldn't have been heard. But the "Phoenix Emperor" in the distance seemed to know exactly what he was whispering. He tilted his head slightly and cast a glance toward them.
The Phoenix Emperor was tall, and that cold glance could be described as "looking down" on them in both a physical and spiritual sense. That gaze treated them as if they were rats in a gutter; with just that one look, the other party withdrew his eyes with a hint of disgust and walked away as if no one else were there.
Because the subconscious fear was so deeply ingrained in their very marrow, the legs of these demon cultivators began to tremble slightly. They held their breath, only daring to exhale once the figure had vanished from sight.
"That scared the life out of me..."
"I didn't sense even a hint of his pressure! He must have completely restrained his aura..."
Although the news that the Phoenix Emperor had a son who looked exactly like him had already spread throughout the Upper Heaven Realm, none of the demon cultivators present even considered that possibility.
After the events of the banquet, almost the entire demon race had observed one thing—though he looked like the Phoenix Emperor, Xuan Yang was a kind and cheerful youth. The main reason his personality was so vastly different from his elder brothers was likely because he hadn't been raised by the Phoenix Emperor.
Demon cultivators who had known the Phoenix Emperor for years felt incredibly awkward and sentimental upon seeing Xuan Yang. Could that arrogant face, which usually wore a sarcastic and mocking smile every day, actually look so sunny and approachable with a different personality?
"With that one look just now, I thought I was going to die." The demon cultivator who had been muttering clutched his chest, certain that his big mouth had displeased the Emperor and feeling lucky to have escaped with his life.
That look of contempt—that was definitely the Phoenix Emperor!
They came to their senses and realized one thing—was the Phoenix Emperor here to help Nie Shiyun and the others?
"The elders said the Phoenix Emperor doesn't care whether the humans live or die. What a load of nonsense! He came here in person."
A demon nearby chimed in, "Exactly. I told you so; he even brought the humans to the banquet."
Although most demon tribes affiliated with the Dragon Clan had no favorable feelings toward the Phoenix faction, that didn't mean they dared to openly provoke the Phoenix Emperor. After being glared at by him, they retreated without pause, preparing to return and report to their elders. This was a job they couldn't handle even if they had ten lives.
Meanwhile, Xuan Yang, who had already traveled a great distance, noticed that no one was following him. The expression on his face was now the polar opposite of before as he clutched his chest and let out a long sigh of relief.
"Phew... I pulled it off. It seems I'm quite good at acting the part."
Although he would have been exposed the moment they exchanged blows, fortunately, these demon tribes had an innate fear of the name "Phoenix Emperor" and didn't dare step forward to verify his cultivation level. Thanks to this, he could boldly go find Shen Yan and the others.
The more Xuan Yang walked down the main path without looking left or right, the more certain the demon cultivators watching from afar became that he was the Phoenix Emperor. Not a single one dared to approach, and most chose to return to their tribes to report. It wouldn't be long before the Phoenix Emperor himself learned of this news. If he found out that Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, whom he had intentionally toyed with, were now being protected by Xuan Yang using his name, he would likely be fuming.
"Shen Yan! I was so worried!"
After spending half a day, Xuan Yang finally reunited with the three of them. As the saying goes, a day apart feels like three years; having not seen him for just a few days was already an ordeal. Ignoring Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong standing nearby, he rushed toward Shen Yan from a distance with a mournful face and pulled him into a tight embrace.
Shen Yan was nearly knocked backward by his significant weight, struggling to stay upright. Firmly pinned by Xuan Yang, Shen Yan tried to push him away to no avail. He had no choice but to endure the quiet but burning gazes of Nie Shiyun and Zhai Bairong, patiently coaxing him, "I'm fine. Look, I don't have a single scratch on me... Let go of me first; if you keep squeezing, I'll actually get hurt."
"Oh, right..." Hearing this, Xuan Yang hurriedly stepped back two paces, looking him over carefully. Only after confirming there were indeed no signs of injury did he feel at ease.
Nie Shiyun smiled and said, "Are you still worried when he's with us?"
Xuan Yang muttered awkwardly, "It's precisely because he's with you that I'm worried. You're too good at stirring up trouble!"
"The feeling is mutual," Nie Shiyun replied, not taking it to heart at all. He lamented, "I wanted to live a peaceful life, you know—fishing, growing flowers, that sort of thing. But trouble just keeps finding me."
Xuan Yang was speechless and didn't intend to argue. Since they were young, hadn't he and Nie Shiyun experienced enough trouble together?
"I thought it would take you a year or so to figure out where we were. You've actually made some progress," Shen Yan said.
If he hadn't heard the lack of malice in Shen Yan's sentimental tone, Xuan Yang would have thought he was being mocked. He said, feeling like he wanted to cry but had no tears, "Am I really that stupid in your eyes?"
"You have a problem with being praised? Then I take it back," Shen Yan quickly ended the topic and turned to serious business. "What's the situation at the teleportation array?"
"Many demon tribes have withdrawn. There are still a few stubborn ones guarding the area, but I think they only dare to watch from a distance and won't easily take action." Xuan Yang felt a bit embarrassed about using the Phoenix Emperor's prestige despite his dislike for the man, but he still recounted the situation to the three of them in detail.
Nie Shiyun was very curious after hearing this and said in surprise, "Your acting was that good? How much did you look like him? Let me see."
"In your dreams," Xuan Yang said decisively. He gritted his teeth at Nie Shiyun's tone, which sounded like a relative asking a child to perform a talent show.
Standing to the side, Zhai Bairong thought silently to himself: *This is just great.* Having been by Nie Shiyun's side for so long, he had been influenced enough to learn how to put on an act when necessary. But Xuan Yang had been straightforward since childhood; Zhai Bairong had thought he would never learn such things. As it turned out, children really do take after those who raise them... he wasn't sure if that was a good thing.
"Have you been hiding here the whole time? Is it safe?" Xuan Yang looked around, changing the subject.
Nie Shiyun and the others were currently on a floating island in the middle of a large lake. The island wasn't far from the shore but was easily overlooked. Since they couldn't send out communication crystals from within the jade pendant, they had found this seemingly safe place to rest when they contacted Xuan Yang.
"It's quite safe here. Besides, with this, it's easy to vanish right under their noses as long as we put a little distance between us. Even if they find us, there's no need to panic." Nie Shiyun shook the jade pendant in his hand. Xuan Yang guessed they had utilized the space within and wasn't too surprised.
Xuan Yang mentioned the conversation he had overheard between the demon cultivators, saying with dissatisfaction, "They're really going too far. The Dragon Clan hasn't even put a bounty on you, yet these guys are falling over themselves to curry favor, and it's not even certain if the Dragon Clan will appreciate it! If you ask me, let's just stop running. Some of the tribes didn't send many people; the four of us should just give them a beating to vent our anger."
"The moment you make a move, your disguise as the Phoenix Emperor will be exposed," Nie Shiyun shook his head. "Besides, we've just arrived in the Upper Realm; it's better to make as few enemies as possible. As the saying goes, there are no permanent enemies..."
This made sense. Xuan Yang was just unable to swallow his anger.
He huffed in frustration but eventually let out a sigh. "Fine. I'll settle the score with them once my cultivation improves. And that guy, the Phoenix Emperor—playing such a boring prank—one day, I'm going to give him a beating too."
This time, no one refuted him. Even if the other three eventually reached that level of cultivation, fighting the Phoenix Emperor would still likely lead to a life-or-death struggle. But Xuan Yang was his biological son; that was a different matter entirely.
Even Zhai Bairong silently agreed with Xuan Yang's statement. It was clear that all of them, coincidentally, shared the urge to give the Phoenix Emperor a good thrashing.
***
