When Su Mu was wholly focused, that elusive, uncertain voice grew clearer—the words spoken by Elder Qing Mei seemed to be reciting a set of Martial Arts, known as the Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture!

Each word entered his ears; even with Su Mu’s Hidden Dragon in the Abyss at his brow, and dragon-and-phoenix-level comprehension, he still felt his mind aching, for every word shone like a precious gem.

"Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture? What a profound Martial Arts... The Five Elements Technique pales in comparison; this must truly be an upper three grades Martial Arts!"

Su Mu’s mind was shaken; he listened with undivided attention to Elder Qing Mei reciting the scripture, feeling that each word was incomprehensible and profound, as if an immense mountain made one feel insignificant, as if a vast, endless abyss inspired awe and dread.

Before this, Su Mu had believed himself to possess some skill in Martial Arts, but now, in the presence of such Martial Arts, Su Mu instantly felt minuscule.

All of this delighted Su Mu; he now had clarity that this Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture’s might was by no means comparable to a middle third grade Martial Arts.

"Divine Phoenix soars through nine heavens, transforms against Fate’s flow."

"Make the body the medium, receive Celestial Phoenix Qi; use blood as the catalyst, forge the primordial Celestial Phoenix Body; skin hard as mysterious steel, plumes like falling stars, wings spread break the firmament, phoenix patterns shaking heaven and man... Using the Cyan Simurgh to molt into phoenix, this is the way of the Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation!"

Each word sounded like the subtle voice of the Great Dao. Su Mu listened closely as Elder Qing Mei chanted the "Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture."

Time slipped by, minute by minute; a long while passed.

Su Mu slowly opened his eyes, feeling mentally exhausted, yet his gaze remained bright; the figure of Elder Qing Mei in that Land of Nothingness was now noticeably dimmer, and only now could Su Mu withdraw from that listening state.

"What a Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture... This Martial Arts is truly immeasurable in depth; so there exist predecessors in this world who once pursued an ideal akin to mine. This Martial Arts is a Body Refining Technique, its threshold of cultivation extremely high, a method for mortal flesh to transform into a Celestial Phoenix body—when mastered to its peak, it can rival the true Celestial Phoenix Body itself!"

After imprinting the cultivation method of the Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture upon his mind, Su Mu was left in awe.

This Martial Arts was created by a being named True Master Qingluan, and is a Body Refining Technique of unknown grade; when cultivated to the pinnacle, the flesh can rival the Celestial Phoenix Body.

Su Mu surmised that to be named after the Celestial Phoenix, it must be astonishingly mighty; this only strengthened Su Mu’s conviction that this method was an upper three grades, profound Martial Arts.

Moreover, this "Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture" demands nearly inhuman thresholds for comprehension, endurance, and even one’s destiny—lacking supreme comprehension, even if the cultivation technique was placed before one, most would merely treat it as a finely crafted erotic painting.

Furthermore, this cultivation process requires enduring pain unimaginable to mortals; even mastering the Molten Fire Golden Body would pale in comparison—without extraordinary willpower, entry-level mastery is impossible.

Finally, to practice this technique, one must obtain Celestial Phoenix Blood for devouring and fusion; without destiny and fortune, even with exceptional comprehension and endurance, one would sit atop a mountain of treasure, only to lament in vain.

"It’s a pity that the ’Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture’ I hold is but a fragment."

Just now, Elder Qing Mei’s chanting abruptly ceased at a certain point, leaving Su Mu with a twinge of regret—although only for a moment.

Back then, obtaining even this portion of the scripture had already been a great stroke of fortune—not something to be forced.

Before long, Su Mu withdrew from the Land of Nothingness; upon returning to himself, Su Mu lowered his gaze and saw—the spring painting in his hand had, somehow, transformed into an ancient scroll.

The scroll’s material was unknown, its colors dazzling despite countless ages; cool and delicate to the touch.

The scroll within Su Mu’s grip was incomplete, yet its contents appeared to depict a Cyan Simurgh and a Celestial Phoenix swirling in the nine heavens—yet the Simurgh’s body on the scroll was barely half, and the Celestial Phoenix nothing more than a single wing.

"The scroll I have must be close to a third... Perhaps, someday, I’ll have a chance to find the remaining fragments."

Murmuring to himself, Su Mu’s gaze landed upon the phoenix wing that seemed to rule fire; in his mind’s eye, the Fire Sparrow’s corpse suddenly surfaced.

The Fire Sparrow’s body within that hidden cave had a certain similarity to the phoenix wing depicted on the scroll.

"Can the Fire Sparrow Blood be used for cultivation?"

Whether it could be used, a trial would tell.

At that thought, Su Mu’s eyes brightened, his heart thumping wildly beneath his chest. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

With a thought, the Fire Sparrow Pattern at Su Mu’s palm glowed, translucent crimson plumes spreading over both arms; cautiously, he set about channeling the Fire Sparrow Blood within him, guiding it according to the cultivation method of the Cyan Simurgh Phoenix Transformation Scripture.

At the outset of his training, Su Mu felt the hardship—until now, his comprehension had always allowed him to learn any Martial Arts with little stagnation, as if things came naturally.

But now, Su Mu distinctly sensed difficulty—it felt as if he walked a rugged, perilous mountain path.

Bean-sized sweat pearls oozed from every pore, soaking Su Mu’s entire garment.

Time passed amidst all this.

Days and nights cycled; when the first ray of sunrise shone upon the earth, deep within the mountains firelight flickered to life.

Within the dense forest, the handsome youth whose clothing had been soaked countless times suddenly shuddered throughout and muffled a groan, spitting up several mouthfuls of fresh blood.

Cough, cough-----

Su Mu slowly opened his eyes, coughing violently, yet there was no disappointment upon his face; instead, a wild joy surfaced.

"Most Fire Sparrows contain a trace of Celestial Phoenix Blood—their blood can be tried to condense Celestial Phoenix Qi!"

Su Mu was delighted; after attempting it, he discovered that the Fire Sparrow Blood he had swallowed could indeed be used to condense Celestial Phoenix Qi—though the process was extremely arduous, yielding less than a hair’s breath after a day and night, but it was possible.