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Chapter 443: Chapter 443: Phoenix Island

This time, the three engaged in an archery contest at Nie Qingqing\'s request. Each displayed their enthusiasm and skills.

However, Princess Tian Ling\'er, sitting not far away, seemed lost in her thoughts. Even the presence of her \'most revered\' senior brother couldn\'t stir her interest. She absentmindedly flipped through the book titled "The Adventures of Zhong Shan and Ling\'er," her expressions fluctuating between joy and frowns.

She was so absorbed in her own world that she didn\'t even notice when Xiaoyao, Shaofei, and Zhao Tiansha left.

"Ling\'er!" Nie Qingqing approached her.

"Sister, it\'s been three meetings already. Why hasn\'t Zhong Shan come?" Tian Ling\'er asked anxiously.

"Maybe he has something important to attend to," Nie Qingqing consoled.

"Is he angry with me?" Tian Ling\'er looked troubled.

"Why would he be angry with you?"

"During the literary contest, his book was clearly the best, but I... I... Sister, do you think he\'s mad at me and doesn\'t want to come anymore?" Tian Ling\'er couldn\'t hold back her tears.

Nie Qingqing immediately hugged her. "No, no, he wouldn\'t be so petty. Even if he gets angry at anyone, it wouldn\'t be you. He must have been delayed by something important. He\'ll come, he wouldn\'t miss it without a reason."

"Really?" Ling\'er suddenly stopped crying, her face filled with hope as she looked at Nie Qingqing.

"Of course. You two are husband and wife, witnessed by Heaven and Earth!" Nie Qingqing reassured her.

"I almost forgot!" Tian Ling\'er\'s cheeks flushed, and she broke into a smile.

In the Sacred Hall of Lihuo.

Nie Fancheng looked at the elderly eunuch before him. "Disappeared?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Zhong Shan has truly vanished. I sent people to search many places, but there\'s no trace of him," the eunuch replied.

"Who else is missing?" Nie Fancheng asked.

"One of his subordinates, the Blazing Fire Wolf General. Everyone else is still at the South Ming Tribute Hall," the eunuch said respectfully.

"He left just like that, without considering Ling\'er?"

"Your Majesty, from what I observe, Princess Ling\'er\'s heart has already been taken by Zhong Shan," the eunuch remarked.

"Oh?"

"In these days of Zhong Shan\'s absence, Princess Ling\'er has been on edge, likely due to her growing attachment to him over the past two months. Now his absence might be a strategy to deepen her feelings. When Zhong Shan returns, there will be no doubt left. Princess Ling\'er won\'t choose anyone else," the eunuch speculated.

"Two months? Indeed, he is a master in the ways of love," Nie Fancheng sighed.

Zhong Shan and the Blazing Fire Wolf General had disappeared, along with another person—the Blue-Red Phoenix General!

During the two months they spent together, Blazing Fire had completely won over Qinghong. Their minds and hearts intertwined, they treated each other with utmost respect. Initially, Qinghong was furious upon discovering Blazing Fire\'s premeditated pursuit, but eventually, she accepted it, recognizing his outstanding qualities.

In terms of flying speed, no one in the world could surpass Qingluan!

Transformed into her true form, Qingluan, Zhong Shan and Blazing Fire stood on her back. With a spread of her wings, Qingluan soared over an infinite distance.

"Your Majesty, we\'re almost there!" Qingluan spoke from beneath, having evidently been informed of Zhong Shan\'s identity by Blazing Fire.

"Beihai, Phoenix Island?" Zhong Shan asked, gazing into the distance.

"Yes! However, Your Majesty, using the \'Phoenix Song of Nine Heavens\' might be too taxing; it can severely drain your energy," Qinghong replied.

"Let\'s give it a try. We\'ll do our best and leave the rest to fate. Thank you, Qinghong. Without your help, it would take us years to find Phoenix Island in the vast Northern Sea," Zhong Shan said.

"Your Majesty, Qinghong is my wife. It\'s only natural for me to help," Zhihuo chimed in with a smile.

Seeing Zhihuo\'s confident demeanor now compared to his timid self before, Zhong Shan nodded and smiled.

Soon, even from a great distance, the three could see the outlines of Phoenix Island. It was enormous, comparable in size to Tianlang Island! Birds of all kinds flew around the island, and occasionally, they could spot a phoenix soaring. When a phoenix took flight, a multitude of birds followed, forming a grand spectacle. This was the kingdom of birds, the heartland of the phoenix clan.

Qingluan transformed back into her human form.

"Your Majesty, Phoenix Island has its rules. To meet the Supreme, I need to report first," Qinghong said.

"Very well, I can wait," Zhong Shan replied.

Suddenly, a piercing roar of agony erupted from the southwest corner of Phoenix Island, echoing through the air. Zhong Shan saw a beam of white light shooting straight up into the sky from the northwest corner, piercing through the clouds. The sky turned white, not from clouds, but from the brilliance of the light.

An immense pressure spread out, scattering the surrounding clouds and causing all nearby birds and beasts to tremble and fall to the ground in fear. Even from afar, Zhong Shan could feel the overwhelming force approaching. Despite his sixth-level Nascent Soul cultivation, his soul quivered as if shaken.

"This power is immense, stronger than that of the Perfumed Buddha from the past, far stronger," Zhong Shan thought to himself, awed.

"Who is that?" Zhihuo asked in shock.

"Xuan Yuan, the strongest in the Empyrean Realm across the Divine Land," Qinghong replied.

"The strongest in the Empyrean Realm?" Zhong Shan\'s eyebrows shot up. He recalled who Xuan Yuan was.

He had even seen Xuan Yuan before. In the past, when the Eight Extremes Heavenly Tail was sealed, Xuan Yuan had overseen the process. Even then, Zhong Shan had sensed his immense power, but with so many powerful beings in the Divine Land, he hadn\'t paid much attention.

It wasn\'t until later, after meeting Jian Ao and hearing Chu Jiu mention Xuan Yuan again, that he realized Xuan Yuan\'s true might. For personal vengeance, Xuan Yuan had stirred a bloody storm across the Divine Land, annihilating an entire clan, killing billions.

"Is he from Phoenix Island?" Zhihuo asked.

"No, but his late wife was the Supreme\'s sister," Qinghong explained.

"Oh?"

"I don\'t know much about his background, only that he\'s incredibly strong. His wife, the Supreme\'s sister, was killed by the Xiong clan. After that, Xuan Yuan went mad and slaughtered countless bears, exterminating the Xiong clan single-handedly," Qinghong continued.

"Then why is he here now? And why did that roar sound so full of pain?" Zhong Shan asked.

"Well, his reason for being here is similar to Princess Ling\'er forgetting about you, Your Majesty," Qinghong replied.

"Oh?"

"The Supreme possesses a treasure called the \'Nirvana Fire Pool.\' It was because of this Nirvana Fire Pool that we were able to save Princess Ling\'er before. Besides saving those on the brink of death, the Nirvana Fire Pool has other functions..."

"What function does it have?"

"It seals memories."

"Seals memories?"

"Yes, the Supreme used it to seal a portion of Princess Ling\'er\'s memories. That\'s why she doesn\'t remember you, Your Majesty."

"And Xuan Yuan?" Zhong Shan asked, puzzled.

"He wants to seal the memories of his wife."

"Oh?"

"Above the Empyrean Realm is the Celestial Realm, which is just a step away from becoming an immortal. The Supreme, the Buddha, the Dao Lord, and the Supreme are all Celestial Realm experts, just a step away from immortality. It\'s said that Xuan Yuan is the strongest in the Empyrean Realm because all his abilities have reached the standards of the Celestial Realm. His only hindrance is the memory of his wife. This memory is his greatest obstacle, preventing him from reaching the Celestial Realm. His cultivation has been stuck at the Empyrean Realm, unable to advance."

"So he wants to seal the memory of his wife to break through to the Celestial Realm?"

"Yes, but his feelings for his wife are too deep, and combined with his extremely high cultivation, he hasn\'t been able to successfully seal those memories," Qinghong explained.

"And that painful roar just now?"

"To seal a memory purposefully, he has to recall it in vivid detail, letting it run through his mind before sealing it with the Nirvana Fire Pool. But every time he fails, that unbearable memory burns into his heart like a branding iron, causing excruciating pain and forcing him to roar in agony," Qinghong sighed.

"An unforgettable love that traps him in his current realm? This love runs very, very deep," Zhong Shan said, taking a deep breath.

"Then there aren\'t many who can seal his memories?" Zhihuo asked.

"No, he\'s trying to seal them himself. The Supreme lent him the Nirvana Fire Pool, but he can\'t leave Phoenix Island while using it," Qinghong replied.

"Zhihuo and I will wait near Xuan Yuan then," Zhong Shan decided after a moment.

"Your Majesty, you\'re going over there?" Qinghong was surprised.

"Yes, at the very least, I want to see what the Nirvana Fire Pool that sealed Ling\'er\'s memories looks like," Zhong Shan said.

"Alright, there are many dwellings over there anyway," Qinghong said.

With that, Qinghong led them quickly toward the source of the roar. The white pillar of light in the sky remained, and the powerful aura hadn\'t dissipated.

As they approached, Zhong Shan felt an even stronger pressure. Standing on a mountain peak at a distance, he was unable to advance any further due to the overwhelming aura.

From the mountain, Zhong Shan looked toward the center of the valley.

Xuan Yuan was still Xuan Yuan, dressed impeccably in white, with white hair and eyebrows resembling Bei Qingsi but even more striking. His pupils were silver, but now streaked with threads of gold, like blood vessels in other people\'s eyes.

He stood with an air of wrath, his hair billowing around him, holding a white horsetail whisk, glaring at the sky. At his feet was an oval-shaped red pool, glowing faintly, enveloping Xuan Yuan.

Around Xuan Yuan, countless illusions flickered. They were all of Xuan Yuan and a beautiful woman, scenes unfolding like stories, all fragments of Xuan Yuan\'s memories.