"You better hurry up; the Great Dao Divine Ban in this place is becoming stronger. You exposed the wooden bowl in front of that Golden-Winged Roc, so they likely already have their guard up."

Glancing at the Moon Sea True Venerable, Song Baiyi looked around.

Since yesterday, he had already noticed that the Great Dao Divine Ban in this area was slowly strengthening.

It must be the work of that Golden-Winged Roc.

"Don't worry, as long as we can enter the Phoenix Nest, without the suppression of the Great Dao Divine Ban, acquiring the Phoenix Inheritance will be as easy as taking something out of a pocket for us."

Shaking the Wutong wooden bowl in his hand, the Moon Sea True Venerable gazed down at the Phoenix Blood rippling in the bowl, a hint of undeniable dominance in his eyes.

"I hope it's as you say."

Retracting his gaze from the Moon Sea True Venerable, Song Baiyi looked into the distance, his mind involuntarily recalling the figure that had been pursued by the Peacock earlier.

"Was that... a True Dragon?"

...

Thick black smoke surged up into the sky, dyeing tens of thousands of miles of the Sky Dome into a dark, apocalypse-like scene exuding heavy pressure.

The air was filled with toxic smoke and miasma, vibrant and sinister.

A single breath, and even a True Monarch of the Dao Body would turn pale and quickly retreat, lest they be poisoned to death in this cloud.

Sitting on the broad and soft back of the Peacock, Qi Xiu, protected by the Five-Colored Divine Light, curiously observed the surroundings, then secretly plucked a handful of feathers from the remaining thick plumage.

"Boy, don't overdo it, are you trying to pluck me bald?"

Veins bulged on its forehead, and the Peacock, unable to endure any longer, turned back to reprimand Qi Xiu in a low voice.

Throughout the journey, this Daoist had already secretly plucked over a thousand of its feathers.

Although these feathers could regrow with just a thought,

the feeling of being plucked was not very damaging but extremely insulting!

"Sorry, sorry, it's my first time seeing a living Peacock, I couldn't help myself." With a light laugh, Qi Xiu clasped his hands in apology, appearing sincere, but quickly tucked the freshly plucked Peacock feather, still exuding Five-Colored Spiritual Charm, into his sleeve.

His master's grand birthday was coming up soon, and although these Peacock feathers were of average quality, they came from this living Peacock Great Saint, full of spiritual charm.

Once I return, I'll find a good Artifact Refiner to make a fine Magic Artifact for my master.

"Humph!"

Unwilling to bicker with Qi Xiu at this time, the Peacock glared at him, then snorted and sped up toward the destination.

There stood a colossal ancient volcano with an eerie Divine Marvel aura.

From a high altitude, its shape resembled an eye, with boiling, surging golden-red lava in the crater, emitting a terrifyingly scorching temperature capable of incinerating everything.

"This is..."

Noticing the volcano below shaped like an eye, Qi Xiu's Dragon Eyes slightly shifted, an indescribable look briefly flashing across his face.

"I see."

The purple-gold light in his eyes gradually faded, and Qi Xiu glanced at the Peacock Great Saint and the Golden-Winged Roc, bound and sullen nearby, making no sound.

Landing on the edge of the crater, the Peacock Great Saint transformed into a human form, simultaneously releasing the bound Golden-Winged Roc.

"This is where my adoptive father was reborn in fire; inside, there's a pool of Phoenix Blood and three Phoenix Emperor Feathers.

The two Primordial Spirit True Honors have Magical Treasures made from Wutong Divine Wood, capable of quickly siphoning the Phoenix Blood.

You must gather the Phoenix Blood before them by taking a different path.

In this volcano, there are hundreds of strands of Phoenix Blood. If you can descend into the molten fire sea, you can claim these hundreds of Phoenix Blood."

The intense fiery glow illuminating the three's faces was so hot that even with Dragon Scales shielding him, Qi Xiu felt a terrifying heatwave threatening to burn both his physical body and spirit to ash.

Reaching the edge of the crater, he looked down.

The golden-red magma sea looked as if a giant mixer was stirring inside, with tangible extremes of Fiery Energy rampaging wildly, forming a zone capable of annihilating all matter.

"Just me going down?"

Turning around, Qi Xiu looked at the nearby Peacock and Golden-Winged Roc.

"We are the Guardians; the restrictions prevent us from going in, so it's up to you." Shaking his head, the Peacock hesitated briefly before biting its lip and taking out a garment from its bosom—entirely bright red, shaped like a cloak with a fleeting peacock divine form on it, subtly flowing with a trace of Great Dao Charm, a beautifully luxurious attire.

"This Fire-Repelling Divine Robe is made from my Lifebound Divine Feather, take it for protection."

Receiving the Fire-Repelling Divine Robe, Qi Xiu immediately felt a cool sensation, and the scorching heat that seemed to evaporate a person disappeared the moment he held the robe.

Good stuff!

Without a closer look, Qi Xiu knew that this Fire-Repelling Divine Robe was definitely a top-quality Magical Treasure.

"This Magical Treasure appears ancient, with a vigorous Dao Charm, evidently having been a treasure for ages. Since the Great Saint cannot enter this fire sea, why go to the trouble of refining this Magical Treasure?

It seems like the Great Saint has long harbored the desire to break free from the cage."

Holding the Fire-Repelling Divine Robe, Qi Xiu smiled at the expressionless Peacock.

The Fire-Repelling Divine Robe was useless to him, yet he painstakingly refined it early on.

Clearly, there was a long-standing intention to aid outsiders in acquiring the Phoenix Emperor Heritage and breaking the cage.

And this Peacock Great Saint, when faced with his offer to cooperate earlier, pretended to hesitate and waver, which almost made him worry.

Truly a great actor.

"Mind your own business; if you don't want it, give it back." With a flash of shame and anger in the Peacock Great Saint's eyes, he reached out to take the Fire-Repelling Divine Robe back.

"Hahaha, don't be stingy, Great Saint. What kind of person takes back a gift?" Laughing heartily, Qi Xiu raised his hand to wrap himself in the bright red cloak, leaping into the magma sea.

With the aid of the Fire-Repelling Divine Robe, the terrifyingly aggressive heat wasn't able to penetrate, only a mild warmth seeped in.

Watching Qi Xiu enter the fire sea, the Golden-Winged Roc with eyes glowing gold approached the Peacock's side:

"Are we really going to help this guy take our adoptive father's legacy?"

"Otherwise? If those two Primordial Spirit True Honors get it, you and I will die even faster." The Peacock Great Saint walked to a boulder and sat, picking up a piece of fallen debris absentmindedly.

"I have already preemptively revived the entire Phoenix Nest, and when this Daoist claims our adoptive father's legacy, I will activate the complete Great Dao Divine Ban.

Although it will only last ten breaths,

but aside from you and me,

they will be stripped of all power and means, including those two Primordial Spirit True Honors.

That's when you and I will take the inheritance and leave.

By the time they recover, we'd have already gone far away.

Ha, this Daoist truly is foolish; does he really think I'd hand over my adoptive father's legacy to outsiders?"

Shattering the stone in his hand, the Peacock wore an icy expression, with everything before seemingly a part of his planned scheme.

...