The closer they got to the Wutong Divine Tree, the more terrifying the aura it emitted, filling them with dread.

It was ancient, as if it had witnessed the infinite vastness of time itself.

The tree didn't even need to act; just one glance was enough to change the color of the sky and make the void tremble.

The Phoenix Blood Marks on Qi Xiu and the others' hands flickered intermittently, as if being slowly depleted.

"We must enter the Phoenix Nest before the Phoenix Blood Mark fades away."

Noticing the change in the Phoenix Blood Mark on his hand, the Peacock's expression shifted slightly.

Perhaps it was because of that Primordial Spirit True Honor.

This time, the awakening level of the Wutong Divine Tree was evidently higher than before.

This resulted in the Phoenix Blood Mark depleting faster than he had expected.

Hearing the urgency in the Peacock's tone, the Golden-Winged Roc pulled him and Qi Xiu close.

With a single step, a primordial bird's shadow seemed to streak through the void, rising ninety thousand miles in an instant.

The three of them vanished from their location in an instant.

...

"This is bad! Someone got there first!"

Noticing an anomaly in the crimson light wheel emanating from the ancient Wutong tree far away, the Moon Sea True Venerable bit her silver teeth and murmured in concern.

Despite the assistance of the Wutong Wooden Bowl, they were still a step too late.

Upon hurriedly reaching the edge of the central Forest Sea, Moon Sea True Venerable immediately tossed the Wutong Wooden Bowl in her hand. The Phoenix Blood within it shimmered brilliantly, releasing strands of essence light that slowly seeped into the wooden bowl.

She did not have the Phoenix Emperor Essence within the Peacock Great Saint.

Unable to transform this Phoenix Blood into a Phoenix Blood Mark to protect herself.

However, by sublimating the Phoenix Blood in the Wutong Wooden Bowl, a similar effect could be achieved.

Under Moon Sea True Venerable's ritual refining, all the painstakingly collected Phoenix Blood suffused into the wooden bowl.

The originally wooden sea bowl transformed into a reddish-golden hue, with a vivid, yet faint Phoenix Sovereign shadow floating above it.

"It's done."

Taking a deep breath, Moon Sea True Venerable showed a hint of weariness.

They were very close to the Phoenix Nest, where the Great Dao Divine Ban's power had also peaked.

Outside, it would have been just a thought to complete the refining of this bowl, but here, it made her feel an inescapable fatigue.

Throwing up the refined Wutong Wooden Bowl, strands of divine radiance descended, enshrouding both Moon Sea True Venerable and Song Baiyi in splendid light.

"One cannot fly in the presence of the Wutong.

To enter the Phoenix Nest, one must walk. Protector, please remember this." Knowing the taboos when approaching the Wutong Divine Tree, Moon Sea True Venerable advised Song Baiyi before heading towards the Wutong Divine Tree.

...

With the help of the Golden-Winged Roc, Qi Xiu and the others quickly approached the Wutong Divine Tree.

By this time, the Phoenix Emperor Seals on their hands had become very faint.

Only a blurry outline remained, as if ready to dissipate entirely at any moment.

"We finally caught up."

Glancing at the Phoenix Emperor Seal that was about to vanish from his hand, the Peacock God's eyes shone with divine light, surveying the nine Grotto Heavens hanging on the Wutong Divine Tree.

These Grotto Heavens were once Phoenix Nests.

Belonging to the nine former Phoenix Sovereigns!

Now the Phoenix Clan, like the True Dragon Clan, has long since vanished.

Only the Phoenix Nest remains, along with a heritage it contains.

However, the Phoenix Nest Cave Heavens are not so easily entered.

Among the nine Grotto Heavens, only one contains the Phoenix Emperor Heritage.

It is the legacy left by the last Phoenix Sovereign for future generations.

The other eight Grotto Heavens are resting places of past Phoenix Sovereigns.

Inside, not only is there no inheritance, but there are also astonishing death traps and various restrictive methods laid down by later Phoenix Sovereigns.

To prevent anyone from robbing the ancestors' remains.

Should one mistakenly enter, not even higher beings like them would return.

The same applies to a Primordial Spirit True Honor; they would be lost forever, like throwing meat buns to a dog.

"Let me see, which one is it…" With trembling pupils, the Peacock Great Saint strained his vision across the nine Grotto Heavens before them.

The Peacock Clan's ancestor once contributed greatly to the Phoenix Clan and was adopted as a foster son, receiving a Phoenix Emperor Essence.

Most of this essence was depleted when the Peacock Great Saint evolved into the Phoenix Emperor Seal earlier.

Now, he relied on what remained to perceive which Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven held the Phoenix Emperor Heritage.

Sweeping his gaze across these nine Phoenix Nest Cave Heavens, beads of sweat started to form on the forehead of this ancient fierce bird, the Peacock Great Saint.

There was nothing he could do. Even a divine bird with fierce bloodline like himself.

Faced with a true life-and-death ordeal, he couldn't suppress a sense of urgent suspense.

Especially since this Wutong Divine Tree was ruthless and unyielding, showing no mercy, wielding thunderous methods. At their current realm, they would be utterly obliterated with a single strike.

Not even allowing a chance for reincarnation and cultivation anew.

"Is it ready yet? Why is it taking so long?"

Seeing no reaction from the Peacock Great Saint, the Golden-Winged Roc paced impatiently nearby, frequently glancing at the Phoenix Emperor Seal on his hand.

"Shut your mouth for me!"

The already agitated Peacock Great Saint, urged by the Golden-Winged Roc, flared up in an instant, turning to reprimand sternly.

"Why isn't it working…"

After shouting at the Golden-Winged Roc, the Peacock Great Saint's eyes became even gloomier.

The Phoenix Emperor Essence within his body was passed down from generation to generation by his ancestors. According to reason, this essence originating from the Phoenix Sovereign himself should resonate with the Phoenix Emperor Heritage.

Yet from the beginning until now, he has been continuously urging the Phoenix Emperor Essence, attempting to sense the existence of that Phoenix Emperor Heritage, but has come up empty-handed.

Seeing the Phoenix Emperor Seal on his hand growing fainter, almost disappearing entirely, the Peacock Great Saint grew anxious.

If he cannot find the correct Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven before the seal vanishes.

They will all perish!

As sweat beads increased on the Peacock Great Saint's forehead and his gaze grew increasingly frantic.

Qi Xiu, who had been silent all along, suddenly stepped forward, raising his hand to point at the Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven on the third branch of the ancient Wutong tree.

"I think it should be this cave heaven."

Surprised by Qi Xiu stepping forward, the Peacock Great Saint, though shocked, still asked:

"How do you know?"

"Premonition." Qi Xiu quietly put away the Wutong treasure leaf in his palm, which had withdrawn its divine light. Naturally, he wouldn't disclose this exotic treasure to the Peacock Great Saint.

He only vaguely mentioned that it was his instinctual premonition.

"Premonition?" The Peacock Great Saint cast a skeptical glance at Qi Xiu; having lived for over four thousand years, he certainly wouldn't believe Qi Xiu's words.

But now, at a critical moment.

He himself couldn't discern which one was the correct Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven.

He could only heed Qi Xiu's suggestion.

Otherwise, he would only have to choose one randomly.

After weighing his options repeatedly, the Peacock Great Saint thoughtfully glanced at Qi Xiu and then said:

"Alright, then we shall trust the Daoist's premonition."

"Huh?" The Golden-Winged Roc beside them was instantly stunned upon hearing his brother's words, opening his mouth to grab the conversation.

"What are you 'huh' about? If we delay any longer, the old guy will strike, and we'll all be reduced to dust."

Understanding that Qi Xiu wouldn't voluntarily choose a dead end, and glancing at the Phoenix Emperor Seal in his hand, which was about to disappear, the Peacock Great Saint held back the Golden-Winged Roc from speaking further.

One person and two birds then leaped into the air, transforming into a ray of rainbow light, and entered the Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven on the third branch.

"They've gone in."

Just having stepped out of the boundless Forest Sea and arriving at the Immortal Soil where the ancient Wutong tree stood, the Moon Sea True Venerable and Song Baiyi happened to witness Qi Xiu and the others turn into a rainbow and enter that Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven.

"Fortunately, we made it in time."

Upon seeing the nine Phoenix Nest Cave Heavens hanging on the ancient Wutong tree, the Moon Sea True Venerable showed a hint of relief in her eyes, for she had no means to discern which cave heaven held the heritage.

Had they arrived a moment later, the chance of choosing correctly would have been slim.

Since Qi Xiu and the others had entered the Phoenix Nest before them, the Moon Sea True Venerable and Song Baiyi did not delay any further and proceeded directly towards the cave heaven chosen by Qi Xiu and his companions.

...

"Kid, not waking up yet?"

Accompanied by the sonorous sound of a giant bell in his ears, Qi Xiu, who had fallen into a state of deep darkness after entering the Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven, gradually awakened, greeted by a sudden warm brightness.

This is...

Squinting slightly, Qi Xiu saw clearly the scenery surrounding him.

An endless flower sea of cold and snow white, stretching boundlessly. Blossoms of dazzling gold, shimmering with the divine glow of light, floated down like a gentle drizzle.

Colors of gold and white, woven together in a dreamy fantasy.

Truly a rare haven of dreams on earth.

Just as Qi Xiu was surveying the surroundings, a slender and upright figure in a blue-white long robe suddenly appeared before him.

Following this figure, Qi Xiu instinctively looked upward.

A face of gentle indifference, like a middle-aged Confucian scholar, smiling softly at him.

"Awake."

Facing the long-robed middle-aged man, Qi Xiu instinctively reactivated his Dragon Eyes, yet there was no response from his body, as if all his cultivation had vanished.

This caused his expression to change slightly.

"Haha, don't be nervous. This place is Dream Ze, and right now, you are merely a consciousness. Naturally, you cannot mobilize your cultivation within."

Seeming to notice Qi Xiu's strange expression, the middle-aged scholar chuckled lightly. With a wave of his right hand, a stone table and two wooden chairs suddenly emerged within the flower sea.

"Kid, please sit."

Gesturing for Qi Xiu to take a seat, the middle-aged scholar first sat down at the stone table.

Making peace with the situation.

After a brief surprise, Qi Xiu quickly composed himself and sat calmly across the table from the middle-aged scholar.

Seeing Qi Xiu regain his composure so quickly, the middle-aged scholar nodded lightly.

"Not bad, your Dao Heart carries some weight."

"Senior's praise. I intruded upon your treasured place, disturbing you, and I hope for your forgiveness." Qi Xiu raised his hand slightly, his expression sincere, softly apologizing.

With a slight arch of the brow, the middle-aged scholar revealed a playful smile:

"From your words, you seem to know who I am?"

"I do." 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"Then tell me."

"Phoenix Sovereign."

Upon Qi Xiu's words, a hint of disappointment flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged scholar, preparing to speak, he heard Qi Xiu continue.

"The Phoenix Sovereign is deceased, you are that ancient Wutong tree!"

...