"Oh?"

The middle-aged scholar looked at Qi Xiu with some surprise:

"You, child, do have some insight."

"May I ask why you have summoned me here, senior?

Is it because you don't want us to take the Phoenix Emperor Heritage?"

Hearing the middle-aged scholar acknowledge this, Qi Xiu relaxed slightly. He deduced that the middle-aged scholar was likely the ancient Wutong tree, but it was partly a guess.

"It seems you really desire the Holy Venerable's heritage, but you already have the heritage of the True Dragon Clan within you. Even if you obtain the power left by the Holy Venerable, you cannot use it. What's the point then?"

Without directly answering Qi Xiu, the middle-aged scholar instead asked.

The Holy Venerable he referred to was clearly the deceased Phoenix Sovereign.

Upon hearing the middle-aged scholar's question, Qi Xiu immediately fell silent, unable to reveal that he was from the future.

Taking the Phoenix Emperor Heritage was also to coerce the Moon Sea True Venerable into giving him a way to return to the future.

But lying to such a being was clearly unwise.

Seeing Qi Xiu silent, the middle-aged scholar chuckled gently and stopped probing:

"Very well, if you don't wish to speak, then don't."

"Thank you for understanding, senior." Qi Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.

"The Holy Venerable's heritage is of great importance; whoever obtains it will rise to unimaginable heights, achieving an unparalleled identity.

Thus, taking this heritage is not easy." The middle-aged scholar gently stroked the stone table before him.

The surface of the stone table rippled like water, gradually revealing a clear, transparent light image.

The image prominently featured the Peacock Great Saint, the Golden-Winged Roc, the Moon Sea True Venerable, and Song Baiyi.

The four were currently trapped in a vast sea of fire, the flames entirely red-gold, radiating boundless imperial aura. As the flames danced, the celestial dao sound roared continuously, resonating through All Heavens and Myriad Realms, interpreting eternal immortality.

In the sea of fire, myriad divine lights illuminated tens of thousands of miles, sweeping across the four corners, devastating and annihilating all.

Within the Phoenix Nest Cave Heaven, the Great Dao Divine Ban no longer existed.

The power of the Moon Sea True Venerable and Song Baiyi finally had room to unleash.

Especially the Great Tang Upper Capital Protector, who relied on his vast and mighty blood energy to force back the approaching divine flame and uphold a domain.

On the other hand, the Peacock Great Saint and the Golden-Winged Roc appeared much more strained.

Though ancient fierce birds, their cultivation realm was not even close to the Primordial Spirit True Honor.

At this moment, faced with the endless divine fire within the Phoenix Nest Grotto Heaven, they could only reveal their true forms, constantly speeding and dodging, searching for survival spaces within the gaps.

But the beak of the Peacock Great Saint was still faintly moving.

Seemingly cursing a certain Daoist who had mysteriously vanished!

"Those with greed in their hearts will be burdened by it.

These four entered the Phoenix Nest Grotto Heaven for the Holy Venerable's heritage, and naturally suffer the grotto heaven's oppression."

"The Holy Venerable was a figure of great virtue, leaving his inheritance not to such hands."

The middle-aged scholar's words made Qi Xiu's gaze shift.

According to this standard, he could also be considered among this category.

Noticing Qi Xiu's change in expression, the middle-aged scholar chuckled twice, his eyes becoming profound:

"You are different from them, though you have come for the Holy Venerable's heritage.

You carry something they do not.

Your arrival is not coincidental.

The eternal river flows, but is today any other day?

You agree, don't you, child?"

Facing the deep gaze of the middle-aged scholar, Qi Xiu's mind buzzed.

Is today any other day...

Did he see through?

The middle-aged scholar did not directly expose his identity as someone from the future, yet these words were equivalent to revealing his background.

"Hahaha, don't be tense, don't be tense, I mean no harm." The middle-aged scholar laughed heartily and slowly rose, standing with hands behind his back.

"When the Holy Venerable perished, I intended to follow suit.

But the Holy Venerable's dying wish was for me to wait here, for one day a True Dragon would come to take the heritage left behind.

To fulfill the Holy Venerable's command, I have waited countless ages here.

Today, my mission can finally be accomplished."

Smiling at Qi Xiu, the middle-aged scholar's eyes revealed a hint of relief.

Without the Phoenix, what use is the Wutong tree?

But the Holy Venerable's command could not be ignored.

For so many years, he steadfastly guarded this place, just to await the True Dragon mentioned by the Holy Venerable.

But by the time the Holy Venerable perished, the True Dragon Clan had long disappeared from Tianyuan Main Realm.

Having waited for so long, he even wondered if the Holy Venerable did not want him to perish together, hence those words left behind.

But today, he finally waited until the right moment.

Even though this True Dragon was not entirely pure, possessing at most half or even less of the bloodline.

But he was certain.

This person was indeed a genuine True Dragon, not some pretender falsely claiming dragon blood and self-proclaiming as a dragon race.

"The Holy Venerable's command?"

The middle-aged scholar's words did not quell Qi Xiu's astonishment; if anything, it made him more incredulous.

The Phoenix Sovereign precisely prophesied that he would come to retrieve the heritage.

He carried something different from them?

What was it?

Just as Qi Xiu was about to ask the middle-aged scholar, he saw the incarnation of the Wutong Divine Tree lightly wave his hand.

"You have not yet reached the Primordial Spirit Realm; knowing many things now would only be disadvantageous to you.

Once you reach the Primordial Spirit Realm, you will naturally find the answers."

"I have trapped these four for you; go and take the Holy Venerable's heritage now."

The middle-aged scholar interrupted Qi Xiu's inquiry and gently pushed him forward.